IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • RNC-CMI Liaison Officers unveiled

    Innocent Rwandans have been getting arrested and tortured in Uganda to conceal the recruitment of rebels for the RNC. At the center of these activities have been two names that kept surfacing: Mukombozi and Rugema Kayumba. But who are they?

    {{Rugema Kayumba:
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    Rugema is 40 years old. Born in Rwekubo, Nakivale refugee camp in Mbarara district of Uganda, he is a son to Claudien Kayumba and Jeanne Bazubagira. He is married to Peace Umutoni, a Ugandan.

    Rugema grew up in Uganda where he studied his primary school at Bujaburi Kyaka 2 in Tooro district but returned to Rwekubo Primary School in Nakivale.

    Between 1992 and 1995, he pursued O-Level studies at Isingiro Secondary School before moving to Rwanda for his A-Level studies at Rwanda International Academy in Kicukiro, Kigali (1996 and 1998).
    Rugema joined the Rwanda Defence Forces immediately after completing secondary school in 1998.

    In 2000, Corporal Rugema was seconded for further studies and enrolled at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) on a government scholarship, graduating in 2005 in Food Science.

    After graduation, Rugema was recalled to resume duties in the army. However, he was reluctant to serve, deserted the army and fled to Uganda.

    Sources reveal that there was a problem with his discipline and an attitude that no longer fit in the army. He became irrational, which colleagues thought was due to mental problems he appeared to have developed.

    Tough times in Uganda and a security guard in Iraq:

    Life did not treat Rugema well while in self-imposed exile in Uganda. In 2009 he took a job as a security guard in Iraq. When his contract ended hard times struck again.

    In 2011, Rugema sought refugee in Norway and lived in Oslo. While there, he became representative of the RNC in Scandinavian countries where he would spew anti-Rwanda rhetoric until early last year when his uncle, Kayumba Nyamwasa, deployed him to Uganda to coordinate RNC activities, including working with CMI to recruit rebels to destabilize Rwanda.

    After CMI tortured and dumped Fidele Gatisnzi at the Gatuna border, it was revealed that he had been arrested in Uganda by Rugema and Mukombozi, the RNC tried to confuse the public about who Mukombozi is.

    Rugema went on Facebook claiming that Mukombozi is a journalist who lives in Australia. However, the one in Australia is Robert Mukombozi – who used to be a journalist and the one who arrested Gatsinzi is a totally different person: Corporal Abdu Karim Mulindwa, alias Mukombozi.

    Abdul Karim Mukombozi is a Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) soldier No. RA189654 attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

    Mukombozi is a 34 year old Ugandan of Rwandan origin, a son to Abdukarim Mulindwa Muhigirwa (who also happens to have a Christian name, Francois) and Sauda Nyirandutiye. He is the eldest of four siblings, two boys and two girls. His family lived much of their life as (Rwandese) refugees in Mabona, Isingiro district.

    Mukombozi’s parents returned to Rwanda in the early 1980s fearing persecution by Milton Obote’s government like many Rwandan refugees leaving in Uganda, the family settled in Nyabwishongwezi , currently in Nyagatare district.

    They remained there until 1986 when they returned to Uganda after Obote was overthrown by the National Resistance Army (NRA) that was mainly composed by Rwandan youths.

    After the Rwandese Patriotic Front took power in Rwanda, Mukombozi and his family returned to Rwanda along with the wave of refugees who were returning home after decades in exile. Again, his family settled in Nyagatare, this time at a place called Rurenge in Rukomo Sector.

    In 2000 Mukombozi’s family, except for his father and grandmother, returned to Uganda. However, a few years later Mukombozi’s father also joined them in Uganda, although many extended relatives of his remain in Rwanda to this day.

    Mukombozi’s relatives describe him as a person of dubious character, a thief and liar, since childhood and wonder how he became Abel Kandiho and Kayumba Nyamwasa’s trusted righthand man, something they say probably has to do with birds of the same feather flocking together.

    In 2003 Abdul Karim Mulindwa (aka Mukombozi) joined the army, UPDF. It is in the UPDF where he began to undertake missions that have turned around his life, especially as a CMI operative. It is how he ended up in the CMI-RNC scheme.

