IGIHE

Author: IGIHE

  • Rwandans in Netherlands organise post-election thanksgiving prayer

    Bishop John Manywa told IGIHE that it was a time to thank God for peaceful elections, devoid of any subsequent catastrophes. “Today we thank our Lord. We believe that Rwandan leadership came from God. In God’s presence we find peace, development and security,” he said.

    He said that Rwanda’s achievements are self-explanatory, and requested the government led by President Paul Kagame to continue with the vision of transforming Rwanda.

    The ambassador of Rwanda in The Netherlands, Jean Pierre Karabaranga said that thanksgiving is a great event for Rwandans and friends in Netherlands.

    “Like our culture, we Christians living in this country should thank our Lord who answered our prayers and gave us what we wanted from him” he said

  • Akagera National Park earned $200,000 in July

    Currently, Akagera has 18 rhinos and 19 lions.

    Speaking to IGIHE Sarah Hall, the tourism and marketing manager at Akagera National Park said that in July the park earned much money than ever before.

    “July 2017 had a big number of tourists compared to other months. It is the month where we earned much money above $200,000 a big amount above what was earned in the entire 2010,” she said.

    Sarah said that in July 2017, the park was visited by 4,978 tourists and 3,879 in August,” she said.

    Under the ongoing campaign to sensitise Rwandans to embrace local tourism through ‘Tembera u Rwanda’ Sarah said that a half of tourists in the park during July and August were Rwandans.

    In the year 2017, Rwanda is targeting to earn $440 million from tourism.

    Rhinoceros; One of the recently added breeds

  • One held over teenage pregnancy

    The 23-year old man was detained when a student identified him as the one responsible for the pregnancy. Five other girls (names withheld) from the same school tested positive during the pregnancy tests. The culprit, names withheld, is being held at Gashari Police station. Police are also hunting for other suspects still at large, that are responsible for other under-age pregnancies.

    Evariste Murwanashyaka, an officer in the umbrella of Human Rights Organisations in Rwanda (CLADHO) told IGIHE that last week they got informed about these pregnancies and went to follow up with police.

    He said that two children are below eighteen years old.
    Murwanashyaka said that four students have already given birth whereas one is due.

    “We had discussions with students on how they should behave and then requested the police to hold the suspected culprits as investigations continue.”

    He said that police should help in identifying men who impregnated girls above eighteen so they can financially support their children and enable them enjoy their rights.

  • Parents urged to let girls practice football

    However, every sport is important for health and can be a source of income if turned into a profession, according to Vedaste Kayiranga, the Vice President of Rwanda’s Football Federation (Ferwafa).

    Launching the 2017 edition of the FIFA “Live Your Goals” (LYG) festival in Ruhango District of the Southern Province last week, Kayiranga urged parents to let their girls join football.

    “This campaign will open an avenue for more girls to play football in Rwanda. These festivals aim at building on the success of the Live Your Goals campaign so far and it is meant to offer a host of exciting activities to the public,” he said.

    “Just like we have seen in Ruhango District, we hope to see more girls and women at the week-long festival session which will end on September 22. Let us support girls and encourage them to play football regularly so as to raise the profile of women’s football in Rwanda.”

    In Ruhango District, 200 girls aged between 6-12 years drawn from four schools namely EP Amizero, EP Munini, GS Catholique Ruhango and EP ADEPR participated in the day-long event which was held at Indangaburen zi College of Education playground. The girls participated in a range of sports activities which varied from 4v4 games, to fun coaching stations working on dribbling, passing and control that were ran by regional technical advisors and other volunteers.

    Félicité Rwemalika, the head of women football committee at Ferwafa, reminded parents that football is not for boys only but girls can make it too to play for best teams in the country, abroad and national team.

    “It has always been believed and supported by ancient Rwandan culture that girls stay at home doing household chores but I want to tell you that you are able to make football a profession. We have coaches and equipments for your training. You only need to love football,” she advised.

