IGIHE

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  • Mentors Trained, Receive Laptops, Projectors, Modems

    The Rwanda Education Board (REB) and partners held an ICT training in Nyamata, Bugesera for senior mentors from Monday to Friday this week.

    Each of the 60 mentors—part of the School-based Mentoring (SBM) Program—received netbooks and projectors, provided by the USAID-funded Literacy, Language, and Learning (L3) Initiative, as well as internet modems, from FHI 360.

    The ICT tools will facilitate mentors in planning, reporting, accessing resources and communications forums, and in supporting school-based mentors.

    REB’s SBM Program, which began last year, aims to provide primary 1 to senior 3 teachers across the country with continuous professional development to ultimately impact student learning outcomes.

    Each of the 60 senior mentors works with 16 school-based mentors, who support teachers at two schools, specifically on English language and pedagogy.

    “The program started last year as a follow-up to English language being a medium of instruction in Rwandan schools,” said Damian Ntaganzwa, head of REB’s Teacher Development and Management department. “Teachers are receptive to the use of English language; they are eager to learn.”

    Netbooks, projectors, and modems will support mentors. Templates for planning and reporting are already loaded onto the netbooks, and modems will allow mentors to access forums through the Rwanda Education Portal, where they can access resources, discuss challenges and successes with other mentors, and communicate with REB.

    Additionally, mentors will use the projectors to present interactive video modules in their sessions with school-based mentors.

    Videos demonstrate professional mentoring behavior, such as example meetings between teachers and mentors, monitoring in the classroom, and staff introduction. “As they watch they learn better, rather than you telling them,” said senior mentor Betty Mukashema, who will be based in Nyarugenge district.

    At the training, mentors explored Microsoft word, excel, and the internet, particularly for accessing online forums set up for mentors. “I’m very, very confident, and it’s because of this training,” said senior mentor Aluma Adnan, from Uganda. “I’m completely changed, I’m an ICT man.”

    Funded by USAID, the L3 Initiative is implemented by Education Development Center (EDC) in partnership with REB and with assistance from Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), Concern Worldwide, International Education Exchange, and the Peace Corps.

  • EABL Pays Dividends After Mega Profit

    {{The East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Board has recommended a Sh4 per share dividend payment after posting a net profit of Sh6.9 billion for the year ended June 2013.}}

    The profit marks a 37% drop from Sh11.2 billion over a similar period in the 2012 financial year.

    Sales and administrative costs hit Sh31.6 billion and Sh7.6 billion respectively while net sales grew by 10 percent in Kenya and Tanzania and flat in Uganda.

    EABL Managing Director Charles Ireland attributes the drop to the softening consumer economy in Uganda, a duty rise that slowed the beverage alcohol market in Tanzania as well as the absence of the one-off gain of Sh3.6 billion from the sale of its stake in Tanzania Breweries.

    “In Uganda the economy weakness affected the business as well publicized donor funding reduced thus less money in their economy and in Tanzania we had a 25% increase in exercise tax at the start of the year and we did not record what we would have wished to be,” he said.

    Ireland said that the net finance cost rose due to a combination of increased borrowing for operations and interest costs on the Sh19.5 billion additional debt borrowed in November 2011 in order to purchase SABMiller Africa’s 20% shareholding in Kenya Breweries Limited making it a wholly owned subsidiary of EABL.

    “The net finance costs of this debt now cover the full 12 months of this financial year ended 30th June 2013, compared to only seven months during the prior financial year,” he said.

    Revenue grew by 6.4% to Sh59 billion recorded in the year 2013 from Sh55 billion recorded in the 2012 financial year with premium beer and reserve spirits driving the growth.

    “Premium beer grew by 18%, Ready to drink 47%, mainstream beer 3% and emerging beer 12% which are Balozi, Senator and Allsops,” he said.

    On the spirits side, reserve spirits grew by 276%, premium spirits 22%, mainstream spirits 6 %, and emerging spirits 32%.

    Kenya continued to be EABL’s key market, accounting for 67% of net sales value, Uganda 16 percent and Tanzania 12 %.

    Gross profit margin fell to 46.56% compared to 48.39% in the 2012 financial year driven by a 10 percent rise in Cost of goods sold.

    The increase in cost of goods sold was occasioned by Inflation in costs of utilities; distribution and warehousing and increased depreciation, which management intends to mitigate through increased emphasis on local sourcing of cereals, and increased efficiency in the manufacturing and distribution process.

    However the company is looking at building a new distribution house in Kenya to cut on administrative costs. Capital expenditure during the year was at Sh6 billion covering efficiency and expansion projects in Kenya, increased packaging in Uganda and environmental efficiency improvements in Tanzania.

    The proposed final dividend of Sh4 brings the total dividend for the year at Sh5.5, which is 37 % lower than 2012.

