Author: IGIHE

  • Prominent model Mupende stabbed to death

    The model was reportedly stabbed to death by a 23-year-old house-boy, named Antoine Niyireba. Social media was awash with news of her tragic death yesterday, around 9pm and later confirmed by Rwanda Investigation Bureau spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi.

    Born in Kenya, the deceased was the general manager of popular fitness centre in Kigali, WakaFitness. She was set to walk down the aisle next month, as her wedding invitations indicated.

    The alleged killer’s whereabouts are still unknown.

    As it can be seen on her twitter wall, Alexia had been working with several institutions including RwandAir.

    In different interviews she once gave, she described herself as one who liked naturalism and who did not favor make-up. Her favourite star was Ne-Yo. She preferred romantic movies to action-packed ones. All in all, Mupende was a simple human who loved God and aspired to ‘be closer to him’. Her tragic death leaves a lasting mark on many.

    Uwera studied at Namasagali College and St Lawrence in Uganda and later moved to Rwanda where she took up a course in Business Information and Technology.

  • RDB records over $2 Billion worth of investments in 2018

    Of the total investments registered in 2018, an estimated 26% represents export oriented projects. Across sectors, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and agro-processing accounted for 57% of investments registered. Other sectors that attracted significant investments were tourism, healthcare, business services and ICT.

    The largest share of the 2018 investment registrations or 49%, was posted by domestic investors, while Foreign Direct Investment registrations represented 47% of the total. Joint ventures (local and foreign investors) represented the balance of approximately 4% of all investments registered during the year. In comparison, in 2017, domestic investment registrations accounted for 28% of the total, while foreign investment registrations represented 62% and joint ventures the remaining 10%.

    Some of the largest investors during 2018, who registered expected investments over US$ 70 million, included: Emerald Park ltd; Millennial Construction Ltd; Rwanda Innovation Fund; Jali Transport; and Mara Phones.

    Other notable investment projects registered during the year included: Andela Software Development’s Rwanda based Pan African Hub; a first Coltan/Tantalum refinery by PRG from Macedonia; new local production of a global beer brand – Heineken in Rwanda by Bralirwa; a large scale fertilizer blending plant in Rwanda by OCP from Morocco; a steel rolling mill by MasterSteel from Rwanda; a mosquito bed nets production plant by Vision Garments from Rwanda; a steel manufacturing plant by AARSAL STEEL from India; a mineral smelting company by Luna Smelter of Rwanda; hospitality development around Lake Kivu by GEMS of Rubavu; and mobility solutions development by Volkswagen.

    Project registration values reflect each investor’s projected five (5) year estimation of operating and capital investments to be made, regardless of whether financed by equity or debt. Historically, registered projects typically take 3 years on average to become fully operational.

    Commenting on the investments registered in 2018, RDB Chief Investment Officer, Guy Baron said that “In the last 8 years, registered investments in Rwanda jumped from US$ 398 million in 2010 to slightly over US$ 2 billion in 2018. Last year, we passed the US$ 2 billion milestone, for the first time in the country’s history. This is evidence that Rwanda is being seen increasingly as a great place to do business, innovate and establish a hub from which to access the continent’s tremendous opportunities. The increased investments registered are a direct result of the initiatives that the Government of Rwanda, through RDB, has put in place to continuously make Rwanda an attractive destination for investment. In fact, this year, Rwanda was proudly ranked the 29th easiest place to do business in the world and the 2nd easiest place to do business in Africa.”

    In terms of investor facilitation, RDB operates a One Stop Centre for investors. The Centre provides information and services to guide investors through the key steps of starting a business such as registration, licenses, immigration, land, utilities, environmental clearances as well as tax and mortgage registration services.

    In addition, RDB offers all investors Aftercare Services, which provide assistance in ensuring that business projects are implemented free of avoidable impediments. Via these services, RDB helps investors to resolve simple and complex challenges they may encounter along the way and provides any guidance required. RDB has also introduced investor engagement platforms such as the quarterly ‘CEO Forum’ where RDB senior management meets and engages with business leaders. Another important platform, ‘Investor Open Day’, aimed at resolving issues faced by investors, is offered every Friday and open to walk-ins. During 2018, 163 of 209 or 78% of investor issues recorded by Aftercare Services were expediently resolved.

