Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

They revealed this yesterday on Sunday 28th February 2021 during an event in which the investor constructing the plant, Hakan Karasoy donated six cows to residents in neighborhood.

The donation complements Gisagara district’s initiatives to distribute cows to vulnerable residents under Girinka Munyarwanda program.

“We have benefited a lot since the beginning of construction activities where our neighbors got jobs. I will get compost from received cow, fertilize my gardens and get milk for my children,” said Kubwimana Dative.

Ndimubandi Innocent revealed that he had never owned a cow that the donation anticipates improved livelihoods.

Apart from cow donations, the company also provided school kits including bags, notebooks and pens to 498 children in 2018.

The mayor of Gisagara district, Rutaburingoga Jérome also highlighted that the company supports the district to promote initiatives enhancing residents’ livelihoods.

“Residents have started witnessing transformations due to cooperation between investors and neighboring residents to the extent that this area is gradually developing into a town. They have so far built ten houses for vulnerable residents and donated school kits to vulnerable children. They are also going to build a library and plan to give us buildings that will be used as vocational training schools,” he said.

Figures show that 1500 people majority from Gisagara district got jobs at the construction of the peat power plant expected to be inaugurated this month.

Iradukunda Emanuel, 22, is one of residents employed at the plant hopeful to utilize income effectively to shape his future.

“I am among electricity technicians employed at the plant since 2019. I have already saved Rwf 500,000 and intend to run own income generating business towards the completion of this project,” he said recently.

The investor Hakan Karasoy has said that they are aware of difficulties experienced by vulnerable people which push them to use part of income to uplift their livelihoods.

“We understand that all activities done here are meant to uplift residents’ livelihoods. That is why we are supporting this cause. We feel the responsibility to provide our contribution to graduate them from poverty because we are aware that poor people live unhappily,” he noted.

The plant built by a private company, Quantum Power is located in Akanyaru Marshland in Mamba sector.

Construction activities started in May 2017.

The plant is expected to generate 40 megawatts in March and be able to supply 80 megawatts by June 2021.

In January 2020, the Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Gatete Claver revealed that the plant will increase electricity across the country and subsequently reduce the cost.

Upon completion, the plant will aliment electricity to Rwabusoro in Nyanza district, Rilima in Bugesera district and Gahanga in Kigali city.

It is reported Mamba marshland has enough peat resources that can be used for 26 years.

The deceased whose neck was stabbed has been living with her daughter in Mbeho village, Nyanzoga cell.

The old woman was killed in the wee hours of 27th February 2021 on the way to her birth place in Kamegeri sector.

The executive secretary of Cyanika sector, Ndagijimana JMV has told IGIHE that the old woman was killed around 5am.

“We were alerted by her daughter with whom they lived together that Mukamusoni had waked at 4am going to her family at homeland. She was killed in Rusenyi village after walking for an hour,” he said.

She was killed at the intersection of Nyamagabe and Huye district.

Ndagijimana has revealed that Rwanda Investigation Bureau has started investigation to identify masterminds behind the killing.

He appealed on residents to collaboratively reinforce security and report suspected gangs.

Mukamusoni’s body was taken to Kacyiru Hospital for postmortem.

The Congolese registered vehicle plate number 9792AB22 was intercepted in Busasamana Sector with 465 pieces of local fabrics called kitenge, 25 rolls of electric cables and a box of wines.

The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said two people, who were aboard the vehicle, were also arrested.

They include the driver identified as Daniel Ukwigize, 44, and one Milliam Ndayiragije, 28, the suspected owner of the smuggled goods.

“Police officers, who were in their normal duties, stopped the vehicle for the routine checks and recovered the smuggled goods stashed under car seats,” SP Kanamugire said.

He added that the goods were smuggled into Rwanda from Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Rusizi. Both suspects hail from Rusizi District.

Ndayiragije, the owner of the smuggled goods, said that they were at the time headed to Ngororero District to supply traders who had placed orders.

