Author: IGIHE

The fifth edition of Qatar Information Technology and Communication Conference and Exhibition is running from 29th to 1st November under the theme “Safe Smart Cities”.

QITCOM 2019 is showcasing innovative and various technologies by creating a knowledge-sharing platform for technology providers, policy-makers, industry experts and thought-leaders.

More than 100 speakers from 30 countries will address this four-day long high-profile event which is being organized by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).

More than 400 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest products and services. Spread over an area of 25,000sqm, the event will feature 15 pavilions of which seven will be from the United States, United Kingdom, Oman, Jordan, Italy, Armenia, and Rwanda. More than 30,000 visitors are expected to visit the event. QITCOM 2019 will enable participants to review the latest smart technology solutions and share knowledge.

MoTC Pavilion is at the heart of the QITCOM Exhibition. Visitors will be able to discover the latest programs and innovations from MoTC that are continuously enhancing the quality of daily life in Qatar. Displays will showcase the work of land transport, maritime transport, information technology, digital society development, and cybersecurity.

Some of Rwanda’s companies attending the summit include AC Group, Ampersand, BSC, Irembo, Pascal Technology, QT Software, and Wastezon. Rwanda tech companies are attending for the first time.

World Economic Forum shows that 65% will be living in cities by 2040.

Rwanda’s 2017-2024 agenda targets 35% Rwandans dwelling in cities up from 18.4 % of the past two years.

Rwanda is the pioneer of Smart Cities aimed at mobilizing Governments on the continent to integrate technology in city budget planning.

Today, Rwanda has embraced technology in different services like CCTV, Tap &Go CARDS, Irembo online service delivery platform, and e-recruitment among others.

Kagame met with Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani last in the USA attending the 74th UN General Assembly.

Emir Al Thani was in Rwanda on April 2019 for a three-day working visit.

During his visit to Rwanda, foru cooperation agreements were signed in the areas of culture, sports, tourism, trade, and air transport services.

On the second day of the visit, President Kagame with Qatar Emir also visited Akagera National Park which is home to the big five animals including rhinos, lion, buffalo, elephant, and leopard.

They were arrested in an operation conducted on Sunday by Police and local District Administrative Security Support Organ (DASSO) personnel.

Police identified the suspects as Alphonse Tuyisenge, 23, Vedaste Mundanikure, 24, Jean Pierre Munyabarame, 38, and Jean Bosco Nshimiyimana, 19. They have since been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Jabana station.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorrette Umutesi said that they first arrested Tuyisenge, who had ambushed a man in late evening and took his bicycle and all the valuables he was carrying.

“The victim called for help, Police and DASSO worked together to locate and arrest Tuyisenge later that evening and recovered the bicycle and other valuables,” CIP Umutesi said.

“Tuyisenge became cooperative and helped in tracking and arresting three other members of his criminal group in Cyeyeri Village, Akamatamu Cell. All the four have been working together to ambush people in the area in wee hours,” she added.

She called upon the general public to share information on individuals or groups, who “threaten the peace, security and safe movement of people.”

At a customer interaction cocktail at Kigali Serena Hotel which was attended by business captains in Rwanda, Sparc Group Managing Director Mr. Wisely Phiri presented on a number of products which he said will help assist customers that would want to engage services from Sparc to achieve their business goals.

Some of the products showcased at the function included the case management system accessed through the customer support portal where customers are given access to manage their technical support requests with Sparc Systems Engineers.

Mr. Phiri explained that customers on Service Level Agreements are given login details to create cases online. The system is then able to create a service request and assign an engineer nearest to the customer based on the customer location. An engineer will be onsite within 30 minutes or for online support immediately.

The user can escalate cases from the system. He explained that at the end of the quarter or year the client can download the reports based on the services that have been offered and their resolution time. The reports can be monthly, quarterly or yearly.

For those without the support, he said they can log a case and support will be provided to them within 24 hours. The support portal can be accessed through their website [www.sparcsystems.africa ->www.sparcsystems.africa]by clicking on support.

