Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

They were arrested yesterday during operations by security personnel in collaboration with local leaders to inspect adherence to instituted COVID-19 control measures.

The mayor of Huye district, Sebutege Ange has told IGIHE that 26 people were caught drinking and urged residents to avoid complacency against preventive measures.

“People should understand that COVID-19 has not been defeated. Violating preventive measures might put their lives at risk and their families as well. We will not tolerate whoever violating instituted measures. They will be arrested and fined, close bars, and release everyone after clearing payments for COVID-19 test,” he said.

Sebutege thanked residents who reported violators and urged them to keep the collaboration until the pandemic is defeated.

These bars violating preventive measures were also closed.

Neighboring residents have appealed on leaders to fence the perimeters of the pond to avoid similar incidents because the youth has made it a habit to swim in the pond.

The incident took place yesterday evening.

The deceased hails from Kamata village, Cyanya cell of Kigabiro sector in Rwamagana district, Eastern Province from where another 13-year old child drowned in the same pond swimming.

The executive secretary of Kigabiro sector, Egide Hanyurwimfura has told IGIHE that young man drowned around 4pm.

“I have learnt that the young man drowned in the pond as he went to swim. We immediately delegated local leaders who collaborated with residents to retrieve his body. Police and health workers also rushed to the scene and took the body for autopsy,” he said.

Neighboring residents who talked to IGIHE on condition of anonymity expressed worries for susceptible similar deaths and appealed on the Government to fence the pond.

“Young people including amateurs always come to swim in this pond every evening. Some of them drown while others are sometimes rescued in the process of drowning,” said one resident.

The executive secretary Hanyurwimfura appealed on parents to collaborate with local leaders to chase out children coming to swim in the pond.

“We continue sensitization, requesting neighboring parents and relevant authorities to oversee the pond. We have delegated security patrols but swimmers sometimes use the pond when security patrol agents have gone to do their usual work. We however continue to remind residents not to use the pond,” he noted.

The young man’s body has been taken to Rwamagana Hospital for postmortem before proceeding with burial.

The destroyed narcotics were seized in varied operations Rwanda National Police (RNP) conducted in the two districts.

The separate public destruction exercises were witnessed by the Police, prosecution, RIB and local authorities.

In Nyamasheke, the destruction exercise was held on Tuesday, February 16, in two separate sites in Ruharambuga and Bushenge sectors.

Also disposed of in Nyamasheke include 180kgs of assorted skin bleaching products and 100kgs of pharmaceuticals.

The skin bleaching products are labeled illegal under the ministerial order determining the list of cosmetics, whose use is prohibited in Rwanda; the law on organization, functioning, and competence of the Council of Pharmacists; and the law relating to the regulation and inspection of food and pharmaceutical products.

The products contain chemicals such as mercury and hydroquinone, which can cause liver damage, reduce resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, and increase anxiety, according to the World Health Organization.

“The narcotics, banned skin whitening products as well pharmaceuticals were seized from drug dealers and smugglers during separate operations conducted between 2018 and 2020,” CIP Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.

According to CIP Karekezi, those arrested include major drug dealers some of whom were intercepted as they crossed into Rwanda from the DR Congo while others were still in transit to supply other dealers in different parts of the country including in City of Kigali.

In Nyagatare District, other destroyed products include 5,200 bottles of Soft gin, 1,034 bottles of Kambuca drink, 1,910 sachets of maisha bola and 736 cartons of plastic bags.

All alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws in Rwanda are classified as ‘simple narcotic drugs’ under article 5 of the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.

Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple narcotic drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.

According to CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, the destroyed drugs in Nyagatare were seized from traffickers in separate operations conducted last month in the sectors of Mimuri, Gatunda, Rwempasha and Nyagatare when tens of traffickers were arrested.

At least 18 kanyanga dealers were arrested in Rwempasha alone.

Illicit gins are mainly trafficked into Rwanda from the neighbouring Uganda through porous borders.

The spokespersons commended the role of communities in the two districts, who reported drug traffickers and smugglers and facilitated successful operations.

