The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has via Twitter handle revealed that Minister Biruta and Archbishop Gallagher discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Rwanda and the Catholic Church.
Rwanda is among 24 African countries with Bishops elevated to the rank of Cardinal.
On 28th November 2020, His Eminence Antoine Kambanda became Rwanda’s first ever cardinal installed by Pope Francis.
As he joined catholic faithfuls from across the country towards the end of last year at Kigali Arena, in a thanksgiving ceremony in honour of the first ever Rwandan cardinal, President Paul Kagame expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for trusting Cardinal Kambanda to be amongst the Pope’s closest advisors.
Kagame said that the trust is founded on the wise judgement and proven commitment throughout Cardinal Kambanda’s service to the Church in Rwanda who also showed that he is able to contribute to the Church on the global stage.
In March 2017, Kagame visited Vatican where he met with Pope Francis and held talks at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.
At the time, Kagame and the Holy Father discussed several aspects of the relationship between Rwanda and the Holy See. They also discussed the Church’s role in the most tragic chapters of Rwanda’s past, leading to the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in 1994.
This agreement is expected to strengthen the capacity of the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (RFDA), which is key to enhancing the attractiveness of Rwanda for investments in the manufacturing of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, thus helping to improve access to medicines.
Commenting on the development, the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen welcomed the agreement considered a major milestone towards local manufacturing of vaccines.
“This is an important step in supporting local manufacturing of health products in Africa. As announced by President Von Der Leyen , Team Europe will continue to support the country and Africa in strengthening the regulatory framework and attracting investment in the pharmaceutical sector,” she said.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije highlighted that upgrading Rwanda’s regulatory capabilities to the required international standards is a critical step on the journey to vaccine manufacturing.
“The European Union is a central partner in our efforts to bridge the gap in vaccine equity in Africa by building pharmaceutical production capacity,” he noted.
Clare Akamanzi, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) stressed that access to vaccines is critical, especially for Africa where only around 1% of vaccines are manufactured on the continent.
“This agreement boosts Rwanda’s efforts to build a vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem to contribute to health security of our region and our continent,” she stated.
The initiative agreed yesterday will help the RFDA to establish a strong quality control laboratory for medical products and supply new equipment for an integrated information management system.
This will help the RFDA in achieving the required level of certification by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be able to fully play its role to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of vaccines and pharmaceutical products.
The agreement is part of a comprehensive medium-term Team Europe support to bring the authority’s laboratory, technical and organizational capacity to high levels of performance.
As part of this effort, the EU Delegation will also seek to facilitate a peer-to-peer partnership between the RFDA and national regulatory authorities from EU Member States.
Among others, the EU and the European Investment Bank are in discussions to partner with the Government of Rwanda to facilitate and promote investment by pharmaceutical and biotech companies in the country, including exploring opportunities for co-financing and de-risking potential investments.
In May 2021, the EU announced at the G20 Global Health Summit in Rome a Team Europe initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies in Africa. The initiative will help to create an enabling environment for local vaccine manufacturing in Africa and tackle barriers on both the supply and demand sides, backed by €1 billion from the EU budget and the European development finance institutions, such as the European Investment Bank (EIB). This amount will be further enhanced by contributions from EU Member States.
Bicamumpaka, who was trafficking the narcotics on a motorcycle, was arrested on Tuesday, June 29 enroute to Tare from Mushubi Sector, Police said.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamagire said that Bicamumpaka was traveling on the motorcycle with another person, who escaped.
“On Tuesday at about 12 noon, Police officers in a patrol vehicle encountered two people along Mushubi-Tare road, who were traveling on the same motorcycle. They had a big sack which raised the officers’ suspicions owing to the fact that the route is used by drug traffickers and in some cases using motorcycle,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added: “When the two men on the motorcycle saw the Police vehicle they threw down the sack and turned to a different direction. When officers checked the dropped sack they found it contained cannabis.
