Author: IGIHE

The Ad Hoc Commission resulted in 6 resolutions which were announced at around 9 pm the same day.

The meeting discussed Rwanda-Uganda conflict from its root and main accusations that Uganda illegally detains and tortures Rwandan Citizens and that Uganda supports anti-Rwanda armed groups and terrorist organizations.

The first resolution states that both parties agreed to verify the number and status of nationals of either party detained in each other’s country and report it through a ‘Note Verbale’ in three weeks.

Both parties also agreed to protect and respect the human rights of nationals of either party.

The third resolution states that “both parties committed to finalize the Extradition Treaty to be signed in the presence of the Heads of States at the fourth quadripartite summit to be held at Gatuna/Katuna common border between Rwanda and Uganda on February 21st, 2020”

As for the fourth resolution, by February 15th, 2020, the Government of Rwanda will write a note addressed to the Government of Uganda about alleged destabilizing activities carried out by Anti-Rwanda terrorist organizations on Ugandan territory. Uganda will respond to the issues that can be immediately addressed by February 20th, 2020 and further investigate the unresolved issues.

The Ad Hoc commission recommended to the quadripartite summit to consider normalizing the movement of people and goods between Rwanda and Uganda.
Finally, both parties agreed to resume collaboration between defense and security organs in order to improve national security.

Uganda Government officials who attended the Ad Hoc Commission included Sam Kutesa, Uganda Minister of foreign affairs, the high commissioner of Uganda to Rwanda, Olivier Wonekha, William Byaruhanga, Uganda Attorney General, Gen J.J Odongo Abu, Minister of Internal Affairs, Col Paddy Ankunda, permanent secretary in the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Patrick Mugoya and Ambassador Joseph Ocwet.

Rwanda’s side was led by Amb Nduhungirehe Olivier and included Col Patrick Karuretwa, the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye, Anaclet Kalibata, the Director General of External Intelligence at the National Intelligence and Security Services, Minister of Local Government, Shyaka Anastase and the high commissioner of Rwanda to Uganda, Frank Mugambage.

The project will assist graduates from the aforementioned high institutions in Rwanda to start their businesses and will allow a revised, more integrated curriculum as well as in-depth training for teachers. In a bid to promote technology, the project will introduce online learning as well as Masters and Ph.D. programs.

In addition, a teacher exchange program will be initiated that will allow students to acquire knowledge from different lecturers from European universities.

The project was sponsored by Erasmus +, a European Union programme for education, training, youth, and sport with a donation of € 900,000 (Rwf 900 million).

Through Erasmus +, young people can study, volunteer and gain work experience abroad, develop new skills, gain vital international experience and boost their employability. Teachers also have the opportunity to teach or train abroad, to develop their professional practice, build relationships with international peers, and gain fresh ideas.

The partnership will focus on promoting different disciplines including Food Science, Environmental Protection as well as Safety and Management and is expected to officially start on February 16th, 2020.

A tweet from the office of the Prime Minister announcing the resignation reads “Today, Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente Edouard received a letter of resignation from Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba. The resignation follows a series of habitual gross errors and repeated leadership failures on the part of the Minister.”

Dr. Gashumba resigns a few days after a Prime Minister’s order dismissing Mr. Gahungu Zacharie who was advisor to the Minister of Health for gross misconduct was issued.

The resignation also follows two others; Uwizeyimana Evode who is the former State Minister in Charge of Constitution and Legal Affairs and Dr. Isaac Munyakazi, the former Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education submitted their resignation letters to the Prime Minister on February 6th, 2020. It had been 5 years that no minister had resigned from their position.

Dr. Diane Gashumba is a professional pediatrician.She holds a Ph.D. in pediatrics and started practicing in 1999.

She was appointed Minister of Health on October 4th, 2016 replacing Dr. Agnes Binagwaho.

Prior to her position, she was the Cabinet Minister of Gender and Family Promotion in the cabinet of Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi.

She was also director general at Kibagabaga Hospital for 3 years.

Between 2010 and 2016, she worked with a USAID-funded child and maternal health project as “Senior Team Leader”.

Uyu munsi, Nyakubahwa Minisitiri w'Intebe Dr. Ngirente Edouard yakiriye ukwegura kwa Minisitiri w'Ubuzima Dr. Diane Gashumba. Uku kwegura kuje gukurikira amakosa akomeye n'imiyoborere idakwiye yakomeje kugaragaza.

— Office of the PM | Rwanda (@PrimatureRwanda) February 14, 2020

The Rwandan delegation will be led by Minister of State in the Ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe while Uganda’s delegation will be led by Sam Kutesa, the Ugandan Minister of foreign affairs.