    Kayiranga told parents to change mindset of thinking that if a girl plays football loses cultural respect but that sports can keep them away from bad actions.

    The Live Your Goals campaign targets to inspire girls and women to play football. It was launched at the 2011 Women’s World Cup and is part of FIFA’s long-term commitment to support women’s football worldwide.

    In Rwanda, the campaign seeks to increase the number of females playing football, create new opportunities by increasing the number of festivals year on year and increase the numbers of girls who join clubs from the festivals.

    The campaign has already covered districts of Huye, Rusizi, Bugesera, Rubavu, Nyagatare, Ruhango and Muhanga. The next sessions will be held in districts of Kayonza on September 19, Gicumbi on September 21 before concluding in Musanze on September 22, 2017.

    Ferwafa is running the campaign with FIFA’s support of $120,000 (around Rwf100 million) and will end by 2018.

  • Rwanda is an exemplary vantage point—Outgoing EU envoy

    In an interview with {{IGIHE}}, Ryan said that he and his family will miss Rwanda where they met wonderful people. Excerpts;{The Cabinet has approved the new EU resident ambassador to Rwanda. Are you going for a new mission?}

    Yes, the EU has nominated Ambassador designate Nicola Bellomo as my successor, and this has now been approved by the Rwandan Cabinet. My four year assignment as ambassador to Rwanda has come to an end, and I will be returning to my headquarters in Brussels.
    {
    What is the image of EU-Rwanda cooperation that you are leaving behind?}

    EU cooperation with Rwanda is strong, and growing. Most of it is budget support, and the task of the EU Delegation in Kigali is to engage more deeply in policy dialogue with government, to share views, and to ensure that EU financial support, benefits the lives of each citizen in this country.

    {Are you happy with your four-year service in Rwanda?}

    It has been immensely stimulating working in Rwanda, linking closely with my other EU member state ambassador colleagues, to represent EU policies and values, and above all to build an understanding, however modest and incomplete, of the nature of society, ambition and governance among Rwanda’s 12 million citizens. The European Union is reaching out to Africa, and Rwanda is an exemplary vantage point from which to explore how the EU-African relationship can be improved economically and politically.

    What do you think your successor should focus on during his time in Rwanda?
    I will leave it to my dear friend Nicola Bellomo to make his own judgement on future areas of focus. He has a wide experience of Africa. One of the beauties of changing ambassadors every four years is that it injects new thinking and perspectives into the partnership.

    {Which challenges have you faced during your time of service?}

    There are so many positives to anyone privileged to live and work in Rwanda that it seems grudging to mention challenges. There have been astounding changes over my brief stay. The Kigali skyline has transformed dramatically in response to modernisation, the economy exudes a reassuring sense of confidence. The challenge is to strike the right balance in sharing economic wealth so that all feel they have a stake in the success.

    My challenge is to see how our EU programmes can help in this, in working with government and civil society to tackle the fundamental issues of poverty, hunger and youth unemployment. I am optimistic, since government attaches priority to these problems. Rwandans impress me with their deep sense of wisdom, natural justice and appreciation of the state of the nation – whether farmer, trader or wealthy entrepreneur, woman or man. My humble hope is that these qualities are harnessed so that civil society gradually can play a more distinct role in this country’s progress. It is happening, but the potential remains substantial.

    {What do you speak about your meet with Diana Rwigara?}

    It is quite normal for diplomats to meet presidential aspirants. I met others. On Top Tower, my family’s safety was the concern..

    {What will be your memory of Rwanda? }

    My memories and impressions of Rwanda are shaped by the charming people I have met. As ambassador, many citizens from all walks of life wish to come and discuss, to offer ideas, to give guidance, and to know what the EU thinks! I owe each of them a huge debt of gratitude. We are here to learn, to assess, to recommend to our authorities.

    My particular pleasure has been bouncing down country roads to visit communities and projects, however remote, to meet villagers and leaders, talk to students, and to let them know that the European Union is not some remote notion but an ever-present partner. I am helped enormously in this by a great team of colleagues in the Delegation. They are a pleasure to work with. I am indebted to each of them.

