IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • ‘Removing Kagame is Rwandans’ business, for anyone else it is impossible’

    Kagame made the remarks as he was closing the 7th African CEO Forum 2019 alongside President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    He was answering a question by Africa Report Magazine’s Chief Editor, Patrick Smith, who was moderating the panel as he asked him on what he thinks will be the solution to problems between Rwanda and Uganda.

    Relations between the two countries have been deteriorating in the past two years. Rwanda accuses Uganda of supporting armed groups hostile to the Government of Rwanda including the FDLR and Rwanda National Congress (RNC) and illegally detaining, torturing and harassing its nationals travelling to Uganda among other accusations.

    Kagame said that as things stand now, dialogue can’t help in resolving tensions between the two countries and that all the efforts they make seeking solution to the problem are undermined by ‘petty things’.

    Kagame said for those outsiders who imagine replacing him with someone else, “it is impossible”.

    “If you think that you don’t like President Kagame or Rwanda because you think what should happen in Rwanda is supposed to be dependent on you, your views and decision; this is bad politics,” Kagame said adding: “Whether you like me or not, President Kagame is here as President of Rwanda, it is the business of the people of Rwanda. If they want Kagame they will have him and if they don’t they will remove him.”

    “To imagine that because you don’t like Kagame you will change him and put someone else, it is impossible,” he emphasized.

    On the issue with Uganda, Kagame said: “It must come to a point where the family must sit and realistically resolve this issue. Continuing to talk about our problems, we come to a point where the best thing is to cooperate and accept each other.”

    “To say the least, if we can’t work together as brothers, sisters, friends, we can decide to give each other peace and forget what we have to do together but above all, avoid quarrels that will be destructive because no one will win from any serious quarrel,” Kagame advised.
    President Tshisekedi who was also on the panel said that leaders should seek peace between countries they lead as they will leave power but still leave countries as neighbors forever.

    “Our countries will be neighbors forever; as leaders, we are here temporarily but our countries will always be there. Conflict with each other is a waste of time, time that could be used to build our countries,” President Tshisekedi reiterated.

    On integration, Kagame said: “African people are ahead of their leaders in understanding the importance of integration and practicing it. In some places there is trade going on even with bullets flying. It is the responsibility of leaders that this should not be the case, or be normalized.”

  • Kigali Marriott to take part in Earth Hour

    The event will take place for one hour between 8:30p.m and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, 30th March 2019.

    From 8:30 pm, the main lighting in the public areas at Kigali Marriott Hotel will be switched off and the hotel will remain on minimal lighting for one hour. Hotel guests will be encouraged to participate by switching off the lights and turning off any power on their devices in their rooms.

    “Understanding the impact that the operation has on the environment is very important to Kigali Marriott Hotel. We are constantly finding ways in every department to implement change. Supporting Earth Hour is only one small part of Kigali Marriott Hotel’s environmental-protection efforts,” reads the hotel’s communiqué.

    Another example of these practices will include using LED lighting in the lobby lounge in the evening time, implementing Plastic straw ban alternatively using paper straws, donating leftover soap to Hope Shines who sanitize and recycle the soap (Hope Shines is a dynamic youth development organization making history by transforming the lives of at-risk and vulnerable children.

    The Recycled Soap project helps provide affordable and sometimes even free bars of soap to those who need it most, segregating waste (paper/plastic and food) and encouraging reuse of linen in the room.

    Kigali Marriott Hotel is located in the city center, and provides a luxurious home away from home for business and leisure travelers. The hotel offers 254 spacious and luxurious rooms including 25 suites, an executive club lounge and over 11,000 square feet of flexible event space with 15 meeting rooms.

    The hotel also offers recreational facilities that include an outdoor pool, fitness center, Saray Spa, and gift shops.

  • Rwandan young women acquire practical leadership skills through ‘Girls Take Over’ Initiative

    The “Girls Take Over” Initiative aimed at providing a shadowing experience to young women in Rwanda by offering them role models in the field of their career choice, helping them realize their potential, build their capacities and strive to make their dreams true.

