Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

It is with great pleasure I would like to invite Rwandan students to discover their potential with “Türkiye Scholarships”, and announce that the applications for this year’s program has started on 10th January to be closed on 20th February, 2021.

Those who are willing to apply are most welcome to visit “https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr”.

With the accumulation of diverse cultures and the yields of deep historical roots throughout centuries and experiences in the field of education, Turkey attracts international students all over the world and is becoming frequent meeting point of foreign students and academics representing different backgrounds.

In the last 10 years, the number of international students studying in our higher education institutions has increased by 75%.

According to current figures, Turkey became one of the most international student welcoming countries in the world with approximately 150,000 international students of whom 17,000 are provided with scholarships to study at Turkey’s top 50 universities under ‘Türkiye Scholarships’.

In a bid to help students gain new perspectives and have a unique educational experience, Türkiye Scholarships is a government-funded, competitive scholarship program, awarded to outstanding students to pursue full-time or short-term program at the top universities in Turkey.

After its inception in 2010, ‘Türkiye Scholarships’ received 40,000 applications from all over the world in its first year. With the rapid increase of the interest of diversified undergraduate and postgraduate students, the number of applications surged to almost 150,000 in 2019.

The program itself not only provides financial support but also ensures university placement for students in their intended program of application. International students are fully sponsored with free tuition fees, accommodation expenses, health insurance and monthly stipend. The scholarship program provides a compulsory one-year Turkish Language Course which ensures that all students acclimatize and adapt to the social and cultural environment they live in.

In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate studies, ‘Türkiye Scholarships’ program also provides various modules for research and one-year Turkish language education for academics, researchers and civil servants in other countries.

International students are choosing Turkey not merely for the education purposes. Besides their academic curricular program, the students can also benefit from social, cultural and academic extra- curricular programs and activities while tasting delicious Turkish cuisine and exploring the historical and natural beauties of Turkey. The welcoming atmosphere of tolerance to different cultures and embracing the diversity also constitute the key elements to answer the question of “why study in Turkey?”

After graduating from an undergraduate, Master’s and PhD program with ‘Türkiye Scholarships’, a scholar automatically becomes a member of alumni of a huge global network of more than 150,000 graduates. An “Alumni Association” is established to keep this big and growing family connected.

Finally, how to apply? Candidates who meet the requirements can submit their applications online “https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr” until 20th February 2021.

After that date, as a first step, the submitted documents by candidates will be subjected to an evaluation process. After the initial assessments, successful candidates will be invited to an interview. Interviewed candidates will be informed about the results following a final assessment. For further information and updates, the interested candidates are welcome to follow announcements at “https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr” and the Embassy’s social media accounts.

Contributing to international student mobility in the region surrounding Turkey and around the world, Türkiye Scholarships Program brings together leaders of the future. I would like to extend my best wishes and good luck to all potential undergraduate and postgraduate candidates who are interested in studying in Turkey and look forward to having more Rwandan students this year benefiting from this opportunity.

{ {{Burcu Çevik, is the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Rwanda}} }

Applicants are required to fill a form found on NIRDA website: www.nirda.gov.rw or apply via opencalls@nirda.gov.rw.

‘Open Calls’ is a program that offers opportunity to firms in selected value chains to compete and acquire upgraded equipment in a bid to boost competitiveness and productivity and create more decent and productive jobs.

Usually, NIRDA experts would organize tours upcountry to facilitate applicants in the Open Calls Program and help them to understand well its concept and apply for the support.

The application that started in December 2020 was initially set to the deadline of 10th January 2021 but some applicants could not benefit from the technical support normally provided by NIRDA staff due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions for inter-districts travels.

Christian Sekomo Birame, the Director-General of NIRDA has explained that the institution decided to extend application deadline to 31st January 2021 to give second chance to those who were unable to apply for the first time.

“We have extended application deadline for firms engaged in the clay value chain for construction materials because our staff were not able to assist applicants as usual while some people didn’t find required documents due to instituted measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

“While we have already received some applications, we hope that the extension will help those who could not apply to do so within the next two weeks so that no one is left behind,” added Birame.

Interested applicants are urged to call NIRDA toll free line 1055 or visit NIRDA website: www.nirda.gov.rw for more details.

People in Kigali or living in neighbourhood of the city can visit NIRDA offices at Kigali City Tower (7th floor) while others in Huye can visit NIRDA research center nearby the headquarters of the University of Rwanda for support.

The application is made through NIRDA website www.nirda.gov.rw or email: opencalls@nirda.gov.rw

In the wee hours of Friday 15th January 2021, thieves from Uganda stole eight cows, five goats in Tabagwe sector, Nyagatare district after crossing to Rwanda through illegal entries.

The theft took place in Nyagatare village, Gishuru cell of Tabagwe sector in the vicinity of the border between Rwanda and Uganda.

