The event took place at CHUK on May 28, 2020, following the King Faisal event on Wednesday.
Rotary Club Kigali Doyen and five other Rwandan charitable clubs are starting to work together to help change the world and resolve conflicts, education, fighting ignorance and poverty, improving access to clean water, fighting pandemics, and eradicating polio disease through donation vaccination and help the needy.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic caused by Coronavirus has been reported in China and spread around the world, doctors are among the foot soldiers fighting its spread.
Rotary Club Kigali Doyen thus donated Rwf 5 million to King Faisal Hospital and Rwf 8 million to CHUK.
The donation was raised in conjunction with Rotary Club Brussels-Renaissance in Belgium and another project called Chaîne de l’Espoir, which has been working with Rotary Rwanda for three years in the field of pediatrics.
Rotary Club Kigali Doyen President Sebera Eddy told IGIHE that they have chosen to help the hospital access safety equipment for its operations.
The Rotary Club already operates various hospitals in Rwanda where it recruits specialists in various diseases and support the treatment of some communities for free.
CHUK Director General Dr. Hategekimana Théobald thanked the Rotary Club for their support in various activities.
He said beside the donation given to the two hospitals, children born with heart problems were treated with the support of the Rotary Club which restored hope among their parents.
Rotary Club Kigali Doyen recently donated to Rwandan Biomedical Center (RBC) more than 900 liters of hand sanitizers and hygiene kits including 160 handwashing tanks worth Rwf12 million to deal with Coronavirus. It also donated another Rwf 3 million to support the charity Solid Africa, which cares for homeless patients and helps them get food.
They made the commitment in a meeting of 28 heads of the youth group from different sectors of Nyanza district. It was conducted in line with the recommended safety guidelines of social distancing, wearing face masks and washing hands before entering the meeting room.
The meeting aimed at laying firm strategies in this period to ensure mass campaign against the virus in communities and in busy public places, according to Aline Murekatete, the district youth coordinator.
She expressed the willingness of youth volunteers in the district to work with the police and local authorities to implement the government guidelines to end the pandemic.
“We are still young and our voice in our respective communities can reinforce in educating the people on best and safety practices,” said Murekatete.
“This was like recommitting ourselves in that line to work with our police to remind and educate people on how to positively behave and fight against COVID-19. We are going to use public communication systems to deliver messages but also reporting those whose actions contravene the directives,” she added.
She noted that the campaign will be extended to people in trading centres, markets to influence the same understanding and to work together to be safe.
Disregarding the directives and recommended healthy practices, she said, can put people’s lives at risk, and “we will not be bystanders.”
The District Political and Civic Education Officer (DPCEO), Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Jean Baptiste Nyirishema, who attended the meeting, thanked the youth for their volunteerism spirit in security, health and development activities.
“Some people still do not understand the importance of respecting directives or ignore them intentionally. Wearing face masks, social distancing, washing hands at all times; these are directed practices that are still breached. We are working with the youth volunteers so that they can be where police officers cannot be,” AIP Nyirishema said.
“Youth volunteers are many; they can effectively and efficiently deliver the message of obeying the set directives. They deliver the messages in many places like markets or trade centers, taxi parks and in other public places. The messages they give reach to many people,” he explained.
The youth volunteers in different parts of the country are actively engaged in awareness campaign on COVID-19 and supplementing the national efforts against the pandemic.
The youth group, which started in 2013, currently has over 300, 000 members across the country.
The new guidelines were issued by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) on Wednesday. The issued guidelines are part of the efforts to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 when moto-taxi operators resume their work on June 1.
Among the guidelines issued in a statement, motorcyclists and passengers have to carry hand sanitizers. Motorcyclists are required to sanitize the helmets and ensure passengers sanitize their hands before boarding. Both the motorcyclists as well as passengers have to wear their face masks and taxi-motor operators have to obey one-meter distance while in parking.
Motorcyclists in Kigali are required to use meters cashless payment of their fare using Mobile Money or Airtel Money. The cashless payment also applies to motorcyclists operating in other parts of the country.
No cash will be allowed in order to decrease the risk of spreading Covid-19 through cash handling.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera reminded taxi-moto operators and their clients to ensure maximum compliance.
“Motorcyclists as well as passengers have to follow rules and directives that have been set. It is for everyone’s safety. They will resume their businesses but we remind them to not put their lives in danger. Washing their hands and helmets, wearing face masks, cashless payment, and social distancing is necessary for everyone’s safety,” CP Kabera said.