On February 2nd, 2020, President João Lourenço of Angola invited his counterparts Félix Tshisekedi (DRC), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) for a third Quadripartite Summit in Luanda. The meeting discussed security matters and regional cooperation.

It has been three years now that the tension between Uganda and Rwanda sparked. Rwanda accuses Uganda of imprisoning and torturing its citizens and also supporting anti-Rwanda terrorist groups and activities.

In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda warned its citizens to stop all travels to Uganda due to illegal incarceration and torture Rwandans who were in Uganda were subjected to.

During the third quadripartite summit, five resolutions were taken including releasing Rwandans who are held in Ugandan prisons, cutting support of anti-Rwanda terrorist groups, respecting and protecting Rwandan citizens as well as following up on the implementation of Luanda agreements through an Ad Hoc Commission.

Nduhungirehe announced the meeting with a tweet that read “Tomorrow, Friday, February 14th, 2020, the Ad Hoc Commission on the Implementation of the Luanda MoU between Uganda and Rwanda will meet for the third time, at Rwanda MFA, in Kigali. The full implementation of our commitments is key to the success of this process.”

Government officials expected to attend the meeting on Uganda’s side include Sam Kutesa, Uganda Minister of foreign affairs, the high commissioner of Uganda to Rwanda, Olivier Wonekha, William Byaruhanga, Uganda Attorney General, Gen J.J Odongo Abu, Minister of Internal Affairs, Col Paddy Ankunda, permanent secretary in the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Patrick Mugoya and Ambassador Joseph Ocwet.

Mediators include DRC Vice Prime Minister, Gilbert Kankonde Malamba and Angola Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Domingos Augusto.

Rwanda’s delegation is led by Amb Nduhungirehe and include Col Patrick Karuretwa, Principal Private Secretary to the President, Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye,
Anaclet Kalibata, the Director General of External Intelligence at the National Intelligence and Security Services, Minister of Local Government, Shyaka Anastase and the high commissioner of Rwanda to Uganda, Frank Mugambage.

Uwizeyimana who is the former State Minister in Charge of Constitution and Legal Affairs and Munyakazi, the former Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education submitted their resignation letters to the Prime Minister on February 6th, 2020.

Uwizeyimana resigned three days after he was accused of assaulting a security guard on duty at the entrance of the Grand Pension Plaza.

In a brief interview with IGIHE, RIB spokesperson, Marie Michelle Umuhoza said that the dossier of Uwizeyimana has already been submitted to prosecution.

“We have thoroughly conducted our investigation and have now relayed the case file to prosecution.”

The prosecution will then re-evaluate the case and decide if it proceeds to a court of law.

News that Minister Uwizeyimana had assaulted a woman appeared on Twitter last week with a tweet that narrated the incident. Uwizeyimana violently pushed the ISCO security guard after she asked him to pass through the checkpoint as protocol states. He refused and proceeded to push her down.

Three hours after the tweet went viral, Uwizeyimana tweeted an apology and said that he regretted deeply what he did.

“I deeply regret what happened. It should not have happened to me as a leader and public official. I already apologized to the ISCO staff and now I do so publicly and apologize to the public as well.”

However, his apologies were vain and many Twitter users who were outraged by his deed kept asking that he resigns from his position.

{{Dr Munyakazi still under investigation}}

RIB spokesperson, Marie Michelle Umuhoza said that Dr. Isaac Munyakazi is still being investigated for corruption crimes.

“We are still gathering evidence for the corruption crimes he stands accused of.”

IGIHE sources say Dr. Munyakazi Isaac is being investigated for forgery during the 2019 National Examination where he helped place a school which ranked in the top 100 best performing schools among the top 10 best performers at the country level. It is said that he did it with the help of Rwanda Education Board (REB) officers and that he received money from the school in question for that service.

Article 4 on the offences and penalties for corruption in the Rwandan penal code states that ‘Any person who solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service commits an offence.”

If found guilty of that crime, a penalty of three to five times the money received is applicable as well as not less than 5 and not more than 7 years’ imprisonment.

Dr. Munyakazi obtained his Ph.D. in Education Management while Uwizeyimana holds a Master’s degree in law.

Uwizeyimana was sworn in as State Minister in Charge of Constitution and Legal Affairs on October 4th, 2016 while Dr. Munyakazi Isaac was sworn in as Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education in October 2016.

