IGIHE

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  • Families Relocated to New Houses Off River Banks

    {{New Houses have been constructed to accommodate poor families in Rubavu district, Western province. 31 houses were built in Kanama sector, 10 houses in Nyundo sector and one house in Rugerero sector.}}

    The remaining 111 families were also assisted by providing them with construction materials so that they can build new houses, out of the river protection zone.

    This was Subject to Organic Law no 04/2005 of the 08/04/2005, which states that a distance of ten (10) meters away from the banks of rivers should be respected.

    Officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) with funders, when visiting the constructed houses for the vulnerable families on 3 April were told complete settlement will be made soon.

    Caroline Kayonga, the permanent secretary of MINIRENA said that the activity aimed at protecting the river and the community from natural disasters such as floods that occur periodically with the Sebeya watershed.

    Blandine Icyimanimpaye, one of the relocated habitant, said that they no longer fear the floods that used to occur and that they are safer than they were at sebeya bank.

    “The population at first did not comprehend well the benefits of their relocation and the protection of the environment.However, they later realized it was in their own interest and well being of the community,’’ said Honore Mugisha, executive secretary of Kanama sector.

    They later paid visit to the project of relocating the population on Mount Rubavu, intended to be turned into a tourist attraction site.

    Sebeya River spans over three Districts, which are Rutsiro, Ngororero and Rubavu and falls in Lake Kivu.

  • Public-Private Partnership to increase Healthcare Access

    {{A new partnership has been announced bringing together Health Store Holdings (HSH), Family Health (OFH) Foundation, GSK, Ecobank and the Rwandan Ministry of Health.}}

    The partnership is aimed at establishing 240 health posts across Rwanda over the next three years.

    The innovative partnership aims at increasing access to high quality essential medicines and basic healthcare for about two million people every year in rural Rwanda.

    This is the first step in an overall ambition to create up to 500 health posts in Rwanda over the next seven years as per a public-private partnership between the Ministry of Health and HSH, and in alignment with the Rwandan Government’s Vision 2020.

    This health post model, known as Child and Family Wellness (CFW) Health Posts, will operate under a business-format franchise network.

    They will be run by experienced nurses providing an entry point into the formal Rwandan public health system.

    This franchise model, which has been successfully piloted in Kenya, will give nurses joining the franchise access to finance and training in finance management, enabling them to earn a living whilst also increasing access to high quality essential medicines and basic healthcare for their local communities.

    GSK has already committed £900,000 to HSH to get an initial 60 health posts up and running. Under the terms of the new partnership, GSK will provide £1.8million in new funding as an interest free loan to enable HSH expand the franchise network by a further 180 health posts.

    The Rwandan Ministry of Health will facilitate the availability of designated physical structures for CFW Health Posts and specifications as required under this Partnership.

    Negotiations are at an advanced stage within Ecobank for nurses buying into the franchise to receive loans at affordable rates through Donor subsidies.

    Both GSK and Ecobank will contribute to a bursary to enable continued nurse training and development. HSH, the for-profit entity behind the franchise, will provide ongoing training, mentoring and expertise to support the nurse franchisees.

    The Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho hailed the partnership saying it would add value to the quality of health care provided and bring health care services closer to the communities.

    “With this partnership, we are assured of quality of health care extended to our people including more accessibility to drugs especially in remote areas which eventually leads to our ultimate goal of having a healthy population for economic development,” Binagwaho said.

  • East Africa’s Trade With World Doubles

    {{The value of East African total trade with the world doubled from US $ 17.5 billion dollar in 2005 to US $37 billion in 2010 expanding the share of its economy that is traded from 27% to 47%.}}

    This is contained in” the state of East African report 2012’ deepening integration and intensifying challenges that will be launched tomorrow presided over by the east African community ambassador general secretary DR Richard sezibera and SID international president ambassador Juma mwapucha at Hilton hotel Nairobi Kenya.

    The report is an update of the inaugural of the states of east Africa 2006 and compiles and analyses data across key economic, social and political indicators from the five member states of east Africa.

    The report also shows that: the EA population growth grew by 24 million between 2005 and 2010 and is estimated to reach 237 million by 2030 with an increased population and population density the pressure on the region’s natural resources will intensify further.

    Investment in maternal and child health are yielding are strong return as few mothers are dieing in child birth as more surviving beyond infancy.