He warned of appropriate actions against anyone who will be caught violating the guidelines. He further urged them to operate within the limits of traffic rules and regulations
“Besides Coronavirus, reckless usage of roads can also claim lives. We expect people to do the right thing to protect themselves and others and those who disobey will be punished. Let’s make respecting rules part of our culture,” CP Kabera emphasized.
The President of FERWACOTAMO, a federation of motorcycle cooperatives; Daniel Ngarambe said that all efforts are currently being put in emphasizing the government directives to curb the virus from spreading.
“We will control and monitor motorcyclists and passengers on compliance; washing or sanitizing hands and helmets, wear face masks and maintain the one-meter distance. Whoever uses a moto must feel safe but he or she will not get service without wearing a face mask or sanitizing their hands,” Ngarambe said.
While the U.S. government has committed more than US$5 million to date in emergency funding in support of Rwanda’s COVID-19 response, private American citizens, U.S. companies, and non-profit organizations based in the United States have also organized private contributions to support the Rwandan people during these difficult times.
“I am pleased to see so many American citizens and U.S. organizations getting involved in coronavirus response and relief here in Rwanda,” said Peter H. Vrooman, U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda. “It truly is an ‘All-of-America’ fight against coronavirus for us, both at home and around the world.”
“The private sector showcases America’s ‘can-do’ spirit and illustrates the depth of the partnership between our two countries,” said Vrooman. “I want to thank these U.S. citizens and organizations and all others making a real difference in the lives of Rwandans all across this country.”
Pennsylvania-based Azizi Life partners with rural Rwandans to lift lives through fair trade. The nonprofit raised more than US$10,000 in contributions from online donations, mostly from the United States, to support more than 500 artisan and beekeeping partners and their families for one month.
U.S.-owned Impano Sportswear has shifted its Kigali production line to face masks, in support Government of Rwanda guidance requiring cloth face masks in public. In addition to custom designs and branded masks, Impano is also producing sports masks.
In coordination with local partner Abahizi Rwanda, U.S.-based life and style brand Kate Spade New York has shifted local production in Rwanda to face masks, while still continuing its seasonal handbag production. The company has donated 24,000 masks to community members in Masoro.
USAID’s Power Africa advisor helped blended-learning leader Kepler to apply for a US$50,000 grant for portable solar chargers for laptops so that 163 undergraduate students at Kiziba refugee camp can attend class online.
Kids Play International, established by a three-time U.S. Olympian, promotes gender equity through sport and the Olympic values in post genocide impacted countries. Due to COVID-19, the non-profit raised over US$9,000 to supplement its current after-school sports-based programming in Rwanda and Cambodia. Kids Play has providing almost 3,000 kilograms of food to the families of 300 youth involved in its programming, feeding more than 1,500 people across both countries. Kids Play will also bring water and sanitation solutions to more than 10,000 community members.
Atlanta-based Kula Project is a non-profit that has been empowering Rwandan coffee farmers through business and leadership training since 2015. Thanks to an online fundraising campaign and an awarded food relief grant, Kula has worked with Kayonza, Gakenke, and Nyamasheke districts to provide food, masks, and soap directly to 1,060 households. It has also given additional financial support to the districts as they continue their community response.
MindLeaps, a U.S.-based non-profit that uses dance to develop the cognitive skills and social-emotional learning of at-risk youth, has donated more than 2,000 kilograms of food to more than 230 families in Nyamirambo and Rwezamenyo.
Atlanta natives Erin and Colton Parks live and work in Rwanda. The Parks Family collected donations from more than 100 family and friends in the United States and worked with Rwandan friends and local government offices to distribute food to more than 10,600 families.
Partners In Health, locally known as Inshuti Mu Buzima, has worked with the Government of Rwanda to strengthen primary and chronic care services in the public health system since 2005. PIH directly supports the National Joint COVID-19 Task Force by providing staffing expertise in data management, communications and analytics. PIH also bolstered national COVID-19 testing capacity by providing an RT-PCR machine that conducts 73 tests an hour to the National Reference Lab and strengthened facility readiness for COVID-19 response in the District hospitals of Kirehe, Rwinkwavu, and Butaro. In addition, PIH is ensuring the continuation of care for cancer patients in the lock down context by distributing oral cancer treatment by drones in partnership with Zipline.
Thanks to US$60,000 in donations from people in the United States and other countries, U.S.-based Rhoda Consulting helped local NGO Dufatanye provide emergency food and soap distributions to more than 5,000 households in Nyanza. This is more than 91 tons of food impacting more than 31,000 individuals.
