“The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even 26 years after their crimes,” said Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of The Hague-based Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).
“Our first thoughts must be with the victims and survivors of the Rwandan genocide. Advocating on their behalf is an immense professional honour for my entire office.”
Kabuga was indicted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal (ICTR) for Rwanda in 1997 on seven counts of genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination, all in relation to crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Rwandan prosecutors say Kabuga was the chief financier during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The 100-day pogrom left at least a million Rwandans, the majority of them Tutsi, dead.
Kabuga held the purse-strings of hate media Kangura newspaper and RTLM radio, which incited ethnic Hutu to kill minority Tutsi, according to the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU), a special team created in 2007 to prosecute the architects behind the ethnic slaughter.
The operation to arrest Kabuga was run by French authorities in conjunction with the IRMCT. It involved “a sophisticated, coordinated operation with simultaneous searches across a number of locations,” the French justice ministry said.
He was arrested him at 0530 GMT (8930am) on Saturday.
{{Patched ties}}
Rwanda government has for long accused France of complicity in the genocide and of frustrating justice for the victims since many of the suspects fled to the European country when the government of Juvenal Habyarimana fell in July 1994.
France has admitted it made mistakes but insists it never had a role in the massacre.
In April 2013, Pascal Simbikangwa, a former Rwandan army captain, became the first fugitive to face charges of complicity in genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity in a French court.
Simbikangwa, arrested in the French island of Mayotte in 2008, was a month later joined in the dock by Octavien Ngenzi, 58, and Tito Barahira, 64, two former mayors accused of playing a direct role in the massacre of hundreds of Tutsi refugees in a church in the eastern town of Kabarondo on April 13, 1994.
However, the current government of Emmanuel Macron has appeared more forthcoming with Kigali after several meetings with President Paul Kagame.
In May 2018, Macron hosted Kagame and then openly backed Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo to head the world association of French-speaking nations.
Mushiwabo won the seat, Rwandan fugitives lost their haven. The arrest of Kabuga could send strong signals to the rest of the fugitives in France.
It is not yet clear if Kabuga will be extradited to Rwanda to face justice but Brammertz suggested that the suspect will be transferred to the custody of the Mechanism, where he will stand trial.
Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit has issued 1,012 international arrest warrants for suspects in 32 countries.
Several are in neighbouring nations like DR Congo, Uganda and Tanzania. Others are further afield in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia. And still others fled to Europe, North America or even Australia.
GFTU listed Kabuga on its top list. The other is Augustin Bizimana, a former defence minister believed to be hiding in DR Congo.
{{Who is Kabuga?}}
Félicien Kabuga was born in 1935 in Muniga, in present-day Gicumbi district, 30km from Gatuna-Katuna border. He was an extremely rich businessman who was closely allied to the family of President Habyarimana.
He was also the main financial contributor to and silent partner of Habyarimana’s party, National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development MRND, and led an extremist wing of the party.
When he bankrolled Kangura newspaper and RTLM radio, he reportedly used them for such fierce ethnic propaganda that the Information ministry was once compelled to order him to cease distribution of messages aiming at inciting inter-racial hatred.
In June 1994, confronted with the advance of RPF troops, Kabuga fled Rwanda. He first reached Switzerland but on receiving an order to leave, he then went to Kinshasa in DR Congo. He later hid in Nairobi, Kenya, until he found haven in France.