    In the CMI-RNC set up, Mukombozi, as he is commonly referred to, is one of the focal points: he facilitates and shields RNC operatives while they carry out the recruitment of rebels. He is also used by CMI as a computer, showing CMI those Rwandans who should be arrested and tortured for not supporting rnc activities in Uganda.

    In fact, in 2013 Mukombozi was arrested by Uganda Police, together with Lt. Joel Mutabazi, as he was attempting to help the latter to cross Uganda’s Mutukula border. He was later released.

    It is these RNC related assignments that brought Rugema and Mukombozi close to Brigadier Abel Kandiho of CMI, who is in close contact with Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa.

  • Ethiopia to release all political prisoners, close notorious prison camp

    Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s declaration comes in the wake of anti-government protests that have engulfed much of the restive Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia in recent months, bringing many businesses, universities and transport networks to a standstill.

    These sometimes deadly protests, the most serious since the current government came to power in 1991, then spread into other parts of the East African country, leading to a months-long state of emergency that has since been lifted.

    “Political prisoners that are facing prosecutions and are already under arrest will be released,” Hailemariam said. “And the notorious prison cell that was traditionally called Maekelawi will be closed down and turned into a museum.”

    It was not immediately clear how many political prisoners were being held across the country, a close US security ally.

    Ethiopians were quick to respond, even with social media sites currently blocked.

    “I’m writing you this struggling with my tears,” wrote renowned blogger and former detainee Befeqadu Hailu. “All these pledges need to be implemented immediately.”

    Rights groups and opposition groups in Ethiopia had been calling for the release of political prisoners, saying they were arrested on trumped-up charges and were being punished for their points of view. Ethiopia’s government has long been accused of arresting critical journalists and opposition leaders.

    Some of the prominent politicians currently in custody include opposition leaders Bekele Gerba and Merara Gudina. A number of journalists also remain in detention.

    The months of protests demanding wider freedoms began in late 2015 and led to hundreds of reported deaths and tens of thousands of arrests while disrupting one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. The protests also caused the displacement of an estimated 1 million people.

    “The crackdown on the political opposition saw mass arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment, unfair trials and violations of the rights to freedom of expression and association,” rights group Amnesty International has said.

    {{Source:France24}}

  • Rwandan Refugees in Congo Brazzaville in uncertainty after cessation clause

    The implementation of cessation clause took effect last Sunday and concerns all Rwandan refugees who fled the country between 1959 and 1998. However, many Rwandan refugees are still away in different countries from around the world.

    Speaking to Radio France Internationale (RFI), Ndayishimiye said that they estimate around 9,000 Rwandans living in Congo Brazzaville as refugees.

    He said the refugees won’t go back to Rwanda for different reasons and remain uncertain about their future when the government of Congo Brazzaville starts considering them as stateless people.

    “Refugees are going through difficult times. They are in total psychosis, they are clueless and don’t know what to do. They are waiting for what the government of Congo Brazzaville will decide. Precisely they are stateless people,” he said.

    “At any time police can threaten them or arrest them because they have no documents allowing them to be here. As I speak, everyone has panicked, I chatted with others who plan to stay home and wait for what will happen next week,” Said Ndayishimiye.

    In 2016, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees Affairs (MIDIMAR) estimated that 28,000 Rwandans were still living as refugees across 20 countries.

    The International agreement to phase out refugee status for Rwandans who live abroad as refugees allows them to settle in host countries as residents or citizens.

    Ndayishimiye said that among refugees in Congo-Brazzaville who tried to apply for legalised stay documents, only 10% were allowed.

    In 2016, former country representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Saber Azam had said the situation in Rwanda was perfect and refugees should go back home.

    Speaking at a press conference recently, the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugees affairs, De Bonheur Jeanne d’Arc advised those still living outside the country to either repatriate or seek necessary documents to legalise their stay in those countries as Rwandans.

    According to UNHCR statistics, more than 20,000 Rwandans were still living as refugees around the world by December 2017.