Police officers trailed the motorcycle, and with the help of residents they found the moto hidden in the bush. They also located and arrested Bicamumpaka, the owner of the narcotics, who was roaming in the area.”
The motorcycle and the narcotics were impounded to Uwinkingi RIB station, where Bicamumpaka is also detained as the search for his accomplice is still underway. The spokesperson warned taxi-moto operators against aiding drug dealers.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.’’
Article 263 of law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for very severe narcotics, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
The statement released last night also shows that 849 people have caught the virus.
The majority of new cases were found in Kigali: 199, Muhanga: 96, Rubavu: 95, Gicumbi: 64, Musanze: 54 and Rulindo: 40.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 39 047 have been tested positive of whom 27 272 recovered, 11 337 are active cases, 39 are critically ill while 438 have succumbed to the virus.
A total of 391, 805 have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme on 5th March 2021.
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.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the brews were seized from separate distillers and sellers in the three districts, who were reported by area residents.
“Four people were arrested in Tumba, Ruhashya and Huye sectors in Huye District with 650 litres of muriture. They are Jean Marie Vianney Uhagaze, Goreth Nyirampakaniye, Seraphine Mukagasana and Jonas Nshimiyimana,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added: “In similar operations conducted by the Police and local leaders in Ruhango and Nyanza districts; three people were caught with 290 litres. They are Alphonse Ngendahimana arrested in Ruhango Sector and the duo of Alphred Uwizeyimana and Eric Niyomugabo apprehended in Nyagisozi Sector, Nyanza District in possession of found of 100 litres and 120 litres, respectively.”
He warned against producing, selling and consuming such harmful substances.
“Muriture is classified as a simple narcotic drug because it is harmful to consumers. Its alcoholic content and products used are either unknown or they are not authorized for human consumption. Again, these are also illegal distilleris operating in unhygienic places using dirty containers which makes it a healthy concern,” SP Kanamugire observed.
As Rwanda continues to fight the pandemic of Covid-19, these remote bars selling illicit brew as well as those producing the substances can also be the source of spread.
Moreover, bars are still closed to prevent related social gatherings seen to be another means of Covid-19 spread.
Article 5 of the Ministerial order Nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws; on the list of simple narcotic drugs.
Article 263 of the law determing offences and penalties in general states that; any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years and a fine of not less than Rwf5 million and less than Rwf10 million in regard to “simple narcotics.”
Mukeshabatware breathed the last on Wednesday June 2021 succumbing to natural cause.
Speaking to IGIHE on Wednesday, his son Philbert Nyirimigambi revealed that his father died at King Faisal Hospital where he was getting treatment.
“My father has been feeling unwell. He went for medical attention yesterday feeling backaches. He was supposed to undergo diagnostic radiology today but died before checkup around 12:00,” he said.
Marie Hélène Mukakarangwa, the wife of Mukeshabatware also died on 30th November 2017.
Mukeshabatware was born in Nyarurguru in 1950 at the reign of King Rudahigwa.
He completed primary school in 1965 from where he continued studies at Saint André after successfully passing national exams.
As he completed the ordinary level, Mukeshabatware worked as a teacher in Nyarurguru and later joined the military in 1970.
Upon recruitment, Mukeshabatware once told IGIHE that he was taken at Ecole de Sous Officers (school of non-commissioned officers) for three months where he passed exams to write for newspapers and got scholarship to study in Belgium.
Mukeshabatware explained that he spent one year and three months in Belgium and established military printing house upon arrival. He was at the rank of Corporal at the time.
Mukeshabatware quit the military after eight years of service claiming meager payment.
In 1980, he was recruited to the former Rwanda Information Office (ORINFOR) printing section and later in 1982 joined the drama team of ORINFOR called Indamutsa where he gained popularity.
Ecobank beat a host of other banks in the African Banker Awards 2021 to take home the SME Award in a 2020 tumultuous year characterised by the Covid-19 pandemic which continues to ravage many African economies, with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) taking the greatest hit.
