Author: John Mbaraga

Presenting the report to both chambers of the Parliament today, Auditor General, Obadiah Biraro said that 50% of the 165 public entities and projects considered in the financial and performance audits received unqualified audit opinion and urged lawmakers on holding accountable everyone misusing the public funds.

Among the 165, there were 139 budget agencies and projects representing 86.4% of the reported Government Expenditure of Rwf2,200,199,963,530 for the year ended June 30, 2017, compared to 85% for the year ended June 30, 2016.

Overall, the level of wasteful expenditure resulting from diversion of public resources and unsupported transactions has reduced from Rwf17,634,265,933 in the previous report which had considered 139 public entities and projects with 85% of the reported government expenditure in the year ended June 30, 2016.

Biraro said, however, that the cases of unsupported, wasteful and unauthorized expenditure and fraudulent transactions in different public entities are still high and require urgent management attention.

The report indicates that 109 contracts worth Rwf206,817,279,066 were delayed while 27 contracts worth Rwf45,866,655,835 were abandoned. Idle assets worth Rwf22,320,539,989 in 147 cases were also revealed.

Citing an example of halted Kalisimbi project which aimed at enhancing electronic communications and broadcasting services, Biraro said the idle drilling materials at Kalisimbi site including water tanks and pipes should be sold out to recover some funds out of the Rwf2.7 billion that was already invested in the project.

He said 13 institutions have recurrently appeared in the reports as the poorest managers of the public funds with Water and Sanitation Authority (WASAC) leading the row.

{{WASAC again!}}

With only 59% of water generation billed in 2016/2017, WASAC registered a whopping Rwf20 billion loss and kept equipment stock worth Rwf1.9 billion while the expenditure was also poorly accounted for, according to Auditor General Biraro.

“WASAC has poor financial statements and we failed to give our opinion. They are poorly performing. The management of WASAC should change. This institution should work as a government business enterprise as it is mandated,” he said.

{{REG}}

Citing Gishoma Peat Plant worth Rwf40.5 billion but produced power for only four months and stopped, Biraro also slammed Rwanda Energy Group for having five out of 33 power plants which lie idle, only six plants produce above 50% while other 22 produce below 50% of the initially planned capacity.

{{RRA}}

The report pins Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) on failure to recover Rwf3.5 billion lost in VAT fraud with a minimal follow up standing at 13% only despite the use of Electronic Billing Machines (EBM), the technology that Biraro says hugely cost the country.
RRA was also slammed for lack of bank reconciliation with Rwf84.5 billion found on different six suspense accounts.

Rwanda Agricultural Board wrecked Rwf90 million in losses resulting from 225 tonnes of seeds of maize which perished in stores while farmers are always decrying insufficient seeds.

Rwanda Bio-Medical Centre was touted for improvements in the public funds management but also slammed for delaying delivery of over Rwf3 billion to hospitals for 240 days, causing poor health services.

Other institutions found with poor accountability include Rwanda Social Security Fund (RSSB), Rwanda Education Board (REB), Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA), University of Rwanda and Workforce Development Authority (WDA), among others.

{{Lawmakers on tougher penalties}}

In their reaction on the report that was approved by a Bicameral House, lawmakers touted the Office of the Auditor General for the insightful report and vowed to push for tougher penalties against those who embezzle the public funds.

MP Athanasie Nyiragwaneza said “There is need for tougher measures to punish those involved in these cases of public funds mismanagement and to curb the future losses.

Théoneste Begumisa Safari urged the justice sector to be more serious with crimes related to public funds mismanagement, saying that it is sad to see embezzlement suspects unclearly released or even given so trivial penalties when they are convicted.

Théobald Mporanyi suggested a harsher scrutiny of the proposals from public entities which appear in the Parliament every year to seek budget, saying that they should first be asked to account for the previous budget before receiving another one.

“This is the 10th report I have heard of since I got in Parliament. Rwanda has done a lot in the last 24 years but what is really failing us in public funds management? The Parliament should adopt measures whereby we deny budget to an institution until it justifies how it spent the previous budget,” he said.

Auditor General Biraro reminded legislators to do their best for the recovery of the public funds fraudulently spent because “If there is no cost of failure, there is no fear of failure.”

Kagabo says in sharp contrast to his father who committed genocide, Kagabo who was 15 years old in 1994, then working as a house-help, saved lives.

Kagabo’s father, Yuri Baritima was a local government leader at the time of the genocide which he perpetuated, found guilty on trial and is serving life in prison.

At the time of the genocide, Kagabo was a caretaker at a house that belonged to a man who rarely came by, spending much of the time at his second home.

In the compound was an excavation which Kagabo used to hide twelve people who were being hunted.