Rwanda National Police spokesperson in the Southern Province, CIP Sylvestre Twajamahoro told IGIHE that 7 people died on spot while 8 were gravely injured and transferred to CHUK for treatment.

“The truck was carrying tree logs from Muhanga to Kigali. When brakes failed, the truck hit Coaster RAC 178 Z which was being driven by 38-year old Niyonsenga Manasseh. Six people aboard the coaster died instantly but Niyonsenga drove a few miles ahead during which he hit another car on his way and died too from the impact.”

He said that the people who were gravely injured were taken to CHUK for treatment while those who had minor injuries were treated on the spot.

“We have now opened all roads and traffic circulation is back to normal but we are still looking for Kaberuka to question him and identify the cause of the accident.”

Twajamahoro urged all drivers to regularly subscribe for motor vehicle inspection to avoid unnecessary road accidents and reminded them of the purpose of the ‘Gerayo Amahoro’ campaign which is dedicated to influencing a road safety culture.

{{Victims who were so far reported dead include:}}

Rukundo Theogene
Ntawushiragahinda Thacien
Irafasha Gervais
Dr. Eric Munezero
Mutesi Marie Louise
Ngendahayo Edouard
An unidentified 30-year old woman
Gravely injured victims:
Gaudence
Hategekimana Gratien

{{Victims with minor injuries:}}

Mabano Alexis
Ntamuhanga John
Mvuyekure Tharcisse
Nyirambarushimana Theodosie
Bayisenge Noel
Maniragaba Christophe
Nyampinga Yvette
Uwicyeza Esperance

MINAGRI gave the caution after residents of Nyagatare District reported swarms of insects in their fields during morning and evening hours and suspected they might be locusts.

The insects were identified on Monday, 10th February 2020 in Nyamiyonga, Nyagatabire, and Kibirizi.

Jean Claude Musabyimana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture advised farmers to report any unusual insect outbreak since desert locusts are already making ravages in neighboring countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia among others.

“The Ministry of Agriculture informs Rwandans that locusts have not yet reached Rwanda. MINAGRI is establishing measures to prevent and counter their spread.”

MINAGRI is working hand in hand with the World Food Programme (WFP), monitoring the extent of the outbreak and studying ways to counter locusts.

Locusts are a collection of species of short-horned grasshoppers with a swarming phase which is why they are referred to as migratory pests. They have the capacity of flying 150 to 200 kilometers per day and a single swarm can contain up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer.

MINAGRI reported it has put enough measures in place in case the desert locusts reach Rwanda.

Farmers who identify unusual insects in their fields can call MINAGRI on 4127 and report the case or inform local authorities.

Since February 9th, 2020, a swarm of locusts swept through Uganda from Kenya passing by Amudat in Karamoja.

Scientists predict the locusts could spread through the entire East Africa but that it could strongly depend on the climate since locusts thrive only in hot climates.

Desert locusts are the world’s most destructive migratory pests and if not controlled, the outbreak predicts a full-blown catastrophe and food shortage.

REG reported that the households which received electricity are in the first and second Ubudehe categories specifically from 16 districts across Rwanda including Kirehe, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Nyabihu, Gakenke, Ngororero, Nyarugenge, Rubavu, Kayonza, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Kicukiro, Gasabo, Musanze, and Nyaruguru.

Munyabugingo Charles, REG Kanombe branch manager recently told IGIHE that the households were selected according to Ubudehe stratification categories as well as proximity to transmission lines and that the project was sponsored by GIZ which operates on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Residents from the 16 districts who received electricity expressed gratitude as they could not afford it on their own.

Bahungura Innocent, a resident of Cyivugiza cell, Muko sector, Gakenke district said that he had no hope of ever accessing electricity and that is a dream that has become reality.

“I can never thank enough the government of Rwanda for this initiative and most especially President Paul Kagame for thinking about us.”

Mukandori Emerance and her mother, Nyiramavugo Donatille said they were thankful to REG for providing electricity for free.

“We never expected this. We used to sleep before the sunset to avoid stumbling in the dark but we can now stay up until 10 pm.”

Nshimiyimana Jean d’Amour, a resident of Rubavu district, Nyakiriba sector, Nyarushamba cell, Runyeheri village said he had no means to access electricity but that he has been put on the grid for two months now. His neighbor, Kayangwe Francois also said REG changed his life.

“After we were put on the grid, I collected some money with the support of my wife and we started a bar and now we get a monthly income and can meet all our financial needs.”

Nduwamungu Martin, a resident of Juru sector, Bugesera District said that his children are now capable of revising for their exams even at night and thanked the government of Rwanda for the initiative.

