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{{Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH) has resumed Army Week medical activity by offering special treatment to the Genocide survivors living with different cases of diseases.}}

This Army Week Activities is conducted by Rwanda Defence Forces for 20th Commemoration of Genocide Against Tutsi.

The medical outreach organized in partnership with FARG, Government Fund for genocide Survivors is being undertaken at Kiziguro and Ngarama Hospitals in Gatsibo district. The activity started on Monday 10th March 2014 will end on Friday 14 March.

It is targeting over 1500 patients who are using their ordinary medical insurance known as Mutuel to get treatment.

RMH personnel are offering clinical services related to different specialties such as orthopedics, plastic surgery, gynecology, urology, internal medicine, psychology, psychiatry ,ophthalmology ,Dermatology, dental ,ENT and general surgery.

Alivera Mukabaramba, the State Minister to the Ministry of Local Government during the launch of the Army Week at Kiziguro Hospital said that the Government will continue supporting genocide survivors to get better life and thanked RMH and FARG for organizing the medical outreach.

Theophile Ruberangeyo, Executive Secretary of FARG thanked Rwanda Defence Forces for providing medical care to genocide survivors. “This is a significant gesture as they are the ones who stopped the genocide and continue taking care of survivors.

Survivors feel closer to these soldiers who saved their lives. They know they are the ones who can well understand their suffering and cure the wounds left behind by the genocide atrocities” he said.

Col Dr Eugene Twagirumukiza said that RMH team is dedicated to offering good services to the population and will continue treating wounds left by genocide atrocities. He said that cases that need special treatment are being transferred to RMH for follow up.

{{Following a screening of Finding Hillywood, a documentary about the birth of the Rwandan film industry, Rwandan film pioneer Eric Kabera spoke about making movies 20 years after the genocide in a Q&A hosted by USC Shoah Foundation executive director Stephen Smith.}}

Screened at USC School of Cinematic Arts as part of the Outside the Box [Office] series, Finding Hillywood recounts the efforts of a few Rwandan filmmakers in creating a film industry and supporting the Rwandan Film Festival.

Among these stories is Kabera’s. Kabera founded the Rwanda Cinema Center and Kwetu Film Institute, which train Rwandans in the art and business of filmmaking. For many Rwandans, the film festival is their first opportunity to see movies made by Rwandans on a large screen.

The film is directed by Christopher Towey and Leah Warshawski. Finding Hillywood producer Ni’Coel Stark also participated in the Q&A.

Smith started by asking Kabera about the dynamic of the Rwandan film industry 20 years after the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide. Kabera said most of the films his students make are about genocide because they’ve grown up with it their entire lives.

The key is to not overwhelm audiences with too many films about genocide, he said, and try to steer filmmakers toward other subjects as well.

“It’s tough to ask, ‘Can we make something else?’” Kabera said. “We’re trying to make [such films] as light and as beautiful as possible. The filmmakers [of Finding Hillywood] managed to do that, and you walk out after the film and feel it’s sad but uplifting.”

An audience member asked Kabera what’s next for the Rwandan film industry and in his own work. Kabera said he’s working on raising money build a state-of-the-art theater in Rwanda so Rwandans can see the 20 feature films made about the genocide over the last 20 years.

A student who went to Rwanda last year on the Problems Without passports course asked Kabera how he deals with the aftermath of genocide through film and the kind of support he gets from the Rwandan government.

Kabera said film is an “escape” for him, and it’s how he deals with the genocide. But getting financial support from the government is an uphill battle, even though the community is behind him and should have access to film.

“I’m not giving up, but it’s tough. It’s the community that wants it, but there’s no national program to start it. It’s not a national priority,” Kabera said. “You want the community to own it.”

Stark added that funding Finding Hillywood was challenging, and relied on several sources including a Kickstarter campaign, angel donors and investors. It was important to be sensitive to potential donors’ means and not overwhelm them with requests, she said.

The last questions of the night focused on Kabera’s method for handling the traumatic subject matter of genocide in film. He admitted that he’s gotten a reputation for being “Mr. Genocide Man” and making people cry from his films, but he’s trying to explore lighter, more uplifting topics through recent films such as Africa United and the upcoming Intore.

“We still live in a very fragile society. You need to have a level of dignity. That’s what drives me the most,” Kabera said. “I want that element of passion, compassion, and human voice to resonate.”

The evening ended with a surprise. In the audience was Richard Harding, a producer of the 2010 film The First Grader, which was honored at the Rwanda Film Festival two years ago. Harding didn’t attend the festival, so Kabera was finally able to present him the trophy for the festival’s Silverback Award.

{Congolese refugees currently sheltered in Kigeme camp in Rwanda are fighting against the American policy which gives them an opportunity to resettle in the United State of America adding that it is the way to silence Congolese who speak Kinyarwanda in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
}

In a communiqué to the press Congolese refugees say that instead of relocating in USA, a lot of efforts and approaches might be put in the long lasting solution which allows them to return to the motherland country.

