Author: IGIHE

Nduwayezu was allegedly trying to offer a bribe of Rwf30, 000 in order to bail his goods, which were impounded recently.

On October 7, Police in Kagarama sector arrested four men with empty bottles concealed in 42 sacks. The sacks of bottles had been smuggled into the country from Tanzania through an illegal border.

The bottles were apparently meant to package illicit substances.

“The four suspects disclosed that they were working for Nduwayezu; they called their boss and informed him of their arrest. Nduwayezu then called a local leader in his village requesting to link him with the officer handling the case,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.

He added: “Nduwayezu later called the officer requesting to meet over the case and when they met on Wednesday in Nyakarambi, Kigina sector, Nduwayezu told the officer that he has other 80 sacks loaded with empty bottles in Tanzania, and offered him Rwf30, 000, which the suspect sent on his mobile account. The officer had suspected a foul-play and informed his superiors, and Nduwayezu was arrested shortly after wiring the money.”

Nduwayezu has since been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Kigarama station.

CIP Twizeyimana warned against such “criminal tendencies of trying to corrupt police officers with illicit benefits” and instead advised them to be “good law-abiding citizens.”

Article 2 of Law N° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption, defines illicit benefit as “any benefit solicited, offered, accepted or promised illegally in order to render or omit a service.”

In article 4, any person, who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him or herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit offered.

The same penalty also applies to anyone who solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service.

1. The Cabinet meeting approved minutes of its previous meeting held on 29/07/2019.

2. Pursuant to the powers conferred upon him by the laws, His Excellency The President of the Republic informed the Cabinet Meeting that he has exercised his prerogative of mercy and pardoned 52 persons convicted for the offences of abortion and infanticide.

3. The Cabinet meeting approved the following draft laws:

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the convention on marking of plastic explosives for the purpose of detection, signed in Montréal, on 1st March 1991;

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the convention on suppression of unlawful acts relating to international civil aviation, signed in Beijing on 10th September 2010;

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the protocol supplementary to the convention on the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft, signed in Beijing on 10th September 2010;

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the protocol to amend the convention on offences and other acts committed on board aircraft, signed at Montréal on 4th April 2014;

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the protocol relating to an amendment of article 50 (a) of the convention on international civil aviation, signed in Montréal on 6th October 2016;

o Draft law approving Rwanda’s accession to the protocol relating to an amendment of article 56 of the convention on international civil aviation, signed in Montréal on 6th October 2016.

4. The Cabinet meeting approved the Presidential order ratifying the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Rwanda and the Government of the Russian Federation, on cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, signed in Moscow, on 5th December 2018.

5. The Cabinet meeting approved the following Prime Minister’s orders:

o Prime Minister’s order transferring a land with UPI: 3/03/04/05/1069 located in Rubavu District from the State public domain to its private domain;

o Prime Minister’s order appointing Mr HABIMANA Donath and Ms UWASE Alice as prosecutors at intermediate level;

o Prime Minister’s order appointing Lieutenant MUKAMANA Christine as a military prosecutor;

o Prime Minister’s Order dismissing Ms. MUKAKARANGWA Francisca Emmanuel who was director of credit and savings cooperatives coordination unit in Rwanda Cooperative Agency from Public service due to gross misconduct.

6. The Cabinet meeting approved the following Ministerial orders:

o Ministerial Order granting release on parole of 2, 451 convicts who requested and fulfil the requirements;

o Ministerial Order appointing Lieutenant UMUSINDI Olivier as court registrar in the Military High Court;

o Ministerial order granting accreditation to the Rwanda Institute for Conservation of Agriculture (RICA) as a private institution of higher learning.

7. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrément of the following Ambassadors designated to represent their respective Countries and Honorary Consuls of the Republic of Rwanda:

o Mr. ABDULLA MOHD A.Y.AL-SAYED: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Kigali;

o Mr. MARTIN KLEPETKO: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;

o Mrs. RIITTA SWAN: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;

o Mr. SLAIMAN ARABIAT: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

8. The Cabinet meeting made the following appointments:

o Rwanda Management Institute (RMI)
– Mr. MUKWIYE Norbert: Director of administration and finance unit;
– Ms. UZAMUKUNDA Christine: Director of ICT and e- learning unit.

o National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA)
– Mr. KAGERUKA Hubert: Director of laboratory unit;
– Mr. MBARAGA Nkejuwimye Serge: Director of technology monitoring and knowledge management unit.

o Rwanda Polytechnic Higher Learning Institution (IPRC-NGOMA)
Mr. MURINDAHABI Jean de Dieu: Director of research, consultancy and production unit.

o Rwanda Polytechnic Higher Learning Institution (IPRC-KIGALI)
Mr. RWUMUKARAGO Alain: Director of research, consultancy and production unit.

9. AOBs.
o The Minister in the Office of The President informed the Cabinet that this year’s National Unity and Reconciliation month began on 1st October 2019 under the theme “Imyaka 25 mu nzira y’Ubumwe n’Ubwiyunge: Ubumwe bwacu, amahitamo yacu.”

o The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning informed the Cabinet that:
– Celebrations of the Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day will be held in Kigali at Intare Conference Arena on 22nd November 2019 under the theme “Pay taxes, build a better Rwanda.”
– The savings’ week begin from 23rd to 31st October 2019, under the theme “Save for a better future.”

o The Minister of Trade and Industry informed the Cabinet that the International Cooperative Alliance will hold its global conference in Rwanda from 14th to 17th October, 2019, at Kigali Convention Center (KCC) under the theme “Laying the foundations of a peaceful future: cooperatives for sustainable development.”

o The Minister of Environment informed the Cabinet that: – The 2019/2020 tree planting season and celebration of the 44th anniversary of tree planting day will be held on 9th November 2019 in Rukumberi Sector, Ngoma District. This year’s theme is ‘’Forestry for community livelihood.”

– The ongoing meeting on Africa’s new deal for sustainable green growth and industrialization organized by the AfroChampions Initiative from 8th to 11th October 2019 in Kigali.
– Rwanda has joined the Carbon Neutrality Coalition after the commitment made during the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France in August 2019.

o The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion informed the Cabinet that:

– Rwanda will celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October 2019 at Kigali Convention Center under the theme “Prepare my future, by protecting me from child defilement.”

– Rwanda will celebrate the International Rural Women’s Day on 15th October 2019, under the theme “Umuryango utekanye kandi uteye imbere.” At National level, the celebration will be held in Byumba Sector, Gicumbi District.
– Rwanda will host the 2019 Global Gender Summit from 25th to 27th November 2019 at Kigali Convention Center, under the theme “Unpacking constraints to gender equality.”

o The Minister of Health informed the Cabinet that:

– Rwanda is planning to have a massive campaign of vaccination against the Ebola Virus Disease (EBV) to adults, adolescents, and children aged 2 years living within the vicinity of an Ebola outbreak;

– Rwanda will officially launch the Cancer Center at Rwanda Military Hospital, on 5th December 2019.

o The Minister in charge of Emergency Management informed the Cabinet that Rwanda will celebrate the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day on 31st October 2019. At the National level, the ceremony will be held in Karama Sector, Kamonyi District.

o The Minister of Youth informed the Cabinet that Rwanda is hosting the Youth Connekt Africa Summit 2019 from 9th to 11th October 2019 under the theme “Boosting an Industrious Young Africa.”

o The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources informed the Cabinet that the 2019 World Food Day shall be celebrated on 31st October 2019 in Nyabirasi Sector, Rutsiro District.

o The Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board informed the Cabinet Meeting that Rwanda will host the inaugural East & Central Africa Mining Forum from 28th to 29th October 2019 at Kigali Convention Centre.

This communiqué was signed by
Marie Solange KAYISIRE Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs

According to figures from RDB, 627 tourists have visited the park since last week’s attack.

Following a deadly to residents of Musanze last Friday night that left fourteen dead, security officials mounted a hunt for the assailants and confirmed that 19 of the attackers were shot dead while 5 were arrested and paraded before the media.

Surviving attackers said they were from rebel groups including FDLR and had come on a mission to take control of the country. They wore military uniforms.

Movements to Volcanoes National Park were not halted and continued to visit the park as security was guaranteed in the area.