    Girls who benefited from the initiative were selected among students from Gashora Girls Academy, Akilah Institute for Women, FAWE Girls School and the Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities (UNABU). The young women acquired insightful career advice and first-hand experience from leaders in different Rwandan and international organizations.
    The young women were received in by the Heads of the following Institutions; UN Women, the Embassies of Kenya, Congo, Netherlands and Germany to Rwanda, The Swiss Development Cooperation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, the UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), Bank of Kigali and BK Capital, Ecobank, the Commercial Bank of Africa, SONARWA Life, Volkswagen Rwanda, AC GROUP, Rwandair, Engen Ltd, the Kanombe Military Hospital and the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSR).

    They were taken through the operations of the institutions, daily work challenges and how they are addressed and discussed with their mentors their journeys to success and lessons they learnt from them.

    Brigitte Musabwasoni is a young woman, living with disabilities and a player at Rubavu Sitting Volleyball Club. She was received by the Vice President of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSR), Ms. Felicite Rwemarika.

    “I talked with her (Rwemarika) a lot about women sport development and Paralympic sports in particular. I told her about my projects and dreams to play for the national team. She advised me to never give up because she also faced obstacles as she was pursuing her dream career but she kept up with her journey until she reached her goals,” Brigitte Musabwasoni said, “I am going back home a new person and with a new friend, Felicite”.

    The various leaders who received these young women said this was a golden opportunity to share their experiences, a chance they hoped they would have gotten when they were starting their career. They were also impressed by the challenging questions they were asked by the young women and indicated it had been an eye-opener for them as well.
    Dr. Claire Karekezi, the first Rwandan female neurosurgeon, received Blandine Ineza at Kanombe Military Hospital. Ineza finished her secondary studies at Groupe Scolaire de Butare in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) Option last year and wants to become a cardio-thoracic surgeon.

    “The young woman I received dreams of becoming a surgeon. It is a great dream and as a female neurosurgeon, I made that she knows that it is possible. The way ahead of her is not quite easy but it is possible if we work together,” Dr. Claire Karekezi said.

    The UN Women Representative in Rwanda, Fatou A. Lo said that the ‘Girls Take Over’ Initiative created a platform of intergenerational dialogue for young women to be mentored but also to share key insights on how they view the field and what could be improved because as she stated “these young women are not only the future, they are actually the present.”

    “Hearing messages from these girls has been tremendously inspiring. The girls were not only very well prepared and they asked very relevant and tough questions but they also inspired us. They brought energy, great insights and they reminded us that we have all been there in their shoes.”

    Going forward, through the initiative, UN Women Rwanda intends to reach those who are left farthest behind including the school dropouts, young women who do not have access to existing opportunities and those who may not be in leading educational institutions.

    The “Girls Take Over” Initiative is a continuation of the various mentorship and career guidance activities such as the “Speed Mentoring” organized as part of the 2018 edition of Youth Connekt Africa Summit, where UN Women held mentoring sessions with 150 youth and leaders from various sectors, as well as the Mentoring Moments launched by the Career Women’s Network in Kigali.

    In celebration of the International Women’s Day, UN Women in Rwanda has offered 25 Rwandan girls an opportunity to meet and share experiences with Rwandan women and men leaders
    The “Girls Take Over” Initiative aimed at providing a shadowing experience to young women in Rwanda by offering them role models in the field of their career choice
    Girls who benefited from the initiative were selected among students from Gashora Girls Academy, Akilah Institute for Women, FAWE Girls School and the Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities (UNABU)
    They were taken through the operations of the institutions, daily work challenges and how they are addressed
    The various leaders who received these young women said this was a golden opportunity to share their experiences, a chance they hoped they would have gotten when they were starting their career
    The “Girls Take Over” Initiative is a continuation of the various mentorship and career guidance activities such as the “Speed Mentoring” organized as part of the 2018 edition of Youth Connekt Africa Summit

  • Kagame concludes visit to Angola

    He revealed this in a press conference alongside President João Lourenço concluding the visit as indicated on the twitter account of Rwanda Presidency.

