Author: IGIHE

As he officially inaugurated the meeting, the Prime Minister insisted on the importance of this meeting as a platform for local and international experts to dialogue on how the quality of standards and competitiveness of higher education should be enhanced and maintained to respond to the needs of the community in terms of social and economic development.

He explained that this year’s theme carries an underlying message that the East African region needs to transform Higher education and adapt to a new era of technological advancement and appreciated the fact that this theme is linked to the Global 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

In order for East African universities to deliver to the optimum quality of digital and ICT expectations, Premier Ngirente said, institutions must implement academic programs that allow them to develop students who can think and reinvent themselves within the changing world they will graduate into.

He stressed the need to ensure that pupils who complete their primary schools are well equipped with relevant basic numeracy skills while those who complete their secondary schools have a minimum proficiency in Mathematics regardless their ambitions to prepare them for any field of study in Higher learning.

To ensure quality education, the Prime Minister called upon the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) to elaborate clear accreditation requirements that public and private universities must fulfill before they start to operate.

“No university should be accredited on the basis of fulfilling merely the minimum requirements as it can undermine the quality of our education” he noted.

He also applauded the Inter-University Council for East Africa for facilitating the establishment of the East African Centre for Mathematical Research that has among other objectives to promote and coordinate research and Postgraduate Training in Pure and Applied Mathematics in the East African Region.

Dr. Christophe Bazivamo, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors lauded IUCEA efforts in facilitating research.

He explained that EAC member states concerted efforts in building citizens’ capacity in which Universities and Higher Institutions play a key role.

The Vice Chairperson of IUCEA, Prof Joy Kwesiga said that the World Higher Learning Institutions and Universities continue to embrace technology as the World moves towards digital revolution.

The Minister made revealed the statistics yesterday as he graced the inauguration of community mediators’ office in Ngarama sector of Gatsibo district built by residents to improve and fast track service delivery.

The facility worth Rwf 18 million was constructed within 8 months through community work, donating roofing sheets among other equipment bought from residents’ contributions.

Minister Busingye hailed residents for the good work highlighting the facility was the first community mediators’ office built by residents.

He explained that community mediators greatly support the judiciary in resolving disputes and handling cases that would be transferred to courts.

“Currently, community mediators solve 70% of cases that would be handled by courts. We voice our appreciation to them for such great work,” he said.

Busingye requested community mediators to keep on integrity in solving disputes.
“You know that your job requires commitment and integrity. We request you to stand firm to solve community disputes effectively,” he said.

The President of community mediators in Ngarama sector, Jervais Murisa said the new decent office will improve service delivery.

“With the new decent office building, we won’t be exposed under hot Sun or rain among other challenges including hiring offices. We assure residents of continued mediation services and conveniently solving disputes,” he said.

The plot of land was provided by the Government while the rest of equipment necessary for the completion of the building were catered by residents who raised funds starting with Rwf 1000 each.

Ngaramo sector has 42 community mediators.

Gatsibo district counts 581 community mediators including 327 females and 254 males who last year solved 1337 out of 1349 cases.

Community mediators at country level handled 49 528 court cases equivalent to 97, 3% in 2017/2018.

Today, Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development joined the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and other stakeholders to salute the courage and resilience of more than 150,000 refugees currently living in Rwanda.

In support of MINEMA’s and UNHCR’s joint strategy for the economic inclusion of refugees, Inkomoko has also supported 4500 refugees who have chosen to start and grow businesses for self-reliance.

Inkomoko offers refugee entrepreneurs training and financial tools needed to start and grow businesses, improve their personal financial sustainability, regain dignity, and become self-reliant. After completing the Inkomoko program, 92% of these businesses are still operational.
“Prior to joining Inkomoko, I was struggling with losses. In the program, I learnt how to save and reinvest in my business, the process and advantages of paying taxes.

The eye opener was to think about expanding my business and understanding market opportunities. In short, I acquired business management skills and best ways to sustain my business,” said Emima Nyiramasine, a refugee entrepreneur in Gihembe Camp.

The Rwandan government’s policies allow refugees to register a business with RDB, open a bank account, and pay taxes. Refugees in Inkomoko’s program have paid more than 73M RwF in taxes to date.