The executive secretary of Tabagwe sector, Célestin Munyangabo has told IGIHE that they have been linking up with local leaders from Uganda that has yielded to recover some of stolen livestock.

“Five cows and three goats have been returned. We spotted places where stolen livestock were taken and liaised with local leaders in Uganda who seized and returned them. We have handed over recovered livestock to owners,” he said.

Munyangabo revealed that counterparts from Uganda promised to return remaining three cows when they are seized.

Following the theft, he explained that they have tightened patrols to prevent livestock rustling and thanked local leaders from Uganda for the fruitful cooperation that led to the recovery of stolen livestock.

Nyagatare is one of districts in the neighborhood of Uganda. It has six sectors touching the border namely; Matimba, Musheri, Karama, Tabagwe, Kiyombe and Rwempasha.

The incident took place last night around 8pm in Irebero village, Nyagatovu cell of Mukarange sector.

The executive secretary of Mukarange sector, Murekezi Claude has told IGIHE that the suspect has been arrested today morning attempting to escape.

“The man sired four children with his wife but were not legally married. In 2016, the man was arrested after stabbing and wounding a person. During husband’s jail term, his wife sired twins with another man. The man was later released and continued to live with her wife in persistent disputes,” he said.

Later on, Murekezi explained, citizens’ forum (inteko y’abaturage) solved such disputes by ordering the husband to quit the wife and rent own house because all possessions belonged to the woman.

“Around 8pm yesterday, he went to the home of the woman with whom they once cohabited intending to kill her. After failing to find the woman in bedroom and kitchen, the man used a knife and stabbed to death one of twins in the sitting room,” he said.

Murekezi revealed that another old man found at the woman’s home to recover debts for completed works was also stabbed and wounded severely.

The suspect immediately ran away and was arrested around 2am attempting to escape. He has been handed to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) station in Mukarange sector while the child’s body has been taken to Gahini hospital.

House parties and social gatherings in general are among the events prohibited by the government as part of the efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The violators were arrested Saturday night in the house of one Prosper Ndayiragije located in Remera Sector, Gasabo District.

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the violators first refused to open the gate when Police officers arrived to enforce the directives.

Fidele Tuyizere, a security guard at the house, told the media on Sunday that he was instructed by his boss, Ndayiragije, not to open or allow anyone inside the compound.

“It was about 9pm when I saw many people coming in for a party. My boss instructed me not to allow anyone inside, including security personnel, and mentioned specifically the Police. I followed the instructions and refused to open the gate when Police officers came, but I later opened for them. I regret interfering with security,” Tuyizere said.

The party organiser and host Ndayiragije also admitted disregarding and violating the COVID-19 prevention measures and inviting friends to a house party.

“It’s true I had invited 13 friends to my home for a social gathering, and I told the gatekeeper to lock the gate and to not allow anyone inside; he did as instructed. I really regret my actions to undermine the national prevention measures and to obstruct security services,” said Ndayiragije.

CP Kabera demeaned people with such errant behaviours of ignoring the national safety and health guidelines against the COVID-19 and putting lives at risk.

“All the 13 violators came from different places in Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge districts. They gathered in one home for a party even when they knew what they were doing is wrong. In such circumstances, one infected person can easily infect all others without forgeting many others that each of these individuals would infect when they go back to their homes, at work and businesses,” CP Kabera said.

The violators, he said, will be subjected to COVID-19 test at their cost and fined according the directives.

CP Kabera further said that they will also be investigated for rebelling against authority or security organs on duty, which is punishable by law.

He thanked the residents, who reported the violations and emphasized the importance of partnership and information sharing in enforcing the directives as well as arresting and penalising errant violators.

Nine of them were arrested in Kanombe sector on 14th January 2021 while the remaining 13 were arrested in Nyarugenge on 15th January 2021.

The Acting spokesperson of RIB, Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE that arrested people didn’t only smoke Shisha but also violated COVID-19 preventive measures holding parties.

“Apart from violating COVID-19 preventive measures, they were caught smoking drugs banned in Rwanda. The youth is requested to adhere to Government directives because the pandemic has taken another stage,” he said.

Murangira explained that people should understand that Shisha is not allowed in Rwanda that whoever caught selling or smoking it will face justice.

The suspects are detained at RIB stations in Remera, Nyarugunga and Nyarugenge as investigation is underway to send their files to the Prosecution.

If convicted, the suspects are liable to a sentence between one and two years or be subject to community service as per article 263 article of Rwanda’s penal code.

In December 2017, Rwanda banned the smoking of water-pipe tobacco popularly known as shisha countrywide.

The then Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba issued a ministerial order banning shisha use in country based on WHO’s concerns about the harmful effects of Shisha tobacco on human health and recommendations to all Countries, Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(FCTC Parties).

Shisha tobacco smoking is said to be damaging, addictive and dangerous to human lives. The smoke that emerges from a water-pipe contains numerous toxicants known to cause lung cancer, heart diseases among others.