Mr. Phiri also demonstrated on the payment portal that has been integrated to their website allowing customers to pay using either Visa or Mastercard direct on the website.

He also presented the live chart messenger which has been integrated into their system to allow customers to get support by chatting with a customer support agent 24/7 on any of their requirements.

Mr. Phiri explained that the Sparc Force system that can be accessed through their website www.sparcsystems.africa has been developed inhouse by engineers from Sparc Systems with no 3rd party licenses required which shows their skills level when it comes to software development and systems integration in Africa.

The system has different portals giving role-based access to users based on their access level whether you are a guest, Sparc customer with SLA or Sparc employee.
Using the system visitors can also download the company profile

In his remarks, the Country Manager for Sparc Rwanda Mr. Srimal Rajapaksha said they decided to have a customer interaction event to appreciate the support they have so far gotten from their clients in Rwanda.

This event we decided to say thank you to our customers that have given us support over the years and we also decided to showcase the various products we have as Sparc.

Most of the people think we are just in hardware and we are here to show then the various software solutions we have developed. As Sparc, our customer base included the banks, telecommunication sector, Insurance companies, and governments just to mention a few.

Sparc has offices in Kigali-Rwanda, Lusaka, and Copperbelt in Zambia, and Blantyre and Lilongwe in Malawi. They have been operating in Africa for over 6 years and have implemented solutions in 10 countries across Africa. The office in Kigali has been operating since 2015 and boasts of having certified and experienced engineers locally available in Kigali.

This comes as part of support to the Forest Management and Wood Biomass Energy support project – FMBE that was conceived to boost the productivity of both public and private forest plantations to address the gap in supply and demand of wood biomass in Rwanda.

The FMBE project is funded by the Kingdom of Belgium and implemented jointly by Enabel and Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority to support the green economic and socio development in Rwanda.

Addressing the local residents, Ambassador Benoit Ryelandt expressed his contentment joining them of the community work.

“My colleagues from the Embassy and the Belgian development agency are all impressed by the quality of your work, your endurance, and dynamism. We feel it very important to be here on Umuganda day at the launch of the tree planting season; we know how important it is to support the effort of the authorities and the population to get sustainable management of the forest. We believe that everything that can provide more comfort and more sustainable economic development to the local population is very important; and so is this forest management, not only today but also in the years to come.”

Dirk Deprez, the Resident Representative of Enabel said: “We are delighted to support cooperatives in improving their forest management. Enabel has been working in forestation for the last 10 years now; with the current project, we are working with Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority to improve better management techniques of private owned forest to triple production and capacity as well as tackling the problem of biomass and increasing the revenues of farmers and owners of the lands.”

Nsabuwera Vincent, the Project intervention Manager stressed the ownership of the population; he said: “the emphasis is put on community involvement throughout the project cycle. Lands were consolidated in small woodlots, Private Forest Management Units, managed by cooperatives of forest owners to boost their productivity and sustainable management.”

The trees will be planted on 29Ha on Kabeza site out of 850.37Ha in Rulindo, Gakenke, Gicumbi districts in the Northern Province, Rwamagana District in the Eastern Province and the City of Kigali where the project is intervening.

FMBE (Forest Management and Wood Biomass Energy Support Project) is a Belgian funded Intervention, whose financing agreement was signed on 20th December 2016 and expected to end with 20th June 2021 (ie 4.5 years of duration).

The project is being implemented jointly by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) and Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA) under the Ministry of Environment (MoE). The main objective of the FMBE project is therefore to pilot strategic actions and innovative approaches that must be undertaken and abided on by all stakeholders in the Forestry Sector in order to ensure the sustainable management of the forest resources in different categories.

Enabel is the Belgian development agency; implementing the Belgian international development policy. Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we carry out public service assignments in Belgium and abroad. With our partners, we manage approximately 200 projects in view of improving public service delivery to citizens as well as the living conditions of populations, primarily on the African continent.

