Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Kagame promoted two Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) Joseph Costa Habyara and Emmanuel Hatari to the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP). He also promoted eight Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to the rank of ACP, 22 Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to CSP, 39 Superintendent of Police (SP) to SSP and 37 Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) to SP rank.

Among the promoted ones commissioned officers, including 35 Inspectors of Police (IP) to CIP, 333 Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) to Inspector of Police; 1709 non-commissioned Police Constable (PC) promoted to Corporal (CPL), 62 Corporals and Police Constable (PC) promoted to Sergeant, 25 Sergeant to Senior Sergeant (SSGT), nine SSGTs to Chief Sergeant (CSGT) and one CSGT promoted to Assistant Inspector of Police.

“Rwanda National Police (RNP) leadership congratulates all those who have been promoted and appreciates the selfless service of those who have retired,” said Police Spokesperson, John Bosco Kabera.

The last time the president promoted police officers was in January 2018, which witnessed three women among the officers raised to senior positions of leadership within the police force.

These are Lynder Nkuranga, Rose Muhisoni, Teddy Ruyenzi- all now Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP).

The new cases were drawn from 4,757 sample tests that were conducted on that very day.

The statement reads that nine patients were discharged from treatment centers after recovery, bringing the recovery numbers to 385.

The confirmed cases in the last twenty-four hours include 14 from Rusizi, 4 from Kigali, and 2 from Kirehe District.

Since the start of June this year, Rusizi has become the main hotspot of the new Covid-19 cases in Rwanda.

A statement from the Ministry says the decision was based on an analysis done by the Ministry of Health on Covid-19 in parts of Kigali City where the pandemic has been detected so far.

The six villages put under lockdown are located in the Nyarugenge and Kicukiro districts including Kamabuye and Zuba villages in Nyarurama cell, Kigarama Sector in Kicukiro District.

Nyenyeri and Rugano villages of Kigarama and Gikondo Sectors respectively are also in the lockdown, together with Kadobogo and Gisenga, located in Kigali Cell of Kigali Sector, Nyarugenge District.

This comes after a number of new cases of the COVID-19 were detected in the city of Kigali.

Since June 21 twenty-one cases have been confirmed in Kigali city alone.
According to the Ministry of Local Government, both private and public office bearers living in the mentioned areas are supposed to work from home during the 15-day lockdown.

Moreover, movements between the six cells and other neighboring areas are prohibited save for those traveling for medical services or other very fundamental causes.

The statement says the Ministry of Health and the City of Kigali will continue to monitor and establish see whether there are some other parts of the city that need to be put under lockdown.

Local leaders and security organs were also urged to follow-up on the implementation of the new directives that came into effect immediately.

On Tuesday, 23 June the world was celebrating the Olympic Day. The day that is usually characterized by mass sports activities that bring together youth in different competitions. However, this year due to coronavirus it was not celebrated as it was meant to; instead, ROA joined RNOSC in a campaign of prevention against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex Sharangabo, who is the Secretary General of the RNOSC and the President of the Rwanda Olympians Association, said that the purpose of this year’s activity was to remind people of the fact that in these days of the pandemic people need to care about each other’s health.

“Since we cannot organize any kind of sports activity due to the pandemic that is affecting all Rwandans, our first plan was to share some of the Olympic values with taxi-motos, contributing in the fight against the coronavirus,” he said

Gervais Munyanziza, representing the Ministry of Sports applauded the initiative of ROA and RNOSC.

“We need to be healthy to do sport, and the organizers of this activity understood that for people to resume normal life it is important to face together this pandemic; let those that received these hand sanitizers today use them to the full purpose they were intended for. Thus, contributing in the victory we will soon be having over the coronavirus.”

Daniel Ngarambe, president of the Rwanda Motorcycle Association (FERWACOTAMO) said that they are pleased to have been thought of in these times. He promised the participation of Taxi-motos in the fight against the Coronavirus.

The said districts are Kayonza, Gatsibo and Kirehe districts. The first signs of the disease were observed in cattle in Kahi Cell, Gahini Sector, and also in Kanyinya Cell, Ndego Sector, both in Kayonza District.

The announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources issued on Wednesday evening state that the livestock whose movements were banned include cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep.

The sectors under animal quarantine are Gahini, Ndego, Mwiri, and Murundi in Kayonza District, Kiziguro, Rwimbogo, and Kabarore in Gatsibo District, and Nasho and Mpanga in Kirehe District.

