The budget will be funded by 40% from the state treasury; 40% from taxes and duties levied by the City of Kigali while the rest will be supported by development partners.
Infrastructure projects will account for about 51% of the budget, while other projects will account for 49%.
It will include roads and alleys that will first be completed, improve traffic in Kigali City, light various roads, and build more than 30 kilometers of new roads.
The budget will also cater for relocation of residents in high risk zones in Nyabisindu, Gatenga, and Nyagatovu as well as construction of homes for the needy.
Poverty alleviation programs will account for 4.9% of the budget, with 49,000 new jobs created and co-operatives set up to uplift members’ livelihoods.
In other projects, this budget will find construction of 1,634 classrooms, 2263 toilets and three new health facilities.
The Mayor of the City of Kigali, Pudence Rubingisa, said the 19% reduction was based on loans and donations from donors that had not returned to this year’s budget.
Last year there was a major 54-kilometer road project worth Rwf 29 billion.
He said that in general, the revenue of the City of Kigali and its revenue will increase.
The activities of the City of Kigali are planned in the budget based on the national vision but especially on the vision to have Kigali as a model city by 2050.
Over the past two weeks, many Rwandans including senior government officials, media personalities, professionals, academicians and influencers, among others, have joined the challenge to educate and influence the general public on safer practices to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera (@RNPSpokesperson), on Monday twitted: “So far, the only solution we have for fighting Coronavirus is to follow the instructions! Those placed under #GumaMuRugo (lockdown), be compliant; those in different tasks and errands, respect the safety directives.
I respect it too; #NtabeAriNjye to be infected or to infect others with Coronavirus. Be responsive, add your voice.”
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye (@BusingyeJohns), said: “Covid-19 statistics are available every night. We know how the virus is spread.
The reason why cases continue to be detected in new places is because you and I did not comply with the recommended precautionary measures. Watch out! Beware! Beware! Beware. #SimbeariNjye.”
The Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju (@AuroreMimosa), reminded the general public to respect the sports guidelines.
“Fight Covid-19, #NtabeAriNjye; don’t be the reason for sports activities, once again, to be allowed only indoor. When you are in sports activities, follow the directives; leave at least one-meter distance between two people. Remember, sports in groups are prohibited,” Minister Munyangaju said.
Mugisha Nathan (@nathism2), the founder and Chief Executive Officer at Bliss creations produced a 45-second video that educates the public on safety practices.
“I produce 45 seconds video every day in [an] initiative that I called 45 stories for change. Today (June 28), I made a video on @Rwandapolice program called #ntabearinjye,” Mugisha twitted.
Robert McKenna Cyubahiro (@RobCyubahiro), a presenter at Magic FM, said: “… help Police in #NtabeAriNjye. Help your Akagali (Cell) in sensitizing youth on the need to protect themselves against Covid-19…”
Sushona (@Charitebrown) observed that most people wear facemasks because they are forced rather than making it an individual safety choice.
He said: “[The] fact is… people wear masks because of police not [because of] Covid-19. Much respect to POLICE. #NtabeAriNjye.”
“#NtabeAriNjye, let’s keep the spirit and we shall overcome,” one Isaiah (@Isaiah80721250), twitted.
To Yves Emmanuel Turatsinze (@Turatsinze_Emma), he reminded Rwandans to keep on exercising caution and keeping measures intended to restrain the spread of this virus. “#NtabeAriNjye, who continues spreading Covid-19 in Rwanda.”
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera commended the role the public continues to play to make NtabeAriNjye campaign a reality.
“Every voice counts. We laud those, who have made NtabeAriNjye campaign their responsibility to supplement national efforts in combating the pandemic of Coronavirus. It is through such responsive spirit of ownership that we will win,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “The campaign reminds each and every one of us to wash our hands with soap and clean water regularly or to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer; to avoid unnecessary movements and journeys; to respect social distance
The Ad5-nCoV is one of China’s eight vaccine candidates approved for human trials at home and abroad for the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. The shot also won approval for human testing in Canada.