Among other criteria, the African SME Bank of the Year award 2021 recognises the bank which has significantly contributed to the development of the SME sector, thus helping them to build the economic backbone of the continent.
Part of the entry criteria required that the winning bank has significantly catalysed funding into the private sector in Africa and promoted enterprise development by facilitating credit and access to finance for SMEs.
Since Covid-19 emerged, Ecobank Group has considerably ramped up investments in programmes targeting SMEs by expanding SME-focused lines of credit, providing technical assistance to SME development institutions and building SMEs’ capacity via linkage programmes in partnership with its strategic partners. The Group has been at the forefront of promoting gender inclusion and closing the gender finance gap through innovative initiatives such as ‘Ellevate by Ecobank’ that targets women-led and women-focused businesses across the continent.
Commenting on the development; Ecobank Group Executive, Commercial Banking, Josephine Ankomah said: “2020 was a year of unprecedented challenges on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. It required resilience and innovation. We needed to rethink our business and provide innovative ways to assist our SME customers to help them to survive the difficulties brought about by the pandemic. We are truly honoured to receive this recognition. Our immense gratitude goes to our staff, customers and partners who have made this possible.”
{{Some of the measures taken by the Bank to support SMEs in 2020:}}
-* Proactively instituting mitigating actions, including tenor extensions and moratoriums on interest, to assist SMEs to manage their loan repayments;
-* Increasing the utilisation of digital channels, such as Ecobank Omni Lite, to provide customers with capabilities to make payments remotely and conveniently;
-* Upskilling staff to ensure their capacity to help develop the SME sector;
-* Collaborating with existing risk sharing partners, particularly Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), to share a portion of the risk associated with our lending to the SME sector;
-* Partnering with tech giant Google to provide SME customers with the means to develop free online presence through the Google My Business platform;
-* Collaborating with the African Union’s Development Agency – AUDA-NEPAD – to focus on strengthening Africa’s support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and assist their recovery from the impact of the pandemic by empowering MSMEs with access to capabilities, markets and finance, so that they can play a pivotal role in restarting Africa’s economies;
-* Launch of ‘Ellevate by Ecobank’ which is a women-owned and women-focused product offering women an end-to-end partnership, through which they gain access to both financial and non-financial services such as financial education, product information, networking and recognition; and
-* Growing the number of merchants using Ecobank’s point-of-sale (POS) terminals from 5,571 to 15,878, in addition to attracting significant onboards onto EcobankPay, our flagship QR collections platform, from 180,060 to 248,664.
The exercise to relocate 144 families from informal settlements began on 28th June 2021.
The recently completed model village in Kinigi will be officially inaugurated as part of celebrations of the 27th Liberation Day slated on 4th July 2021.
It is made of six three-storey blocks with 24 homes each. A home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room, with ready furniture and a television set.
Beneficiaries already settled in new homes have received basic equipment including beddings, sanitary items and foods among others.
Speaking to the media, they have voiced appreciation to the Government for inclusive development policies that saw them becoming smart residents, optimistic for a prosperous future.
“I am very excited to receive the new home equipped with all basic needs. It has furniture, smart television, cooking gas among others. Our special thanks go to President Paul Kagame who oversees for us and relentlessly promotes our wellbeing,” said Ismael Izabiriza.
Another beneficiary, Fidèle Ntirenganya, 72, has revealed that residents resisted the relocation but were gradually convinced and changed mindsets.
“At the beginning, local leaders convened a meeting to communicate the resettlement which we resisted. We were against the decision to relocate us until we toured these homes and changed mindsets due to their magnificence. It is a great pleasure that I am among lucky residents that have received homes at the model village. I am thankful again for the decent home where I will enjoy comfort during my advanced ages,” he explained.
The mayor of Musanze district, Jeannine Nuwumuremyi has urged beneficiaries to take good care of received homes.
