Author: IGIHE

Police said the traffickers were intercepted in Cyanika Sector, Kamanyana Cell in Majyambere Village with consignments of the banned non-biodegradable bags after sneaking them into the country from Uganda through a porous border.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, identified the suspects as; Drothee Mukandayisenga, 26, Emeritha Nyirazaninka, 26, Chantal Murekatete, 27, and Nadine Uwineza, 23.

Other suspects are Theodette Uwamahoro, 40, Clemantine Uwineza, 32, and Claire Nyirabuki, 42.

“Security personnel in Burera had earlier received information about people entering the country through an illegal border post with consignments of smuggled goods,” CIP Rugigana said.

“During their patrol, they intercepted the seven suspects with 160200 pieces of plastic bags in 801 cartons.”

“They had hired someone to carry them from Uganda. When they saw security personnel they tried to deviate from their routine routes but they were pursued and arrested,” he added.

The spokesperson said that they smuggle the plastic bags from Uganda and sell them in Burera, Musanze and Nyabihu districts.

He further thanked residents, who provided information on the unlawful acts and urged those involved to refrain from the acts.

He further urged the public to use the alternative hygienic and environmental friendly packaging bag.

Under article 10 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 states that any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items, is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times of the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.

In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.

The announcement follows temporary suspension of services as a result of enforcing measures for the fight against coronavirus.

In a statement, the Rwanda National Police said on Twitter, “The Rwanda National Police informs the public that the following services have been opened: Registration of provisional and permanent driving licenses and extension of class can now be accessed.”

Police also says that owners of vehicles that were seized for violating the ’Stay Home’ intervention against coronavirus, can contact Road Safety Police Department or call 0788311815 for help.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for City of Kigali, said that five people, all casual workers at the school located in Kagarama Sector, have been arrested in connection with the criminal act.

She identified the suspects as Edouard Mugisha, 19, Emmanuel Ndayisabye, 51, Janvier Twizeyimana, 24, Jean Claude Haremiyabanje, 41, and Isaac Mvuyekure, 19.

“A resident provided information about the theft and where the laptops were hidden.
Indeed when law enforcement personnel went to the house where it was reported the laptops were hidden, they recovered 14 out of 15 that went missing from different offices and laboratory at Kagarama Secondary School,” CIP Umutesi said.

She added “The suspects had keys to different offices and laboratory in this period of the lockdown to conduct hygiene services. They allegedly stole the laptops on different occasions. We are still searching for other items reportedly stolen from the school in the same period, including 15 pairs of gumboots.”

She thanked the resident, who came forward with the credible information that led to the recovery of the laptops and arrest of prime suspects.

“These laptops and other items are meant to facilitate children in their education. It is the responsibility of everyone to protect them.”

Theft, under article 166 of the penal code, is punishable with an imprisonment of between one and two years, a fine of Rwf1 million to Rwf2 million, and community service of not more than six months or one of the penalties.

The village of Taba is inhabited by survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, ex-military men and returnees expelled from Tanzania.

Erick Mugesera, the Kigali Serena Hotel Human resources Manager said they selected the village because there are a number of vulnerable families that needed support.

The food items given out include beans, rice, maize flour, and cooking oil. Each family was given 10 kg of rice, three liters of cooking oil, 10 kg of beans, and 10 kg of maize flour.

The Kanyinya Sector Executive Secretary Rutubuka Emmanuel said the suport has come in handy. “They were already in trouble, as genocide survivors, as those who had been expelled from Tanzania who had nothing else to do to improve their lives. Even the ex-military needed support. The coronavirus has affected their economic and social well-being. So this support is valuable,”

Rutubuka said the food is normally delivered to the underprivileged to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

The Managing Director, Kigali Serena Hotel, Daniel Sambai, said the epidemic had affected all the world’s population but it’s important to work together with all people to overcome it which informed their support.

Sambai also encouraged Rwandans to adhere to the Coronavirus prevention guidelines by following the instructions of the Ministry of Health, which includes frequent washing of the hands and wearing a mask.

Kigali Serena Hotel is a five-star hotel that started operating in Rwanda on February 1, 2007. It is a branch of Serena Hotels operating in other countries including the East African Community.

On Monday, May 4, 2020, the influx of people resumed in Kigali City and elsewhere, as people returned to work after 43 days in their homes, following lockdown as one of the coronavirus prevention guidelines.

The Mayor of the City of Kigali, Pudence Rubingisa, said that in the markets they followed the rules of traders operating at 50% capacity.

He said traders in market places opened their workplaces for general cleaning while hotels and hotels largely remained closed for fear of making losses and rendering their consumables to waste.

The Cabinet meeting of April 30, 2020, ruled that travel was prohibited from 2:00 pm to 5:00 am unless the person was authorized for serious reasons.

Rubingisa said those who broke the rules for the first time were brought together for pacification, but repeat offenders will face punitive actions as they put their lives and of other to infection risks.

It was however observed that some people failed to make it back to their homes after the agreed time for reasons beyond their control, including waiting for the buses for a long time.

Rubingisa said that the problem of buses’ scarcity during and after work has been identified, but they are working with drivers in Kigali to find solutions that will include increasing the number of public passenger vehicles.

Rubingisa also said that yesterday buses started late in ferrying passengers, an anomaly that has been since rectified.

Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that the new measures have boundaries for every authorized services and movements, which must be respected to prevent getting infected or infecting others.

“Acceptable movements whether by public, private transport or pedestrians will resume but only within provinces and in City of Kigali. Movements beyond provinces and City of Kigali are prohibited and Police officers were deployed to ensure that this is respected,” CP Kabera said.

He emphasized wearing face-mask in public at all times, practicing social distancing in markets, shops, restaurants, hotels, buses, and while walking outside your home.

“Following separate meetings we had with other relevant institutions, Police have deployed the force to monitor and inspect these places to ensure compliance.

Specific areas of concern include markets, business centres, bus stations, and operating hospitality facilities.”

“Passengers are required to wear face masks, wash hands before boarding, and should always ensure distancing even in the bus. All movements after 8 PM are prohibited unless one has an emergency; the curfew will last up to 5 AM.

We urge authorized services providers such as hotels and restaurants to operate within the set measures and safety guidelines and respect the specified hours of operating, 7 PM.”

Enforcement, he said, was preceded by awareness campaign to explain the new measures. “Awareness has always been the key success factor in policing.”

CP Kabera further reminded those falling under the prohibited services to adhere to the directives.

Among the prohibited services are bars, churches, schools, sports, and recreational facilities as well as motorcycles and bicycles, which are not permitted to carry passengers.

“Those who will not comply with these directives shall face the law. You will be arrested, your vehicle, impounded and your business closed.”

He commended the public for the continued support and cooperation during this period to collectively fight COVID-19 pandemic.

CP Kabera urged the general population to call the Police on 112 or 0788311155 (also on WhatsApp) for information on people who violate the directives putting others at high risk and hampering national efforts against the virus.

The competition which attracted 11 drone companies from across the world was aimed to help advance the safe implementation of electric cargo UAS transport, digital aviation solutions and related infrastructure in the Lake Kivu region.

Winners of the competition “For many of these organizations, the awards represent a unique opportunity to scale up their businesses and get exposure to international operators in their sector,” ADF said in a statement this Monday.

The online event is to be officiated by Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, leaders from within the World Bank and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), joined by other experts from across the drone ecosystem in Rwanda.

The LKC Flying Competitions were designed to address real use cases for drone operation in Africa and the winners of the challenge are positioned as drone companies (local and foreign) able to solve real challenges on the African continent like delivering emergency blood packs, collecting medical samples and scanning disaster areas for survivors.

To further push this agenda and generate critical data, the ADF has put out a survey for countries and companies that have been using drones to provide support in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rwanda is among the few countries that have used or deployed drones, during the Covid-19 lockdown to raise awareness on the virus spread, prevention and communicating key safety information to the public, especially in rural areas.

Further south in Africa, a mayor in Limpopo has implemented UAS tech in their monitoring efforts in which drones were equipped with a megaphone or speakers to send messages to people.

In Ghana, renowned drones for good company, Zipline, has started delivery of COVID-19 tests in the country’s largest cities, Accra and Kumasi.

To follow the event online, one is required to register https://bit.ly/LKCAwardsCeremony and Click Here to Join.

For those who can call in during the event, International numbers available are: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdt5rEJOxn

While the government has partially lifted lockdown, some people remain jobless; the system will help to easily identify those in need due to the effects of COVID-19.

“The government through a consulting company has developed a donation collection and distribution tool in order to help in the management and follow up on food distribution to families affected by COVID-19,” says the announcement.

‘Ngira Nkugire Management system’ is intended to facilitate the government in identifying and registering affected people, to manage and to distribute aid being provided. The system will ensure that beneficiaries get donations properly and also identify those who are yet to get foods and other basic living needs.

“The system will have the list of needy people, show those who have received the aid and quantity of the foods as well as those who are yet to get food and ensure they get it the next round.”

Prof.Anastase Shyaka, the Local Government Minister explained that the number of people who receive food rations could decrease following the partial lifting of the lockdown.

“People who will resume work will no longer receive food,” he said.

He stated that reforms are going to be undertaken among those who were getting food aid so as to remain with those whose jobs are still on lockdown.

“Those to continue getting support include motorcyclists whose jobs are still under lockdown and many others. We are going to discuss with concerned institutions to identify people whose jobs are still on lockdown,” he said.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) says that as a result of the current economic crisis caused by the pandemic, almost 1.6 billion informal workers, out of the global workforce of 3.3 billion, have suffered great damage to their capacity to earn a living.

Cogebanque PLC fraternity have also come up with a grand contribution of Rwf100 million to be injected in supporting government efforts in preventing the spread of the virus as well as strengthening resilience efforts.
A full statement from the Bank reads:

In view of the extraordinary challenges of COVID 19 pandemic,
Cogebanque PLC fraternity will contribute part of their remuneration to
the Government’s COVID 19 social protection programmes.

Cogebanque Management will make available a sum of RWF 100 million
to be handed over to the Government as it continues to oversee relief
efforts for families most affected by the ongoing crisis.

As we continue to work together as a community to curb the spread of
the virus, Cogebanque will continue to devote all necessary resources
to ensure our client’s personal safety, and that the community at large,
while also maintaining all the services that our customers count on.

We would also like to encourage all our clients, partners as well as the
general public to continue using e–banking channels such as our mobile
application Coge mBank, USSD solution *505# and Internet banking.