IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • BRD recovers over Rwf3 billion from student loans

    In October 2015, BRD took over the responsibility of disbursing and recovering student loans and bursaries.

    Recently, BRD started talks with employees and employers, distributed lists of people who have benefitted from student loans and bursaries in host institutions so that they partner in recovering them amicably from the source.

    Speaking to IGIHE, a Senior Manager in the BRD’s Education Finance Department, Fred Mugisha said that the move brought some good impact, despite some employers’ failure to provide needed information about their employees who benefitted from the loan.

    “Some employers understand their role in the process as they should provide information we need from their employees. When they deduct some amount from their salary they should deposit to our bank account and provide us with bank slips” he explained.

    He said that accessing all needed information about beneficiaries was a very complicated exercise, but added that they are putting in place an electronic system that will provide with them all information of distributed loans, detail the amount someone should pay so that employers will know all information about their employees who benefited from the loan.

    “Employers will electronically send monthly lists and bank slips of people who have paid. For someone who will have completed to pay will be given a certificate of completion ” he said.

    Senior Manager in the BRD’s Education Finance Department, Fred Mugisha

  • Youth urged on championing development

    The call was made yesterday during the RPF Youth League Congress at the party Headquarters in Kigali. Youth representatives from across the country gathered in preparation for RPF’s 30th Anniversary slated for December, 16th 2017.

    The league revolved around the role of the youth in the liberation struggle and their role in building the nation.

    Ngarambe called on youth to borrow a leaf from country liberators.

    “During the liberation struggle, Rwandan children left school and went to fight for their country. Even though the then government supported by other countries, they were defeated,” he said.

    He challenged youth to avoid misconduct by rethinking their contribution to their own welfare and national development.

    “You should remember that there are your age-mates spending sleepless nights maintaining our security. You should remember that, because , once you will forget it and think that it is a job deserved for some, you will have betrayed the pact with elders,” he said.

    He urged youth to be catalysts of development by assisting their young brothers and sisters overcoming problems that deter their welfare.
    Ngarambe challenged youth saying that they can’t dream to make drones while they fail to embrace cleanliness and fight against malnutrition among families.

    “What characterized Inkotanyi, should always characterize you. Youth are the resources of the country; when youth are not well sustained, your efforts are laid to waste. We have experienced that in Rwanda’s history. So, we should sustain our youth so that their efforts are used in constructing the nation” he said.

    Defence Minister, Gen. James Kabarebe said that RPF’s essence of winning the liberation struggle was having an ideology where all Rwandans have equal access to public services.

    The RPF Youth League Congress attracted observers ed political party youth representatives from African countries of Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Egypt, Uganda and Tanzania.

    The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) Secretary General, François Ngarambe speaks to youth
    Defence Minister, Gen. James Kabarebe speaks to youth

  • AfDB earmarks US$84.3 million for skills, business development in Rwanda

    In a statement released by the AfDB, the program will promote reforms, boost domestic production and create about 200,000 jobs annually.

    Rwanda’s economic performance remains strong averaging 6.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth per annum since 2013. The country has also made progress in creating 150,000 off-farm jobs every year since 2014.

    However, the private sector which is the engine for job creation is not creating enough jobs to absorb the 200,000 youth entering the labour market annually because of the proliferation of unproductive businesses with low survival rates.

    The Government of Rwanda is keen on developing a competitive private sector and create jobs for young people in order to achieve its ambitious development agenda.

    In line with the AfDB high five priorities, the Skills and Business Development Programme (SBDP) will support 100 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 500 cooperatives by 2020 that are expected to increase and improve the quality of their products, and generate much needed revenue.

    Women and youth who constitute about 52% and 27% of the population respectively, will benefit through the Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs), the main source of financing for rural Small and Medium Enterprises, and productive cooperatives which serve over one million women and youth.

