This followed the merger between former Commercial Bank of Africa Limited (CBA) and NIC Group PLC (NIC Group) which took effect on 1st October 2019 and resulted into NCBA Group PLC (the “Group”) as the holding company of Commercial Bank of Africa (Rwanda) PLC.
Subsequently, on the 31st December 2019, The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) issued the Bank a new operating license under the name NCBA Bank Rwanda PLC.
Ms. Lina Higiro, CEO of NCBA Bank Rwanda PLC said, “We are delighted to adopt a new name and brand identity, which will enable our bank to leverage on the strengths, values and historic legacies of the merged entity – NCBA Group PLC”.
“Our new brand identity sets us apart in a bold and distinctive way that resonates very well with our customers. With the financial strength, expertise, regional connectivity and expanded range of products and services, NCBA Bank Rwanda PLC is set to become a market leader in Corporate, Retail, Asset Finance and Digital Banking within the region.” says Ms. Lina Higiro.
NCBA Group PLC operates a network of more than 100 branches in five countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ivory Coast. Serving over 40 million customers, the NCBA is the largest bank in Africa by customer numbers.
The public is advised that the bank will finalise the rebranding process over the next one month.
In Rwanda, drugs are sold only in pharmacies and other qualified institutions under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Pharmacists are trusted mainly as they are intensively trained for 4 to 5 years in Rwanda, in which they gain an extensive knowledge of prescription medicines and their effects on patients.
However, as any lucrative business, some pharmacists are more focused on earning profit.
The law stipulates that most medicines can only be sold or supplied against a prescription at a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. However, pharmacists across the country continue to sell over-the-counter drugs despite prohibition.
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Even though some medicines do not require medical prescription, several reports condemn pharmacists in Rwanda who sell drugs to patients with no prescription whatsoever and that calls for stricter legal controls to address the issue.
Prof Kayumba Pierre Claver, a pharmacy expert from the EAC Center of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management told IGIHE that selling over-the-counter drugs is an alarming issue that must be dealt with through stricter regulations.
“Medicines should never be sold anyhow and patients should know drugs components have different side effects depending on the patient and hence should never be consumed without the advice of a health professional. As for pharmacists, dispensing medicines without the written prescription of a medical practitioner should be considered a criminal act and a violation of pharmacy regulations.”
{{The root of the problem}}
The illegal sale of prescription drugs has surged recently and is identified as one of the major causes of over-the-counter drugs. Normally, licensed health care professionals, such as doctors or pharmacists should be the only ones to sell medicines.
Some pharmacy owners reportedly instruct pharmacists on the counter to make money in every possible way rather than practicing as professionals.
The issue is exacerbated by the overcrowding of pharmacies in one area which leads to competition and a relentless race to earn profit hence increasing deceitful practices.
In addition, a shortage of qualified practitioners adds to the workload of physicians and pharmacists who are unable to exercise their functions as should be. Also, some pharmacies sell medicines that are close or past their expiry dates just to get rid of stockpiles of expired pharmaceuticals.
The international drug prohibition law states that any drug that has exceeded ½ of its duration should not be sold or allowed to pass the borders of any country.
The Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are required to impose stricter sanctions on the sale of unlicensed controlled substances including prescription drugs as the current regulations are seen to be too lenient.
Practitioners are also recommended to observe the legal framework for drug trafficking to address the sale of over-the-counter drugs.
Currently, one pharmacist in Rwanda cares for up to 14,000 patients per year. The objective is to reduce the number to one practitioner for 1 patient by 2025.
There are no definite statistics that show the effects of prescription drug abuse but the misuse of medication such as painkillers can have dangerous consequences.
For example, opioids can cause choking, changes in mood, decreased cognitive function, interruptions in the menstrual cycle, infertility and slowed breathing. The misuse of anti-depressants, sedatives or tranquilizers can cause severe addiction problems, lead to coma or death.
She lived in Kigenge Cell, Giheke Sector, Rusizi District, and was killed around 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2020, on a road that runs through a forest in Rwamiko village of the Kigenge Cell. She was returning from a visit to her children who live in Kamashangi Sector.
The executive secretary of Giheke Sector, Hagenimana Jean de Dieu told IGIHE, “She [Bayavuge Béatrice] was coming from Kamashangi but as she reached near her home, at the forest, she met criminals who strangled her using a scarf she wore. We suspect that they also raped her. The investigations are still going on.”