    “There are many things that bind our two countries, through history, culture and ideologically. What we believe in is developing our people and doing everything we can for the transformation of our people,” he said.

    He highlighted that Rwanda and Angola can achieve more through investment with and in each other.

    “In the level of relationship we have developed between Angola and Rwanda, we have looked at areas where we can cooperate and learn from each other, across sectors. There are no limitations to what we can do together or how much we can benefit from each other,” he said.

    President Kagame thanked Angola for warm hospitality received since he arrived in Angola.

    Rwanda and Angola have existing bilateral ties in different areas including air transport, security, justice, free movement between both countries’ people, ICT, and governance.

    The visit follows recent agreements in February this year where both countries signed cooperation agreements fostering security and public order in the interest of their citizen.

    The two governments last year signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement under which the national carrier, RwandAir, and Angola’s national airline TAAg got seven frequencies a week on either side.

    Rwandan citizens traveling to Angola are not required to have visas to enter Angolan territory.

  • Kagame on two-day working visit to Angola

    Both Heads of State held a meeting before attending a luncheon hosted in honor of President Kagame.

    This visit is expected to be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties in different areas including air transport, security, justice, free movement between both countries’ people, ICT and governance.

    Both heads of states are expected to hold a press conference on the second day of the visit.

    In February this year, both countries signed cooperation agreements fostering security and public order in the interest of their citizen.

    The two governments last year signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement under which the national carrier, RwandAir, and Angola’s national airline TAAg got seven frequencies a week on either side.

    In June last year, Angola unveiled willingness to remove visa for Rwandan citizens traveling to Angola as a result of existing good relations.

    Angola is a central-African country with the total area of 1,246,700 km2 and over 25 million people. It is among African countries rich in minerals.

  • Rwandans in Belgium celebrate International Women’s Day

    The day is usually celebrated on 8th March every year at the international level.
    The event was organized by gender equality commission of Rwanda’s diaspora in Belgium in partnership with Rwanda’s embassy in the country.

    The senior advisor to Rwanda’s ambassador in Belgium, Bosco Ntibitura told IGIHE that the event is ‘a platform fostering discussions on valuing the power and knowledge of women abroad’.

    Present at the event was panelists including Marie Arena, Belgian native coordinating Women’s Rights and Gender Equality commission at European Union parliament.

    “A lot needs to do here in Europe because areas where gender equality is not respected still exist,” she said.

    Marie Pierre Nyatanyi who is among founders of a non-profit organization (Djaili Mbock asbl) based in Belgium and the writer of “Plurielles, Femmes de la diaspora africaine”; Dr Uwizeyimana Emeline, a researcher and writer of a book dubbed “Le micro-crédit à l’épreuve des inégalités de genre”; and Olivia Ingabire, a Belgium based entrepreneur exhibiting Made in Rwanda products were also among panelists.

    Rwandans attending the event lauded President Paul Kagame for his role model with non-discriminatory leadership giving women representation in all government positions.

    The celebration was characterized by traditional dances and sharing dinner.

    Rwandans living in Belgium have been joined by friends to celebrate International Women’s Day in an elegant ceremony that took place in Bruxelles
    Marie Pierre Nyatanyi, the writer of “Plurielles, Femmes de la diaspora africaine”; Dr. Uwizeyimana Emeline, was also among panelists

  • Man arrested attempting to bribe police officer in Kamonyi

    The police spokesperson in Southern Province, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi said that the suspect has been arrested trying to bribe a traffic police officer to release his motorbike which was held after violating traffic rules.

    “The motorcycle was seized by traffic police officers after the driver Valence Nsekanabo was found on duty without driving licence. Indeed, he carried more than one passenger with no helmet yet the motorcycle is designed to carry only two persons,” he said.

    According to CIP Karekezi, the motorcycle was taken to Runda station and Nshimiyimana (owner of the motorbike) was caught red handed as he attempted to bribe traffic police officer in Kamonyi district to rescue his motorbike.

