Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The deceased include 85-year old woman from Nyagatare district and 62-yea old man from Kigali.

Among others, 143 new cases have been found out of 4846 sample tests while no recovery recorded.

The statement released last night shows that new cases were found Kigali: 101, Huye: 12, Rubavu: 7, Musanze: 7, Rusizi: 4, Kamonyi: 3, Kayonza: 3, Muhanga: 1, Rulindo: 1, Ruhango: 1, Nyanza: 1 Nyagatare: 1 and Nyamasheke: 1.

Rwanda confirmed the first patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9368 people have been tested positive out 760, 897 sample tests of whom 6940 have recovered, 2313 are active cases while 115 have succumbed to the virus.

The Ministry of Health rates the prevalence of deaths at 1.2% and infections at 3%.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

Maj Gen Mubaraka Muganga has replaced Lt Gen Jacques Musemakweli who held the position since 2013. Lt Gen Musemakweli had taken post from Maj Gen Alex Kagame leaving to extend studies in China.

These reforms have been announced today on 8th January 2021.

The management of APR FC also revealed that other appointees include Brig Gen Philemon Bayingana appointed the team’s vice chairman, Masabo Michel appointed Secretary General while Lt Col Rutebuka is the treasurer.

The post of ‘Team Manager’ has got new appointee who will be announced in coming days.

Maj Gen Mubaraka Muganga has been part of the team’s management for over 13 years. He was previously serving as the vice chairman.

The body was found yesterday in Umwiga village, Urugarama cell in Gahini sector, Kayonza district, Eastern Province.

IGIHE has learnt that the man had been discharged by Gahini Hospital and recommended to continue taking drugs at home. The man who claimed to have been poisoned later opted for support from traditional healers.

It is said that five traditional healers failed until he met with the last one in Gahini where he died.

The executive secretary of Gahini sector, Rukeribuga Joseph has told IGIHE that the body was found yesterday but the traditional healer revealed that the man died on 6th January 2021.

“The traditional healer is renowned. He has license to operate and is a member of traditional healers association. After the hospital discharge him, the traditional healer said, the man came to him for support after five traditional healers failed,” he said.

“We learnt about the death yesterday and went to the traditional healer’s home with security officials and Rwanda investigation Bureau. We took the body to Gahini Hospital for post mortem and arrested the healer to face justice because patients are not allowed to spend night at his home,” explained Rukeribuga.

He appealed on residents to stick to public health facilities instead of relying to unreliable health service providers.

Rukeribuga also advised traditional healers to respect regulations and avoid whatever tempting them to admit patients.

The widow to the deceased and the traditional healer explained that the man’s body had swollen that he could not wear a trouser.

News about the death of the veteran journalist went to public last evening. His relatives have revealed that Umuhire had been admitted at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) where he breathed his last.

Umuhire served with various media houses including Rwanda Broadcasting Agency where he gained fame as favorite news anchor until 2013 when he joined Radio and Tv10.

He also worked for other media houses including Radio Huguka, Pax Press and Syfia Grands Lacs among others.

Umuhire has also been the moderator of talk show ‘Urubuga rw’Itangazamakuru’ loosely translated as ‘media platform’ simultaneously aired at different media houses including Isango Radio and TV, Ishingiro Radio, Gicumbi Radio, Isangano Radio in Karongi, Huguka Radio in Muhanga, Voice of Africa, Inkoramutima Radio, Authentic Radio, Izuba Radio and Energy Radio in Musanze district.

Rwanda Journalists Association (ARJ) has mourned his death and expressed condolences to the bereaved family via twitter handle.

“Rwanda Journalists Association is saddened by the death of our colleague Umuhire Valentin who succumbed to sickness. Our condolences go to the bereaved family, his friends, Impamyabigwi, former colleagues at various media houses and others who know him. May His Soul Rest In Peace,” announced the association.

Dr. Sebashongore presented his credentials yesterday to the Chief of Protocol at European Union Commission, Nicolas de La Grandville.

Amb. Sebashongore arrived in Belgium on 16th August 2020.

As he presented credentials to represent Rwanda in Belgium last year, Amb. Sebashongore committed to consolidate gains and root progress on predecessors’ achievements.

President Paul Kagame appointed Sebashongore as ambassador to Belgium last year in February replacing Amandin Rugira who is currently representing Rwanda to Zambia.

The institutions of the European Union are the seven principal decision-making bodies of the European Union (EU). Most EU institutions were created with the establishment of the European Community in 1958. Much change since then has been in the context of shifting the balance of power away from the Council and towards the Parliament.

Sibomana was arrested on January 6, in Karambo Cell, Rwamiko Village where he was at the time mining cassiterite after destroying residents’ gardens.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Sibomana was at the time in the company of one Bizimezente Leonard, who managed to flee in the process.

“Residents called the Police reporting people who were destroying their gardens in search for minerals. Indeed, the deployed Police officers found the two men after mining a heap of soil, which they were filtering in the nearby well to separate cassiterite minerals from the soil.

Unfortunately, one of the suspects, Bazimezente, fled but Sibomana was apprehended and handed over to RIB at Gatumba station as the search for his accomplice continues,” CIP Karekezi said.

He added that besides engaging in illegal mining, which is punishable by law, their unlawful acts were also affecting the environment as well as people’s plantations.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.

The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.

“They were washing and filtering the minerals in the well, and such practices are affecting water bodies and quaculture as well as causing soil erosion,” CIP Karekezi said.

He thanked residents, who reported the unlawful acts and called for strengthened partnership in information sharing on anyone suspected to be involved in these illgal and environmental degradation practices.

Among others, 167 people have been tested positive out of 5970 sample tests while no one has recovered.

The statement released last night by the Ministry of Health shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 117, Musanze: 18, Nyamasheke: 9, Huye: 8, Kamonyi: 6, Rubavu: 6, Muhanga: 2 and Gisagara: 1.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9225 people have been tested positive out of 756, 051 sample tests of whom 6940 have recovered, 2172 are active cases while 113 have succumbed to the virus.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

In a press conference held today, the Minister of Education, Dr Uwamariya Valentine has requested parents to start preparations for anticipated reopening.

“Children from nursery schools and lower primary schools (P1 to P3) will resume studies on 18th January 2021. Parents and students should start preparations to be ready by that time,” she said.

The decision comes after parents and students claimed that learners at some international schools are advancing education while others from local schools are unaware of reopening dates.

As he responded to queries via Twitter handle, the Acting Director General of Rwanda Education Board (REB), Dr Alphonse Sebaganwa said on 4th January 2021 that the timetable for primary and nursery schools’ reopening will be communicated in the near future.

After the first Coronavirus patient was diagnosed in Rwanda in March 2020, the Government ordered the closure of all schools that saw all students returning home.

Universities and higher learning institutions were allowed to reopen in September 2020 under strict COVID-19 control measures.

In October 2020, the Ministry of Education announced 2nd November as the reopening date for learners in primary 5 and 6 classes. Students from ordinary level, senior 5 and 6 also resumed studies the same day.

The second batch started the second term on 23rd November 2020. This includes learners in primary 4 classes, and secondary school students from senior 1, 2 and 4.

The current MINEDUC timetable shows that students will start the third term on 19th March 2021 to end on 9th July 2021.

The second term’s holidays will run from 3rd April to 15th April 2021. Finalists in primary schools, ordinary level and senior six are expected to sit for national exams in July 2021.