Bayavuge Béatrice’s body was taken to Gihundwe hospital for autopsy. Meanwhile, the authority said that no one has yet been arrested for the crime.
Residents in the area have asked authorities to install road lights in the area to check crime.
The green bank will be created to promote green investments in Rwanda and sensitize institutions across the country to finance green projects.
Doreen Nakure, communication specialist at Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) told IGIHE that FONERWA will be in charge of coordinating the activities of the green bank and has already hired a team of experts to design the blueprint of the bank incorporating all the functions the bank will execute.
“We have already launched a ‘Coalition for Green Capital’ study that will determine all the major processes the bank will undergo and the initial capital to be invested.”
The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) is a non-profit organization that aims at accelerating the growth of clean energy markets through the creation of Green Banks.
Since 2009, CGC incubates local clean energy finance organizations, often called Green Banks and structures public, private and mission-driven capital for investment through those organizations.
It has not been communicated if the Bank will be owned by the Government of Rwanda or a private institution. However, Nakure says ownership will depend on many factors but what is more probable is that the Bank will be private-owned.
The main objective of CGC is to drive greater clean energy investment and creating a 100% clean energy platform, especially in developing countries.
The prospective creation of the Green Bank was announced during the UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 that was held in Spain from the 2nd to the 13th December 2019. The conference served to build ambition ahead of 2020, the year in which countries have committed to submit new and updated national climate action plans.
The decision comes after the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) created a Climate Finance Facility with an initial capital of $100 million.
During the COP 25 conference, Dr. Anthony Nyong, Director of the Bank’s Climate Change and Green Growth Department at AfDB mentioned that technologies play a large roll in emission reduction for mitigating climate change.
“As a measure to reduce air pollution and tackle climate change, AfDB partners with various financial institutions to identify ways in which the effects of climate change can be reduced.”
The Government of Rwanda created FONERWA, an engine for green growth in Rwanda to support Rwanda’s commitment to building a strong green economy. Since its creation in 2013, 138,0000 green jobs have been created.
In 2017, 21,847 Hectares of land had been secured against erosion and 12,998 Hectares of watersheds and water bodies were restored. In addition, 41,116 hectares were prepared for Agroforestry while 65,430 families were connected to off-grid clean energy.
At the time, FONERWA had invested $100 million to support green institutions.
Rwamagana Power Plant which produced 8.5 megawatts is a great example of projects funded by FONERWA.
Vision 2050 anticipates that Rwanda will be a developed climate-resilient, low-carbon economy by 2050.
A few days after the release of the construction plan of the basilica, Catholic Church representatives met with contractors on January 9th, 2020 to discuss when the construction will kick-off.
The Mayor of Nyaruguru District, Francois Habitegeko said that the project has already been initiated and that the basilica will be completed by 2021. “conception and initiation of the project are almost done and we anticipate that the basilica will be completed by 2021.”
The basilica will be built on Kibeho Holy Land which is renowned to attract thousands of pilgrims every year who come to visit the land in which Catholic believers say the Virgin Mary appeared, in the 1980s.
The construction activities are estimated to cost up to $70 million.
Through their Twitter account, Nyaruguru district administration called upon the private sector to invest in the hospitality sector especially in the construction of that will be located in Kibeho Holy Land that has been cited by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) as a tourist site.
Nyaruguru district administration also stated that the basilica will also include accommodation facilities for the thousands of pilgrims who visit Kibeho every year especially on the celebration of Assumption in August, which recalls the Virgin Mary’s journey to heaven.
On November 28th, 1981, Mumureke Alphonsine received the initial vision shortly after her admittance into Mère du Verbe High School in October 1981.
A year after, the Virgin Mary appeared to Mukamazimpaka Nathalie and Mukangango Marie Claire who also went to the same school as Mumureke.
The apparitions emphasized endless prayer and expiation, with the Virgin even instructing Mukamazimpaka to perform penances through the mortification of the flesh.
Mukangango, The Virgin told Mukangango instructed her that people should pray at the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows to obtain the favor of repentance.
Emmanuel Nivuguruzwa, 28, was paraded to the media at Remera metropolitan on Sunday.
