IGIHE

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  • Genocide Convict sentenced to life

    {{The Netherlands has for the first time tried and sentenced to life in prison Joseph Mpambara for the crimes of genocide committed in Rwanda in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.}}

    Mpambara is the first Rwandan to be tried in the Netherlands for genocide crime and other crimes against humanity which were perpetrated against Tutsi and claimed over a Million lives within a short period of a hundred days.

    The Hague court in March 2009 found Joseph Mpambara guilty of ordering the murder of several Tutsi refugees. He was convicted to 20years in prison but he appealed aganist the verdict.

    Mpambara was also found guilty of torturing a German doctor, his Tutsi wife and their two months old son by threatening and detaining them at a roadblock on the bridge over the Kiboga River as they tried to flee the country.

    Mpambara was also charged with killing dozens of Tutsis who fled to the church complex of the Seventh-Day Adventists in Mugonero, as well as the rape of four women.

    But the judges said they found inconsistencies in the testimonies of five key witnesses linking Mpambara to the massacre.

    This ruling was confirmed by the head of the Genocide fugitive tracking unit Jean-Bosco Siboyintore who welcomed the decision.

    Siboyintore told journalists that the Rwandan prosecution had carried out investigations in Mugonero and gathered compelling evidence against Mpambara. Later he was indicted by the genocide fugitive tracking unit.

    Siboyintore said they expected the convicting verdict against the accused for he had even been previously sentenced to 20 years in prison by the first instance court in Netherlands.

    The decision at the time was appealed and court officials recorded implicating statements from 30 new witnesses.

    {Source; ORINFOR}

  • South Sudan: Big trading potential for EAC

    By:Randa Rugangazi

    {{The Republic of South Sudan is set to become the 55th African nation as of July 9 following the southern Sudanese referendum elections that enabled them secede from Khartoum government in January 2011.}}

    In 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between Southern Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Khartoumgovernment. Five years later, the North failed to convince the South not to secede.

    The vote for secession was the result of years of oppression and neglect from the Khartoum government. Years of conflict between the two regions has led to the loss of life of an estimated 2 million people during the over 20 year’s armed conflict.

    South Sudan expressed interests in joining the East African Community. However, representatives of the East African regional bloc have only made statements that the EAC will consider South Sudan’s application after it is a sovereign state.

    South Sudan has gone as far as declaring English, the commonly used language across East Africa, as its official language.

    Kenyan and Rwandan heads of states earlier this year both invited South Sudan to join the East African Community.

    It is reported that 98 percent of South Sudan’s government budget is from oil revenue. Most of the South Sudan’s oil production goes through pipelines to the north to Port Sudan.

    The Khartoum government is set to charge the south hefty prices for oil transfer through their pipelines.

    There is a proposed oil pipeline from South Sudan to Kenya that seems like an unlikely project in the near future. Nevertheless, if the project were to see the light of day, it would alleviate the high prices countries within the region pay for imported oil, Rwanda included.

    However, the south Sudanese current government seems steadfast and committed to the project. Reuters reported of Toyota Kenya being contracted by the southern government to research the possibility of an oil pipeline to the Kenyan port of Lamu.

    The pipelines would be part of a regional corridor between the two countries that would also have railway, roads, and fibre optics.

    Arkangelo Okwang, South Sudan’s director general of energy, said the corridor would cost $1.5billion and would cover 1,400km.

    In addition to its oil wealth, South Sudan is reported to possess untapped gold, copper and iron ore. The new country possesses fertile lands, which for the most part wait to be exploited.

    Majority of the South Sudanese population are nomadic cattle herders. Much like in Rwanda, cattle in South Sudanese culture are a status symbol used to measure wealth.

    Traders from neighbouring Uganda and Kenya have shown lots of interest in South Sudan. The new market in South Sudan is attractive for EAC businesses. So far, the biggest companies operating in the newly formed republic are from Uganda and Kenya.

    Before any major economic developments can be made, the Juba government has a lot of work to do as far as building the necessary infrastructure from scratch. Most importantly for a resource-rich state, South Sudan will have to build efficient state institutions.

    This will guarantee that the country’s natural resource revenue is reinvested in the infrastructure.

