The event attracted thousands of Rwandans and prominent personalities from different countries across the world that turned up for the ceremony.
The baby gorillas named on Friday were born between 1st July 2018 and 11th May 2019.
Naomi Campbell was among prominent figures that graced the event including Tony Adams, an English football legend who played for Arsenal and England and American RnB singer Ne-Yo and Tony Adams along with other celebrities.
The 25 baby gorillas named are members of the Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Igisha, Isimbi, Muhoza, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Susa, Pablo, Kuryama, Mafunzo, Kureba, Musirikali and Ntambara families.
Naomi Campbell named a baby gorilla as ‘Intarutwa’ and later visited gorillas in the park.
Following the visit, she expressed delight for wonderful experiences of her visit in a tweet featuring a message and pictures with gorillas.
“Rwanda, I love you. Thank you to everyone who made this trip so special,” she tweeted.
Aloysia Vuganeza, 36, was arrested Saturday in a joint operation conducted by the Police and local leaders of Nyundo Cell.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that residents reported to their local leaders about Vuganeza’s criminal dealings.
“Residents told area authorities that Vuganeza was retailing cannabis in their community; authorities reported the matter to Karago Police station,” CIP Kayigi explained.
“Police and local authorities responded to the information and arrested the matron red-handed with 86 pellets of cannabis. The narcotics were recovered in two separate locations; in the kitchen and the pigsty,” he added.
It is said that Vuganeza is a local cannabis retailer in Gasiza trading centre, and supplied by other big dealers.
Information from informers indicate that she is supplied by someone, who normally comes on a motorcycle; the same supplier also gives other retailers in Rambura Sector.
CIP Kayigi explained that law enforcement organs, local leaders and residents are working together to obtain detailed information on the whole ring of traffickers, the motorcycle in question and its rider as well as all local retailers, to face the law.
“This is an unusual in Rwanda where a mentor sells cannabis; you can imagine what it means and the extent of the threat to her students, who can be easily turned into the market–consumers,” the spokesperson observed.
“A mentor, educator and mother, whose majority of her customers were young people in Gasiza trading centre… this is so dangerous to students and the youth in general, parents, the community, education sector and the country in general; we call upon all Rwandans to stand up against such high impact crimes that destroy lives of the young people,” he added.
Anyone convicted of selling narcotics to children or teens faces life imprisonment.
Transporting, making and selling narcotic drugs attracts a sentence of between seven years and life in prison, under article 263 of the penal code.
The campaign that concluded yesterday started on 31st May 2019, attracting over 500 youth.
Throughout the campaign, MTN awarded Yolo pack users with phones, T-shirts, televisions, cash prizes, cows among others.
Registration to Yolo pack was free where the youth would dial *154*6# and stand a chance to win different awards.
Desire Ruhinguka, the Marketing Operations Senior Manager at MTN Rwanda, has told IGIHE that the campaign attracted a large number of users and left them acquiring resources contributing to their economic growth.
“We awarded winners every week with data bundles, cows, televisions and Rwf 500,000, smartphones and so on. The campaign was successful given that students also participated during holidays,” he said.
“We organize such programs to build long-standing relationships with our clients based on mutual interests,” added Ruhinguka.
He highlighted that MTN Rwanda 5 million subscribers and wants to substantially boost the numbers in a win-win situation.
Iradukunda Deborah from the Niboye sector of Kicukiro district received a cow. “I registered in Yolo last month and stood chance to win. I expect the received cow to calve and grow my wealth,” she said.
The announcement follows recent wave of mayoral resignations that started on Tuesday where top officials from Burera, Gicumbi, Musanze, Karongi, Ngororero, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Gisagara, Muhanga, Ngoma and Rwamagana districts resigned on account of failure to deliver.
“NEC informs interested candidates meeting requirements that applications to join advisory councils will be received from 9th 13th September 2019,” reads the announcement signed by NEC Chairman, Prof. Mbanda Kalisa.
District officials including the mayor are elected by the advisory council comprised of sectors’ representatives, youth and women, private sector and of disabled people’s representatives.
The suspects identified as Scovia Kantengwa and Elias Sindambiwe were arrested in Rubengera Sector with 850 litres of illicit brew.
The substances were made out of mixed harmful products including industrial fertilizers.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi Police, the Police spokesperson for the Western region said that the duo was arrested in an operation conducted by Police officers and local leaders in Kibirizi Cell.
“Local residents had reported to their authorities about the illegal businesses by the two suspects, who in turn called the Police,” he said.
