Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

{Five outstanding projects promising to mitigate COVID-19 effects have won US$150,000 (approximately Rwf 149 million). The funding was provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which organized the contest through Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA).}

NINJA is a startup support initiative by JICA launched in January 2020, to promote innovation and creation of new businesses on African continent.

In collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), JICA has awarded five outstanding projects selected from 113 competing startups. Each project walked away with US$ 30,000.

Akai Yuki, the project coordinator at JICA Rwanda has said that the initiative organizes competitions across 19 African countries aimed at uplifting projects bringing innovations and transforming livelihoods on the continent.

“These projects will not only provide solutions to the current COVID-19 related effects but also are expected to bring economic transformations after the pandemic. In Rwanda, five out of 113 projects that submitted applications have been awarded,” he revealed.

Iradukunda Yves, the State Minister at MINICT lauded JICA for the initiative and congratulated winners.

“We voice our appreciation to JICA for the initiative and congratulate winners. We stand firm to welcome innovative solutions transforming livelihoods in the country and beyond,” he said.

Iradukunda also revealed that MINICT partnered with JICA to assist beneficiaries in project implementation and capacitating them to come up with solutions mitigating COVID-19 effects.

Winning companies include KHENZ Ltd with digital payment solutions for public buses traveling upcountry, IRIBA WATER GROUP Ltd helping people with limited income to access safe drinking water at affordable price using ATMs.

The company targets to deliver safe drinking water and sanitizers to 4000 people on daily basis.

Other projects include MAGOFARM LTD, AD Finance providing software management systems to medium-sized financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Health Edu which seeks to train health workers through virtual sessions.

So far, 2713 projects have submitted applications in 19 African countries including Rwanda, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Misiri, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.

The duo of Jean-Paul Nikobari and Jean-de-Dieu Hategekimana was arrested on Thursday, February 11, in Rwosezero Village, Munazi Cell in Save Sector.

Nikobari and Hategekimana are prime suspects in the recent incident when they ambushed one Enock Manishimwe, stole his laptop and money amounting to Rwf150, 000.

Manishimwe is a student at the University of Rwanda-Huye campus.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Manishimwe was ambushed at about 6am as he was headed to the campus for lectures.

“The victim reported the alleged theft, Police and local leaders worked together to locate and arrest the two suspected thieves,” SP Kanamugire said.

According to the spokesperson, Nikobari and Hategekimana are part of the group behind similar criminal activities in Cyezuburo swamp, Rwaza Cell in Save Sector.

“Police managed to identify these two suspects because of the joint efforts to respond to residents’ complaints about a group of thieves operating in this swamp,” SP Kanamugire said.

“In response, a community patrol was put in this areas which made it easy to know these two suspects. With the help of local residents, we have also identified other individuals connected to this group and the search to take them into custody is also still going on.”

Hakizimana and Nikobari have been handed over to RIB at Save station.

In article 166 of the law determining 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 not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.

However, in article 167, the penalty doubles if the theft was committed by more than one person or at night.

Among others, 132 cases have been found, 259 have recovered while 16 patients are critically ill.

Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17 200 people have been tested positive out of 938 902 sample tests of whom 13 937 have recovered, 3027 are active cases while 236 have succumbed to the virus.

Figures from the Ministry of Health shows that the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and deaths stands at 3%, 81% and 1.3% 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.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, the narcotics were seized from dealers, including major suppliers, most of them who were convicted and currently serving varied sentences.

The narcotics, including assorted illicit gin, were disposed of on Friday, February 12, in a public exercise held in Kariyeri Village, Rega Cell in Bigogwe Sector.

The destruction exercise was witnessed by the mayor of Nyabihu, Antoinette Mukandayisenga, Chief Prosecutor for Rubavu Intermediate Court, Janvier Munyaneza, Police, RIB, DASSO and local leaders in Bigogwe Sector.

Mayor Mukandayisenga reminded grassroots leaders to work with the people to create strong and active community policing structures in fighting drug delears.

She further urged them to work with security organs and Rwanda National Police (RNP) in particular to identify and report anyone they suspect to be engaged in drug related crimes.

“We all know how dangerous abusers are to the general safety and wellbeing of the people. We have seen crimes like theft, assault, sexual violence and domestic conflicts fueled by drugs or by people under the influence of these drugs. It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight them by reporting dealers,” said the mayor.

Meanwhile, CIP Karekezi said that most of those arrested with the disposed of narcotics were reported by residents.

“The destroyed drugs were seized from either dealers operating in Nyabihu or those using Nyabihu and transit route,” CIP Karekezi said.

Cannabis is listed as a “very several drug” under 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 “very severe narcotic drugs” faces between 20 years and life in prison and a fine of between Rwf20 million Rwf30 million.

The Ministry has made the clarifications following parents’ queries to get updates on the status of the problem so that they can register children in other schools in case the latter doesn’t reopen.

“They sent children home but didn’t clarify if they will resume studies or the school was permanently closed so that we can seek other alternatives. My child studies in Senior 6. They should update us if there is still possibility sit for exams, despite the closure,” one parent told IGIHE.