  • Rwanda & Global Fund Negotiate $25M to fight TB

    {{Rwanda has been hailed by Global Fund for proper use of funds allocated to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the past three years.}}

    Global Fund Senior officials made the remarks while reviewing the impact of $375 million project that they have funded in Rwanda over the past three years.

    The team led by Mark Dybul, the Executive Director of Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria said, “I commend and congratulate Rwanda for the extra work done as far as reducing HIV infection from mother to child at birth, the fight against tuberculosis and malaria are concerned.”

    Dr Daniel Ngamije, the coordinator of Single Project Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Health noted that Global Fund gave Rwanda $21 million to fight malaria while the government is in negotiations to get $25 million to fight tuberculosis, and $204 million for fight against HIV.”

    According to Dr Anita Asiimwe, the State Minister for Primary and Public Healthcare, “It is an encouragement to have the executive director here, it not only shows the strong partnership we have, but also helps to assess the work done, identify challenges and chart the way forward.”

    Dr Daniel Ngamije said that they are negotiating with Global Fund to finance another $25 million three-year project to fight tuberculosis.

    ({Newtimes photo})

  • Ruhango District Faults Court Ruling

    {{Having won a court battle against Ruhango District in April 2013, Ngirinshuti Bernard is yet to recieve his property or its equivalent subject to Muhanga High court ruling in his favour.}}

    Ngirinshuti had appealed to court for the reposession of his property on two different plots which included two buildings all located in Ntongwe Sector.

    However, Ngirinshuti says until now the district authorities have been reluctant to effect the court ruling.

    Showing all court ruling documents, Ngirinshuti told IGIHE that he has travelled to Kigali to find anyone to help him present his problem to the Presidents office as the only last hope.

    The seemingly helpless Ngirinshuti says since April he has been following up on the reposession of his property but has since failed and currently impoverished.

    He says that last Monday when he contacted the Ruhango District Executive Secretary over the issue, he was told that his problem was not as urgent as others.

    He was also told there was no money at the district to compensate him and was urged to wait until there is money.

    Kambayire Annonciata, the Executive Secretary confirmed to IGIHE that she was aware of Ngirinshuti problem saying it cant just be solved as soon as possible.

    Kambayire says, the said house hosts an orphan who cannot just be removed.

    However, Kambayire did not specify when Ngirinshuti will reposess his property.

  • Man Held for Defiling Girl 4-years

    {{Police in Rwamagana is holding a man suspected of defiling a four year old girl.

    Neighbours quickly informed area authorities after the girl appeared very ill and with signs that she had been sexually asaulted .}}

    The incident happened at Rweru Cell in Munyaga sector.

    The Asauted girl was rushed to Munyaga health center from where she was transfered to Rwamagana refferal hospital.

    Police later arrested the suspect (names withheld) after he admited that the girl had been in his company before the incident happened. He denied defiling the girl.

    Superintendent Emmanuel Karuranga the Police spokesperson for Eastern Province condemned the assault on the girl saying Investigations have already been effected.

    source: RBC

  • Nile Breweries unveils New Beer Plant worth $90.6M

    {{Nile Breweries Ltd (NBL) one of the major Beer companies has unveiled a new beer plant worth $90.6 million in western Uganda expected to creat hundreds of Jobs.}}

    Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni officially opened the factory saying, “The investment is a good boost to our economy because farmers will produce more maize and sorghum.”

    He added that; “In the past beer was manufactured using imported cereals yet we had cereals here. Why do we use imported cereals when we have sorghum and maize here? By buying from the local markets, beer companies have improved what we call forward and backward linkages.”

    The new Beer plant will be producing 5.5 million crates of beers per annum and will expand to 1.8 hectoliters. It uses sorghum, maize and barley, which will largely be grown by farmers in the region.

    The expanded production will also see the company export beer to DR Congo and South Sudan.

  • SMEs Urged to List on Nairobi Securities Exchange

    {{President Uhuru Kenyatta has encouraged more Kenyan Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange to fund their expansion.}}

    Kenyatta said increased SMEs activity at the bourse would consolidate Kenya’s position as a regional financial hub.

    “We are committed to involving the SMEs in our quest to strengthen Nairobi’s capacity to meet the East and Central Africa region’s demand for financial services,” the President said after a visit to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

    The President, who is on Friday concluding his highly-acclaimed first State visit to the globe’s second largest economy, this week saw Kenya and China sign eight crucial agreements on economic partnerships between the two countries.

    He noted the impressive progress made by the Shenzhen bourse, saying the same could be replicated in Nairobi.

    The President said Government was creating a conducive environment for SMEs to thrive, and the sector was important in growing the economy.

    He said the legislation and licensing regime governing the SMEs was being reviewed to make it a one-stop-shop that would attract more investment.

    “SMEs are the backbone of innovation and are crucial to provision of home-grown solutions to some of the economic challenges facing our country,” the President said.

    He urged the young people to take advantage of the thriving Information Technology industry in Kenya to start, expand and list SMEs at the NSE.

    This, the President said, would go a long way in creating employment.

