IGIHE

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  • Canadian Scholars Conclude Study Tour in Rwanda

    {{Canadian scholars from Western Ontario University that have been in Rwanda for a week studying about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, have vowed to present the truth about the country’s history and neutralize misleading information.}}

    The students led by Prof. Amanda Grzyb left the country over the weekend after a weeklong study about the ethnic killings. They also toured some the genocide memorial sites and heard testimonies from the war’s survivors.

    Prof. Grzyb noted that scholars have a big role to play in bringing out well researched publications about the Rwandan ethnic war, since the war’s deniers and their sympathizers are misinforming the world about the genocide.

    “Soon we intend to publish a report about our Rwandan visit and I believe through some of the facts from the report will help many understand about the ethnic killings,” she said.

    At a roundtable meeting with the scholars, Jean deu Mucyo the executive secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG French abbreviated), commended their efforts to learn more about the war’s truth.

    “We are impressed by people especially foreigners who want to know the truth about the 1994 Tutsi genocide. We expect them to retaliate to those spreading deceitful information about the war, we also call upon those with relevant information concerning the genocide to present it to the commission.”

  • Rwandans in German Conduct “Umuganda”

    {{Members of the Rwandan community in Germany gathered this week-end to initiate a collective service modeled on the Rwandan community work “Umuganda” for the needy people living in their regions.}}

    They aimed at showing their solidarity with fellow countrymen who did “Umuganda” this Saturday in Rwanda.

    Starting in January in the German capital Berlin as an initiative by the Rwandan youth who were organized by the newly established youth group “Ruanda Connection”, Rwandans joined social projects aimed at supporting the needy people of the German society.

    The initiative was welcomed by the Rwandan community in Germany and this week-end Rwandans living in Cologne and Munich joined the youths in Berlin for the monthly community work.

    Rwandans in Germany said that their objective was to show engagement for the German society and demonstrate that the Rwandan culture had something to offer even to a developed country.

    On Friday evening youths living in Cologne helped preparing a warm meal and provided it outside to the homeless people. Their counterparts in Berlin also cared for the needy people and distributed warm soups in a soup kitchen. Members of the Rwandan community in Munich renovated a cultural center on Sunday.

    A pleasant surprise for the youths in Berlin was the participation of the Rwandan Ambassador to Hungary Christine Nkulikiyinka with members of her family who donated food for the homeless to the catering ministry.

    Ambassador Nkulikiyinka welcomed the initiative to preserve the Rwandan tradition of “Umuganda” abroad, “this would not only strengthen relations within the Rwandan community but would also provide an excellent opportunity to share the Rwandan cultural variety with other countries.”

    In an earlier speech during the New year’s reception for the Rwandan community which took place in four German cities, Ambassador Nkulikiyinka commended the engagement shown by the young people and encouraged all Rwandans living in Germany to join the exemplary initiative.

  • Rwandan Envoy to Hungary Presents Credentials

    {{Rwanda’s envoy to Hungary Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka presented her credentials to H.E. Pál Schmitt, President of the Republic of Hungary.}}

    The two exchanged on possible areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries and expressed the need to strengthen bilateral relations. The event took place on 22 Feburuary.

    President Schmitt received Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka who was accompanied by the Embassy’s First Secretary at Sandor Palace in Budapest.

    H.E Schmitt was particularly eager to learn how Rwanda emerged from the genocide, especially in the area of national reconciliation.

    The Rwandan envoy informed President Schmitt that Rwanda has registered enormous achievements in the fields of security and economy in the past 18 years.

    She added that Rwanda continues to strive for sustainable solutions for the challenges facing the Rwandan people.

    Ambassador Nkulikiyinka indicated that Rwanda provides various investment opportunities to Hungarian businessmen in various sectors; tourism, agro-processing and renewable energies.

    President Schmitt requested Ambassador Nkulikiyinka to forward his special regards to the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
    After the audience, Ambassador Nkulikiyinka signed the Guest book and laid a wreath on the Memorial for Hungarian heroes at the Heroes square.

  • Man Commits Suicide

    {{Jean Bosco Rebero 50, a resident in Gatsibo district, Rwembogo sector 23rd February committed suicide by taking farm chemical liquid.}}

    Tioda is a liquid chemical substance used by farmers to spray on their crops preventing them from getting destroyed by pesticides. The toxic substance is very dangerous to human life especially when swallowed.

    According to Police sources in Gatsibo, a neighbour went at Rebero’s house at around 9PM and found that he had locked himself inside the house.

    The witness called residents who forcefully opened the door only to find later that Rebero had taken the deadly liquid substance.

    With the help of Police, the deceased was taken to Ndama Health Center but unfortunately died on the way.

    Police investigation indicates that, the death of Rebero is believed to be linked to the conflict with his wife whom he had divorced three month ago.

