Author: IGIHE

It is said that both spouses were drunk and got in heated argument when the woman pushed his husband who hit the head on the ground.

The Executive Secretary of Mutarama cell where the incident took place, Seraphine Mukantibiringirwa has told IGIHE that the old man died on Monday night.

“Each of the spouses had spent the day taking alcohol in separate bars. They got in heated argument and engaged into a fight as they returned home. The old woman pushed back his husband whose head hit the stone in the courtyard and started bleeding. He died on the way to the health center,” she said.

Mukantibiringirwa explained that the suspect has been kept in custody at Byumba police station as investigations get underway.

Organized by Wealth Fitness International, the meeting was meant to train participants in doing business but was halted by police and RIB following the crowd’s chaos at KCC.

It is said that applicants were promised US $ 197 after the training session which enticed the youth to register and attend in big numbers.

As the crowd of participants flocked Kigali Convention Center today morning, they were required to pay an attendance fee yet they could not even fit in the room booked for the meeting.

The room was overcrowded and resulted into chaos as the big crowd that could not find space inside the meeting room stayed outside wandering around the premises of Radisson Blu Hotel.

The chaos kept growing until the management of KCC called security for intervention, bringing in Commissioner of Police for Operations and Public Order, CP George Rumanzi and Peter Karake, the Director General for Crime Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

CP Rumanzi told attendees of the meeting that it is halted following a call from Convention Center management for intervention to stop the chaos.

He explained that training people is not the problem but the anomaly lies in poor coordination of the meeting.

“The organizer doesn’t even know the exact number of invitees. Attendees staying outside outnumbered 10 times the number of people inside the conference room. The registration process is also ambiguous. It causes problems. That is why we have intervened with RIB. There is evidence that it is an issue to be investigated,” he said.

Security officials revealed that over Rwf 15 million in registration fees has been collected from participants. Following interventions, it was agreed that participants who paid for attendance get their money reimbursed.

According to sources, each participant had to pay either Rwf 15,000 for a VIP or Rwf 4,500 for an ordinary seat.

Karake said that RIB is going to investigate the case and requested complainants, to file claims at RIB station in Remera.

Col Jeannot Ruhunga, the Secretary General of RIB also visited the scene at Kigali Convention Centre and requested participants to return home promising that relevant institution will follow up the matter.

He assured attendees who had already paid that their money will be recovered.

Akagera National Park’s Eastern Black Rhino population has grown with the arrival of five new individuals from European zoos following a translocation undertaken by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and African Parks, which manages Akagera National Park in partnership with the RDB.

Two male and three female Eastern Black Rhinoceroses were released into the wild of Akagera on Monday 24th June 2019, with the aim of increasing the genetic diversity of the park’s rhino population and aiding efforts to restore the critically endangered subspecies in Rwanda and the region.

Talking on the arrival of the new rhinos, Jes Gruner, Akagera National Park Manager said the newly translocated rhinos will bolster the founder group introduced in 2017, contributing to the reestablishment of a robust Eastern Black Rhino population in Rwanda.

“This unique achievement represents the culmination of an unprecedented international effort to improve the survival prospects of a critically endangered rhino subspecies in the wild. Their arrival also marks an important step in Akagera’s ongoing revitalization, and one that underscores the country’s commitment to conservation,” he said.

Originally hailing from Safari Park Dvůr Králové (Czech Republic), Flamingo Land (United Kingdom) and Ree Park Safari (Denmark), and selected from the EAZA Ex Situ Programme (EEP) for Black Rhino, the five rhinos began their journey from the Czech Republic on the 23rd June following months of preparation at Safari Park Dvůr Králové. Every precaution was taken to minimize stress and ensure their well-being throughout the translocation process. They were flown to Kigali before being transferred to Akagera National Park by truck.

On the afternoon of 24th June, all five Eastern black rhinos were released into enclosures in the park where they will remain for at least three weeks to ensure they have time to acclimatize to their new environment. Once they have adjusted, they will be released into a 10-hectare sanctuary where they will continue to be closely monitored for several months as they establish themselves in the area before being released into the wider park.

Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board said the country is committed to the long-term success of Eastern Black Rhinos in Rwanda.

“Their health and well-being is crucial to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection efforts, both in Rwanda and across Africa. We couldn’t be prouder of the strong community-led conservation efforts that make their new home, Akagera National Park, one of the most vibrant and spectacular Big Five Parks in the region, and we are sure that the Park’s newest residents will settle in well,” she stressed.

“Tourists visiting Akagera National Park will get to witness a truly wonderful sight, the Eastern Black Rhino in its natural habitat,” added Akamanzi.

Akagera National Park, a protected savannah habitat in Rwanda that contains excellent black rhino habitat, has undergone a remarkable transformation since African Parks assumed management in 2010 in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board.

In 2017, ten years after Eastern Black Rhinos had last been seen in Akagera, the species were reintroduced with the translocation of 18 individuals from South Africa through a project supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

The founder population that now numbers 20 adapted well, demonstrating the park’s potential to sustain a black rhino population while underscoring the extremely high levels of security and effective park management provided by African Parks and the Government of Rwanda.

Just under a decade of management with improved law enforcement and strong community and economic development initiatives has seen poaching practically eliminated, key species including lion and rhino returned, significant support fostered for conservation, and vibrant tourism leading to Akagera being 80% self-financing.

The long-term viability and genetic health of Rwanda’s Eastern Black Rhino population requires the introduction of additional animals. The five newly translocated individuals—two males and three females whose ages range from two to nine—were carefully selected and result from the foresight and vision of EAZA in helping to supplement wild populations in secure parks in Africa with genetically-robust individuals successfully bred and nurtured by the EEP.

“The success of the EEP has enabled us to supplement natural populations of rhinos in Africa,” said Dr. Thomas Kauffels, Chair of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

“Modern zoos are a key part of the conservation landscape, and our collaboration with Akagera National Park and the Rwanda Development Board demonstrates how zoos can contribute directly to the conservation and recovery of endangered species in protected landscapes,” he added.

Extensive security measures have been implemented to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of Akagera’s rhinos. They include an expertly trained rhino tracking and protection team put in place in 2017, a canine anti-poaching unit, and the deployment of a helicopter for critical air surveillance to enhance protection of the park – all made possible with funding provided by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

Black rhinos are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 5,000 black rhinos remaining across their range in the wild, and of these approximately 1,000 are the critically endangered Eastern black subspecies.

This translocation, which is being carried out according to IUCN guidelines, represents an urgent and valuable opportunity to expand the range of the black rhino with the help of captive-bred rhinos to supplement and repopulate wild populations. It also forms part of the Government of Rwanda’s vision to revitalize and protect its natural heritage to create a future in which both people and wildlife can thrive.

Trainees include Police, military and civilians from the host Rwanda, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and allied participants from Norway.

It’s intended to address issues regarding concepts of gender mainstreaming, SGBV causes and forms in Post conflict situations. It further provides participants with skills, knowledge and techniques of investigating cases related to SGBV during conflict situations.

The commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, while opening the course, said that training is an effective measure to address most of the challenges in regard to contemporary policing and to enforce national laws.

“This course is very paramount to Rwandans as a post genocide country, on one hand, but also in line with functions in peacekeeping operations in region and across the globe,” CP Nshimiyimana said.

The course is line with developing capacity and capabilities of EASF for future deployment in Peace Support Operations.

“This course answers most of our enduring questions in the protracted struggle to professionalize our police forces. Such crimes thrive in insecure and chaotic countries where most of you will be deployed for your peacekeeping missions, and you will be expected to investigate and handle such crimes efficiently,” the commandant said.

The head of Police Component at EASF, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dinah Kyasiimire, observed that SGBV has devastating long term effects on the lives of victims, their families and communities, and impedes development.

EASF is one of the five regional forces for Peace Support Operations (PSOs) with multidimensional components that consist of military, police and civilians, and mechanism to provide capability for rapid deployment and intervention, peace support and peace enforcement.

