Author: IGIHE

Is Hilton taking advantage of shareholders disputes to rebrand Ubumwe Grande Hotel?

Media reported the disputes after the hotel opened in September last year as Ubumwe Grande Hotel while it was developed as Zinc Hotel, a brand introduced by CG Corp Global which holds the majority shares and was contracted to manage the 153-rooms hotel for 15 years.

Despite the reports on the disputes, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton’s Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, told the media on Wednesday that he has no information about the disputes in the facility he confirmed last week to be rebranded under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton starting next year.

During a press briefing on the sidelines of African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali on Wednesday, IGIHE’s reporter asked Fitzgibbon if he is aware of the ongoing disputes in the facility he is preparing to acquire and he answered, “I have no information about that. Go to ask those who told you that.” “I am sorry,” he added when the reporter tried to inquire more.

Was he deliberately lying to media? Pretending to have never heard of the disputes? Or is Hilton ignoring the case which has been under court of law since last year?

Being referred to shareholders, IGIHE looked for Rahul Chaudhary, Director of CG Hospitality Holdings Global who is overseeing the businesses of his father, Binod Chaudhary, a Nepalese billionaire who owns CG Corp Global. Rahul revealed that he has always informed Hilton management starting November last year when he talked face to face with Fitzgibbon and alerted Fitzgibbon of the news reports highlighting the ongoing disputes and his family’s part ownership of Ubumwe Grande. Rahul was also attending the AHIF which ended on Thursday at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Shortly after the interview, CG released a brief statement on Hilton and Ubumwe Grande news expressing their disappointment in the developments.

“It has recently come to the attention of the CG Hospitality Holdings Global (CG) that Hilton may have entered into a franchise or management agreement for the Ubumwe Grand Hotel. This information came as a surprise and disappointment to CG,” reads part of the statement which went on stating,

“At no time has CG been made aware of any negotiations for such a deal despite (1) CG’s status as a representative of the majority shareholder in the company that owns the Ubumwe Grand Hotel and (2) ongoing disputes relating to the management of this hotel, which have previously been reported on in the press. CG is seeking legal advice in relation to these developments.”

{{Essence of the disputes}}

The $40 million Ubumwe Grande Hotel is owned by three partners namely CG Corp Global and the Mukwano Group who own a combined 80% stake; and Robert Bapfakurera who owns a 20% stake, The East African reported last October.

The hotel, which was part of a global chain, Zinc, owned by Nepalese billionaire Binod Chaudhary, changed its name to Ubumwe Grande before it opened the doors. Mukwano Group changed the hotel’s name when it neared completion despite a court order barring it from doing so and cancelled the management contract of the hotel without the consent of Zinc, the company contracted to run the hotel for 15 years.

CG Corp Global/Zinc went to Nyarugenge Commercial Court to nullify the cancellation of the management contract but Mukwano appealed the decision at the Commercial High Court. According to Apollo Nkunda, the lawyer representing Zinc, the Commercial High Court ruled that the case be reviewed.

Despite the disappointment in his first investment in Rwanda, Rahul said CG Corp Global is still seeking to grow businesses in Rwanda and the region.

October 16, 2017
The 10 Most Popular Cities of 2017

The company just released its most recent index, with the places on track to be 2017’s most visited cities.
{{
Istanbul, Turkey}}
{
Number of projected overnight visitors: 9.24 million}
Despite terrorist attacks on several of the city’s tourist centers in 2016 and political instability, people aren’t hiding from Istanbul. The city continues to attract visitors with its historic architecture, gorgeous boutiques, and inventive restaurants. In fact, of all the cities studied in this survey, dining consumes the greatest percentage of visitor spend in Istanbul (33.6 percent).

{{Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 12.08 million}
One of the world’s best cities for street food has also proven to be an all-around holiday hot spot. While the majority of the travel across the study’s cities are conducted for leisure (as opposed to business), Kuala Lumpur still has the largest percentage of visitors there on vacation (a whopping 92.2 percent).