China’s Central Military Commission approved the use of the vaccine by the military on June 25 for a period of one year, CanSino said in a filing. The vaccine candidate was developed jointly by CanSino and a research institute at the Academy of Military Science (AMS).
“The Ad5-nCoV is currently limited to military use only and its use cannot be expanded to a broader vaccination range without the approval of the Logistics Support Department,” CanSino said, referring to the Central Military Commission department which approved the military use of the vaccine.
CanSino declined to disclose whether the innoculation of the vaccine candidate is mandatory or optional, citing commercial secrets, in an email to Reuters.
The military approval follows China’s decision earlier this month to offer two other vaccine candidates to employees at state-owned firms travelling overseas.
The Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the CanSino’s vaccine candidate showed it has the potential to prevent diseases caused by the coronavirus, which has killed half a million people globally, but its commercial success cannot be guaranteed, the company said.
Separately, AMS received an approval earlier this month to test its second experimental coronavirus vaccine in humans.
No vaccine has yet been approved for commercial use against the illness caused by the new coronavirus, but over a dozen vaccines from more than 100 candidates globally are being tested in humans.
Rotary areas of focus are peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic, and community development.
Among the ongoing projects is a second flagship project by Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga-‘ The Rotary House for Cancer Patients’ that will accommodate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy at Rwanda Cancer Center at Rwanda Military Hospital.
Located in Kinyinya, the building will host between 30 to 50 patients, provide them with shelter, transport to and from the hospital, and other basics. It will cost Rwf70 million. In general worthy 100 million Frw.
Other projects include supporting people with disabilities and assisting in paying for Mutuelle de Sante subscriptions, major medical insurance in Rwanda. Kigali Public Library is among the club’s Flagship projects.
The new president who will serve a term of 2020-2021, Jwala Kumar, told IGIHE that his predecessor has done a great job of completing the building and that he will continue to do so to ensure that beneficiaries start using it.
In general, he said many activities during his tenure would focus on health, including paying for health insurance, advocating for the Government in the fight against COVID-19, and more.
Kumar has also indicated that he will partner with other Rotary Clubs from other countries in joint international projects.
“I thank Jwala who is the President of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga who has a wide range of skills and has been in Rwanda for more than 10 years, with a business background. As I said, the most important thing about Rotary is that it brings people together to share knowledge and to be involved in Humanitarian activities,” Ambassador of India in Rwanda, Shri Oscar Kerketta- who was the Guest of honor for the event, said.
During this installation event, two new Rotarians were inducted to Kigali Virunga Rotary club.
Other Rotary Officials present were:
The Assistant District Governor Rtn Jeannette Rugera and Past Assistant District Governor ( 2017-18) CPP Paul Masterjerb Birungi, who both in their concluding remarks underscored the good team spirit portrayed both in the organization of the event and in the accomplishment of the Rotary House for cancer patients. Also acknowledged the partnerships including the Government of Rwanda.
Rotary Club Kigali Virunga is made up of 32 members from all over the world including Rwandans, Kenyans, Indians, Sudanese, Ugandans, Nigerians, Americans including Diplomats as ambassadors from different countries. In Rwanda, there are six Rotary clubs, namely; Musanze-Murera, Kigali Mont Jali, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo, and Butare.
The amount of blood will be about $83 billion worth if the 4,000 patients donate 500ml individually, according to the current transaction in the United States. “It is difficult to accelerate developing a medicine for COVID-19 with only 200 recovered patients who expressed their will to donate blood. The massive donation from the recovered patients in the Shincheonji Church will solve the problem of the lack of blood for research,” said an official from Green Cross Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company in South Korea.
For the first quarter of this year, the rapid virus spread hit the church members in Daegu of South Korea, where the early signs of the crisis appeared with the controversy over the massive visitors from China before the infection of church members.