MINEDUC spokesperson, Salafina Flavia has told IGIHE that the school was closed temporarily as they analyze reasons that triggered riots.

“The school was not closed permanently. It is temporarily closed as the statement reads. MINEDUC will set new dates to resume studies soon after relevant authorities will have established causes that triggered riots. They will be able to sit for exams like students from other reopened schools,” she said.

Salafina appealed on parents to advise children against naught behaviors faults and remind them to revise courses.

“The Ministry of Education would like to comfort parents with children sent home and request them collaboration to educate children on moral values that should characterize Rwanda’s students, “she said.

Students at Gakoni Adventist College organized riots on Saturday last week protesting against the suspension of colleague who persistently indulged in improper behaviors.

It is said that the school sought support from police and local leaders to expel the student who had denied quitting the school’s premises.

As sources revealed, students stoned police and broke glasses of police vehicle which carried the sacked indiscipline student.

Rioting students also broke glasses of school buildings including dormitories, classes and administrative bloc.

Gatsibo district officials went to the school on Monday to calm the situation as students had declined to study. Students preferred to go home claiming that they are mistreated.

The mayor of Gatsibo district, Gasana Richard has told IGIHE that they decided to send all students home after consultations with MINEDUC.

He explained that riots might have been triggered by students from Nyabiheke and Gihembe refugee camps account to 288 out of 372 students at the school.

The Ministry of Education on Thursday, February 11, released a statement temporarily shutting down Gatsibo-based Gakoni Adventist College, in Kiramuruzi sector, following student’s strike that destroyed the school’s property.

MINEDUC revealed that 16 ring-leaders were arrested and handed over to the Police.

He presented letter of credence yesterday to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

Amb. Sebashongore had previously presented copies of credentials to the Chief of Protocol at European Union Commission, Nicolas de La Grandville.

Speaking to IGIHE after presenting credentials yesterday, Amb. Sebashongore said he also conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame.

“He [Charles Michel] appreciates Rwanda especially President Paul Kagame. I also brought him a message related to longstanding relations rooted on their good friendship,” he said.

Amb. Sebashongore also revealed that their discussions reflected on the history of Rwanda where Charles commended Rwanda’s efforts to preventing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Discussions have been held in a good atmosphere. People understand Rwanda’s journey of transformation. The situation is promising that we will cooperate in many areas like promoting investment, energy sector and agriculture, once Covid-19 pandemic is set aside,” he noted.

Amb. Sebashongore arrived in Belgium on 16th August 2020.

As he presented credentials to represent Rwanda in Belgium last year, Amb. Sebashongore committed to consolidate gains and root progress on predecessors’ achievements.

President Paul Kagame appointed Sebashongore as ambassador to Belgium last year in February replacing Amandin Rugira who is currently representing Rwanda to Zambia.

The institutions of the European Union are the seven principal decision-making bodies of the European Union (EU).

Most EU institutions were created with the establishment of the European Community in 1958. Much change since then has been in the context of shifting the balance of power away from the Council and towards the Parliament.

The suspects have been identified as Dieudonne Nziyomaze, 36, Jean Claude Ntezimana, 36, and Jean Damascene Nzahoranimana, 46.

The trio was paraded before the media on Thursday, February 11, at the Police metropolitan headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said the operation and subsequent arrest of the trio followed complaints filed by several traders operating in Nyarugenge market, who had fallen victims.

“Several traders reported having experienced similar fraud by individuals, who were guising as clients and defrauding them using forged bankslips. Investigations led to the arrest of these three men, who were allegedly working together to run the criminal syndicate,” CP Kabera said.

Cyprien Munyabarame from the private sector in Nyarugenge, said this kind of fraud targeting their unwitting traders has been going on for a while.

“Since this kind of fraud using forged bankslips started, all affected traders lost goods worth over Rwf100 million to these men. I urge traders to always be vigilant before they give out their goods especially when it involves a lot of money,” Munyabarame said.

{{Suspects speak out}}

One of the suspects, Ntezimana Jean Claude narrated that they would first study their target, place orders for specific products, load them on the vehicle before paying.

“We would load goods very quickly and call one of us (Dieudonne Nziyomaze) whom we addressed as ‘boss’ to send proof of payment. As planned, the boss would ask for a bank account number where he would pay very little money before altering the banklip and put the exact value of goods. It is the same forged bankslip he would send through WhatsApp as proof of payment,” Ntezimana said.

He admitted that in the past two weeks alone, they defrauded different traders in Nyarugenge market of goods worth Rwf4.3 million, using the same trick.

One of the affected traders, Richard Sebineza said that he was defrauded of assorted goods worth Rwf,460,000.

“They took 40 sacks of rice, 100 boxes of energy drink and eight boxes of malt drinks. Along the way, they loaded the goods onto another vehicle; the driver got suspicious and called me. When I checked my bank account I found they had deposited only Rwf1500. I called the Police immediately,” Sebineza said.

CP Kabera reminded the business community that although the government encourages cashless payments especially in this period as one way of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it requires vigilance and to consult their bank accounts before engaging in such transactions to prevent such criminal acts.

{{What the law says}}

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.

In 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.

Any person, who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.

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.