They were arrested separately in operations conducted by the Police and other security organs.
The three suspects are identified as Jean Bosco Ndahiro Rutagengwa, 33, arrested on April 10; and the duo of Benjamin Sibobugingo alias Sibori, 23, and Pierre Ntakirutimana alias Kihebe, 21, both arrested on April 12.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, the group armed with machetes and other objects, was ambushing people at night in the sectors of Shyogwe and Nyamabuye and stealing their valuables.
“Some residents in the two sectors report different incidences where they were ambushed by a group of men armed with machetes and arrows, and injuring those who attempted to refuse to handover their valuable belongings like phones and in other cases undressing them and taking their clothes and shoes,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added: “In response, Police first arrested one Leonidas Iradukunda, 22, on April 1, who disclosed the other three members of his group. So far, we know five victims; three from Nyamabuye and two from Shyogwe, who reported the separate attacks to the Police.”
One of the suspects, Ntakirutimana was released from prison recently after serving a two-sentence for drug-related crimes.
SP Kanamugire thanked the residents, who provided information on the whereabouts of the suspects and facilitated their arrest.
The three suspects were handed over to RIB at Nyamabuye station for further legal process.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Nyamagabe: 13, Muhanga: 10, Nyaruguru: 8, Kigali: 7, Nyanza: 5, Ngororero: 5, Ruhango: 3, Rusizi: 3, Bugesera: 2, Gicumbi: 2, Karongi: 2, Gakenke: 1, Gatsibo:1, Rwamagana: 1, Rubavu: 1, Gisagara: 1 and Kamonyi 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23603 people have been tested positive of whom 21395 have recovered, 1892 are active cases, 8 are critically ill while 316 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.
Bars are among services that are still closed as part of the government measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
The violators were arrested at about 2pm in a bar belonging to one Christophe Gashirabake, 44, located in Kabadaha trade center.
The bar also had no hand-washing facilities for clients.
They were found congested in a small room drinking and had come from three different sectors of Mushishiro, Rugendabari and Muhanga, according to the Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Superintendent (SP) Theobald Kanamugire.
“The violators include those who had come to Kabadaha market; they were reported by residents,” said SP Kanamugire.
He thanked the residents for their responsiveness against people, who flout the COVID-19 prevention measures.
“Bars are still closed and anyone operating it or going there to drink is violating the directives and will be arrested,” the spokesperson warned.
He commended the high level of compliance and role of the general public in reporting violators.
The violators were taken to Mushishiro Police station where they were educated on the government measures to prevent Covid-19 and handed administrative fines by local authorities.
They are appreciated for their commitment to resist evil and fighting against the execution of Genocide.
He delivered the message today as he presided over the ceremony closing the commemoration week that also coincided with the remembrance of slain politicians killed over opposing plans perpetrate Genocide against Tutsi.
The ceremony took place at Rebero Genocide Memorial where over 14,000 victims including Tutsi killed in Kigali as Genocide began and politicians that opposed Genocide plan.
Dr. Iyamuremye explained that remembering these politicians is essential because Genocide was not executed by accident.
“As proven by expert and researcher on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Genocide can’t be executed without support of leadership. Genocide against Tutsi was also planned and executed because bad leadership utilized maximum resources, political parties and other Government’s entities,” he noted.
Dr. Iyamuremye said that these politicians remembered stood against hatred, divisionism and Genocide preparations and were aware that they could lose life but kept the bravery spirit due to the love for Rwanda and Rwandans.
“They were not hunted for ethnic groups but for their virtues to stand against hatred, ethnic divisionism and Genocide ideology. We should not however forget that there are some that were killed for being good politicians and Tutsi. Those killed trying to save Tutsi and resisting Genocide ideology are also found among other categories of Rwandans. They were also characterized by self-less dedication until they accepted to sacrifice their lives to save hunted Tutsi,” he stressed.
Dr. Iyamuremye requested Rwandans to uphold the good legacy left by politicians.
“We should uphold the legacy of politicians we remember today striving that genocide never happens again, desisting propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide and those fueling their destructive ideologies. This will give the right meaning to our theme of remembering while rebuilding,” he noted.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana has said that political parties held mobilizations to incite hatred and killing of Tutsi between 1990 until 1994.
He explained that Rebero Genocide Memorial accommodates over 14,000 Genocide victims killed in different parts of Kigali including Nyamirambo, Gitega, CHUK and Cyahafi among others.
The former Prime Minister, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, leaders of PL political party including Landouard Ndasingwa, Kabageni Venantie, Charles Kayiranga, Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, Augustin Rwayitare and Aloys Niyoyita are among 12 politicians killed during genocide and buried at Rebero memorial.
The financing and technical cooperation agreement is the outcome of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations that were concluded last Year between our two respective Governments.