Mr. Man Hee Lee, founder of the Shincheonji Church, said that members of the church are advised to donate plasma voluntarily. “As Jesus sacrificed himself with his blood for life, we hope that the blood of people can bring positive effects on overcoming the current situation,” said Mr. Lee.
“We had a discussion with the health authorities and tried to establish a plan with details for donation. Some of the recovered members have already donated individually, feeling thankful for the assistance from the government and medical teams. They expressed their will to make contribution to the society,” said an official in the church.
Some local governments in South Korea recently brought lawsuits against the church with allegations that the church did not cooperate with the authorities by not submitting the full list of church facilities and members.
“No evidence has been found that Shincheonji supplied missing or altered lists. And there were only minor differences,” said Kim Kang-lip, vice-minister of Health.
Academic researches on Shincheonji and COVID-19 stated that the church “provided the list of its South Korean members six days after it was requested” and “it was initially unclear whether shut down facilities and properties should be included” when the government asked for the lists of real estate.
(Shincheonji and Coronavirus in South Korea: Sorting Fact from Fiction – A White Paper https://www.eupoliticalreport.eu/covid-19-and-the-shincheonji-church-in-south-korea-a-white-paper-reveals-the-truth/)
A Shincheonji media coordinator said the church will cooperate fully with investigations from government agencies.
South Korea reported 12,535 confirmed cases and 281 deaths from COVID-19.
The vehicle registration number RAB 019P, Daihatsu type was being
driven by Léonard Ntezikizaza when it was intercepted in Rugera
Sector, Gakoro Cell in Nyakigezi Village.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the
Police spokesperson for the Western region, said the substances were
distilled from Mugunga Sector in Gakenke District. They were at the
time being trafficked to Musanze District.
CIP Karekezi said: “Police received information earlier that day about
people, who would be transporting illicit drinks from Gakenke to Musanze District through Rugera Sector in Nyabihu.
An operation was planned and the vehicle intercepted later that day at about 6pm.”
The traffickers had used remote roads in an attempt to beat security.
“Drug traffickers or dealers in psychotropic substances use mainly remote road to avoid being detected or arrested.
This time, from Gakenke, they had used remote roads through Rugera in Nyabihu District to Kinkware, Nyakinama on the way to Musanze. We get to know all these routes and people involved because of the good partnership with the public, who share with us credible information.”
All drinks with alcoholic content above 45 percent or with unknown alcoholic content are considered as “psychotropic substance.”
Article 263 of Rwanda penal code stipulates that any person who, unlawfully, produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offense, with a sentence upon conviction, ranging between seven years and life in prison, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
However, there were solutions: keep the genocidal guide in quarantine for three days, escort the Tutsi on foot to the French camp in Gishyita (an hour on foot), while night was falling and the genocidaires had returned home, escorting them to Kibuye where they would have arrived at 9 p.m., leaving French soldiers on the spot until reinforcements arrived. There were solutions.
Then the second round of the Bisesero genocide will be able to be set up exactly according to the conditions which prevailed in the massacre of the fifty thousand Tutsi civilians a month and a half earlier in the same place. Once the guide has informed his hierarchy, the Interahamwe [genocidal militia formed by French soldiers of Operation Noroît in 1992 and 1993] are called from other regions (Cyangugu, Gisenyi…). As was the case a month and a half earlier, buses full of murderers are sweeping over Bisesero. As was the case on May 13, the Tutsi saw the reappearance, in the hands of the killers, of these new sharp machetes on both sides, and of which former genocidaires remember today that soldiers of Turquoise distributed them by taking them from their boxes of their Jeep then parked at Colonel Simba’s in Cyangugu.
There ends the comparison. At the end of June, the Tutsi are only two thousand. On the morning of May 13, there were fifty thousand. At the end of June, exhausted, decimated, the Tutsi could only hide. Before May 13, their courage and their intelligence had led the Interahamwe to fear these men, women and children in rags and unarmed! So why couldn’t the Tutsi have withstood the May 13 massacre? Here is the answer.
