Author: IGIHE

  • Rwanda sends a contingent for EAC military exercise in Tanzania

    The Command Post Exercise (CPX) codenamed ‘CPX Ushirikiano Imara 2017’ is scheduled from 4th to 20th December 2017.

    According to organisers, the aim of the exercise is to practice the EAC Partner States’ Armed Forces and other key stakeholders in the planning and conduct of an integrated Peace Support Operation, Disaster Management, Counter-terrorism and Counter-piracy in order to improve capabilities in jointly combating complex security challenges.

    The Exercise will improve readiness, interoperability and strengthen cooperation between the EAC partner states Armed Forces and key stakeholders among other objectives.

    While briefing the Rwandan Contingent preparing for departure, the Army Chief of Staff (ACOS), Maj. Gen. Jacques Musemakweli urged them to be good ambassadors of Rwanda by demonstrating high discipline.

    “You have to uphold high level of discipline as is the RDF culture. You should be professional and innovative in all duties you will be exercising” he briefed the contingent at Kami Barracks yesterday.

    He also advised the contingent to work as a team and share experiences with other foreign counterparts from EAC Armed Forces Partner States.

    About 240 military, police and civilians from the five EAC member countries namely Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will participate in the Command Post Exercise Ushirikiano Imara 2017.

  • Over 250 game rangers complete course at Police Training School

    The course conducted by Rwanda National Police (RNP) falls in the existing agreement with Rwanda Development Board signed in February 2010. It was organized to improve their overall professionalism in ensuring security of game parks and tourists.

    The training covered topics such as drills and duties, skills at arms, self defense, voice procedures, Rwandan values, patriotism, first aid and physical fitness, among others.

    Speaking during the pass-out, Commissioner of Police Vianney Nshimiyimana, the commandant of PTS, said that the refresher course was designed and conducted based on the challenges that the park rangers were facing in countering illegal activities within game parks.

    “All these areas covered were designed to instill discipline, value and protection of service equipment, teamwork, alertness, safety precaution, quick and right way to respond in times of need, effective communication and efficient handover-takeover process,” Nshimiyimana said.

    “This was a short but rewarding course, but it is one thing to acquire skills and another to put the skills to good use. You are leaving here and Rwandans expect a difference in the accomplishment of your daily duties,” he added.

    Chief Financial Officer at RDB, Mark Nkurunziza said that this course is vital in the tourism promotion and conservation of game parks in Rwanda.

    “Tourism is an essential pillar of national development and game reserves play the lead role in this case as major revenue generation, and the security of these tourist destinations is key,” Nkurunziza said

    Rwanda has four game reserves; Akagera, volcanoes, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura, which is currently under conservation.

    Akagera, volcanoes and Nyungwe alone add about US$19 million in the national coffers, annually, according to Eugene Mutangana, the Head of Conservation at RDB.

    Meanwhile, Nkurunziza said that following the increase in the price of Gorilla Permits from US$ 750 to US $1,500, the government also increased the revenue sharing scheme from 5% to 10% to support development activities of communities around.

    He further outlined poaching, illegal mining activities and bee harvesting as some of the challenges facing game reserves in Rwanda, but which the training comes to address.

  • Sources reveal a rebel recruitment drive in Uganda to destabilise Rwanda

    Credible information seen by this writer shows that the recruitment drive is happening in refugee camps of Nyakivara and in Bweyale Kiryandongo under the active involvement and supervision of Uganda’s intelligence organs.

    The UNHCR issued a cessation clause on Rwandan refugees that comes into effect on December 31 this year, however this kind of open mobilization remains an obstacle to their return to their country.

    A source with knowledge of these activities revealed to the writer that Nyakivara refugee camp was this Friday invaded by RNC elements who were accompanied by security operatives from Uganda’s CMI.

    “They were openly mobilizing the youth in the camp to join RNC,” the source disclosed. When our reporter visited the said camp, he too was told that indeed the authorities had spent much of the day in the camp identifying only the youthful refuges who they asked to provide basic information including names and age. “They promised to come back soon,” a seemingly confused young man said.