    SBDP was developed jointly by the African Development Bank and the Government of Rwanda in close consultation with the private sector and other key development partners (Germany, Sweden, USA, European Union, DFID, World Bank, JICA and MasterCard Foundation)

    AfDB President, Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina

  • RDB demonstrates investment opportunities in Eastern Province

    The call was made yesterday in Gatsibo District in the meeting that brought together RDB officials and Eastern Province investors.

    The meeting aimed at showing investors available opportunities so that they can exploit them.

    According to RDB, Eastern Province soils are agricultural and animal resources friendly, but investors should go beyond that.

    As the province rich at growing bananas, RDB called on investors to consider processing them so that they can be exported.

    RDB says that Akagera National Park tourists return to Kigali for lodging due to lack of suitable hotels in the province.

    In the province also, fishery still lags behind though it is rich on lakes and water bodies, RDB called investors to explore opportunities in these lakes so that they contribute in reducing the quantity of fish the country imports.

    Investors were also called on to invest in green beans cultivation, coffee, and milk and meat processing.

    RDB Chief Operation Officer, Emmanuel Hategeka told investors that they should explore all the opportunities available in the province based on priorities RDB has set to ease doing business.

    “We have been working for a proper investment development in the country by reviewing laws, institutions by tracking obstacles in investment sector. In past 15 years we did 52 reforms but we make three reforms yearly, but the process is yet over” he said.

    He said that they plan to reduce investment cost as well as reducing prices for materials needed by investors.

    The Private Sector Federation vice-chairman in Eastern Province, Charles Gasana said that though investment opportunities are available in the province investors still have some challenges.

    “We thank all approaches put in place by RDB to facilitate us in doing business, however, we still face access to finance constraints and poor skills among investors” he said.

    He said in the province they still have water and electricity shortage problem.

    However, Gasana explained that different infrastructures are being constructed to help investors work better.

    He said commercial complexes are being constructed in different districts to help investors find better working places.

    He said Rwf1 billion commercial complex is being constructed at Rusumo Border Post in Kirehe District, another one in Ngoma District worth Rwf700 million, in Kayonza they are constructing Rwf1.5 billion-worth commercial complex and Modern Market worth Rwf3.5 billion that is being constructed in Ramagana District.

  • Amb. Kamanzi presents credentials to Ivory Cost President

    Ambassador Stanslas Kamanzi has presented credentials to President Alassane Dramane Ouattara, allowing him to represent Rwanda in Ivory Cost.

    Amb. Kamanzi will have residence in Abuja, Nigeria.

    The ceremony took place yesterday in State House in the capital city, Abidjan Ivory Cost
    .
    Kamanzi and president Ouattara discussed good relationship advancement between both countries and how to promote trading for peoples of both countries.

    It is the first time Rwanda and Ivory Cost to have ambassadorial reoresentations.

    However both countries have good relations. RwandAir, the national career, flies to Abidjan.

    Amb. Kamanzi (R) presents credentials to Ivory Cost President

  • GoR condoles with Egypt over the massacre of 235

    Through her twitter handle, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Community Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo expressed sympathy with Egypt over the atrocities.

    “On behalf of the Government and people of Rwanda deepest sympathy and brotherly solidarity to the Government and people of Egypt! We strongly condemn the al-Rawala Mosque attack in Northern Sinai that caused the senseless death of 235 innocent people and injured many more!” the tweet reads.

    According to BBC, after the attack, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi vowed to respond with “brute force after talks with security officials”.

    No group has yet claimed the attack, but militants affiliated with so-called Islamic State (IS) have been responsible for scores of deadly attacks in the province.

  • Rwabiharamba Model Village inaugurated

    Rwabiharamba Model Village comprises of eight units constructed in four-in-one with solar system connection and water tanks for rain water harvesting. It has also provided a multipurpose building, schools, a health post, a modern market and workshop place (locally called agakiriro), playgrounds, cowsheds and a 9-kilometre road linking the village to the main road Kagitumba-Kayonza with estimated cost of Rwf1.8 billion .

    In his remarks, Minister saluted the leadership of President Paul Kagame who has prioritized the Integrated Development Programme (IDP) for rural settlement as one of key priority intervention to meet Rwanda needs. He said “This is a good programme being implemented countrywide, benefiting the most vulnerable”.

