Author: IGIHE

The mayor of Kirehe district, Gerard Muzungu has confirmed to IGIHE that the workers were involved in an accident today morning on their way to work.

They were coming from their residence on the side of Tanzania, a few kilometers to River Akagera which is between Rwanda and Tanzania where the hydroelectric power station is being built.

“They were in a Coaster this morning towards the power station under construction. It was then that they got involved in an accident in which two workers died; including a Burundian and Rwandan. Two others sustained serious injuries,” he said.

Rwandans of which number has not yet been established are among workers who sustained injuries.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Gatete Claver has, via twitter account, expressed condolences to bereaved families.

“Our condolences to the families of our staff at Rusumo hydro power project who lost their lives this morning due to an accident. RIP,” he said in a tweet.

The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFP) is a hydropower project under joint development by the Governments of the Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania through a commonly owned Rusumo Power Company (RPCL).

The new song follows another released recently called ‘Abarinzi b’amateka” carrying the message of commemoration, fighting against trivialization and denial of the Genocide against Tutsi.

“Kubabarira ntibivuga kwibagirwa” becomes the sixth song released since Kizito Mihigo was released from presidential commutation adding to songs like “Aho kuguhomba yaguhombya”, “Uzabe intwari” and “Vive le pardon” among others.

The chorus of the new song reads: “We, Genocide survivors are never extinguished even though our sorrow still remains, there emerged bravery and energy and we are happy to work with our fellow citizens in rebuilding our Rwanda.”

Speaking to IGIHE, Kizito Mihigo said the song appreciates efforts of genocide survivors who don’t get sunk into sorrow over the past 25 years after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

“After the Genocide against Tutsi, there are survivors who had positive anger, who didn’t sink into sorrow but took bravery and energy for their interests and the country in general. I think those people induce pride to the country and are hope for many human beings in the world,” he said.

The five minute song was produced by Producer Nicolas while the video was captured by Mussa, the owner of Rday Entertainment.

Kizito Mihigo is also the author of commemoration songs including ‘Twanze gutoberwa amateka’, ‘Umujinya mwiza’, ‘Ijoro ribara uwariraye’ among other he released before his imprisonment in 2014.

“This is to inform the public that after measles outbreak at Huye prison, the quarantine is now closed. The regular visit is allowed. Thanks to public and inmates’ relatives for their patience throughout the quarantine,” reads the statement released by Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).

Measles outbreak caught some of Rwanda’s prisons at the end of last year leading to suspension of visits to inmates. Huye prison is among other prisons removed from quarantine last month including Nyarugenge and Ngoma prisons.

RCS indicates that 117 inmates were infected by the disease but no one of succumbed to the epidemic.

This agreement will primarily enable community members from Gakenke and Gisagara districts to use the Spark Microgrants approach to build capacity that will help them to overcome poverty through different projects funded by Spark Microgrants. The two districts join three existing beneficiaries including Rulindo, Musanze and Burera districts.

Following the agreements; Spark Microgrants has been testing this approach in all 24 villages of Rukozo sector in Rulindo district which have started implementing development projects worth 100 million. For instance, community members of Kivomo village were facilitated to found Twizamurane Kivomo’, a community bringing community members together for pigs husbandry.

They went through the process before receiving 5 pigs at the outset. Today, the number of pigs has risen to 35.

Spark Microgrants in partnership with Gakenke district have selected Kamubuga sector as the next beneficiary. The sector is inhabited by 23,000 community members of who 4,000 are from the first Ubudehe category.

Once in a village, Spark Microgrants selects and train community based facilitators on the model, upon completion of the training, they go back to their communities and share the acquired knowledge through participatory planning meetings. Each village of Kamubuga sector will receive Rwf 6 million to support their development projects.

The executive secretary of Kamubuga sector, Jean Bosco Nkurunziza has told IGIHE that they will make sure such projects are implemented successfully. “We have the duty of reminding community members of their role in the implementation of the project. I will be providing advisory services to ensure the projects bear fruits,” he said.

Spark MicroGrants was founded in 2010 with a novel approach to empower communities facing poverty to design and drive their own economic and democratic development. To date, they have partnered with over 210 villages across Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ghana with a 95% project sustainability rate.

