Author: IGIHE

The report makes recommendations in the areas of the office’s mandate to fight corruption and injustice, declaration of assets by public officials, and assessing whether laws governing access to information and leadership code of conduct among others are being adhered to during the period in review.

Murekezi told the parliamentarians that of the 1,091 cases filed with the Ombudsman requesting retrial on the basis of unfairness, 851 were civil lawsuits, mostly which are land-related.

Some of these are directly related to inheritance issues.

118 are related to criminal cases, 69 are commercial cases, and 30 constitutional while 23 are related to labor.

Murekezi said that after a thorough analysis of the cases, only 96 merited retrials, something that indicates that Rwandans need to be sensitized about the value of courts and time.

“In 2018/2019, we had 1,091 cases. Of these, the ones that we felt required fresh trials are 96 only. That shows you that there is a serious problem where the masses are wasting time and court resources,” he said.

He pointed out that an assessment carried out by his office for the last five years had indicated that the ombudsman’s office had reviewed 5273 cases.

Of these, 5343 had been rejected while 433 were found to be unjust.

Murekezi also criticized local leaders whose citizens’ forums with the locals only deal with small matters instead of digging deeper.

“They don’t do any follow-ups. They fail to complete cases and this is costing locals’ money because they are obliged to pay more yet these are issues that can be fixed by an executive secretary,” he said.

He informed the parliament that unlike the previous years, his office’s activities were now fully funded by the European Union for the next three years.

{{Changes in the law}}

The issue of cases filed with the ombudsman requesting retrials has in the past been blamed for backlog which weighed down the Ombudsman’s Office for years.

To fix this, the government last year amended the law and stipulated that a complainant can only petition the Ombudsman’s Office after exhausting all legal avenues up to the Supreme Court.

While those were the conditions in the previous law and a complainant had to write to the Ombudsman if they felt the verdict was unjust, the current law requires the complainant to instead write to a higher court than the one that delivered the judgment.

For instance, if a case was tried by the Primary Court, the complainant is required to petition the Intermediary Court. If the case was tried by the Military Court, they write to the Military High Court.

The President of the court that has been petitioned is required to review the case for any injustices and, if any are found, they write to the Supreme Court which will determine which court should try the case.

Unlike the previous years, the new law requires one to petition the court after the verdict exactly 30 days after the trial.

The Deputy Ombudsman in charge of prevention and fighting injustice; Odette Yankurije says that previously, the law was relaxed and some people could even petition six years after a verdict that they are complaining about was delivered.

“Not anymore. Whether you are writing to the court or petitioning the Ombudsman, you have only thirty days to lodge a complaint from the time you lose a case or from the time the court tells you that there is no case,” she says.

PARLACEN, the Central American Parliament has begun to implement the DPCW in its member states’ laws, as well as the city of Policarpa in Colombia, which has also implemented Article 10 into its city code.

The DPCW has also received support from the National Assemblies of Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. In the U.S., the DPCW has received 17 congratulatory certificates from the congressional districts and 15 support letters from city mayors.

The program for the Summit in Carson, California included speeches by Carson Mayor Albert Robles and performances by HWPL Peace Choir with Grammy-Award Winning Composer Benjamin Wright and Singer Odino Faccia.

Notably, the first World Peace Summit of South America was also held in Ecuador this year at the country’s National Assembly building.

Senators joined Former Presidents of Ecuador Lucio Gutierrez and Rosalia Arteaga Serrano to show their support. At the Summit, HWPL memorandums of understanding were signed with Former President Rosalia Serrano’s foundation, Fundacion FIDAL and Senator Cristina Reyes’ foundation Women that Change the World.

{{Agreement Marks Grenada’s Support for International Peace law, DPCW}}

Peace diplomats from the Washington D.C. branch of Heavenly Culture and World Peace (HWPL), in partnership with the Coalition of Caribbean Leaders for Peace (CCLP), traveled to St. George’s this past week to celebrate Grenada’s former Prime Ministers, Tillman Thomas and Samuel Hines’, entry into the newly formed CCLP.

The CCLP works closely with regional organizations and international leaders in the Caribbean Community encouraging leaders in office to adopt international peace law the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

The DPCW is a legal framework for spreading a culture of peace on a local, national, and international level.

The DPCW, which serves as the solution for worldwide peace and conflict resolution, has already been enacted as a National Declaration in several countries around the world; including Antigua and Barbuda, Seychelles and eSwatini, and international organizations such as the Central American Parliament.

The goal is for the law to be presented as a regional resolution through the CARICOM, Caribbean Community. Samuel Hinds, former Prime Minister of Guyana and Co-Chair of CCLP, when asked what’s the most important need for the Caribbean, he answered “Peace and the culture of peace.”

The luxurious state of the art facility is located at Sainte Famille Parish in Nyarugenge district in Kigali city.

