Author: John Mbaraga

Busingye revealed this on Tuesday in a press conference following hot debates that followed Monday discussions on the draft law regulating firearms in Rwanda.

The law with 74 articles defines requirements for an individual person to do firearms business and how they can apply for license to possess a gun.

Different people questioned the law wondering whether it is necessary for Rwandans to possess firearms.

Busingye explained that the law had also been in place since 1979. He said that in the ongoing reforms being introduced in penal code to harmonise the laws with the Constitution of Rwanda as revised in 2015, the law regulating firearms has been also considered.

He said that the Law relating to Arms has been in place since 1979 and was revised in 1982, 2009 and is now under revision.

Busingye explained that the law is not popular because few people only use arms.

“These private security companies using arms are regulated by this law,” he said.

According to Busingye, under the law, for an individual person to possess guns, the process has been complicated to the extent that possibility is ‘about impossible’.

“In Rwanda, possessing, manufacturing, selling, proliferation of firearms and related substances in the law that was revised in 2009, despite security companies which have trained personnel, it is far more complicated for individuals to go through legal processes and fill all the requirements to possess a gun,” he explained.

He said that through the law, the process to acquisition of firearms has been tightened to the extent that Police Inspector General is the prime level to provide license of owning the arms and the highest level is cabinet.

“I would like to tell you that the process is getting tougher than before. People should not think that firearms will be sold in shops like sugar and salt,” he added.

The proposed law allows civilians to possess firearms for hunting, sports, or for self-defence purposes if they meet the conditions described in the law.

The law defines arms as firearms and their ammunition, grenade and other explosives used as arms as well as nuclear, biological, chemical or toxic weapons.

The financial results that were revealed on Tuesday indicate that institutions forming BK Group Plc which are Bank of Kigali, BK TecHouse and BK General Insurance earned Rwf9.7 billion profit before tax which marks a growth of 22.9% compared to the previous year.

BK Plc Executive officer, Dr Diane Karusisi said that Rwf6 billion of profit is interesting and matches their targets which had been promised to shareholders.

“Beside the Rwf6 billion of profit in the first quarter, we are expanding activities, loans were increased by 12%, meaning we are issuing increased loans compared to last year. The money goes to develop clients’ businesses and job creation among others, we are proud of that,” she said.

As at March 31st 2018, the bank served over 254,500 retail customers and over 24,000 corporate clients.

“We remain focused on sustainability and innovation to maintain our leadership position in the market. We recently launched our ‘SingombwaKashi’, an initiative to help the country achieve its goal of being a cashless economy by 2024,” she explained.

BK Chief Operations, Désiré Rumanyika said that through embracing technology, the bank will be able to raise loans.

Bank of Kigali Group Plc Board of Directors recently revealed that they intend to cross list the company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

President Kagame together with Rwanda Development Board CEO, Clare Akamanzi, held discussions with Ellen DeGeneres and partner, Philanthropist Portia de Rossi, on this Tuesday, 29th May.

Popular from her talk show ‘The Ellen Show’, the Comedian-turned-presenter and her spouse, Portia de Rossi flew from Nairobi to Rwanda, on Saturday, 26th May, 2018.

The American TV Host will fund the construction of a permanent, specially designed facility for scientists, who are helping to save one of the world’s most at-risk species.

After her discussions with the President, Ellen DeGeneres paid a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where she was given a tour on the history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.

For the President of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Dr Tara Stoinski, DeGeneres’s gift will permit the expansion of science, research and conservation activities.

“We are delighted to work with Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, so to expand our work. This will be a spark which draws the brightest minds for the benefit of science, wild gorilla protection, and collaboration with the people who share their home with these animals.” She said

The ‘Ellen DeGeneres Campus’ will be the first initiative of The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, a foundation and gift from Portia DeRossi, DeGeneres’ partner during the comedian’s 60th birthday, who is a renowned supporter of late Dian Fossey’s work, an American scientist who studied gorillas in Africa.

While not yet finalized, plans for the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund currently call for a multi-acre project in shadow of Fossey’s beloved Volcanoes National Park.

The campus will allow the expansion of science, research and conservation activities; enhance educational programs; and engage Rwandans and the world to join the effort on behalf of wild gorillas. Its design will include laboratories, classrooms, meeting space, an interactive exhibit focusing on Fossey’s work, and housing for visiting researchers and students.

The campus will also support the Rwandan government’s strategic priorities, serving as an important hub for the newly established Center for Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management.

