Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

At least 65 people were found congregating in the house of one James Nyarwaya, 35, located in Nyakayaga Village, Bukomane Cell of Gitoki Sector.

The service was at the time led by pastor Theogene Butera of ‘ubumwe bw’abana b’imana’ located in Kiziguro Sector.

Another group of 54 people were found at the home of one Clementine Mutuyimana in Muhura Sector, Gakorokombe Cell in Kinihira Village where they had gathered for a civil wedding ceremony.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, Police Spokesperson for the Eastern Region, the two prohibited events were reported by “concerned residents.”

“At about 10:30am on Saturday, Police and local leaders responded to the call about people who had congregated in the house of Nyarwaya where 65 people were found congested in the house, no one was wearing a face mask and no hand-washing facilities were seen at his premises,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

The worshippers came from the sectors of Kageyo, Rwimbogo, Rugarama, Gitoki and Kiziguro.

The Eastern Region Police Spokesperson reminded the Public that although the government has allowed some services to resume, the guidelines must be followed including religious services and wedding ceremonies.

Places of worship were allowed to resume with no more than 30% maximum occupancy; attendance at civil and religious weddings should not exceed 20 people and must comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Receptions remain prohibited.

The statement released last night shows that the majority of new cases are from Southern Province.

These include cases found in Huye: 90, Gisagara [75], Ruhango [23], Nyaruguru [18], Nyanza [8], Umujyi wa Kigali [7], Nyamagabe [6], Bugesera [5], Rwamagana [2], Rusizi [2] while Rubavu, Rutsiro and Kayonza districts registered one case respectively.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 22482 people have been tested positive out of 1,177,519 sample tests of whom 20519 recovered, 1652 are active cases, 4 are critically ill while 311 have succumbed to the virus.

Rwanda has so far vaccinated 348,926 since it began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.

The second dose of AstraZeneca is offered between 8 to 12 weeks while the second shot for Pfizer vaccine takes between 21 to 28 days.

Inoculation exercise for the second Pfizer shot kicked off in Kigali on Friday 2nd April 2021 while those who received AstraZeneca doses will be communicated on vaccination schedule in due time.

Figures from the Ministry shows that the number of vaccine recipients is still low compared to targeted people. However, efforts to seek more vaccines are underway as Rwanda has bought more 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines at a cost of US$ 1.6 million, awaiting delivery.

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.

They include 60 people, who were arrested on Saturday in CENETRA hotel located in Kabuga Cell, Rusororo Sector of Gasabo District, where they were holding a wedding reception.

Other 50 violators were on Sunday found at Chez Ndamage in Kiyovu Cell, Nyarugenge Sector in Nyarugenge District where they had gathered for a religious service.

Sister Marie Mukarwego, the manager of CENETRA hotel, said they usually receive customers but claimed that they were not aware that this specific group was holding a wedding reception.

“We should have known and prevented such violations, it is our mistake; for that we apologize,” said Sister Mukarwego.

On his part, Pastor Albert Ngarambe of ‘Heart of Christ Church’ told the press that they exceeded the 30% of occupancy as required because it was Easter and that they received many visiting christians who joined them to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

“The turn up to celebrate Easter was high and it became almost impossible for the church to turn them away,” pastor Ngarambe argued.

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

“The government directives are very clear; receptions for either civil or religious wedding are prohibited. When Police received information that people were holding a wedding reception at CENETRA hotel, Police officers and local leaders went there at about 6pm, and 60 people were arrested in the process. Some of the guests had travelled from as far as Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts,” CP Kabera said.

Other guests at the reception, including the bride and groom, escaped.

Attendance at civil and religious weddings are not allowed to exceed 20 persons and must comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Receptions are prohibited.

“All those arrested in such violations ask for forgiveness; at this level after a year, everyone should be doing the right thing but not flouting the directives and come here to apologize,” CP Kabera warned.

Pauline Umwali, the District Executive Administrator for Gasabo equally warned the business community in the district against undermining the directives, which not only affects the government efforts against the pandemic but also their businesses when they are closed.

CENETRA hotel will be closed for at least three months and fined between Frw100,000 and Frw300,000, according to City of Kigali directives.

All the arrested violators were taken to Amahoro stadium, where they will be educated on the pandemic, health practices but also fined for the violations, individually.

At least 73 bars were found operating in City of Kigali since the beginning of last month. 55 of the bars were in Gasabo District where 337 people were found drinking.