    The lists are used to serve a double source, according to intelligence reports in Uganda. First, those on the list are taken for training in RNC rebel outfit and second; after taking them from the camps they report them missing either killed or kidnapped by Rwandan government agents which helps to amplify the propaganda that portrays Rwanda as a “hostile state.”

    During these recruitment visits to refugee camps, Rugema Kayumba, a former army corporal and cousin to renegade Kayumba Nyamwasa does the mobilization propaganda while the entire recruitment scheme is commanded by Brig. Gen. Abel Kandiho who provides the team with logistical support including heavy security escorts from CMI.

    The plot, as reported earlier, seeks to fabricate stories of persecution and kidnap allegedly committed on Rwandans in Uganda by Kigali and distribute these stories on different media platforms with the sole purpose of tarnishing the image of Rwanda.

    In addition, the plan also seeks to mobilize and recruit for RNC, targeting mainly the youth in these refugee camps.

    A few months ago, reports emerged of two fugitives Maj. (rtd) Habib Mudathir and Capt (rtd) Sibo Charles who escaped from a UNHCR refugee camp in Arua to supervise recruitment and training for RNC.

    The duo are said to be setting up a new training camp for RNC recruits in the West Nile region of Uganda along a boarder triangle of South Sudan, DRC and Uganda.

    This new camp comes to complement the one that already exists in DRC’s S.Kivu province, in a place called Minembwe.

    Whereas the new camp in Uganda’s west Nile region is directly supervised by CMI, the one in Minembwe receives all logistical support including food, medicine, weapons and money from the regime in Burundi under the supervision of the chief of the Burundian army.
    Other dissidents who are in Minembwe include, Kanyemera claude Ruhinda Bosco, Karemera Alex and a one Butare.

    This week saw the start of this plot to fake kidnaps and persecution when RNC’s propagandist, Rugema Kayumba claimed that refugees who were to petition Uganda’s parliament were kidnapped on their way. However, the Uganda Police dismissed the accusation as false.

    Part of this scheme is to also smear mud on the chief of Uganda’s Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura. For example, on his Facebook posts, the RNC mobiliser Rugema describes Kayihura as a “supporter of Rwandan terrorists.”

    On the same posts, the RNC propagandist speaks fondly of Uganda’s Security Minister and the First family, partly confirming the close relationship of the fugitives and Uganda’s first family.

    Rugema, recently relocated from Norway to Uganda to lead this scheme that involves planting lies to attract the attention of human rights such as HRW and UNHCR to discredit Rwanda.

    Our sources also indicate that Rugema is working with another fugitive Sande Charles aka Mugisha Robert RNC coordinator in Uganda. It is reported that two have been given heavy military escorts from CMI.

    Rugema, a Corporal who deserted from RDF is married to a Muhima (Museveni tribe) lady, Peace Rugema, a cattle trade in Kampala.

    {{Enter Red Pepper }}

    Our sources in intelligence community in Kampala also say that the recent closure of Red Pepper tabloid has nothing to do with writing a ‘wrong” story on Rwanda-Uganda relations but rather they went after them for daring to reveal the existence of this hostile scheme on Rwanda.

    “The Red Pepper was a victim of the truth by the regime in Kampala trying the public,” the source said. They were clamped down for bringing to light their plans of causing havoc against Rwanda.”

    It should be recalled that Red Pepper run a story saying President Museveni is finalizing a plan of attacking Rwanda and that he provides supports Kayumba Nyamwasa’s RNC.

  • Health Ministry launches new HIV/AIDS testing method

    Dubbed ‘OraQuick HIV Self-Test’, is an oral swab used for testing and requires no blood. By collecting oral fluid from your gums, you collect fluid similar to that used in blood testing.

    So, the OraQuick Test detects antibodies for HIV, not the virus itself.

    Using the OraQuick HIV Self-Test, people swipe the test swab along their upper gums once and at lower gums once. Then they insert the swab inside the test tube provided and get results within 20 to 40 minutes.