{{Genocide suspects transferred or extradited to Rwanda
Name From Date}}
-* Charles Bandora: Norway, March 2013
-* Jean-Paul Birindabagabo: Uganda, May 2017
-* Enos Kagaba: US, May 2005
-* Jean-Pierre Kwitonda: Uganda, November 2010
-* Jean-Claude Iyamuremye: Netherlands, November 2016
-* Emmanuel Mbarushimana: Denmark, July 2014
-* Jean-Marie Vianney Mudahinyuka: US, January 2011
-* Léon Mugesera: Canada, January 2012
-* Jean-Baptiste Mugimba: Netherlands, November 2016
-* Marie-Claire Mukeshimana: US, December 2011
-* Bernard Munyagishari: ICTR, July 2013
-* Léopold Munyakazi: US, September 2016
-* Jean de Dieu Munyaneza: Netherlands, March 2015
-* Augustin Nkundabazungu: Uganda, August 2010
-* Ladislas Ntaganzwa: ICTR, March 2016
-* Agnès Ntamabyariro: Zambia, 1997
-* Henry Jean Claude Seyoboka: Canada, November 2016
-* Jean Twagiramungu: Germany, August 18, 2017
-* Jean Uwinkindi: ICTR, April 2012
The awareness activities, according to RYVCP leadership, were initiated to supplement the government efforts and Rwanda National Police (RNP) in particular, to fight and prevent the spread of Coronavirus especially in business centres like markets and trading centres.
On May 15, awareness activities were conducted in different markets in Nyabihu and Burera districts.
Jean Baptiste Bunezero, the District Youth Coordinator for Nyabihu said that the outreach activities on their first day, were conducted in the markets of Kora, Gasiza and Gashusha in Bigogwe, Rambura and Rugera sectors, respectively.
“Our public awareness campaign aims at educating people that go to markets on safer and healthy practices as recommended by our government, to prevent them from either spreading or contracting Coronavirus,” said Bunezero.
He added “Traders and people who came to these markets were educated on how to wear face masks, those who don’t have them asked to acquire them first; how to wash hands and doing it regularly even in their homes and communities; social distancing and urging them to avoid unnecessary movements.”
The outreach activities, Bunezero said, will be expanded to other business centres in Nyabihu.
In Burera, the district youth coordinator, Gervais Ngemba said that they started the campaign in business centres in the sectors of Butaro, Gahunga and Kagogo.
“In partnership with the Police, local leaders and other security organs, we took the awareness campaign on prevention of COVID-19 to Gahunga, Rusumo and Mugo markts and many other places including trading centres,” said Ngemba.
“We want Rwandans to understand the importance of washing hands with soap, planning their shopping carefully to avoid unnecessary movements, social distancing and wearing face mask at any time they leave their homes,” Ngemba explained.
The youth volunteers are also measuring body temperature at entry points of markets and trading centres.
“Thousands of people who came to these business centres washed their hands, exercised social distance and went home with face masks.
We believe that continuous awareness will influence positive actions as recommended by our leadership for everyone to be safe from Coronavirus,” Ngemba said.
“We want to be the voice of our government in our respective communities because the measures are meant for us to stay safe.”
Rwanda National Police spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera commended the role of youth volunteers in security, health and development activities.
“Over the years, youth volunteers have been central to community policing; raising awareness on fighting and preventing crimes, supporting disadvantaged Rwandans in varied human security activities and the overall community security and development programmes,” said CP Kabera.
He added: “Raising awareness to influence positive attitudes on COVID-19 is, therefore part of of their usual actions of patriotism and individual responsibility which should define everyone to achieve the intended results.”
The youth group, which started in 2013, currently has over 300, 000 members across the country.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the Central region, the suspect identified as Chantal Uwamaliya, 25, was arrested in Kanombe Sector for allegedly circulating counterfeit money amounting to Rwf25, 000.
“Uwamaliya is a telecom banking agent in Kanombe, she tried to fleece her fellow agents with fake currency notes,” CIP Umutesi said.
She added: “Her criminal actions came to light after one of her colleagues realised that a note of Rwf5,000 she got from her was counterfeit. When other agents also checked the notes they allegedly received from Uwamaliya, they found they were also fake, which prompted them to call the Police.”
The suspect currently detained at Kanombe Police station, claims that she was duped by a client, who gave her fake notes amounting to Rwf25, 000 in the denominations of Rwf5, 000, which she was trying to spend to avoid losses.