“When Police officers and local leaders conducted the operation, they seized 550 litres from Kantengwa’s distillery and 330 litres from Sindambiwe. Kantengwa was also found with 12kgs of industrial fertilizers and Sindambiwe with 20kgs, which they were using as ingredients,” added CIP Kayigi.
Industrial fertilizers are said to be poisonous. Touching the fertilizer may cause skin irritation, and ingesting it may be poisonous. Nitrates are the ingredients that cause the poisoning. Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that plants can easily absorb. Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but it can be very dangerous when exposed to humans.
“Besides poisoning people with industrial fertilizers, which they were mixing with other harmful ingredients to make illicit substances; they were also wasting fertilizers meant for residents to increase crop production,” CIP Kayigi said.
All the seized substances were disposed of in presence of residents, where Police and local leaders also took the opportunity to educate them on dangers of consuming the illicit drinks and criminal repercussions to distillers as well as their role in fighting such criminal acts.
“There are standard, healthy and legal procedures to start a brewery, which also prescribes the raw materials that are not harmful to consumers, which should be followed; contrary to that it becomes our duty as police to enforce the law,” CIP Kayigi warned.
The awards were presented yesterday during a ceremony that attracted students, educators, headteachers and partners of the education sector.
They range from three motorbikes, 8 televisions, 16 tablets and, two cows, school kits, training tickets, school fees among others presented to stakeholders with outstanding contribution to quality education as well as owners of technology and innovation projects.
Awarded categories include 25 female teachers with outstanding performance upcountry; students who invented innovative projects as well as students, teachers, and heads of education institutions who took part in the reduction of school dropouts among others.
Other awardees include creators of technology solutions used to maintain security, technology-equipped sticks guiding blind people, students involved in handcrafts groups among others.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Eugène Mutimura said that awarding stakeholders will be sustained.
“We bet that such technology will enable the country to reach goals to improve national economy and social wellbeing,” he said.
Dr. Mutimura explained that the Government of Rwanda summoned much effort to promote excellence rooted in capacity building and fostering youth’s development including centers of excellence present at different higher learning institutions and universities.
Awardees said the recognition gives them the courage to keep up the momentum.
“A total of 393 students abandoned school in 2018. We returned almost all of them except 18. We also brought back to school 82 students who had abandoned school the following year. The motorbike will help me to execute my duties and inspections smoothly,” said Callixte Mbarubukeye, the head of education in the Ngeruka sector.
The headteacher of Groupe Scolaire Base, Soeur Mukangabire Félicie received a cow for the project of rabbits farming among students which brought back 50% of students who had dropped out.
She explained that the initiative was welcomed since rabbits reproduce in a short period.
The event was organized in collaboration with partners including BPR Plc, RwandAir, Unicef, Umwarimu Sacco, BRD and Huawei among others.
Sindikubwabo, 34, was arrested Thursday in Kinyinya Sector, Gasharu Cell following information that he was conning unsuspecting members of the public assuring of getting them driver’s license.
One of the victims disclosed that Sindikubwabo conned her of Rwf500, 000.
Apparently, the victim was trying to secure a driver’s license for her daughter.
“I paid him [Sindikubwabo] Rwf500, 000 in February; he had told me that he works with the Police and would get me the permit if I paid him the money,” the victim narrated.
Sindikubwabo also admitted taking the money from the victim and pleaded to be forgiven to go and refund the victim. He advised the young people against such unscrupulous and criminal acts.
“I lied to her so that I could get money from her,” he said.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the Central region said that Police are working with other law enforcement organs to know if there are other people Sindikubwabo conned.
“He is saying that he defrauded only this woman but there might be other victims. There is also the likelihood that he is connected to other people engaged in such criminal acts, defrauding people or giving them fake driver’s licenses,” CIP Umutesi.
CIP Umutesi appealed to the general public to be aware of such individuals, who use several tricks to con them of their hard-earned money.
“We are reminding people that police services are available to everyone, Police has no intermediaries and particularly the whole process of acquiring a driver’s license is done individually. Anyone, who solicit or give money in order to receive a driver’s license will be breaking the law and will be arrested,” CIP Umutesi warned.
Article 174 of the new penal code states that “Any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offense.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than three million Rwandan francs (FRW 3,000,000) and not more than five million Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000,000).”
Kwiza Izina: Kagame commends citizens’ cooperation towards environmental conservation efforts
President Paul Kagame has hailed citizens’ collaboration to scale up environmental conservation efforts.
He made the appreciation today as he attended the 15th Baby Gorilla Naming Ceremony (Kwita Izina 2019) held in the Kinigi sector, Musanze district at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park. where 25 baby gorillas were named.
