IGIHE

Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

  • Rwandan peacekeepers join South Sudan Police in Umuganda

    Spearheaded by FPU-3 contingent commander, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jeannette Masozera, the Rwandan peacekeepers worked together with South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) officers to clean the station and its surroundings.

    They also picked up litter and trimmed bushes around the station.

    Yei Police station commander, Capt. Madhong Kuc Yak thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers adding that the communal exercise defines the good relations between Rwanda National Police (RNP) and South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), and the two countries in general.

    “This community exercise sends good message to communities around this Police station of the importance of coming together for the common purpose. It is also something that will always remind us… a remembrance even when Rwandan peacekeepers complete their mission here in South Sudan,” said Capt. Madhong.

    He added that Rwanda serves as an example of how Police and the public work together for the overall well-being of the people.

    “Personally, I like the way you do it in Rwanda; how the Police and the citizens work together in such hygiene and human security activities. We know what happened in Rwanda—the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—and how the country has moved very fast with the reconciliation, commitment, and cooperation as one people and one voice as security organs. This is an example for us to follow,” Capt. Madhong added.

    SSP Masozera pledged continued support and partnership in various aspects of policing and the overall wellbeing of civilians.

    “As Rwandan Police peacekeepers, we are here to also support you,” SSP Masozera said, adding that Umuganda will be organized at least once every month.

  • COVID-19: One more death, 99 new cases

    The deceased is a woman aged 76 from Huye district.

    The statement released last night shows that 99 people have caught the virus while 106 recovered.

    Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 033 people have caught the virus of whom 24 592 have recovered, 1098 are active cases, one is critically ill while 343 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.

  • DIGP Namuhoranye urges officers set for peacekeeping in CAR on ambassadorial duty

    DIGP Namuhoranye made the call on Friday, May 14, while briefing 140 officers of the Protection Support Unit (PSU-1) contingent to be deployed under the rotation arrangement in the UN Multidimentional Integration Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA).

    This will be the sixth rotation of the Rwanda PSU since the first contingent was deployed in CAR in 2016.

    The unit is largely charged with the security of top government officials including the Prime Minister, and other local and international VIPs.

    “Whatever you will be doing it will be in the name of your country and your actions should define Rwanda’s good image and peacekeeping reputation,” DIGP Namuhoranye said.

    He added: “You are 140 ambassadors, always remember what you stand for; you represent Rwanda and Rwandans, we expect you to come back with the reputation like those you are replacing or previous contingents.”

    The Prime Minister of Central African Republic (CAR), Filimin Ngrebada, last week, awarded certificates to his Rwandan ‘Special Escort Team’ in recognition of their service.

    The recognized police officers are part of the PSU contingent that will be replaced.

    The Deputy Police Chief challenged them to be defined by the Rwandan and RNP values.

    “Be polite, professional, work and support each other as a team with self esteem. You are going to a country with different tradition and culture which should be respected,” he said.

    Rwanda PSU 1-6 commanded by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Innocent Rutagarama Kanyamihigo will replace PSU 1-5 headed by CSP Valens Muhabwa, which was deployed in January 2020.

    The PSU is one of the three Rwanda Police contingents deployed under MINUSCA.

    DIGP Felix Namuhoranye challenged them to be defined by the Rwandan and RNP values.

  • Kagame swears-in newly appointed Courts’ Presidents, Supreme Court Judge

    They were appointed on 21st April 2021.

    Rukundakuvuga replaced Dr. Kalimunda as president of the Court of appeal while Mukamurera replaced Emanuel Kamere at the head of Commercial High Court.

    Mukamurera also served as a member of the High Council of the Judiciary from 2008 to 2015. Rukundakuvuga worked as a commissioner at the Rwanda law reform commission in 2018. In 2019, he was appointed judge at the Supreme Court.

    Addressing his remarks, Kagame urged them to ensure that justice system supports growth of a culture of playing by the rules.

    “Members of the judiciary should be the first to play by the rules for Rwandans to feel comfortable that they have a justice system in which they can place their trust and continue with their daily lives,” he said.

    Kagame also reminded them to deliver on expectation, uproot corruption, build on existing achievements to do more and consolidate gains.