{{New York City}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 12.36 million}
From the global cuisine of Queens to the sky-high hotels of Midtown, there’s no city on earth quite as energetic (or caffeinated) as New York. We can’t blame overnight visitors for spending $17.02 billion here in 2016 alone (which is nothing compared to Dubai, but we’ll get to that later).

{{Seoul, South Korea}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 12.44 million
}Seoul has emerged as one of the world’s leading fashion and beauty capitals, with a travel-worthy spa scene and nocturnal vendors in trendy neighborhoods. No surprise, then, that tourists spend more on shopping while in Seoul (56.5 percent) than in any other city surveyed.

{{Tokyo, Japan}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 12.51 million}
With new air routes, museum openings, and preparations in place to host the 2020 Summer Olympics, there’s never been a better time to visit the best city in the world.

{{Singapore}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 13.45 million}
Singapore has the world’s best airport (hedge mazes included) and most Instagram-able hotel, both of which only add to the already appealing city. And with Norwegian launching new low-cost flights between London and Singapore this fall, reaching the Lion City is only getting easier.

{{
Dubai, U.A.E.}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 16.01 million}
It seems like Dubai will never stop trying to outdo itself. Within the past year, the city announced plans for a miniature replica of Venice, flying drone taxis, and two new artificial islands. But all that pomp seems to be paying off—quite literally. Tourists spent an incredible $28.50 billion there in 2016.

{{Paris, France}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 16.13 million}
It’s nearly impossible to resist the charms of France’s capital—and more than 16 million travelers obviously agree. The city is known for its chic shopping and inimitable restaurants, but lodging actually proved to be the most expensive part of trips to Paris, accounting for 44.8 percent of tourists’ spending.

{{
London, U.K}}.
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 20.01 million}
There’s so much to do in London, it bears repeat visits; perhaps that explains why its number of visitors jumped past the 20 million mark this year. Luckily, an efficient transportation system means that less of the budget is spent on transit here (only 4.3 percent) than in any other city on the list, which frees you up to spend your dollars at trendy new restaurants like Gymkhana or newly renovated Blue Bar in The Berkeley hotel.

{{
Bangkok, Thailand}}
{Number of projected overnight visitors: 20.19 million}
For the second year running, Bangkok is set to be the most popular city for international travelers, thanks in large part to its appealing mix of historical sites and modern hot spots: the gilded Grand Palace complex, the towering Peninsula Bangkok, the canals and alleys filled with street food vendors—and that’s just the start. Even with all that humidity, this city is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. View our complete list of the best places to visit in the U.S.

October 16, 2017
When Trump needs support, he calls on pastors, and they call on him

“Mr. President, we’re going to be your most loyal friends,” Jeffress said then.

That prediction was accurate. At some of Trump’s lowest moments over the past few months, conservative religious leaders have materialized at the White House to literally lay hands on him in prayer.

The photos of these moments have a powerful resonance for many American Christians who are steeped in a fundamentalist form of the faith that is individualistic, populist and places a high value on outward forms of religiosity. Their faith practice is characterized by a fascination with emotional experience and with big, dramatic gestures and story lines. The extraordinary is often valued over the ordinary, novelty over tradition, speaking in tongues over creeds, prophecy over liturgy.

And Trump, who spoke Friday at a gathering of religious conservatives in Washington, D.C., called the Values Voters Summit, has been eager to harness that emotional energy on his own behalf, especially at low points in his presidency.

When the damaging news broke in July that Donald Trump Jr. had met during the campaign with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer and had been eager to receive information about Hillary Clinton from the Russian government, a group of evangelicals prayed over Trump that very evening in the Oval Office.

“Such an honor to pray within the Oval Office for @POTUS & @VP,” tweeted Johnnie Moore, a former aide to Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr.

Moore now runs a public relations and advocacy business and is a major player at the intersection of conservative evangelical Christianity, politics and entertainment. But when it comes to convening these groups of leaders, it is Jeffress; Paula White, a Florida prosperity mega-church pastor who’s been called “a heretic” by other Christian leaders; and Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, who take the lead, according to people who are familiar with the inner workings of the group.

Moore attached to his tweet a photo shot from behind Trump that showed six or seven hands on the president’s back, a common gesture among evangelicals during prayer for another person. Many believe the laying on of hands channels spiritual power to the person being prayed for.

