Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Habiyambere was arrested on Wednesday, September 30, in Nyabitekeri cell of Tabagwe sector with 100 litres of kanyanga.

ANU is a Rwanda National Police (RNP) unit charged with fighting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana said ANU has been trailing Habiyambere following information from local residents that he is one of the major kanyanga dealers in Nyagatare, supplying local retailers.

“On September 30, a resident shared information that Habiyambere had brought more jerrycans of kanyanga from Uganda, ANU traced and arrested him. The 100 litres of kanyanga in five jerrycans were recovered in the neighbour’s kitchen.
The neighbour, who was out running personal errands, was not aware that Habiyambere was using his kitchen especially at night, as store,” said CIP Twizeyimana.

According to the spokesperson, there was information that Habiyambere also deals in cannabis, although no such narcotics were found during the search.

{{Using children}}

Habiyambere admitted that he sneaks kanyanga into Rwanda from the neighbouring Uganda through illegal border points.

He further disclosed that he uses children or the youth to carry jerrycans of kanyanga from Uganda, in most cases at night, paying them Rwf3,000 per jerrycan delivered to the final destination.

“Trafficking and selling kanyanga is one thing and using children is another, which amounts to child labour, violation of their rights and manipulating them to engage in such drug related crimes for personal gains,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

Kanyanga and other outlawed substances are classified as simple drugs.

Under article 263 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, anyone convicted for simple drugs faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.

However, if the crime involves using children, the penalty is life imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf30 million and Rwf50 million.

The campaign resumed on the roads of City of Kigali and will be extended to all parts of the country.

Gerayo amahoro campaign was first launched on May 13, 2019, but was halted on the 46th week when COVID-19 broke out in the country.

ACP Teddy Ruyenzi, the Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Administration in the department of Traffic and Road Safety, said that after six months of intensified efforts in fighting Coronavirus, it is evident that people’s zeal to safely use roads has decreased.

She said it is high time the police reminded road users on the disciplines of road usage; harmony, and avoiding mistakes and behaviors that could lead to road accidents.

“We started with motorists, educating and reminding them how to safely drive on a two-lane-same-direction road; that one must drive on the right lane, and only use the left when they are overtaking a slower motorist, but they must then return to the right lane. This is advisable because it helps everyone to drive on their speed without hardships or affecting traffic flow,” ACP Ruyenzi.

She also explained that motorists are being further informed on how to drive at intersections, roundabouts, how to use their head-lights, as well the necessity to respect pedestrian crossing zones.

“We also remind motorists that when they reach roundabouts, they must give priority to those already in the roundabout. We are also looking at safe overtaking and regulating speed, one of the major causes of fatal accidents,” she added.

“For lights, motorists should use high beam only when they are in the dark, and low beam when there is light. When one uses the high, the other drivers might lose sight and this could cause serious accidents,” ACP Ruyenzi further explained.

She also condemned motorists who do not give way for pedestrians especially in their crossing zones.

“Motorists should respect pedestrians’ rights. All vehicles must reduce their speed when they approach pedestrian crossing zones.

We have started with these key points because they are evidently the most violated and in the process making them some of major causes of accidents.

Most of these accidents were due to over speeding and motorist redundancy.

Motorists are urged to avoid mistakes and inappropriate road usage for their own good and the safety of other road users. They are also encouraged to avoid being penalized for preventable reckless and risky behaviors, which now can be detected by the new road technology.

A statement issued on October 1, 2020 states that new patients have been identified in Kigali City, Musanze and Kirehe Districts where one case was for in each of them.

The new cases brought the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Rwanda to 4,843, while the number of recoveries is now 3,181. A total of 1,633 people are still receiving medical care in their hospital centers and some in their own homes; about 29 have succumbed to the pandemic in Rwanda.

The number of COVID-19 infections has dropped dramatically with about eleven cases in three days.

So far, the Coronavirus has no cure or vaccine, the medical units only treat the symptoms of the pandemic allowing the human body to build a strong immunity system and hence eliminating the virus in the blood.

President Kagame said in a twit yesterday that their contribution to the liberation of Rwanda today is the reason the country is where it is in its achievements and current economic development that all Rwandans are enjoying.

“To all patriots of our country and friends who walked this seemingly insurmountable journey that put us where we are today and did us proud today as a nation; we salute you and thank you!!! Dukomerezaho…!!!” Kagame said.

It has been 30 years since the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the armed wing of RPF-Inkotanyi, launched the liberation struggle to topple the genocidal government, a journey that lasted for four years.

The ‘October 1’ was the start of the four-year journey that was aimed to end social divisions, restore unity, establish a democratic leadership, and defend the sovereignty of the country, among others.