REG report shows that currently, 1.4 million households (52.8%) have access to electricity including those that are connected to the grid and those that use solar energy.

Apart from local public transport companies operating in China, many airlines across the globe that flew to China suspended their flights to curb the spread of the virus.

Since its outbreak, Coronavirus has claimed the lives of 1114 people while 44370 are infected. The symptoms include respiratory difficulties and pneumonia which frequently leads to death. So far, no remedy or vaccine has been identified.

China reported that 4740 patients who were infected with the virus have now recovered and sent back home and that the number of new infections have reduced by 48.2% between February 4th and February 11th, 2020.

Robert Bapfakurera, chairman of the Rwandan Private Sector Federation(PSF) told IGIHE that flights to China were suspended as China began its Lunar year on January 22nd and that it was expected that business would resume by February 2nd.

“Holidays to celebrate the Chinese New Year were supposed to end on February 2nd but until now, the business has not resumed. News says the holidays will end on February 23rd.
However, even though the effects of Coronavirus in China are not palpable yet, business owners in Rwanda have started shipping products from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.”

Bapfakurera says the products Rwanda imports from China are mostly clothes, shoes, and home accessories. Since most business owners had ordered shipments before the holidays began, the effect of the Coronavirus has not been yet felt but with time, the economy will greatly be affected.

Muhimpundu Rose who has been shipping shoes from Guangzhou, China for four years now said that the price of shoes has escalated due to the virus.

“There is nowhere else we can import shoes from and the price have been hiking ever since the outbreak of the virus. A pair of shoes which cost Rwf 15,000 costs Rwf 20,000 now.”

Hitayezu Gerald who also ships shoes and clothes from China says the effects haven’t been felt yet but that he is worried for days to come if no vaccine or remedy is found.

On the other side, some business owners condemn their counterparts for exaggerating the matter at hand but concede that if no remedy is found in the next few months, a loss will be inevitable.

Heart of Africa Trading (HAT) is a shipping company that was founded in 2018 links Rwandan business owners to Chinese manufacturers and companies and helps them to import products in bulk.

Jeanne Izabiriza, HAT Chief Executive Officer said that the outbreak of the virus is an alarming situation.

“We had shipping containers en route to Rwanda but since the Chinese holidays have been extended, we have no communication to when they will get here.”

She said that if nothing is done to curb the virus, business owners will resort to shipping from Dubai even though their prices are slightly higher and that it might lead to a surge in prices on the Rwandan market.

Bapfakurera of PSF also says if the matter worsens, business owners will switch to other markets including Dubai, India, and Turkey. He said that PSF is negotiating with the government of Rwanda to reduce tax on imports to ease shipment once sellers start importing from other markets.

Shipping companies that carry goods from China have reduced the number of vessels in order to curb the spread of the virus and it is widely affecting the global economy. Bapfakurera said that goods are stranded in China.

China has seven container ports but with measures taken to contain the virus, they might remain vacant and it will, therefore, reduce the demand for containerized goods.

If the crisis persists, not only will businesses in Rwanda be affected but it will irreversibly disrupt the global supply chain.

A tweet from the Ministry of Sports reads: “This morning, 11th February 2020, Minister Aurore Mimosa received a courtesy visit by Ambassador Ron Adam at the Ministry of Sports. Discussions focused on partnership in sports development projects that can be jointly implemented.”

Ambassador Ron thanked Minister Munyangaju for having him for the courtesy call and underlined the interest of Israel in supporting cycling and rebranding Rwanda through the ‘Visit Rwanda’ initiative.

Israel opened its embassy in Rwanda in April 2019 and the Ambassador resides in Kigali.

Recently, Amb Ron Adam donated sports kits to children in the Dream Team Football Academy including 48 Jerseys and 30 Football balls.

In an interview with IGIHE last month, Amb Ron said that they have put emphasis on supporting sports in Rwanda and that the embassy is organizing a friendly football match between Rwanda and Israel.

“Israel is on good terms with Rwanda and we intend to maintain our relation through partnerships especially in sports.”

Israel Cycling Academy is one of the 15 teams that will compete in Tour du Rwanda scheduled from February 23rd to March 1st, 2020.

Thank you Hon. Minister @AuroreMimosa for the great conversation and having me for the courtesy call. Many options for cooperation specially on @cyclingrwanda and rebranding #Rwanda. @visitrwanda_now . Looking forward to welcoming the Israeli team to @TourduRwanda20 https://t.co/uL5I5yOadX

— Ron Adam (@AmbRonAdam) February 11, 2020