“We fled our country long ago because of insecurity. We thought that we would return to our country. Officials were telling us that it is the M23 which causes the problem, and if it is defeated we will be able to return to our properties.”

Refugees complain that instead of fulfilling the promise USA has gone beyond that and relocate them in the USA, another country which is not theirs.

Currently the USA is implementing its refugee program in which over 600 Congolese refugees are being relocated.

They are trying to oppose the U.S. Ambassador in Kigali recently promised to naturalize some Congolese refugees.

“Basically, if there are still problems of insecurity in eastern DRC, they are few in proportion to other Rwandophone people who stay in their properties in Masisi, Ngungu, Kischanga , Bwiza, Kilorirwe , Nyamitaba and Bihambwe.”

Muhizi, a young Congolese activist living in Rwanda says “If there is insecurity, it may end when the refugees return to ensure the safety of their abandoned property”

IGIHE learnt that he and twenty other young people are mobilizing other refugees to counter this movement relocating them far from their homeland.

”This movement is particularly targeting refugees living in Rwanda and Burundi. Americans know how to help Kinshasa to reduce the influence of this Rwandophones in eastern DRC to silence them forever.” Say refugees.

{{A total of 74 Police officers have retired from the Rwanda National Police (RNP) including two Commissioners.}}

Also retired are Senior and Junior officers.

Among those who have retired are Commissioner of Police (CP) Steven Balinda, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Yoweri Ndahiro.

The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana, while speaking at the official send-off party of the retired officers at the RNP headquarters in Kacyiru on Wednesday, thanked them for their devoted services to their nation and the force in particular.

“You put your lives on the line to liberate your country even when your comrades were dying in the due course, and gave it your best to build a credible Police force respected today worldwide. You are, therefore, still part of the winning family and the love for your nation should continue even in your new life,” the Minister said.

He urged them not to waste their experience and to support the development of their communities. He also pledged the government’s support, when need arises.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana described them as “patriotic and dedicated comrades” who never abandoned their nation and the force in particular when they were needed most.

The IGP said their “dedicated services to the force will never be forgotten” and urged them to continue being disciplined citizens and be ready to serve the country when need arises.

CP Balinda, who spoke on behalf of all the retired officers, thanked the country and the RNP for the support rendered to them in various ways.

“This is a pride to us to start a new life with such respect from colleagues, institution and the country. We are happy to have been part of building a credible Rwanda National Police in such a short time and we will be available to serve our country whenever our services are required,” CP Balinda said.

He urged the officers and men still in service to continue the tradition of patriotism to further build a professionalized force and ensure sustainable security in the country and beyond.

RNP

{{KIGALI, March 13, 2014}} – {At a high-level forum in the Rwandan capital today, H.E. President Kagame, President of Rwanda and World Bank Vice President for Africa Makhtar Diop highlighted Africa’s urgent need for larger numbers of scientists, engineers, and technicians who can meet the growing market demand for such expertise and contribute to development and shared prosperity in their countries.}

Themed “Accelerating Africa’s Aspirations,” the forum on Higher Education for Science, Technology and Innovation was co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, a champion of science and technology, and the World Bank, one of Africa’s largest development partners in higher education. The forum aimed to boost science, technology, and engineering capability as a key driver of economic growth and job creation.

The governments represented at the forum (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda), private sector participants and development partners issued a communiqué today to the effect that they would invest strategically in science, technology, and engineering education to accelerate Africa’s progress into a developed, knowledge-based society within a generation.

H.E. President Paul Kagame said: “I welcome the commitment to strengthen and mobilise resources for building capacity in science and technology, in our pursuit of Africa’s socio-economic transformation. Our collective commitment must be followed by concrete action to drive innovation for the development of our people and our continent.”

Makhtar Diop, the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, who delivered the keynote address, said:
“To be more competitive, expand trade, and remove barriers to entering new markets, Africa must expand knowledge and expertise in science and technology. Let us set some bold targets: that we will see a doubling of the share of university students graduating from African universities with degrees in mathematics, science and technology by 2025. The time has never been more auspicious to focus on higher education, particularly in science, technology and mathematics.”

In the concluding communiqué, countries present committed to collaborate with development partners and the private sector to support Africa’s socioeconomic transformation with strategic actions to reform tertiary education systems; increase the share of students in science, technology and engineering; and improve the quality of learning and research.

They also committed to use growing foreign direct investment flows to build greater technological capability, to enroll more women in science and technology disciplines, and to strengthen science and mathematics education at all levels.

The forum highlighted the importance of setting up regional centers of excellence in various disciplines such as agriculture, biotechnology, health, water and sanitation, and ICTs.

“Regional partnerships help universities to pool their resources, achieve economies of scale, set up joint facilities and standards, and most importantly, share knowledge and expertise,” Diop noted, “Beyond the borders of the continent, we need to tap the vast experience of Brazil, China, India, and Korea.”