Author: IGIHE

Umurenge SACCOs are savings and credit co-operatives whose objective is to pool savings for members and in turn provide them with credit facilities while VUP is an Integrated Local Development Program to Accelerate Poverty Eradication, Rural Growth, and Social Protection.

The move follows complaints from VUP beneficiaries who raised concerns over a high-interest rate of 11%.

Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) has released a letter prohibiting all Umurenge SACCOs to offer VIP loans. It also announced the exemption of the higher interest rate.

The letter signed by the Director General of Rwanda Cooperatives Agency, Prof. Jean Bosco Harelimana indicates that the decision is based on resolutions of the 16th National Leadership Retreat related to improving performance of Umurenge Sacco especially management of VIP loans.

“The management of Rwanda Cooperative Agency is writing to inform you to stop offering VUP loans with immediate effect after receiving this letter but rather embark on recovering loans,” reads part of the statement.

Prof. Harelimana has told IGIHE that the VUP fund management was passed over to grass root leadership.

“The funds will be allocated to beneficiaries through accounts of grass root leadership levels in Saccos. Projects will be approved at the sector level, then Saccos transfer the funds to allocated accounts. It is unlike the past where Saccos would also get involved in the approval of projects,” he said.

“The 11% interest rate has been exempted. Saccos will, however, deduct 2% service fees,” he added.

During the 16th National Leadership Retreat, President Paul Kagame expressed concern over the raised interest rate for VUP beneficiaries from 2% to 11%. He requested concerned parties to revise the program to efficiently facilitate beneficiaries overcome poverty.

The fifth Transform Africa Summit is taking place at Kigali Convention Centre from 14th to 16th May 2019 bringing together over 4000 participants including different Heads of States and Governments, private business people, international organizations to discuss how to accelerate Africa’s ICT driven economy.

The concert to be held on Thursday 16th May 2019 was named ‘Transformational Tunes of Africa’. It will feature Mfikizolo and singer Kidumu Kibido Kibuganizo starting from 7 pm to 11 pm.

Mafikizolo group was last in Rwanda in September 2018 performing at Kwita Izina Gala Dinner held at the shores of Lake Kivu in Rubavu district.

Kidum was also previously in Rwanda in Rwanda Konnect Gala concert on 21st December 2018 at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village featuring with different performers including Inganzo Ngari, Seburikoko, and Cécile Kayirebwa.

He revealed this yesterday in a joint press conference with Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the Ministry of Infrastructure and WASAC on water tariffs.

The press conference has been held at a time when different people have been using social media lamenting that current monthly water bills are high.

“We should set policies on efficient use of water. Everyone needs to look back and think about how he/she can sparingly use water. We should check on regular water usage at home. People should learn to minimize the use of water,” said Muzola.

“We all don’t spend the whole day at home. It also happens to me that I see water tariffs going high. If the meter has a problem we correct it. The most important thing is to know how we use water at home,” he added.

Muzola explained that the country’s ambition is to help all Rwandans to access safe water at home.

Current water tariffs went into effect in February 2019.

The current water tariffs are classified into three categories. The 1st category comprises of people who use not less than 5,000 liters (250 jerry cans) per month or eight jerrycans per day. This category pays Rwf340 per 1,000 liters or Rwf6.8 per jerrycan.

The second category is composed of those who use over 5,000 liters but not more than 20,000 liters per month. This category pays Rwf720 per 1,000 liters, meaning Rwf14.4 per 20-liter jerrycan.

The third category includes those using 20,000 liters and not more than 50,000 liters per month which is between 33 and 83 liters per day. This category pays Rwf845 per 1,000 liters which is Rwf16.9 per one jerrycan.

The Director General of RURA, Lt Col Nyirishema Patrick has said: “We cannot say that water consumed at our homes is expensive.”

He explained that water tariffs are based on water treatment and distribution costs.

Nyirishema urged Rwandans to use water sparingly in order to control the bills.

He said residents pay only 26.2 percent of the actual cost of water supply in their homes as the government caters for 73.8 percent through subsidized investments.

The funding will be utilized in legal advisory services, protecting children against violence and enabling refugees to access advanced health services at health centers or hospitals.

The official unveiling of projects supported by the funding will be held on 6th June 2019.

The Representative of UNHCR in Rwanda, Ahmed Baba Fall has expressed delight over the funding from the Government of Japan assuring that it will be efficiently utilized.

Japan ambassador to Rwanda, Takayuki Miyashita has said that his country prioritizes development cooperation in protection and capacity building of different people especially vulnerable and disadvantaged people to enhance their wellbeing.

“Since I came to Rwanda three years ago, I have visited Mahama Refugee Camp seven times to ensure that the funding reaches beneficiaries. We laud UNHCR Rwanda and partners for implementing the potential projects,” he said.

The Government of Japan is among major partners of UNHCR Rwanda for the past six years. It has so far donated USD $ 7 million to support refugees.

By 31st March 2019, Rwanda had received 148,320 refugees living in six camps, four transit centers and different parts of the country.

“Congratulations President Cyril Ramaphosa on your well-deserved victory. We wish you, the ANC and the people of South Africa success. We look forward to continuing even stronger cooperation between our people and nations towards our shared goal of prosperity!” he said in a tweet.

South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), retained control of parliament in national elections held last week allowing Cyril Ramaphosa to extend tenure.