The garbage pit had ample space for all the twelve which he covered on top, taking them meals from there on a daily basis.

Later on, Kagabo took eleven of them to another place and remained with one woman, Donathille Murekatete whom they fled together to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Kagabo, he did all the best to save innocent lives.

“I was very young but had no room for hate as my father was. I had to protect those who were being hunted at the same time being vigilant so that my father who was a leader in local government would not guess that I was protecting people or guess that I did not agree with his mission,” he explains.

Murekatete, one of survivors who were saved by Kagabo thanks him for the outstanding activity.

“Kagabo saved me and my family, he protected us and we were in a place where killers used to cross, but could not guess that we were in,” she says.

Speciose Mukarurangwa, who survived in the region and the president of IBUKA in Gisenyi Sector requested to list Kagabo among pact protectors.

“Based on his activities, I think that he would be listed on the list of pact protectors. It was not such easy because he was a child who would have obeyed his father, but did the contrary and saved people,” she says.

Kagabo is now married to a survivor woman. They live in Gisenyi.

On Sunday, all twelve people who were saved by Kagabo visited and promised him a gift as a pact between them.

Kagame was speaking yesterday in Congo Brazzaville in the Heads of State and Government Summit on the operationalization of the Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin.

The Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Congo Basin Blue Fund was established following the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change two years ago.

Kagame said that the Paris Agreement was a remarkable demonstration of global commitment to building a more sustainable future.

The Head of State said that while efforts continue to reach universal ratification and translate the Agreement into action, global warming continues to adversely and disproportionately affect many countries.

“The prosperity we seek for our continent requires that we go the extra step to mitigate climate change and develop our economies more sustainably,” he said.

He said that there is no better reason to support, and actively participate in the Congo Basin Climate Commission and the Blue Fund for the Congo Basin.

Kagame said that Preserving the waters and forests of the Congo Basin is essential for sustainable development not only in Africa but other parts of the world as well.

“The water resources of the Congo Basin connect our countries and support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. This makes us interdependent on many levels,” he said.

“We must therefore cooperate more in managing these shared resources, in order to safeguard food security, public health and economic opportunities. These are critical factors in achieving both the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063,” he urged the Heads of States.

Given what is at stake, Kagame said that the benefits envisioned in the Congo Basin cooperation initiative far outweigh the costs of setting up the fund.

“Let’s not waste any more time, in this important work but to unlock Africa’s full socio-economic potential,” he urged.

At the summit, the Heads of States also signed the protocol establishing the Congo Basin Climate Commission.

1. The Cabinet Meeting approved the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting held on 11th April 2018.

2. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on land allocation to the Ministry of Defense.

3. The Cabinet Meeting approved the Framework Budget Framework Paper 2018/20192020/2021.

4. The Cabinet Meeting approved Rwanda’s 5th and 6th Country Periodic Report on the implementation status of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

5. The Cabinet Meeting approved the draft Law approving the ratification of the grant agreement signed in Washington DC, USA, on 18 April 2018, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA) relating to the grant of USD $ 23,000,000 as additional financing for strengthening social protection projects.

6. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:

a) Presidential Order determining salaries and fringe benefits for Researchers in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) ;

b) Prime Minister’s Order determining mission, functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of the Office of the Prime Minister (PRIMATURE);

c) Prime Minister’s Order determining mission, functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI);

d) Prime Minister’s Order determining Organizational Structure, Salaries and Fringe Benefits for Employees of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB);

e) Prime Minister Order determining the Supervising Authority of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) ;

f) Prime Minister’s Order determining the Supervising Authority of the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) ;

g) Prime Minister Order granting leave of absence for non-specific period to Mr. KAKYIRE Godfrey, who was Director of Administration and Finance Unit in Media High Council (MHC);

h) Prime Minister Order granting leave of absence for non-specific period to Mr. TAYARI KANYAMANZA Jean, who was Director of Sales and Marketing Unit, in Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC):

i) Prime Minister’s Order automatically removing from office Mrs. ATUKUNDA Linda, who was Contract Drafting Analyst/Senior State Attorney in the Ministry of Justice.

7. The Cabinet Meeting made appointments as follows:

1. In the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR): Board of Directors

– Mr. RWANGOMBWA John, Chairperson;

– Mrs. NSANZABAGANWA Monique, Deputy Chairperson;

– Mr. RUGWABIZA Leonard, Member;

– Mr. HABIYAKARE Chantal, Member;

– Mr. MURENZI Ivan, Member;

– Mrs. MURANGWA Hadidja, Member;

– Ms. KEZA Faith, Member;

– Dr. MUSAFIRI Ildephonse, Member.

