Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

A statement from the ministry said that as of November 17, 2020, four had recovered.
The new cases were identified in Kigali: 3, Kirehe: 2, Muhanga: 1, Nyagatare: 3, Rubavu: 4, Rusizi: 2, and Rwamagana: 1.

In Rwanda, 591,585 sample tests have so far been taken since the outbreak; of these 5507 cases have been confirmed. 5008 are recorded recoveries while 453 were still active cases.

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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.

The First Lady made the remarks on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, in a message issued at the Virtual Launch of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.

The program was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) 2020, which is co-chaired by 194 countries. It will focus on three areas including prevention, testing, and treatment where it is expected to reduce the risk of new infections by 40% and five million deaths by 2050.

The event was also attended by Tsepo Motsepe, First Lady of South Africa, Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, and his deputy Zsuzsanna Jakab among other dignitaries.

Mrs. Kagame pointed out that women in low and middle-income economies are still succumbing to cervical cancer while the world has all it takes to stop it. It is a concern which WHO Director-General also mentioned two years ago, and not much has been done to reverse the trend so far.

“Up to 93% of cervical cancers are preventable, but today, cervical cancer is the second largest killer of women in low and middle-income countries after breast cancer. This is unacceptable when taking into account the available technology, policies, and cost-effective measures for early diagnosis and treatment,” the First Lady said.

This happens at a time when the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, has proven to be highly effective if administered before a girl or woman is exposed to the virus but, according to the First Lady, Rwanda is registering a success story since 2011 when the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine was introduced in Rwanda.

She said the country implemented the WHO recommendations on screening, treating and vaccinating targeted population groups, and results were commendable, thanks to “the effort between leaders and community health workers at a national and grassroots level.”

“Today, the vaccine is included in the national immunization regimen for children,” the First Lady said.

The First Lady acknowledged the awareness campaigns that in most cases targeted women and girls, and the attention the media dedicated to this cause.
However, Mrs. Kagame said that there are still challenges ahead “that warrant our urgent attention: the critical role and responsibility of men in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer.”

The challenge lies in the fact that HPV is the most common viral infection transmitted through sexual intercourse, yet HPV-related cancers are not as common in men as it is in women who are likely to develop cervical cancer. In this perspective, men tend to behave as if the cancer is a battle that women just, should fight.

“But to this day, there is limited knowledge of HPV among men, which comes with the risk of undermining the progress made so far. This is especially true of cultural settings where women are still striving for their full sexual and reproductive rights,” the First Lady said.

This brought her to a call to men to be active in the prevention of cervical cancer, first of all through understanding their role in protecting their female partners, the most victims.

This also comes with the responsibility “to ensure that at a young age, boys just like young girls are systematically vaccinated. Until then, the best prevention to protect women against this cancer will continue to be the use of condoms.”

WHO estimates that the death toll from cervical cancer has risen from 570,000 in 2018 to 700,000 by 2030, while the death toll has risen from 311,000 to 400,000.

Cervical cancer is ranked second in Africa in terms of the prevalence of women and the number of deaths, with Rwanda, ranked first. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) accounts for 99.7% of all cases of cancer.

After contracting the HPV Virus, bleeding in non-menstruation periods and in the menopause period are some of the symptoms of cervical cancer.

WHO estimates that cervical cancer in Rwanda is 31.9 per 10,000 women, while its mortality rate is 24.1 per 10,000 women, which means 921 deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health, in 2018 new cases of cervical cancer were detected in 362. The disease is more prevalent in women over the age of 45 years.

The ambassador gave the advice on November 16, 2020, during a visit to the university where he talked to students about youth development projects in his country and how they have improved their livelihoods.

The Ambassador said that the UAE Government fully believes that the empowerment of youth is vital in enabling young people to shoulder responsibilities, innovate and contribute to the welfare of the community.

“The government has a vision & strategy for its young population, and for that very reason it embarked to diversify its economy by creating new jobs for UAE youth in private and government sectors,” he said.