“Circulating fake money knowingly is equally a crime punishable by law,” said CIP Umutesi.
The article 269 of penal code states: “Any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years.
CIP Umutesi warned against such fraudulent tendencies and called for vigilance and information on anyone they suspect to be behind these criminal acts.
Rwanda has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic so far, registering a few hundred cases. The country is gradually coming out of a nationwide lockdown and Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer Clare Akamanzi views it as a time to embrace a new digital future.
{{Q: How has your team adjusted?
A: }} We’re doing things we were not planning to do this year. All our efforts have gone into the mobilisation of the private sector to fight the pandemic – such as shifting manufacturing capacity towards the production of personal protective equipment, keep revenue streams open and protect jobs.
The sources of growth [in the future] are not going to be the same. We have to rethink how hospitality and tourism are going to recover. We will probably have to focus more on domestic tourism, adjust our agriculture policies to be able to provide food security. But information and communications technology (ICT) and digital inclusion, as well as e-commerce, will be boosted.
{{Q: How has your strategy evolved?
A:}} This is not a time to look for new investors. We have focused on maintaining communication with existing investors and investors that have already expressed a level of commitment in Rwanda, while we wait to resume investment promotion activities.
{{Q: Will investment promotion increasingly rely on digital services ?
A:}} Covid-19 will lead to a more digital society. At the Rwanda Development Board we are already providing many services digitally. Investors can register a local company and get tax certification online, they can also apply for a mortgage, an environmental impact assessment and an investment certificate digitally.
After the crisis is over, we should insist on keeping everything digital, thereby saving money on physical services. It’s a new way to connect with the world – a new normal. Marketing functions will be online, supply chain functions will be online. It’s been a good lesson for IPAs – like the Rwanda Development Board – on how to become more digital.
{{Q: What leadership have you provided during the crisis?
A:}} The most important thing is to keep communicating with staff, investors and other stakeholders; manage expectations, share information and keep people comfortable and engaged and committed.
Another important element is solidarity. We need to be transparent about the challenges we’re facing, but also emphasise that we’re in this together. It’s also important to be an advocate of the private sector to the government and a voice for the policy adjustments the private sector needs.
{{Q: What do you expect over the mid-to-long-term?
A}}: Countries around the world have come to realise they’re heavily dependent on others for supply chains, and this has led to a standstill. Many countries are now leaning towards more domestic supply chains. That’s not an option for every country though; a diversified supply chain base might be a more feasible option for them.
From an investment promotion perspective, it’s interesting to think of positioning Rwanda as one of those alternatives. We’re a landlocked country, right in the middle of the African continent. We’re not a manufacturing base for low-end products, but high-end electronics, mineral processing and jewellery. We need to think about how Rwanda can improve its proposition to investors willing to relocate.
It is a photo taken during the Genocide against the Tutsi. Getty Images, a website that sells photos, said the photo was taken on June 12, 1994, in Gitarama by photographer Alexander Joe of AFP, the French Press Agency, although there was a lot of information provided by Genocide survivors.
It turns out that the soldier and the “Interahamwe” [as Getty Image called him] were together killing Tutsis while the Inkotanyi were fighting to end the Genocide. A few days ago a name was put to the photo.
The man in the photo is Ramadhan Muhire, who is still living in Zimbabwe, from Rukira in Ngoma. He is said to have played a big role in the massacre of Tutsis.
Muhire’s profile IGIHE was able to see was that he was the son of Gasekuru and Nyirabungura Thérèse, a former resident of Nyagasozi in Birenga. It has now been transformed into Amahoro Village, Nyaruvumu Cell, Rukira Sector in Ngoma District.
It is said that Muhire lived in Kibungo before the Genocide where he worked as a driver. He was an Interahamwe youth.
Many of the IGIHE interviewees agreed that he was the person who appeared in the photo.