“These policies encourage refugees to contribute to Rwanda’s growth, so we are helping them make their own living, as well as contribute to their host community. It benefits everyone,” said Olive Ashimwe, Inkomoko’s Director of MicroBusiness Solutions.

Inkomoko’s refugee entrepreneurs have also created more than 2600 jobs, of which 90% were filled by Rwandans in the host community. This year, Inkomoko has seen even more mutually beneficial business linkages between Rwandan entrepreneurs and refugees by offering integrated training, expos, and networking events in partnership with the local districts.

“Since I joined the Inkomoko program, I’ve seen a great improvement in my family business and livelihood at large. My gratitude goes to the Government of Rwanda that is giving to refugees, like me and my husband, opportunities work and do business in Rwanda. We are living a dignified life,” said Esperance Musanigare, a refugee entrepreneur in Kigeme Camp.

“Walking alongside these refugees on their journey of entrepreneurship demonstrates our belief that anyone can make a difference and be self-reliant, no matter what their background is,” said Lydia Irambona, Inkomoko’s Regional Director of Refugee Affairs.

Rwanda’s World Refugee Day celebrations in Kigeme camp, one of the six refugee camps in Rwanda that Inkomoko works in, will commence with a marriage ceremony for registered couples in the camp, exhibition of items made by refugees and host community members, and testimonies from refugees and the host members about living and working in community together.

Dignitaries, including the Mayor of Nyamagabe, Governor of the Southern Province, UN Resident Coordinator, and UNHCR Deputy Representative, are to join the Honorable Minister of the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management as the Guest of Honor.

{{About Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development }}

Inkomoko, a local consulting firm, was founded on the belief that entrepreneurs will transform their country by driving economic growth in their communities and bringing to market relevant solutions to solve the community’s most pressing problems. Refugee entrepreneurs are no exception.

Inkomoko provides relevant and practical skills and resources to help entrepreneurs grow their business. We do this through a comprehensive program of one-on-one consulting, business training, and direct access to affordable financing. This year, Inkomoko’s refugee program has been funded by the US State Department through the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migrants (PRM) and the Mastercard Center for Economic Inclusion.

Inkomoko’s ultimate goal is see businesses create jobs and improve in their communities. Inkomoko is the Rwandan affiliate of African Entrepreneur Collective.

{{For more information: www.inkomoko.com }}

The disease was reported recently at New Explorers Girls Academy (NEGA), a high school in Gashora sector of Bugesera District and Rambura Girls School in Nyabihu District.

The disease was first reported a month ago at Rambura Girls School where it weakened the knees, inflicted pain and incapacitated the victim to walk.

The Minister of Education (MINEDUC), Eugene Mutimura has via twitter account explained that the examination carried out by MINISANTE experts indicated that the disease relates to consciousness and individuals’ behaviors and can spread to a group of people simultaneously.
Mass hysteria is “the rapid spread of illness signs and symptoms affecting members of a cohesive group, originating from a nervous system disturbance involving excitation, loss, or alteration of function, whereby physical complaints that are exhibited unconsciously have no corresponding organic aetiology.”

Minister Mutimura said: “We assure parents and Rwandans in general that we take control of students’ wellbeing across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and relevant parties. Students continue their courses uninterruptedly.”

When the disease was reported in Nyabihu, the Director of Shyira Hospital, Dr. Maj. Emmanuel Kayitare told IGIHE that the disease was identified on 25th May 2019.

He said some them recovered after taking tranquilizers.

One suspect only identified as Joseph was arrested recently in Nyagatare, Rwemasha Sector, Retare Cell, Mashaka Village with 164 pellets of Mayirungi.

Meanwhile, another suspected trafficker of khat is still in hiding after he abandoned his bicycle and a bag of Mayirungi on Tuesday in Kirehe, Kigarama Sector, Kigarama Cell in Humura Village.

“Mayirungi is treated like cannabis and other narcotics… it is a narcotic drug and dealers face the same law that punishes anyone carrying out acts related to the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.

Majority of Mayirungi traffickers are arrested in Nyagatare and Kirehe districts being trafficked either from Uganda or Tanzania, respectively.

The crime carries a sentence ranging from seven years to life imprisonment as stipulated under article 263 of the new penal code.