He is suspected to have “fraudulently” registered an employment placement agency called ‘Isango ry’abeza business group limited’ through which he scammed the known victims so far, of over Rwf2.3 million in the last one month alone.
Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that late last year, Nivuguruzwa manipulated his friend (girl) to register the company–Isango ry’abeza business group limited–and to open a bank account in her name, which he was using for the scam.
It is said that Nivuguruzwa made the girl believe that the whole process was a prerequisite for her to get a job.
“Since then, Nivuguruzwa has been hanging job posters in different places in Kigali and taking Rwf12,500 from those who fell for his tricks claiming that it’s membership fees. None of the 70 people has ever gotten a job as he was promising them,” said CP Kabera.
“Apparently, the girl had no knowledge of the alleged company and its fraud operations as she was also waiting for the promised job. So far, we know Rwf2,310,800 which he defrauded the known victims.”
Ntivuguruzwa told journalists that he was promising them jobs in construction, travel agencies as drivers and in free trade zone as accountants and storekeepers.
One of the victims identified as Alfred Ngizwenimana from Mageragere in Nyarugenge District said that he was promised a job in free trade zone as a storekeeper, where he was supposed to earn Rwf270,000 as net monthly salary.
Nivuguruzwa had an office at Kinamba where he was directing people for registration and payment of membership fees.
Charles Iyakaremye, who reported the scam to Police, said that he was approached by Ntivuguruzwa late last year to be his agent.
Iyakaremye is a banking agent.
“He told me he has a job placement company and wanted me to be his agent since I have banking services, to also facilitate those paying the required fees,” said Iyakaremye.
“People started coming in big number and complaints from those who registered and promised jobs also kept coming; it became a serious concern and I suspected Iyakaremye to be a fraudster, which prompted me to report to the Police to find out the reality of the matter,” Iyakaremye added.
CP Kabera urged the public to be vigilant against people running scam companies and using varied tricks to scam unwitting people.
“We have arrested a number of people in the recent past involved in different scam activities. We urge the public to always report to law enforcement organs and other concerned institutions whenever they are promised any service or job either in Rwanda or abroad to erase any suspicions and avoid falling prey,” CP Kabera said.
Mrs. Kagame was speaking on Saturday during the Young Leaders Conference, organized by the Rwanda Leaders Fellowship (RLF) with the purpose of bringing young leaders in senior positions to fellowship together, pray for the nation and share the Word of God.
The breakfast aims at bringing together senior leaders from different sectors for a time of mutual encouragement, edification around the word of God, reflecting on Biblical values and principles that encourage leaders to adopt the culture of patriotism, integrity, diligence and to think about the impact of their leadership to the society.
The event brought together people ranging from clerics to ordinary citizens, public and private sector officials who held discussions that focused on building healthy families for a healthy nation.
Through an interactive panel discussion, the participants looked at ways of fighting family breakdowns, the need for proper parenting, among other things that are needed in family life.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Kagame reminded the participants of how the tragic history of Rwanda demolished the family institution to the ground, leaving behind a sad narrative that could be turned around by people-centered decisions taken by the current government.
“I want to ask you a question as church leaders: What will you do to build on this foundation so that we will have a story that is different from what we had in the past?” she said.
The First Lady took time to encourage married people towards faithfulness, maintaining family values, and being exemplary to their children.
She urged for prayer in families, requesting spouses to pray for each other, encourage each other, and not be controlled by anger when making decisions and put God first.
Augustin Iyamuremye, the President of the Senate who was the guest of honor also weighed in on the importance of families in nation-building.
He called upon Rwandans to be united and work for healthy families, and a healthy nation, drawing lessons from the losses incurred in the tragic genocide against the Tutsi.
“Our country passed through divisionism that stripped people of their humanity to an extent that parents who had to bring up children for the country killed the young ones instead. We started the journey of building a healthy Rwanda by first bringing back the values that had been destroyed by the previous leadership,” he said.
Lambert Bariho, a pastor and director of Ellel Ministries Rwanda emphasized to the audience that the family is God’s idea and there is need to involve him in solving its challenges. He urged that many problems in families are caused by the sinful nature of man but there is hope in Jesus, who has overcome sin.
The minister who was responding to a tweet when asked by a Rwandan whether it is safe to travel to Uganda said that the ministry will inform the nation when it is safe for them to travel the neighboring country.