“These homes have been built for Kinigi residents to give them decent shelters and settle them appropriately. Kinigi’s land is productive and expensive. So, there is a need to manage efficiently. Beneficiaries’ previous did not facilitate easy access to infrastructures which are available at the model village. We want them to properly maintain these houses, infrastructures and engage in income generating activities” she noted.
The model village also has poultry houses for 8000 chickens and sheds for other livestock.
The village also has a nursery school, health center, business center workshop, playgrounds and kitchen gardens among others.
The Government of Rwanda yesterday released new COVID-19 preventive measures stating that all schools and higher learning institutions will be closed in the districts of Burera, Gicumbi, Kamonyi, Musanze, Nyagatare, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Rwamagana and Kigali city for a period of two weeks effective from 1st July 2021.
The decision taken few days before candidates sit for Primary Leaving Examinations, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations triggered public reactions wondering how to strike balance amidst closure of some schools.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Premier Ngirente allayed worries for students at closed schools that the Ministry of Education will issue guidelines to help them.
“I would like to reassure the general public that we consider all sides as we make decisions. We do not close schools disregarding the fact that there are students who will sit for national exams. The released statement shows that schools are closed adding that the Ministry of Education will help national exam candidates slated in July. The Government oversees interests of citizens. To this end, citizens should rest assured that no student will miss exams,” he revealed.
Premier Ngirente stressed that COVID-19 containment measures are instituted for interests of Rwandans.
“Before we take any additional measures we first weigh the pros and cons because it is the lives of Rwandans that we want to protect. We look at all the possibilities to sustain the fight and allow lives to continue. All these decisions we take are thoroughly discussed beforehand & are made for the benefit of all Rwandans. We must continue to work together and sustain this fight against COVID-19 until we succeed,” he said.
The campaign, which started on Monday, June 28, brings together the Police, Private Sector Federation (PSF), local leaders and youth volunteers in community to supplement the national efforts against the second wave of the pandemic.
The sensitization campaign started in Musanze District, Busogo Sector where traders were educated on the health guidelines and government directives.
In Rulindo District, the sensitization was extended to traders operating in Base market while in Gakenke District, the awareness was rolled out to traders working in Gakenke trading center.
Equally in Burera District, it was held in separate trading centers while in Gicumbi District; traders in markets, shops and Gicumbi taxi-park were educated.
The Governor of the Northern Province, Dancille Nyirarugero, while speaking to traders in Busogo, urged the them to operate responsibly while observing all the Covid-19 prevention guidelines.
“Do not be the source for Covid-19 spread or be infected by your clients. Remember, the Northern Province ranks second after City of Kigali with the highest Covid-19 cases and particularly Musanze and Busogo sector have the highest number of cases,” Governor Nyirarugero said.
She reminded them of the threat the virus poses to people’s lives and urged them to ensure maximum observance of the government directives and recommended safety guidelines.
Complancency, the Governor said, can be fatal and urged them to change their behaviours and be responsive in their businesses.
“Wear face masks at all times, sanitize or wash hands as many times as possible, avoid unnecessary movements, and ensure your customers maintain social distancing at your shops and do not allow them inside the shop,” the Governor told the traders.
Donatha Mukanyarwaya, PSF representative in the Northern Province, appealed to the local traders to take part in ensuring that the health measures are respected and enforced.
The Northern Region Police Commander (RPC) Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Reverien Rugwizangoga, urged traders not to operate under watch but to own the responsibility.
“We have all experienced the ill-effects of Covid-19. We are still seeing daily infections and deaths, and the situation is still fragile. Being providers of essential services, you equally have a big role to play. Follow the directives, close early to get home in time to prevent violating the curfew,” ACP Rugwizangoga told the traders.
He also warned against operating prohibited businesses adding that the focus is to save lives but not to arrest or to fine violators.
The RPC urged them not to fear the Police or administrative fines but rather Covid-19 because it kills.