    A resident who spoke to Police in Gatsibo disclosed that Rebero had often beaten up his wife especially after taking alcohol. The resident whose name couldn’t be identified by press time said that during the incident, Rebero had chased away his six children.

    Police Spokesperson condemned the decision taken by the deceased urging citizens to always uphold their dignity and avoid putting their lives to waste. “Such lives are needed not only by their families but also the country,” Badege pointed out.

    Badege further appealed to the public to share timely information with security organs and local leaders to ensure such family conflicts are handled in order to prevent unnecessary death.

  • Police Seizes Packets of Cannabis

    {{Police in Ruhango district is holding a man identified as Alphonse Ngezahoguhora 22 found in possession of a bag containing 86 packets of cannabis.}}

    According to Police sources in Ruhango, Ngezahoguhora was arrested yesterday by a resident(name withheld on request) while intending to sell the drug at Kinazi market located in Burima sector, Byimana cell.

    After suspecting him to be carrying the drug, the law abiding citizen alerted Police to apprehend the drug dealer. It was established later that Ngezahoguhora’s bag contained 86 packets of cannabis commonly known as marijuana ({urumogi}).

    Police investigations indicate that Ngezahoguhora’s name had featured on the list of law breakers who were wanted by Kinazi sector authorities for various crimes including drugs dealing and consumption.

    The Ruhango District Police Commander (DPC) Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marc Gasangwa told IGIHE.com that Police had previously arrested four people while smoking marijuana among them were three school boys studying at Lyce’e de Nyanza.

    Gasangwa added that an inclusive meeting that brought together security organs, school administration and students of both Lycée de Nyanza and Collège de Kigoma was organized to sensitize students about the dangers of consuming drugs and the need to refrain from them.

    If found guilty Ngezahoguhora will face between six months to five years of imprisonment according to articles 272 and 273 of the Rwandan Penal code.

  • ICTR Transfers Second Case To Rwanda

    {{The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has transferred a case of genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema to be tried in Rwanda. However, the whereabouts of the suspect are unknown.}}

    “The Referral Chamber orders the case be referred to the authorities of the Republic of Rwanda, so that those authorities should forthwith refer the case to the High Court of Rwanda for an expeditious trial,” reads the decision dated February 22, 2012.

    The Chamber ordered the Prosecution to hand over to the Rwandan Prosecutor General not later than 30 days after the decision becoming final.

    Material supporting the indictment against the accused and all other appropriate evidentiary material is in its possession.

    Fulgence Kayishema is charged by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) with genocide or complicity in genocide in the alternative, conspiracy to commit genocide and extermination (crimes against humanity).

    According to the indictment dated 5 July 2001, Kayishema was Inspector of police in Kivumu commune in the Kibuye préfecture.

    Kayishema is charged with having participated in the massacre of ethnic Tutsis across Kibuye, most notoriously the Nyange Parish massacre, in which he executed a plan for the mass killing of Tutsi refugees gathered in the parish, along with convicted génocidaire and former priest, Athanase Seromba.

    Prosecution alleges that, among other acts, Fulgence Kayishema ordered the killing of Tutsis inside the parish, and brought fuel for use by the Interahamwe militia to burn down the parish. More than 2000 civilians are believed to have died in this attack alone.

    The Chamber presided over by Judge Khalida Rachid Khan noted that Rwanda had made material changes in its law and had indicated its capacity and willingness to prosecute cases referred by the Tribunal.

    ‘’The Chamber expresses its solemn hope that the Republic of Rwanda, in accepting referrals from this Tribunal, will actualize in practice the commitments it made in its filing about its good faith, capacity and willingness to enforce the highest standard of international justice in the referral cases,” states the ruling.

  • Fallen Legislator Honoured a State Funeral

    {{The fallen legislator Tharcisse Shamakokera has been laid to rest and honoured a state funeral this Friday.}}

    A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance.

    State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition.

    The journey to his final resting place was preceded with a requiem at Regina Pacis Catholic Church in Remera.

    The body of late Shamakokera was first taken to the parliamentary building where members of Parliament and other dignitaries paid him their last respects before commencing to cemetery.

    The speakers at the ceremony described Shamakokera as a hardworking, zealous and committed person in his days he lived.

    The Speaker of Parliament Rose Mukantabana noted that the country has lost a very significant person.

    Shamakokera has been a member of Parliamentary Education commission.
    The late Shamakokera was born in 1944 in Gahini.

    He went to Buhambe Primary School in Byumba, Rwesero seminary in Kabwayi, and later joined the national university of Rwanda, where he pursued linguistics.

    During his life, he taught in Uganda at Ntare School, Lycee de Nyabiharage in Burundi.

    The 68-year old held different positions in cabinet; He was former Rwanda’s Education Minister after 1994, Officer in charge of social affairs in the President’s Office, Officer in the General Secretariat of RPF- Inkotanyi and Deputy Secretary General in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs.