    Up to 84,596 Rwandans have been repatriated since 2009 and supported to reintegrate in Rwandan society, the ministry states. Among them, 78 per cent came from the neighboring DR Congo.

  • Rights organisation file case against genocide suspect in France

    Under the communiqué released by the organisation on Monday, they filed a new complaint against Bakuzakundi who is suspected of having participated in the genocide.

    “Testimonies by this organization reveal crimes allegedly committed in Kigali City, especially in Remera,” the Communiqué reads in part.

    The petition was handed to judges following crimes against humanity in Paris high court for them to conduct more investigations.

    “As we continue to say, it is getting hard to bring to book people suspected of role in the genocide living in France,” reads the communiqué.

    It states that nearly 24 years after the genocide, witnesses lack and sometimes prefer not to testify due to mistrust of France justice system.

    Bakuzakundi 68 is among fugitives under Interpol search. His arrest warrant was issued on January 16, 2008.

    CPCR has issued 23 files of genocide cases excluding those that have been issued by other organisations.

    Other organisations have so far filed cases of Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, Dr. Sosthène Munyemana, Laurent Bucyibaruta, Col Laurent Serubuga, Lt Col Cyprien Kayumba and Fabien Neretse.

    Michel Bakuzakundi

  • Canadian found dead in Kigali Hotel

    The Police Central Region Spokesperson, SP. Emmanuel Hitayezu has confirmed the news saying that the details of the death will be announced soon.

    “He is a Canadian but I have no detailed information,” he said.

    IGIHE has learnt that Mishra had been in normal mood in early hours of Tuesday but later got some complications which made him buy drugs from a pharmacy. The hotel cleaners found him dead in his room late in the afternoon.

    Mishra had been renting in the hotel since January 2017.

  • Police commend public conduct during festive season

    “Generally, the festive season was peaceful; there was general compliance with the law by organisers of musical and entertainment shows, churches, and road users,” RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege, said.

    ACP Badehe thanked the role of the general public and sister security institutions like Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), partners including local leaders, administrative security organ – DASSO – for the “strong partnership” throughout the year, which further improved the homeland security.

    “Like previous years, 2017 has been a year of peace, safe and secure largely due to strong partnership with all entities to fight and prevent crimes, and cooperation in human security activities, ” he said.

    He, however, said that police recorded two fatal accidents in these festivities, one of them in Kigali caused by drunk-driving.

    {{General security status
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    According to Police statistics, crimes reduced by 5.4 percent from 17600 total crimes reported in 2016 to about 16800 recorded last year.

    Equally, fatalities on road reduced by 32 percent.

    “We are starting a new year with a strategic guidance by His Excellency the President; we call for the usual community policing cooperation with the general public, our major players in policing, through real time information sharing on any suspected criminal acts, further build and improved security, and its sustainability,” the spokesperson said.

    In his Christmas and New Year message to RNP, President Paul Kagame challenged the force to find ways to further improve for the benefit of the Nation.

    The President said: “While we cannot always predict the future, the people of Rwanda can be assured of one fact; the same values and convictions that have enabled us overcome countless challenges, strengthened by the experience, skills, knowledge and assets we have continued to acquire over time, will ensure that we overcome any threats we may be confronted with, and that the safety and security of our people is always preserved.”

    Source: RNP News

  • 4G Internet access reaches 95% countrywide

    The 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) internet provider which is licensed as a wholesaler to expand the internet countrywide announced the coverage during an event to celebrate 2017 achievements and reward customers in Kigali, last Friday

    The coverage was at 17% in 2015 and has quickly expanded to 95% in 2017.

  • Tanzania signs $1.2 bln deal for new railway line

    In total, Tanzania wants to build a 2,561 km standard gauge railway network connecting its main Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam to eastern and southern Africa’s hinterland.

    The port’s vast hinterland loops in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

    In a statement, state-run railway firm, Reli Assets Holding Company Ltd (RAHCO), said it had signed an agreement with a joint venture of Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi and Portugal’s Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção África, S.A.

    The firm said construction of the railway line would start next month and take 30 months to be completed.