On October 2, 1990, the first commander of RPA, Maj. Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigema was shot dead.

While the army was missing its former commander, that was when the then Maj. Paul Kagame cut short his military studies in the U.S to return and reorganize the fighters and led them until the country was liberated.

The decision was taken reaffirming an earlier decision that was taken on the suspect but rejected by his defense team arguing that Kabuga was not physically fit to stand trial in Tanzania due to his poor health condition.

Kabuga was arrested in Paris in May 2020, ending a manhunt that lasted more than two decades of evading justice for his crimes committed during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. The 87 year-old suspect was indicted in 1997 on seven criminal counts including genocide.

He is accused of assassination as a crime against humanity, extermination as a crime against humanity, rape as a crime against humanity, persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds as crimes against humanity in addition to various war crimes

On June 3, the Paris Court of Appeal, responsible for examining the validity of the arrest warrant issued by the Mechanism for International Courts (MTPI), ordered Kabuga’s surrender to international justice under the International Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) now the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) based in Tanzania.

Kabuga had appealed this earlier court decision of his transfer to Arusha but the court upheld the defense he is expected to use his health conditions to convince the court to be tried in France and not be sent to the International Criminal Tribunal court in Arusha, Tanzania for trial.

The fake dollar notes were in the denominations of US$100, Police said.

The suspected counterfeiters were arrested separately in Gisenyi town with materials, including a computer, printer and papers, which they were using to produce the fake dollar notes.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson of the Western region, said Police first arrested Ngarambe, who identified Nsanzamahoro as his co-conspirator.

“A resident informed the Police that Ngarambe had counterfeit money. Ngarambe was located and arrested in possession of six fake notes of USD100 and 101 other pieces of paper cut in form and size of currency notes, which would be printed into more fake money,” CIP Karekezi said.

He added: “Ngarambe, after his arrest, identified Nsanzamahoro, also a resident in Gisenyi, as his accomplice and who prints the fake money.

Police went to Nsanzamahoro’s house where he was arrested with five notes of $100 and recovered a computer and printer, which they were using to make the fake monies.”

Apparently, the suspects would search dollar notes on the internet, add some colours with the computer before printing them.

All the eleven fake notes had the same serial number.

The serial number corresponds with that found on other fake dollars, which were also seized from a woman arrested in Rubavu District, recently.

CIP Karekezi thanked the resident, whose community policing spirit led to the arrest of the duo, and called for continued partnership and ownership in fighting such high impact crimes, which affect the economy and particularly small businesses, which are mainly targeted.

Article 296 in the penal code says “any person who, fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years and not more than seven (7) years.”

It is a bill approved by the Cabinet on July 15, 2020, and has already been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, for a valid date, to be discussed in the commission. The bill consists of 58 articles, with the approval of the successor to Organic Law n ° 30/2008 of 25/07/2008 on citizenship.

It is a law in the definition of a new project, which is said to need to be amended to reflect the laws that have been in place since 2008, as well as the national policy that Rwanda prioritizes.

In this project, it is planned to simplify the process of applying for and obtaining Rwandan citizenship, that is, based on the birth of at least one parent of Rwandan origin.

It will be requested and launched at the Rwanda Registrar’s Office, the person requesting registration as a Rwandan to be done will be issued with an identity card “after consultation with the competent authority”.

The power to grant other citizenship shall be retained by the Cabinet, while the granting of honorary citizenship shall be vested in the President of the Republic.

{{Added reasons for citizenship acquisition}}

The bill seeks to increase the grounds for applying for and granting Rwandan citizenship, including to foreigners who are “of national interest”, regardless of the five years they are said to must have been in the country.

These include the granting of Rwandan citizenship to a foreigner with special talents, investment or sustainable activities.

In general, the bill provides 11 reasons for granting Rwandan citizenship, namely of non-origin.

These include being born on Rwandan soil, an unborn child, marriage, due to the mother of an unborn child, national interests, special talents, investment or large and sustainable activities, living in Rwanda, dignity, immigration and statelessness.

{{Acquisition through marriage }}

A non-Rwandan citizen may acquire Rwandan nationality through a lawful marriage to a Rwandan spouse.

Under Rwandan law, a marriage must be in existence for at least three years to grant eligibility for Rwandan nationality.

On this point, changes were made preventing people to get married in order to easily access the citizenship.

It also says that marriage alone, even when fulfilling the time requirement, cannot guarantee the acquisition of Rwandan nationality if it has not been registered in a Rwandan registry of civil status.

But if the marriage was done in “bad faith” to facilitate the acquisition of nationality, it will be revoked, the Bill says, while the effect of revocation will be extended to children and dependants.