59 million Euros of the grant agreement will be provided through KFW Development Bank and will support various initiatives including technical and vocational training, promotion of export oriented SMEs, through the support to Export Credit Facility in Rwanda under BRD, promotion of green investments as well as ICT support. The remaining 19 million Euros will be channeled through GIZ and will support decentralization and good governance, prevention of sexual and gender based violence among others.
Speaking after the signing event, Minister Ndagijimana said the financial support extended to Rwanda will support key areas that are critical to the attainment of the country’s development objectives.
“This support comes at a critical juncture given the effects COVID-19 has had on our social –economic advancement. We look forward to boosting these important areas that are in line with our National Strategy for Transformation. We thank Germany for the strong cooperation and solidarity especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,“ Minister Ndagijimana said.
The German Ambassador to Rwanda Dr. Thomas Kurz stressed: “These Agreements underline the long-standing and proven cooperation between our two countries based on friendship and mutual trust. Germany is committed to support Rwanda in its Economic Recovery Process and the implementation of NST 1 in order to reach the SDGs and to leave no one behind.“
The Division of Labor allows Germany development cooperation programme to be active in Education (including TVET); Decentralization and Good Governance, Private Sector Development and Youth; Public Financial Management (PFM); Financial Development. Germany also supports Regional Projects: Centre of Excellence for Health, Improvement of the Investment Climate, Microfinance sector-MIFSSA, ICGLR and Energy.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are amongst the top social media platforms used by a large number of propagandists, undermining and denying the Genocide against Tutsi that took lives of over 1 million in 100 days.
Most of them use abusive words that are intended to hurt Genocide survivors and moreover fuel ethnic divisionism among Rwandans, ignoring the truth to which they have facts and evidences.
Ujeneza has authored books including ‘De l’autre côté de l’Ecran, SIMBI’. She is the daughter of Boniface Ngulinzira who served as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1992 and 1993.
Ngulinzira was among politicians that distanced themselves from the ruling political party, MRND that masterminded Genocide.
He played a pivotal role in Arusha Peace Agreements during his officer term. Ngulinzira later kept a close eye to their implementation which infuriated the Government of the then President Juvénal Habyarimana.
Even though he was not among hunted Tutsi, Ngulinzira was assassinated on Nyanza hill in Kicukiro on the evening of 11th April 1994 over his firm beliefs to stand for the truth and to strive for harmony among Rwandans.
Ujeneza has, via her twitter wall, blamed people – whom the majority is the youth, using social media platforms to spread hatred and denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
She further said that such deniers warmly welcome whoever alludes to the Genocide against Tutsi as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’.
“It is not unusual. Most of these young people didn’t lose parents or relatives during that time. They don’t remember anyone who hunted or chased them out of their houses,” she observed.
“Unable to remain silent, they come here on Twitter to ridicule survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. Between April and July 1994, a genocide was perpetrated against one ethnic group: Tutsi. It is indubitable,” added Ujeneza.
The genocide was planned for long that politicians against the then Government’s cruelty were assassinated.
“Hutus from different categories had heavy responsibility during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. These include intellectuals, public servants, business people, teachers, believers, soldiers, members of Gendarmerie [Rwanda’s Policing unit during the pre-Genocide], men, women and children,” stressed Ujeneza.
The author went on to describe what she personally witnessed what happened during Genocide at the age of 13.
“I saw it with my own eyes. These perpetrators were the people we knew that turned into cruel monsters,” she noted.
“Tutsi in advanced ages in 1994 had experienced massacres and violence in the 1950s until 1960 and 1970s when they lost relatives, were deprived of land, livestock and other possessions. Such killings and violence were precursors of the execution of Genocide in 1994 that targeted one ethnic group. Tutsi. During that time, no one fled Rwanda because he/she was Hutu,” emphasized Ujeneza.
Considering the aforementioned eye witness, Ujeneza said that misinterpreting ‘Genocide against Tutsi’ as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’ is going beyond limits, undermining history which she also considers ‘an insult’.
“No one was killed for being Rwandan in 1994,” she stressed.
Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for the 27th time. The commemoration began on 7th April with lighting the flame of hope at Kigali Genocide Memorial and later followed by talks held at Kigali Arena bringing together top Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda.
The commemoration that lasts 100 days is taking place for second time during Coronavirus pandemic whereby talks are delivered virtually through mainstream media including televisions and radios as well as other social media platforms.
Over the years, people have been reported and arrested for threatening genocide survivors, uprooting their crops, stabbing their livestock or destroying their houses among other violent acts during commemoration period.
Among others, it has been observed that propagandists, roaming perpetrators and their supporters often use this time to spread genocide ideology, deny and trivialize the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi which continue to pain survivors who endured with both physical and psychological trauma.