    “If the public, whatever size of it, perceives the judiciary or another justice institution as corrupt, inefficient, ineffective or influence able we are all safer assuming that the perception is founded, work to find out why it exists and what needs to be done,” he said.

    Among others, Kagame stressed that the upcoming initiatives around promotion of mediation should be expedited ‘as they present a real alternative to litigation that practically places disputants at the centre of the resolution of their own dispute, and does so faster’.

    He told sworn-in members of the judiciary that Rwandan society and economy have grown in size, dynamism and expectations and requested them to support the growth.

    “The justice system needs to keep watching this evolution and to continually play its rightful role in support of this growth,” noted Kagame.

    President Paul Kagame in a group photo with newly sworn-in members of the judiciary.

  • Cimerwa Plc remembers former employees killed during Genocide

    The event held yesterday started with a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial before paying tribute to 64 former employees killed during Genocide at the plant’s headquarters in Rusizi district, Western Province.

    The delegation that visited Kigali Genocide Memorial was led by Roland Van Wijnen, the CEO of Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) Ltd, one of the leading cement companies in South Africa which acquired 51 percent stake in Cimerwa and the CEO of Cimerwa Plc, Albert Sigei.

    Roland Van Wijnen highlighted that telling the truth will be a weapon to defeat propagandists misinterpreting Genocide history.

    “Visiting Genocide memorials helps us to reflect on the past, learn from historical reality because there are many people misinterpreting what happened in Rwanda. I would like to stress the need to scale up efforts to preserve genocide memorials, which is a crucial aspect to unity and reconciliation journey,” he said.

    Roland stated that other countries should learn from Rwanda’s resilience and attained transformations after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

    “I am visiting Rwanda for the third time. I am very impressed by the country’s constant progress. Rwanda’s transformation and achievements should leave a lesson to other countries,” he noted.

    Following the visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial, the delegation headed to Muganza sector in Rusizi district at the headquarters of Cimerwa Plc to pay tribute to former employees killed during Genocide.

    CIMERWA has been supporting Genocide survivors in Rusizi district to improve livelihoods through renovation or construction of new houses, catering for school fees and donating cows at different times among others.

    The delegation from Cimerwa Plc paying tribute to victims laid at Kigali Genocide Memorial.

  • Kagame receives Director of Africa CDC, Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation

    Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation is a charitable not-for-profit organization focused on promoting the health of women and girls throughout the world.

    Dr. Nkengasong comes to Rwanda at a time when Africa needs to fast track manufacturing of vital products for COVID-19 prevention in Africa.

    Appearing in RBA revolving around the country’s responsiveness to COVID-19 pandemic recently, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health in charge of Primary Healthcare, Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga has said that the Government of Rwanda is holding discussions with manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines that could pave the way to establish a local plant.

    Among others, Dr. Fisseha has visited Rwanda after the country signed an agreement with the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation in August 2020.

    In August 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta signed a host country agreement with the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation paving the way for establishing Africa office in Rwanda.

  • Kagame receives BRD Board Chairman

    Hailing from the United States of America (USA),Bobby Pittman, was appointed the Board Chairman of BRD on 1st July 2020.

    Discussions with Kagame were also attended by the CEO of BRD, Kampeta Sayinzoga; the Minister of State in Charge of National Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Richard Tusabe and Urujeni Feza Bakuramutsa, the Director of Cabinet in the President’s Office.

    Pittman is also the Managing Partner at Kapunda Capital, a platform to create, capitalize and scale pan-African companies. He was previously the Vice President of Infrastructure, Private Sector and Regional Integration at the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Africa Fund Manager magazine named Pittman to its inaugural ‘Power 50’ list of industry leaders who are shaping investment trends in Africa.

    Following his appointment, Pittman reiterated commitment to drive BRD to the next level.

    “I am incredibly proud of BRD’s accomplishments over the past 53 years of its existence especially the recent half century. BRD has indeed established itself in the marketplace as an efficient development finance institution. I am confident that the Team’s leadership will continue to grow and expand the impact and we look forward to leveraging our strategic networks of Stakeholders, who – along with our Team – are all united in the desire to successfully steer the Bank to make an even greater contribution to Rwanda’s socio-economic development. I also look forward to working closely with the BRD Executive Committee as well as our experienced and dedicated Staff,” he said.

