Part of the money was recovered on Thursday, February 25, from Kayitankore’s son identified as Deo Nzabahimana, 26, who was arrested in Kayonza town.
The Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamudun Twizeyimana, said that the suspect, who was living with his mother, fraudulently withdrew the money from a mobile banking agent in Mukarange Sector on February 21.
“On February 20, Kayitankore, who was in company of her son-Nzabahimana-arrived late to deposit money amounting to Rwf1,555,000 to the bank in Kayonza town. She decided to deposit it at the mobile banking agent,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “The following day, Nzabahimana came back to the same agent and fraudulently withdrew all the money. He had stolen his mother’s phone and knew her mobile banking PIN.”
The victim, on realizing that her money had been withdrawn from her mobile account, she filed a complaint at Nyamirama Police station.
“Law enforcement organs worked together to track the person behind this fraudulent act. The banking agent provided some clues on the suspect, who withdrew the money. After withdrawing the money, Nzabahimana sent Rwf55, 000 to his girlfriend, who lives in Rukara. Through his girlfriend, Police and investigators worked together to track and arrest Nzabahimana in Kayonza town with Rwf1, 250, 000, which he was remaining with.”
The spokesperson reminded the general public to always keep their banking credentials secret to prevent such fraudulent attempts.
Under article 166 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million, a community service for a period of six months or only one of these penalties.
The Qatar based television, Al Jazeera yesterday aired 24-minute story about Rusesabagina’s trial.
The talk show dubbed ’Up Front’ of the television, shows that Minister Busingye was invited twice for an interview with a journalist hailing from America, Marc Lamont Hill, 42, who is also a lecturer at Temple University in Philadelphia.
In the first part of the interview, the journalist asked different questions related to how Rusesabagina arrived in Rwanda where the Minister replied that Rusesabagina arrived in Kigali willingly and arrested.
Minister Busingye declined to provide much detail noting that his case is handled in court where everything will be made clear.
The first part of the interview lasts 12 minutes. In the second part, the journalist played a video featuring statements made during Minister Busingye’s interactions with his advisors where he emphasized that there are laws allowing prisons to have access to activities taking place inside including rights to see letters sent to prisons.
During interactions with advisors, he explained that the prison saw a letter detailing plans to facilitate Rusesabagina to escape sent by his daughter.
The Minister revealed that the prison saw the letter and returned it to Rusesabagina.
Recorded private discussions also show Busingye and advisors discussing about the jet which brought Rusesabagina to Kigali and what to explain in the interview.
When the journalist asked who paid the jet, Busingye replied that Rwanda provided payments to the person who brought Rusesabagina to Kigali without violating any laws.
He highlighted that the Government only facilitated the man who brought Rusesabagina to Rwanda.
Marc Lamont Hill yesterday wrote via his Twitter handle that staff of the Ministry accidentally sent the video to Aljazeera.
Moments before my Up Front interview with Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, his team accidentally sent us a video of them discussing and preparing for our interview. On that video, they made statements that clearly contradicted their public statements’.
{{MINIJUST provides clarifications}}
The statement released on Friday 26th February 2021 by the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) shows that private discussions with Minister Busingye and his advisors seen on Aljazeera don’t reflect the policy of Rwanda Government.
“The Ministry of justice wished to clarify some of the issues raised in an interview with the Minister of Justice broadcast by Aljazeera English on 26th February 2021, and which was based in part on private recording that doesn’t reflect government policy,” reads the statement in part.
“The Minister confirmed that the Government of Rwanda facilitated the journey that led to Paul Rusesabagina’s arrest in Kigali in August 2020, a fact that has been in public domain since September 2020. The Government’s position, which it has argued in court, is that this arrest was legal and proper, and at no time were Mr Rusesabagina’s rights violated,” adds the statement.
The statement also reads that, the Minister confirmed that the privacy of defense communications between lawyers and clients, including those in provisional detention is protected under Rwandan law.
Among others, the Minister highlighted that all other materials entering a prison, including non-privileged correspondence, is subject to routine safety checks by the Rwanda Correctional Service, according to established rules that RCS is mandated to implement.
“When the Minister became aware of a possible violation in December 2020, he immediately instructed that the relevant documents be returned to Mr. Rusesabagina and that RCS take greater care to distinguish privileged from non-privileged documentation,” reads the statement.
The statement further reads that the ‘Minister did not address this matter directly in an interview with Aljazeera knowing that a legal challenge by Mr. Rusesabagina’s defense lawyers on this point was likely, a challenge which was in fact raised in court on 26th February’.
The Ministry also revealed that ‘additional corrective action may be taken by the Ministry of Justice based on the court’s findings’.
Pastor Niyomwungere, 44, is a Burundian with Belgian and Rwandan nationality who brought Rusesabagina to Rwanda.
In mid February 2021, he told Jeune Afrique (through a virtual interview) how Rusesabagina arrived in Kigali.