  • Kigali Japanese restaurant,a must go place

    By: {{Supreetha Gubbala}}

    {As I casually passed by the MTN Center located in Nyarutarama city suburb, something new, red and unfamiliar caught my eye. It was a chique sign pointed off the Kacyiru main road, and amazingly read, “Sakae Japanese Restaurant.” I could hardly believe my eyes. A Japanese restaurant in Kigali?}

    It aroused a discussion with a good friend and long time Kigali resident, for me to realize that in fact, a new chef had arrived in town.

    Opening its doors on July 1st, the restaurant already boasted a nearly full restaurant upon my arrival on Wednesday night.

    Already salivating for the comforts of fresh sushi, restaurant owner Kang Su Lee greeted us warmly as we were seated and stared about in wonder.

    The restaurant exuded the peaceful atmosphere of Zen with a much more simple formula. Displaying white graceful paper lanterns hanging from the high timber ceiling, and two Tepanyaki tables, the first of their kind here in Rwanda the restaurant simply had me at “Hello.”

    As we excitedly flipped through the menu, we worried that perhaps like other restaurants attempts at sushi, the new Sakae may once again disappoint our fine tuned palates.

    Fresh and raw fish of the kinds often required by sushi such as salmon, tuna, octopus, eel and shrimp are often difficult to obtain fresh, daily in Rwanda. But as one does in love, we took the risk. And I must say, I think we may have found the one.

    Upon our first visit, we seated a table of four and ordered up a variety of Japanese sushi as well as Korean dishes.

    As we awaited our food anxiously, we were provided with a fresh cabbage, avocado and tomato salad drizzled with tangy peanut sauce vinaigrette.

    A perfect, light beginning to what preceded to be an equally satisfying meal.

    My specific dish was number 40 on the menu the “Crunchy Prawns Roll” , which accurately created a perfect combination of crunchy tempura coating and fresh avocado, shrimp and tuna.

    A close friend, ordered up the “Sakae Sushi Set”, after which she proceeded to order more pieces of the octopus and salmon sushi that were particularly good. The set contains 8 Chef recommended pieces of sushi, and 2 pieces of the special roll.

    As she excitedly reveled in finally being able to eat good sushi in Rwanda, she pointed out: “I wouldn’t have dreamt of a Japanese restaurant in Rwanda but… here it is. The food is amazing, the service great and the atmosphere is simple yet beautiful.”

    Other dishes ordered include the owner’s specialty and the sweet surprise of the menu: Korean food — Customer number 3 ordered up tempura-fried pork with a sweet sauce and rice. A long description short, he patted his stomach and sighed in sweet satisfaction at a readily emptied plate.

    His wife, ordered up the well-known “Teriyaki Chicken” which also arrived with rice, which is a nice plus compared to the separate orders of rice required at neighboring restaurant, Zen. Her first experience with Japanese food proved to begin at a good place.

    Midway through our meal, the owner brought out a complimentary platter of Gyoza, pan-fried dumplings that come with pork or mixed vegetables. Lucky for us, it turned out to be one of our favorite dishes for the night.

    Upon our second dinner at Sakae on Thursday, the warm and friendly owner, opened up as to how he came to open up the first Japanese restaurant here in Rwanda.

    “I had a friend in Kigali who said come see Rwanda, because I was opening up in Nairobi another restaurant, but Nairobi has a lot of problems. There are no many restaurants, no good restaurants actually, especially Japanese/Korean they seem to have none,”

    Lee praised Rwanda for its peaceful atmosphere and intimated that when he came here it really was not expected to be in Kigali. He was just acquainting himself with all the problems, but now it is completely different, it is a like a new country. “It’s truly amazing…”

    Kang is Korean and had previously been living in Nairobi for over 23 years. He holds much experience in the restaurant business. In fact, his former Chinese restaurant now run by his brother is the biggest in Nairobi.

    Kang and his wife have been in the restaurant business for years, and his wife has personally trained many of the current chefs at Sakae.

    “Most people know Japanese, but those who have tasted Korean love it. That’s why you see all those working at the Japanese embassy, here eating the Korean food,” Lee told Igihe laughing.

    When asked his favorite dish on his menu, Lee recommended the new Tepanyaki table to customers. “Tepanyaki is my favorite. Also because it’s the first ever in Rwanda!” he excitedly told {Igihe.com}. Tepanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food.

    The word teppanyaki is derived from teppan, which means iron plate, and yaki, which means grilled, broiled or pan-fried.