With this in mind, the potential of IGIHE.com cannot be ignored as the best platform to take such announcements to a wider audience considering Alexa (a platform rating service for evaluating websites) ranking it the second most popular website in Rwanda with over 100,000 views per day following Google.

Over the past ten years, IGIHE has maintained the lead as the most popular online website evidenced by consecutive awards as the Most Popular Website by Rwanda Development Journalism Awards 2017 and 2018, organized by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) and partners.

This means communicating your auction announcement via www.igihe.com exposes it to thousands of readers at a competitive cost.

On 28th August 2019, RDB informed parties that intend to carry out auctions to advertise through online media.

The statement signed by the Registrar General at RDB, Richard Kayibanda reads, “In a bid to ease communication of auction announcements and reduce related costs, we hereby call upon guarantee auctioneers to place announcements through accredited online media.”

Today, auction announcements are placed online with bid viewership from Rwanda and abroad.

The marketing department at IGIHE Ltd has revealed that auction announcements section as put visit IGIHE Ltd offices in town at the 4th floor of Ndamage building opposite T- 2000 Hotel or call+250788895953.

Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) spokesperson, Umuhoza Marie Michelle has told IGIHE that Rev. Karangwa is detained at Kicukiro station because ‘sources accuse him of forging and using forged documents.”

Rev. Karangwa is among ADEPR top leaders in the past two years as he and spokesperson of the church, Rev. Karuranga Ephrem replaced Rev. Sibomana Jean and Rev. Rwagasana Tom who had assumed similar functions for three years.

RIB has not provided much detail about alleged forged documents but close subordinates have been suspecting his qualifications presented competing for the position.

His diploma certificates show that Rev Karangwa John attended theology courses at Kampala School of Theology in Uganda where he obtained a Diploma in 2011 and continued studies at Far Corners International Theological Seminary INC in Philippines where he graduated in 2013.

ADEPR followers and other education stakeholders have been suspecting the credibility of his qualifications based on a number of reasons.

Firstly; his papers didn’t get equivalence in Rwanda, secondly; the certificates of which IGIHE has a copy have no verification number like other university documents; thirdly, his names contain mistakes where the degree obtained from Uganda and Philipines display different names respectively ‘Kalangwa’ and ‘Karangwa’ making their authenticity susceptible.

He had the title of ‘Reverend Pastor’ Karangwa John on Philippines degree yet duty attributions are not mentioned on academic documents.

Karangwa’s bachelor’s degree certificate from the Philippines displays another mistake that he attended the Faculty of Serminary instead of ‘Seminary’.

It is also alleged that Rev Karangwa didn’t complete secondary school education raising doubts on his university qualifications.

Apart from Rev Karangwa, ADEPR spokesperson Rev. Karuranga Ephrem doesn’t also have a degree in theology required by Rwanda Governance Board under the 2018 law governing religious and faith-based organizations.

Article 20 of the law determines requirements for legal representation of an organization.

These include a degree in theology or another university qualification with an accredited certificate in theology.

RGB can, however, institute regulations determining other requirements leaders need to meet based on specific functions of each organization.

Rev Karuranga is among church leaders without qualifications given five years to train in theology to meet standards.

Rev Karuranga studies at ADEPR theology school, FATEK of which activities and issuance of diplomas was suspended by the Higher Education Council citing substandard practices.

Rev Karuranga was among students who had to graduate at the school which HEC suspended previously on graduation day.

He is among diplomats representing Rwanda in 15 countries appointed on 15th July 2019.

Apart from representation in Egypt, Amb. Kalisa will also oversee Rwanda’s interests in Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia.

He presented letters of credence to Egypt Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Ambassador Hamdi Sanad Loza.

Kalisa conveyed greetings from President Paul Kagame and assured cooperation to expand bilateral relations.

Amb. Kalisa and Hamdi also discussed areas of priority to improve bilateral ties rooted on mutual trust and promoting trade as well.

“We discussed on empowering the private sector and the role of Egypt to support the progress of investors from both sides,” he said.