The farmers in the sectors in question are urged to vaccinate all cows above six months old, according to the directive from the ministry. If a farmer detects any cow with symptoms, they are instructed to report to their veterinarian or nearest local leader.

The foot-and-mouth symptoms include, blisters in the mouth and on feet, drop in milk production, loss of appetite, quivering lips, and frothing of mouth.

According to the Ministry of Health, Rusizi is followed by Kirehe district with 6, Kigali 3 whereas the Eastern Province district of Nyagatare recorded 1 case. The registered cases are derived from 3,415 tests that were conducted in the last 24hrs across the country, nearly tripling the cases registered on Tuesday.

This brings the total number of cases to 830. There are also 5 new recoveries recorded, bringing the total number of recoveries to 376. Active cases still outnumber recoveries at 452.

With the resurgence of cases in the City of Kigali, dwellers have been cautioned to take care and adhere to set out measures to prevent the spread. With a couple of motorcycle riders testing positive, the Ministry of Health has warned that extra caution should be taken so that the virus does not spill back into communities.

New cases were found in Rusizi (8), Kigali (1), Kirehe (2), according to the daily updates from the Ministry of Health.

On Tuesday, the COVID-19 tracking team conducted 4,568 tests, a big record comparing to the normal average tests of 2,500.

KOTINGOZA was formed in 2007 after bringing together three cooperatives that were growing different crops with the main goal of fighting hunger.

Farmers that were previously using traditional farming methods for the past 13 years were usually hit hard by droughts.

In early 2020, the Rotary Club of Kigali Mont Jali donated three modern irrigation machines to KOTINGOZA.

The Rotary clubs bring together people with a heart to help solve the world’s problems, fight ignorance and poverty, improve access to clean water, resolve conflicts, fight epidemics and eradicate rabies through vaccination, and to help those in need.

Gérard Handika, the president of Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali told IGIHE that they assisted KOTINGOZA Cooperative through a project to support farmers’ cooperatives known as Africa Development Promise (ADP).

“We chose this cooperative because it has a clear growth purpose. This is part of the Rotary programs among which is included rural development and child and maternal health care, more so in this case since the majority of this cooperative members are women (68%). The method they were using for watering was archaic and difficult. With the machines provided to them, they will be able to increase their productivity with less hardship,” he said

Handika urged them to continue to work together and develop broad and practical projects.

The irrigation machines that were provided by the District 9150 through Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali to KOTINGOZA, have a value of $ 3,000, equivalent to about Rwf 2.8 million.

Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali was founded in 1999, with more than 20 members. It is one of the six in Rwanda including Musanze, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo and Butare.

KOTINGOZA’s activities are monitored by the ADP and they are also in charge of training the members on how to use the irrigation machines.

Parfaite Mukeshimana, ADP coordinator said that 15 farmers were initially trained; they will be helping others to use the machine.

“We help farmers by providing them with training and irrigation equipment. Once we get to the field and do needs assessment, we make a report and start looking for people who can help them,’’ she said

ADP started its operations in Rwanda in 2014, working with five women farmers’ cooperatives in Bugesera.

According to the Ministry, Rusumo cluster registered the highest number with 33, followed by Rusizi with 12 cases, Kigali recorded 7, Nyamasheke 4, and Rubavu 3.

The report also talks of a total of 11 new recoveries registered, taking the number of recoveries to 370.

The country’s testing capabilities have continued to improve with a total of 2, 287 tests conducted in the last 24hrs, bringing the total number of tests so far done to 113, 544.

The Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said that among the categories of people who tested positive in Kigali were moto-taxi operators after two of them were identified in Kicukiro and Nyarugenge districts.

“Detecting new cases among this category confirms the fears we had earlier on the motorbikes being a risk factor,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.

The other cases in Kigali are linked to previously confirmed cases that were traced.
“We want to encourage people to continue being vigilant. These cases confirm to us that the virus is still among us. We need to continue taking precautions as we also work around the clock to trace and contain the spread,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.

Dr. Nsanzimana said that there are practical precautions that people can take on their part to minimize the risk, including observing social distancing measures and taking safety precautions, including those who use motos as a form of transport.

He also said that the movement of people from one place to another could be a major risk factor for transmission but experts are working to see if indeed there could be a province to province risk for transmission.