IGIHE

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  • Nyagatare: Five months later, displaced families receive their compensations

    Nyagatare: Five months later, displaced families receive their compensations

    {Nyagatare District has started to compensate over hundred and fifty five displaced families of Rusumo Cell in Rwimiyaga sector after five months complaining the money they had spent for the purchase of land in that sector.}

    It is reportedly said over 70 families have already been compensated.

    This action will repay the money to the families established on an area intended for rearing cows.

    Meanwhile the displaced families will be shown another area where they can buy new lands and establish their new homes.

    Each of these families has received at least Frw 750,000, enough to be offered a sufficient field in Nyagatare as Muganwa Stanley, Vice- Mayor of the District confirmed to IGIHE.

    “No one of these families will be out of action,” he added. He also justified the measure to expropriate these agricultural farmers who bought land to cultivate in a breeding space. For the Vice- Mayor, “We must comply with directives from above. Agricultural areas do not mix with those of livestock. We helped those who bought the land for farming to be reimbursed and relocate their agricultural activities in there appropriate spaces”.

  • Educat and GTBank Team up in the Name of Entrepreneurship

    Educat and GTBank Team up in the Name of Entrepreneurship

    {On the 14th of March, Educat and GTBank officially team up their efforts to grow SMEs in Rwanda. The two partners will utilize their joint assets, expertise and networks to provide Rwandan entrepreneurs with the tools they need to pave a path to entrepreneurial success.}

    As part of the partnership, Educat and GTBank will identify and recruit entrepreneurs who will be taken through various enrichment programs that will result in tailored action plans for business growth and development. These programs include the Rwanda Business Accelerator, a comprehensive 6-month program that aims to help SMEs in the process of identifying new clients, refining their daily business operations as well as delivering value products and services that will yield long term customer retention. In addition, GTBank will financially back a Start-up Competition run by Educat, which will give promising entrepreneurs the chance to actualize their business aspirations.

    Andreas Norlem, CEO of Educat noted that “Through such partnerships we are sending a message to the young entrepreneurs of Rwanda; we are telling them that organizations like GTBank and Educat are committed to recognizing and evolving innovative ideas and enterprises. ”

    Educat is a Danish born and Rwanda based social enterprise that enables change makers in Rwanda to create significant and positive change for themselves, their community, and nation. Educat’s focus is the growth of entrepreneurs and the development of the entrepreneurial mindset amongst the youth of Rwanda.

    GTBank, formerly known as Fina Bank is a commercial bank that prides itself on being ‘the bank of SMEs’. It is one of the many West African banks that have ventured into the East African region to tap into the fast growing SME based economies of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.

  • Juba: Rwanda Peacekeepers Escort Internal Displaced Persons Relocated from Risk Zones to Safe zone

    Juba: Rwanda Peacekeepers Escort Internal Displaced Persons Relocated from Risk Zones to Safe zone

    {{Rwanda peacekeepers(Rwanbat3) deployed in UN mission in South Sudan(UNMISS) escorted Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a UN Relocation program from Risk Zones in UN Tomping to UN-House in Juba-3. People are relocated to a safe }} area.

    The UNMISS took this initiative from last week’s experience when it rained at night and most IDPs were totally exposed to floods at UN Tomping Camp.

    “We are happy that IDPs are being relocated to a safe zone. The decision was taken to protect them against floods during this rainy season in Juba.

    Our contingent has, as is the norm, taken the initiative to find ideal solutions including relocation, thanks to UNMISS authorities that considered this option”, said RDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita.

    The relocation kicked off on 12 March 2014 and is still going on for the nearest next days until all 13 thousand IDPs will be relocated from flooded zones to better place.

  • WB Supports Rwanda’s Efforts to End Extreme Poverty

    WB Supports Rwanda’s Efforts to End Extreme Poverty

    {{The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the third in a series of programs for Rwanda that will help accelerate the country’s impressive poverty reduction of recent years. }}

    The US$70 million IDA allocation will be used to expand and strengthen Rwanda’s social protection system, which protects the most vulnerable people against the worst effects of poverty.

    Rwanda has reduced extreme poverty dramatically in recent years, from 40 percent in 2001 to 24 percent in 2011.

    This remarkable success has been achieved with support from the World Bank and other partners, and social protection has been established as a central policy tool for reaching the poor and the vulnerable.

    Rwanda’s flagship social safety net—the Vision 2020 Umurenge program (VUP) consisting primarily of cash transfers and public works employment—now covers close to a million people.