The event attracted thousands of Rwandans and prominent personalities from different countries across the world that turned up for the ceremony.
The baby gorillas named today were born between 1st July 2018 and 11th May 2019.
Naomi Campbell: English supermodel, actress, and businesswoman, Tony Adams, an English football legend who played for Arsenal and England and American RnB singer Ne-Yo and Tony Adams are among prominent figures that graced the event.
Named baby gorillas are from The 25 baby gorillas named are members of the Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Igisha, Isimbi, Muhoza, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Susa, Pablo, Kuryama, Mafunzo, Kureba, Musirikali and Ntambara families.
A baby gorilla named today includes Ingando, Isanzure, Igihango, Sura u Rwanda, Irembo, Inkoramutima, Kira, Indongozi, Umukuru, Intego, uhiriwe, Nimugwire mu Rwanda among others.
So far 281 baby gorillas were named since the ceremony launched in 2005. As he addressed participants, Kagame said: “I thank citizens for good characters and protecting environment which is beneficial to all of us. Sometimes, people don’t recognize it, hence missing possible advantages,” he said.
In 2005, the Government of Rwanda introduced Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme.
This program aims to guide investment in the areas surrounding the various national parks in Rwanda by ensuring that 10 percent of all park revenues are given back to the communities.
Over Rwf 5.2 billion has been distributed by Rwanda Development Board to 647 community-based projects since 2005.
These projects have availed clean drinking water, milk, health centers, classrooms and housing to members of the communities living around the three national parks; Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and Volcanoes National Park.
As he addressed participants, Kagame said: “I thank citizens for good characters and protecting environment beneficial to all of us. Sometimes, people don’t recognize it, hence missing possible advantages,” he said.
Reminiscing on today’s agenda ‘Kwita Izina’, Kagame said he was lucky to name twin baby gorillas 15 years ago and kept a close eye on their lives.
“As you have heard, I was a responsible parent. I took care of them; paid school fees and did my best to speak to them. We have the internet in this area. So we talk to each other. One of these babies is called Byishimo. He grew into a mature and powerful family member. He is now a happy Silverback,” he illustrated.
President Kagame emphasized that “The great milestone achieved as mentioned by the CEO of RDB (Clare Akamanzi) could not be possible without collaboration with citizens and making sure they benefit from it. The collaboration dating back many years ago was beneficial to the country, gorillas and tourists satisfied to live here, satisfied with security resulting from that fruitful collaboration.”
Kwita Izina is a time-honored tradition in which Rwandan families hold a ceremony to name a newborn baby. For three decades prior to the first official gorilla naming ceremony, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorilla babies as part of monitoring each gorilla in their family and habitat.
The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board and in collaboration with conservation partners, the private sector and local communities, has achieved remarkable success in protecting and growing the endangered mountain gorilla population and conserving its habitat.
Rwanda’s traditional naming ceremony was adapted to celebrate this success as a national flagship event now known as Kwita Izina.
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.
The Virunga Massif is comprised of 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.
He made the appreciation yesterday as he received the delegation of Germany parliamentarians who are on a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
Makuza said that both countries’ parliaments enjoy longstanding relations.
He explained that Germany was the first country to open an embassy in Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi while other countries were not willing.
“Since 1994, Germany has proven strong cooperation commitment and was the first country to open an embassy on 25th July 1994 when the international community, European countries among others had relenting efforts. Fruitful relationships started that time followed by technical and economic cooperation among others,” he said.
“We also commended the country for cooperation in the judicial sector. The country tried through its own courts Ignace Murwanashyaka, former FDLR chief for a role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” added Makuza.
Makuza explained that Rwanda is among the four countries that Germany selected for special cooperation and boost funding to different areas of development including infrastructure because they are aware that Rwanda is a reliable country with efficient utilization of funds.
Andreas Mattfeldt, the head of the delegation saluted Rwanda’s resilience that German investors eyes Rwanda as a potential investment hub in Africa.
“We have discussed the bright vision of this country because we share many things in common. German investors perceive Rwanda as the right investment country,” he said.
To date, Germany funds Rwanda in TVET, construction of health centers, markets, schools and roads, provision of electricity, building terraces and technology among others.
Germany has 25 companies running operations in Rwanda including Strawtec and Mobisol among others.
The 25 baby gorillas named are members of the Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Igisha, Isimbi, Muhoza, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Susa, Pablo, Kuryama, Mafunzo, Kureba, Musirikali and Ntambara families.
{{The 2019 Kwita Izina Gorilla Baby Namers}}
{{His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe}}: Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia
{{Amina Mohammed}}: Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. She was formerly the Federal Minister of the Environment of Nigeria.