Promoting the trade of Rwanda’s coffee, tea was also among topics of discussion.
Amb. Kalisa pledged to draw emphasis on boosting cooperation in the investment sector luring Egyptians to take advantage of the Special Economic Zone in Masoto, Kigali city which has enough space for investors.

He was appointed to Egypt replacing Sheikh Habimana Saleh who was also assigned to an ambassadorial post in Morocco.

Rwanda and Egypt enjoy longstanding relationships before and after independence.

Both countries have built friendships in major areas of trade, education, and health.

The year 2019 started with a new impression on Rwanda-Egypt relations.

It is the year in which President Paul Kagame who chaired the African Union in 2018 handed over to his counterpart of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Later on, top Government officials have been meeting to build vivid relationships built on mutual trust.

So far, 81 Rwandan students study in Egypt in different universities excluding other Rwandans living there for different businesses.

Bugesera district advisory council passed a resolution of levying fines to livestock found grazing in the precincts of Bugesera International Airport under construction and Gako Military barracks last year.

The mayor of Bugesera district, Richard Mutabazi has told IGIHE that the decision was made to protect activities in the aforementioned land and residents’ interests as well.

“Children grazing livestock in Gako forest are sometimes engaged in activities that put them at risk among other susceptible hazards. The machinery at the airport construction site might demolish a structure without noticing the pastoralist hence worsening the situation,” he said.

“Moreover, livestock and pastoralists would destroy completed infrastructure. We made the decision to protect residents’ interests and infrastructure as well,” added Mutabazi.

He appealed on residents against grazing livestock in restricted areas.

The money was recovered on Saturday from the prime suspect identified as Pacifique Iradukunda, who was a pump attendant on duty in the night of October 24, when the Rwf4.5 million was reportedly stolen from the safe.

Iradukunda has been in hiding from the night of the theft, until he was located and arrested in Ruli Sector of Gakenke District on October 26, Police said.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that law enforcement agencies, with the help of a telecom company, tracked Iradukunda’s phone in a lodge in Gakenke, where he was staying.

It is said that in the night of the theft, the suspect told his co-worker to go home and that he would fill the void, which was apparently part of the hatched plan.

Since Iradukunda had the key to the safe where he would also keep the money made that night, it is suspected that he instead opened and took all the money that was in the safe.

CIP Rugigana said that the petrol station management got to know about the theft the following morning before they filed the case.

“Law enforcement agencies worked with a telecom firm to track his line, he was found with only Rwf3.5 million at the time of his arrest,” CIP Rugigana said.

He has since been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

Iradukunda, after his arrest, claimed that he doesn’t know the amount of money he took from the safe.

“I just picked all the money I found in the safe, I didn’t count how much it was,” argued Iradukunda.

Article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda states that anyone convicted of theft faces imprisonment of between one and two years, a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, and community service of up to six months or one of these penalties.

The suspects are identified as Jean Claude Byukusenge, Jean Berchmans Matakamba, Simeon Nikuze, and Innocent Ntibiramira

They are said to be part in the five separate attacks that occurred in the sectors of Nyakarenzo, Mururu and most recently in Kamembe

Three shootings occurred in Nyakarenzo, one in Mururu and the recent grenade attack in Kamembe, Kamashangiro Cell, which left three people with minor injuries.

A vehicle was also set ablaze and one person injured when two men armed with rifles attacked in Cyimbogo Village of Karangiro Cell, on October 7.

Security also recovered four guns, four grenades (two tortoise and two stick grenades) and ammunitions from the four suspected gunmen.

Meanwhile, the quartet was on Sunday paraded before residents in the three affected sectors.

The Governor of the Western Province, Alphonse Munyentwari thanked the residents for their role in identifying and sharing information with security, which led to the arrest of some of the attackers and seizure of weapons they were using.

Governor Munyentwari, who was accompanied by senior military and Police officers, reassured the residents of their security but urged them to “stand tall against anyone with intentions of destabilizing your security, peace and the overall wellbeing.”