2. In the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST)

Mrs. MUKESHIMANA Béata: Permanent Secretary.

3. In Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB)

a) Dr. KARANGWA Patrick: Director General;

b) Dr. UWITUZE Solange: Deputy Director General in charge of animal resources research and technology transfer;

c) Dr. BUCAGU Charles: Deputy Director General in charge of agriculture research and technology transfer;

d) Ms MUSHIMIYIMANA Pauline: Corporate Services Division Manager.

4. In Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA)

a) Mr. HARELIMANA Jean Bosco: Director General;

b) Ms. MUGWANEZA Pacifique: Cooperatives Inspection Division Manager.

5. In the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning MINECOFIN

a) Mr. RUGWABIZA MINEGA Leonard: Economic Advisor;

b) Ms. RWAKUNDA UMULISA Amina: Chief Economist;

c) Mr. KALISA Thierry: Senior Economist;

d) Mr. MUNYANEZA Evode: Deputy Accountant General;

e) Mr. NDAYISENGA Jean Bosco: National Programs & Projects Monitoring Division Manager.

6. In the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB)

Mr. NDIKUMANA André: Chief Finance Officer.

7. In Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC)

a) Ms. BURAYOBERA UMUZAYIRE Bibiane: Vice Chairperson;

b) Ms. KAYUMBA KANJERU Rose: Legislative Drafting Analyst.

8. In Rwanda Education Board (REB)

a) Mr. NKURIKIYINKA Janvier: Corporate Services Division Manager;

b) Ms. MURUNGI Joan: Head of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Department;

c) Dr. SEBAGANWA Alphonse: Head of Department of Examinations, Selection and Assessment).

9. In National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR):

Ms. UWAMAHORO Jocelyne: Director of Human Resource and Administration Unit.

8. In A.O.B:

a) The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources informed the Cabinet Meeting that from 20th to 21st August 2018, Rwanda will be hosting in Kigali Convention Centre, the continental conference on youth in agriculture. The theme of the conference is “Youth in Agriculture as a Solid Solution to ending Hunger and Poverty in Africa: Engaging through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Entrepreneurship”.

b) The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning informed the Cabinet Meeting that on 3rd and 4th May 2018, Rwanda will host the 23rd Governing Council meeting of the World Customs Organization, East and Southern Africa (WCO-ESA) as well the 28th Regional Steering Group (RSG) from 30th April to 2nd May 2018, at Kigali Convention Center.

c) The Minister of State in charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure informed the Cabinet Meeting that from 22nd to 25th May 2018, in Kigali Convention Centre, Rwanda will be hosting a Joint ICAO/RCAA Aviation Safety Management Symposium organized by ICAO and the Government of Rwanda. The Theme of the Symposium is “The Journey to Achieving Effective Safety Management”.

d) The Minister of Defence informed the Cabinet Meeting that the naming of “Army Week” program has been changed into “RDF CITIZEN OUTREACH PROGRAM”. The 2018 RDF Citizen Outreach Program in collaboration with key stakeholders will cover the period from 20 April to 30 July 2018 and will focus on the following activities: Providing free medical services, construction of classrooms and houses for the vulnerable people, improving health and sanitation and take part to agricultural activities.

e) The Minister of Sports and Culture informed the Cabinet Meeting that:

– From 10th to 20th May, 2018 Rwanda will host CECAFA Women Challenge Cup at Kigali Stadium (Nyamirambo). The tournament is being organized by CECAFA and the Government of Rwanda. The National Teams registered to participate in this event are from Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar and Rwanda;

– On 20th May, 2018 Rwanda will host the 14th Kigali International Peace Marathon. 8000 Participants are expected to participate in this Marathon.

f) The Minister of Disaster Management and Refugees informed the Cabinet Meeting about the status of disasters caused by heavy rains in the country during this rainy season, interventions made to support the affected people as well as the strategies put in place to mitigate them.

This Statement was signed By
Marie Solange KAYISIRE
The Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs

Ouattara who is in Rwanda for the Ibrahim Governance Weekend starting from today and run until Sunday, arrived in Kigali on Wednesday.

He arrived at Kigali Genocide Memorial Center around 4:15pm yesterday and toured different parts of the memorial as well as getting explained about the history of the genocide against the Tutsi.

After the tour, Ouattara said that he was saddened by the dark history Rwandans went through and called upon stringent measures to prevent their recurrence anywhere in the World.

“It is so terrible, I condole and comfort Rwandans. I wish this country continues to rebuild and commit to never again. I wish no one else would pass through what has happened,” he said.

Yesterday, President Ouattara also met President Paul Kagame ahead of the 2018 Ibrahim Governance Weekend.