Author: admin

  • Norwegian Investors Hail Rwanda’s Doing Business

    {{Norwegian investors now in the country to attend a one-day seminar organised by Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has hailed Rwanda for setting up favorable environment of doing business.}}

    They have described Rwanda’s investment climate as excellent for doing business comparing to many of the African countries in only 17 years post Genocide.

    Rwanda Development Board had organized the seminar aimed at displaying the various business opportunities in the country under the theme ‘Develop and expand your Business –Networking and Financing Possibilities’.

    The meeting was also organised in collaboration with the Norfund (Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

    The Head of Investment Promotion and Information at RDB, Vivian Kayitesi, made a presentation on various untapped investment opportunities, including ICT, agro-processing, infrastructure, tourism, energy, mining, real estate and construction.

    John Gara Chief Executive Officer of RDB said it was essential to provide adequate and first hand information to investors to help them understand specific areas of interest.

    Gara also said the seminar was partly organised to facilitate local investors in private sector to interact with their Norwegian counterparts and share ideas on how to spur business.

    He advised them to access funds from the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries.

    Bjorn H. Eriksen, the Director of Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, highlighted various sectors such as energy, agro-business, communication and environmental sector that need to explore.

    “There so many business opportunities in this country and its quite good that they have simplified the ways of investing here,” he said.

    Speaking to reporters, Thorbjoen Gaustads Aether, the Norwegian Ambassador, observed that the country’s investment climate was conducive, and hence hoping to explore business opportunities in Rwanda.

    {{ENDS}}

  • Sector Official Arrested For Swindling Rwf 1m

    {{Damascene Iyamuremye, the executive secretary of Busogo sector in Musanze District has been arrested and detained at Musanze police post for allegedly swindling Rwf 1 million.}}

    Iyamuremye now facing trial for the abuse of office and related crimes is said to have connived with Tharciana Duterimbere the branch Manager of Umurenge SACCO-Busogo.

    According to the source on the ground, both suspects are said to have withdrawn the money illegally meant cooperative in the area.

    The money, which was reportedly embezzled, was 15 percent of the total interest paid by cooperatives.

    Over Rwf 15 million had been cashed in to support cooperatives in Busogo Sector, by PADSEC (Project D’appui au Development Socio-Economic et Culturel dans la Province du Nord), and channelled through a local Umurenge SACCO account.

    The scam was unearthed during an audit carried out by Rwanda Cooperatives Agency last week, a body mandated to oversee the operations of the cooperatives in the country.

    Police spokesman, Supt. Theos Badege, confirmed the arrest and said that investigations were still ongoing.

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  • Over Rwf2bn Earmarked For Street Lights

    {{About Rwf 2.6bn have been earmarked to fix Kigali City’s street lights, the senior official at Kigali city has said.}}

    Alphonse Nzeyimana the Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Affairs said that this year street lights in Kigali city and its suburbs will be fixed.

    “We intend to complete before the end of this year. All necessary requirements to fix the street lights are in place,” Nzeyimana said.

    Nzeyimana said that the fixing the streetlights would take 41 kilometers on Kimironko-Zindiro Nyabugogo-Kinamba and Nyabugogo-Ruliba on your way to southern province and Remera-Kabuga roads.

    Commenting the due exercise, Nzeyimana said the fixing of the street lights will also favour proper security in Kigali City.

    He also said that it is also a tool that can increase social-economic activities as Kigali residents are facilitated to work for extended hours.

    Nzeyimana says funds will come from central government and other stakeholders.

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  • Media Can Enhance Good Governance –Prof. Shyaka

    {{The Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board Prof. Anastase Shyaka has said the body he leads and media can enhance good governance in the country.}}

    While calling upon the media to play outstanding role in enhancing good governance, Prof. Shyaka said different media houses can play a significant role in strengthening principles and practices in the country.

    Prof. Shyaka was presiding over the consultative meeting on the role of the media in promoting good governance.

    “You can be at the centre of good governance practices implementation. One of your role is educating the public,” Prof. Shyaka said.

    Prof. Shyaka said that the governance body and the media can be co-workers in educating the public about the values of good governance.

    One of the journalists Prince Bahati, from Radio Hope says government should also play a proactive role in supporting the media.

    Mid last month, the government launched good governance month of which the aim will be assessing and strengthening good governance through service delivery.

    The good governance month will also aim at hearing what the public wants in as far as good governance is concerned.

    {{ENDS}}

  • Police Dogs to Search Passengers

    {{Professional trained dogs have been adopted by the National Police in the checking of vehicles for any suspicious items especially drugs and explosives.}}

    This was launched on 15th January 2012 in Kayonza district-Eastern Province.

    The police spokesperson, supt. Theos Badege says that this technique of using dogs will help in avoiding and weakening drug dealings forbidden in Rwanda.

    “we are used to seizing passengers with drugs enroute from Uganda and Tanzania meeting in Kayonza, the reason why it was the first place to be checked”, said Badege.

    He revealed that not only passengers but also some drivers are involved in drugs business where they conceal them in passenger’s baggage.

    Badege warned drug dealers saying Police will not tolerate such kinds of illegal business that threatens security and population as a whole.

  • Rwandan Diaspora Tours Iwawa Rehabilitation Center

    {{The Rwandan Diaspora yesterday toured Iwawa rehabilitation and vocational skills development Center where former street children receive vocational skills training aimed at orienting them to a hopeful life.}}

    During their stay at the Island the youth train in construction, carpentry, tailoring, commercial farming and bee keeping. They also receive necessary psychological support to abandon their former street lifestyles.