    Mobility Solutions Development by Volkswagen was among the top investment projects of Year 2018
  • Qatar Airways launches Campaign for Travellers to Explore New Destinations in 2019

    The promotion is valid on all Qatar Airways flights booked from 7 – 16 January 2019 for travel between 7 January and 20 May 2019. Passengers who book during the promotion period can take advantage of 20 per cent discount on fares and will also receive 50 per cent bonus Qmiles and Qpoints in Economy Class and double Qmiles and Qpoints in Business.

    Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ehab Amin, said: “We are delighted to invite all our passengers to start planning their next trip with this exciting global promotion offering extensive discounts across all cabin classes on all flights. No matter where passengers choose to travel, when they experience a new destination first-hand, they become the author of their own unique story. With this new promotion, passengers can easily choose their next adventure and are truly spoilt for choice with Qatar Airways’ ever-expanding global network of more than 160 destinations.
    “We are also committed to bringing people from around the world to Doha, not only to experience our five-star gateway Hamad International Airport during transit, but also to make Qatar a holiday destination of choice for our passengers.”

    To take advantage of this offer, passengers can visit [www.qatarairways.com/en- rw/homepage.html->www.qatarairways.com/en- rw/homepage.html] or any Qatar Airways sales office, or contact their nearest travel agent.

    Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft flying to business and leisure destinations across six continents. The airline recently launched direct services to Gothenburg, Sweden; Mombasa, Kenya; and Da Nang, Vietnam. It has a host of new destination launches planned for 2019, including Valletta, Malta and Isfahan, Iran, to name just a few.

    Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 160 key business and leisure destinations globally on more than 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 15 Boeing 777 freighters and eight Airbus A330 freighters.

  • Gabon arrests four military officers over coup attempt

    Government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told Reuters that four of the five officers who had taken over the state radio in the capital Libreville were arrested. A fifth officer fled and is being pursued, he said.

    A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the masterminds of the attempted coup had not yet been arrested, however.

    Outside the radio station, loyalist soldiers fired teargas to disperse about 300 people who had come out into the streets to support the coup attempt, a Reuters witness said. Helicopters circled overhead, although most of Libreville was quiet.

    In a radio message at 4:30 a.m. (0330 GMT), Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, who described himself as an officer in the Republican Guard, said Bongo’s New Year’s eve address from Morocco, where he is recovering from a stroke, “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office”.

    Bongo’s speech was slurred and he appeared unable to move his right arm. It is unclear if he is able to walk.

    Bongo, 59, was hospitalized in October in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke. He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.

    The Bongo family has ruled the oil-producing country for nearly half a century. Bongo has been president since succeeding his father, Omar, who died in 2009. His re-election in 2016 was marred by claims of fraud and violent protest.

    {{Source: REUTERS}}

  • Gabon army seizes power in a coup

    Soldiers in the West African country say they launched a coup “to restore democracy”.
    The BBC reports that they took control of the national radio station at 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) to read a short statement announcing a “National Restoration Council”.

    President Ali Bongo took over power in 2009 and has been out of the country for more than two months.

    Tanks and armed vehicles can be seen on the streets of the capital Libreville.
    President Bongo reportedly suffered a stroke in October and received treatment in Morocco.

    He sought to put an end to the rumors about his health with a televised New Year message in which he said he was feeling fine.

    Soldiers said they had been disappointed by the message, calling it “a pitiful sight” and a “relentless attempt to cling onto power.”

    The insurgents called on soldiers to take control of the transport system, ammunition reserves and airports “for the good of the country” reports RFI.

    Since independence from France in 1960, Gabon has had just three presidents. Late President Omar Bongo ruled for more than four decades until his death in 2009.
    He was replaced by his son Ali Bongo who won a contested election that year.

    Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.

  • RDB, Alibaba discuss increasing Rwandan exports to China

    The delegation has been in the country for the past week, meeting different government and private sector officials.

    The discussions centered on supporting Rwandan entrepreneurs to export more agro-products to China such as beef, crayfish, avocados, chili pepper, french beans, tree tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables.

    This, they said would be done by streamlining the intergovernmental policies and regulations, being part of the agricultural supply chain process, providing the necessary infrastructure to boost agro-processing, lowering the cost of air-freight transport and providing more trainings to Rwandan entrepreneurs to enable them to trade more product volumes on the platform.

    RDB CEO, Claire Akamanzi said: “China presents a huge market for us, with its big population and their increased spending power. There are unique and big opportunities we are exploring and implore Rwandan SMEs to package their products in a way that suits the Chinese market and sell as much as possible through the Alibaba platform.”