One of Muhire’s neighbors told IGIHE that he knew him well and that he was the one in the most famous photo, he didn’t not only kill Tutsis but also looted a bag containing dollars in the économat in Kibungo and fled to Tanzania.
“He continued to Malawi. I heard he is living in Zimbabwe. That’s where he lives because even his relatives go to visit him, they come and tell us, he is a businessman.”
{{He cut me in the arm}}
One of the drivers who was working in Kibungo at the same time as Muhire, says that he knows him well because he once cut him.
“He once stabbed me. At the time, there was an Arusha negotiation and a signed the agreement, which the Interahamwe refused. They were protesting everywhere. They forced us on the way to go to the protest, to lift stones and block the road.
They took the Tutsis as cockroaches (nyenzi) and took them away to block the road with stones. That’s where he stabbed me and I still have the scar.”
{{He is a great man in Zimbabwe}}
“He is a trader in Harare City. He owns shops and factories and there are reports that he supports these groups in Congo where he acts as their coordinator in Zimbabwe,” One of the informants living in Zimbabwe told IGIHE.
IGIHE journalist found one of the members of the Muhire family at his shop in Kigali City, showed him a photo that is circulated and asked him if he knew the occupant.
He replied that he did not know him.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, CNLG, Bizimana Jean Damascène, told IGIHE that he had also heard reports that the person in the photo was Muhire but that “I have no evidence”.
Around the world, there are still people accused of involvement in the Genocide against the Tutsi but roam freely about. Apart from hiding, many are now engaged in the process to belittle genocide and even more so in pursuit of cooperation with insurgents in Rwanda.
The Rwandan prosecution has already issued arrest warrants for 1,144 people in 33 countries.
The report presents the AG’s findings and respective recommendations on matters which were identified during the execution of Financial, Compliance, Performance, IT and Special audits conducted during the period from May 2019 to April 2020.
The focus for the audits was on high risk entities and those that implement programs that are of national importance. Those include; 5 GBEs (RSSB, WASAC, BDF, SGF &RPC Ltd) and 10 boards.
Other entities audited include; twenty eight (28) local governments, sixty nine (69) projects, eleven (11) ministries, nineteen (19) central government entities and twenty-six (26) district hospitals. In addition, as it has been before, OAG participated in the audit of EAC and its organs.
“This year, unqualified opinion makes 33% of opinion on the audit of compliance with laws and regulations and realization of value for money while 55% of opinions are unqualified on Financial Statements. The number of adverse opinions reduced by 3% and 5% compared to the last year in compliance and financial audit respectively. This indicates that public entities are improving towards a better audit opinions as qualified audit opinions increased by 3% compared to the last year” the Auditor General told parliament.
However, this improvement in better opinions is significantly dominated by projects and Ministries& other central government clusters which made up 82% of unqualified audit opinions and 67% of qualified audit opinions. Boards and GBEs results are still undesirable yet they are responsible for executing key national programs which significantly impact on the lives of citizens.
Entities audited represent 80% of the reported Government Expenditure for the year ended 30 June 2019 compared to the 86.6% audited last year. This decrease of audit coverage recorded this year was due to the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted the availability of auditees.
The audit of 9 entities that were still work in progress by the time of tabling the current annual audit report shall be concluded once the situation of COVID-19 pandemic will be stabilized.
In the current year, there has been a significant increase by 51% in irregular expenditure in form of unsupported expenditure, partially supported expenditure, wasteful expenditure, unauthorised expenditure and funds diverted or fraudulently utilised amounting. This year we have Frw 8.6 billion from Frw 5.6 billion in the year 2018.
Other cross cutting findings identified during audits include cases of delayed and abandoned contracts, continuing cases of idle assets; stalled projects. These problems, according to the AG, need adequate attention since they may threaten smooth implementation of National Strategy for Transformation (NST1).