On Wednesday morning, RDB CEO, Clare Akamanzi and the Governor of Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi along with representatives of security organs interacted with various tourism industry stakeholders including tour operators, hoteliers and conservation partners operating in and adjacent to the tourists in Kinigi sector, Musanze district ahead of their hike to trek the magnificent mountain gorillas.

They gathered at RDB offices at the foothills of the park where a large number of tourists got briefings before gorilla trekking experience.

59 tourists were going to see the endangered gorillas while 68 more tourists were visiting the park for other activities such as hiking the Virunga Mountains and visiting other primates such as golden monkey.

RDB CEO, Akamanzi affirmed on the region’s safety and commended the security organs for quickly containing last weekend’s attack. “I want to assure you that stability has been restored,” she noted.

Brigadier General Vincent Gatama, Rwanda Defense Forces 2nd Division Commander told the stakeholders that “the attackers didn’t target businesses but other facilities and we stopped them before they got there. Your businesses and properties are protected.”

Keith Vincent, the CEO Wilderness Safari Bisate Lodge said the situation was soon calmed that tourists visited gorillas the next day.

“The Government of Rwanda was open with us after the incident and shared the facts with us quickly which we are very grateful for. Our visitors were safe and went to trek mountain gorillas the next morning,” he stated.

As a result of conservation efforts such as Kwita Izina, the population of the endangered mountain gorilla increased to 604 in 2016 in the Virunga Massif compared to 480 in 2010.

Rwanda has 62% of 880 mountain gorillas present globally.

The Virunga Massif is comprised of the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Mountain gorilla numbers in the entire region had fallen as low as 242 in 1981.

Rwanda needs at least 96 gorilla visitors per day because they are grouped into 12 gorilla families.

The Government of Rwanda allocated 10% of tourism revenues to development projects in communities surrounding parks through Revenue Sharing Scheme.

Over Rwf 5.2 billion has been distributed by RDB to 647 community-based projects since 2005.

Tourism fetched $438 million for Rwanda in 2017, reflecting an increase by $34 million compared to the 2016.

This year, using the park revenues in 2018, RDB distributed Rwf1.4 billion in total to the revenue share program. This was up from Rwf 741 million in 2017.

Figures from RDB indicate that Akagera National Park was the most visited park with 51, 724 visits in 2018, an increase of 17% since 2017. Nyungwe received 15, 665 visitors in 2018, up 9%. Overall park revenues reached over $ 21,153,292 in 2018

In 2018, RDB sold 15,132 gorilla permits worth US$ 19.2 million, a 25% increase compared to 2017. In 2016, before the increase in the permit price, RDB sold 22,219 permits worth US$ 15 million.

Rwanda targets to earn US $800 million tourism revenues in 2024 from US $438 of 2017.

In 2018, Rwanda hosted 1.711 million visitors. Visitor arrivals increased by 8% compared to 2017.

Kagame gave the advice yesterday as he attended the opening of this year’s Youth Connekt Africa.

Held from 9th to 11th October 2019 at the Kigali Arena, the summit brought together over 10,000 young people from 91 countries from African continent and beyond like Khazaksan, Mexico among others.

It is also attended by over high level delegates including 20 ministers from African countries, entrepreneurs, representatives of international organizations among to engage, discuss, design and accelerate youth empowerment efforts at continent level under the theme ‘Boosting an industrious Young Africa.’

It is also graced by Ivorian veteran footballer Didier Drogba, African Union Commission envoys, representatives of organizations affiliated to the United Nations among others.

Youth Connect Africa is an annual summit bringing together Youth across Africa to discuss and draw strategies to transform Africa. The summit also seeks to discuss the creation of opportunities in agriculture, technology, developing their talents and promoting African continent.

As he addressed participants, President Kagame told the youth that the Government has a big role to create a conducive environment so that people with talent excel but reminded them of their role to tap into available opportunities to grow themselves.

“Opportunity does not go to people’s homes knocking at the doors and say hello do you need me? People need to go knocking on opportunity’s door, you open and say hello and the opportunity will actually say; I am here what do you want?” he said.

“But if you don’t go, if you don’t make an effort you’ll miss that opportunity. If you sit and think you will see opportunity passing by and saying hello to you and say I was actually waiting for you. No, go out and look for it. Sometimes you fight for it. Sometimes it leaves you with bruises, but go out and look for it don’t let it pass by while you’re sitting and wait for it to say hello.,” added Kagame.