It is a worrying situation that such propagandists intend to mislead people especially the youth considered the backbone of the national development and hold back the strides Rwanda has made in unity and reconciliation.
Those arrested include Francois Munyaneza, 33, and Jean Mbarushimana Cyumbati, 48, apprehended in Amashya Village, Agahabwa Cell of Kigembe Sector, while the third suspect, Francoise Nyirakamana, 40, was apprehended in Agahehe Village, Higiro Cell in Nyanza Sector.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, said the group was ambushing smugglers and confiscating their goods, if they failed to give them a certain amount of money.
“Police received information from residents that Munyaneza and Mbarushimana brought six bales of secondhand clothes smuggled from Burundi, which they kept in the houses of one Nyiramasabo Francine and Eliab Rukiriza,” SP Kanamugire said.
Nyiramasabo is a mother to Munyaneza while Rukiriza is Francoise Nyirakamana’s husband.
“Police officers recovered five bales of the smuggled clothes from the house of Rukiriza, who managed to escape but his wife Nyirakamana was apprehended. Another bale belonging to Munyaneza was found in his mother’s (Nyiramasabo) house. The prime suspects; Munyaneza and Mbarushimana were also located and arrested,” the Spokesperson said.
It is said that Munyaneza and Mbarushimana ambushed a group of casual labourers hired by one only identified as Hakizimana, a resident of Nyaruguru District, to smuggle the bales into Rwanda from Burundi.
Munyaneza and Mbarushimana demanded Rwf400,000 so as to conceal information on Hakizimana’s unlawful business.
“When the smugglers failed to pay the agreed amount of money (Frw400, 000), Munyaneza and Mbarushimana confiscated the bales as leverage until the money is paid. We are also still searching for one Hakizimana, the rightful owner of the bales and all other people connected to this smuggling ring,” SP Kanamugire said.
Those arrested were handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
Under the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.
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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. In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six months and two years.
The President reiterated the commitment yesterday as he participated in the meeting bringing together heads of state and Governments, as well as heads of different institutions and international organizations assessing how Arica can manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.
The meeting held virtually was organized by African Union (AU) in collaboration with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
In line with the agenda of increasing domestic health financing, Kagame highlighted that it is important for Africa to forge strategic public-private partnerships for vaccine manufacturing on our continent.
“Vaccine production goes hand in hand with increased investments in domestic health systems, as well as building an efficient and autonomous Africa CDC, which I think is the way we are headed. Rwanda is ready to play a role in this effort, together with other member states and partners,” he said.
Kagame further stressed that Africa needs to expand production capacity for vaccines and other essential medical products.
He said that he contacted and discussed with manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines who insisted that Africa can make it.
“In the past few weeks and months, I had the opportunity to initiate contacts with different manufacturers of vaccines, specifically focusing on the Messenger RNA (mRNA) technique used by Moderna and Pfizer. We have been involved in discussions and I have briefed a few colleagues on our continent, but we want to take this forward by discussing it with others,” he said.
“There is a company that is capable of this technique, just as Moderna and Pfizer have been doing, that is ready and willing. I will brief those responsible very soon. I am sorry that I have not done that before we had this discussion,” added Kagame.
The President stated that Africa can apply techniques of these manufacturers complementing with other ways like the adenovirus method, in the vaccines used by Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.
“And therefore, for Africa to move from being very sorry for ourselves, which is the case today — and I think no one single person takes the blame for that — but we have to take the blame for that, and move from what we know has not worked well for Africa to something we can do, using the examples President Ramaphosa mentioned, by partnering with these industries,” he noted.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area makes these investments even more attractive. The Africa Medicines Agency Treaty is a critical part of the institutional framework, and I urge African member states to ratify this, as many as we can have ratify, as soon as possible,” he added.
The meeting was also attended by President of DRC Felix Tshisekedi who is the current Chairperson of AU and his counterpart of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Nsabimana learnt about the incident yesterday morning as he visited the garden.
The executive secretary of Nyamabuye sector, Gakwerere Eraste has told IGIHE that investigation have started to identify culprits.
“We have learnt about it this morning that a genocide survivor visited the garden located at the place where his grand-father used to liven and found eight banana stalks cut down. He alerted us that we immediately started investigation to identify culprit in collaboration with relevant authorities,” he said.
He explained that the act reflects that some people still have Genocide ideology and expressed optimism that culprits will be finally apprehended.
“Despite what happened, security of Genocide survivors in Nyamabuye sector is guaranteed and whoever with problems is assisted to sort them out,’ noted Gakwerere.
The statement released last night shows that 109 people caught the virus, 29 recovered while 8 are critically ill.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23535 people have been tested positive of whom 21272 have recovered, 1947 are active cases while 316 have succumbed to the virus.
Figures from the ministry show that 348,926 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.