    Modern teppanyaki grills are typically propane-heated flat surface grills, and are widely used to cook the food in front of guests as they eat as a form of entertainment and fresh cooking.

    Customers excitedly munching away Thursday night could hardly contain their praise for the new restaurant. The cars have already filled up the entire restaurant lot, and we were lucky to find one of the few spots left.

    Candy Basomingera, a local Kimihurura resident commented, Definitely my new favorite restaurant in Kigali. A big thank you to the Owner for this truly Asian experience.”

    The new restaurant is located in Nyuratarama near Gishushu and is open Monday through Saturday 11:30pm-3pm for lunch and6pm-11pm for dinner. Head over for a seriously, good Japanese-Korean experience.

  • ‘Iam not used by govt’-Burasa

    {{The recently beaten journalist Jean Gualbert Burasa who is also the chief editor of Rushyashya newspaper has denounced rumors that he is being used by the ruling party (RPF) or the government to discredit his assaulter Paul Ruhamyambuga the landlord of City-Plaza building.}}

    Burasa gave the remarks in a press conference amidst members of the Forum of Private Papers (FPN), he further stressed that he is an independent and professional journalist therefore there’s no way he could have been involved in politics.

    The journalist alleges that one of the sympathizers to Kayumba Nyamwasa and Patrick Karegeya that fled the country assaulted him. Burasa also rejects allegations that he reported the matter to police in favor of the government.

    In our earlier story of the assault, Burasa claimed that he was attacked by Ruhamyambuga friends in a bar, it is still unclear whether the arguments were under the influence of alcohol or it was planned. So far he has filed a complaint to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Media High Council MHC.

    Reacting on the matter, Patrice Mulama the MHC executive secretary council noted that investigations were still underway. He further condemned attacks towards journalists especially those who are on duty.

  • MININFRA, RDB in conflict over Nyungwe road

    {{RDB’s environmental specialists at Nyungwe National Park are in fear of environmental and natural resource destruction with in the park that may be a result from the ongoing process of a 32km road rehabilitation from Pindura, a junction at the main road within the park connecting to Bweyeye Sector at the Burundi boarder. It is meant to be widened up to 7 meters.}}

    The road construction had been put to halt for almost two years due to misunderstandings between road contactors under the supervision by MININFRA and the park’s management authority that is under Rwanda Development Board.

    Speaking to igihe.com at Bweyeye Sector, Patrice Nzamuye who is in charge of Nyungwe NP protection and Law Enforcement Warden noted; “As you can see yourself, there will be a lot of negative consequences affecting natural resources. For example the falling debris and degradation will contaminate the river tributaries; there will be cutting down of trees, querying murram within the park among others which is really against the law of conserving environment.”

    He says that he is not opposing the road rehabilitation that will be helpful to many people living in the area. Instead there should be a clear study and also collaboration between the two parties so that the eco-system in the park is not much affected.

    It’s the only biggest natural forest that has high mountains in the whole of Africa and thus careful construction and study on the project’s impact onto the park ecosystem be made.

    “The Ministry of Infrastructure should cooperate with environmentalists and formulate possible ways of rehabilitating this road as expected. We even direct them to other areas outside the park where murram can be got in case they approach us,” Nzamuye said.

    Fidele Ruziganderwe who does Monitoring and Evaluation at the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Society said; “The National Park is so important not only to our country but also the whole world in terms of preserving ecosystem, promoting tourism sector among others and incase of continued destruction, there will be a big loss to our country and the world in general.”

    According to him; 70% of the Rwanda’s natural water has its source at Nyungwe NP and also that if contaminated, it will pose a big risk.

    Juvenal Harerimana a resident of Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district urged; “government should help us and make this road finished because the transport here is a big challenge to all of us as the residents of this area.”
    “Two heads are better than one, so let leaders from the two parties heed to our plea so that the problem can get rectified because both the road and the NP are all important to us,” Harerimana added.

    For a person to walk from Pindura to Bweyeye it takes over 7hrs, riding bicycles takes approximately 3hrs and hiring a motorcycle costs Rwf7000, while one using a car, the 32kms takes almost 2hrs drive.

    “Our produces are not accessed to the market just because of this ditched road and sometimes, one to go to Cyangugu has to pass through Burindi and then connect there, which is also difficult to those people that do not have boarder pass permits,” Jean Pierre Twagirayezu told igihe.com.