    It did not give details on how the infrastructure project would be financed but last July Tanzania said it had secured a $7.6 billion loan from China’s Export-Import Bank (Exim) to build part of the new railway network.

    Tanzanian government officials said 40 foreign companies had initially expressed interest in the project, but only the Turkish-Portuguese consortium submitted a bid and was picked.

    RAHCO said winners of bids for four other tenders for construction of additional standard gauge railway lines covering about 1,000 km would be announced in April.

    Last month Tanzania also asked for a loan from state-owned Export Credit Bank of Turkey (Eximbank) to help finance a 400 km stretch of new railway.

    President John Magufuli made the funding request to visiting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during talks in Dar es Salaam.

    In recent years Turkey has sought to deepen trade ties with Africa and moved to expand influence on a continent where China and more traditional donors such as Britain, France and the European Union have a strong presence.

    Tanzanian government sources said Chinese companies would probably be awarded tenders for construction of other sections of the railway line.
    {{Source:Reuters}}

  • MINISANTE probes two mothers death at Muhima Hospital

    Families of the deceased accused doctors of negligence of duties as the reason behind the death of the mothers.

    The deceased are Magdalene Mutuyimana and Beatrice Barakagwira.

    The family of Mutuyimana claims that she attended the hospital for antenatal checks last Wednesday but doctors asked her to go back home and return to hospital on Saturday as the day she would have given birth.

    As her complications kept developing, Mutuyimana went back to the hospital on Thursday.

    “She reached the hospital at 7:00 am but they received her in the evening, operated her and gave birth to a bouncing baby but the mother unfortunately died right away,” said a family member.

    Minisante comforted families of the deceased saying that they are investigating the case so that irresponsible people behind the death face sanctions.

    Speaking to IGIHE, the Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba said that there is a group of people tasked on investigating the case to identify whether there was negligence of duties and the decision will base on investigations results.

    “When such an issue is questioned especially when it has taken lives of Rwandans, we take it into account and identify the truth,” she said.

    However, Gashumba said that there are people who rush with each case to the media without waiting for the ministry’s investigations, “and this makes people lose trust in hospitals though sometimes investigations reveal the opposite to their claims.”

    She ensured that results from investigations will be out in two weeks and act on the case.

    Efforts to talk to Muhima Hospital management were futile by press time.

    Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba

  • Rwanda starts implementing open border policy

    “To Citizens of the World; Welcome to Rwanda where, starting from Today (01/01/2018), you can ALL get visa upon arrival (without prior application),” reads the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration’s tweet.

    Under the new visa policy first announced last November, citizens of other East African Community member states are entitled to six months visitors pass (renewable) upon arrival with no fee.

    In view of bilateral agreements, nationals of Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe and Singapore may visit Rwanda without a visa for a period of 90 days.

    Previously, only nationals of African countries and few others were getting a visa upon arrival.

    Usually, foreign nationals wishing to obtain a Rwandan visa submit their applications online or at the Rwandan diplomatic missions of their country of residence.

    Nationals of Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America will be given an entry visa valid for a period of 30 days and pay $30 upon arrival without prior application.

    However, the migration directorate notes that the visitor’s visa should not be used for employment.

    This decision removes the necessity for pre-clearance requirement of acquiring an entry visa before travelling to Rwanda. Nationals of African countries who prefer to continue applying for entry visa online or through Rwanda diplomatic missions may do so if they so wish.

    Payment of visa fee where applicable was not removed despite this decision.

    “Nationals of all African countries traveling to or transiting through Rwanda obtain an entry visa upon arrival without necessarily making prior application and pay for a visa ($30) where applicable,” reads the statement.

    Nationals of the countries mentioned above not exempted from visa may also choose to get visa at Rwanda diplomatic missions (except the UN Mission in New York) or online.

    The Ministry for Foreign Affairs in November said that the new visa regime is in line with the African Union spirit of encouraging free movement of people across the continent and is expected to increase the number of tourists and foreign investors coming to Rwanda.

    When Rwanda started to issue visa upon arrival to all Africans in 2013, the number of African nationals that were offered visa on arrival at Rwandan entry points increased from 31,054 to 77,377 in 2016.