The proposed law consists of 15 Articles, and aims at separating genocide related crimes from the current penal code.

The State Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Evode Uwizeyimana said that the current law is limited to the Genocide Against the Tutsi, while Rwanda repeatedly asked countries to include genocide ideology and related crimes’ law among their laws.

“In the past, you heard politicians especially members of parliament in different working visits under countries’ parliaments cooperation requesting their counterparts to introduce laws penalizing genocide against the Tutsi ideology and deniers. There was a problem because we used to request other countries to do what we also did not do,” he explained.

“This law will punish anyone who will negate or trivialize the genocide against Jews. The current one was not doing so. It means that we used to request others what we were not doing,” he explained.

He said that the move will facilitate Rwanda to request other countries to introduce laws penalizing deniers of the genocide against the Tutsi.

“This will help us to request other countries to put articles penalizing deniers of genocide against the Tutsi in their laws or develop particular laws penalizing deniers and trivializers of the genocide against the Tutsi. This law penalizes all deniers and trivializers of all genocides that are recognized by the United Nations or International Courts,” he explained.

The draft law has reduced the punishments for convicts from between five and nine years to between two to four years.

MP Evariste Kalisa wondered why the punishments were reduced to genocide related crimes, while they were raised to other crimes like corruption and embezzlement among others.

“While punishments to other crimes were raised, the genocide ideology crimes related punishments are reduced, I don’t understand the rationale behind, we should have been discouraging people not to involve in such crimes,” he said.

MP Théoneste Begumisa Safari said that during commemoration period, genocide ideology cases were registered. He said that punishments should not be reduced, but elevated.

Minister Uwizeyimana said that the punishments based on how the genocide ideology cases were reduced referred to the reports by National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) and National Commission of the Fight Agaist the Genocide (CNLG).

The law with 74 articles defines requirements for an individual person to do firearms business and how they can apply for license to possess a gun.

Speaking to the media yesterday, the State Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Evode Uwizeyimana said that the new law allows a person who meets all the conditions in law to do firearms business or establish the plant making them in Rwanda.

“For an individual to do firearms business or establish a plant making them is now made possible into the law,” he explained.

{{Is firearms business, possession in Rwanda necessary?}}

Asked whether doing firearms business is necessary for Rwandans or whether Rwandans have appealed for the law, Uwizeyimana said that the law is in line with international standards regulating firearms.

“The country can evaluate what other countries have attained and identify what’s missing for them to replicate. Sometimes people think that laws are developed because of societal pressure; the government thinks and see where other countries have reached, the government wants to be a role model. It is not necessarily that the law is established following the appeal by the public, the government initiates some laws. We are a country that should be on international standards,” he explained.

Under Article 13 of the proposed law on arms, requirements for individuals to sell arms indicate that for a person to be authorised to sell arms, they shall submit a request letter to the Minister in charge of the Rwanda National Police and attach copies of their identity card or passport, shall be people of integrity, and be at least 21 years old.

According to the law, those wishing to sell arms will not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment equal to or exceeding beyond six months, shall show a safe place where to keep the arms, shall produce a legal commercial registration certificate and shall commit to not collaborate with terrorist organisations or individual terrorists.

The Cabinet will also have to authorise individuals before they can start selling arms in the country.

On gun possession, according to Uwizeyimana, the law defines all conditions for individual person to possess, and when Police find them appropriate, they give them license.

On concerns whether the guns cannot be used illegally, Uwizeyimana allayed fears saying that Police will pass the possession license to a person who will have been thoroughly vetted.

The proposed law allows civilians to possess firearms for hunting, sports, or for self-defence purposes if they meet the conditions described in the law.

The law defines arms as firearms and their ammunition, grenade and other explosives used as arms as well as nuclear, biological, chemical or toxic weapons.

Mpayimana made the comments in a letter addressed to Dutch Parliament after the MPs were quoted in media criticizing the Rwanda-Arsenal deal.

Dutch media last week wrote that MPs wondered why a country which receives so much aid is able to invest €30 million in sponsoring Arsenal’s shirts.

MPs criticized the deal saying that it is disheartening to see such deals being made, while the international community is trying to tackle the poverty.

According to Mpayimana the reaction to the choice of the Government of Rwanda to promote Rwandan tourism through Arsenal is baseless.

He said that helping Africa should not give them rights to shape their decisions.