Boston-based Shooting Touch uses the mobilizing power of basketball as a tool for health education, intervention, and improved well-being for rural communities. Unable to take to the court, Shooting Touch is providing weekly phone credit to 15 women at each court they have built, in order to establish a “buddy system” to maintain camaraderie during these isolated times. This calling task-force offered an open ear, recording the concerns of their teammates, as well as provide them with at-home stretching routines, fitness exercises, mental health coping strategies, and phone numbers for free support – to more than 1,000 families.
TEACH Rwanda is a Pennsylvania-based organization for American educators to help Rwandan preschool and primary teachers learn to use modern, research-based teaching methods. Their exemplary school in Muhanga, Bright School, includes many students from vulnerable families, so the school has provided food to 67 families to date, with even larger food distributions to come. Teachers regularly call students’ families, as well, to check-in and to encourage project-based learning at home.
The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is a global university based in Rwanda. An initiative of Boston-based Partners in Health, it offers a unique community-and facility-based approach to medical training that centers on vulnerable populations. UGHE presents a long-term solution to pandemic preparedness and response in training students to build, repair, maintain, and grow resilient health systems capable of preventing and withstanding future outbreaks, as well as contributing to critical research in this area.
Currently, its alumni are well-trained to contribute to frontline efforts in contact tracing, testing operations, delivering medical supplies and training community health workers, in Rwanda and other countries. Campus resources are being allocated towards the response, including redeploying drivers to transport patients to facilities facing interruption like the Butaro Cancer Center.
Matt and Andrea Miller, along with parents and friends of Virunga Valley Academy, an American international school in Musanze, raised more than US$15,000 for food relief, which helped more than 1,000 families in Musanze district.
Kentucky-based Word Made Flesh invests in women living in vulnerable communities in Rwanda, providing access to dignified work, vocation and life skills, financial literacy, counseling, and deep friendship through community. Since the start of the COVID lockdown, Word Made Flesh has worked with local government leaders to distribute food to 450 households in Kangondo, more than half headed by a person living with HIV.
U.S. tech start up Zipline is using drone-based delivery to support medical response to COVID-19 in Rwanda and Ghana, delivering testing samples in-bound from rural areas and distributing outbound PPE and other medical supplies like cancer meds.
This “All-of-America” approach is helping people around the world. American private businesses, non-profit groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, and individuals have now provided more than US$4.3 billion in donations and assistance globally, more than any other nation, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Categories in the award include Top Innovations in Corporate Finance, Payments, Trade Finance, Cash Management, Islamic Finance, with Winners selected from different regions of the world.
The classes of award comprised Most Innovative Banks in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Western Europe; The Most Innovative Fintech Companies in Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, North America, and Western Europe; and The Best Financial Innovation Labs
At the virtual awards announcement, Anita Hawser, European Editor at Global Finance and Lead, Global Finance Awards evaluation team, noted that companies recognized at the Innovators 2020 significantly stood apart.
She said the review panel looked at innovation in the context of product or process innovation, as they were ultimately more concerned with the impact of innovation in terms of creating value for customers or addressing a specific need, like speeding up lending or credit review process for small businesses; enabling companies to deposit cheques remotely and not having to visit the branches.
According to her, these are innovations that significantly reduce the time or cost of companies to perform financial tasks and really transform customers’ business lives helping them operate more effectively in a significantly challenging business and economic environment.
In his remark, Ade Ayeyemi, Ecobank Group CEO said: “We are pleased to be recognised as the ‘Most Innovative Bank in Africa’ by Global Finance. This attests to the strength of our brand in multiple countries across Africa, our unique pan-African platform, and our innovative banking products and solutions made possible by the success of our digital transformation journey”.
With a larger African footprint than any other bank operating in West, Central, East and Southern Africa, Ecobank is the only bank that has banking operations that spans 33 African countries, operating a truly integrated African network.
That is One unified integrated Ecobank Mobile Banking App, that works seamlessly across all 33 operating countries in Africa; One Ecobank Omni and Omni Lite serving Multinationals and SMEs in Africa; One Rapidtransfer app that breaks down country borders and allows the diaspora community send money directly to their loved ones, instantly and affordably across Africa; One Ecobank Online Banking platform that can be easily accessed across 33 African countries.
The Ecobank Group’s unique and largest pan-African platform is designed to help unlock the opportunities of the continent, for the benefit of the continent, through standardization, thereby enabling regional integration, and trade and investment across borders.