    “Everybody should benefit equally from Rwanda’s economic growth,” said James Musoni, Rwanda’s Minister of Local Development. “Targeting vulnerable families and persons with disabilities or elderly people makes our growth more inclusive and will help us reach our vision of becoming a middle income country by 2020.”

    Rwanda has already undertaken a number of strong policy actions that have established it as a leader among low-income countries seeking to build a strong base for their social protection systems.

    The new grant will help to strengthen management capacity and monitoring systems, make social protection more responsive to natural disasters, and expand coverage to greater numbers of poor regions and people.

    “The government has used social protection programs very effectively over the past decade and is now pursuing an even more ambitious goal—to reduce extreme poverty to 9 percent by 2018,” said Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda.

    “The new grant will strengthen the national social protection system so that it becomes more efficient, reaches more people, and is flexible in times of crisis.”

    Vivienne Nyiramahigura is a 45 years old beneficiary of VUP public work. She is a widow, and heads a household of seven people. She lives with her 70 year old mother.

    Her earnings have helped her to feed her family, pay for their health insurance as well as school fees and scholastic material for her son.

    Vivienne says that before VUP: “there was nowhere I expected to get that amount of money. We could not afford to pay for such things”.

    “Despite Rwanda’s remarkable progress and strong economic growth, many families are still poor, live in rural areas, and are vulnerable to climate-related disasters,” said Laura Rawlings, World Bank task team leader for the project.

    “Regular cash transfers or income from temporary jobs in public works projects such as terracing the land helps poor families to buy food and keep children in school even during hard times, giving this generation and the next a chance to prosper as the Rwandan economy develops.”

  • EABC Offered Land in Kigali

    EABC Offered Land in Kigali

    {{The government of Rwanda has agreed to allocate land to the East African Business Council (EABC) to construct its regional head offices in Kigali. }}

    This follows a request sent to all partner state governments at the end of January, requesting for donation of land and diplomatic status for EABC staff.

    The EABC executive committee waited anxiously for a positive response on this matter from member states, having operated in a rented facility in Arusha, Tanzania, since its existence.

    The news was greeted with excitement from the executive committee when Rwanda responded with an offer.

    The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of the private sector in the five East African countries, having been established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community.

    {{Location}}

    According to a letter addressed to EABC’s chairman, Mr Vimal Shah, the government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, has allocated prime land in Kiyovu, the heart of Kigali City.

    Additionally, the Rwandan government said that since EABC staff does not qualify for diplomatic status, government would look into their needs and facilitate them where possible.

    In his letter of appreciation, the EABC chairman, Mr Vimal Shah expressed his gratitude to the President and the government of Rwanda, stressing that this demonstrates the commitment of the Republic of Rwanda to the EAC integration process and ensuring that the process is “People-Driven and Private Sector-led.”

  • Rwanda Peacekeepers Humanitarian Escort on Way to CAR-Cameroon Border

    Rwanda Peacekeepers Humanitarian Escort on Way to CAR-Cameroon Border

    {{For the fifth time, a humanitarian and commercial goods convoy escorted by Rwanda peacekeepers in Central African Republic (CAR) is on the way to the CAR-Cameroon border, Beloko locality. }}

    The humanitarian convoy, termed as “Convoi de l’espoir” (convoy of hope) by France 24 started the 700 km long journey from Bangui to CAR-Cameroon border in the morning of 15 March 2014.

    The convoy of 47 vehicles escorted by Rwanda Mechanized Infantry Battalion (RwaMechBatt1) serving in the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) is expected in Bangui within five days if all goes well.

    In the previous humanitarian escorts, Rwanda peacekeepers saved and rescued about 3000 fleeing Muslims from several attacks by Anti-Balaka armed mobs.

    RwaMechBatt1 peacekeepers first opened the 700 km humanitarian Corridor on 27 January 2014.

    Bangui and CAR had been cut off from supplies by armed groups controlling the Bangui-Cameroon main supply route that connects it to the sea port of Douala in Cameroon.

    MOD

  • Rubona Residents in anti-Crime Awareness

    Rubona Residents in anti-Crime Awareness

    {{Residents of Rubona sector in Rwamagana district have launched an awareness programme aimed at educating the youth and public on the dangers of drug abuse and fight crimes.}}

    Jean Baptiste Mutabazi, the sector Executive Secretary said this is one of the ways of ensuring security in the area.

    He urged the sector residents to live in harmony and desist from “self-justice.”

    He also appealed to them to embrace government development initiatives.

