Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Those arrested are Nadia Umutoniwase, 18, Florence Mukashema, 32, Emmanuel Ngabonziza, 27, Olivier Byiringiro, 25 and one only identified as Uwineza, 25.

The District Police Commander (DPC) for Gakenke, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaston Karagire said that the drug dealers were apprehended due to a tip-off by residents.

“We received information that Umutoniwase and a taxi-moto operator were enroute to Kigali with narcotic drugs. We mounted a roadblock in Kageyo Village, Rusagara Cell, Gakenke Sector.

However, on seeing the Police, they diverted to a remote road but abandoned a consignment of narcotics during the pursuit,” said SSP Karagire.

He added: “Later, we received information that Umutoniwase and the motorcyclist were hiding at Doxa Bar and Lodge in Gakenke town, where she was arrested alongside their two other accomplices–Olivier Byiringiro and Uwineza. It was later established that Umutoniwase got the narcotics from Florence Mukashema in Musanze. Mukeshimana was also located and arrested together with Emmanuel Ngabonziza, a commercial motorcyclist, who was facilitating to transport them and their narcotics.”

Two motorcycles, which were being used by the group in drug trafficking were also impounded.

The DPC commended the residents who reported the drug trafficking ring leading to their arrest.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Gakenke station alongside their exhibits for further legal process.

Cannabis is calssified as “very several drugs” in Rwanda.

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.

In case of very severe narcotic drigs, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.

The statement released last night shows that no one has succumbed to the virus.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 789 have been tested positive of whom 25 283 recovered, 1148 are active cases while 349 have succumbed to the virus.

A total of 350,400 people 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.

CWEIC is the Commonwealth’s Accredited Business Network, a not-for-profit membership organisation with an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 54 Commonwealth member nations. Other Strategic Partners include governments and high-profile businesses from across the Commonwealth.

Every two years the CWEIC hosts the Commonwealth Business Forum in association with the host country of The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Joining CWEIC is seen as a key move for Coventry University Group as it prepares to open its new overseas hub in Kigali, Rwanda.

The statement released yesterday shows that the hub will support the Group’s links in Sub-Saharan Africa and follows the success of the overseas hubs in Singapore and Dubai, which provide organisations and individuals with regional access to the growing academic research and commercial expertise that exists within all areas of the Coventry University Group.

Professor Mohamed Loutfi, Special Envoy to the Vice-Chancellor, says working with CWEIC on the Africa Hub launch is just the beginning.

“We are delighted to be working with CWEIC. We are a global university group and we look forward to building on our strong international partnerships by engaging with CWEIC’s networks, international business leaders and Government decision makers across the Commonwealth,” he said.

“This link-up will not just allow us to build on our research and enterprise links across the globe but also enhance our mentorship programmes. We also hope this will provide an opportunity for our current students and alumni to connect and network with global business leaders,” added Prof. Mohamed.

Samantha Cohen, Chief Executive of CWEIC has said that the employability focused approach to learning was one of the reasons why the Group have become a key academic strategic partner.

“CWEIC is delighted to welcome the Coventry University Group as a Strategic Partner. This new approach to Higher Education – bringing industry and education closer together to offer graduates an active pipeline to employment – is to be applauded,” she noted.

“The Africa hub will promote the university group’s research, globalisation, enterprise and innovation work throughout the region through the development of closer relationships with embassies, government bodies, research institutes, universities and private sector entities,” added Cohen.

Coventry University Group partners with 150 academic institutions worldwide, with active partnerships in all continents pursuing joint research and teaching programmes, student and staff mobility, collaborative degrees and progression pathway programmes.

John Hakizimana, 39, was arrested in a Police operation conducted earlier that day when officers recovered assorted outlawed skin whitening creams and oils from his house located in Ingenzi Village, Kivugiza Cell of Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District.

Police recovered 90 boxes of skin bleaching products from Hakizimana’s house, valued at about Rwf9 million.

The prohibited products were trafficked into Rwanda from DRC, through Rubavu before sneaking them to Kigali.

Hakizimana was arrested alongside one of his clients identified as Faustin Niyonzima, who was also found at the former’s home, where he had gone to buy a new stock.
Hakizimana was a wholesaler in skin whitening products.

While speaking to journalists, Hakizimana admitted that he started trafficking the banned products two months ago.

“I was buying them from other dealers in Rubavu District but I do not know how they were sneaking them into Rwanda from DRC. I was using my vehicle to transport them to Kigali from Rubavu. I would conceal them in other legal goods to prevent being detected. It was easy to beat security because I would make sure that I have all the receipts for the legal goods; at least that’s what I thought that through this trick I was safe,” Hakizimana narrated.

To Niyonzima, a street vendor, this was his third time buying similar products from Hakizimana.