With the Group’s sterling performance, it has been severally recognized as ‘Best Retail Bank in Africa 2019’ at African Banker Awards; Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Africa 2019 by Brand Africa 100; Best Digital Bank in Africa – 2017 by Euromoney Awards; Best Retail Bank and Innovation in Banking both in 2018 by the African Banker Awards amongst others.
After the presiding judge read out the offenses that Kabuga was accused of, including genocide, persecution and extermination against Rwanda’s Tutsi minority, Kabuga denied the charges.
“Those are all lies,” Kabuga said through an interpreter. “I would not have killed my customers. They are lies.”
Kabuga appeared before a Paris Court of Appeal that will decide whether he will be transferred to an international court. The French court refused to release Kabuga on bail, despite his lawyer’s argument that he is in poor health. Kabuga appeared in court in a wheelchair, hands in his lap, wearing a face mask. No immediate medical concerns were known.
The defense lawyer said Kabuga would not receive a fair trial at a UN tribunal. The French court will determine whether he will be handed to an international court during its next session, which is scheduled for June 3.
{{Sponsor of death}}
Kabuga, who was arrested earlier this month in a Paris suburb was considered the most-wanted suspect connected to the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda. He had been on the run for 25 years for his suspected role in crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
A tea and coffee tycoon, Kabuga was one of Rwanda’s richest people leading up to the genocide.
Prosecutors have accused Kabuga of using his wealth to import machetes and gardening tools that would be used as weapons in the 100-day genocide that killed several hundred thousand Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Kabuga also co-owned the Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM), which spread ethnic hatred against Tutsis.
Kabuga managed to evade capture for years by living under false names and frequently moving. French police previously said he lived in several European and African nations — including Germany, Belgium, and Kenya — in the quarter-century since the genocide.
Cogebanque Plc has also integrated the use of ITs in its services and products in a bid to freeze time, distance and boost efficiency, and, in the process, contributing to the attainment of Government of Rwanda ambition of building a cashless economy.
As many Rwandans continue to use digital currency to beat the spread of coronavirus, many transactions are done through online platforms including shopping, payments, tax declaration and money transfers.
Cogebanque Plc customers have told IGIHE that the bank has gone an extra mile by approaching clients, advising and providing them with digital financial services that involve online and cashless transactions.
Nkubana Alphonse who has been banking with Cogebanque for 10 years says that during the Stay Home period, he was able to access his bank account online without any hindrance.
Nkubana, an account holder with CHIC’s Cogebanque Plc branch, said he is satisfied with the technology because ‘most of us used to send money and where you didn’t understand they would help you.’
“When you pay someone through digital platforms, there is proof that you paid for it. The transactions are also faster faster,” Nkubana said.
From cheques to M-Wallet
Cogebanque customers say they have now come to fully appreciate the importance of using cashless transactions given the thorough support extended by the bank.
“I now use ‘Mobile Wallet ’service which can be compared to having a bank in your hands at all times. Even with COVID-19 lockdown, I could access my bank account whenever and from wherever I so wished.. I used to use cheques or cash. Now I go to Rutsiro or Nyagatare, paying the workers without any problems using Cogebanque’s Mobile Wallet,” Butwatwa Paul, a time honoured customer of Cogebanque says.
Butwatwa says it also eliminates all security risks that would be involved in money transfer.
The building contractor who has been banking with Cogebanque for eight years says that even his employees now find it an easy banking option.
Yvon Gilbert Nishimwe, Director of IT Services at Cogebanque Plc, says all through the COVID 19 lockdown, their clients could access their accounts from their homes without any ado.
Cogebanque Plc has 28 branches nationwide. It has 36 ATM machines, over 600 agents who help it provide account opening, deposit and withdrawal services, remittances and other services including technology; Internet Banking; Mobile Banking (* 505 # and Coge mBank); The Smart Cash card and MasterCard.
Rwanda has set a target that by 2024, 80% of transactions will be made through digital transactions, up from 34.6% in 2019.
The recovered electronics include a microphone, an audio mixer, and a voltage stabilizer, which were part of the sound system in the mosque.
They were recovered from one Shawali Ntwari, 23, in Gitoki Sector, who was also taken into custody.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region said that the arrest of Ntwali was due to information provided by some Muslim faithful at the mosque.
“They reported the case of theft and suspected Ntwari, who was an employee at the same mosque, to be behind it since he also went missing from that very day,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “As the search for the prime suspect–Ntwari–was underway, Police received information of someone in Gitoki, Gatsibo District, who was searching for clients to buy music instruments. Police officers went there posing as buyers and arrested Ntwari after authenticating the items to be the same stolen from the mosque in Rwamagana.”