    BRD Plc. has been a key part of Rwanda’s development since its establishment in 1967 and is Rwanda’s only Development Finance Institution (DFI).

  • Rwandan Police peacekeepers supply clean water to CAR communities

    On Wednesday, May 12, the peacekeepers supplied clean water to 100 households in Sega site Two and Maison de Jeune.

    This is the second time this month that the contingent is supplying water to these communities. More than 200 families have so far been given clean water under this mobile delivery service.

    “The supply of clean water is meant to protect civilians from any health effects resulting from drinking or cooking using unclean water. It also falls under our community policing programme in Bangui where we operate,” CSP Claude Bizimana, FPU-1 contingent commander said.

    “Apart from the health effects associated with using dirty water, we are also trying to prevent long distances these families make to the nearest clean water source and crimes such us sexual violence or child abuse since children are the majority age group that trek long distances to fetch water,” he added.

    FPU-1 is one of the three Rwandan Police contingents deployed under MINUSCA; Two FPUs and a Protection Support Unit, each composed of 140 officers.

  • Rwanda records two more COVID-19 deaths, 88 new cases

    The statement released last night shows that 88 people have caught the virus out of 3 698 sample tests while 75 recovered.

    Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 25 934 people have been tested positive of whom 24 486 have recovered, 1106 are active cases while 342 have succumbed to the virus.

    A total of 350,400 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program 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.

  • Visit Rwanda, RwandAir join Basketball Africa League as official partners

    The partnership will showcase Rwanda as a world-class tourism and investment destination and highlight Africa’s growing sports industry. Games will be played at the Kigali Arena, and the Kigali Convention Centre will serve as the practice facility for all 12 BAL teams. Visit Rwanda will be showcased on BAL team uniforms, and the BAL and RDB will collaborate on youth development and social responsibility initiatives in Kigali during the season.

    In addition, RwandAir, the country’s national carrier, will be the league’s Official Airline for the inaugural season and has facilitated travel to and from Kigali for select BAL teams and staff. RwandAir operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets out of its Kigali hub. Earlier this year, RwandAir became the first African airline to vaccinate all staff and crew against COVID-19.

    BAL President, Amadou Gallo Fall expressed delight for reaching the long-awaited milestone.

    “We’ve spent a lot of time engaging and coming here in Rwanda many many times, and to be here today getting ready to launch this historic inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League, in so many ways, is special,” he said.

    “As we set to tip off our league and make basketball history, teaming up with RDB and RwandAir reflects our belief that sports, and basketball in particular, can be an economic growth engine for the continent. Rwanda is leading the way for tourism in Africa, and this partnership will highlight an African continent that is creative, vibrant and ready to tell its story,” added Gallo.

    Commenting on the partnership; the CEO of RDB, Clare Akamanzi stated that the partnership presents an invaluable opportunity to showcase the wonders of Rwanda.

    “As a Founding and Host Partner, we will reach millions of basketball fans from all around the world and promote Rwanda’s natural beauty, budding sports tourism, and conducive investment and business environment. Hosting the BAL in Rwanda is also a testament to Rwanda’s successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are pleased to welcome all the players and visitors to Rwanda for a safe and seamless experience,” he noted.

    RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo explained that the airline is honoured to be the official partner of BAL.

    “We’re excited to play such a pivotal role in uniting teams across Africa for the inaugural season. In addition to vaccinating all RwandAir employees, we’ve implemented stringent health and safety protocols on board and at the airport. These measures mean that players and staff will have the highest level of reassurance and peace of mind on their journey to and from Kigali,” he said.

    The Minister of Sports Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju said that within the protocols set to prevent the spread of Covid-19, only few fans shall be able to physically attend matches after buying tickets and showing proof of a Covid-19 negative test results.

    She further encouraged fans to attend and follow this league to support participating local team ‘Patriots BBC’.

    Twelve teams from across the continent will compete in the inaugural BAL season.

    The Kigali Arena will host all 26 games of the competition, with the first BAL Finals taking place Sunday, May 30.

    The launch of partnership has been witnessed by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall (left), the Minister of Sports Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju (middle) and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board Clare Akamanzi (right).