It has 67 guest rooms with options of double, suites that can accommodate a family and deluxe rooms with luxurious refinement. It also has a large conference hall.

Sainte Famille Hotel is built on a comfortable, unruffled space, with a beautiful garden.
It also has a chapel for Christians where priests can celebrate a Mass for the willing guests.

The official launch held yesterday was also graced by the retiring Bishop Ntihinyurwa Thaddée who also blessed the new facility and presence of priests from different dioceses, contractors, the board members of the hotel, among others.

Bishop Ntihinyurwa explained that construction of the hotel started in 2014 with a lot of challenges including a delay of construction permit among others but expressed delight for the successful completion within three years.

“This is a great day full of joy. It is the hope for the Archidiocese to open the hotel to host guests from different corners. That is why it is called Sainte Famille Hotel,” he said.

The hotel is also expected to accommodate pilgrims coming to Rwanda among other guests attending different conferences in the country.

Bishop Kambanda Antoine told IGIHE that the Catholic Church culture of giving a warm welcome to guests inspired the church to build the hotel.

“The church is excited to provide our contribution aligning with its heritage to welcome guests for far too long. All congregations have responsibilities to accommodate travelers because it is a blessing,” he said.

Bishop Kambanda explained that the church has spent Rwf 6 billion on the construction of the hotel.

Wasafi Tv Instagram page has posted that the Rwandan artiste who has a joint song recording project featuring Diamond Platnumz and Mbosso, was added to the list of artistes awaited in Wasafi Festival.

The festival is slated from Saturday 7th until 9th November 2019.

Concerts will take place at Posta and Kijitonyama playgrounds in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Meddy will perform on the last day of the festival.

Other legendary artists to grace the festival include Wizkid, Tiwa Savage , Ferooz, Sholo Mwamba, TID, Nyandu Tozi, Jux, Professor Jay, Young Killer, Chin Beez, Amber Lulu, Gigy Money, Chidi Benz, Ruby, Country Boy, DJ Ommy Crazy, Lava Lava, Mboso and Queen Darleen among others.

Meddy previously performed in two mega concerts in Rwanda including ‘Kwita Izina’ gala along with Ne-Yo and other popular Rwandan artistes like Bruce Melodie, Riderman, Charly and Nina.

On 9th October 2019, he also performed at Youth Connekt concert which was also graced by performances of other Rwandan artistes and Patoranking from Nigeria.

During the same function, the Reserve Force Chief of Staff, Gen F Ibingira was handed over office by Lt Gen J Musemakweli.

In his farewell address, Gen P Nyamvumba thanked the appointing authority for having given him the opportunity to lead one of the best institutions in Rwanda.

“Together we have registered many achievements but a lot more needs to be done to get the Force to the intended level. I trust you will be able to achieve your mission as you have here a dedicated and strong team to work with. I wish you, your staff and the entire RDF all the best,” he said.

The newly appointed CDS Gen Jean Bosco Kazura in his takeover speech thanked President Paul Kagame for having entrusted in him to lead RDF, a strong institution at home and even beyond.

He also thanked the outgoing CDS for an exemplary leadership that led RDF to where it is today.

“We will emulate you aiming at even doing better. I am coming with humility and assure you to accommodate everybody’s contribution towards building RDF and our country in general,” assured Gen Kazura.

The current handover/ takeover office follows the changes and new deployments effected on 04 Nov 19 by President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander in Chief of the RDF.

Police said Hakizimana was impersonating RIB officials and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Hakizimana was arrested during the ongoing joint operation codenamed ‘USALAMA.’

Usalama, meaning safety in Kiswahili, is a regional operation conducted every year simultaneously in 28 Eastern and Southern Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisations (EAPCCO and SARPCCO) member states against high impact crimes including trafficking in human beings, people smuggling, illicit pharmaceuticals, narcotic drugs, and motor vehicle theft.

It also targets environmental crimes (wildlife crimes, illegal logging, and fishing), theft of copper cables and other metals, smuggling of minerals, a proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, terrorism and tracking fugitives.

In Rwanda, it is conducted jointly by Rwanda National Police (RNP), RIB, Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and the Federation of Pharmacies, among others.

“Hakizimana used this opportunity of the USALAMA operation and would go shop-by-shop in Rubavu threatening owners that he was part of the operation from RIB attached to Gisenyi station, and getting money from them so as not to confiscate their goods,” CIP Kayigi.

He added: “At the time of his arrest, he had solicited money from one businessman, and was going to defraud two others. He was also found with a forged RIB identity card indicating that he was RIB personnel working at Gisenyi station.”

CIP Kayigi said that Hakizimana was defrauding people out of threats, but thanked one of the would-be victims, who were bold to call law enforcement organs.

