Author: John Mbaraga

Kagame was speaking yesterday in Kigali at the members of the party’s political bureau which had convened to approve the list of flag bearers for the September Parliamentary Elections.

The bureau approved a list of 70 candidates representing RPF and will be joined by ten candidates from coalition parties. Meanwhile, RPF will send a list of 80 candidates at National Electoral Commission.

Kagame reminded that the RPF representatives will not represent the party alone, but will represent Rwandans in general.

He said that the parliament is not made of RPF, hence it has other parties, a reason why they should work together to take the country where it wants to be.

“Working together is key. We must embrace unity irrespective of differences in political ideologies based on our party affiliation. The transformation journey of our country is shaped by unity among political actors,” he said.

Kagame said that parliament plays an oversight role of government activities, a reason why parliamentarians must ensure that the obligations of members of the government will be implemented.

“We must comprehend our task at hand to be able to achieve what we set out to do. It’s not just about continuing from where your predecessors will stop. You must increase the momentum,” he urged.

“It should not be ‘business as usual’. That is not how RPF operates. You must represent the people in the true sense of it,” he added.

Kagame told aspirants to always think about the consequences of their job because when it is poorly implemented, it affects people.

He said that Rwanda being entrusted and tasked to conduct the reforms of the African Union (AU), is the potential that has been observed in them.

“We should not disappoint people who put their trusted in us,” he said.

Kagame conveyed the message Saturday while delivering a lecture to 38 graduating students of the African Leadership University, pioneers of the Master of Business Administration program of the Rwanda based University.

Speaking on determination during the lecture, Kagame narrated a tale of Rwanda’s struggle where a family lost three sons in the struggle and when news came, the father announced to his son that his brothers had died before sending his last son to the battlefield.

“This commitment, is something you cannot teach anyone. You have leaders who are attached to the cause of delivering and others who will choose to say as long as am ok, everyone will be ok. That is what makes a difference in leadership,” he said.

Sharing his leadership experience with the graduates, the Head of State said when they set out initially during the liberation, few had adequate management experience but were forced to learn quickly on the job and using experiences and failures as lesson.

“The lesson here was that there will always be challenges along the way but what matters is to confront them head on in order to make progress,” Kagame noted.

Speaking at the graduation, Kagame said the positive developments on the African continent provided immense scope for graduates with entrepreneurial talent and skills.

“You have such a major stake and we hope that you will get involved at all levels and in all sectors to drive Africa’s transformation agenda,” he said.

At the ceremony, Kagame commended the African University of Leadership for proving that it is possible for the continent to provide world-class education that is relevant globally.

Among officers who were retired yesterday are 372 senior officers and 395 officers while 49 were sent to retirement over health complications.

Retired senior officers include Maj. Gen. Jérôme Ngendahimana who had been the Vice-Commandant of Reserve Force, Brig. Gen. Rugumya Gacinya, Brig. Gen. Augustin Kashaija, Col. Geoffrey Kabagambe and Col. Zuberi Muvunyi.

Others are Lt. Col. Francis Munyankindi, Lt. Col. Edmond Mukimbiri, Lt. Col. Ernest Habimana, Lt. Col. Athanase Kalisa, Lt. Col. Sam Rutayisire, Lt. Col. Alexis Ibambasi and Lt. Col. Karuranga Gatete.

Defence Minister, Gen. James Kabarebe hailed them for commitment in serving the country.

“On behalf of the President of the Republic and RDF Commandant in Chief, let me first thank generals who are going to retirement on the 6th edition for commitment and courageous service during the execution of their duties, it makes us proud of living in Rwanda,” he said.

“You helped our army in working professionally and you contributed enough in development programmes of the country. For your hardworking, I thank you,” he expressed.

Kabarebe said that for the army to continue working professionally and efficiently, it was necessary to discharge those who need retirement and go to serve the nation in other services and give space to new generation.

He said that the programme is in line with Rwanda’s constitution and promised that everyone will receive their passion benefits as stipulated by the law.

He urged them to maintain discipline acquired from the RDF.