    Mr. Yi said: “We found many of Rwanda’s agricultural products are of high quality hence why we want to increase their volumes and standards, invest in agro-processing industries and the supply chain. We also want to raise more crayfish here because Rwanda has many freshwater lakes and a favorable climate. The crayfish market is a US$ 20 billion one in China and Chinese consume between 1 and 1.2 tons of crayfish every four months.

    Therefore, as soon as we have the right policies and regulations in place and infrastructure and affordable air-freight, we can start exporting more Rwandan products.”

  • Museveni’s Support for Rwanda’s Dissidents continues as Kampala Meeting Details are revealed

    The elderly gentleman had a special message from President Museveni for the two terrorist outfits. On December 15, the FDLR delegation led by its spokesperson and deputy chief of intelligence, Ignace Nkaka (aka LaForge Bazeye Fils), was arrested by DR Congo authorities at the Uganda-Congo border post of Bunagana. They transported him first to Goma, then on to Kinshasa for questioning.

    Ugandan authorities expected the apprehended official would “sing” under interrogation. Their fears would turn out to be right.

    We can reveal that Colonel Nkaka’s team included Lt Col Nsekenabo Jean Pierre alias Abega Kamala (FDLR intelligence officer).

    According to information from impeccable sources, upon arrival in Uganda on 14 December they were received by the FDLR liaison officer, Lt Col Nkuriyingoma Pierre Celestin. The latter took them to Hotel Mubano in Kisoro, which is owned by nine other than Philemon Mateke.

    The officers then travelled overnight to Kampala arriving there the next morning. After they had refreshed themselves at the home of their liaison officer in Nakulabye, Mateke picked them up and took them for breakfast at his wife’s restaurant in Lugogo, before proceeding with them to his offices at Sir Apollo Kagwa Road.

    There, the old man briefed them in preparation for their meeting with the RNC representatives.

    Our sources reveal that the captured FDLR officers told interrogators that Mateke then proceeded with them to the Kampala Serena, where they found the RNC delegation led by Frank Ntwari – Kayumba Nyamwasa’s brother in law and the RNC’s so-called commissioner for refugees and human rights.

    The questioning of these FDLR officers has also corroborated information this website previously reported that the meeting between the two groups was chaired by Mateke.

    They however disclosed key details regarding President Museveni’s “special message”, which Mateke had delivered to the group.

    This underscored their shared general interest. The special message also included Museveni’s emphasis that the two anti-Rwanda government groups needed to continue to work together, especially in maintaining the perception that they are a force that includes both Hutus and Tutsis.

    The objective, continued Museveni’s message, would be to gain support, including his own commitment to avail on their behalf a battalion that would be based in the Virunga area. Its primary mission would be to destabilize Mountain Gorilla tourism in that area, which in turn would popularize the rebellion in the international media and bring attention to their shared cause.

    “Museveni is prepared to take the risk provided that they furnish him diplomatic cover that suggests that this is a broad-based rebel outfit with legitimate grievances,” according to an analyst familiar with politics of the region who happens to be aware of this goings-on.

    Mateke sought to bring his credentials to the table by reassuring the FDLR delegation that his support for their cause goes far back to the time of Habyarimana with whom they had worked closely, particularly in efforts geared at discrediting the RPF struggle in the late 1980s and the early 1990s.

    Most importantly, Museveni’s commitment for a “lasting solution” to their shared problem seemed to delight the representatives of the two outfits, who reassured the “messenger” that they were ready to close ranks in line with his guidance.

    {{[Read the whole story on VirungaPost->http://virungapost.com/2019/01/06/musevenis-support-for-rwanda-dissidents-continues-as-fdlr-captives-spill-details-of-kampala-meeting/]}}

  • Inaugural IATF records $30-billion-dollar business deals sealed

    The Intra-African Trade Fair is the first of its kind in Africa, consisting of a 7-day trade fair that provides a platform for sharing trade, investment and market information and enabling buyers and sellers, investors and countries to meet, discuss and conclude business deals.

    From the 11th-17th December, it attracted investors, traders and many others in Cairo, Egypt. It was further agreed that Rwanda would host its second session in 2020.

    Closing the IATF, the Afreximbank President, Prof Benedict Okey Oramah applauded the result of the first launch, as it attracted over 50,000 prominent dealmakers, businesses, industries, investors, countries and suppliers and where up to $30-billion-dollar business deals, contracts and investment transactions were sealed.
    He said that more than 100 business deals, contracts and investment transactions were sealed.