    However, malnutrition remains one of the difficult challenges as faced by the region as evidenced that one-third of Kenyan children are stunted as are over half of the children in Burundi.

    The telecom revolution is leading to an emerging mobile economy. Mobile subscription in across EAC grew from 3 millions in 2002 to 64 million in 2010, catalysing innovations such as M- pesa that have helped deepen financial inclusion.

    East Africans are now more wired than ever before with the majority connecting to internet through their mobile phones.

    The world is paying close attention to the east Africa community and engaging with its increasing intensity and broadening scope.

    It’s enjoying growth in direct foreign investment attracted by its natural resource endowment, growing economies and integrating markets, recent markets and discovery of oil and gas in the region, the deployment of Ugandan, Burundians and Kenyan troops to Somalia, the fourfold increase from 15dollar million to 60 million dollar in the counterterrorism funding to the EAC.

    The arrival of 100 us military advisers to Uganda and AFRICOMS’ continued presence in the region demonstrates that EAC is a critical region from a global, geopolitical standpoint.

    East Africa’s infrastructure deficit is a well document challenge and infrastructure is crucial if the region if the region wants to receive a full benefit of regional integration. An estimated 95% of east African cargo is carried by road.

    This present significant difficult of 91% of east African road network is unpaved. This can be alleviated if investment is made in the region’[s underperforming rail section.

    Recent attempts to revive the sector including$ 40 Million from china for the Tanzania Zambia railway and the $40 Million African development bank loan for the rift valley railways are positive steps.

  • Umwarimu SACCO makes profit of Frw 700M

    {{Despite its late payment loan of Frw1,143,680,370 Last year in 2011, Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) made a profit of almost Frw700,033,594.}}

    This was announced by Nzabahimana J.M.V, the chief manager, who explained that the late payment of the loan was due to the loans given to teachers, who failed to pay on time and apparently are unable to pay back the loans.

    However, he is happy of the remarkable achievement profit of Frw700 million.

    He added that they are planning a new and modern way of sending and transferring money (cash express), which will start with the first ten role model sectors in the country.

    {{Payment outdated in relation to the market price}}

    Mukamuhoza Vérédiana, a headmistress at Nyabyondo Primary school in Burera District, says that it is the major obstacle that hinders them from developing.

    She says, many teachers fail to get married because of poverty and inability to pay house rents.

    A teacher makes a complete contribution of Frw10.000, and a monthly contribution of Frw2000, and insurance of Frw300 in case he/she loses a relative.

    A teacher with working experience of 5 years is paid an amount of Frw 38.000. Frw 44.000 to a teacher with the working experience of 10 years. Teachers get the final payment after subtracting health and retirement insurance.

  • Tanzania Telecom Company to Increase Rwandas Internet

    TTCL's CEO, Said Amir Said shakes hands with RDB IT boss, Patrick Nyirishema

    {{Aimed at increasing Rwanda’s internet capacity, the Rwanda Development Board has awarded a 6.7 million US dollar contract to Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) to provide 1.244 GB/sec of internet bandwidth.}}

    The bulk international bandwidth has been procured off the World Bank grant through the Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme-Rwanda (RCIPRW).

    The project aims at lowering prices of internet capacity as well as extending the geographic reach of broadband networks in the country.

    “Rwanda strongly believes in regional integration and is strategically positioned as a link between East Africa and Central Africa. What we are witnessing today is an important step in Rwanda’s efforts to grow as a service hub in the region,” said Patrick Nyirishema, the Head of Information and Communication Technology department at the Rwanda Development Board.

    Nyirishema explained, “For Rwanda to achieve higher and sustained growth performance through transforming itself into a service-based economy, it has embarked on developing the ICT infrastructure and services.”

    While noting that Rwanda faces significant challenges in getting access to low-cost international connectivity as a landlocked country, Nyirishema explained that; “This purchase of bulk international capacity on regional and international networks will significantly boost our vision to make bandwidth a commodity on the Rwandan market.”

    He added that if broadband becomes a commodity on the Rwandan market, it would stimulate deployment of a wider and improved range of services to consumers at affordable prices.

    “We are using demand aggregation for bandwidth to drive down prices of internet capacity, to stimulate investment into regional network infrastructure and to ensure that affordable access is made available to all market participants on an open-access basis,” added Nyirishema.

    The CEO of TTCL, Said Amir Said noted that this contract is more than just business because it links two sister countries.

