IGIHE

Author: Elina Jonas Ruzindaza

  • UR students held by lockdown eventually sent back home

    Last week the government announced that there was an undergoing review of how college and university students were to be helped to return home.

    The University of Rwanda immediately asked students to approach its nearest branches and register. UR reports that the registration of 1661 students indicates that they want to return home after a difficult life due to the postponement of the school year.

    On May 11, 2020, students from the faculties of the University of Rwanda in Nyagatare, Rukara, Busogo, Rwamagana, Huye and Rusizi happily boarded vehicles to various destinations from where they will connect with their families.

    Everyone was wearing a mask, and at 7 a.m. they were ready to start the journeys after undergoing coronavirus tests and being reminded of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

    Students have expressed their gratitude, to the Government of Rwanda for keeping in mind that wherever they were, they should go to their families. 23 Ritco buses have been hired to transport the students home.

    Students from various faculties at the University of Rwanda who had failed to go home as the lockdown have been facilitated to rejoin their families.
    Students have expressed their gratitude, to the Government of Rwanda for keeping in mind that wherever they were, they should go to their families.

  • Gunmen kill pastor

    The victim was Bapfakurera Théoneste, a Pastor at the Hope of Jesus Church whose church building had previously been closed for lack of requirements.

    Muyumbu Sector Executive Secretary, Bahati Bonny, told IGIHE that security personnel and local authorities were alerted of the attack where culprits carried both real and toy guns. They left one of the toy guns at the scene of crime.

    He said that the criminals’ aim was to take the life of Bapfakurera since they did not take with them any valuable from the victims. “It was just a plot to kill,” he said.

    Bapfakurera’s body was taken to Kacyiru Hospital for examination as the hunt for the criminals gets underway.

  • Rwf 10 billion for River Sebeya conservation

    River Sebeya’s regular flooding has been affecting many activities in the areas in Western Province, where it destroys infrastructure and endangers the lives of the people.

    River Sebeya flows through Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, and Ngororero districts for 336 km. Rugerero, Nyundo, and Kanama sectors in Rubavu are among the most affected by the flooding of the river during the monsoon season.

    The Director-General of Rwanda Water Resources Agency, Ngabonziza Prime, said that starting in July this year, construction of dams, water pipes and planting trees at the river banks will commence.

    Ngabonziza said the flooding of the river was mainly due to non-professional agriculture, deforestation, mining, and other activities. People living along the river will play a key role in the implementation of the project.

    The four-year project will be implemented by the Rwanda Water Resources Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (IUCN), the Dutch Development Agency (SNV) and the Environmental Protection Agency, Action for the Protection of the Environment, and Promotion of the Agricultural Sector (APEFA).

    River Sebeya flows through Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, and Ngororero districts for 336 km.

  • Rwanda among fully paid countries to United Nations

    According to the United Nations, as of May 1, 2020, 88 countries had already paid all their contributions.

    Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations, Rugwabiza Valentine, wrote on Twitter that Rwanda is proud to be a country that fulfills its obligations and pays for all contributions. It paid a total of $ 84,160 on March 13, 2020.

    In Africa, Rwanda and Algeria are the only fully paid countries.

    Other African countries that have made their contributions to Djibouti, Morocco, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Algeria, and Ethiopia.

    In 2019, 146 countries made their total contributions to the United Nations, as of January 14, 2019, when Rwanda had already contributed $ 83,647.

    On September 18, 1962, Rwanda was officially recognized by the United Nations. It was shortly after it gained independence, July 1, 1962. It has been in the family for 58 years.

    The United Nations is now made up of 193 countries whose main objectives are to take care of international peace and security, economic and social development, and human rights.

    Rwanda is one of the countries that has made all the contributions required to the UN's permanent budget in 2020, which helps the organization in its day-to-day operations.

  • Heavy rains kill 55 in one night

    According to data collected by the Ministry of Infrastructure, infrastructure including roads such as the Gakenke-Vunga-Musanze road, 91 houses, and five bridges were destroyed as flood-waters receded.

    The Musanze-Kigali road was also closed by a landslide at Buranga in Gakenke district, but immediate relief was made and its now in use.

    The worst affected areas are Nyabihu, Gakenke, Muhanga, Musanze, Ruhango, and Rubavu.

    Minema assured that relief would continue to be given to those affected by the rains.

  • Heavy rains kill eight in Gakenke

    The unusual rain began to fall on Wednesday afternoon, continuing to fall until Thursday morning.