    He is survived by a wife, four children and numerous grandchildren.

    {{ENDS}}

  • WB Opens Global Center To Help Conflicted Countries

    {{The World Bank has opened a new Global Center on Conflict, Security and Development to make its financial support and expertise work better for poor and vulnerable people living in fragile countries. }}

    It estimates that more than 1.5 billion people living in countries afflicted by repeated cycles of conflict and violence.

    The center will also help to establish a stronger community of practice and knowledge-sharing across the worldwide network of practitioners who work on development issues confronting fragile and conflict-affected countries.

    The Bank says that more than 30 countries, mostly in Africa, have been or are affected by conflicts and that its new center in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, will allow the Bank to provide their communities with more flexible, transparent help.

    At its opening ceremony in Nairobi, attended by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, government ministers, UN and development agencies, and NGOs active in post-conflict development, the Bank said the world is now witnessing a number of countries that are navigating their way out of war and conflict.

    Sierra Leone, Liberia, Timor Leste, and Bosnia by resuming education, health, and other key social services, and creating stable, elected governments which in turn have drawn development support and local and foreign investors.

    However, according to the Bank, millions of people across Africa, South Asia, and other regions still face perilous, isolated, lives in war-torn situations.

    “Political and criminal violence should not be the chains that shackle people for life. We know violence knows no borders. We know the impact of violence can last generations,” said Dr. Caroline Anstey, the World Bank’s Managing Director for Operations, who officially opened the center.

    “Our challenge is to provide more support and make development work more effectively in fragile and often violent places. Not to do so would be abandoning our development mission.”

    Anstey noted that the Bank had mobilized more than 690 staff to work in fragile countries across the globe, and had provided more than US$5.9 billion in zero-interest in reconstruction support to these countries since 2000 from the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, the International Development Association (IDA), and the Bank-administered State-and Peace-Building Fund, which fosters peace-building in fragile and conflict countries.

    The Nairobi center, which will operate out of the headquarters of Africa’s leading affordable housing NGO, Shelter Afrique, will also unveil a new online and face-to-face knowledge web portal called The Hive to connect practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and networks of people and organizations working on violence, conflict, and fragility around the world.

    {{ENDS}}

  • Best ‘A’ Level Science Students Listed

    {{The Rwanda National Examination Board (RNEC) has listed nine best Science students in the just released 2011 senior six (S6) examination results.}}

    Onesphore Ndayishimiye of G.S.O Butare scored ‘As’ in all subjects; Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Emmanuel Taylor Dufitumukiza of E.SC Byimana who also scored straight As in the same subjects combination.

    The best students listed in sciences scored ‘As’ in all their subjects Combinations and only two girls made it to this year’s best students list in science subjects.

    Others include Romeo Ntazinda (MPC) of G.S Saint Andre, Leonce Nshuti (MCB) of E. SC. Musanze and the only female candidates, Alice Igiraneza and Sauda Niyigena, (MCB) both of E.SC. Byimana.

    According to the Ministry of Education 87.5% of students passed 2011 ‘A’ level examinations and 54% were boys while 46% were girls.

    It has been indicated that upcountry schools have performed better as compared to urban based schools.

    The released results, excluded students who completed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, which were administered by Workforce Development Authority (WDA).

    It was also announced that beginning this year, Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) took up the responsibility of Teacher Training Centres (TTC).

    Begining this year the examination board will only administer examinations for Primary, O’Level and A’ Level. Technical and professional examinations will be administered by WDA and KIE.

    This explains why the number of candidates who sat for A’ Level exams reduced from 49,133 in 2010 to 30,845 in 2011, according to Harebamungu.

    The announcement of the results made by both Dr. Mathias Harebamungu the state Minister for both Primary and secondary schools and John Rutayisire RNEB boss came with encouragement to the parents to pay for their children in the universities.

    Minister Harebamungu who made the call said that government is not in position to give bursary to over 80% students who passed this year’s examinations hence government will be too selective in offering bursaries.

    Groupe Scholaire du Butare in Huye District and Ecole Des Science Byimana in Muhanga District have been ranked the best schools in science subjects.

    {{ENDS}}

  • EWASA Cuts Electricity Fees For Local Industries

    {{Industries operating in the Rwanda will soon have their charges on electricity reduced starting from 11pm to 7pm in the morning.}}

    The management of Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWASA) has presented a proposal explaining how the program will operate to the ministry of infrastructure and Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority.

    Yves Muyange,the director of EWASA noted that reduction of electricity fees at certain hours for industries would attract investors at the same time reduce on the cost of production.

    “In the region, Rwanda has higher charges on electricity but soon we intend to reduce the costs after improving power generation in the country,” he said.

    Muyange further noted that activities to improve electricity are underway, “we’re exploiting all power sources such as the hydro, geothermal, solar and methane gas, the aim is to improve power generation of which industries consume 30% of the current electricity production.”