“He asked me to escort him in Burundi. I never invited him. He wanted to meet with FLN leaders in Burundi and Burundian leaders as well. He wanted me to escort and link him with these leaders,” he said.
Niyomwungere explained that Rwanda Investigation Bureau helped him to plan how Rusesabagina will be arrested in Rwanda.
“My intention was to bring him to Rwanda secretly. I asked him to book a private jet and cheated him that Burundian leaders have agreed to cater for payments. He accepted,” he revealed.
Rusesabagina arrived in Dubai on 27th August 2020 from Dallas in Chicago. Pastor Niyomwungere had arrived earlier and welcomed Rusesabagina to Ibis Hotel.
After having rest, Rusesabagina and Niyomwungere went to Dubai airport where they took a private jet ‘Challenger 605’ belonging to GainJet Airline which brought them to Kigali.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 689 people have been tested positive out of 1 000 505 sample tests of whom 17 302 have recovered, 1129 are active cases while 258 have succumbed to the virus.
As of today, the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and death toll stands at 3.3%%, 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.
Saint Michel Cathedral is located in Kiyovu, Nyarugenge district. The ground where the cathedral is located is small that expansion activities seem impossible.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Archbishop of Kigali Antoine Cardinal Kambanda revealed that Kigali has had a plan to build a large cathedral because the existing one is relatively small that expansions seem impossible.
In January 2020, it was announced that the of 5.5 hectare piece of land where seated former Nyarugenge prison was given to the Catholic Church that was required to make a study plan of how the land will be utilized.
Cardinal Kambanda has explained that following the acquisition of the land, the church is currently doing a study complying with Kigali city master plan.
“The next move was to make study plan which is being developed. We gradually provide updates of the progress,” he said.
He revealed that developing a new state-of-the art cathedral doesn’t mean buildings of Saint Michel will be demolished.
The last group of inmates from the ‘1930’ prison were relocated from the historical prison in July 2018 to the new Mageragere correctional facility.
During the ceremony to install Antoine Kambanda as the Archbishop of Kigali Diocese early 2019, he told the tens of thousands of Christians including President Paul Kagame that it was time to have a cathedral that matches the beauty and modernity of the City of Kigali.
“The City of Kigali has developed in remarkable ways. We thank our leadership, particularly the President, for the infrastructure and cleanliness, which is admired by all our visitors. My wish is that we can build a cathedral that is in line with the current Kigali trends,” he said.
In his speech at the ceremony, President Kagame responded to this wish with a pledge to join the church in building the cathedral.
“We shall work together to build it. We will build a new and great cathedral and when that time comes, we shall, if possible build it in a new location. All this will depend on the wishes of the Catholic Church,” he said.
Individuals who spoke to IGIHE have appealed to the Government to ease restrictions so that they can return to work.
“We are leading hard life. We have not been working for over ten months yet we used to get whatever we want from our pocket. We need advocacy to return to work,” said Munyentwari Olivier.
Kamazi Anaclet who worked with a betting company in Nyabugogo, Nyarugenge district, has revealed that he is accommodated by a friend and rarely finds food.
“I left the landlord’s house because I couldn’t afford rental fees. I live by God’s grace and can only eat when Samaritans invite me for lunch,” he said.
Rwamasunzu Patrick, the former Manager of Lucky Bet, currently working as the Secretary of the Association of Gaming Companies said he applied for another job to find means to feed his family.
“I was the Manager at Lucky Bet but the company could not pay salaries when Covid-19 emerged. We were not laid off but didn’t receive salaries. We however do not blame the company because the crisis was brought by Coronavirus. I decided to seek other means to survive with my family,” he explained.
Rwamasunzu said that over 2000 employees working with betting companies lost jobs and appealed to the Government to help these companies run activities online.
Samuel Kamugisha, the Director General in Charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) has told IGIHE that gaming is not the only activity prohibited due to COVID-19 containment measures.
“Gaming operations are not the only businesses prohibited. They don’t neither contribute huge amounts through taxes nor provide the largest number of employments. They are mainly gaming activities for leisure yet such sporting activities are prohibited,” he noted.
Kamugisha explained that only one gaming company registered for online operations while others opted for land based gaming.
As he said, the licensed online gaming company is under the pilot phase to establish whether such services could be successful in Rwanda.
Rwanda has 24 registered gaming companies among whom; Gorilla Games is the only licensed online gaming company that began activities in 2019.
Amb. Igor César presented letters of credence on Wednesday 24th February 2021 along with other envoys from Ethiopia, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia and North Korea to represent their respective countries to Hungary.
After presenting credentials, President János Áder held talks with Amb. César who conveyed greetings from his counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
President János Áder welcomed Amb. César, wished him well in future endeavors, promised support to fulfill his duties and conveyed greetings to President of the Republic of Rwanda and Rwandans.
Before the ceremony, Amb. César had presented copies of credentials to the Chief Protocol of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Hongrie, Iván Medveczky.
Amb. Igor Cesar also held discussions with the Head of Africa Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Károly Benes.