    Bweyeye Sector officials attribute that, as the Minister of Natural Resources Stanislas Kamanzi had confirmed earlier; the road construction should be done and materials like murram should be got from the national park.

    “We recognize the importance of the two and are all necessary but then after the road construction, there can be rehabilitation on the destroyed resources like replanting of trees by both the road contractors and also village citizens, through communal work and we can make it happen. Like the Minister said, all materials should be got from the park,” Joseph Rusaya, the Executive Secretary Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district.

    What does the top brass officials from two parties attribute towards the saga?
    Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General REMA comments; “We are not against Rwanda’s development but we also have to protect natural resources and ensure the sustainable management. Its over 60% of the rain we receive in Rwanda that come from Nyungwe and that’s why we have to manage it carefully as Rwanda’s heart.”

    “During the meeting with MININFRA, we had agreed to go to this area together and find well established sites where to get murram and after they were supposed to show environmental management plan to us but when the team went there, MININFRA’s technical team did not come into agreement with us just because they don’t want to comply with us,” Mukankomeje added.

    “For us we don’t want conflicts with MININFRA because the road is also for our people but we need a well defined policy over the project with a clear document presented,” she pointed out.

    MININFRA’s Minister of State in charge of Transport noted; “For us we followed procedures as were required and we even came into agreement that materials for the road project should come from within the park. In charge people for environment should conduct training to the road contractors upon the environment policy instead of stopping the road construction.”

    Speaking to the MINIRENA’s Minister is still futile but we shall keep you updated upon the issue.

    What does the law say about the issue?
    According to the organic law n. 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 that determines the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda; article no. 29 says that no competent authority, in accordance with the existing laws, can issue permission for the construction in cases where such constructions may degregade the environment

    Article 31 says; every government project or private individual activities can not be permitted to operate if they are contrary to their plan and shall aim at considering the strategies of conservation of environment as provided by the law.
    To be continued…

  • Modern farming practices to improve yields

    Bananas are among Rwanda’s main staple food widely harvested by the majority of farmers, yet the plantation faces many challenges including pests, infertile soils and low yield.

    However, all this can be turned around if more farmers are given competent farming skills, Julianus Thomas, the Farmer Field School (FFS) master trainer says.

    He said that FFS was formed two years ago in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Belgian Development Agency (BTC) in order to train farmers on better planting skills on crops such as banana, maize, potatoes, cassava amongst others.

    Currently, in Rwanda a lot of efforts are enhanced in fighting pests attacks on banana plantations, the most common being banana-mild-mosaic-virus.

    Dr. Jean-Pierre Busogoro, the Technical Assistant BTC noted that among the ways to control the virus spread is by warming the sucker for 20 degrees Celsius before planting in order to kill the bacteria.

    “Farmers should also sterilize their farming tools if they want to avoid spreading of the bacteria from an infected banana plant,” he remarked.

    Dr. Busogoro spoke at the beginning of a 3 day regional conference involving experts from East and central Africa, organized to exchange experiences based on better practices in various aspects of the banana value chain such as the introduction and dissemination of banana improved varieties.

    He further pointed out that competence matters a lot since it strengthens the production of traditional banana plants which many fear might become extinct due to the introduction of modern varieties that have better yield.

    “There’s nothing unique with exotic bananas, the difference is that they are planted through the use of modern expertise skills which can be applied to the traditional ones and give better results,” he clarified.

    Among the techniques being disseminated are the use of fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation.
    “I’ve seen farmers who have done all this on their traditional bananas and have seen their yield improve from 15kg to 75kg,” Bugosoro stressed.

    Thomas on his part says that some banana species can be multiplied in the laboratory in what is also known as tissue culture. So far two Americans investors have showed interests to start the business in Rwanda.

  • I want to supply my bread to all Rwandans

    {Success is every one’s dream and this young entrepreneur is harvesting because of his passion, courage and optimism, he has started enjoying the fruits of his sweat and sleepless nights he spends. {Igihe.com} reporter Diana Mutimura talked to a local entrepreneur, Patrick Muyobocye the proprietor of APABENA Bakery. }

    {Igihe.com}: {{Tell us about your back ground?}}

    Muyobocye: Am called Patrick Muyobocye I was born in 1984 and I’m proud to be the last born in the family of 9 children. I still have a mother but my father past away when I was in my form 4 at Kayonza modern.