Speaking on behalf of others, Maj. Gen. Ngendahimana hailed professionalism in RDF and said that skills acquired during services will help them in life.

“It is the army that liberated our country, stopped the genocide that was being perpetrated against the Tutsi, the genocide that was planned and executed by the government which underestimated the citizens,” he said.

Over two months hearing the appeal trial, on Friday, the court ruled that Barahira and Ngenzi perpetrated crimes against humanity and committed Genocide crimes.

Both men were convicted on role in murder of Tutsi who had fled in Kabarondo Parish in former Kabarondo Commune which they both successively led between 1977 and 1994.

Ngenzi, 60 and Barahira, 67 had been convicted and handed life sentence by Paris Primary Court in 2016. During the hearing process, they had denied the charges.

In July 4th hearing, prosecutor Frederic Bernardo said that Barahira ordered and supervised people to kill Tutsi and he (Barahira) himself killed.

The prosecutor said that Ngenzi did not kill but supervised implementers.

It is the second genocide trial to be heard in France after the 2014 Capt. Pascal Simbikangwa trial who was handed 25 years in prison.

Ngenzi was arrested in 2010 while Barahira was arrested in 2013 in France.

Conjoined twins ‘Siamese twins’ is a condition where two people with the same mother are born at the same time, with some part of their bodies joined together.

In December last year, 30 year old single mother Anastasie Kanakuze from Huye District gave birth to Diane and Liliane perilously joined at the abdomen, but in perfect health conditions. The twin daughters shared a liver, umbilicus and some part of small bowels.

Kanakuze who resides in Huye gave birth in University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB). Her pregnancy was unremarkable besides episodes of dizziness, according to doctors.

In Past days, IGIHE Reporter visited these twin daughters in CHUB, where they showed good health. Unfortunately, one of the two girls got seriously sick due to non-functional lungs, to the extent that the doctors had to keep her on breathing machines for her to live.

Speaking to the press, Dr. Tharcisse Ngambe, a pediatrician, said “CHUB referred the Siamese twins for further management at Oshen King Faisal Hospital, when they observed that one of the twins was quickly deteriorating despite treatment. She developed multi-organ failure unresponsive to treatment.”

A decision was made to separate them in an effort to save Diane.

According to Dr Nkusi Emmy from King Faisal Hospital, doctors said surgery could allow Diane to have a normal life. As Lilian’s lungs were non-functional, she would not have survived once she was separated from Diane.

By Monday, 29th June 2018, a team of physicians and nurses led by Dr. Edmond Ntaganda, a Pediatric surgeon, Dr. Didace Mugisa, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Dr Rosemary Mukunzi, an anesthesiologist, who had rehearsed for the delicate surgery separated the conjoined twin girls so to save one of them.

Mugambage was speaking during the ceremony to commemorate the 24th Liberation, an event that was organized by the Rwanda High Commission in Uganda.

The envoy said that the relations between Rwandan and Uganda are considered in the same context of protecting and safeguarding shared interests.

“There are established frameworks and mechanism through which this objective is pursued,” he said.

Mugambage said, in the recent times, Rwanda used the same channels to raise concerns and respond to injustice faced by Rwandans living in Uganda.

“Rwanda has used the same channels to raise the concerns and called for immediate remedy to end multiple unjustified arrests and failure to notify the diplomatic representation of Rwanda in Uganda. The failure to investigate on incidents brought to their attention involving terrorism groups targeting Rwanda is condemned,” he said.

He urged that the existing frameworks should be used to investigate the cases.
“We shall continue to promote this process and make every effort to further strengthen our bilateral relations,” he promised.

Representing the Government of Uganda in the ceremony, the Minister of Public Service, Muruli Mukasa said that Uganda is ready to look into existing issues for better bilateral relations.

“Even when our respective citizens face some challenges, our two governments are committed to resolve them. We recognize the important role that the joint government commission has played in strengthening our bilateral cooperation,” he said.

The Ceremony was attended by Rwandans living in Uganda, Diplomatic corps and friends of Rwanda.