“Visit Rwanda by Arsenal has made the West react, but for me, helping Africa does not prevent it from making its leadership choices between urgency and priority. Welcome To The Country Of Thousand Hills,” the letter reads in part.

“Your reaction to the choice of the government of Rwanda to sponsor an English football team Arsenal to promote its tourism should not go without the reaction of Rwandans including me. As an independent citizen and politician, not based on the decisions taken by officials of my country, I can only tell you the side of my people to guide your next consultation on development aid to Rwanda in particular or Africa general,” he said.

He requested them not to regret the assistance Dutch allocated to Rwanda and requested them to consider increasing it in their budget estimates for more development cooperation.

“Please do not seek to change the plan of government priorities in the countries you are helping, but rather change the allocation of the aid you are distributing to Africa,” he urged.

Mpayimana emphasized that Rwandan economy relies on tourism and that a foreign country condemning Rwanda’s choice is an outrage and overlooking her sovereignty.

He said that Dutch Ms’ reaction is part of the old colonial beliefs that development aid aims at subjecting leaders to obedience rather than collaboration for the good of the people.

Last week Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced that Rwanda is to become the official tourism partner of Arsenal and the Premier League football club’s first ever shirt sleeve partner, a deal which raised debate among different people.

The three-year partnership, according to RDB will see the new “Visit Rwanda” logo featured on the left sleeve of all first team, under-23 and Arsenal Women’s matches from the new season starting in August.

The deal will among others highlight Rwanda’s tourism offerings such as the National Parks, which are attracting big numbers of tourists due to growing variety of wildlife including black rhino, lions, zebra, chimpanzees and the famous mountain gorillas, as well as the investment opportunities in the country.

The former MINICOM Minister took over the ministry when the country was striving to attract foreign investors and building infrastructures to facilitate doing business.

Kanimba who has been on the top of Rwanda’s financial and economic institutions told local TV station, TV 10 that he’s proud of his contribution in building and shaping the revamped economy of the country.

{{In Central Bank}}

Since 2000, the expert in Economic Statistics was the Vice-Governor of Central Bank and became the Governor in 2002, heading it until 2011 when he was appointed the Minister of Trade and Industry.

According to Kanimba, leading the Central Bank in the post-genocide period was not an easy job as the bank was under reconstruction.

“Truthfully, it was not easy because like other institutions, the bank was also under reconstruction as well as recruiting employees so that they can implement the bank’s responsibilities. The bank had tough responsibilities to implement,” he said.

“There were two tough challenges which we worked hard to tackle. Among those challenges were; few commercial banks that had been operating in Rwanda, those are Bank of Kigali (BK), Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR), BACAR and BCDI. These banks were poorly managed and had been suffering losses except BK, in fact there were many challenges, as Central Bank’s laws were also outdated,” he explained.

He said that BNR had another challenge of foreign currencies which were poorly managed.

“Before the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, foreign currencies were poorly managed to the extent that people were not willing to bring them to Rwanda. Also there were favoritism in monitoring and providing rights to foreign currencies,” he added.

He said that they were challenged with reforming laws of the bank so as all Rwandans have access to foreign currencies.

“Before 1994, people thought that foreign currencies were only allowed to government. It was difficult to change these mindsets. Previously, for people who would need to go to buy stuffs outside the country, they would need authorization from Central Bank. No Rwandan was allowed to open a dollar account in commercial banks,” he added.

Kanimba said that he is proud to have contributed in legalizing exchange market which previously was conducted illegally and used to affect monetary value.

“One day I invited them (people in exchange business) in a meeting in BNR and told them that Rwandans knew that they were doing business illegally, there are laws regulating money exchange. You should acquire trading licenses, have a permanent place of abode and stop illegal operations,” he recalls as having advised.

{{Secret behind success}}

Kanimba served nine years in Central Bank and six years as the Minister of Trade and Industry.

He said that the secret behind success and serving long period in the positions was collaboration.

“I am a lucky person because collaboration with fellow staff is very simple. In every institution, I become a friend of workers under my control and my bosses too. Be in Central Bank or Minicom, they were friends and working with them was not an issue. When you are a friend with the staff, it is easy to introduce new changes,” he explained.

Kanimba said that he is happy for his contribution in raising the value of Made in Rwanda products to the international markets.

Kanimba was dropped from the Cabinet on August 30th 2017, when President Paul Kagame announced new Cabinet after the August 2017 presidential elections.

Currently, Kanimba is working for Rwanda’s insurance company, Société Mutuelle de Garantie et de Financement-(SMGF).