“The laying on of hands in the Old Testament signified transfer (of sins to the scapegoat, for instance) and of the Holy Spirit from one person to another (anointing),” Michael Horton, a prominent evangelical author and a professor of theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in California, wrote in an email. “Jesus sometimes healed in analogous ways, placing his hands on people, but not necessarily. The apostles laid hands on some people for healing as well. So the idea is biblical.”

But, Horton cautioned, “what people are doing with it today is closer to magic, it seems to me.”

Harry Jackson, a Pentecostal pastor from the Maryland suburbs outside D.C. who was one of the ministers who prayed for Trump in the Oval Office, said that “if people don’t understand the faith dimension involved, they would say that it’s superstitious.”

“We believe there is a transfer — a potential transfer — of spiritual power and the Holy Spirit’s influence to a willing and believing recipient,” Jackson said in an interview. “The recipient has got to be in a place where his faith and his character can allow God to impart grace to him. … If there was true humility on the part of the president, God can give him these bursts and downloads of wisdom.”

“And the question is, if you don’t stay in that humble place, you can have bursts of wisdom but not wisdom in another moment,” Jackson added. “We understand the president is really by nature a fighter and protector, but the role America needs now is more of a father and a healer as well.”

The ministers who visited with Trump that day didn’t just pray for him. Some also took up his cause of criticizing the media and encouraged their followers to disregard press reports, which that day would have been about Trump Jr.’s meetings with Russians during the campaign.

October 15, 2017
Rwanda, German Province celebrate 35 years of partnership

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Local Government, Francis Kaboneka thanked the province’s commitment to the country’s development and promised continued partnership.

“There are more than 2000 small and big projects they have implemented. Their programmes contributed to health, education and supporting persons with disabilities among others,” he said.

RhenaniePalatinat also contributes in capacity building for people in different sectors including training teachers and health workers.

The province also provides Euro2.5 million every years to Rwanda.

Governance, Sports and Infrastructure Minister in Rhenanie Palatinat Province, Roger Lewentz promised extended partnership to 35 more years ahead.

“We need to advance cooperation by equipping youth as we prepare our future. We observed that Rwanda is developing, we shall continue this partnership in 35 years ahead and achieve more” he said.

RhenaniePalatinat started supporting Rwanda’s development programmes in 1982.

October 14, 2017
Lawyers reject separate hearings for Rwigaras

Before entering the grounds of the court, every person was obliged to present his/her identification (ID or passport) as well as getting registered by security agents.

Also in attendance was the new defense lawyer, Gatera Gashabana defending Adeline Mukangemanyi as she requested in the previous hearing and Pierre Celestin Buhuru defending Diane Rwigara and Anne Rwigara.

Gashabana said that he received confirmation to defend Mukangemanyi yesterday (Thursday) 4:00pm. He said that he met his client but the only document she had was arrest warrants.

Gashabana requested to be given some time to read the dossier.

He said that he discussed nothing with the client.

Prosecution said that it is unusual to adjourn pre-trial hearing four times, so far taking 10 days contrary to the laws determining 72 hours to have decided on pre-trial hearing since the prosecution submitted the case to court.

Prosecution requested the court not to adjourn hearing over defense reasons as all defendants were read their allegations with the presence of the lawyer, Buhuru.

“Isn’t this postponement contradicting ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ principle?,” prosecution questioned.

Prosecution called to separate hearing of Anne Rwigara and Diane Rwigara represented by Buhuru as lawyer Gashabana goes ahead with reading Adeline’s case file.

Defense lawyers however rejected the call for separate hearing describing it, as contradictions in the trial

Anne Rwigara requested court to give them access to their case file, allow them visitors, be given 30 minutes out of the cells and give them back their Bibles.

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing to Monday 16th October, 2017

October 14, 2017
Put the people at the centre of National Strategy, Kagame to WB Group

Kagame was speaking yesterday in the Human Capital Summit hosted by the World Bank Group in Washington DC, USA.

The event aims at highlighting the importance of a healthy, educated and skilled citizenry for the building of a stable and productive economy

Kagame said that human capital is without doubt the driver of high-income growth and the foundation of prosperity.