Kagame encouraged the youth to walk together if they are to go far, faster.

The Minister of Youth, Rosemary Mbabazi said the summit aims at engaging with the youth on ways to tap into available opportunities to address the issue of unemployment among African youth.

Youth Connect started in 2012 as Rwanda’s initiative to empower youth and later changed to Youth Connect Africa in 2015.

In 2017, Youth Connect Africa was graced by international superstar Akon and last year, one of the Asian leading entrepreneurs Jack Ma was among the main

Today, 180 of 600 incubated entrepreneurs were awarded. The initiative has also unleashed potential of 8000 youth to create own jobs.

Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) joins Hanga Ahazaza, a US$50 million initiative from the Mastercard Foundation focused on increasing employment opportunities for young people while expanding the tourism and hospitality sector in Rwanda. Hanga Ahazaza will equip 30,000 young men and women with the skills they need to transition into work, as well as strengthen small businesses in this sector.

Inadequate skills and access to financing are key challenges that prevent youth to start and grow a business in tourism and hospitality in Rwanda and beyond. In response, the Rwanda Youth Tourism Innovator program will select 160 youth entrepreneurs over four years to receive the right mix of skills-building and financing to grow the next generation of leading tourism and hospitality businesses.

Beyond capacity-building and access to finance, the top five entrepreneurs in each cohort of 20 will be awarded financial grants to further seed their ventures. The program will nurture Rwanda’s innovative tourism and hospitality businesses, and inspire even more youth, especially young women, to embrace tourism and hospitality entrepreneurship as a career path.

“We are excited to welcome Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners to the Hanga Ahazaza initiative,” said Rica Rwigamba, Acting Country Representative and Senior Program Manager of the Mastercard Foundation. “By focusing on young, start-up entrepreneurs who require a specific support system, ESP is facilitating a critical piece in our efforts to enable young Rwandans to secure work in our country’s vibrant tourism and hospitality sector.”

ESP is accepting applications now for the first cohort of this exciting program. Applicants who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

-* Must be a start-up (or have start-up idea) in the tourism and hospitality sector (or supplier to the sector)
-* Must be a young person (18-35 years old)
-* Must be based in Rwanda
-* Must have a commitment to complete the course
-* Young women are strongly encouraged to apply

For more information; Visit the ESPartners website: espartners.co or Contact ESPartners Rwanda by email: thincubator@espartners.co

The trip is part of Visit Rwanda’s ground-breaking partnership with Arsenal Football Club.

Helping to build awareness of Rwanda as a welcoming and culturally rich tourist hotspot, David Luiz will be the first Arsenal first-team player to visit Rwanda since the partnership’s launch last season.

He follows in the footsteps of Arsenal legends Alex Scott, Tony Adams and Lauren who have previously participated in the Kwita Izina Gorilla naming ceremony – a prestigious celebration of Rwandan conservation and culture.

David Luiz will experience Rwanda’s first-class hospitality with his fiancé and mother who will join him on the visit. They will travel to Volcanoes National Park to see endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat as well as meet with young Rwandan players and fans in Kigali to exchange experiences and tips.

This will provide an opportunity to build on the work already carried out by Arsenal, the Rwandan Football Federation and the national Ministry of Sports and Culture to develop and nurture local talent and football at the grassroots level.

David Luiz and his family will also visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the victims and to learn more about the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Born in Diadema, São Paulo, Arsenal’s number 23 started his career with Brazilian side Vitória before moving to Europe to sign for Portuguese giants Benfica.

He went on to play for Chelsea and Paris St Germain before joining Arsenal in the summer of 2019. In total, he has played 475 club games scoring 33 goals, the most recent being the winner in Sunday’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth in the Premier League. He also has 57 caps for the Brazil National Team.

With a combined following of more than 52 million on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, David Luiz is the third most followed player in the Premier League.

“I have heard wonderful things about the breath-taking beauty of Rwanda and its people, and I can’t wait to experience the country and all it has to offer. Football has the amazing power to bring communities together and drive social change, and the Arsenal shirt has a unique ability to reach fans all over the world. I am very proud to represent Arsenal to help tell a global audience of Rwanda’s modernization into a luxury tourism destination, its amazing culture and its enthusiasm for football development,” Arsenal’s David Luiz, said.

Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board, said it is a pleasure to welcome David to revel in the vibrancy and beauty of our country.
“Rwanda is a country pulsing with energy, creativity, and innovation. We have so much to discover, whether it is trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, lounging along the Lake Kivu beaches or going on safari in Akagera National Park. We welcome the entire Arsenal global family to visit Rwanda and discover why we call our country remarkable,” she noted.

The visit comes after a highly successful first year of Visit Rwanda’s partnership with Arsenal as the club’s inaugural Sleeve Sponsor and Official Tourism Partner.

In just twelve months, the partnership has made Rwanda a must-see holiday destination for football fans and tourists around the world.

An independent survey conducted by Hall and Partners of 20,000 Arsenal fans across 30 markets found that as a result of the partnership, 51% of respondents are more likely to consider Rwanda as a tourist destination, demonstrating a shift in perception and understanding of the country.

In 2018, 1.7 million people visited Rwanda – an 8% increase from 2017.

This success has led the partnership to be nominated for a Leaders Sports Award in the sponsorship category, which recognizes the best work and most talented individuals in sports business.

Visit Rwanda and the partnership with Arsenal also won the top award for destination excellence in luxury and experiential travel at the 2019 Luxperience Awards and an Honorary Award for Partnership for ‘a unique and transformational partnership by an African brand’ at the 2019 Best of Africa Awards.

Never Again Rwanda (NAR) was recognized for her outstanding social impact in peacebuilding, governance and democracy, research and advocacy and youth engagement, contributing to the unity and reconciliation process, working towards trauma healing, expanding peacebuilding interventions in Rwanda and the Great Lakes region, deliberately engaging the young people and enhancing participatory governance.

Speaking at the event, Roger Kaufman congratulated the awardees adding that “We all ought to add value to the society in all that we do, if we do not, we end up subtracting value instead.”

Dr. Joseph Nkurunziza Ryarasa, the Executive Director at Never Again Rwanda who represented NAR ‘s team to witness one of the biggest highlights of the organization’s journey, commended the efforts of the government of Rwanda and all stakeholders for their tireless efforts in empowering citizens to become active citizens.

“This is a historic moment for the organization, the partners, the staff and most importantly the beneficiaries, who have allowed us to work with them, to achieve the social impact, that we have been awarded for today.” Said Dr. Joseph.

“We also commend the Government of Rwanda for supporting us in various ways. We also recognize our fellow peace actors, with whom with a jointly working to build peace and ensure healing and reconciliation.” He added.

Made up by an autonomous committee with members from Mexico, USA, Middle East, Argentina, Europe, and Africa, three categories were awarded, Never Again Rwanda as a Civil Society Organization, Arizona Sonora Mega Region as a social startups ecosystem and the prosperity paradox book.

Never Again Rwanda hopes to continue working with varied partners to ensure intergenerational dialogue happens, integrate livelihood into the process of healing, continue building a network of global peace ambassadors, continue equipping youth with the skills to think critically and gain necessarily leadership skills, work tirelessly for the growth of their country and support the country’s agenda of “Never Again” by championing for unity, and reconciliation for sustainable peace.

This award is a result of the collaborative efforts and tireless support of the Government of Rwanda, NAR staff and friends, our esteemed beneficiaries as well as the entire Rwandan community.

{{About the Award}}

The Roger Kaufman Award for Societal Impact is an honorary award that was created by the International Society for Performance Improvement in 2014. The award is meant to honor and recognize the continuous achievement of measurable positive societal impact by an individual or organization. More about the award and the organization can be found on their website www.ispi.org

The schedule of his appeal indicates that Dr. Mugesera will appear in court on 21st October 2019. Pastor Jean Uwinkindi who was also handed life sentence for similar crimes will also appear in court two days after Mugesera.

The High Court handed Mugesera a life sentence on 15th April 2016 following years of trial for role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and crimes against humanity.

During his trial in 2016, the court ruled that he was guilty of multiple counts, including incitement to commit Genocide, inciting ethnic hatred and persecution as a crime against humanity.