{{Paul Milton & Luke Bailes}}: Founder of Milton Group who developed the Singita Kwitonda Lodge on behalf of investors Mr. Paul Tudor Jones and Mr. Anders Povlsen. Paul is a conservationist and has been working in Rwanda for the past 5 years.
The Founder and Executive Chairman of Singita, Luke Bailes, has been a pioneer in tourism conservation on the continent for decades. Singita’s model of combining luxury eco-friendly lodges with conservation projects has led to operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania and in August this year, here in Rwanda, on the edge of Volcanoes National Park.
{{HRH Princess Basma Bint Al}}i: Princess Basma bint Ali is an advocate of biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture in Jordan; she is the founder of many non-government environmental organizations like the Royal Botanic Garden of Jordan (RBG) and the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan.
{{Dame Louise Martin, DBE}}: She is President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which oversees one of the world’s biggest sporting events – the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
{{Tony Adams}}: Tony Alexander Adams MBE is an English football legend. As a player, Adams played for Arsenal and England, captaining both teams.
{{Amb. Ron Adams}}: He is the Ambassador of the State of Israel in Rwanda.
{{Niklas Adalberth:}} Swedish entrepreneur and founder of Norrsken.
{{Jeremy Jauncey}}: Founder & CEO of Beautiful Destinations, an award-winning nation branding agency.
{{Otara Gunewardene}}: Sri Lankan businessperson and philanthropist.
{{Ronan Donovan}}: National Geographic photographer and filmmaker.
{{Louis Van Gaal}}: Dutch former football manager and player. At the club level, he served as manager of Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United, as well as having two spells in charge of the Netherlands national team.
{{Naomi Campbell:}} English supermodel, actress, and businesswoman.
{{Madeleine Nyiratuza}}: Programme Specialist, Sustainable Growth Unit, UNDP Rwanda. She is also responsible for the conservation and restoration of the Gishwati Forest Reserve which led to the creation of Gishwati Mukura National Park.
{{Sherrie Silver}}: Actress and choreographer. She won an MTV VMA Award for Best Choreography for choreographing Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’.
{{Marco Lambertini}}: Director-General, World Wildlife Fund International (WWF).
{{Emmanuel Niringiyimana}}: Young Rwandan who built a road on his own to facilitate the movement of people and goods in his village in Karongi District.
{{Shaffer Chimere Smith}}: Better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, he is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and dancer.
{{Ngabo Médard Jobert}}: Better known as Meddy, he is a Rwandan RnB and pop artist.
{{Anthony Nzuki:}} Ranger Post Leader at Akagera National Park, Rwanda
According to RDB Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi, the increasing gorilla population in the Volcanoes National Park is proof of the strides that Rwanda has made in gorilla conservation.
“This could have not happened without the support and collaboration of our conservation partners as well as the cooperation of the members of the community surrounding the park. Initiatives such as the Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony play a major role in conserving gorillas. Thanks to the conservation efforts, we have been able to improve the gorilla trekking experience for our visitors and also increase the amount of support we have given to the local communities through the revenue sharing program,” she says.
“Rwanda’s overall tourism strategy has always focused on two important areas, sustainability through responsible tourism and conservation and community involvement. It has always been about protecting our natural heritage, providing world-class experiences that highlight the diverse natural beauty of Rwanda while ensuring that Rwandans benefit from this tourism and conservation. No one has been left behind,” adds Akamanzi.
{{About Kwita Izina}}
Kwita Izina is a time-honoured tradition in which Rwandan families hold a ceremony to name a newborn baby. For three decades prior to the first official gorilla naming ceremony, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorilla babies as part of monitoring each gorilla in their family and habitat.
The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board and in collaboration with conservation partners, the private sector and local communities, has achieved remarkable success in protecting and growing the endangered mountain gorilla population and conserving its habitat. Rwanda’s traditional naming ceremony was adapted to celebrate this success as a national flagship event now known as Kwita Izina.
Kwita Izina was introduced in 2005 to raise awareness of conservation efforts and to thank communities for their on-going and invaluable participation and support of these initiatives. It is now the most important event on Rwanda’s conservation calendar and is attended by national, regional and international participants.
281 baby mountain gorillas have been named since Kwita Izina began. Alongside the naming ceremony, a weeklong celebration of activities is hosted to share the importance of conservation and the role of tourism in protecting rare and iconic species. Today, Kwita Izina is fast becoming Africa’s leading dialogue on conservation and sustainable tourism.
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. The Virunga Massif is comprised of 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.
