Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Rwamuganza, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Godfrey Kabera, the Director-General in the Ministry of Finance, Eric Serubibi, the former Director-General of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and Christian Rwakunda, who was Deputy Director-General in Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) are being prosecuted for having conspired to mismanage the purchase of a building on the behalf of the government in 2018, causing losses to the government.

The judges upheld the remand for all six defendants, saying they have a case to answer.

One of the main things that the judges emphasized was the fact that they participated in negotiation meetings that led to the purchase of the building from its owner, a process they handled in a way that was contrary to public procurement laws.

In their appeal, the defendants had also questioned the primary court’s failure to consider the securities they presented to it in order to be granted bail, to which the intermediate court rejected the securities because their value was lower than the losses estimated to have been caused by the government officials.

Of all the defendants, Rusizana is the one who presented high-value security pieces of property worth over 4.3 billion Rwandan Francs.

The defendants’ lawyers argued that court documents indicate that the decision to remand them was made on August 23, 2020, which is due next month, but it emerged that the court registrar in the previous hearing was supposed to write “June 23, 2020,” the day the decision was made.

The court said that a mistake in writing does not provide strong grounds to release the defendants, adding that there are reasons to believe that releasing them would jeopardize the case, considering that businessman Rusizana continues to deny that there was a conspiracy to set the price between himself and the officials.

The judge said that after assessing each of the defendant’s culpability, they found strong reasons to believe that the decision to award Rusizana the deal was not done in a competitive manner and he cannot deny his involvement in the process.

The name of the dead Rwandan soldier has not been released. However, RDF confirmed to IGIHE that they were aware of the death of one of their soldiers.

The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, through his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said he strongly condemns this attack that targeted a MINUSCA convoy in Gedze, Nana-Mambere prefecture in the northwest of the country.

“The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the victim as well as to the people and Government of Rwanda. He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” a statement from Guterres’ office reads.

“The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack so that they can be brought to justice swiftly,” it adds.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed that the United Nations will continue to support national efforts to advance peace and stability in the Central African Republic, working closely with the country’s international partners.

MINUSCA, the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic, works to protect civilians and support transition processes.

The authorities and 14 armed groups, which included 3R, signed a Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in February 2019.

“This criminal attack constitutes a new violation of the peace agreement by the 3R & its leader Abass Sidiki”, the UN mission said on Twitter.

Rwanda is the third largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. There are 5342 RDF troops in Amisom, Minusca, Unamid, Unisfa and Unmiss.

The crops that will be covered by the government in the matter of fertilizing in the 2021 A, B and C seasons are maize, beans, wheat, soybeans, rice, potatoes, cassava, bananas, vegetables, and fruits; while maize, wheat, and soybeans are the crops that will be needing added seed in those seasons.

Farmers are asked to use Smart fertilizers program to identify the amount of product they need and to join ‘Twigire muhinzi’ group.

Fertilizers traders should also use MOPA-based Smart Support technology, so as to buy fertilizers supported by the Government.

Of the hybrid maize seeds grown in the highlands, the most expensive type is PAN691 which will be sold at Rwf 962the Kg and the cheapest will be RHMH1520 and RHMH1601 which will be sold at Rwf 453 the Kg.

Hybrid seeds grown on mountains and in the valleys, the most expensive will be PN53 which will be sold Rwf 1547 the Kg, the lowest price will be RHM104, RHM1402, and RHM1407 which will be sold at Rwf 453 the Kg.

OPV corn seeds will be sold at Rwf 295 the Kg. Soybeans are currently sold at Rwf 425 and Rwf 396 and wheat is currently sold at Rwf 346, Rwf 318, and Rwf 426 the Kg, respectively.

In Regards to added fertilizers; Urée is set at Rwf 447, DAP is at Rwf 480, NPK 17:17:17 costs Rwf 603, TSP is at Rwf 523 while MOP costs Rwf 481.

These directives, signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gérardine Mukeshimana, stressed that anyone who is caught smuggling or misusing seeds and fertilizers will be punished.

Only four companies have been so far allowed to import fertilizers from the country under the Nkunganire program and sell them through Agro-Processing Trust Corporation Ltd (APTC); these include Yara, ETAG Inputs, Rwanda Fertilizer Company, and Tubura.

Sarah Doukouré is replacing Eddy Sebera who was President of the Club for the last 2 years.

The handover ceremony took place on July 9, 2020, and it was attended by Members of the Rotary Clubs of Rwanda.

For more than 50 Years, Rotary Clubs in Rwanda have contributed to improving access to clean water, quality of education, fight against epidemics such as the eradication of rabies, the eradication of ignorance and poverty, the protection of the environment and the struggle for peace.

Eddy Sebera said that during his two years in charge of Rotary Club Kigali, much has been done to improve people’s lives.

“We have contributed in the health sectors, education, among others.’’ He said
He said that the club has grown positively with more women on board.

“This year of presidency went very well and I am particularly happy about it. You Rotarians are responsible for it based on your commitment to the Club. You have been regularly present to encourage me while making a valuable contribution to the dynamism of the Club by showing me your confidence as your President.’’ Said Sebera.

Sebera added that he has no doubt with his successor, Sarah Doukouré would continue to lead the Rotary family in a positive direction and advised her to continue the spirit of changing our world to a better place.

“I’m happy and I know Sarah will take us far.’’

Sarah Doukouré joined Rotary in 2017, being the first woman to hold this position in the last 10 years in the Rotary Club Kigali.

She said that becoming president as a foreigner shows how Rotary Club Kigali is open to anyone who wants to contribute.