Results from the Independent Electoral Commission website on Saturday showed the ANC garnered about 58% of the vote. Opposition parties the Democratic Alliance got 21%, while the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters garnered 11%.

It was the worst electoral performance by the late Nelson Mandela’s former liberation movement, which has governed South Africa since the country’s first free election marked the end of white minority rule in 1994.

The ANC had not previously won less than 60 percent of the vote in a national poll, but its victory secures it enough seats in parliament to give President Cyril Ramaphosa another five-year term in office.

RwandAir will fly to Guangzhou three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Guangzhou will be tagged to the existing Mumbai route and will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A330 configured with a three-class cabin.

Commenting on the upcoming launch of the Guangzhou route, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, RwandAir Chief Executive Officer has told Aviation Tribune that: “With the increasing volume of trade between African countries and China, the need to meet the high demand of businessmen and traders traveling between Africa and Guangzhou is strongly felt. This new route will open new business opportunities and also increase our passenger and cargo traffic”.

Guangzhou, well known as the “Canton City” is an expansive port city northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River.

Guangzhou will be RwandAir’s second destination in Asia following Mumbai, which has been operational since April 2017. This new route will extend RwandAir’s network to 28 destinations.

During the visit at the memorial where remains of over 250,000 victims are laid to rest, Kaspersky said that he cannot help but draw a comparison between the Genocide against the Tutsi and the Holocaust that was perpetrated against Jews.

“It is 25 years after the Genocide happened here in Rwanda but I am happy to see that the country has moved on despite the loss of so many people, said Kaspersky, who is in the country for a five-day visit.

He added: “I am deeply moved by the memorial of the victims of one of history’s greatest crimes – and reminded of the haunting similarities to the genocide of our own people. I thank the leadership of this country,” he said.

Kaspersky toured the memorial with some of the senior managers of the company and was in the company of Patrick Nyirishema, the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA).

From the memorial, he also visited the museum at parliament that is dedicated to telling the story of the campaign against the Genocide during which tour he was also explained to the different sections of the museum.

Speaking after the tour, Nyirishema said: “We are really happy to have Kaspersky who is one of the most successful people in the world here to pay tribute to those that lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The gesture of joining Rwandans in this commemoration period is really touching.”

Kaspersky headed to Musanze after visiting the two memorials.

In Musanze, he is lined up as one of the speakers at the National Security Symposium that starts on Monday at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College.

Kaspersky will also later this week take part in Transform Africa Summit that will be held in Kigali for the fifth time, jointly organized by Smart Africa Alliance and the Government of Rwanda.

“We are happy that the Rwandan Government takes cybercrime as a serious issue. We are a platinum sponsor at the event and our experts are present to showcase our latest innovative solutions that will help organizations in Africa be cyber immune which will allow them to grow and prosper away from cyber threats” said Kaspersky.

About how important the summit is to Kaspersky Lab and why they chose to be part of it, he said that for over 20 years, Kaspersky Lab has been recognized as experts in the fight against malware and cybercrime.

“We are present in the summit to help organizations in the region achieve high-security measures because it is what we do best,” he said.

Under the theme “Boosting Africa’s Digital Economy”, Transform Africa Summit will convene over 4,000 participants, including Heads of States, senior government officials, representatives from public and private sector, international organizations, civil society, and the academia, among others.

Headquartered in Moscow, Russia and with a holding company based in the United Kingdom, the firm is most renowned for its anti-virus solution, the Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications. It supplies global institutions with technology platforms in communications, software, video, and services.

Under the agreement, Motorola Solutions will establish a service center, a training center, a Supervisory Control, and Data Acquisition (SCADA) center and an Internet of Things (IoT) center in Rwanda.

These investments by Motorola Solutions will be made with a view to establishing its regional headquarters in Rwanda, and elevating its operations in Rwanda into a regional hub.

Speaking during the signing ceremony yesterday, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire said: “By signing this agreement, we are looking at building capacities and the entire ICT eco-system with unique value-adding solutions. Rwanda is excited to have Motorola Solutions on board and look forward to expanding this partnership further.”

The Rwanda Development Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Hategeka also noted that there is a business case for the government to work with partners in the private sector such as Motorola Solutions in investing and enhancing skills of Rwandans and technology.

“Establishing these service, training, SCADA, and Internet of Things centers in addition to moving Motorola Solutions’ regional headquarters here will further position Rwanda as an ICT hub for the continent,” he said.

The General Manager Motorola Solutions Rwanda and Region Manager East Africa, Yuval Hanan said that they chose Rwanda because it is a leader in ICT within the region that they believe young Rwandan engineers and ICT professionals have a lot to offer globally.

“We are excited to invest in improving the technical expertise in Rwanda and exporting it,” he noted.

The remains have been found as Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) employees dug a waterway to provide safe water to residents from Plage and Kavura villages.

Ildephonse Munyarukundo who was digging the water channel has told IGIHE that the remains have been found in few centimeters that they immediately alerted officials.

The Executive Secretary of Kigabiro sector, Egide Hanyurwimfura has told IGIHE that they will identify relatives of those victims before according them a decent burial.

“They were digging a waterway when they found the remains. We worked together to exhume them. We are going to identify if there are close relatives before burying the victims decently,” he revealed.

According to neighboring residents, there was a roadblock set up by Interahamwe to kill Tutsi during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the area where the remains have been exhumed.