    Oramah said that the deals represent an important footstep in the cooperation of Africa.

    The Afrexim bank says that the majority of the deals were in sectors of industrialization/export manufacturing ($6.2 billion); power ($6 billion); and financial services ($1.86 billion). Other key sectors included oil and gas; transport and logistics; heavy industry; mining; infrastructure; healthcare; and SME promotion.

    The Rwandan Ambassador in Egypt, Sheikh Saleh Habimana said that Rwanda which will host the next edition of the IATF, was tasked to surpass the Egyptian edition.

    “We have been tasked to host it with pomp and radiance, and possibly to outshine this first Edition,” Saleh Habimana said

    The IATF2018 was aimed at promoting trade among African countries and at supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

    The IATF2018, which ran from 11 to 17 December, was aimed at promoting trade among African countries and at supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement
    President Kagame greeting Ambassador Sheikh Saleh Habimana while in Egypt
    President Kagame held discussions with the President of the Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah. He was with the Minister of Trade and Industry; Soraya Hakuziyaremye and the Ambassador of Rwanda in Egypt; Sheikh Saleh Habimana
    From Left; Ambassador Sheikh Saleh Habimana; the Chief Operating Officer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Emmanuel Hategeka; Minister of Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye (Middle from right) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), Stephen Ruzibizi with two Rwandan assistants at the trade Fair
  • Alibaba to train Rwandan entrepreneurs

    The Alibaba Netpreneur Training program will welcome local Rwandan entrepreneurs and those who operate businesses within the Rwandan market.

    The 10-day program hosted at Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou will run from 16 to 27th, February 2019.

    During the program, participants will learn among other lessons, the key factors in Alibaba’s long-term success, the defining moments and failures that have shaped Alibaba’s journey (including the early stages of development) and will have an understanding of Alibaba’s ecosystem.

    Alibaba will cover all costs for entrepreneurs including hotel accommodation, meals, and site visit transportation costs while participants are to pay for themselves the air tickets and transportation/pick-up services to and from Hangzhou, China, single hotel room requests and additional food or personal expenses.

    Eligible applicants for the training program participation must be below 40 years old and a founder/co-founder or business owner of an officially registered venture that has been in operation for at least 2 years with female entrepreneurs and locals of the selected regions for each class being strongly encouraged to apply among other requirements.

    Applications started on the 28th December 2018 and are slated to end on January 13th this year and aspiring entrepreneurs can apply online through the link below: https://activity.alibaba.com/supplier/alibaba-netpreneur-training-rwanda.html

  • KASNEB Rwanda launches New Offices with Pomp

    The launch took place last Wednesday, January 2nd, 2018. In the past 8 years, KASNEB was located in the College of Business and Economics (CBE) at the University of Rwanda.

    Those who complete their degrees in accountancy, finance, credit, and related disciplines; register themselves in KASNEB, where they seat for exams which allow them to carry out the aforementioned disciplines on an International level. These include; CPA (Certified Public Accountants), CIFA (Certified Investment and Financial Analyst), CCP (Certified Credit Professional), CS (Certified Secretaries) and many others.

    In the past eight years, more than 500 students have so far taken their examinations in accountancy, while a 1000 more took exams in other disciplines. These exams take place twice in a year.

    KASNEB’s Director, Pius M.Nduatih, told IGIHE that “the concept of KASNEB came from our seniors/elders. At the time where the white people were leaving the continent; African countries started to think on the different ways that could be used so that Africans could be taught on the professions that were established by the White men.”

    KASNEB’s Representative in Rwanda, Jeanne Abayo, echoed his remarks, noting that their certificates are acknowledged on an International level.

    “The Certification that we provide are acknowledged and respected on an International level. As an example, when someone moves in the United States of America, our certification assures one not to start from scratch,” Abayo says.

    She added that KASNEB chose to work in Rwanda due to its soaring economy and the fact that there were no quality examinations being offered for professionals.

    Aside from Rwanda, KASNEB also operates in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, South-Sudan, Cameroon and Burundi.

    For more information on KASNEB, you can visit them at CHIC Complex or visit their website at {{[www.kasneb.or.ke->www.kasneb.or.ke] }}

    During the launch of the new Offices, KASNEB's Director, Pius M.Nduatih discussed the concept of the establishment
    KASNEB's Representative in Rwanda, Jeanne Abayo outlined the importance of the establishment for professionals