Their discussions revolved around seeking ways to strengthen relations and cooperation between both countries drawing emphasis on fast tracking the implementation of agreements signed when Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Hungary in February 2020.
They also agreed that reinforcing trade and investment will be among other areas characterizing bilateral cooperation.
Among others, Amb. César held talks with Hungary’s Director of Civil Aviation Authority and signed cooperation agreement on behalf of Rwanda’s Civil Aviation Authority. The agreements pave the way for the opening of airspace for aircrafts from both countries.
Igor César also represents Rwanda in Tcheque Republic, Pologne, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Hungary is represented in Rwanda by its embassy headquartered Nairobi, Kenya.
He was accompanied by Prof. Nshuti Manasseh, Minister of State in charge of EAC.
The Council of Ministers as the Community policy-making organ, is charged with the responsibility of keeping under constant review, the progress of implementation of the programs and activities of the Community, among other things.
Discussions mainly focused on the report of the activities of the EAC Secretariat and its organs as well as the report of the Council to the upcoming Summit.
The appointment of the next secretary general of the EAC is top on the agenda for the Summit.
Other issues are the appointment of judges to the East African Court of Justice and infrastructure plans for the period 2021-24.
The regional bloc has also prioritised recovery plans for the region’s economy that has been battered by Covid-19 measures and regulations.
Speaking to the East African recently, Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of the EAC and the chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Nshuti Manasseh said that ‘EAC partner states are looking into ways on how to deal with the effects of the virus on the region’s economy’.
“There are things we need to work on together, especially the free movement of goods and people. We are going to look at the entire economy. We need to see that the movement of goods is going on uninterrupted and that the Customs Union is operating,” he noted.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame and South Sudan’s Salva Kiir attended the Consultative Meeting of the EAC Heads of State on Regional Response to Covid-19 and the Free Movement of Goods last May.
It was convened following the recommendations of a joint consultative meeting of partner states’ ministers. Tanzania and Burundi did not attend the meeting.
The Commanding Officer for Fire and Rescue Brigade, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Seminega, said the fire broke out of the boys dormitory at about 2:30am.
“The fire broke out at about 2:30am, unfortunately the school called the Police emergency line 112 about 20 minutes later–2:50am. Our standby fire truck in Gisenyi town was immediately dispatched and succesfully put out the fire before spreading to neighbouring facilities, including the girls dormitory, kitchen and school store. We also managed to rescue some of the students’ equipment from the affected building,” ACP Seminega said.
ACP Seminega called upon the general public to always call for emergency response promptly to prevent much loss and likely loss of lives.
“Every minute you waste the more damage you are causing at the affected property and putting other near by facilities at higher risk without forgetting the lives of people,” the CO said.
He further urged to public to take note of emergency contacts to guide them on calling the nearest fire and rescue team.
The Fire and Rescue Brigade has a fire truck stationed in Rubavu, although the school laboured to report the fire incident to the RNP General Headquarters in Kigali.
Moreover, the fire truck in Rubavu is stationed near the affected school.
The school headmaster, Oswald Kaliwabo thanked the Police’s swiftness.
“Those, who were at the school first attempted to put out the fire but failed and 11 rooms of the boys dormitory were affected in the process,” Kaliwabo said.
He added: “We called the Police a bit late, maybe if we had called quickly a lot could have been saved…. We thank the Police emergency response team that arrived few minutes later, successfully extinguished the fire and save other building from being torched.”
The mixed school has a population of about 300 students.
The deceased include two women aged 50 and 58 as well as two men aged 58 and 66 respectively from Kigali city.
The statement released last night also shows that 15 patients have recovered while nine are critically ill.
As of today, the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and death toll stands at 2.5%, 93.1% and 1.4% respectively.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 553 people have been tested positive, 17 279 have recovered, 1016 are active cases while 258 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 were found mining coltan and wolfram in a concessions located in Tangabo Cell of Manihira Sector, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
“Some of them were mining while others were filtering and washing minerals in Cyogo stream,” CIP Karekezi said.
He identified the suspects as; Celestin Habumugisha, 43, Innocent Nsengiyumva, 25, Innocent Habiyaremye, 20, Celeman Biziman, 26, Celeman Ngabonziza 31 and Anasthase Nsengimana 25.
Others are; Ntawuhorakize, 24, Jean Claude Habinshuti, 25, Icyamuduha Sehungu,18, and one only identified as Senzoga, 19.
CIP Karekezi said the successful operation followed credible information provided by residents of Haniro village in Tangabo sector about a group of people engaged in illegal mining activities.
“Residents reported a group of illegal miners from Rusebeya sector that crosses to Manihira Sector to mine coltan and wolfram and cleaning their minerals in Cyogo steam. Police officers were immediately deployed in the area and they apprehended 10 members of the group,” CIP Karekezi explained.
According to CIP Karekezi, the group is composed of 25 people and that the search for other members of the group is still underway.
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.