Patrick Hagenimana, Ingenzi village chief, said that no one suspected Hakizimana to be engaged in such unlawful business.

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said the suspects were arrested as a result of strong partnership between Police and the public through information sharing.

“The public is now aware of which business is allowed and illegal ones. They also know their role in fighting such criminal businesses by reporting those involved, and we commend them for that community policing spirit,” CP Kabera said.

Article 266 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, states that “any person, who produces, sells or prescribes the following prohibited substances: a drug; harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substances and any other products derived from plants; commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million or only one of these penalties.”

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Finance, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza, presided over the official launch of the Training of Trainers (ToT) course, which was organized and conducted by Rwanda National Police in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security.

The event was also attended by the Germany Deputy Head of Mission in Rwanda, Renate Charlotte Lehner.

Gen (rtd) Romeo Dallaire is a Canadian, who commanded the UN peacekeeping force that was deployed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
DIGP Ujeneza observed that protection of children against any form of violence and abuse is the responsibility that should be upheld by all adult people especially human rights duty-bearers such as the Police.

“It is an obligation that Rwanda, as a member state of the UN and Rwanda National Police in particular, as a professional institution, take at heart. While Rwanda enjoys substantial peace, security, and stability, we recognize, however, that there are other places in the world and on the continent where people are still experiencing violent conflicts and where most victims are civilians and mostly children,” DIGP Ujeneza said.

She noted that Rwanda being a major troop and Police contributor to the UN peace support operations and being among the UN member states which endorsed the Vancouver principles on peacekeeping and prevention of recruitment and use of children as soldiers by armed forces and armed groups; the government through its institutions such as RNP, uphold and commit to comply with the same principles for the respect of human rights and ensuring protection of civilians in areas of violent conflicts.

“Children being the most vulnerable civilians in the period of insecurity and in the aftermath of violent conflict, need to be considered for protection against any form of violence or any abuse.

To effectively prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers in areas of violent conflict, there is need to equip peacekeepers with deep understanding on the issue and realities on the ground.”

Future Rwandan police peacekeepers, she said, shall be equipped with appropriate skills to handle the issue in a sustainable manner.

She urged the trainees to take the ToT course seriously.

“You have been selected to attend this training… after you get knowledge and deep understanding of this issue of use of children as soldiers and knowing how to effectively detect and prevent it; you will share the knowledge with the future RNP peacekeepers to create impact in all our areas of operation domestically and abroad where they will be deployed.”

The training, DIGP Ujeneza said, solidifies the foundation for further trainings for RNP personnel in this relevant domain, which she said will be included in the force’s training curriculum, especially the peace support operation pre-deployment training.

The Germany Deputy Head of Mission in Rwanda, Renate Charlotte Lehner, said that soldiers and police officers today undertake special training on how to intervene at an early stage if children are forcibly recruited in a conflict.

“You will acquire skills on how to disarm and protect child soldiers so that the children are not alone – they will have a safety net because of you. We trust and believe in the capacity of the Rwandan trained UN soldiers and police staff; they are recognized peacekeepers on the African continent and elsewhere,” Renate said.

The bales were seized on Monday, May 24, at about 2am from a group of smugglers, who had just sneaked them into Rwanda through Rukeri village, Bihungwe cell of Mudende sector.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that the group of smugglers, which was reported by area residents, was composed of about 20 people armed with traditional weapons including machetes.

“They were carrying 16 bales of used clothes and four bales of used shoes.
On seeing the Police, they abandoned the bales and fled to different directions but during the pursuit, officers apprehended two of them identified as Gaspard Dufitumukiza and Twagirayezu,” CIP Karekezi.

As the the group was fleeing, however, they attached a local residents at his home identified as Hungu Mberamihigo and seriously injured him on the head with machetes.

Police officers rushed Mberamihigo to Gisenyi hospital where he is currently receiving medical care.

CIP Karekezi explained that smuggling of second-hand clothes and shoes is common in the night of Sunday as smugglers target Kabumba market in Bugeshi Sector which operates every Monday, while other bales are taken to Nyabihu and Kigali.

The two arrested suspects were handed over to RIB at Busasamana station for further investigation while exhibits were handed over to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in Rubavu.

CIP Karekezi lauded the strong partnership and information sharing between the public and Police on lawlessness including smugglers.

He said that the search for other smugglers, who also violently attacked the resident, is still underway.

Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods are auctioned.

{{Tax fraud}}

A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax. With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax, like through the use of false accounts, falsified documents or any other act punishable by law. In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six months and two years.”

Article 121 of law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person who, wilfully, injures, beats or commits any serious violence against another person, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of between Rwf500, 000 and Rwf1 million.