IGIHE English

Author: Bonita Brigitte Umurungi

  • Over 100 bribery cases reported to courts in five months

    This was announced by the president of the high court Prof Sam Rugege while closing the anti-corruption week in courts which took place in Nyagatare last week.

    In 2017-2018, Prof. Rugege said, 561 people were summoned by the court, where 265 were found guilty and 95 were found to be innocent, 192 appealed to the higher court. Prof Rugege observed that registering of bribery cases in court doesn’t imply that bribery is increasing but instead shows that society is working hard on reporting those who indulge in corruption-related practices.

    “The people have committed to pinpoint out those engaging in bribery. From 2005 to 2018, 17 magistrates and 26 court clerks were sacked due to bribery while from 2011, 3 magistrates and 6 court clerks were imprisoned.

    Rugege took the opportunity to ask all the judicial officers to desist from taking and giving bribes.

    “Do not give room to those who bribe you leading to the loss of your dignity and the trust citizens have in you. Judges have always been people of self-respect, honesty, and respect for others. Say no to bribery and report those who want to bribe you”.

  • Rwandans in Senegal celebrate Heroes Day

    Rwanda marks Heroes’ Day annually and this year the theme hinged on “sustaining heroism in a vision we have chosen”.

    Rwanda’s Ambassador to Senegal, Dr. Harebamungu Mathias gave a message reminding the real meaning of heroism and why it is important to sustain its values.

    “We ponder those who showed commitment to upholding the dignity and love for Rwanda and Rwandans,” ambassador Dr. Harebamungu adding that it is necessary to teach Rwandan youth the values of heroism.

    He said “Youth need to be guided into maintaining Rwanda’s strong values for the country to achieve its vision of prosperity which is entailed in vision 2050. We cannot achieve it without heroic values and without the future generation embracing such values.”

    Heroes ‘Day is celebrated focusing on different great deeds by Rwandans including the liberation of the country and promoting unity among Rwandans.

    {{The Heroes’ Day Celebration in Pictures
    }}

  • President Kagame meets ICC Chief Prosecutor

    The conference hosted over 450 participants including 35 heads of state, 50 ministers of foreign affairs and over 30 ministers of security affairs.

    In the past, President Kagame has been critical of the ICC for training its efforts towards African affairs alone without giving due consideration to countries from elsewhere in the world.

    Details of what transpired in the meeting between President Kagame and the Chief Prosecutor have not been made public.

  • BK MasterCard Users Awarded

    This competition dubbed “PAY and WIN using MasterCard”, started on the 11th of January 2019 open to everyone who uses BK debit and credit cards.

    The terms and conditions for one to take part in this competition were using Rwf50 paying for goods and services (shopping, paying for meals, medicine and more) in a two-week period.

    The cards used include MasterCard Debit Standard and MasterCard Debit World (which allow one to withdraw money), MasterCard Credit Standard and MasterCard Credit World (which allows one to purchase on credit) and MasterCard Platinum for special clients.
    The winners were announced on TV1. Musso Marcello a teacher at East Africa Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP-EAIFR) was happy for winning a motorcycle.

    “I have been using MasterCard for the last four months. I have also been thinking of buying my own motorcycle but am glad I have received it as a gift. I will continue working with BK.”

    Mutesi Gasana another winner of a laptop said; “I am so glad to receive this prize. It is going to help me continue using MasterCard and showing all people that this program gives safety,” she promised.

    Head of BK card-based products, Mutesi Joselyne explained that this program supports the government ambition of building a cashless economy.

    One of the lucky winners, Idi Gaparayi, received a motorcycle
    Musso Marcello said he was very pleased with his prize, as it was one of his dreams
    The Head of BK card-based products, Mutesi Joselyne awarding one of the winners

  • HEC allows former Gitwe students to join other universities

    The move was announced yesterday, Sunday, in a meeting that brought together the students, ISPG administration and HEC aimed at resolving the issue of placing students in other universities to enable them to complete their studies.