“These are results of community policing and strengthened operations targeting major dealers including trafficker and local distributors aimed at breaking chains of supply, and bringing these dealers to justice,” CIP Karekezi said.

Cannabis is listed among “very severe drugs” in Rwanda with anyone convicted for this crime facing between 20 years and life in prison and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.

The deceased include two men aged 38 and 57 from Kigali city and another 68-year old man from Bugesera district.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17 716 people have been tested positive out of 960001 sample tests of whom 15 918 have recovered, 1555 are active cases while 243 have succumbed to the virus.

The Ministry of Health has reported that 11 patients are critically ill.

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 road will among other things, facilitate residents to reach Gatonde Hospital easily.

Movements along the road linking Gicuba and Janja would previously halt due to landslides that destroyed the road during rainy season in Gakenke district.

The 32,8 kilometer-roads will be expanded and compacted at a cost of Rwf 3.6 billion in the first phase.

The mayor of Gakenke district, Nzamwita Deogratias has said that the upgraded road will facilitate smooth transportation of agricultural produce to market and will patients will easily reach Gatonde Hospital.

Gakenke district is has been hit by disasters that would block movements and access to markets

The rain destroyed houses in Mukura and Tumba sectors of Huye district.

The said water drainage channel was built by contractors building a road linking Rango and Sahera through which water from Tumba and Mukura sectors flows.

When it rains heavily, flooding from the drainage channel destroys properties belonging to surrounding residents.

A census has reported that the rain left 10 houses destroyed, three fences collapsed and ravaged Nyarumanga road located in Mitsinda village, Buhoro cell of Karama sector. Flooding also destroyed a bridge, washed away a cow and injured two people.

Bampire Maria, a resident from Agakombe village, Rango cell of Mukura sector narrated how disasters left her in losses.

“Flowing water has destroyed my houses and washed away my cow. The drainage channel has many bends, one being nearby my residence. I told them to flatten it but kept the bends,” she said.

Valuables inside these houses including beddings, clothes, casseroles, sanitary items among others were also destroyed.

“I am left with bare hands because all properties are washed away,” said Musanabandi Nadia.

The mayor of Huye district, Sebutege Ange along with other local leaders have visited affected families and promised support.

“Local leaders have visited affected residents and thanked neighbors for accommodating them. We are seeking how to provide basic equipment as we prepare to make renovations,” Sebutege has told IGIHE.

Afrodis Twagirimana, 26, was first caught for flouting the curfew and other government COVID-19 prevention guidelines when he tried to bribe the officer enforcing the directive with Rwf2,000.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that as Police officers were enforcing the curfew in Rubona Cell, Nyamwumba Sector, they caught Twagirimana operating during prohibited movement hours.

“Police officers enforcing the government directives on the prevention of COVID-19 intercepted Twagirimina transporting passengers during hours when movements are prohibited,” CIP Karekezi said.

He added: “Twagirimana did not have some of the traffic related documents including transport authorization permit neither was he wearing a face mask. He pulled out a note of Frw2,000 and tried to bribe the officer so as to prevent his arrest and impounding his motorcycle.

When the officer declined to take the bribe, Twagirimana tried to flee but he was pursued and arrested, and his motorcycle RE 318X impounded.”

For anyone to operate as a commercial motorcyclist they are required to first seek a transport authorisation permit from Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA).

Further, movements are prohibited between 7pm and 4am across the country as one of the government measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Other prevention measures include wearing face mask, sanitizing and washing hands, and social distancing.

CIP Karekezi warned the public against violating the directives, and worse still attempting to offer bribes.

“Corruption and bribery in particular is a serious crime because of its ill-effects on service delivery.

I advise members of the public to respect the directives and other law, and do away with the thinking that they will seduce law enforcement officers or other service providers with bribes, which will only lead to their arrest and likely to spend many years in prison,” CIP Karekezi said.

Article 4 of the law on fighting corruption, partly states that any person, who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/ herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited received.