Faced with so much bravery, the genocidaires had become afraid and no longer wanted to risk their lives to exterminate them. Therefore, a solution had to be found to overcome the last pocket of resistance to the genocide. White soldiers were called in to supervise these genocidaires from everywhere and to give them courage. The scenario was simple: encirclement of the mountains by the Hutu population supervised by the Interahamwe, then opening of heavy weapon fire by the white soldiers, then machine gunning by the white and Rwandan soldiers, finally entering the scene with the Interahamwe and Hutu population finishing the fewsurvivors.
All the Tutsi, among the survivors of the May 13 massacre, did not see the Whites during this great massacre. The latter were in fact only several dozen among a crowd of thousands of Rwandan genocidaires. But they were in charge. Some Tutsi only saw them on May 12, during the preparation for the massacre, others only saw them on the 13, others on both days, others did not see them at all.
Now back to June 27. Why do those Tutsi who saw the Whites of May 13 then trust French soldiers when they come out of their hiding place? An answer is given to us by Simeon Karamaga, deputy chief of the resistance at Bisesero.
Simeon only saw them on May 12, when they gathered in Ruhuha with the Rwandan genocidaires. When asked why he discovered himself to join the French soldiers on June 27, he who had just detailed the circumstances in which he had seen Whites joining his assassins the day before the great massacre a month and a half earlier, he replied: “There they called us. Imagine yourself dying for a long time. If someone calls you to tell you they’re going to save you, you don’t hesitate. “(Interview with Simeon Karamaga: http://www.bisesero.net/pages/l-enquete/extraits-filmes-de-temoignages.html)
This is what said other Tutsi survivors who had in memory these Whites of May 13 when they decided to discover themselves. They have nothing left to lose. Besides, aren’t these white people deployed on a humanitarian mission? Why, they may legitimately wonder, would they necessarily have a link with those of May 13?
Now let’s ask ourselves. On June 27, 1994, there was an opportunity to show the press that Operation Turquoise was there to save civilians threatened with massacre. Why then deprive yourself of such a demonstration in front of the journalists then present in the convoy? The opportunity was however unexpected! Tutsi civilians being exterminated come out everywhere and ask for the protection of the French humanitarian mission, all this in front of journalists! It’s a gift for Turquoise communication! So why not take this opportunity to make the front page of all the newspapers? Why ?
This question I am asking here is one that I was once asked to take into account by Bruno Boudiguet, author of “Friday the 13th in Bisesero”. I think he had just realized the reason for Turquoise’s abandonment of the Tutsi from Bisesero on June 27, 1994.
Because the answer to the question may well be that risk should not have been taken that survivors testify to the active participation of these white soldiers (French for some witnesses) in the May 13 massacre. And then as for the demonstrations to the press of the alleged humanitarian character of Turquoise, was it not the Nyarushishi camp that had been chosen to fulfill this function?
Simeon Karamaga died last May. He is one of those rare men whom you are given to meet in your life, rare by an exceptional courage such that it would have been necessary to call on external forces with heavy weapons to overcome men and women like him, ragged civilians with sticks and stones! So let’s not be silent on the sole reason why the Tutsi of Bisesero were defeated on May 13, at the risk of depriving them of the honor they deserve.
To do this, we need to listen to all the witnesses without sticking to those who have not seen the May 13 Whites. Rwandan television viewers heard some of Bisesero’s survivors testify to the active participation of Whites in this great massacre. The fact remains that these survivors suffer from the fact that their country, with too few exceptions, relay their word insufficiently.
There is a long list of survivors who do not understand that the story they bear witness to is still not accessible in memorials. They are at their disposal. History is written slowly, but witnesses are not eternal. Today it is time to offer to the fifty thousand Tutsi who died for the most part on May 13 under the fire of heavy weapons, the one and indivisible truth for burial.
Serge Farnel is the author of Rwanda, May 13, 1994. A French massacre? (Aviso / L’esprit Frappeur-2012) and Bisesero. The Rwandan Warsaw Ghetto (Aviso-2014).