He said that people are all born equal in rights and dignity, but the trajectory and velocity of progress are determined by how well they use the capabilities acquired in the earliest stages of their lives.

The head of state said that investing in health, education, and creativity, leaders turn people into individuals who have the ability to think and act, not just for themselves but also for the benefit of their communities.

“Unleashing human freedom and ability is a force multiplier that creates limitless potential. For that reason, I would like to challenge us all not to limit our ambitions to “eliminating extreme poverty”. That just doesn’t sound good enough” Kagame said.

“Our aim is prosperity and well-being for everyone. That is the essence of what keeps bringing us together here, time after time” he added.

{{Rwanda’s experience}}

Speaking about Rwanda’s experience, Kagame said that twenty-three years ago, the country was utterly devastated.

“As we worked to rebuild the nation, we had no choice but to put our people at the centre of our strategy. It was simply a question of security and survival” Kagame said.

Using the example of decades before 1994, Kagame said that access to secondary and higher education was a political favour subject to ethnic quotas. He said that the country produced only about 2,000 university graduates in that period, contrary to today, around 90,000 Rwandans complete tertiary education every year.

He said that Rwanda’s national health insurance programme covers nearly 90 per cent of Rwandans, and tens of thousands of volunteer Community Health Workers are deployed across the country.

“This contributed to an 80% reduction in maternal mortality and a 70% reduction in infant and child mortality since the year 2000” he said

He reiterated that by requiring equality of access and opportunity for girls and women in schools, in the workplace, and in terms of legal rights, the country have made the economy demonstrably stronger and more resilient.

Kagame continued to say that broadband internet is available throughout the country and increasingly affordable.

“We are expanding technical and vocational education with direct relevance for the job market” he added.

Kagame said that Rwanda has decided to bring all key agencies together into a coordinated Early Childhood Development programme focused on nutrition, sanitation, and pre-school education.

“Eliminating malnutrition is a particular priority. The rate of stunting fell from over half of children in 2010 to closer to one-third today. But this is still unacceptably high. Our target is to further reduce stunting to 15% by 2020, with annual 6% reductions thereafter” he said.

Kagame said that Rwanda is pleased to have the partnership and strong support of the World Bank for these efforts with three new projects focused on social protection, nutrition, and agriculture.

However, Kagame said that Rwanda still has a long way to go to reach high-income status.

“Given our starting point, we are accustomed to difficult journeys, so there is no doubt that eventually we will get there. But we cannot derive full benefit from our natural resources or seize the opportunities of globalisation without first making the inherent potential of our people a reality” he told participants.

He said that the government does not provide funds, but also creates public goods through an environment of security, stability, policy predictability, and the rule of law.

He emphasized that optimism about the future that is shared by Rwandans, as well as partners, is based on continuing to deliver tangible improvements in the well-being of citizens.

He said that human capital generates prosperity by enabling mindsets of responsibility, productivity, innovation and self-reliance.

October 14, 2017
Tigo Rwanda launches Digital Changemakers Competition 2017

The competition aims at identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs with digital tools and technology to improve communities and impact future generations. Tigo Rwanda is looking for innovations that focus on broadening financial inclusion and digital inclusion.

After an extensive selection process that involves both Tigo, Reach for Change and external experts, three winning initiatives will each receive a financial award and support to grow their organization in the Reach for Change Incubator program.

In addition to the cash prize of Frw 8,2 million each, the selected ideas will receive tools to support their social enterprises and develop as leaders and access to a global network of existing social entrepreneurs. The application period for the competition is now officially open and applications will be received until November 17, 2017.

“Together with our partner Reach for Change we have supported 12 social entrepreneurs in the Reach for Change Incubator, who have impacted the lives of over 66,000 children in Rwanda. These social entrepreneurs have made use of funding, coaching, mentorship and more to create impressive impact in Rwanda. We are also excited to bring even more young innovators to the fore with this competition” said Tigo Chief Business Officer, Amit Chawla at the launch event at KLab

“We are looking for the best innovative digital ideas that can provide genuine solutions to problems facing children and society, while at the same time promoting connectivity, financial inclusion, and digital inclusion particularly in deprived communities. We believe social entrepreneurship has the power to drive change in our communities,” said Lindy Larson, Reach for Change Africa Programs Manager.