He called for vigilance against such fraudsters. “Asking for a bribe is criminal itself; whoever asks for money in order to give a service, consider that as fraud and be quick to report such person to law enforcement agencies.”

In article 279 of law determining offences and penalties in general, it is stated that any person who, without title, usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official… with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years with a fine of not less than Rwf300, 000 and not more than Rwf500, 000.

Kagame made the notice on Tuesday as he presided over the launch of the judicial year 2019-2020.

The Prosecutor General, Jean Bosco Mutangana revealed that the institution recorded increased cases of defilement in the judicial year 2018-2019.

“In particular, files related to such crimes rose from 2996 from 2017/2018 to 3363 in the previous year 2018/2019. We expended much effort to process these files handling 3350 representing 99%,” he said.

“It also goes with following up of crimes related to threatening a spouse. We received 1601 files last year and processed 1599 of them representing 99%. We won these cases at 93.7%. We continue to expend much effort in collaboration with relevant entities to safeguard Rwandan society,” added Mutangana.

Kagame lauded the progress of the judiciary over the past ten years but emphasized the need to seek alternative remedy for increasing crimes.

“I am not repeating all the cases. These issues have been already mentioned. Divorces are increasing as well as defilement cases. When it comes to defilement, the situation is much worse even though mature people don’t deserve rape. I have heard a lot of issues. There are increased numbers, judiciary’s improved efficiency handling more cases than before but I would like to add the third thing,” he said.

“I can add the third thing when the number increased, and got means to solve court cases fast. I am wondering if adopting tougher punishments won’t help. The judiciary works efficiently but the good performance didn’t solve the matter. We should take steps farther to oppose it. I will leave that to concerned officials to analyze its feasibility,” added Kagame.

Statistics reveal that RIB received 2091 defilement cases in 2016/2017 that rose to 3060 in 2017/2018 and 3512 in 2018/2019.

The number of related suspects was 3417 in 2018/2019, 3001 in 2017/18 and 2092 in 2016/2017.

The prosecution explains that it wins defilement cases at 80%.

So far, 1355 cases were handled since 2016/2017 leading to the sentence of 1109 and acquittal of 246 suspects.

The prosecution also won 1168 of 1480 cases handled in 2017/2018.

The President of Rwanda Bar Association, Julien Kavaruganda explained that the body has a team of 30 lawyers specifically assigned to help children where 2450 were assisted in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.

Figures from the Ministry of Health indicate that a total of 17,337 teens who gave birth at hospitals in 2017 were under 19. The number rose to 19,832 in 2018 and 15,696 in 2019.

The changes were announced yesterday with new forces in the command of RDF.
Gen Fred Ibingira has also been returned to his previous functions as the Reserve Force Chief of Staff.

Kagame coincidently promoted Gen Maj Jean Bosco Kazura to the rank of General and appointed him CDS.

Gen Fred Ibingira returned to Reserve Force Chief, the position he assumed between 2010 and 2018. He was subsequently replaced by Gen Maj Aloys Muganga and Lieutenant General Jacques Musemakweli.

Yesterday’s changes saw Lieutenant General Jacques Musemakweli, the previous Reserve Force Chief appointed RDF Inspector General.

Gen Maj Innocent Kabandana has been appointed Deputy Reserve Force Chief.

Brig Gen Didas Ndahiro has been appointed the Commandant of RDF Command Staff College in Nyakinama while Brig Gen Ephrem Rurangwa was appointed the Commandant of Rwanda Military Academy.

Colonel James Ruzibiza was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed the Commander of Engineering Brigade.

Colonel Karusisi Ruki has been promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Commander of Special Forces Operations Force while Colonel Joseph Karegire has been appointed Chief J3 (Operations and Training).

Among others, Colonel Faustin Kalisa has been appointed Chief J1 (Personnel), Colonel Adolphe Simbizi appointed Chief J4 (Logistics), Colonel Jean Paul Karangwa was appointed Commander of Military Police, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Karuretwa is promoted to Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kanombayire is promoted to Colonel and appointed Second in Command of Special Operations Force , Lieutenant Colonel Jules Rwirangira is promoted to Colonel and appointed the Commander of Artllery Division.

Lieutenant Colonel Lausanne Ingabire is appointed Chief J9 (Civil-military relations) while Major Regis Rwagasana Sankara was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Among others, Major Regis Rwagasana Sankara has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The changes were made yesterday pursuant to the provisions of Rwanda’s constitution of 2003 as amended in 2015 especially in article 116.

Before the new appointments, three of four positions which had no replacements following previous appointments got successors.

These positions include the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Esperance Nyirasafari, the State Minister for Social Affairs in the Ministry of Local Government, Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba who were appointed senators.

Others include Minister of State in Charge of Transport, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye appointed ambassador to Singapore and Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion who was recently elected Kigali city vice mayor.