    {Igihe.com}: {{How did you start bread business?}}

    I started in 2008 with frw3 million only, after working at my uncle’s bakery; Top Bread Bakery and got the practical experience from there, decided to make my own bakery.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Is this your first business? If not, what was your first business, and what happened to it?}}

    Yes it is my first business and like I said at first I was an employee at my uncle’s bakery where I developed the courage to opening my own bakery.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Had you been exposed to business before ?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}: Yes I believe it was my passion to be self employed and it is a family heritage because my father too had bakery, my uncle and myself.

    {Igihe.com}: {{How many employees have you hired?}}

    {{Muyoboke}}: I started with 12 employees because the business was still small but after one year, because of hardworking and determination they have increased to 25 and all work full time. They, however, work in shifts where 15 work during day and 10 work during the night. I even have about 5 part timers.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What is an average workday like for you?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}: I wake up as early as 3:am to go and supervise the workers until day-break when the cars start supplying breads, and cakes around town and I have to wait for them to come back to count the money.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What have you gained from the business ever since you started?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}:I have acquired many things since I started this business. I have bought three vehicles which supply my goods and bought a house I live in and have acquired plots of land among other other things.

    {Igihe.com}:{{ What has been the performance of business in the past few years?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}: It has really changed because if I look at what I have achieved in this business, I observe a very great change although I meet with many challenges.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Describe the level of sales in the last few years?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}: Pretty good and am not complaining because the business is doing much better.

    {Igihe.com}: What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business?

    {{Muyobocye}}: I wake up in the middle of the night every day to go and work with my employees. Sometimes I supply the bread to all my customers to know where it goes wrong and take not of their comments for consideration in my business.

    {Igihe.com}: What plans do you have now to expand your business?

    {{Muyobocye}}: I bought a piece of land in Gisozi where I want to start building my own premises for the bakery and stop renting and I’m planning to expand so that I can be supplying all the districts of Rwanda.

    {Igihe.com}: Who are the people that have been most important to your business success?

    {{Muyobocye}}: My uncle that enabled me to work at his bakery from which I attained the experience helping in my business today. There are also friends who always give me constructive ideas and these micro finance banks which accept to give loans.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What are your business challenges and how do you deal with them?}}

    Problems are everywhere, but in my business I always face price changes on the market, high revenue charged by the government even if I try to be humble and continue to struggle.

    {Igihe.com}:{{ Do you have a business plan and if so, when was it last updated?}}

    Everything has to have a plan before you start the foundation. Therefore, I didn’t just wake up to establish the business. I first made the plan for it and every after one-year I revise my plan to check if I am still on the right path I want my bakery to be.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What’s the worst business advice you’ve ever received?}}

    I don’t think I have received one because I’m always kin to whom I’m going to for the advice and always pray to God for assistance.

    {Igihe.com}: {{What advice would you offer to young entrepreneurs starting out today and those who fear the risks of business?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}: My fellow youth who are planning to start their own businesses should first plan for what they are going to do so that they know the capital needed in the business because all businesses are the same though they do not need the same capital.

    They should be creative and not copy in order to avoid duplication of services. In business, risks are always there and if you fear to risk, you cannot develop.

    {Igihe.com} : {{If you were to start another business, what would it be?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}:Things do change in business but if I am to change the business I would channel to selling imported cars.

    {Igihe.com}: {{Do you believe business can make the world a better place?}}

    {{Muyobocye}}:Yeah! (Smiles emphasizes)In fact people should accept that business plays a great role in changing this world and I think that’s why political leadership is a challenge is less developed countries like in African countries.

    {Igihe.com}: {{How does your business help the community?}}

    My bakery helps orphans who lost their parents during 1994 Tutsi genocide and those whose parents died of AIDS. They have orphans’ association called APABENA where I always give them 50,000 Frw per month and I buy for them school equipments whenever they go back to school.

    {Igihe.com}: Thanks a lot for this interview and valuable spent.

  • Rwanda to embark on a 12-year basic education

    {{The government is accessing the viability of a new 12 year Basic Education for Africa Program (BEAP), igihe.com has reliably learnt.}}

    The education strategy was revealed at a three day international conference that brought together representatives of the United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and several Rwanda’s executives in education sector at Lemingo Hotel in Kigali.

    The Conference that hosted UNESCO representatives from Senegal, Mali, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Niger evaluated the strategic planning of BEAP scheme as well as scrutinizing the challenges that hinder the progress on its implementation in Africa.