    The Ministry of Education last week announced a decision to definitively close two faculties of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences and Medicine and Surgery of the University of Gitwe.
    It was thereupon decided that students who took medicine and surgery courses continue their courses in University of Rwanda and those taking the medical laboratory to join the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (INES, Kibogora Polytechnic and the Catholic University of Rwanda.

    The HEC Executive Director Dr. Muvunyi Emmanuel announced that he has already consulted the universities where students will continue with their courses and they are ready to receive them in line with the set terms and conditions.

    Some students were, however, pessimistic as to whether the form and content of instruction will rhyme with their background, arguing HEC to intercede for them so that their adopted universities concentrate on imparting knowledge of what they did not cover at Gitwe.

    Dr. Muvunyi, however, said HEC cannot alter the way universities deliver content to students but in case any need for their intervention arises, they will always be available.
    “We are not going to change the form and nature of instruction of any of the universities you are joining for they each have their own standards and academic norms, but where one needs help, we shall work with them to make everything work smoothly,” he said.

  • President Kagame attends EAC summit

    The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and EAC affairs Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe wrote on his tweet that the presidents of the four member states that make the EAC; President Paul Kagame, John Pombe Magufuli, Uhuru Kenyatta, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the vice president of Burundi Gaston Sindikubwabo have met today 1st of February 2019.

    The summit which has also been attended by the EAC General Secretary Liberat Mfumukeko was twice postponed from 30th October and 27th December 2018.

    Amb. Nduhungirehe said that the 20th EAC summit will involve voting the new Chairman of EAC and discuss the fast-tracking of flagship pillars of the community including; Customs Union, Common Market, Common Currency and Political Confederation.
    Rwanda will take over the chairmanship of the EAC.

  • More Rwandans abducted by Uganda’s CMI

    Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has kidnapped two Rwandans, Kayobera Darius and his wife Uwineza Claudine from where they were working in Kampala. The family of three children was kidnapped in the night on Monday, 28th January 2019.

    As reported by Virunga Post, Kayobera had been practicing business in Uganda for seven years where he had a salon and a commercial building in Rubaga. It is said that Kayobera and wife were kidnapped by the CMI on the accusation that they are Rwanda’s spies.

    Their kidnapping follows other incessant kidnaps and allegations of torture by Uganda’s military intelligence on framed up charges.

  • MONUSCO to intervene against DRC-based insurgents against Rwanda

    The development follows the arrest of leaders of militias, Laforge Fils Bazeye and Lieutenant-Colonel Theophile Abega of FDLR and RNC led by Kayumba Nyamwasa that were caught as they returned from Uganda where they mastermind their attacks from.

    A report from MONUSCO released in December 2018 indicates that RNC led by Kayumba which operates on the southern Kivu intends to attack Rwanda.

    Crispin Atama Tabe the DRC Minister of Defense on 18th of January this year wrote to MONUSCO asking for their intervention in stopping the activities of FDLR on the DRC territory.

    “DRC is strongly opposed to insurgents using its territory to disturb the peace in any neighboring country. I am asking the MONUSCO to help DRC army (FARDC) in stopping any possible attack planned by FDLR fighters,” said Crispin.

  • Rwanda marks World Wetlands Day

    The day is celebrated annually to bring visibility and awareness about the importance of conserving wetlands. This year’s celebration was proceeded by the national wetland week from 26th- 31st January 2019, during which illegal wetland based activities were relocated in the districts of Gasabo, and Kicukiro districts.

    The week was also characterized by sensitization outreach programs, discussions in schools on how to preserve wetlands, preventing erosion, disasters and other interventions that do ensure sustainable utilization of the catchment areas.

    REMA Director General, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya said that when wetlands are well preserved they largely help in lessening disasters that emanate from the consequences of climate change.

    “I am calling upon everyone to get involved in the preservation of our wetlands for the benefit of all. Celebrating the World Wetland Day is a great opportunity for Rwanda to consolidate the achievements made in environmental conservation and protection especially in the sustainable use of restoration of degraded ones,” she said.

    In Rwanda, there are 935 wetlands, which cover over 10.6% on the country’s land. They play a big role in the daily life of Rwandans.