The horticulture center of excellence, established at Mulindi in the City of Kigali through the cooperation between Rwanda and Israel, comes to strengthen the technical know-how of Rwandan researchers, extension agents and small and commercial farmers, through transfer of hands on skills among others.

During the inauguration ceremony on April 01, 2019, the Government of Rwanda and MASHAV also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to promote the agriculture development in Rwanda through the inaugurated center of excellence.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, said that this Horticulture Center of Excellence inauguration and new MoU signing are important milestones in the context of contributing to the improvement of horticultural production, and human capacity building in Rwanda through MASHAV’s expertise.

“This is in line with our fourth Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 4). As you may know, in this strategy, among others, we aim at raising production and profits per hectare through increasing agricultural yields and switching to higher value agricultural commodities, such as horticulture, animal products and fisheries,” the minister said. “In this regard, I would like to assure the State of Israel that the Government of Rwanda will continue to support the Horticulture Center of Excellence, especially as it contributes to the modernization of Rwanda’s Agricultural Sector in general and horticulture in particular.”

Ambassador Yuval Rotem, the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that this is the biggest project of MASHAV in Africa.

“We are making significant investments to be able to bring knowledge and knowhow to the people of here based on Israel experience, that hundreds of farmers and people who are dealing in agriculture in Rwanda will be trained and they are going to be in a position to have by far more quality, by far more quantity, and above all, it is going to bring more income to the people. This is exactly the kind of cooperation that we are looking forward to enhance,” the Israeli Director General said.

Journalist Robert Mugabe, the Great Lakes Voice editor is accused of defiling two girls including a minor.

It is alleged that Mugabe defiled girls aged 17 and 19, one of who he reportedly impregnated and attempted to give her crude abortion-enhancing substances.

He was arrested in September 2018 and released on bail by Kagarama Primary Court, in Kicukiro District on 8th October 2018. He was remanded again following the prosecution’s appeal.

Following the ruling to extend his remand by Kagarama Primary Court in February 2019, the accused appealed against the decision at Nyarugenge Court of Higher Instance.

During the hearing of his appeal yesterday, Mugabe said the court was prejudiced and disregarded his facts and violated some laws.

The prosecution explained that DNA test results to be conducted in German will be part of the evidence and for now he cannot be released because Mugabe denied more DNA tests.

The judge explained that the prosecution has rights to conceal results of DNA tests conducted before because the investigation process is a secret.

The judge ruled, Mugabe is accused of defilement which attracts over five years sentence that he cannot be released on bail because there is tangible evidence pinning him.

Before the new line, Bweyeye passengers from Kigali would be dropped at Kamembe and cover the remaining distance on motorbikes.

Rusizi district vice mayor for economic affairs, Leoncie Kankindi has told IGIHE that the new line will enhance residents’ progress.

“This will liberate residents from isolation. The buses will also enable residents to plan for businesses without interruptions as transport cost is reduced,” she said.

The Minister of State in charge of Transport, Hon. Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye said that the new route is in line with renovation of Bugarama-Butare-Bweyeye and Pindura-Bweyeye roads connecting sectors neighboring Nyungwe National Park and installing lights on roads as well.

RITCO Ltd began operations in May 2016 taking over from the defunct ONATRACOM.

Jean-Claude Karayenzi, Managing Director of Access Bank (Rwanda) Plc who received the award on behalf of Access Bank as a group noted: “Financial Inclusion at Access Bank is a culture. We value empowering women at all levels internally and in all communities we operate in.”

Female leadership and empowerment are positioned at the very crux of Access Bank’s long-term strategy as they constantly strive to inspire, empower and support women across all life stages in Africa.

In July 2014, Access Bank launched the W Initiative – a women-focused market programme with the primary goal of addressing the financial and non-financial, lifestyle and aspirational needs of women across three key segments: Women Professionals, Women in Business and Women with Family.

Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director of Access Bank quoted “We are not where we want to be yet but a recognition like this, reminds us of how much more we have to do to create a gender-balance world.”

Access Bank Group is made up of eight (8) African markets spanning Sub-Saharan Africa’s three monetary zones, the Far East, Middle East, Asia and the United Kingdom. The Bank will continue to invest in its operations and is poised to become the world’s most respected African bank.