It is said that the victims were weeding beans’ garden of an old woman Pascasie Mukamusoni, 63, when it rained heavily. They all went to seek shelter at the home of Jean Bosco Habimana where lightning struck them.
Mukamusoni and Bernadette Bapfakururimi died on spot while six others were taken to Rusasa health center.
The head of Rusasa health center, Désiré Bwenge has told IGIHE that the six survivors are recovering.
“They have no complicated issues. We are taking care of them and hope they will all recover,” he said.
This follows Sunday incident where lightining struck dead seven cows of James Rutayisire in Nyagatare district.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye officiated the pass-out ceremony held yesterday and gave the new officers the rank of Police Constable.
The pass out ceremony was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, Governor of the Eastern Province, Fred Mufurukye; Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services, George Rwigamba; Prosecutor General, Richard Muhumuza; Secretary General of Rwanda Investigation Bureau, Col. Jeannot Ruhunga; and Deputy IGPs; Juvenal Marizamunda of Administration and Personnel and Felix Namuhoranye of Operations, among others.
“We are here today not only to support our Police but also to acknowledge and cement the existing relations and partnership. The parade, smartness, equipment, the men and women matching before us come from us to ensure peace, security and freedom, which lays a firm foundation for development and our country’s transformation,” Minister Busingye said.
He added: “There’s time when security was at its lowest; crimes against humanity, discrimination and ethnicity were the definition of work and governance in our country. The unity, security, peace, and development we have today were achieved at a cost of sacrifice, putting lives on the line and patriotism.”
Minister Busingye highlighted that security is guaranteed today while crimes are at the lowest like never before noting that this is how it should be and the way of life.
He observed that RNP’s participation in peacekeeping continues to define the country’s image on the international scene.
With about 1200 Police officers in various peacekeeping missions across the globe, Rwanda ranks the second Police contributing country and first female contributor.
“To Police officers graduating today, a lot is expected from you to supplement this journey of defining the safety and dignity of our country through teamwork and partnership with other Police officers and Rwandans to fight and prevent crime,” Minister Busingye said.
He thanked them for joining RNP to serve their country and for the resilience, sacrifice and commitment throughout the course, but challenged them not to engage in any malpractice that tarnish the image of RNP.
Minister Busingye pledged the country’s commitment in skills development of officers through training both locally and in other countries, and acquiring hi-tech equipment to ensure quality policing services
The Minister further acknowledged the force’s role in the country’s development through its human security programmes as well as empowering Rwandans through community policing to be custodians of the law.
Through the RNP human security programme, the force constructs roads linking communities, shelter for vulnerable families, provides medical insurance to the disadvantaged, plants trees as part of the country’s environmental protection programme, and has so far donated solar power system to about 4000 households located far from the national grid.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, the commandant of PTS, said that the Police Basic Training Course equips participants with use of arms, homeland security operations, peacekeeping, use of technology in crime investigation, law, community policing, disaster response, drills, physical fitness and other policing related duties.
The commandant also thanked the trainees for their discipline, respect, teamwork and resilience throughout the course.
He also thanked the government for support in quality training programmes.
The incident took place yesterday night. The executive secretary of Nyagatare sector, Ingabire Jenny has told IGIHE that lightning struck the cows under a tree where they were sheltered.
” It is true that lighting struck and killed all the seven cows sheltered under a tree,” she said.
The donations delivered on Friday followed a visit to Kabgayi genocide memorial where they laid wreaths on graves in honor of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Each beneficiary family received 25 kgs of rice, African wrapper, Kitenge, eight kgs of sugar, and two cartons of soap. In addition two of the families received cash donations to buy either two pigs or two goats.
Beneficiaries hailed the support that came in handy.
Espérance Mukagasana, who is in the first Ubudehe category said: “We are grateful for donations. Indeed received livestock will be the foundation for my agri-business project.”
Another beneficiary Euphrasie Nyiramasuka said the gesture gives hope that they are not left behind in development.
The executive secretary of Shyogwe sector, Vedaste Habinshuti hailed the support noting that it signifies a lot to beneficiaries wellbeing.
” The donors have comforted us and contributed to our welfare,” he stressed.
The Director General of RPPA, Augustus Seminega revealed that the kind act was meant to demonstrate the brotherhood and remind those mothers that they won’t walk alone along the resilience journey.