All seized goods and the vehicles were handed over to the Rwanda National Police Anti-Smuggling Unit

{{Tax fraud}}

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

In case a vehicle was used in fraud and smuggling, it is also impounded, auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.

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 (6) months and two (2) years.”

The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 18, Huye:14, Rubavu: 5, Ruhango: 5, Ngororero: 4, Nyamagabe: 3, Muhanga:2, Nyanza:2 and Kirehe:2 while Burera, Kamonyi, Nyamasheke, Gisagara and Nyaruguru recorded one patient respectively.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 850 people have been tested positive out of 1 009 041 sample tests of whom 17313 have recovered, 1276 are active cases while 261 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.

His body arrived at Kigali International Airport last night around 8pm. Upon arrival, Father Rugirangoga’s body was welcomed by relatives, clerics from Cyangugu Diocese and Bishop Hakizimana Célestin, the Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese who is also the Apostolic Administrator of Cyangugu Diocese.

Father Rugirangoga died on 7th January 2021 in the United States of America (USA) succumbing to COVID-19 related complications.

On 27th January, Christians and friends of Rwanda in USA organized a farewell Mass prayer held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

The Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese, Hakizimana Célestin recently told IGIHE that a farewell Mass will be held at Regina Pacis Parish shortly after Father Rugirangoga’s body arrives in Rwanda.

The farewell Mass is scheduled on 1st March 2021, a day before his burial to take place at Agasozi k’Ibanga ry’Amahoro (Hill of Secrete to Peace) located in Kamatita cell, Gihundwe sector, Rusizi district of Western Province.

The hill of 25 hectares is located in Nkanka Parish, Cyangugu Diocese.

Father Rugirangoga is renowned for delivering healing prayers, unity and reconciliation initiatives.

He was also renowned for psychiatric initiatives and healing prayers launched in Mushaka Parish that encouraged Genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness and survivors to forgive offenders as a healing process from the wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

In 2015, Father Rugirangoga was selected as Protector of Friendship Pact ‘Umurinzi w’Igihango’ for outstanding contribution promoting unity and reconciliation among Rwandans across the country.

In 2019, Father Rugirangoga wrote a book dubbed “Forgiveness Makes You Free” aimed at consolidating Rwandans unity and reconciliation efforts.

Father Ubald Rugiranoga was born on 26th April 1955 in former Rwabidege sector, Mwezi parish in Commune Karengera, Prefecture Cyangugu currently in Rusizi district.
He was ordained priest in 1984 at the age of 29. He used to organize different gospel crusades in which many people healed from different diseases.

He has been a priest for over 32 years.

The suspected duo of Omar Kanyemera alias Byamungu, 45, and Gregoire Mugiraneza, 35, was showed to the media at the Police metropolitan headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District on Saturday, February 27.

The duo was using dollar notes to dupe people.

According to one of the suspects; Mugiraneza, he met Kanyemera in Mageragere prison where they were both serving varied sentences.

Mugiraneza had been convicted for the same crime in 2018 after scamming someone of Frw1.8 million through the same scheme.

{{The scam}}

It is said that the duo was using dollar notes of US$100 to cover other dollar notes in small denominations.

It is through this trick that they would scam people thinking that all dollar notes in the bundle are in the denominations of US$100.

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the two suspects were arrested in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District. They were at the time traveling in a private vehicle Toyota Corolla plate number RAB 191I.

“Police had information that these two men are scamming people with dollar notes. On the day of their arrest, Police had also received prior information that they would be traveling to Muhanga District to defraud other people.

Indeed, when Police arrested them, they found them in possession of 174 USD notes with only one note in the denomination of US$100. Other 173 notes were in the denominations of US$1,” CP Kabera said.

The two men were setting their traps outside forex bureaus and banks.

“They would stand in front of a certain forex bureau or bank with many dollar notes in small denominations wrapped in a dollar note of US$100. Certainly, they would approach someone coming to buy dollars, people going to deposit money in the bank or coming out of the bank to withdraw money. They would wrap 150 dollar notes together and make people believe that they are in the denominations of US$100 or US$15000 in total,” CP Kabera explained.