“We have 10 out of 34 young Emiratis as ministers in the cabinet, let alone the many Undersecretaries, CEOs, and so on.”

The Ambassador explained that in February this year, the UAE’s Cabinet approved 33 young Emiratis as members of the boards of directors for key federal entities.

The young board members will undergo intense training as they enjoy similar privileges and benefits as other established board members. The government subsidizes private sector companies if they employ UAE youth by making sure that they receive same benefits as their peers who work in the public sector.

“In 2016, the Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai announced the establishment of the Emirates Youth Councils, which aim to represent the ideas and aspirations of Emirati youth and provide innovative solutions in government.”

He shared a quote from the Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum saying “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it and execute it. It is not something you await but rather create”

He explained that the Ministry of Education offers youth scholarships in a number of different fields such as Medicine & Health Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Science &Energy, adding that the UAE government has extended support in the same through Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, offering scholarships to best high school performers to pursue their bachelor’s degree programs at top universities in the UAE.

“The UAE Government launched several career development & support programs to empower the youth. The different career centers offer free career counseling and workshops that provide Emirati youth with tools to become better prepared for work. The career centers are now found in every university in the UAE.

The quintet was arrested in City of Kigali in separate operations conducted on Saturday and Sunday. They were paraded before the media at the Police metropolitan headquarters in Remera, on Monday, November 16.

They are Ally Kalisa, 24, Vital Ndeze, 27, Charles Bizimana, 28, Darius Christian Manzi, 28, and Patrick Rukundo, 32.

They were arrested in Remera and Gatenga, in Gasabo and Kicukiro districts, respectively.

Police also impounded a Hyundai-Santafe vehicle, registration number RAD 995Y, which they were using in the robberies.

One of the suspects, Darius Christian Manzi, narrated that they started the robberies back in May and recalls two raids that he was actively part of in Gisenyi, Rubavu District and in Huye District.

“I was recruited by Patrick after the lockdown was lifted. I found that one of the members—Vital Ndeze—was also known to me, we studied together at Remera Catholique. We robbed a shop in Gisenyi of Frw700, 000 and another shop in Huye town of Frw340, 000. Targeted businesses would be picked at random without prior surveillance,” Manzi narrated.

They had hired the impounded vehicle to facilitate their movements.

In September, the ring allegedly robbed Frw600, 000 from a shop at Murindi in Kirehe District; in October, they stole Frw700, 000 from another shop in Rubavu District and Frw440, 000 in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District.

In this month alone, they allegedly robbed four businesses; Frw1.1 million from a banking agent in Nyamirambo; Frw415, 000 from another banking agent, who also operates a stationary shop in Nyarugenge city centre; Frw460, 000 from a shop in Huye District; and Frw300, 000 from Nyagatare District.

One of the victims, Eline Nyirangirimana narrated that at about 1 pm on Sunday, November 8; the same impounded black Hyundai vehicle parked in front of her shop in Nyamirambo, and was called out by people, who were in the same car.

Nyirangirimana operates a stationery shop and offers banking services.

“They called me to their car as if they wanted to buy something. They kept asking many things including banking rates, but one of them slipped out of the vehicle as if he was going for other errands, entered my shop, but I rushed back to my shop when I heard someone breaking things,” Nyirangirimana said.

She added: “I met the same man at the door coming out of my shop after stealing my money, which he had in hands. I tried to restrain him but he overpowered me and ran away. I remember the car they were using and the person, who entered my shop, although the latter is not among those arrested.”

It is the same trick that the gang applied to Jules Muhineza, on the same day, at his stationary and banking shop located in Nyarugenge city centre as well as other known businesses robbed in different parts of the country.

Shadrack Nsengayire, the rightful owner of the impounded vehicle that was being used in the robberies, said that his car was hired by a local travel agency and was shocked when he was called telling him that it was being used in criminal activities.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that operations are still underway to arrest other members of the same gang.

“By parading these suspected robbers, we hope that other unknown victims that are still out there will come forward, but also send a strong message that such people have no place to hide in our community policing society,” CP Kabera said.

