Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Given the critical role of the sector in Rwanda’s development, the African Management Institute (AMI) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation have organised training for managers in the tourism and hospitality sector to equip them with practical knowledge to boost efficient management and improve service delivery.

Beneficiaries of the programme dubbed ‘Inspiring Managers’ speak with satisfaction as they reflect on how the knowledge they acquired is positively impacting their managerial skills.

Daniel Karemera who works with event management companies including Rwanda Events and the Factory Event, says that the training instilled a spirit of teamwork.

“I have benefited a lot from this programme, most importantly learning how to welcome a large number of guests, treat them well and anticipate their needs. AMI taught us teamwork, good decision making and how to value co-workers’ feedback,” he said.

Pauline Iradukunda, a facilitator at Hotel and Tourism Business School, Vatel Rwanda, explained that the training helped her to come up with new approaches.

“Adapting to changes is one of the most important lessons I learnt from the programme. We used to teach students in person but we shifted to online courses due to Covid-19. The situation was not easy and I started to feel bitter, but the training programme taught me to be flexible to tough circumstances. It motivated me and helped me grow. My role grew, I was given more responsibility which came with a pay rise,” said Iradukunda

“I was among the lucky team leaders selected to participate in the programme and continued to assist students through virtual sessions. After participating in the Inspiring Managers training, I was given additional responsibilities including staff recruitment and received a pay raise,” She added.

AMI’s Inspiring Managers coordinator, Patrick Cyusa, explained that the programme was introduced to improve efficiency in the tourism and hospitality sector to ensure tourists receive world-class hospitality and customer care.

“The programme has had a significant impact and we have received positive feedback from the beneficiaries.Beyond performance improvement, some of them have gotten promotions. Thanks to the Inspiring Managers programme, beneficiaries are able to create a conducive working environment and address challenges in collaboration with their co-workers,” he said.

To date, more than 400 business owners and entrepreneurs have attended the programme. The goal is to train over 1000 in the course of the year 2021.

AMI’s Inspiring Managers programme is offered virtual and takes six months to complete. It is provided at no cost to the participant thanks to our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

The African Management Institute also trains entrepreneurs through Survive to Thrive, a four-month programme designed to build capacities and enhance decision making skills for businesses, particularly during Covid-19 which has brought unprecedented challenges.

Are you a Manager,Supervisor or Team Leader working in the Hospitality & Tourism sector or in the creative industry? Boost your leadership skills and Apply today for the Inspiring Managers Programme here http://bit.ly/InspiringManagers01

The trio was arrested on Saturday, May 29, in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District. They are identified as Barnabas Siborurema, 36, Theoneste Muhirwa, 43, and Pangrass Twizerimana alias Paccy, 37.

They were showed to the media on Sunday, May 30, at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.

Theoneste Muhirwa, who was guising as “IP (Inspector of Police)” told journalists that he joined forces with Barnabas Siborurema in 2018, when they started defrauding people, targeting mainly those aspiring to be drivers and in the process of acquiring a driver’s license.

“I met Siborurema in 2018 when we started conning people. We were calling ourselves Police officers although the whole idea was brought by Siborurema. We started targeting people, who failed driving tests,” said Muhirwa.

He recalled that in 2018, they defrauded two people of Rwf300, 000.

“It is almost impossible to acquire a driver’s license without going through the usual process of registering, sitting for tests and passing, but we were targeting people, who are easier to manipulate because of their vulnerability especially those who failed the tests and feel frustrated,” said Muhirwa.

Muhirwa’s recruiter, Barnabas Siborurema also recollected that in this month of May, they fleeced another man in Rwamagana District of Rwf500, 000 after making him believe that they are Police officers attached to the traffic department and in position to get him a driver’s license without doing the mandatory tests.

Jean Paul Iraguha is the victim, who was defrauded of Rwf500, 000. He explained that he paid the money to Siborurema at different intervals to get a driver’s license for Category B.

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned the public to avoid shortcuts and opt for the legal procedures of acquiring driver’s license.

“These three people were arrested over impersonation and fraud, the criminal acts they committed while fleecing different people whom they were promising to give driver’s license,” CP Kabera said.

He added: “We always remind the public to avoid such criminal shortcuts where they end up being victims to such fraudsters. It is your right to acquire a driver’s license, but you must go through the well laid process instead of ending up being cheated of such big sum of money. If you fail the first attempt, try again and again; do not give up because paying someone to give you a license is also criminal.”

Article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million.

In article 279, any person, who without tittle usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official or publicly wears a costume, a uniform, badge or an emblem with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, with a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Rwf500, 000.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 918 people have been tested positive of whom 25 609 have recovered, 957 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.

The statement released last night shows that 69,869 people were vaccinated yesterday.

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 Commissioner General of Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS), Dr. Chisela Chileshe is among true witnesses of Rwanda’s transformational journey and home grown solutions including inmates’ correction and rehabilitation process to convert them into responsible citizens.

Speaking to IGIHE during his recent visit to Rwanda from 25th to 30th April 2021, Dr. Chisela talked about cooperation between both countries’ correctional services and lessons learnt from Rwanda’s bets practices.

“The transformations that we have seen in terms of correction is quite huge. The correctional facilities are showing positivity of how a human being should be treated,” he said.

During his visit, Rwanda and Zambia signed implementation guidelines of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on December 3, 2020.