“This day marks a new beginning in my calling as a member of the Rotary club. It is a heavy responsibility because it means that next year I will be representing all the projects we will have.’’

Among projects she will focus on are projects related to helping those affected by COVID-19.

“Rwanda has been reacting to the pandemic in a very strong and positive way….this gives us, as Rotarian the will and engagement to do the same; to continue to contribute and to help the community because that is what we are here for.” She said

She also stressed that she will continue to work to increase the number of new female members.

“For the past three years, I have been trying to recruit other women into the Rotary Club. Today we are about ten women out of 30 members of the Rotary club of Kigali. We really want to recruit more women to join us, that would be my honor and that will be my focus.’’ Doukouré added

During her term, Doukouré Says she will be working hand in hand with Eddy Sebera as Vice President and in charge of Projects; Karema Carole is in charge of Fundraising; Ndoba Mugunga in charge of the Foundation; Kayitare Florent has been appointed as the Secretary of the Club at the same time as looking after the Youth Affairs; Ida Alexandra is the Deputy Secretary while Kaburame Julien is the Treasurer.

Jeannette Rugera, the Assistant District Governor of Rotary in the District 9150, was present in the ceremony to represent the District and she assured the new President of Rotary Club Kigali to be there for her as she resumes her new role.

“It is a pleasure to have a woman as the president of Rotary Club Kigali; I will be here to assist. We will be working together, there are a lot of projects that we will be working on together focusing on needed medicine for these special times of fighting COVID-19.’’ ADG Rugera said

In its contribution to the prevention of COVID-19, Rotary Club Kigali Doyen donated 4,000 bags to Rutsiro residents; donated 13 million Frw to both Kigali University Hospital (CHUK) and King Faisal; they also donated more than 900 liters of hand sanitizer and cleaning equipment to RBC. They also donated 3 million Frw to support Solid Africa, a charity that cares for patients in public hospitals and helps them get food.

In Rwanda, Rotary is made up of six clubs including Musanze, Kigali Mont Jali, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Kigali Gasabo and Butare with 112 members.

Kagame explained to the social media influencers that the history of Rwanda’s liberation struggle of 1990-1994 is one, which every Rwandan associates with; he said many individuals sacrificed their lives to liberate the country after many years of suffering.

“During our time many of us were refugees, not only those who were out of the country but even those who were in the country because they were deprived of their rights in many cases,” he noted.

Kagame was among the people who abandoned their studies and life to join the struggle to fight against the regime that presided over three decades of misrule which culminated in the Genocide against the Tutsi.

“These people (Rwandans) should probably have decided to do something else, but they chose to sacrifice and be part of the liberation struggle,” he said in a televised session.

The Head of State was asked about his personal experience throughout the 26-year journey after the liberation, and all the way to leading the country into a stable nation.

“I didn’t embark on the liberation journey with being a president in mind. I never really targeted to become a president,” he said.

“But certain actions may have led me to where I am. It’s not as if it’s a job interview where you apply,” he added.

President kagame said Rwanda has done all it can to fight the pandemic, indicating that more people in the country have recovered from the virus compared to the active cases; he emphasized that defeating the pandemic requires working together with neighbors.

“No country has all the answers to it but we have to listen to science and do everything to curb the spread of this virus,” he told 20 influencers who were meeting at the Campaign Against Genocide Museum at Parliament.

Kagame also commented on the possibility of improved ties between Rwanda and Burundi, saying the government was ready to work with the new leadership in Burundi led by President Évariste Ndayishimiye.

“There is history that led to the bad relations between our two sister countries but we are ready to work with President Ndayishimiye of Burundi to address those issues,” he noted.

Commenting on the status of regional trade and cross border movement of goods, the Head of State said that there were challenges in movement of goods into and out of the country occasioned by challenges of cooperation by regional countries.

“I have seen in the media false reports that truck drivers entering Rwanda have been harassed and mistreated. That isn’t true. What we do is test truck drivers entering for Covid-19 and that’s what we agreed in the EAC,” kagame said.

President said that Rwanda has been facing difficulties despite attempts to seek ways to work together with other countries often being put in scenarios that could raise the country’s vulnerability to the pandemic.

The President said that cooperation is the only sure way to ensure that trade and movement of goods can continue at the same time managing the pandemic.

“My problem is not who has more cases than the other, our problem is that we should work together to manage it, to control it, there are ways known to do that and through cooperation we can have a very good understanding… There is one way of doing it for everyone; it is cooperation, feeling for one another. And knowing that if we don’t some will suffer more than others,” he said.

He however noted that Rwanda will continue to engage neighboring countries with awareness that post-Covid-19, there will be multiple areas of continued cooperation.
When President Kagame was asked what he thinks about Black Lives Matter, his answer was ‘yes, they do matter’

“I don’t think there is more value with a person of a certain skin color than the other one of a different skin color. Black people have been discriminated against not in just one place but in many places,”

“In fact, some of them have been discriminated even on their own continent, this continent of Africa,” President Kagame said, adding that it shouldn’t have happened and Black Lives Matter is an opportunity to make things different.

President Kagame said that racism should have no room; it doesn’t matter when it happened in the past, or it is happening now, it is wrong because there is no life or race that matters than the other.

“I think some people can easily distort that if you are saying that black lives matter, it is as if you are saying other lives don’t matter. I don’t think that is the issue, that is not correct,”

President Kagame said Black Lives Matter movement is important because it highlights how people have suffered under injustice, under racism, under prejudice.

President Kagame emphasized that saying that Black Lives Matter does not mean that other lives don’t matter but rather a reminder that black lives need to be treated better and not be looked at as lesser humans.