The Auditor General also noted in his report that the level of implementation of his recommendations has deteriorated by 5% in the current audit. 44 % of recommendations were fully implemented compared to 49% implemented in the previous year 2018.
“With a continuing low rate of implementation of recommendations, I call upon public entities to recognize the audit reports as a management tool meant to enhance their improvement of PFM country system” The Auditor General pleaded.
“I recognize that the audit would be of little value if recommendations are not implemented to address issues highlighted in audit reports” he added.
Last time we introduced you to the doctors and nurses who committed genocide in Butare town, Huye District. In this article we highlight the role of some of the doctors and nurses who worked in hospitals, health centers, clinics and health institutions in the Southern Province.
In this document, CNLG shows fifty-six (56) doctors and seventy-three (73) nurses who committed the crime of genocide.
{{I. HOSPITALS}}
{{1. Kabgayi Hospital, Muhanga}}
Dr Niyitegeka Théoneste was born in Cyeza, Muhanga District in 1964. He graduated from high school in Rilima, 1984 and attended university education in Russia where he specialized in paediatrics. In 1994 during genocide and after, he worked at Kabgayi Hospital. On 05/02/2008, the Gacaca Court of Appeal of Gihuma in Nyamabuye Sector (Muhanga) convicted him of complicity in the Genocide committed at Kabgayi Hospital and sentenced him to fifteen (15) years of imprisonment. Dr Niyitegeka Théoneste is detained in Rubavu Prison.
{{2. Nyanza Hospital, Nyanza}}
Dr Higiro Pierre Celestin alias Majambe was one of the organizers and implementers of the Genocide in Nyanza. He was a key member of the CDR. On 02/06/2009, the Gacaca Court of Nyanza City convicted Dr Higiro Pierre Celestin of genocide, which included the killing of Tutsi hospital staff, demonstrating a plot to carry out genocide through planting a bomb at his residence and spreading lies that it was planted by Tutsi for them to be killed and making a list of Tutsi to be killed.
Dr Higiro was charged in the same case with Basomingera Wellars who was sentenced to nineteen (19) years in prison and Mwemezi Bertin who was sentenced to seven years (7) years in prison and he died there. They collaborated in the killings at the hospital and in Nyanza City. Dr Higiro Pierre Celestin was sentenced to life imprisonment with special provisions by the Gacaca court. The defendant is being held in Nyanza Prison.
{{3. Kaduha Hospital, Nyamagabe}}
No doctor committed genocide in Kaduha hospital except other staff including a nurse called Rutaboba Tasiyani who was born in Cyangugu. He pleaded guilty and was released. In addition, he testified in Gacaca Courts but he died suddenly and was said to have been poisoned by those who feared he would expose their role in genocide. Others are two nurses called Mukamana Lidia who has been sentenced to nineteen (19) years and Nyiramana Catherine who has been sentenced to 25 years. Both are being held in Nyamagabe Prison.
{{4. Kigeme Hospital, Nyamagabe}}
Dr Twagiramungu Edson was in charge of Kigeme Hospital during the genocide and committed genocide at the hospital. He currently lives in Kenya. In addition, nurses Munyentwari Rodrigue and Mutiganda Evariste were also involved in the massacre of Tutsi at Kigeme Hospital.
{{5. Munini Hospital, Nyaruguru}}
No doctor committed genocide in Munini Hospital. The nurse called Nyirinkindi Thomas, participated in the massacre at Munini and Kibeho. He was sentenced in absentia by Gacaca.
{{II. HEALTH CENTERS }}
{{1. Ruhashya, Huye}}
Léopold Munyakayanza was a nurse, and had run the Ruhashya health center since the 1980s. He was initially a soldier in the ex-FAR, after his demobilization he worked as a nurse. He lived in Mahembe in the former commune of Ruhashya, in Butare. He played a very big role in the extermination of Tutsi together with Nyawenda Esdron who was bourgmestre of Rusatira and who fled to Belgium.