The MoU aims at strengthening institutional capacities to rehabilitate inmates into more responsible citizens contributing to national development upon release.

It also incorporates clauses to exchange best practices whereby Zambia can learn from Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) model to introduce community based health insurance for prisoners.

The MoU was signed by RCS Commissioner General, Juvénal Marizamunda and his counterpart of Zambia, Dr. Chisela Chiles during a meeting aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two institutions in the field of correctional services.

Rwanda is among countries that have embraced technology to streamline the judicial sector’s efficiency known as Rwanda Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) helping inmates to follow up their court cases.

CG Marizamunda explained that they are ready to assist Zambia to initiate the technology that has proved efficiency.

On another note, Zambia as a country with advanced expertize in research to monitor inmates committed to train Rwanda’s prison warders.

CG Dr. Chisela Chileshe also reiterated his country’s readiness to strengthen existing cordial relations and enhance inmates’ rehabilitation.

Among others, Dr. Chisela and his delegation visited Kigali Genocide Memorial located in Gisozi where they received explanations on history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

After touring different parts of the memorial, the delegation laid wreaths to mass graves and paid tribute to genocide victims.

The Commissioner General of Zambia, Dr. Chisela said that genocide was perpetrated with extreme cruelty and called on Rwandans and the international community to learn from such history to prevent reoccurrence of Genocide.

“I would like to convey a message that hatred we should not leave loopholes for hatred, and ethnic divisionism because they are destructive,” he said.

Dr. Chisela warned people denying and trivializing Genocide against Tutsi particularly perpetrators roaming freely in foreign countries that they should return to Rwanda to witness severity of their wrongful acts.

“They should neither deny nor trivialize Genocide against Tutsi. What happened in Rwanda reflects extreme cruelty. Genocide fugitives who killed neighbors and friends should return to witness their wrongful acts,” he said.

“Today, Rwanda is a peaceful and secured country abiding by laws. They can seek forgiveness if they return. And am sure that they can be forgiven or get justice. I stand against people denying Genocide against Tutsi after witnessing history at this memorial,” added Dr. Chisela.

He stressed need to draw special attention to inmates convicted of Genocide crimes to rehabilitate them into more responsible citizens upon release.

“Zambia and Rwanda Correctional Services are learning from each other. We have a heavy responsibilities to ensure that inmates are not only rehabilitated physically but also psychologically because a traumatized mind is very dangerous,” said Dr. Chisela.

“Thousands of inmates in Rwanda, are Genocide convicts who need a lot of attention. We will work together with RCS to ensure that we build capacity together and help our brothers in other areas of cooperation so that inmates are rehabilitated into responsible citizens upon reintegration into the society,” he said.

On the last day of his visit, Dr. Chisela visited the liberation museum located in Kimihurura.

“When we visit memorials or museums, our thoughts are reminded of what happened to forgive further so that we look forward to a very united society and above all, learn to be patriotic. It is time for non-patriotic people and others outside to visit Rwanda and develop patriotism spirit because it brings development to all countries. That is my appeal to all Rwandans outside. We have seen tremendous development here and we can only move on that development trajectory,” he said.

The General Commissioner of ZCS said that he was impressed by Rwanda’s remarkable progress and thanked Rwanda’s leadership led by President Paul Kagame for reuniting Rwandans and rebuilding the country from ashes following the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

Those arrested are identified as Angelique Byukusenge, 21, found with 1,000 pellets and Marie Therese Uwiduhaye, 25, found with 1,836 pellets.

According to Chief Insepector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi , the Police spokesperson for the Western region, ANU first arrested Byukusenge at about 10am, in Kibaya Village, Kamashashi Cell, Nyarugunga Sector of Kicukiro District, with 1,000 rolls of cannabis.

“Following her arrest, Byukusenge disclosed that she got the narcotics from another supplier (Marie Theresa Uwiduhaye) in Kageri Village, Kora Cell, Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District, where Uwiduhaye was also located and arrested with 1836 pellets,” said CIP Karekezi.

Byukusenge is also a resident of Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District.

Uwiduhaye is suspected to be a major drug trafficker with links in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where she gets the narcotics.

Investigations indicate that she has been frequenting DRC and sneaks the narcotics into Rwanda herself, through porous borders.

The 2,836 rolls of cannabis was her latest consignment she brought few days prior to her arrest.

Meanwhile, at the time of Byukusenge’s arrest, she was delivering the narcotics to one David Semana, 31, in Kibaya Village, Kamashashi Cell in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District.

However, Semana was at the time already in Police custody over the same crime.

CIP Karekezi commended the existing partnership between the Police and public through credible information sharing on major drug dealers.

“This partnership is helping to break such chains of supply, and it is crucial in fighting drug related crimes,” the spokesperson said.

Byukusenge and Uwiduhaye were handed over to RIB at Jenda station for further legal process.

Article 3 of 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 narcotic drugs,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million.

The statement released last night shows that 35 people have caught the virus while 89 recovered.

New cases were found in Kigali: 12, Karongi: 3, Ngororero: 3, Kirehe: 3, Muhanga: 2, Nyanza: 2, Gakenke: 2, Huye: 2 , Rubavu: 2 while Nyamagabe, Musanze, Kayonza and Burera districts recorded one case respectively.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 878 have been tested positive of whom 25 542 recovered, 984 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.

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.