    The UNESCO delegates unanimously observed that Rwanda had successfully undertaken this project with very positive results though there was still room for improvement.

    Rwanda’s Director General at the Ministry of Education in charge of primary education Narcisse Musabyeyezu pointed out that: “The 9 year basic education program started in 2007 and was introduced because the six were not enough to eliminate the levels of illiteracy in the country”.

    He emphatically stressed that the results have been positive with more than 80 per cent of pupils now completing primary school while prior to the implementation of the new program, not more than 5o per cent were able to proceed to secondary school.

    “Despite that we are still facing some constraints in this program due to the need for more skilled human resources in terms of teachers and resources in the form of book supplies, especially in the upper secondary” Musabyeyezu pointed out.

    He argued that due to the scheme, pupils’ passing their O’level exams and enrolling at the High school has doubled from 56,000 to 104,000 according to current statistics.

    He, however, observed that the 12 year basic education scheme should not be implemented until 2017 when careful feasibility study will have been carried out in comparison with the current 9 year education program.

  • Rwanda: How much have you Read?

    By: Randa Rugangazi

    As one roams around Kigali, rarely will one find the sight of someone reading a book on the bus. Actually rarely can one find people carrying books on the bus aside from school books as school children are on their way to and from school.

    Not to forget on Saturdays and Sundays during church going hours when one will see the glossiest Good Books(Bibles).

    In case you are wondering who goes to church on Saturday, then you will be surprised to know that Rwanda has the fastest growing Seventh Day Adventist community.

    It seems that reading to many in Rwanda is only associated with preparing for school exams or keeping up with the scripture reading in church. One can come up with a long list of explanations for the poor reading culture in our culture.

    Naturally, at the top of the list would be low discretionary income, or lack thereof. A discretionary income is the money one has after paying off bills.

    Of course, one can’t ignore the fact that books are expensive even for an individual with a decent income. The cost of books has been blamed for the information gap affecting developing countries.

    Rwanda’s lack of reading culture is a shared problem in most of the East African countries- actually across most of Africa. Many blame our schools for failing to spark the curiosity in school children to seek books independently.

    Even well educated professionals only read daily news; they don’t seek reading material outside of their local/regional newspapers or websites.

    There is no need to go into all the benefits of having a good reading habit in this article. In school many are led to believe that reading is solely an activity for improving one’s socioeconomic status.

    The notion of seeking books merely to improve one’s knowledge of the world is strange to most Rwandese- and Africans for that matter.

    There is no doubt that the advent of the World Wide Web in Rwanda is a great platform to bridge the information gap.

    Inclusive in this information gap is access to published works i.e. literary, historical, scientific materials.

    Rwandans need to develop a diversified taste in the material they look up on the internet.

    In between the time spent checking emails and posting statuses on Facebook or Twitter; people could take a look at the newest commentaries or essays on The New Yorker website.

    The more committed could look up books on Google Books.

  • Mutuelles de Santé: Clear the fog to see reality

    By Supreetha Gubbala

    KIGALI CITY–{{Since its drafting in 2001, the community-based health insurance plan known as {mutuelles de santé}, or more commonly as mutuelles, has been an extremely effective tool for medically insuring the majority of Rwandan citizens in an affordable way. }}

    Currently over 85% of Rwandans partake in the program, the highest percentage in all of sub-saharan Africa. Neighboring countries such as Burundi are looking to Rwanda’s medical insurance miracle.

    However, what many have looked past in praising the universal plan is truly what lies ahead for the remaining 15% that are uninsured and the effects of this upon the public healthcare system.

    In February of this year former Health Minister, Dr. Richard Sezibera, announced along with many improvements to the programme, a minimum premium price increase.

    Prior to this revision, those on the lowest tier of the program were paying a minimum of Rwf. 1000, with the extreme poor often being marginalized and unable to pay even this amount.

    The few micro financing NGOs available to help this population could not significantly aid this population, especially with interest rates often as high as 15% on loans given.

    Unfortunately, for the extreme poor, the situation just got worse, to be exact. With the minimum now standing at Rwf 3000. By raising this bar, more poor will be unable to join the plan in the upcoming years.

    Although the ministry has outlined financial support programmes for this population there, lies the question of how many will be reached by the programmes, and ultimately what will happen to those who simply cannot meet this minimum.