    The mayor of Gakenke District, Nzamwita Déogratias, said some of the dead were victims of floods that invaded and washed down houses that collapsed on them.

    “Many of the roads have been damaged including Kigali-Musanze road where Buranga and Kivuruga roads are closed. The district is set to seek for the services of NPD COTRACO so that they can repair the damaged roads,” he said.

    Nzamwita said due to the closure of the road there are traffic flow challenges but which, he assures, will be fixed in a few hours time.

    Heavy rains on the night of Thursday, May 7, took lives of eight people in Gakenke District, damaging infrastructure including the Kigali-Musanze road.

  • Over 1,400 arrested for violating set travel time, 1,500 for not wearing masks

    When the government announced that some activities were allowed to resume after 40 days of closure to prevent the Coronavirus pandemic spread, it issued a ban on travel “from 2 pm to 5 pm except for those who have been authorized for serious reasons”.

    It came into force on May 05. During the first two days of easing, police arrested those that were found in violation of the guidelines, pacified them as to why it is important to observe the guidelines and then released them.

    The drivers, when arrested, are taken to Remera Stadium, Kicukiro Stadium, Gisozi, and Nyamirambo for pacification. Passengers are asked for explanations.

    Rwanda National Police spokesman CP John Bosco Kabera said that in the first two days more than 1,400 people were arrested, some were punished, others had good reasons, and were released.

    According to the National Police, some people who do not feel that they should take precautionary measures must understand that coronavirus is real and must be contained.

    He also urged everyone to wear masks, keep social distance of one-meter, wash their hands, and follow the scheduled hours when they leave the house so that there is no more spread of the pandemic. In Rwanda, 268 people have been infected with Coronavirus, while 130 have been healed and discharged.

    During the first two days of easing, police arrested those that were found in violation of the guidelines, pacified them as to why it is important to observe the guidelines

  • Government to issue new coronavirus prevention measures

    The Ministry of Health has indicated that it is ready to take new measures while easing the Coronavirus prevention guidelines to check the spread risks and increase the number of treatment facilities in Kanyinya and Nyamata.

    The Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, told the media that the more people go out to work, the higher the risk of spreading the virus and are therefore working around the clock to introduce new measures that will keep most risks at bay.

    “There are two facilities where COVID-19 patients are treated but we are also preparing a team that will operate two other facilities,” he said.

    He said that the Ministry will also increase the number of people tested and to make the service more accessible to the public.

    The Ministry of Health has indicated that it is ready to take new measures while easing the Coronavirus prevention guidelines to check the spread risks

  • Rusizi District Executive Secretary resigns

    Among those that have quit office are Nyirazaninka Antoinette of Nkanka Sector, Tuyishime Jean de Dieu of Nkombo Sector, and Rukesha Emmanuel of Butare Sector.

    Others are the Director of One-Stop Center and Social Affairs Officer of Rwimbogo and Nkombo Sectors.

    Mushimiyimana who has been in office for nearly six years told the media that he has resigned due to illness.

    According to information that IGIHE has accessed, some of the resignations are due to under-performance.

    News coming in from Rusizi district indicate that Executive Secretary, Mushimiyimana Ephrem and three sector executive secretaries have resigned.

  • Rwanda entrepreneurs supported with an online business resource and information center to mitigate coronavirus effects

    The site, smeresponse.clinic, will collect information and advice on accounting, taxation, activities with banking, and how business people grow their investments in the current Covid-19 situation.

    To get this good news to these traders there will be various conversations through this site. All the information will be in Kinyarwanda.

    “We see the SME Response Clinic as a solution in providing information to decision-makers, financial service providers, and traders. It will be an opportunity to find out what these traders need to be helped in these Covid-19 times,” Waringa Kibe, Director of AFR in Rwanda said.

    PSF CEO Stephen Ruzibiza praised the partnership, saying it was timely because traders needed strategies to meet their economic and business needs in general.

    The implementation of the program will be supported by the International ConsumerCentriX Center for Economic Advisory and Small and Medium Business Development.

    Anna Gincherman, who works with ConsumerCentriX, said that if prepared properly, it will benefit the private sector. This is based on the agency’s experience in working with financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and the use of technology.

    ConsumerCentrix reports that access to relevant information for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs is often difficult for entrepreneurs even when the economy is in good shape.

    PSF has launched a website that will provide relevant information to business people to mitigate the negative effects of Covid-19.