Author: Samson Iradukunda

The incident took place yesterday as police officers with the delegation assessing churches meeting standards established that Amazing Grace Church based in Rubilizi reopened without approval.

The crackdown followed complaints from residents of Kanombe sector of Kicukiro district who expressed concern over noise pollution from the closed church that reopened recently.

Talking to IGIHE, the police spokesperson in Kigali city, CIP Marie Goretti confirmed the arrest.

“He was asked about who licensed the reopening, but, instead, tried to strangle the police officer. He was arrested for confronting security officials and held at Kanombe police station,” she said.

She advised church owners to notify concerned parties in case they feel that standards are met before reopening.

The decision to shut down churches failing to meet minimum standards went into effect at the end of February last year and left 714 churches closed at the outset.

Lack of toilets, operating in residential houses, lacking parking, operating between residential houses were among reasons for closure for the said churches.

AERG is a body that brings together genocide survivors studying in university and secondary schools.

The project was revealed on Saturday as AERG marked 22 years in Huye district.

The coordinator of AERG-Huye Campus, Josué Niyomutabazi explained that the project will have been polished after the 100 days of 25th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.

“We want to make the project smart that execution can start with immediate effect. We will focus on AERG history and its resilience process,” he said.

“As the youth that survived genocide, we have a role to play providing explanations via social and mainstream media platforms,” added Niyomutabazi.

The museum will be based at the University of Rwanda Huye Campus where AERG was born on 20th October 1996.

It will feature three rooms where the first will be dedicated for advisory services, helping those experiencing trauma, the second will be reserved for written pieces, books, pictures and documentary films on history and activities of AERG. The third section of the museum will be equipped with computers connected to internet where AERG members will get training on technology and providing the truth about Rwanda’s history with the aim of addressing denial and trivialization of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Clarisse Mbuguje, one of the members, said that playing an active role in sharing information about the genocide through the media will be a milestone towards building the desired Rwanda.

Senator Gertrude Kazarwa who attended the event commended the project and reminded the youth on patriotism.

“The country was liberated by the youth and we are now in a secure country. Concentrate on your studies, remain patriotic and maintain the country’s security,” she said.

The suspect was arrested in Kinihira Sector of Rulindo District on his way from Miyove Sector in Gicumbi according to CIP Alex Rugigana, the Police Spokesperson for the Northern Region, who said he was arrested following information shared with Police by his neighbors.

“He owns a boutique where he sells different commodities. His neighbors reported to Police that he sells cannabis which his clients buy asking tobacco which others think it is the legal one,” CIP Rugigana said.

CIP Rugigaga added that in tracking him, Police were given information that he was on a motorcycle towards Kinihira in Rulindo where he was stopped by Police who searched and found him with 157 pellets which he had put inside his underwear.

The suspect was handed to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).

CIP Rugigana commended the residents for their cooperation in seizing drugs and urged the public to always report to officials whenever they know where drugs are sold.

As, for drug dealers, CIP Rugigana said, all the tricks they use are known and urged them to stop engaging in the illicit trade.

Article 263 of the penal code says that any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offense.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to a penalty from seven year to life imprisonment and a fine of more than Rwf20 million and not more than Rwf30 million in regard to severe narcotic drugs.

The Spokesperson of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Modeste Mbabazi told IGIHE that China Road and Bridge Cooperation has been complaining over thefts of its tools by unknown people.

This prompted RIB agents to start an investigation that saw the said 10 people arrested.
“Now, 10 people have already been arrested including workers, traders and others who bought those materials. Investigations are underway,” Modeste Mbabazi explained.

Prior information got by RIB says that some employees of the company used to steal the items and sell them claiming them to be left over materials.

Items stolen include spare parts of machines used in construction, vessels among others. RIB has recovered some of the stolen items which were returned to the company.

RIB Spokesperson Mbabazi urged the public to avoid buying items of which origin they don’t know.

A majority of suspects were youth arrested in 2016 accused of terrorism, crimes, radicalism, treason and inciting the public to engage in terrorism acts and forming radical groups.

The 22 Muslims were acquitted yesterday, 2 sentenced for 10 years , 13 handed a sentence of five years while three others were handed three month’s sentence.

The ruling was scheduled on 28th February 2019 but was adjourned due to a bunch of files that had to be analyzed before the ruling which attracted a large number of suspects.