    HIV antibodies from oral fluid are collected through the swab.

    Once the device is inserted into the test tube, the oral fluid mixes with the liquid and moves up the test stick.

    If C-Line on the tube turns dark it confirms the test is working properly. If no C-Line appears, the test is not working.

    If only C-Line appears, the test is negative.

    HIV antibodies collecting at the T-Line on the tube indicates the test is positive.

    The launching of the device coincided with the celebration of international AIDS day marked on 1st December every year.

    The device is sold at Rwf5000 and found in all pharmacies.

    Speaking at the event in Kigali, the Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba said the new system aims at helping people know their health status easily.

    “We are launching a new HIV/AIDS self-testing device. It is another approach that the government wants to implement to be able to raise numbers of people aware of their health status. When people get know their health status on time especially those who find themselves HIV positive, they consider using antiretroviral therapy,” she said.

    Speaking to IGIHE, Edourd Munyemana, a city resident said that the new method will help especially youth as they rarely visit health centers for HIV/AIDS test.

    OraQuick HIV Self-Test
    The Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba speaks at the event
  • RDB launches Business Excellence Awards 2018 nominations

    The Business Excellence Awards, which aims to celebrate efforts made by both corporate and small medium sized enterprises in Rwanda, are an opportunity for the local business community to come together and celebrate business development and success.

    The Business Excellence Awards 2018 will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre and Radisson Blu Kigali on 12, January 2018.

    Speaking at a press conference the Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi, encouraged business owners to participate in the online nomination process.

    “The Rwanda Development Board acknowledges the important role that our private sector plays in the country’s development goals to become a middle income and knowledge based economy. That is why we are proud to celebrate the business community through these prestigious business awards,” she said

    Under the theme ‘In pursuit of Business Excellence’ the Business Excellence Awards 2018 will be graced by government representatives and business owners.

    For all interested in participating in the Business Excellence Awards 2018; they can click below to sign up.
    [How to participate in the Business Excellence Awards 2018
    ->http://rdb.rw/business-excellence-awards/]

    RDB CEO, Clare  Akamanzi addressing media about Business Excellence Awards
  • There is scarcity of qualified employees on Rwanda’s job market –Premier

    Ngirente was speaking this Friday while presenting ‘Rwanda’s education sector programmes’ to both chambers of the parliament.

    The 2017 World Economic Forum report dubbed ‘Global Human Capital Report’ revealed that only 62% of people from across the World are qualified on the job market. The report shows that 38% have unexploited talents.

    In Rwanda, Ngirente said that 39% of people with employment are not qualified for the job market.

    {{Gaps per sector}}

    In agriculture, tea plantation, value addition and processing, only 2,500 employees are qualified yet the sector needs a minimum of 7,000. The sector will need 9,000 in 2020 and 12,000 employees in 2025.

    Only 2,657 are qualified in coffee farming and processing out of 3,687 needed by 2017. People qualified for horticulture are 39 individuals out of 528 needed by 2017.

    In mining and mineral processing, only 13,000 are people qualified out of 23,900 needed by today.

    In hospitality, only 41,000 are qualified, whereas a total of 82,400 will be needed by 2020.

    In dairy processing, 76% of people in the sector are not qualified, the reason why only 10% of all milk production is processed. He said the country needs 730 qualified people in the sector.

    Textile industry employs only 1,500 people but they need 2,930 qualified employees.

    In urban planning, construction and city development, there is need for 11,500 and 17,000 employees by 2018 and 2024 respectively.[Jd1]

    MPs blamed government on rampant changes in education systems, teachers’ welfare and congestion in classrooms for being behind the graduation of non-competent employees on the job market.

    “Incessant changes which do not base on research leave students in dilemma, this is an issue that should be looked into,” said MP Theobald Mporanyi.

    Prime Minister, Dr. Eduard Ngirente speaks in parliament
    Members of the parliament follow proceedings
  • Made in Rwanda Expo: Munyeshyaka assures local investors of public tenders

    Munyeshyaka was speaking Thursday while officiating the 3rd Made in Rwanda Expo.