Leopold Munyakayanza and bourgmestre Esdron Nyawenda led meetings that planned the extermination of Tutsi from Rusatira, such that when President Theodore Sindikubwabo and the Prime Minister of the genocidal government Jean Kambanda came to Butare on April 19, 1994 to incite to begin the genocide in this region, Léopold Munyakayanza and Esdron Nyawenda were already ready to begin the extermination of Tutsi in the commune of Ruhashya.
On April 23, 1994, Léopold Munyakayanza led attacks against the Tutsi of Rusatira, who made several victims, including Twagiramutara Laurent who was a veterinarian at ISAR Rubona, and who was killed with all his family, were also exterminated, Kanyandekwe who was an accountant at ISAR Rubona and all his family, Ruzindana who is agronomist of Rusatira Commune and his family and many other Tutsi killed particularly at Kinkanga.
The wife of Léopold Munyakayanza, whose name was Iyamuremye Apolinariya, head of the social service (social worker) at the Rusatira health center also participated in the massacre of Tutsi. The two fled Rwanda after the genocide. Munyakayanza is probably died in exile and his wife lives Iyamuremye Apollinarie lives now in France.
{{2. Mugina health center, Kamonyi}}
Budengeri Jean Chrysostome was a nurse and was also in charge of child immunization program in Mugina and Ntongwe communes. He committed genocide in Mugina and Kinazi in collaboration with Bourgmestre Martin Ndamage, Major Pierre Claver Karangwa, a businessman called Francois Twagiramungu, Bourgmestre of Ntongwe Charles Kagabo and other interahamwe. After leaving Rwanda, he first settled in Zambia, became one of the founders of the FDLR in Zambia, and was its first vice president. He has since fled justice in Norway to date. Another nurse who committed genocide at Mugina health center was Umurerwa Annonciata who completed her sentence.
{{3. Kinazi health center, Ruhango}}
KAGABO Charles, was the head of the Kinazi dispensary in the former Ntongwe commune. During the genocide, he was appointed the Bourgmestre of Ntongwe by the Interim Government, after the assassination of Bourgmestre Alfred Habumugisha. Charles Kagabo was born in the former Nyakabungo sector of Ntongwe, studied in Butare – Indatwa (GSOB) in the medical assistant department. He first worked at Nyanza Hospital and was famous for exterminating Tutsi in Ntongwe and in Mugina Communes.
He circulated in the entire commune telling Tutsi to go to the commune’s office to be protected there, once they became a big number, he took away their traditional weapons that they had come with, and then sent soldiers, Interahamwe and Burundians to kill them. He is also accused of Nyamukumba massacre at a football ground where many Tutsi that he had sent to Ruhango were killed.
In 2008 he was tried in absentia by several Gacaca Courts: Gikoma Assembly in Ruhango Sector, Gitisi Assembly in Bweramana Sector; Rutabo Assembly in Kinazi Sector and Nyakabungo Assembly in Ntongwe Sector. All of these Gacaca assemblies sentenced him to life imprisonment with special provisions.
{{4. Gatagara health center, Nyanza}}
Dr Hakizimana Jean Marie Vianney, who headed the health center, was involved in the killing of patients at the health center and in the killings at the Center for the Disabled (HVP Gatagara) in collaboration with Brother Jean Baptiste Rutihunza, who headed HVP Gatagara. Dr Hakizimana lives in Uganda and Brother Rutihunza Jean Baptiste lives in Italy.
{{5. Nyamure health center, Nyanza}}
Ndahimana Matthew, was the director of the health center and was born in Mbuye in Nyanza District, Kibilizi Sector. He concluded high school from the Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare (GSOB) in 1985 in the Department of Medical Assistants. He worked for CHUB and CHK in Kigali but during the genocide he was the director of the Nyamure health center in the former Muyira commune.