    The District Police Commander, Chief Supt. (CSP) Richard Rubaguma thanked Rubona residents for their continued collaboration in providing Police with timely information, which he said, contribute much in not only crime prevention but also arrest of wrongdoers.

    CSP Rubaguma urged them to abstain from drug trade and consumption and provide timely information to organs concerned on those involved.

    He appealed to them to tighten their night patrols and fight other crimes like gender and domestic violence.

    He also asked them to identify families involved in conflicts to help them reconcile before the disputes turn violent.

    RNP

  • UK Court Orders Ugandan to pay £1.5m

    UK Court Orders Ugandan to pay £1.5m

    {{A Ugandan benefit fraudster who stole £4million from the British taxpayer is claiming asylum because of the disgrace she faces if she was sent back to Uganda. }}

    Ruth Nabuguzi is insisting that relatives are angry at the shame she has brought on them through her criminal activities in UK, the Daily Mail has reported.

    Nabuguzi was accused of an ‘outrageous abuse of the hospitality’ shown to her by Britain when she – along with a gang of other fraudsters – was convicted of stealing more than £4.1million from taxpayers.

    The 20-year scam saw her gang create fake identities for up to 100 children to milk the benefits system.

    She was yesterday ordered by a judge to pay back £1.5million of the money she stole or face having her six-year jail sentence doubled.

    Nabuguzi had also claimed to have HIV and Aids to receive costly drugs which she then sent back to Uganda to be sold to genuine victims at a huge profit.

    It was estimated that supplying the medicines to her, as well as four other made-up patients, cost the taxpayer more than £2million.

    Now, in a further twist to her case, the Daily Mail has learned that Nabuguzi plans to make an asylum application in a bid to halt deportation. When she was jailed in November 2012 she was told that she would be kicked out of the country.

    Immigration sources have said that Nabuguzi claims her life could be ‘in danger’ if she returned to Uganda because of the ‘ill will’ felt towards her for the shame she has brought upon her family.

    ‘She has repeatedly said people who know her might wish to harm her when she returns to Kampala,’ said an immigration source. When the Nabuguzi case was first heard two years ago it emerged some £154,000 went on education for members of the ‘family’.

    Fraud relating to accommodation costs and sub-letting of flats by Nabuguzi cost £650,000, and the family’s benefits, including child allowances, disability benefits, and council tax totalled £900,000.

    She re-appeared at Croydon Crown Court in South London last month for a hearing in which the defence and prosecution submitted arguments to Judge Nicholas Ainley – who presided over the 2012 trial – on how much she should repay. At yesterday’s confiscation hearing the judge announced his decision.

    She appeared in court alongside Ronald Kavuma, 37, who was told to repay £157,000.

    Last night Conservative MP Julian Brazier praised the actions of the judge and said: ‘I welcome the fact the judge has taken such a tough line.

    ‘However, I hope the tribunal that deals with this woman’s attempt to stay in this country do not allow her to do so. If they do allow her to remain the system is not fit for purpose.’

    The lengthy 2012 trial heard that in a campaign of deceit lasting more than two decades Nabuguzi’s ‘family business’ saw them ‘conspire together to create, use and exploit’ false identities to carry out the staggering fraud. Eight of the group were sentenced to a total of 19 years by Judge Ainley.

    At the time he told Nabuguzi: ‘This was a fraud on a huge scale and it is an outrageous abuse of the hospitality you were offered by this country.

    ‘The identities you used and no doubt sold were then used by other people. You had no scruples in bringing children to this country and then involving them in your criminal pursuits. This was motivated entirely by greed.’

    During the February hearing the judge heard how she had spent much of the stolen money on a complex consisting of luxury apartments, shops, restaurants and a hotel in her home city of Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

    Plans for properties were found when police raided the gang’s homes across East London.

    Yesterday the same judge told an emotionless Nabuguzi she had been behind a ‘large scale thriving business over a period of many years’.

    The judge told her that she had also rented out at least 15 properties to illegal immigrants and added: ‘Her evidence was that she was helping fellow Ugandans. That is nonsense. She was running a large scale business and she was running it for her own gain.

    ‘Money was sent out to Uganda and was deployed in building complexes including flats, shops and hotels. She is the beneficial owner of a number of properties in Uganda. She will now have to dispose of them to pay monies back to this country.’

    The judge told Nabuguzi to repay £1,512,34.43 in six months or face a further six years in prison.

    It emerged during the February hearing that another member of her gang was said to have boasted in prison that police had found only ‘the tip of the iceberg’ of what was stolen by the gang.