    Allen Kabandana a student at Iwawa center testified that he was once addicted to cocaine consumption and drug abuse.

    His life was completely lost until his relatives took him to Iwawa rehabilitation Center that has transformed him.

    Kabandana vows to take the lead in fighting drug abuse among the youth. He considers the center as a free of charge rehabilitation and professional training center.

    Dr. Ismael Buchanan, the Secretary General of Rwanda Diaspora Network said that the visit was aimed at having the first hand information about the center as opposed to misinformation spread abroad.

    The diaspora has been misinformed that the center is a confinement centre yet it is rehabilitating the Rwandan youth and also helping them become productive members of society.

    Buchanan promised that the Diaspora will go on telling the world the real story of Iwawa.

  • Ouagadougou University Awards PHD to Rwanda’s Prime Minister

    {{The Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has received a Doctorate Diploma in politics on 18th January 2012 from the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.}}

    According to lefaso.net, Habumuremyi defended his thesis entitled{ “Pouvoir Politique et Ethnicite au Rwanda: Analyse du Conflit Rwandais et de l’offre politique de l’apres -1994 pour la reconstruction d’un Etat-Nation”}

    HABUMUREMYI emphasizes, in his book, on the contribution of colonizers to the ethnic based conflicts which lasted long in Rwanda till they led to 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

    He mentioned Belgium, Catholic Church, UN and France as the most contributors to the Rwanda’s conflicts.

    After defending his thesis, the lecturer of Politics in Niamey University, Alou Mahamane Tidjani, one of the jury leaders announced that Pierre Damien Habumuremyi officially wins his PhD in Politics.

    The ceremony was attended by Burkinabe Prime Minister’s wife and Koumba Boly, the minister of Education.

    Koumba Boly took the incident as a model for Africans both leaders and citizens calling them on valuing their universities, avoiding to consider European universities as worthier than theirs.

    The book has been studied for five years and it provides examples of unity and reconciliation level in Rwanda as well as offering pieces of advice.

  • Premier Habumuremyi in Gambia

    Gambia's President-elect Yahya Jammeh to be sworn in today

    {{Rwanda’s Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi is in Gambia to attend the swearing in ceremony of President-elect Yahya Jammeh of the republic of Gambia.}}

    Yahya Jammeh will be sworn in for a fourth term of office at a ceremony to be held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau today Thursday 19th January.

    Jammeh was re-elected for a fourth five-year term of office in the presidential elections held on 24th November 2011, after he polled 72% of the total votes cast.

    Jammeh’s main challenger Ousainou Darboe of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) polled 17% while 11% went to independent candidate Hamat Bah, who was backed by the United Front, a coalition of four opposition parties.

    Thousands of Gambians mainly APRC supporters are expected to be at the stadium to witness what many have described as an “historic” event.
    However, the main oppposition party UDP rejected the results.

    The Gambian leader is more optimistic about the potentials of his country transforming into an economic giant after winning the November polls.

    In his victory speech delivered at the July 22 nd Square in Banjul, Jammeh said, “Allah has endowed us with a lot of resources which I will not disclose here. We will achieve the dreams of not only turning The Gambia into a Silicon Valley of Africa but an economic superpower in the world. I hereby give notice to countries that have triumphed in terms of socio-economic development such as Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, that in five years, no one will talk about them but The Gambia in terms of advancement.”

  • Electric Fence Kills Man

    {{Following electrocution to death of Marcel Birikunzira by electrified fence on 15th January 2012, residents of Murambi, Gihundwe cell, Kamembe sector in Rusizi district near Gihundwe Hospital are worried and closely monitoring their children’s moves.}}

    Joseph Ntahomvukiye resident in the area said, “I am not sure if our children will not be trapped by the electric fence built near the road.

    He urged hospital authorities to try and solve the problem by disabling the electricity flowing through the fence. I think the fence was to prevent thieves from entering.

    Dr. Celestin Ntawuhungakaje, the director of Gihundwe hospital said, “Birikunzira died when the fence and its accessories including electricity installations were being built and it was even after rainfall that caused short circuits.”

    He asked the surrounding people to take away all the worries for they cannot protect the hospital by electrifying the fence.

    “After testing the fence, we found that Birikunzira died when the fence was electrified”, noted the head of EWSA-Rusizi branch.

  • Concert Underway to Award Local Reggae Artists

    {{Rwanda’s dancehall artist Crispin Ngabirama is organizing a concert to award local reggae artists whom he claims have been abandoned in various local music awards.}}

    Among the awards he criticized is Salax, a yearly reward given to local musicians, but minimal or no recognition is shown to reggae musicians.

    Those mainly favored include; genres related to R&B, Hip-hop, Afro-beat and traditional.

    Attempting to respond to the matter, the chief organizer of Salax awards Mike Karangwa disagreed with Ngabirama’s argument adding that most local reggae musicians show a lesser will in the competitions.

    “I can’t be blamed for a group of musicians who are hesitant to compete. The contests are open to all musicians irrespective of their type of music.

    Though the category of reggae is not indicated in our categories we still classify Reggae under Afro-fusion since both genres have a lot in common,” he explained.

    Ngabirama, who is gaining popularity for his latest hit ‘Dieu d’Afrique’ is not satisfied and wants full recognition of Reggae musicians.

    Currently he is having talks with renowned reggae band members from Holly Jah Doves and musician Ben Rutabana on how to organize a concert to award reggae artists.

    He further points out that Reggae songs are more advantageous compared to other genres since they portray educative messages which are especially based on behavior change, unlike R&B which talks about romance and love.