He was, however, cleared of charges related to preparing and planning the Genocide and conspiracy in Genocide after the court found there was not enough evidence to convict him.

The ruling was based mainly on hate speech Mugesera delivered in 1992 during a party meeting in Kabaya, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture in the current Western Province.

In the speech aimed at stirring up killings, he was heard referring to the Tutsi as cockroaches that should be killed and sent back to Ethiopia via Nyabarongo, a tributary of the river Nile.

Since the beginning of his trial in 2013, Mugesera never accepted to have delivered the speech.

Mugesera, 64, served as the deputy chairman and special advisor to the former ruling party, MRND, that orchestrated the Genocide.

He was deported from Canada in 2012 after a long battle fighting his extradition to Rwanda to face Genocide related charges.

Elise Laura Villechalane, the External Relations Officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Rwanda has told IGIHE that the second batch will arrive in Kigali this Thursday.

“The second batch of refugees will arrive tomorrow. They were many in Libya stranded in detention camps located in a war tone zone where they lead a hard life. They will be 120, a larger number to the previous batch,” she said.

“You know that Libya is located in a war zone. It is even hard to reach the refugees but our colleagues are trying their best to take refugees to the airport. The final number has not yet been communicated by the number of evacuees is above 120,” Villechalane added.

Rwanda committed to receiving 500 refugees at the head first of whom a group of 66 African refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya arrived in Rwanda at the end of September 2019 in the first batch aboard the airplane of Buraq Air.

They were all accommodated at Gashora transit camp in Bugesera district which previously hosted thousands of Burundian refugees since 2015 before they were relocated to other sites.

The 120 refugees will be the second batch of the evacuees that Rwanda pledged to receive.

Rwanda signed agreements to host refugees stranded in Libya on 10th September 2019 with the African Union (AU) and UNHCR.

Rwanda made the commitment to host refugees from Libya in 2017 following revelations that thousands of people from across Africa were stranded in the country after their failure to reach Europe and subjected to slavery.

Following the evacuation of the first batch of refugees to Rwanda, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), visited Gashora camp to inspect if refugees’ rights are respected.

The report signed by the Chairperson of NCHR, Mrs. Madeleine Nirere on 4th October 2019 indicated that the refugees are living in accordance with international standards granting the status of refugees having decent accommodations, sanitary infrastructures, enough safe water, tables, chairs, beds, fresh air, mosquito nets, and entertainment playgrounds among other basic needs.

Batch 2

According to Rusizi district officials, some residents involved in smuggling goods from DRC use shortcuts through River Rusizi hence posing security threats.

Speaking to IGIHE, the mayor of Rusizi district, Ephrem Kayumba has warned residents opting to cross through such restricted areas that it is against Government’s mechanisms to prevent Ebola and would lead to security threats.

“This is a serious issue because some residents cross through illegal entry points and shortcuts. Such people cannot be easily differentiated from insecurity architects and spreading Ebola virus prevalent in the neighboring country,” he said.

In August 2019, two people from Bukavu town bordering with Rusizi district were identified to have contracted Ebola.

Kayumba appealed on residents to cross through authorized borders as support to initiatives aimed at maintaining security.

Rwanda, RDC authorized borders on the side of Rusizi district include Rusizi I, Rusizi II and Kamanyola border located in Bugarama sector.

At least 2000 people have died from the virus since the current outbreak started in DR Congo in August 2018, more than two-thirds of those who contracted the virus.
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by Ebola viruses.

Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches.
Vomiting, diarrhea, and rash usually follow, along with the decreased function of the liver and kidneys.

At this time, some people begin to bleed both internally and externally. The disease has a high risk of death, killing between 25 and 90 percent of those infected, with an average of about 50 percent. This is often due to low blood pressure from fluid loss and typically follows six to sixteen days after symptoms appear.

The virus spreads through direct contact with body fluids, such as blood from infected humans or other animals. Spread may also occur from contact with items recently contaminated with bodily fluids.

Rwanda has not yet recorded any Ebola cases.

Rwanda has in recent past stepped up efforts to prevent Ebola from spreading to the country, including scaling up screenings at all points of entry, surveillance, vaccinating frontline workers including health and immigration officers, public sensitization, among other measures.