    NV

  • US Offers $3M Reward for Somali Terror Suspect

    US Offers $3M Reward for Somali Terror Suspect

    {{US officials offered a $3 million reward Friday for help in capturing three notorious Somali terror suspects, including one linked to Al-Qaeda extremists involved in the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa.}}

    “The department has authorized rewards of up to $3 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulkadir, Jafar and Yasin Kilwe,” the State Department said in a statement.

    Abdulkadir, a Kenyan of Somali origin who is a foreign fighter with Al-Shabaab extremists and goes by the alias Ikrima, was the target of a failed US Navy SEALs assault in Somalia in October.

    Al-Shabaab insurgents are believed to have killed thousands of civilians, peacekeepers and aid workers in Africa since 2006, with the group claiming responsibility for September’s shock attack on a Nairobi shopping mall that left 67 people dead.

    “Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities pose a threat to the stability of East Africa and to the national security interests of the United States,” said the State Department, which designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 2008.

    Ikrima is missing three fingers on his left hand, while Jafar is reportedly missing one eye, according to the reward offer.

    US officials have linked Ikrima to two now deceased Al-Qaeda operatives who played roles in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

    {wirestory}

  • US to Give up Key Oversight Role for Internet

    US to Give up Key Oversight Role for Internet

    {{The US government announced Friday it was giving up its key role overseeing the Internet’s technical operations, handing over those functions to “the global multi-stakeholder community.”}}

    The move “marks the final phase of the privatization” of the management of the Internet domain name system, said a statement from the US Commerce Department.

    The US agency called for “global stakeholders to develop a proposal” for a transition to a new plan with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a non-profit group that took over some of the functions in 1997 under an agreement with the US government.

    The decision comes with Washington under pressure following revelations about vast surveillance programs operated by the secretive National Security Agency to collect intelligence and other data through a variety of methods.

    ICANN leaders said during a conference call that the move by the US was a sign that the organization has matured and that it was in the works long before leaked documents showed massive online snooping by intelligence agents.

    “Every president, every board of ICANN since its inception has been working toward this day,” ICANN president and chief executive Fadi Chehade said during a conference call.

    {{No immediate impact}}

    The end of the US oversight role has no immediate impact for Internet users, and ICANN will continue to administer the network’s key technical functions.

    The change affects US government oversight of “root zone” of databases underlying the Internet which makes Washington a steward of that system, even though the functions are contracted out to ICANN and the infrastructure company Verisign.

    “The timing is right to start the transition process,” said Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling, who added that he looked forward to “an appropriate transition plan.”

    The statement said the US hopes to “support and enhance the multi-stakeholder model,” and “maintain the openness of the Internet” under any new system.

    ICANN said its role as administrator of the Internet’s unique identifier system remains unchanged.

    “The Internet’s Unique Identifier functions are not apparent to most Internet users, but they play a critical role in maintaining a single, global, unified and interoperable Internet.” ICANN said.

    {{Unanswered questions}}

    But the change leaves some questions unanswered on the future stewardship of the Internet.

    Daniel Castro of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation said the United States “was bullied into making the change” due to pressure over the revelations of leaked NSA documents from former contractor Edward Snowden.

    “The Snowden disclosures are merely a pretext,” Castro said in a blog post.

    “While the NSA revelations have rightly angered many people around the world, they have nothing to do with Internet governance. The US Department of Commerce has not once abused its oversight of ICANN to aid the intelligence community.”

    Castro said the change opens the door to other governments such as Russia or China modifying the Internet architecture for political reasons.

    Without US oversight, “ICANN would not be accountable to anyone, and would be motivated only by the interests of those individuals who control the organization,” the analyst added.

    Greg Shatan, a US lawyer who is a member of an ICANN working group, said the change is “a big deal,” but that Washington is not walking away entirely from its role in the Internet.

    The change affects “the plumbing of the Internet” but ICANN still has obligations to the US under its “Affirmation of Commitments,” Shatan added in an email.

    “By making this announcement, the US is trying to make sure the transition happens on its own terms, and that the US is setting the rules for the transition.”

    The European Union recently called for these modifications, but some other countries have been seeking deeper changes, such as placing the Internet under UN control — which came up at a heated 2012 gathering of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union.

    “The US is making sure that the ITU and the UN do not take this oversight function,” Shatan said.

    “The press release is very clear that the US will not accept any proposal that replaces US government oversight with a government or intergovernmental solution.”

    AFP