Applications are open from the 13th of October to the 17th of November. Individuals with initiatives that use digital tools and technology to create impact are encouraged to apply. More information about the competition can be found on the site below;

[Apply to the 2017 Tigo Digital Changemakers Competition!
->http://rwanda.apply.reachforchange.org/en/app/accounts/login/?brand=tigo]

To stand a chance to win the competition, the applicants must have a working prototype in place that fits into financial Inclusion or digital Inclusion; have potential for a great social impact, be scalable, financially sustainable, and system changing.

October 14, 2017
UN torture prevention body to visit Rwanda

The SPT will also assess the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, as well as the measures taken for their protection against torture and ill-treatment.

“Rwanda ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in June 2015 so it is required to set up an independent and sufficiently-resourced monitoring body that has unrestricted access to all places of detention,” said Arman Danielyan who will head the SPT delegation.

Among the places the SPT delegation is due to visit are prisons, police stations, detention facilities for women as well as juveniles and psychiatric institutions. The experts will also meet high level Government officials, the Judiciary, the National Commission for Human Rights, UN agencies and representatives of civil society.

At the end of the visit, the SPT will submit a confidential report to the Government of Rwanda, containing its observations and recommendations on the establishment of the NPM.

For the SPT, the key to preventing torture and ill-treatment lies in building constructive relations with the State concerned, and its guiding principles are cooperation and confidentiality.

October 14, 2017
Police to auction over 1200 impounded automobiles

According to Police, all the automobiles were impounded following different traffic rules violation and owners did not go to claim them.

The Commissioner for Road and Traffic Safety Department at RNP, CP George Rumanzi said that all automobile are held at Kacyiru Police Headquarters.

“We have seized over 1200 motorcycles without insurance; like the law says, after 30 days they will be auctioned” he said.

He continued to explain that these motorcycles had different problems like lack of insurance, drivers without driving permits and stolen motorcycles among others.

He said that they will auction different cars, some of which had been stolen and others had no insurance.

October 14, 2017
MINEDUC closes three universities

Closed are Nile Source Polytechnic of Applied Sciences (NSPA), Rusizi International University and Singhad Technical Education Society (STES)

Early this year, MINEDUC had provisionally closed some universities and some faculties in different private universities asking them to meet standards requirements.

In August, the Executive Director of the Higher Learning Council (HEC), Dr. Emmanuel Muvunyi said some universities had worked towards meeting the requirements, but still had a few requirements to meet.

Those universities are Mount Kenya University, Mahatma Ghandi and Polytechnic Institute of Byumba (IPB).

Reports indicated that Rusizi International University, Nile Source Polytechnic of Applied Arts (NSPA) and Jomo Kenyatta University were missing many requirements.

Particularly STES and Open University of Tanzania did nothing to meet the required standards.

“Given that the report of the follow-up assessment of NSPA conducted on 12/07/2017 and the verification exercise conducted on 21/09/2017 by HEC indicated that NSPA had not been able to address the issues that led to the suspension of Institution’s operation within the given time frame of six months” MINEDUC letter to NSPA reads in part.

The letter goes on to say that the university was closed following law governing the organization and functioning of Higher Education in Rwanda.

“It is in this regard that the management of NSPA is hereby informed that, the legal procedures concerning permanent closure of NSPA have been initiated. Hence, NSPA management is requested with immediate effect to meet all the necessary and due financial and academic obligations to the affected students to allow them continue their studies in other higher learning institutions” reads the letter.

NSPA was approved to operate in Rwanda by the Cabinet meeting of September 11, 2013.

{{Other closed universities}}

Speaking to IGIHE, Muvunyi confirmed that Rusizi International University and Singhad Technical Education Society (STES) were also closed.

Muvunyi said that Jomo Kenyatta had informed them that it had left Rwandan market and that Rusizi International University had had ownership, management and academic problems.

He said that STES did not implement any of recommendations.

October 14, 2017