To escape from the victim, who at this moment is not aware that he or she has been duped, one of the fraudsters would appear from nowhere, tell the other about other people that need to buy dollars.

In one of their scams, they allegedly defrauded one of the victims in Muhanga District of Rwf900,000 and Rwf700,000 in Kicukiro District.

CP Kabera advised the general public against buying currencies on black market or outside forex bureaus and banks to avoid falling prey.

Clause One of article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, defines fraud as deception, obtaining another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or offering positive promises or threats of future misfortunes.

Clause Two of the same article provides a term of imprisonment of between two and three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million but not more than Rwf5 million, upon conviction.

Among others, 101 people have caught the virus out of 4162 sample tests while five have recovered.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 790 people have been tested positive out of 1 004 667 sample tests of whom 17 307 have recovered, 1222 are active cases while 261 have succumbed to the virus.

The statement released last night also shows that 11 people are critically ill.

The prevalence of new infections, recoveries and death tool strands at 2.4% , 92.5%% and 1.4% respectively.

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 one Jackson Nkeshimana, 27, a conductor of the bus RAC 669T, which he had hired to transport 17 traders operating in various markets in Kigali, to Gatsibo District to buy goods in Rwagitima market.

Two others are Jean Paul Hakizimana and Alphonse Hitimana, who work in cyber cafes in Muhima Sector, Nyarugenge District.

Nkeshimana is the suspected mastermind, who allegedly brought Hakizimana and Hitimana on board to forge the movement clearance normally issued by Rwanda National Police.

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the vehicle with 17 traders on board was intercepted on February 24, by traffic Police officers at Nyagasambu along Rwamagana-Kigali road as they returned to Kigali from Gatsibo.

“Traffic Police officers at Nyagasambu stopped the bus for checks as a normal procedure to prevent prohibited movements and other violations. When they asked the driver to produce clearance documents, he gave them a paper with names of all 17 passengers on board and another with the Rwanda National Police log resembling the movement clearance permit,” CP Kabera explained.

Out of suspicion, he added, the Police officers called other officers charged with issuing the movement clearence to verify the authenticity of the papers.

“The vehicle was not in the system and neither did RNP issue any clearance for the bus and all the 17 traders on board to travel to Gatsibo District. Investigations showed that the bus conductor–Nkeshimana–hatched the whole plan and worked with Hitimana and Hakizimana to produce the forgeries,” CP Kabera said.

Hitimana and Hakizimana were arrested later after Nkeshimana dislosed their role in the criminal act.

Movement between Kigali and provinces as well as between districts is prohibited.

Only those seeking essential services like medical and cargo vehicles with a maximum of two people on board, are permitted.

Meanwhile, Nkeshimana told journalists at the Police metropolitan headquarters in Remera, that before the pandemic, he used to transport this group of traders to buy goods in Rwagitima market.

“This time, I called each of them to send me their particulars and I compiled a whole list. I later went to Hakizimana and Hitimana, who helped me to forge the movement clearance,” Nkeshimana said.

According to Nkeshimana, each of the passengers paid Rwf8,000; Rwf6,000 as transport fare and Rwf2,000 to process their movement clearance.

According to the driver, he was hired by Nkeshimana to transport the 17 traders to Gatsibo and made him believe that he had secured the same movement clearance documents from Rwanda National Police.

Equally, the traders accused Nkeshimana of defrauding them and intentionally leading them into violating the national directives.

CP Kabera warned against such criminal behaviours and flouting the national COVID-19 prevention directives, which derail response efforts against the pandemic.

He added that the process of acquiring a movement clearance either as an individual or a group is clear and known, which must be followed.

Clause One of article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, defines fraud as deception, obtaining another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or offering positive promises or threats of future misfortunes.

Clause Two of the same article provides a term of imprisonment of between two and three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million but not more than Rwf5 million, upon conviction.

Under article 276, “any person who, in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years but not more than seven years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.”

The penalty also applies to any person, who knowingly makes use of a forged document in any way.