“Last month, we paraded a group of robbers that was targeting petrol stations; today, we are here showing you another ring that was targeting shops, supermarkets and banking agents. What is clear is that you might succeed in your evil plans, but you will not escape the wrath of the law.”

In article 166, any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.

However, in article 167, the penalty doubles if the theft was carried out by more than one person.

The Congolese registered Toyota Noah, registration number CGO 7097AE/19, was being driven by one Esther Mbabazi, the alleged owner of the smuggled goods, who was also arrested. It was intercepted on Sunday morning at Giticyinyoni as the smuggler entered Kigali from Rubavu District.

Mbabazi had tried to use the cover of the night to smuggle the bales from Rubavu to Kigali, through remote routes but was identified as she entered Kigali, RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera, said.

“We have information that Mbabazi has been into this tax fraud for quite sometimes, and working with other people to smuggle bales of caguwa into Rwanda through Rubavu before transporting them mainly to Kigali,” said CP Kabera.

“She had hired this vehicle paying Frw600, 000 per month and using it to transport smuggled goods. Now, her time has come, she is going to lose the money invested in this fraud including heavy fines, the vehicle and the goods will be auctioned as the law provides, and she risks imprisonment,” CP Kabera said.

{{Tax fraud}}

A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax. With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax, like through the use of false accounts, falsified documents or any other act punishable by law. In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six (6) months and two (2) years.”

Under the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.

The vehicle used in fraud and smuggling, it is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.

In a press conference on November 16, the Minister of Education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine, assured that by the end of this month they will have received their salaries and arrears.

“It is normally the district offices that prepare teachers’ salaries; we came to notice that they do not add the 10 % that was agreed upon. Now that we know about this, from this month onward the amount will be added to their salaries including arrears.

The Cabinet meeting held on Monday, January 28, 2019, decided to increase the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers.

High school graduate (A2) was paid Rwf 44,000 per month; a graduate of the first year of university (A1) was paid Rwf90,000, while a university graduate (A0) was paid Rwf120,000.

“We are proud to welcome a record number of Rwandan students to the United States,” said Jeremy Jewett, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali. “These talented students are making a positive impact on colleges and universities all around the United States. We can’t wait to see the impact they will have on Rwanda’s growth and development when they return with world-class degrees.”

The new data comes from the 2020 Open Doors report on international educational exchange, an annual report funded by the U.S. State Department and released every year during International Education Week. The report reveals that the United States remains the top destination for international students and hosted more than one million international students (1,075,496) for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s report provides a baseline on the state of international educational exchange prior to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic has created challenges for travel and international education exchange, U.S. institutions have worked to offer creative solutions and demand remains high.

The U.S. Embassy in Kigali and its EducationUSA student advising office will celebrate International Education Week from November 16 to 20, with virtual programs to encourage future Rwandan leaders to study in the United States. Prospective students are welcome to join free virtual college fairs on Wednesday, November 18 (undergraduate studies) and Thursday, November 19 (graduate studies). More information and links are available on the U.S. Embassy in Kigali’s Facebook page and website.

The United States is home to more than 4,500 accredited higher education institutions, including community colleges and public and private colleges and universities. “This vast range of choices means there are programs available to meet everyone’s needs,” said Richard Kaburente, the embassy’s EducationUSA student adviser. The EducationUSA student advising program offers free guidance and assistance to students interested in learning about or applying to U.S. colleges and universities. For more information, please contact EducationUSAKigali@state.gov.

The statement from the Ministry on Monday revealed that 31 cases were found in Kigali City, from the testing in Nyarugenge Prison, one case was found in Kirehe, one in Nyagatare, and one in Rusizi.

On March 14, 2020, the Ministry of Health confirmed that an Indian, who had arrived in the country on March 8, 2020, from Mumbai, was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus caused by the new Coronavirus.

Since the first case of COVID-19 was found in Rwanda, 5491 confirmed cases have been identified in 588,534 sample tests taken. Of these, 5,504 have since recovered, while 442 are still active cases; so far, 45 have succumbed to the pandemic.

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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.