He was involved in the killings that took place in the entire Nyanza District. Ndahimana fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo-Brazzaville and later to Gabon. When he returned to Rwanda, he was aware that he would inevitably be held accountable for his role in the genocide. He has been in Nyanza (Mpanga) prison since 1997.
During his trial with Gacaca, he acknowledged his role in the genocide, claiming that he used hospital ambulance to carry out the killings, and participated to numerous attacks in Nyanza, Kibilizi, Nyamure, Rwezamenyo, Karama and many other parts of Nyanza and Amayaga.
He was the one who brought gendarms from Nyanza to fight the Tutsi who had previously resisted in the Mayaga area where they had taken refuge. He pleaded guilty to multiple offenses that he was accused of. Nyamure Sector Court of Appeals sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment in December 2009.
{{6. Ntyazo health center, Nyanza}}
Kabanda Alexis, who was the director of the health center, chaired the genocide preparations meetings and completed his sentence.
{{7. Kibilizi health center, Nyanza}}
Karasanyi Esdras, was the director of the health center, killed wounded Tutsi who were brought at the health center and took part in the attacks and he died.
{{8. Gikongoro health center, Nyamagabe }}
Rwasa Eugene was a nurse from Nyaruguru District (Ruramba). He was convicted by the Gacaca Court of Ngiryi Sector (Gasaka Sector) on 05/03/2010 on charges of handing over Tutsi girls who had taken refuge in Nyamagabe Health Center to be raped and killed.
After he was sentenced to life imprisonment, he immediately disappeared. He is said to have fled to Uganda. His wife, Kabarere Venantie worked at SOS / Gikongoro and has been sentenced to life in prison for killing 29 orphans who had fled from Kigali SOS Kacyiru. She is being held in Nyamagabe Prison.
{{9. Jenda health center, Nyamagabe}}
Mugwaneza Léonard was the director of the health center. He is from the former Cyangugu Prefecture, Kirambo Commune. He was involved in the massacre of Tutsi who were hospitalised at Musange Health Center and those who had taken refuge at Musange Commune office. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia and lives in Uganda (Kampala) where he works in a clinic.
{{10. Kibeho health center, Nyaruguru}}
Mutazihana Nathanael was the director of Kibeho dispensary. He was sentenced on 05/7/2007 by the Gacaca Court of Kibeho Sector to 25 years imprisonment to be served as follows: 12.5 years doing Travaux d’Intérêt Général (TIG), 8.5 years in prison and to end up with a 4-year suspended imprisonment sentence. He only carried out the imprisonment sentence but he has not yet done the TIG and he works in Rwinkwavu.
{{11. Busanze health center, Nyaruguru}}
{{Munyankindi Thomas}}, a former medical assistant who committed genocide in the former Nshili commune. He fled to Burundi.
{{Conclusion}}
This list (those that CNLG managed to find out) of some of the doctors and nurses who committed genocide is published in addition to the one published yesterday about the City of Butare. It shows that many of those who were in charge of treatment of people but betrayed the standards of their profession. It also shows how the Genocide against the Tutsi was a supernatural crime where doctors and nurses quit their careers of protecting lives and chose to kill.
The CNLG calls on the countries hosting these doctors and nurses who committed genocide, and has given them the job of treating people, to suspend them from the medical profession and to remove them from the list of doctors and nurses who are allowed to practice medicine and to be brought to justice as soon as possible.
CNLG commends all those who continue to take part in this international justice campaign so that the perpetrators of the Genocide who fled the country can be held accountable for their actions.
Done at Kigali on May 15, 2020
{{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
Executive Secretary
National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}
The money was recovered Wednesday from one Samuel Mbatezimana, 22, who was a domestic worker for the victim at her residence in Kicukiro District.
Mbatezimana allegedly stole a bag containing Rwf1.2 million, after breaking into his boss’ bedroom, recently.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the police spokesperson for Eastern region, said that Police first got to know about the theft through related messages which were circulating on social media.