The reduction in data prices is expected to drive further internet connectivity, facilitate business growth and enable communication.

Speaking about the new 4G offers, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Marketing Officer, Richard Acheampong said, “We at MTN believe that every Rwandan deserves the benefits of a modern connected world. Our reduction in pricing indicates our commitment to internet connectivity and making high-speed internet affordable for all.”

Data continues to be one of the fastest growing sources of revenue and subscriptions for MTN Rwanda, with data revenue year on year to date growth of 52.6%.

“MTN continues to see a steady growth of data subscribers on the network and we expect this trend to continue now with the reduction in 4G bundles. Through our pro-customer centric approach, we are not only offering our customers lower rates but also giving them the experience of a good quality network,” added Acheampong.

2018 saw U900 being deployed across the whole network countrywide to drive network efficiency and offer better customer experience. The population coverage went from 53% as of 2017 to 92% in 2018. The plan continues in 2019 that entails upgrading the capacity of 3G sites to enable them to carry more traffic, as well as the building of additional sites.
MTN Rwanda continues to be customer-centric and introduce affordable products and services that will deliver a bold digital world to its customers. This will happen with more affordable data, reliable network and affordable Internet-enabled handsets such as the newly introduced entry-level smartphone, ‘Ikosora’. This combination not only drives smartphone penetration but allows for affordable digital inclusivity. With MTN data, everyone has an offer that suits their needs, regardless of budget.

The district targets connecting all households by 2024 aligning with national strategic objectives.

The statistics have been revealed during the launch of electricity transmission line alimenting rural sectors namely Cyanzarwe, Nyamyumba, Bugeshi, Kanama and Nyakiriba.

The district had pledged to connect 7120 households with on grid-electricity but the number was outperformed to 7174. A total of 1020 homes were connected to off-grid electricity from the expected 1000.

Steven Igooma, the Manager of Rwanda Energy Group (REG) branch in Rubavu District explained that all households will have been connected to electricity before 2024.

“We targeted to connect 7120 homes with electricity and 1000 with off-grid energy in Rubavu district but the target was respectively superseded to 7174 and 1022. We will have connected the rest before 2014,” he said.

The mayor of Rubavu district, Gilbert Habyarimana explained that they will connect specific homes every year, an exercise to be conducted easily given that residents are in settled villages.

Residents were delighted with the development. Edouard Bizimana, one of residents whose house was connected with electricity in Cyanzarwe sector said it reduced theft overnight and enabled children to revise studies uninterruptedly.

“We would walk 10 km to charge our cell phones in Mahoko center; children revise studies accordingly and watch television. They have up to date on national progress,” he said.

Since he was connected to electricity, Enock Nsengiyumva turned into a barber barbing and started yielding from his business.

“We used to walk three hours to get our hair cut. With electricity, I started a barbershop which earns me income,” he said.

The six-minute and 10 seconds song is in French language with traditional beat.
Kizito Mihigo praises Pope Francis as a role model for humility.

“Pope Francis, our model of humility. You lead us on the path of holiness. In the Catholic Church, our uniting family, there is Faith, there is Hope, there is Love, there is Life. Pope Francis, we pray for you. Remain the sign of our unity. We praise God our Father for our worthy pastors,” reads part of the song.

Talking to IGIHE, Kizito Mihigo said that the song is released as the Catholic Church is preparing for the celebration of Saint Peter and Paul considered as disciples at the heart of the foundation of Catholic Church.

“This pushed me to reflect on their successors in evangelical mission and found the need to praise their great work,” he said.

In Choruses, Kizito talks about different achievements by Pope Francis worldwide like uniting people of different religions and beliefs through discussions, his role model aspects in humility, consolidating with wretched people, striving for peace and unity among others.

Kizito Mihigo also produces songs dedicated for the celebration of mass and others for Virgin Mary.

The audio of “Le Pape François” song was produced by The Sounds Studio of Producer Bob while the video was produced by Producer Faith FEFE.