    He commended the level of exhibitors’ participation, the volume, quality as well value addition of products.

    He said the government has embarked on promoting both nationals and foreigners-run local industries.

    Munyeshyaka assured local investors that the government intends to put in place laws that will weaken foreign industries to access public tenders.

    “I would inform you that the revision of the law regulating public tenders has been completed and the next phase is to table it before the parliament. Under the new law, locally produced materials are prioritized at 15% on public tenders over these from outside the country,” he said.

    He added that foreigners with local industries were prioritized at 10% over producers of the same materials from abroad.

    Munyeshyaka called on local manufacturers to improve the quality of their products so that the government can promote standardized products.

    Since 2010 to 2016, importation has reduced by 2% while exportation increased by 11%. In the first quarter of 2017/2018, exportation raised by 10% whereas importation cut by 8%.

    The Private Sector Federation Chairperson, Benjamin Gasamagera, said this year’s Expo attracted exhibitors from different sectors including industries, food processing, textiles, handcrafts and ICT among other services.

    This year’s Made in Rwanda Expo attracted 420 exhibitors up from 305 last year.

    Running at the Gikondo Expo Ground in Kigali, the weeklong Expo started on 29th November and will end on 5th December, 2017.

    Munyeshyaka opens 3rd Made in Rwanda Expo
  • Kasha opens up a platform availing women health products via mobile phones

    The Kasha journey began in 2016 with a blueprint for both a technology platform and a profitable social business. Kasha is a company allowing anyone to confidentially and discretely get health and personal care products delivered to their location of choice in Kigali.

    Kasha co-Founder Joanna Bischel and Kasha Country Director Dianne Dusaidi along with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Registrar General Louise Kanyonga and Dr. Anicet Nzabonimpa from Ministry of Health spoke to the press at the media briefing held at Kasha offices. The media also received demonstrations of the innovative Kasha experience through its beautifully set up showroom.

    Dianne Dusaidi said Kasha is providing health and beauty services to Rwandan women and men based on their lifestyles. She stated that Rwanda is the perfect starting point for Kasha as an e-commerce business particularly because of access to innovative technology as well as cashless payment solutions that are offered to their customers.

    Louise Kanyonga lauded the importance of women owned business particularly in ICT. “We want to see businesses owned by women growing. Currently women owned business are at 27%. RDB supports increasing the number of women owned businesses in the country and it is good to see Kasha contributing to that. In an industry where you don’t usually see technology come in, Kasha has taken a basic customer need and, using technology addresses that need for customers. Kasha is a business that addresses a social need while making a profit as well. We need to create more businesses that address social needs,” she said.

    Joanna Bischel said Kasha is taking advantage of the power of technology and accessibility across the country.

    “The phone is the perfect tool for that, it allows people to browse and select the products they need which enables Kasha to reach people with last mile connectivity. People are not used to the flow of e-commerce, so we have made it as easy as buying airtime.”

    Kasha is optimized for confidentiality, convenience, quality and affordability. Pharmaceuticals are delivered in partnership with KiPharma and ARBEF.

    Dr. Anicet Nzambonimpa, representing the Ministry of Health said “Kasha is supporting the Government of Rwanda in terms of doing business better, providing good services to our population particularly in the important areas of concern such as hygiene and sanitation.”

    As an innovative business providing health products to mostly girls and women, Kasha is ensuring that they have an opportunity to address their health concerns and potentially prevent unwanted health issues.

    While Kasha is live and has already delivered thousands of orders in Kigali, in December 2017 Kasha will officially launch its e-commerce platform alongside key partners including Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, KIPharma, ARBEF and Unilever.

    Kasha team- Amanda Arch, Joanna Bichsel, Dianne Dusaidi
    Francine Uwase (Kasha Marketing Director) speaking on Kasha’s Health and beauty services to Rwandan women and men based on their lifestyles
    The Showroom where several products could be found
    Dianne Dusaidi with RDB’s Registrar General, Louise Kanyonga
    Dr. Anicet Nzabonimpa Ministry of Health
  • BK profit hits Rwf26.1 billion in the first nine months of 2017 before tax

    The leading financial institution in the country has also, from 30th June, registered a total profit of Rwf17.7 billion tax inclusive up from RwF16.5 billion in the same period last year.