His investigation into the active participation of white soldiers in the great genocidal massacre of May 13, 1994 in Bisesero is recorded on the website: www.bisesero.net (in French) a version of which is also available in English: www.bisesero.net/en This investigation was continued by Bruno Boudiguet, author of Friday the 13th in Bisesero (Aviso-2014).
The Ministry of Local Government, on Thursday, issued new directives in line with preventing the spread of Coronavirus.
Under the new directives, the following villages in Kigali were put under lockdown for at least 15 days:
Kamabuye and Zuba villages of Nyarurama cell as well as Nyenyeri village in Bwerankori cell; all in Kigarama Sector in Kicukiro District;
Rugano village in Kanunga cell of Gikondo Sector in Kicukiro District; as well as the villages of Kadobogo and Gisenga in Kigali cell, Kigali Sector in Nyarugenge District.
Movements in these affected villages are only restricted to emergency services with civil servants and those working in private institutions residing in these areas directed to work from their respective homes.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera advised people living in these villages to be compliant for their safety and that of others.
“There is a reason as to why these specific villages were put under lockdown, which is to ensure their safety from catching or spreading COVID-19 to their families, neighbours, the community or even to other neighbouring villages and sectors,” said CP Kabera.
“Your home is your safety and no one should force you to ensure your safety, be the first respondent to you safety.
Avoid unnecessary movements because you will be arrested and penalized accordingly; go straight back home after acquiring the essential or emergency services; visits are not allowed, practice social distancing and wear facemask whenever you go out of your home for essential services; wash or sanitize your hands regularly.”
The spokesperson further urged people neighbouring the villages placed under lockdown, to refrain from going to these villages to avoid catching and spreading the virus to other places.
Police officers, he said, have been deployed in these villages to ensure compliance.
Jean Damascene Karambizi, 54, Faustin Buhiga, 47, Samuel Habumugisha and Jeremie Nkundimana, 39, were intercepted in Tumba Sector, Gitwa Cell in Rebero Village.
They were at the time found in possession of 10kgs of cannabis, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said.
It is said that the four suspects were trafficking the narcotics into the country from the neighbouring Burundi, through porous border points.
“A concerned resident first reported Karambizi to be a major drug dealer heading a ring of other drug traffickers, local suppliers and retailers,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
“ANU officers posed as buyers, called Karambizi to supply them. Karambizi told them that the narcotics were out of store but informed them that he was waiting for another consignment from Burundi,” he added.
Indeed, on June 24, at about 7 PM, Burundi nationals, who are part of the ring, sneaked the narcotics into the country through Akanyaru.
“Karambizi sent Faustin Buhiga to Akanyaru to collect the new consignment. He (Karambizi) called the would-be retailers the following morning on June 25, to inform them of the new delivery.
When ANU arrived, they found Karambizi, Buhiga and their other two usual clients; Habumugisha and Nkundimana, who had also come to collect their share. They were all arrested and exhibits–10kgs of cannabis–impounded,” CIP Twajamahoro explained.
He thanked the resident, whose credible information led to the successful operation.
He further advised against such criminal practices and commended the role of the public in breaking trafficking and supply chains.
Anyone convicted as a major dealer or supply in “severe drugs” under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in Rwanda, faces between 20 years and life in prison, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
According to the Military Spokesperson, Lt Col Innocent Munyengango, the RDF is currently pursuing the attackers.
“The gunmen attacked from Burundi and they fled back in the same direction leaving behind four of their dead and various military equipment that include weapons and communication radios. Three of our soldiers sustained minor injuries. We reassure Rwandans that action will be taken against those responsible.”
He added that the attackers’ intention was to harm people inside Yanze IDP Model Village which is protected by the attached RDF position and located just one kilometre from the border. Additionally, the attacking force originated and retreated back in Burundi Defence Force position at Gihisi in Bukinanyana commune, Cibitoke Province.