    Referring to the inaugurated infrastructures, Minister Musoni called upon residents of Rwabiharamba Village to use this opportunity to transform their lives. He ensured the continued support from Government, and therefore recommended the proper management and protection of the acquired facilities.

    Beneficiaries are delighted with this progamme. Scovia Nyiramatama is among 16 families who benefited a house. “I am a widow; my husband was killed in Tanzania before we had been expelled from there. My children and I, left all properties including cows. Arriving in Rwanda, we lived in a single house rendered by local authorities. I have never lived in such house with electricity. Now I am very, very happy. I firmly thank our President, Paul Kagame for his visionary leadership and caring for vulnerable communities.” said Mukandamira while sitting together with Minister Musoni in her house.

    George Mupenzi , the Mayor of Nyagatare District, expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders for their valuable contribution in the implementation of the project especially Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Reserve Force that constructed the houses and other partners who provided different equipment.

    The Government of Rwanda has set targets to have 70 per cent of Rwandans residing in rural model villages and 35 percent living in urban areas by 2020.

    Throughout this year several Model Villages have been constructed and inaugurated in other parts of the country.

    Minister Musoni and other officials inaugurate houses

  • Zigama CSS raises interest rates on savings

    As approved by the general meeting held on Friday, compulsory savings has been increased from 7% to 8% whereas voluntary saving interest has been raised from 6% to 7%.

    According to the management of the bank, new changes will take effect starting from next year.

    The Chairman of the Board, Dr. James Ndahiro said that it was necessary to meet members of the bank before the end of the year and assess current status and plans for next year.

    He said that they decided to increase interest rate on savings as a way to encourage members to embrace saving culture for it is through savings that the bank gets its financial strength.

    “We are happy with status of the bank but we aimed at sensitizing members to continue to save so that the bank provides good services. The more members save, the more the bank continues to provide with them good services” he stressed.

    “That is why the meeting decided to revise interest rates as a way to recognize people who embraced saving culture” he added.

    Ndahiro said that they expect to make a profit of Rwf8 billion this year up from Rwf6.86 billion last year.

    By September 30, 2017, Zigama CSS’s total assets was Rwf228 billion from Rwf215 billion of December 2016.

    The capital and reserves was Rwf50.4 billion by September 30, 2017 from Rwf44.9 billion of December 2016.

  • Egypt attack: More than 200 killed in Sinai mosque

    Witnesses say the al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed, near al-Arish, was targeted during Friday prayers.

    It is the deadliest attack of its kind since an Islamist insurgency in the peninsula was stepped up in 2013.

    Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has held emergency talks with security officials to decide how to respond.

    Local police said gunmen arrived in four off-road vehicles before opening fire on worshippers, AP reported.

    Pictures from the scene show rows of bloodied victims inside the mosque. At least 130 people were wounded, reports say.

    Locals are also quoted as saying that followers of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, regularly gathered at the mosque.

  • Bar Association satisfied with clarification over colleague’s death

    Nzamwita was shot on 30th December 2016 at KBC roundabout.

    Explaining his death, Police said Nzamwita was driving at high speed, knocked down a barrier at the manned checkpoint and proceeded to almost knock down a police officer who was trying to stop him.

    Police explained that police officers at the checkpoint shot at the car aiming to stop it but unfortunately Nzamwita died in the process.

    Following his death, the Rwanda Bar Association released a statement calling upon more clarification on the death of their colleague.

    Speaking to the media during the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Rwanda Bar Association yesterday, Kavaruganda said that in discussions they held with Security organs over Nzamwita’s death they were contented with explanations.

    “His family had requested us to link them with security organs to get more explanations following the statement Police had issued after his death. They wanted more clarification about the reason he was shot and the position he was shot from” he said adding that the side of the association is contented.

    “We consider that the family has also been contented with clarifications as they did not come back to seek help from us,” he added.

    Kavaruganda (L) speaks to the media yesterday