On Friday, 10th January 2020, a Twitter user Chris Munyakayanza asked if Rwandans were free to travel to Uganda now and tagged Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as well as Dr. Biruta.
Biruta responded that the Ministry will inform Rwandans when the tension will be completely eased out but that in the meantime, Rwandans are still not advised to go to Uganda.
In March last year, the Government of Rwanda warned its citizens to stop all travels to Uganda due to arbitrary arrests and torture of Rwandans who were in Uganda.
The unlawful imprisonment and torture was worsened by Uganda’s support to anti-Rwanda terrorist groups. Uganda agreed to address all these questionable acts as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda signed in Angola, Luanda in August 2019.
The Luanda agreements were aimed at effectively solving the tension between Rwanda and Uganda.
After the agreements were signed a few Rwandans were, chased from Uganda and dumped on border posts but more than 100 remain incarcerated in Ugandan prisons until now.
On Tuesday, January 7th, 2020, the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over to Rwanda 9 citizens including the 7 Rwandans who were acquitted by the Military Court in Uganda. The seven Rwandans had been arrested on alleged charges of espionage. That gave to Rwandans a false sense of hope that the tension between Rwanda and Uganda was solved.
In a recent press conference, Minister Biruta noted that Uganda had started showing goodwill and released 9 Rwandan citizens but that more needed to be done including putting a stop to their support of anti-Rwanda terrorist groups like FDLR and RNC. He emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to ardently play its part towards resolving the current conflict with neighboring Uganda.
In an interview with NTV Uganda, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, President Museveni’s Special Envoy and Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said that setting Rwandans free is a good step towards the resolution of the conflict. “Uganda has started honoring its part of Luanda agreements and intends to do more to completely solve the conflict with Rwanda.”
Responding to whether the recent release of 9 Rwandans was a sign border are soon to be opened, Amb Ayebare referred to President Museveni end of the year message on Twitter in which he said: “Uganda, I can guarantee, will do its share of the normalization of the relations between our two countries.”
The minister who was responding to a tweet when asked by a Rwandan whether it is safe to travel to Uganda said that the ministry will inform the nation when it is safe for them to travel the neighboring country.
On Friday, 10th January 2020, a Twitter user Chris Munyakayanza asked if Rwandans were free to travel to Uganda now and tagged Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as well as Dr. Biruta.
Biruta responded that the Ministry will inform Rwandans when the tension will be completely eased out but that in the meantime, Rwandans are still not advised to go to Uganda.
In March last year, the Government of Rwanda warned its citizens to stop all travels to Uganda due to arbitrary arrests and torture of Rwandans who were in Uganda.
The unlawful imprisonment and torture were worsened by Uganda’s support to anti-Rwanda terrorist groups. Uganda agreed to address all these questionable acts as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda signed in Angola, Luanda in August 2019.
The Luanda agreements were aimed at effectively solving the tension between Rwanda and Uganda.
After the agreements were signed a few Rwandans were, chased from Uganda and dumped on border posts but more than 100 remain incarcerated in Ugandan prisons until now.
On Tuesday, January 7th, 2020, the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over to Rwanda 9 citizens including the 7 Rwandans who were acquitted by the Military Court in Uganda. The seven Rwandans had been arrested on alleged charges of espionage. That gave to Rwandans a false sense of hope that the tension between Rwanda and Uganda was solved.
In a recent press conference, Minister Biruta noted that Uganda had started showing goodwill and released 9 Rwandan citizens but that more needed to be done including putting a stop to their support of anti-Rwanda terrorist groups like FDLR and RNC. He emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to ardently play its part towards resolving the current conflict with neighboring Uganda.
In an interview with NTV Uganda, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, President Museveni’s Special Envoy and Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said that setting Rwandans free is a good step towards the resolution of the conflict. “Uganda has started honoring its part of Luanda agreements and intends to do more to completely solve the conflict with Rwanda.”
Responding to whether the recent release of 9 Rwandans was a sign that borders are soon to be opened, Amb Ayebare referred to President Museveni end of the year message on Twitter in which he said: “Uganda, I can guarantee, will do its share of the normalization of the relations between our two countries.”