    {Can you share with us how you feel as you bid farewell to Rwandans?
    }

    It has been a privilege to call Rwanda home for the last four years. That it is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa is beyond question. I and my family will very much miss Rwanda and its wonderful people.

  • Over 7000 earn REB sponsorship to UR

    Among requirements they requested to submit are social status category proof (ubudehe) and admission letter from the college.

    REB said there are some 677 that applied to study in UR, but did not apply for scholarship.

    REB says that priority of admission was given to students who performed well in high school leaving examinations, students preferring vocational studies and those in first or second ubudehe category.

  • Mpayimana to contest for parliamentary seat

    On the occasion, Mpayimana promised his supporters to run for elections in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

    “I have been pleased with meeting Rwandans living in France. I thank all Rwandans from around the world that voted for me in the recent presidential elections,” reads a statement on his website.

    “I would like to announce that I will run in next year’s parliamentary elections” he said.
    In presidential elections, PhillipeMpayimana who run as an independent candidate got 0.73% of the total vote being the second after President Paul Kagame who got 98.79% and Frank Habineza from Democratic Green Party of Rwanda trailed with 0.48%.

  • Nyarugenge to construct Rfw275 million worth of classrooms

    Speaking to residents of Kigali Sector at Groupe Scholaire (G.S) , the Nyarugenge District mayor Kayisime Nzaramba said that classrooms will be constructed across the district.

    Speaking to IGIHE, Mayor Nzaramba said that she is optimistic that new classrooms will create good learning environment that would also advance the quality of education for students.

    “This programme aims at building new classrooms by replacing the old ones, we shall construct 25 new classrooms and 36 latrines across the district” she said.

    The G.S Kigali head teacher, Théogène Hategekimana said that classrooms will enable them reduce congestion in classrooms.

    “We have had congestion problems to the extent that one classroom accommodates 60 students above the acceptable 46 students in one classroom,” he said.

  • Kenzo in Kigali for video shoot

    {Ugandan music star, Eddy Kenzo is in the country for a three-day excursion that will see him shoot a video shot for his collabo with Rwandan music icon Mani Martin.
    Mani Martin is set to release a new album.
    }

    Kenzo arrived in Kigali on Saturday and was welcomed by different people including the media and Mani Martin his host.

    Speaking to IGIHE, Mani Martin said that Kenzo came to Kigali for video shot of their ‘Afro Remix’.

    He said that the collaboration with Eddy Kenzo will help both individuals in advancing their standards in music career.

    Ugandan music star, Eddy Kenzo (middle) set to shoot a video with Rwandan music icon Mani Martin

  • Kagame chairs New York Broadband meet

    The President co-chaired two working sessions. The session on ‘Enabling Digital Entrepreneurship for 2030’ examined how governments and private sector can work together to promote e-commerce and other technology-based businesses. In a discussion on Current Work on Future Directions, the chairs of the various Working Groups on Technologies in Space and the Upper Atmosphere had an opportunity to share key outcomes of their activities.

    President Kagame pointed out that the Broadband Commission offers a platform for countries to identify key issues and work together towards finding solutions.

    “The need to overcome our differences for the common good is a challenge we all face. Let us keep working hard at it. We must continue to mobilise the ordinary consumer and find a framework that enables us to find common solutions,” President Kagame said.

    The Head of State called on Commission members to not be deterred by things that don’t happen even where it looked obvious.

    “When we succeed, we must use this as a demonstration. It is not an easy, but possible and we must continue to push forward. Our efforts remain vital in ensuring that broadband and ICT receive the attention they deserve in the global development agenda,” President Kagame said.

    The 14th meeting also saw the introduction of ten new commissioners.

    Concluding the gathering, President Kagame presented outgoing Director General of UNESCO Ms Irina Bokova, who also serves as the vice co-chair of the Broadband Commission, with a special plaque in recognition of her work over the years.