In the current law, the deprivation of Rwandan nationality cannot have adverse effects on the deprived person’s spouse and children neither will divorce — if the marriage was in “good faith”.

Another dramatic change includes the tripling of time required for a foreigner to acquire nationality on grounds of residency. Whereas it required a foreigner to reside in Rwanda for five years before applying for citizenship, it will now take 15 years if the Bill is passed into law.

Dual citizenship is still protected under the bill. Individuals must declare their dual citizenship status within three months of the date on which they acquired a second nationality.

The move also comes on the heels of the government’s announcement that it will phase out ordinary passports by June 2021 and replace them with the East African Community passport.

The farewell working lunch organized by Rwandan women peacekeepers, was attended by Women Network’s executive members.

It was held at Rwanda Formed Police Unit Two and Three (FPU-2 and FPU-3) base camp in the capital Juba.

The FPU-2 and FPU-3 contingents operating in Juba will soon be returning home after completing their tour of duty that lasted 18 months.

The two Rwandan Police contingents have combined 92 women peacekeepers.

In their message, the Women Network commended their Rwandan colleagues for their professional contribution to the UNMISS mandate.

They also thanked them for “exhibiting the heart to serve at the frontline of FPU operations.”

The departing Rwandan female peacekeepers were further appreciated for all that they have achieved as women in service and for ably holding command positions from unit commander level, platoon commanders to section commanders and medical staff, against all odds.

“You served with excellence, looked after each other as sisters, sacrificed to leave your children and loved ones to serve as peacekeepers, and standing side-by-side with your male counterparts to make a difference,” the Network partly said.

“Challenges faced was just another day on the job as professionally trained women.”

Rwanda FPU-3 contingent commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jackline Urujeni also acknowledged the impact of the network in influencing women in service.

SSP Urujeni further thanked the UNMISS Police Commissioner for all the support to Rwandan Police women adding that they will leave with cherished memories and great time shared with the Women’s Network in promoting women in service and in peacekeeping in particular.

During the farewell lunch, Rwandan women peacekeepers handed over their financial contribution to support the activities of the Network.

It is expected that at the outset, once the first vaccine is approved, Rwanda will be given a few vaccines, which will focus on protecting people working in the health sector and others who are considered to be most critical.

The first phase will protect about 3% of the population, which means that out of 12.5 million people living in Rwanda today, about 375,000 will be vaccinated against Coronavirus.

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) will also monitor the delivery of these vaccines, advising countries to first vaccinate health workers, as they are among the most likely to be infected with Coronavirus; yet it is not a must, therefore, each country will use the vaccine given to it as it pleases.

It is expected that in the middle of next year, Rwanda will be given other special vaccines, especially those in those categories that may be severely affected by Coronavirus, including elderly people and those with other diseases.

This category is likely to leave more than 10% of the population vaccinated against Coronavirus, and will focus on areas with the highest number of Coronavirus infections. As in Rwanda, Kigali will be given priority in light of the current rate of infection.

Rwanda is also likely to be vaccinated for the third time, in case of severe outbreaks of Coronavirus and there is an inability of its clinics to cope with the severity of the pandemic.

The phase is expected to be completed by the end of next year, at which point the WHO predicts that the pandemic could see its end completely.

The Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, who recently told IGIHE that the Rwandan government plans to vaccinate at least 25% of the country’s population, saying this could significantly reduce the spreading rate.

At the time, he said, “once the vaccine is available, at least 25% of Rwanda’s population will be vaccinated for more effective results.”

The COVAX Forum is made up of a total of 156 countries, of which 92 developing countries which are eligible for funding, and the other 64 have the ability to multiply vaccinate, and are in the network in order to provide assistance.

All of these countries are home to 64% of the world’s population, so if they achieve their goal, it will help the Earth cope with the spread of Coronavirus. Meanwhile, the United States, China, and Russia are not in the forum.

In order for at least two billion people to be vaccinated against Coronavirus next year, the world needs $ 3.4 billion, of which $ 2 billion is needed no later than this year in order for developing countries to be vaccinated before next year.

Currently, there are about six vaccinations that have reached the third phase of the experiment, which is the last before they are approved and given to the public. It is not yet known when the vaccine will be approved, it is said that it might be released between November and December.

Meanwhile, Russia has announced that its vaccine has been approved and that the country will start giving it to their citizens next month, with more than 100 million expected to receive it. The vaccine, however, has not been approved by WHO.

Critics of COVAX say the way this forum will work will not be productive, for the vaccine is set to be given to countries that do not have high levels of Coronavirus, while countries with high levels of infection should be receiving the special attention.

However, WHO says that even if countries have a small number of infections, they could increase unexpectedly, which is why they need to be addressed early.