” We decided to support this group after consulting with CNLG and establishing the main pressing issue facing them.” he said.
The donations of foodstuff and livestock were worth over Ref 1.5 million.
RPPA organizes such charities annually joining the rest of Rwandans to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He is was among 38 students who received Master’s degree in eEconomics during a the ceremony held yesterday at the headquarters of the College in Massachusetts in which other 511 students were conferred upon Bbachelor’s degrees.
The President of Williams College, Maud S. Mandel said that it was the 230th intake and lauded different guests including friends and relatives of graduates from different corners for attending the ceremony.
The graduates are from 61 countries.
One of the guests Joseph Wilson said that it is of great value to reach the milestone successfully after graduates spent days and nights studying to succeed exams and being away from their homes.
Graduates were asked to use acquired knowledge to transform their communities and play a role in seeking solutions to address existing problems.
Ange Kagame who also obtained Master’s degree last month at the School of International and Public Affairs, SIPA in Columbia has via twitter account congratulated his brother Ian Kagame who was a player of the Williams College in football and Track & Field.
“Two Sport College Athlete (Track & Field Captain & Soccer). To the sibling that makes the rest of us feel like we’re underachieving. Congrats on another milestone-Economics Degree. Sooo proud of you,” she said.
Minimally invasive surgery is a medical operation which is done on patients.
It is done without opening the body, but with the use of a camera which projects the suffering part and the operation is done through a small hole on the affected area.
Hence the patient gets little pain, few complications and a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications.
Dr. Bukara Emmanuel, an orthopedic surgeon at King Faisal Hospital lauded the new addition to the medical services the hospital offers, noting that it was rarely performed in East Africa. Currently few surgeries of the same nature are being done in Nairobi.
With the help of a team led by Dr. Nyiko Chauke from South Africa, last week, ensured 13 minimally invasive shoulder surgeries at King Faisal Hospital.
These surgeries are performed on soft injuries like frozen shoulder, capsulitis, rotator cuff tears, labral tears and acromial clavicular joint arthritis.
“We no longer have to open the body, you only look into it with a camera, make a small pinhole and start operating. It can be done in orthopedics surgery, general surgery, gynecology, and even neurosurgery”, Dr. Bukara said.
He further said that in King Faisal Hospital, previously orthopedic surgeons used to conduct surgeries with minimally invasive technique on knee injuries only.
“With minimally invasive surgery, you go straight to what you need to do, and reduce a massive work with an eye of a camera”, he added
Dr. Nyiko Chauke says minimally invasive surgery has other advantages like minimal tissue damage and minimal scars.
Shema Michel, a patient whose shoulder was operated last week, told IGIHE that he didn’t experience as much pain as he had been expecting.
Shema, who had been suffering a frozen shoulder for a year, said he is sure he will be discharged from hospital soon.
“The surgery was done yesterday but now I feel well. There are some directions in which my right arm was not able to move but it is possible now. There is also no much pain as it was before”, he said
In Rwanda; minimally invasive shoulder surgery is now available in King Faisal Hospital only.
This will help those used to travel abroad to look for such service or those who would stay home for failing to afford to go abroad.
The Presidential Order determining modalities for consolidation of memorial sites of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for better preservation was issued on 27th May 2019.
The order stipulates that memorial sites for the Genocide against the Tutsi are permanent and shall not be moved. However, if deemed necessary and for their better maintenance, memorial sites for the Genocide against the Tutsi may be merged.
Under the said Presidential Order, when memorial sites for the Genocide against the Tutsi are consolidated, depending on specific history of a site from which a memorial has been moved, a sign reminiscent of that history must remain at the site.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr Bizimana Jean Damascène has told IGIHE that the intention is to keep well-preserved memorials holding history and having enough space that can facilitate students to learn easily.
“There are some memorials built by individuals yet genocide memorials normally belong to the Government which preserves them. The Government wants to keep memorials that can be well-maintained forever within available means to preserve such history,” he said.
Bimenyimana who was arrested on Saturday is said to have been forging motor-vehicle inspection certificates, which he has been selling to other drivers or vehicle owners.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, Bimenyimana has been arrested in the past over similar crimes.