“We first say the alleged theft on messages, which were circulating on WhatsApp, but we were later formally informed that the prime suspect could have escaped to Nyagatare,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
“Law enforcement organs worked together to locate and arrest Mbatezimana, the prime suspect in Rukomo Sector, Rurenge cell. We found only Rwf612, 000 on him,’’ he added.
The money was less Rwf600, 000, which the suspect had already spent buying different items like smartphone and clothes, among others, the spokesperson said.
The victim, CIP Twizeyimana said, was informed of the recovery of her remaining money.
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.
As Rwandans grapple with the consequences of this pandemic, the two institutions have committed to provide relief to customers as they navigate through this difficult period.
Effective 15th May, all customers who are not able to pay their MoKash loans within 30 days of taking the loan will not be charged a late repayment fee. The late repayment penalty has been extended by 30 days. Customers who fail to repay their loans by 60 and 90 days thereafter will not have their loan limits reduced or cancelled respectively. An additional 30 days have been granted before a customer’s loan limit is reduced or cancelled.
Accessible via MTN Mobile Money (by dialling *182*5#), MoKash is a loan product offered by NCBA and MTN. MoKash provides 30-day term loans at 9% interest. Through MoKash, customers can also open savings accounts with interest of up to 7% per annum.
“As the Coronavirus continues to stir global economic fears, NCBA will continue to support our customers who may be financially affected by the outbreak” said Lina Higiro, Chief Executive Officer, NCBA Rwanda.
She added, “We would like to urge customers to be responsible with the credit solutions to ensure that as a collective we care for each other during this tough time. The Bank shall through MoKash continue to responsibly support all customers through this difficult period”
In addition, in a bid to promote cashless payments, customers will be able to move any amount between their MTN MoMo wallets to MoKash at no additional cost.
Speaking about this Corporate Social innovation, MTN Rwanda’s CEO, Mitwa Ng’ambi said, “We have taken a very frontal approach in engaging our partner NCBA and together we have come up with interventions to support Rwandan citizens and assist in the overall fight of the pandemic. MTN will also leverage its knowledge and infrastructure in the continued participation in the many forums that have been set up to assist those in need.”
NCBA and MTN will continue engaging and working with customers during this time to ensure that they can manage loan repayments.
Rwanda National Police (RNP), CP John Bosco Kabera said that they were caught at about 9 am.
Curfew starts at 8 pm up to 5 am.
Besides violating the curfew, CP Kabera said, they were traveling in a vehicle authorized to carry only four people in this period as part of the measure adopted to prevent the spread and combat the pandemic of Coronavirus.
One of those arrested, Jean Nzabihimana and Aboubakar Nibonshuti, while speaking to the media at Kicukiro Police station, said that they traveled to Rusumo border post in the same Toyota Hilux, RAB 394Q.
“We left Kigali for Rusumo on May 13, at about 11:00 Hrs, we were nine in the same vehicle, which should only transport four people as per the government directives,” said Nzabihimana.
He added: “We were fortunate that we were not caught along the way. When we arrived in Rusumo we took separate vehicles to Kigali. We linked up again in Kigali and traveled in the same car to Kicukiro where we were intercepted.”
Nibonshuti, on his part, said that they were aware of the violated directives only that they hoped they would not be caught.
CP Kabera said that they were caught in varied violations put in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
“In this period, vehicles are also required to carry a specific number of people to ensure social distancing. A vehicle licensed to transport say, 70 people will only take 35; those licensed to take 30 will be carrying 15.
Unfortunately, they understand these directives and they breached them intentionally, including violating the curfew,” said CP Kabera.
He explained that the main focus is not to arrest or to use force but for the public to understand and heed the call to respect the measures put in place for everyone’s safety.
He warned that RNP will continue to ensure that the measures put in place by the government to prevent the spread of the pandemic, are understood and respected, and those violating them detained or fined.