    President Kenyatta observed that the impressive growth of SHZ was driven by unity of purpose, focus, discipline and hard work. He asked Kenyans to embrace the same values in order to succeed in their socio-economic aspirations.

    Briefing the President, SHZ Chairman Chen Dongzheng said the second largest bourse in China and 9th in Asia, lists more than 1500 companies.

    Chen said the Chinese Government is heavily involved in the stock exchange’s operations to ensure its stability.

    President Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta also toured the Shenzhen Museum, taking in the 30-year transformation of the city from a small border outpost to a modern metropolis.

    He said the museum was a fitting legacy to the people of Shenzhen, reminding them of their journey to economic independence, self-reliance and sustainability. The magnificent ultra-modern Southern city of Shenzhen has grown to its present status over a span of 30 years.

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  • Juba & Khartoum Agree to End Rebel Support

    {{Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to cease mutual hostilities and halt any rebel support, including the pulling out of forces from their joint border.}}

    In joint statement issued in Khartoum Thursday by their armies, the two countries confirmed they had also agreed on how to deal with their complaints.

    “The two parties renewed their commitment to halt all forms of support and harbouring to the armed movements and groups and exchange of complaints and responding on them,” a statement issued after a two-day meeting of the Joint Security Committee of Sudan and South Sudan said.

    “The Armed Forces and the People’s Army of South Sudan agreed on the pull out and re-deployment along the joint border in accordance with the map provided by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP),” the statement added.

    The two sides also agreed to jointly bear logistics of their field teams expected to start work in a week.

    The agreement, signed by the heads of the two country’s military intelligence, also included the possibility of creating sites to verify any claims of violations.

    Meetings will resume on September 17 in South Sudan capital Juba.

    Since July 2011, Sudan and South Sudan have accused each other of supporting rebels in their countries.

    In September last year, the two countries signed a cooperation agreement to resolve issues that were unresolved after the secession of South Sudan from Sudan.

    They included oil, border demarcation, external debts, the legal status of the citizens in the both countries and the question of Abyei and other disputed areas.

    They also agreed on a 20 kilometre non- military area as buffer zone on their joint border, to be monitored by UN forces.

    NMG

  • Police Warns Against Illegal Charcoal Burning, 16 arrested

    {{Police has issued a stern warning against illegal felling of trees for charcoal burning and other illegal practices.}}

    The warning follows the Wednesday evening operation in Gako military domain in Gashora sector of Bugesera District, where 15 people were arrested felling and burning charcoal.

    The Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, Supt. Emmanuel Karuranga cautioned all those involved in this illegal practice.

    “We understand there are some people, who have defied the environmental protection law, and have gone ahead to cut trees for charcoal burning, but they should also know that we have our ears on the ground,” Supt. Karuranga warned.

    “This illegal practice is common in Bugesera, where some groups of people like cattle keepers and others involved in felling umushikiri, which they traffic to other countries. We will continue to pursue such people to face legal actions,” he added.

    Umushikiri, which is mostly found in the Eastern Province, is used as a raw material in the production of perfume and lotions.

    The cutting and trafficking of the species is punishable under article 412 of the organic law on the demolition and environmental degradation, whose sentence ranges from six months to three years and a fine of Rwf200, 000 to Rwf3million.

    Supt. Karuranga disclosed that a number of operations targeting people feeling trees for various illegal reasons, were conducted and “a number of people have been arrested.”

    Police in Bugesera also arrested a man, who was driving a truck full of Umushikiri stumps, which were being trafficked to Uganda through porous borders.

    Supt. Karuranga appealed to the community to continue their “noble cause” by providing information on people involved in illegal activities.

    source: RNP

  • MONUSCO Ordered to Protect Civilians after Goma Shelled

    {{The head of the U.N. mission in Congo on Thursday ordered peacekeeping troops to act to protect civilians after shelling hit the city of Goma in renewed fighting between the army and M23 rebels.}}

    The fighting close to Goma, a city of a million people on the Rwandan border, comes after a relative lull in the 18-month rebellion. Late last month, the United Nations pledged to keep the M23 rebels out of range of the town, which they briefly seized last year.

    Rwanda accused the Congolese army of deliberately firing artillery into its territory. However, Kinshasa denied the reports.

    Martin Kobler, head of the U.N. mission known as MONUSCO, said populated areas and U.N. positions had been directly attacked during the clashes on Thursday.

    “I have ordered the MONUSCO Force to react and to take necessary action to protect civilians and prevent an advance by the M23,” he said, without elaborating.

    Reporters in Goma said three shells landed in the town and saw the bodies of two children killed in one of the explosions. Another civilian was killed and four others wounded, officials at a local hospital said. Two Congolese soldiers were also wounded, they said.

    Fighting initially broke out late on Wednesday

    A senior U.N. official, who asked not to be named, said that on Thursday the rebels entered a security zone surrounding Goma, which was established by a new, robustly-mandated U.N. Intervention Brigade earlier this month.