    Well more likely than not in Kigali, they will end up at the doors of CHUK, the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali.

    CHUK is currently the largest public hospital in Kigali city, and therefore often end up caring for many who are not in the {mutuelles} program, and cannot provide the premium, simply out of Hippocratic Oath.

    Unfortunately, the Hippocratic Oath does not exactly stock the shelves of CHUK.

    Dr. Florence Umurangwa working in Ward 6 of CHUK is a post-graduate of surgery.“We don’t wait to see whether or not the patient has {mutuelle de santé}, because we care for them first,” she explained to{ Igihe.com}”

    “It is a bit difficult because some people who couldn’t afford to pay Rwf. 1000, and are now being asked to pay three times that amount. It is hard for the hospital to continue operating because so many people are being treated that do not pay for the new {mutuelle de santé}.”

    “When we go to the stock and take medicine, yet the patient is not paying, it will be a big challenge to the hospital,” she concluded.

    With the recent two month extension for those still not updated to the new {mutuelles} plan, this further means that the new and improved {mutuelles} services must be open to everyone.

    Arthur Asiimwe Director General of Rwanda Health Communication Centre, and the communications officers for the Ministry, however was incredulous at the idea of any potential issues with the new plan.

    “As far as the ministry is concerned there are no problems with the new plan, sustainability or supplies of medicine. If this exists, there must be some mismanagement in the hospital,” he told {Igihe.com} in an interview.

    In regards to the population of people who will be left unable to pay, Asiimwe stated confidently that, “All those who are unable to pay for {mutuelles} will be paid for by the government through the national budget which ultimately comes from taxes.”

    In fact, with the new plan Asiimwe deemed it impossible for someone not to be covered and also reassures that any doubts of financial stability of the plan as fruitless.

    “In fact, the new plan improves the future sustainability and enrollment in the programme,” he told {Igihe.com}.

    For those on the ground however, it seems the story still is playing out quite differently.

    Although the CHUK Hospital Director Dr. Theobard Hatekamana feels the majority of the plan has been beneficial to patients, as well as for everyone in the health sector, he does assert that there are still further issues to be addressed on the health care delivery level to enable sustenance of healthcare to the entire population of Rwanda.

    He told Igihe.com more specifically, “We have some issues with people who can’t pay 10% of fees, so the hospital loses this money. Since we cover Rwf. 100,000 for these kind of cases, and there is currently no mechanism for recovery of this money.”

    Furthermore, patients hospitalized in Ward 2 of CHUK had mixed reactions toward the new price increase in the {mutuelles} plan.

    Grace Murekatete a 22-year old with swollen limbs on her right side from the Mparanyondo sector has been sick for 16 months. She told Igihe.com, “I have been here in the hospital for only four months. But I have not yet improved. I don’t know what I will do if they increase the price to Rwf 3000 because I am alone here no one is looking after me.”

    Despite Asiimwe’s confidence, it seems even those currently hospitalized are not aware that they will be covered by the government if they are unable to pay.

    This viewpoint was further confirmed by other patients such as Francoise Yankurije of the Kimindu sectors who explained to {Igihe.com}, “It’s right, but the problem we are having is capacity. Which results from low income, and we don’t know whether we can manage to buy it [new medical insurance].”

    As we leave, CHUK confused about the true effects of the new plan on the rural and poor populations surrounding Kigali city, the receptionist of CHUK alerts us to even larger emerging problem.

    The poor that often abuse their health insurance, overusing consultations and supplies, and once again restraining the capacity of the public hospital.

    At the end, where to lay the sympathy or blame in this situation remains ambiguous. However, it is clear that the ministry’s rose coloured glasses must be cleared of their fog to see the reality that is occurring on the ground.

    As with all economically based plans, the {mutuelles} is heavily based upon well-calculated predictions. Due to the great praise the plan is currently receiving, it may be easy to forget that these numbers are still predictions and that many holes are still present.

    The great overconfidence provided by Asiimwe, although reassuring, does not erase the fact that these issues still exist. In fact, it is probably much better for the Ministry to resolve issues faced by hospitals early on, so as not to face larger issues down the road.

    Of course, they don’t have to take my word for it and they probably won’t. But at least, try taking a trip to Ward 2 of CHUK and seeing Grace and Francoise yourself. You may find out more than numbers can tell you.