“At the moment we have identified three vehicles with forged inspection certificates issued by Bimenyimana. In February, he issued a forged certificate for the vehicle RAB 249P and another to RAA 634I driven by one Theogene Nsanzimana, last month,” CIP Rugigana said.
After his arrest Police also found that the vehicle Bimenyimana was driving had an expired mechanical certificate, which was also forged because it does not appear in the system.
The motor-vehicle inspection system stores data for all automobiles inspected.
“Some people became suspicious that Bimenyimana could be involved in criminal activities and forging mechanical certificates; he had issued some of them and was promising many other drivers to get them the certificates, so they decided to report him to Police,” CIP Rugigana said.
He thanked those, who inform the police on such criminal acts and urged the general public to give no room for such wrongdoers.
Mechanical certificate can only be obtained from the MIC in Remera, Gasabo District or where the mobile inspection lane is stationed.
“The arrest of Bimenyimana is part of the Rwanda National Police ongoing crackdown on people involved in forging or unlawfully issuing traffic related documents,” CIP Rugigana said.
The arrest comes barely one day after Police in Kigali apprehended three people masquerading as Police officers and defrauding people of their money promising to give them driver’s license.
They had already conned about five people of over Rwf1 million.
RNP advises the public that it has no brokers and calls for sharing information on anyone alleging to be working on its behalf.
The dead have been idified; Joseph Habumugisha, 53, the driver from Kicukiro, Niyomwungeri Theogene, 37, Nyarugenge, Kanyandekwe Michael, 31, Nyarugenge, Mukarubuga Erida, 54, from Huye, Dushimimana Therese and the sixth whose identities have not yet been established by press time.
It is said that the incident took place yesterday when the driver steered to the wrong way crossing the bridge along the road under construction located in Gafunzo village hence slipping in the river and washed away. The river was flooded.
Residents in the area said the automobile carried three men and three women. It is said that three people on board were going to visit friends while three others were given a free drive.
The mayor of Ruhango district, Valens Habarurema has told IGIHE that the bridge where the incident happened had been completed and is used by passengers and other vehicles.
“Police has started investigation but the bridge was already completed and operational. The driver used the wrong way as he crossed the bridge leading the vehicle to slip in the river. Their bodies have been recovered from the river and taken to Gitwe Hospital. We condole with bereaved families,” he said.
The representative of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) at Murambi memorial, Stanley Mugabarigira explained that victims killed in Murambi had come from different commune of the then including Karama, Mudasomwa, Kinyamakara and Rukondo.
He explained Tutsi started fleeing between 9th and 11th April 1994 after genocide perpetrators started setting their properties on fire.
Some fled to churches while others were taken in a bus to Murambi School believing it was a safe place. They were however attacked in the night of 21st April 1994 by soldiers with grenades and later killed the rest with traditional weapons.
The place turned into Murambi Memorial which is home to over 50,000 victims killed at the school and neighboring areas.
After visiting five sections of Murambi memorial and receiving explanations on genocide history, the management of BUFMAR donated food stuff including rice, beans, sanitary equipment among others to Seraphine Mukamazimpaka, a vulnerable genocide survivor in Gasaka sector.
The Chairman of the Board of BUFMAR, Dr Albert Nzayisenga said that commemoration of genocide enables Rwandans to reflect on the country’s history to learn consequences of bad leadership and draw measures to prevent re-occurrence of genocide.
Ten employees of BUFMAR were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Managing Director of BUFMAR, Ernest Rwagasana said that they draw strength from remembering fallen staff to strive for a peaceful country.
Rwagasana explained that visiting Murambi memorial was meant to learn from cruel killings of Tutsi in different places to be passed to their children.
“We want to learn more about how genocide was committed with extreme cruelty and draw measures against genocide,” he said.
The spokesperson of Anglican Church of Rwanda (EAR) in Kigeme diocese, Bishop Asiel Musabyimana said commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a good opportunity of joining Rwandans to look back and adopt anti-genocide measures.
BUFMAR was founded in Rwanda in 1975 on the initiative of the Christian Churches. It comprises of 22 members including 9 Catholic Church dioceses, Anglican Church, ADEPR, Eglise Methodiste du Rwanda, Association des Eglise Baptiste au Rwanda (AEBR), Union des Eglises Baptiste au Rwanda (UEBR) and Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda (EPR).