Victims, he said, were notified of the recovery of their items, which are currently at Kabarore Police Station.
CIP Twizeyimana lauded residents, who were quick to share information after suspecting Ntwari to be selling stolen equipment.
“Whenever you suspect someone to be involved in anything unlawful, always call the Police. This will help to jointly fight and prevent crimes, recover anything that could be stolen or missing.”
Theft, under article 166 of the penal code, attracts an imprisonment of between one and two years and a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million, a community service of not more than six months or one of the two penalties.
The #INFORAFRICA Alliance aims to respond to the challenges faced by Africa in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
The campaign engages with hundreds of opinion leaders, celebrities and influencers to deliver preventive and lifesaving messages across the continent as well as supporting initiatives which fight the disease, create a positive impact on local communities and contribute to achieving resilience against the impact of the disease.
The #INFORAFRICA campaign already has the support of a variety of African influencers including African music legend Awilo Longomba, British-congolese comedian Eddie Kadi, British-Ivoirian superstar Afro B, journalist, activist and author Isha Sesay, Grammy award winning singer Mohombi, Nollywood superstar Destiny Etiko, Ghanaian actor John Dumelo, soccer players Tresor Lualua and Yannick Bolasie.
In addition to the global awareness campaign, #INFORAFRICA aligns with the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO), African governments and their national health authorities to provide accurate information in order to stop the spread of the pandemic on the continent.
Funds mobilised will be directed towards reputable agencies such as the United Nations Foundation Solidarity Response Fund and the Africa Union Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT).
These funds will be used to support frontline efforts such as purchase ventilators, testing, personal protective equipment and hygiene kits (soaps, hydro-alcoholic gels, disinfectants).
Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Eddie Kadi, said:
“As the virus spreads away from African capitals, #INFORAFRICA, this unique continent-wide campaign, the first of its kind, will help amplify crucial life-saving messages to stop the pandemic across Africa. In such unprecedented times, artists and influencers must do their part and come together as a community to deliver messages of hope and unity to the very people who supported them during the course of their journey”.
As a prominent media platform in Africa, StarTimes has put a lot of efforts into raising awareness on the outbreak. It will keep doing so by disseminating the #INFORAFRICA influencer messages so their voices can reach more people on the continent, beyond African capitals.
StarTimes Vice-President Luis Lu said: “Today is a special day for Africa, even more special this year as the world is going through an unprecedented crisis. As the coronavirus is still threatening the continent, StarTimes is honored to join the #INFORAFRICA Alliance to bring people together and help them keep safe.”
Sauna and massage are among the prohibited services in this period when the country is fighting and preventing the pandemic of novel Coronavirus
The violators were paraded to the media Sunday afternoon at Remera metropolitan.
Among those arrested are Raymond Bizwinayo, the hotel proprietor, Christopher Tuyishime, the manager and Alexis Nyiridandi, who is in charge of the Sauna.
Bizwinayo distanced himself from the unlawful acts, arguing that Sauna and massage services were under different management although they were operating within the same facility.
Tuyishime said that Sauna and massage services were opened the same day the government opened hotels and other hospitality establishments.
Nyiridandi alleged that the gym section remained closed as directed by the government and feigned knowledge that Sauna and massage were still closed since salons were also given green light.
Alexandre Kanyambo, one of the arrested clients narrated that he was called by a friend informing him of a place open to Sauna and massage services.
“I left Gacuriro to Remera, joined my friend to the hotel where we were caught. I wasn’t aware that these are among the prohibited services, but now I know I breached the government directives to be in a congested place like Sauna,” said Kanyambo.
To Uwase, another suspect, she argued that as she was jogging that evening, she had a smell of Sauna as she went passed the hotel.
“I followed the Sauna smell to Lebanon hotel, I was arrested inside with other people, few minutes after I had entered,” said Uwase.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the actions were contrary to the “outlined and clear government directives and guidelines” meant to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
“Sauna and massage parlour are among the prohibited services in this period. These people were in the same room where, if one of them was infected with the virus, he or she could have infected others; it was risky and unlawful,” said CP Kabera.
He added: “At this level, we expect everyone; owners and managers of business facilities, and the public in general to be at the peak of positive response. But of course, we still have such people whose actions hamper the government response to the problem in our midst, and putting lives of other people at risk.”
“These people came from different areas of Kigali, met in one place and no one knew the status of the other.
We want to repeat this; whoever breaches the directives will be arrested and we continue to thank some members of the public for the partnership and reporting such serious violations.”