    BK Chief Financial Officer, Nathalie Mpaka, attributed the profit to customer loyalty and growth in BK Corporate, Small and Medium Enterprises loan book.

    In the first nine months of last year, the bank’s clients’ assets were at Rwf392.7 billion registering an increase of 14% on annual basis compared to Rwf392.7 billion the previous year. The gross loans totaled Rwf452.6 billion compared to Rwf400.5 billion in the first nine months of last year.

    In the first nine months of last year, the bank’s total assets were worth Rwf761.3 billion, increasing from Rwf596.4 billion in the same period of the previous year.

    According to the Chief Operating Officer at BK, Désiré Rumanyika, the bank keeps an open eye on more customers targeting to expand its growth through offering new services.

    “We plan to enable our agents to attract more customers to open up BK accounts through the Bigereho na BK campaign. The bank hopes to deepen financial inclusion by encouraging people to open bank accounts and promoting a savings culture by enticing customers to deposit money on their savings account,” Rumanyika said.

    BK Chief Financial Officer, Nathalie Mpaka
  • Kagame, EU commissioner discuss support to welcome 30,000 migrants in Rwanda

    The discussion took place yesterday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on the sidelines of the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) summit.

    Through his twitter handle, Mimica said that officials from both sides discussed the cooperation in welcoming migrants from Libya to Rwanda.

    “Meeting President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushikiwabo discussing how EU could contribute and support Rwanda’s offer to welcome 30,000 migrants from Libya,” reads Mimica’s tweet.

    Among other topics discussed include African, Caribbean and Pacific’s new partnership; the future Rwanda’s presidency over the African Union; and Gender.

    These migrants from Libya come from different African countries targeting to cross to Europe through Mediterranean Sea where they desire soft life.

    Recently, Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda will offer possible support in transporting migrants who will wish to be repatriated in their countries of origin as well as welcoming others who will wish to come in Rwanda.

    {{Joint efforts to evacuate migrants from Libya
    }}

    According to Africanews, the African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) have decided to put in place a task force in Libya to check migrant abuse.

    The AU’s Moussa Faki Mahamat, EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, its foreign affairs Chief Federica Mogherini and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met on Wednesday morning on the sidelines of AU-EU summit.

    A statement joint press release said the EU-AU-UN Task Force aims to save and protect lives of migrants and refugees along the routes and in particular inside Libya, accelerating the assisted voluntary returns to countries of origin, and the resettlement of those in need of international protection.

    “This action will build on, expand and accelerate the ongoing work done by countries of origin, and the IOM, with EU funding, which allowed so far the voluntary return to their countries of origin of 13 000 migrants since January,” reads Federica Mogherini’s tweet.

    The African Union Chairperson Alpha Condé announced at the end of the AU-EU summit that Moroccan, French and German aircraft would soon start evacuating the 3,800 migrants from one particularly bad camp near the capital, Tripoli.

    EU officials said they would also be discussing a proposal from French President Emmanuel Macron for police and military action against human traffickers and slavers in Libya.

    According to Daily Maverick, the summit ended with a joint AU-EU declaration on the migrant situation in Libya, demanding “the opening without delay of a thorough, credible and independent investigation into the alleged sale at auctions of African migrants and the related serious violations of their rights,”.

    It also called for an investigation of the condition of migrants in Libya and for ways to be found to provide them with help in voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin.

    The declaration also asked all destination states with illegal migrants on their territories “to suspend their forcible return to Libya, considering the dangerous security situation in the country”.

    And it urgently appealed to the international community as a whole to provide financial, material and technical support to the efforts of the AU Commission, the International Organisation for Migration and the countries whose nationals were stranded in Libya, to facilitate the return of migrants who wished to be repatriated.