Side effects

Mayirungi remains one of the less talked about psychotropic substances composed of leaves of a wild plant, and considered harmful to users. It was classified as narcotic drug with psychological dependence, in 1980 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Medical experts say the use of khat cause many side effects including mood changes, excessive talkativeness, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, manic behaviour, paranoia, and psychoses. Insomnia or trouble sleeping, loss of energy (malaise), and lack of concentration usually follow.

It contains two mild stimulants; cathinone and cathine, and is associated with increased risk for a variety of medical complications, including dental disease and mouth cancers, heart problems, liver disease, sleep problems and reduced appetite.

Information from the family of the deceased indicates that Nzungize fell in comatose soon after the was hit with the nail in the head and taken to Kabutare Hospital from where he was transferred to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) and University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).

Nzugize had served 18 years in prison while Hitimana who killed him was handed 30 years sentence since 17th October 1994. He still had five years to complete the jail term.

Speaking to IGIHE, Rwanda Correctional Service spokesperson, SSP Hillary Sengabo said it was the first time such incident happens in Rwanda’s prison.

“The cruelty has left us a lesson to deeply assess inmates’ characters before they are reintegrated in the community,” he said.

Figures indicate that at least over 800 genocide convicts will be released this year, 920 will be released in 2020, 1496 in 2021, and 3620 in 2022 while 2012 will be released in 2023.

The killer has been handed to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

Attended by 150 mourners, the ceremony held on Sunday was marked by a walk to remember from Place du souvenir Africain, a place where the memorial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi built in 2018 is located, crossed around Dakar city before returning to the memorial.

The President of Rwandan diaspora in Senegal, Patrick Karamaga reflected on history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and hate speech propagated by politicians.

He recalled the speech of Leon Mugesera in 1992 held in Kabaya mobilizing Hutus to return Tutsi home in Ethiopia through River Nyabarongo which later turned into reality when Tutsi were thrown in the river dead or alive during genocide.

Karamaga reminded the youth of their role to build the nation free of divisionism and ensure genocide never happens again.

The President of the Friends of Rwanda’s Association, Dr. Sakhoudia Thiam said that commemorating genocide should be everyone’s responsibility.

Rwanda’s ambassador to Senegal, Dr. Mathias Harebamungu explained how colonizers divided Rwandans and early preparations of genocide since 1959 when Tutsi were deprived of their rights and killed at different regimes until the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi was executed.

Amb Harebamungu also reflected on 10 commandments of Hutus and hates speeches mobilizing Tutsi killings and called on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to increase memorials of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi across the world and urged people with genocide archives to share them with Rwandans.

The ceremony was concluded by laying wreaths in Atlantic Ocean.

The ceremony took place within 100 days of national mourning in commemoration of genocide victims.

They join 700 other young African leaders for a six- week program, and will be hosted by 12 prestigious United States universities followed by a conference in Washington, DC.

The 12 Rwandan recipients were selected from over 600 Rwandan applicants and represent an extraordinary group of leaders already making important contributions in entrepreneurship, public administration, and civil society in their communities.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

The Fellowship will provide outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa the opportunity to hone their talents at a U.S. higher education institution with support for continued professional development after returning home.

These institutes focus on leadership and skills development in one of three areas: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.

In the past decades since the inauguration of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the larger YALI program have become a model for exchanges in Southeast Asia, the Americas, and in Europe. There is the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI).

The agreements were signed yesterday at UoK headquarters after holding a panel discussion engaging students on the importance of leveraging development on digital financial transactions.

The partnership aligns with KCB vision to acquaint the university youth with labor market competencies and promoting the society’s welfare in general.

KCB Treasury Manager, Nicole Kazura said the bank is glad to enter the partnership with UoK to prepare for students’ future.

“We believe you (students) will take advantage of the opportunity and work hard. KCB has places for students in economics, technology among other courses. It is the beginning of the partnership but we want to see students getting more internship opportunities and jobs. This is our ambition. We want to contribute to national economic development,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor of UoK, Prof. Abraham Waithima commended KCB for the program creating room for students to immerse their skills.

KCB began operations in Rwanda in 2008. It has been active in different programs meant to promote education and protecting environment among others.

The Bank also partnered with the National Youth Council for youth scholarships to study vocational skills of who 100 were sponsored last year and 200 this year under the ‘KCB Igire Program’.