    He appealed to people to respect rules and pay fines other than turning to corruption options.

    “It is not good to pass through shortcuts to get mercy in case the police officer fines you for committed offenses. You should rush to pay fines because offering bribery brings many inconveniences including imprisonment and loss of money that should be used for other purposes,” he said.

    Nshimiyimana Eric was handed to Rwanda Investigation Bureau.

  • Rwanda holds First Youth Circle in Africa on Women Empowerment and their Role in Achieving the National Agenda

    The event saw the Rwandan Minister for Youth, Honorable. Rosemary Mbabazi, UAE’s Ambassador in Rwanda, H.E. Hazza Al Qahtani and Rwanda Development Board.

    The youth circle highlighted the importance of catalyzing the role of women and youth in creating innovative opportunities to attain sustainable growth. The participants also discussed the key challenges face the Rwandan youth to achieve the sustainable development.

    During the discussion, the participants asserted the importance of identifying the challenges facing women and youth in Rwanda, and bringing about innovative solutions to overcome these challenges; in addition to the importance of encouraging youth to initiation and innovation.

    On the other hand, Rwandan Minister for Youth, H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi, expressed her pleasure to attend the Youth Circle and hearing the youth’s views and aspirations. She also extended her gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for the initiative that aims to train the Rwandan woman and developing her skills and capabilities, which in return, will enable her to improve her living conditions.

    The UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, H.E. Shamma bint Suhail Al-Mazrui, highlighted that the Emirati woman has proven her leadership in diverse fields. Not only locally in the UAE, but also in the international fora, thanks to the support of the wise leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “UAE Mother of the Nation”, President of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in the UAE. As the Emirati woman is a key and catalysing element in supporting the UAE’s development, which is reflected by her successful representation and achievements in various scientific and civil arenas on all levels.

    For his part, UAE Ambassador in Rwanda, H.E. Hazza Mohammad Al-Qahtani, indicated the importance of training programmes and workshops that target women and youth empowerment, and enhancing their role in the social service, consolidating the cooperation among the national women-relevant actors. Al-Qahtani also highlighted the importance of hosting forums and platforms to exchange knowledge and resources on all levels; affirming the importance of achieving gender balance in the public work. Thus it will facilitate addressing the standing challenges, which will not be achieved without respecting human rights and global gender equality on all levels through active work and harnessing all the necessary resources needed for innovation and making a change.

    In return, H.E. Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei, the Under-Secretary of UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stressed the importance of MOFAIC’s Youth Council participation, through UAE’s diplomatic missions abroad, in supporting the foreign policy of the UAE in all fields, expressing his aspiration to organize more youth circle sessions and joint initiatives that help achieve young people’s hopes and ambitions for their countries.

    It’s worth mentioning that Youth Circles initiative governed by UAE Federal Youth Authority and Launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Aiming to inspire youth-centric dialogue across a variety of areas for sustainable engagement with Youth to shape innovative solutions for global challenges. The Youth circle in Rwanda was facilitated by Eman Hableel, Head of Youth Council in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC). Whereas MOFAIC Youth Council’s strategy encompasses the strengthening of the UAE’s foreign policy via a process that introduces innovative and proactive youth who possess a competitive edge and are committed to the values of the nation.

    The Council will function under the slogan, “Future Diplomacy, Ambition and Hope”. Its vision entails preparing a promising generation of young diplomats who will contribute towards attaining the UAE Vision 2021 youth agenda. MOFAIC Youth Council objective is to develop and promote MOFAIC young individuals’ skills, capacities and capabilities; manifesting the UAE’s global role and efforts in youth empowerment, and embracing their hopes and ambitions; scaling up the knowledge and innovation-based ongoing diplomatic action in order to achieve the excellence in foreign policy.
    MOFAIC Youth Council shall undertake a number of functions, on top of them: Supervising the organisation of youth activities and initiatives at the Ministry and UAE missions abroad, participating in the National Youth Agenda projects, and coordinating efforts with the federal authorities, the private sector and any other parties on youth affairs.