Gen Kabarebe mentioned Ntawunguka in a discussion about Rwanda’s liberation war and stopping the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. One of the teachers requested Kabarebe to explain how he tried to convince Ntawunguka to come back to Rwanda.
In 2009, Gen Kabarebe was informed that Ntawunguka’s wife was a teacher and resided in Rubavu district and decided to pay her a visit in an attempt to convince her to tell her husband to come back home.
“We managed to talk on the phone that very day and I told him most of the dissidents had already come home including Rwarakabije Paul and Gen Gerome Ngendahimana.”
“I tried to reason with him telling him that given the fact that he went to an aviation school in France before joining FDLR, his skills were much needed in the country. I told him the children of Gen Murenzi who currently is a commander in RDF forces in Karongi received government scholarships and that his oldest son had already completed a Ph.D. in Microbiology. At the time, Gen Murenzi was still leading anti-Rwanda militias in DRC. I told him that we could pay school fees for his children as well and asked him why he was not willing to come back home.”
To which Gen Ntawunguka angrily responded, “I will come back to Rwanda the day no Tutsi soul will be alive.”
Gen. Kabarebe told the teachers that he answered him that if he was not willing to change his mentality, he would never be allowed to return to Rwanda.
He explained that after the death of former FDLR commander in chief, Mudacumura Sylvestre in September 2019, he was replaced by Ntawunguka. However, he said that his days were numbered. “There is no way you can thrive with genocidal ideologies.”
Gen Kabarebe told History teachers that the greatest enemy of Rwanda is discrimination and that they should champion values of unity and reconciliation to be able to achieve everything the country stands for.
“We need to be vigilant just so the vice of ethnic discrimination that led us to dark times don’t invade us once again.”
He retold Rwanda’s history of colonialism, discrimination, and power shifts which led a society that for so long lived in harmony to separate into two adverse fronts and the Hutu majority planning and executing the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
With the objective of returning to Rwanda and liberating the country from the government’s forces, Tutsi exiles in Uganda formed a military wing (RPA) and stopped the genocide.
“Rwanda’s infrastructure and the economy suffered greatly through the genocide. It was not an easy battle but through RPF Inkotanyi determination and the leadership of President Kagame, we liberated the country.”
Gen Kabarebe said that he has been working with President Kagame for 34 years now and that his commitment towards the betterment of the country never changed.
“We are lucky to have a leader with an unwavering commitment to developing the country.”
History teachers who attended Itorero said they learned valuable lessons from Gen Kabarebe and that they will reiterate their commitment to put aside all differences and join hands in developing the country.
Uwizeyimana Olive, a History teacher in Nyarugenge district said “As the old saying goes, if we don’t learn from our past, we are doomed to repeat it. We will do whatever it takes to inculcate values of unity and reconciliation to the children we teach.”
Itorero training for teachers was organized by the Ministry of Education in partnership with REB and NIC. It brought together more than 1600 high school teachers at Mater Dei, College du Christ Roi and College Louis de Montfort schools in Nyanza district.
MINAGRI coordinates activities related to agriculture and animal resources as well as operations of affiliated institutions including Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) among others.
The relocation is part of the City of Kigali urban plan aimed at improving the ecological functioning, aesthetics and recreational potential of the wetlands.
Due to human activities in wetlands including conversion to agriculture, human settlements and commercial and industrial activities, the flood and pollution abatement capacity of wetlands is reduced.
MINAGRI will, therefore, relocate its activities not only in Kabuye but also in several wetlands of the city including marshlands in Gasabo district, Ndera, and Jabana sectors. So far, Jabana SACCO and another house that hosted a rice farmers cooperative have been relocated.
Musabyimana Jean Claude, MINAGRI permanent secretary said that relocation activities from Jabana, Gasabo, and Ndera wetlands will only take three weeks and that the ministry will proceed to relocate its activities from Mulindi marshlands. He mentioned that the only activity that will not be affected by the relocation is silkworm farming.
In order to tackle the problem of flooding and rehabilitating wetlands ecosystem, starting December 14th, 2019, the City of Kigali urged industries operating in the wetlands to relocate their activities. Urban wetland rehabilitation will contribute towards global mitigation of climate change and promote carbon sequestration.
The City of Kigali only counts 7222 activities in wetlands including houses, industrial and trade activities which degrade the wetlands ecosystem. So far, over 3600 properties have been relocated.