Bars are still closed.

The donation took place on 31st March 2021 in presence of the SATO Rwanda and the school’s management.

Rubaduka Mathias, heading the Anglican Church in Gahanga parish said that SATO Rwanda has helped the school to maintain hygiene and prevent poor sanitation related diseases.

“The school’s hygiene has improved since we received the self-sealing toilets. Unlike other toilets, there are no flies inside and children use them easily. They don’t smell bad because they are automatically sealed or unsealed when necessary. Our special thanks go to SATO Rwanda management for the support,” he said.

The Managing Director of SATO Rwanda, Ntaganira Cyrus has said that the company’s toilets are unique in a way that they don’t require much water while cleaning them.

“SATO toilets are made of plastics. They have uniqueness of a trap door that automatically opens and closes itself. They are particularly self-sealed or unsealed after use. Among others, these toilets allow immediate flow of disposed human waste and do not require much water while cleaning that one cup is enough,” he said.

Ntaganira said they have chosen to donate these toilets to help the school improve hygiene and use standard facilities.

“Existing toilets attracted flies because they were not sealed. This would facilitate the transmission of diseases like diarrhea and verminosis,” he noted.

Among others, Ntaganira said the toilets are a solution to parents worried that their children might fall in toilets because they have tiny holes.

In a bid to support existing COVID-19 preventive measures, the company also donated two water taps known as ’SATO tap’ that use small quantities of water.

SATO toilets are available in hardware shops and wholesalers can resupply from Ecomem.co.Ltd Gisozi Kigali

The statement released last night also shows that 76 people have caught the virus, 70 recovered while 6 are critically ill.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 22243 people have been tested positive of whom 20472 have recovered, 1460 are active cases while 311 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.

The suspects arrested in Fumbwe Sector are identified as Erneste Muhirwe, 26, and Thomas Habimana, 44.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, said the alleged theft and subsequent arrest of the two prime suspects followed a complaint filed by the mining firm–Union Stone Wolfram Mining Company Limited.

“The management of the mining company reported series of mineral theft from their wolfram concession in Fumbwe Sector and suspected some of their employees to be behind it.

For Muhirwe and Habimana being prime suspects, Police searched the former’s house, he was found with the 64kgs of wolfram,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

According to Muhirwe, they stole the minerals on different occasions, but he declined to disclose their clients.

The management of the mining company applauded Rwanda National Police for their quick intervention to recover their stolen minerals and the arrest of the suspected thieves in real-time.

Muhirwe and Habimana were handed over to RIB at Musha station.

Under article 166 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, anyone convicted for theft faces an imprisonment of between one and two years and a fine of between Frw1 million and Frw2 million, a six-month community service or one of these penalties.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”

Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.

The court also may order confiscation of any seized minerals in storage, trading or processing without a license.

The Women’s Bakery supports women above 25 years of age, who never had a chance to get employed. The bakery makes delicious and nutritious bread without any additives or chemicals.

The development and communications manager at The Women’s Bakery, Umutoniwase Françoise said that the enterprise has branches in Gicumbi and Kamonyi (Ruyenzi) districts helping women to run bakeries and produce nutritious bread in their own communities.

“We empower women, prioritizing those who most need the support. For instance, we choose women who don’t have any knowledge of how to design projects or those who never had a chance to be employed. In Gicumbi, we even included women from the refugee camp,” she said.

After the training, the women bakers are able to grow financially, to put their children through school, to contribute to reducing malnutrition, just with one bread at a time. As Umutoniwase said, the women’s bakery is committed to using locally sourced ingredients made in Rwanda for all the bread produced.

“Each of our products is made with locally available ingredients like flour, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. We also make our varied types of bread, rich in nutrients without any additives, so it expires after three or four days. Our breads contain the proteins that our bodies need.

Umutoniwase also noted that the bakery plans to expand and establish branches across the country, so as to contribute to the access of gainful employment for women and also contribute to the sustainable growth of Rwanda’s economy. She therefore urged Rwandans to support these women, who are baking a unique collection of delicious, nutritious and affordable breads for their communities.

The Women’s Bakery was established in 2015, its flagship is in Remera and it works with Vuba Vuba Rwanda, to ensure that clients can easily order for the bread of their choice and have it delivered in the comfort of their homes or workplaces.

Empowering women, with one piece of bread at a time!