The cabinet reshuffle saw Kagame appointing Gen Patrick Nyamvumba,52,
to head the re-established Ministry of internal Security (phased out three years ago in 2016)

The latter was RDF CDS since 2013.

The Ministry of Sports and Culture was changed to the Ministry of Sports

Aurore Mimosa, the MD of Sonarwa Life Assurance Company Ltd has been appointed the Minister of Sports, created out of the former Ministry of Sports and Culture.

The segment of culture was merged with the Ministry of Youth, becoming the Ministry of Youth and Culture headed by Rose Mary Mbabazi who was the Minister of youth since 2017. Edouard Bamporiki, the former Chairman of National Itorero has been appointed the State Minister for Culture at the ministry.

Dr. Vincent Biruta, the former Minister of Environment has been appointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs replacing Dr. Richard Sezibera.

Dr. Biruta joined the cabinet since 2011.

He has been replaced by Dr. Jeanne D’Arc Mujawamariya who was previously Rwanda’s ambassador to Russia.
Nyirarukundo Ignatienne who was a member of the Lowe Chamber of Parliament has been appointed the State Minister for Social Affairs at the Ministry of Local Government.

Ingabire Assumpta has been appointed MIGEPROF Permanent Secretary while Dusengiyumva Samuel was appointed the Permanent Secretary in charge of social affairs at MINALOC.

Among others, Dr. Rose Mukankomeje (who once headed Rwanda Environment Management Authority) has been appointed the Chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC), replacing Dr. Muvunyi Emmanuel.

Tito Rutaremara has been appointed the chairman of Rwanda’s Elders Advisory Council replacing Dr. Iyamuremye Augustin who was recently elected Senate president.

Marc Kabandana was also appointed a member of Elders Advisory Council.

The second meeting is organized by joint Rwanda, Uganda commission established by Luanda agreements signed by both countries Heads of State on 21st August 2019.

It has been two years since Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened. Rwanda expressed concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being Rwanda’s spies.

Some of the deportees testified that they were forced to join the rebel group of Kayumba Nyamwasa which pins Uganda to be supporting rebel groups against Rwanda.

This saw the Government of Rwanda advising citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of hundreds of Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.

On 20th October 2019, Chimpreports medium based in Uganda made a publication that Uganda’s foreign affairs ministry sent an invitation to Rwanda for the second meeting mending relations on 13th November 2019.

At the time, Rwanda was not informed of the invitation. The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe expressed concern that Rwanda didn’t receive the invitation that both parties didn’t agree on the date.

Amb. Nduhungirehe has today told IGIHE that the letter was sent later that Rwanda is getting ready to attend though the schedule of 13th November might be modified on the Ugandan side.

During the previous meeting held in Rwanda on 16th September 2019, Rwanda provided a list of Rwandans detained in Uganda and the Republic of Uganda committed to verify the information for the purpose of processing those named through a due judicial process and releasing those against whom no evidence of criminal conduct will have been found.

The release is among resolutions of first Rwanda-Uganda peace talks discussing the implementation of Memorandum of Understandings to end political turbulence signed in Angola.

Rwanda-Uganda delegations came up with a number of issues of mutual interest and concern between both countries.

“We will discuss on implementation of previous resolutions, discuss the current situation with Uganda and address a press conference later,” Nduhungirehe has said.

Following the first meeting, it was agreed that the next appointment was set within 30 days in Kampala within 30 to assess the implementation of resolutions.

Both countries agreed to follow due process in dealing with each other’s citizens; reiterated commitment to refraining from acts of destabilizing each other; finalize the extradition treaty in order to provide a framework for future exchange of criminal fugitives and cease all forms of hostile propaganda in both mainstream and social media.

Both countries also agreed that the issue of free movement of persons, goods, and services across the common border and other outstanding issues shall be discussed in the next meeting.

The opening ceremony of the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Commission on the implementation of the Luanda Memorandum of Understandings between Rwanda and Uganda was attended by the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Manuel Domingos Augusto and Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, the Deputy Prime Minister of Interior of DRC.

The Rwandan delegation was led by Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in charge of the East African Community while Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs leads the Ugandan delegation.

Rwanda was also represented by Gen Maj Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda; the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye; the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Shyaka Anastase; Gen Maj Joseph Nzabamwita, the Secretary-General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and Col Anaclet Kalibata, the head of External Intelligence at NISS.

Uganda’s delegation also included the Minister of Defense, Gen. J.J Odongo Abu; Amb. Joseph Ocwet; the Director-General External Security Organisation (ESO), the State’s Attorney General, Byaruhanga and Uganda’s ambassador to Rwanda, Oliver Wonekha.

Facilitators included Angolan Ambassador to Rwanda, Horacio Uliengue; Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister and DRC Deputy Prime Minister and head of Intelligence Inzun Justin Kakiak.