    100 women of Rwandan trainee participants involved in a three-day training programme held a youth circle on women empowerment and the importance of enhancing their role to achieve the national agenda
    The youth circle highlighted the importance of catalyzing the role of women and youth in creating innovative opportunities to attain sustainable growth
    The event saw the Rwandan Minister for Youth, Honorable. Rosemary Mbabazi
    During the discussion, the participants asserted the importance of identifying the challenges facing women and youth in Rwanda

  • “I met RNC Official by accident,” Museveni writes to Kagame

    News has been circulating that Museveni has early this month met Charlotte Mukankusi, the Head of Diplomacy in Rwanda National Congress (RNC) a group founded by Kayumba Nyamwasa and that declared war on the Government of Rwanda.

    On Tuesday, the New Vision, a Ugandan newspaper released a copy of a letter President Museveni wrote to his Rwandan counterpart explaining the circumstances under which he met Mukankusi whom he admits asked him for support to RNC.

    “I am writing to let you know that by accident, I, at last, had a meeting with a Rwandan who admitted to being a member of the group you told me about – Rwanda National Congress (RNC),” reads part of Museveni letter to Kagame.

    “This is a lady known as Mukankusi, whom, I am sure you know, but I had never met before. One of my NRM contacts kept telling me that there was a Rwandan lady who had some important information to give me and that she wanted to come with someone called Gasana, who also had important information,” Museveni wrote.

    Museveni also reveals that the RNC official came to seek a support from him which he says he denied saying it goes against the African Union stand.

    “She said she wanted me to know bad things that were happening in Rwanda. She further told me that she had joined the RNC to resist Your Excellency’s Government and she wanted us to support them,” said Museveni in his letter to Kagame.

    In the letter, Museveni said he told Mukankusi that “we could not support them because what was happening in Rwanda was an internal matter of Rwanda. I explained to her that the stand of the African Union is a scientific one and it is correct. Interfering in the internal affairs of sister countries is wrong because, first of all, outsiders cannot understand situations of sister countries well.”

    On Gasana, Museveni said, he had first mistaken him with Gasana who was behind him at Ntare Secondary School and who, for a long time, had worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda but later discovered it was a different person when they met.
    According to Museveni, Gasana said he was not involved with RNC, “but that he came to help a white lady, Wolfson, who we had declared persona-non-grata, to come back and continue her charity work.”

    “Some of our people in the diaspora had worked with him “some of our people in the diaspora had worked on it with him (Gasana). He told me that he works with a Jewish Agency and “apparently, they are the ones who support Wolfson,” Museveni adds.
    President Museveni goes on to tell Kagame on how and what the talked with tycoon Rujugiro whom he said resists the idea of selling his businesses which he had accepted before.

    “He (Rujugiro) countered the idea of giving support of giving money to Kayumba by saying that even he sells his factories in Uganda, he still has more lucrative factories in Angola, DR Congo, etc … a total of eight of them. He can send the money from those,” Museveni wrote.

    Museveni adds that Rujugiro denied sending money to Kayumba or being a politician.
    “If, therefore, he is still a problem to Rwanda, the correct option is to use the Courts of Uganda to prove the case of terrorism and then his assets can be frozen,” Museveni suggests in the letter.

  • Over 200 bodies exhumed at school construction site in Nyaruguru

    The bodies were separately exhumed on Monday and Tuesday as construction works of class rooms at Musebeya School in Busanze Sector were going on. It is said they were found in three different graves.

    The Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Nyaruguru District, Janvier Gasana said information from residents indicates the bodies might have been buried in the graves during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

    “Since yesterday, builders were exhuming the bodies. People say the bodies were buried in holes during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. Over 200 bodies were found,” Janvier Gasana said.

    By press time, reports from Nyaruguru District said four people had been already suspected of having not shared the information on where the bodies had been dumped.
    Authorities and security have started investigations to get clarifications.