    “This is just the beginning. Not only TTCL but also the government of Tanzania is honoured to work with Rwanda to promoted the East African countries,” noted Said.

    Within two weeks of signing of this contract, TTCL will provide part of the capacity and will progressively scale up to the full contracted capacity in less than six months.

  • Ugandans to Learn About Carnegie Mellon University-Rwanda

    {{The Rwanda High Commission in Uganda and Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and CMU-R will be welcoming people to learn about Rwanda’s landmark partnership with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).}}

    The event will be held today Wednesday 4th of April at Metropole Hotel, Kampala. CMU recently opened its doors in the heart of East Africa- Kigali, Rwanda.

    CMU, one of the world’s leading universities in information technology and engineering, is the first U.S. research institution of this caliber to offer graduate degrees in Africa with an in-country presence and resident faculty.

    In a region booming with technology innovation, this initiative intends to serve the East African Community and strives to produce the next generation of African innovators and technology leaders to support a competitive ICT industry in East Africa.

  • Two Women Fight Over Policeman

    {{Police at Gakenke is holding a woman identified as Vestine Byukusenge who allegedly cut another woman using a razor blade accusing her of eloping with her husband.}}

    Mukagasana Providence was cut several times on her face with a razor blade on April 2. The incident occurred in the District Gakenke. She is currently receiving treatement.

    Byukusenge says she warned several times Mukagasana on the phone to leave her husband alone but to no avail until she decided to launch an attack.

    The husband in question is a policeman at Gakenke district .

    Vestine says she made the decision following an unbearable anger caused by her own husband with Mukagasana Providence.

    Mukagasana is a local official responsible for the civil sector at Gakenke.

  • Building Collapses, 30 Feared Dead

    {{A building (commonly known as Petit Meridien) has collapsed at Kacyiru leaving 30 people buried under rubbles. The incident took place today at around 11 AM.

    Only six people have been recovered from the rubbles and rushed to King Faisal hospital. The building has been undergoing demolition paving way for renovation.

    The workers on the site at the top floor were not hurt however; most victims were workers demolishing the ground floor.}}

    IGIHE Team is at the site….

  • Court Rejects Mugesera’s Plea

    {{Court has today rejected three of the four requests made by Leo Mugesera including the request to have his trial conducted in French language.}}

    Among the prerequisites he requested for were: to be temporarily released, tried in French language and be given an additional time of one month to get preferable lawyers.

    In all those conditions he asked for, one has been accepted, and he has being accorded one month to get lawyers of his choice.

    The presiding judge Murererehe Sauda, said that there was no noteworthy reason to be tried in French, since Mugesera left Rwanda at the age of 47 and spent only 20 years abroad, which explains the fact that he cannot be tried in French. The Kinyarwanda he understands is enough for him to be tried.

    On the temporary release plea, the court completely rejected his plea, and said he had to stay where he is currently imprisoned until he is next summoned to the court.

    On Mugesera’s unawareness of the allegations against him, Murererehe Sauda noted that many times he had been made aware of the allegations, and again, if he finds a lawyer, he will be let known all he wants to know about the allegations against him.

    Mugesera will appear before court on 9th may, 2012.

  • Frw 80Billion Pumped into Rice Production

    {{About Frw 80 Billion has been injected into rice farming in Rwanda for the past five years.}}

    Nobert Sendege, the Director General of Crop Production at MINAGRI says currently the country’s rice production is 71,000 tons of rice annually.

    Sendege adds that 2400 more hectares of land will be available for rice growing in the country in addition to the current 9,000 hectares.

    The government, World Bank, International Fund for Agriculture Development and African Development Bank have contributed the funds.

    The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources says that Rwanda will produce sufficient rice by the year 2017, and that they are doing their best to increase rice production.

    The Permanent Secretary at MINAGRI, Ernest Ruzindaza, said that by the year 2017, Rwanda will have become self reliant in rice production, thus exporting more to local and international markets and importing less.

    “One of the strategies we will be using is buying new marchlands and restoring the existing ones to increase rice production.” He added that, the preparations are underway to cultivate 1,700 hectares of land at Muvumba marshland in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province.

    According to Sendege, “rice production in the country currently covers 65% of the national demand.

    In 2011, the production was at 55% and we believe that with modern agricultural tools and techniques we will not experience any shortage of rice by 2017.”