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{Rwanda Defence Force has concluded a relief in place operation for 3200 troops deployed in UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan. The last batch of troops arrived at Kigali International Airport on 30th November 2013, late evening.}

The Army Chief of Staff (ACOS), Maj Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi received them at the Airport on behalf of the Chief of Defence, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba. Other RDF officers and men were also present to welcome them. The ACOS congratulated the troops for a good job well done in a period of nine month of duty in Darfur.

“We have been following your activities, the reports we received showed that you have done well. You were good ambassadors of the country and this is why we came here to congratulate you in the name of RDF leadership and Rwandans in general”.

Maj Gen Kamanzi urged the soldiers to build on the experience they acquired in mission so as to enrich Rwanda Defence Force both at home and during other missions outside.

The RDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita, said that the relieved contingent headed by Col Ludoviko Mugisha performed different activities in addition of security duties while in mission. “They built 12 classrooms, 2 health centers, energy saving stoves known as rondereza and other environmental projects for Darfurians. RDF is continuing its endeavor towards working with other nations to foster peace in the world through peacekeeping mission”, he added.

Brig Gen Nzabamwita further said “Our Officers and men have done a good job. They attribute this to discipline and good leadership both at home and in the mission area, where Brig Gen Norbert Kalimba, Joint Chief of Staff of UNAMID and Col Willy Bagabe, Sector Commander work closely with both the Contingent to achieve their mission”.

Rwanda is the sixth major troop and police contributing country worldwide with military and police officers serving in different countries under UN missions including South Sudan, Sudan, Mali, Haiti, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast.

{This training workshop took place at Kigali in Lemigo Hotel from 25th to 26th November 2013 and it aimed to create a specific outreach program for female correction officers with the UN Peace Keeping missions on gender sensitivity.
}

Organized by three countries i.e Sweden, Rwanda and Canada which grouped together in what they called TROIKA in collaboration with the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO), it was attended by the participants from various institutions from Government, UN Peace Keeping Missions, Non-Government Organizations, Regional and International Organizations, known under the name of Group of Friends of Corrections.

During the opening of this training workshop, the Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, who was the Guest of Honor said that this training workshop is highly correlated with Rwanda’s policy of promoting gender, where it clearly derives positive results from the role of women in development.

The Minister of Internal Security told the participants that there is a growing interest in female corrections, the demand for specialized female corrections expertise is increasing both within the Rwanda and outside to be specific in international peace keeping.

“The Rwandan experience is that the Ministry of Internal Security through Rwanda Correctional Service has made deliberate efforts in its strategies and policies to select, train and retain female correction officers at all levels of the correctional force, this can be manifested by the number of female correction officers deployed in UN Peacekeeping missions since 2010 in Haiti and South Soudan where they have done a commendable job”, highlighted the Minister of Internal Security.

Addressing to the participants, the Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Service, CGP Paul Rwarakabije said that RCS has made a rapid progress and changed the punitive methods of imprisonment to a modern correctional rehabilitation programs aimed at transforming the one time criminals into responsible citizens that will go back into their communities and live in harmony with the rest of the population. He added that this is successfully done using well selected, trained corrections officers and has minimized reoffending.

CGP Paul Rwarakabije informed the participants that as the Republic of Rwanda’s policy of promoting women and girls to contribute to the development of the country in all sectors, the female corrections officers form 60% of the total number of officers in decision making positions in Rwanda Correctional Service.

The Commissioner General of RCS said that Rwanda Correctional Service will continue to train and equip corrections officers as well as offer pre-deployment training into Peace keeping missions.

The Representative of One UN in Rwanda, Mr. Lamin Momodou Manneh said that the choice of Rwanda to host this training workshop is to be commended, in recognition to the strong contribution of Rwanda in peace keeping missions in and outside Africa. He emphasized that Rwanda is also the champion in gender equality, especially in women representation in decision making positions.

{The organisations with best and worst service provision in the country
will be announced in January.
}

A survey to choose the top service providers is already underway. It
is being conducted by the ServiceMag, a services sector oriented
publication, and aims at promoting customer care and improve service
provision in public and private sector organisations, said Sandra
Idossou, the ServiceMag’s publisher.

The immigration and emigration department was voted best service
provider for 2012, and also topped in the government departments’
category, while Camellia Tea House won in the restaurants category,
Nakumatt in the supermarkets category and Kigali Central University
Hospital (CHUK) was the health providers’ winner.

To participate in the survey, log on to www.theservicemag.com by
December 6. The winners will be announced in January, according to
Idossou.

The government is promoting customer care to improve service provision
at any of its departments and in the private sector. It believes this
will attract more visitors into the country and enhance customer
experience, especially in the services sector.

{The Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has slammed accusations of opportunism against him and his colleagues, in terms of their support in the Ongoing National Programme of “Ndi Umunyarwanda”}

PM is being criticized for taking advantage of Ndi Umunyarwanda in order to gain or to remain on power.

However, the Minister said even if people accuse them of false accusations, he and colleagues are playing role in the strengthening of unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.

The Prime Minister made this statement during the one-day retreat that was attended by officials of the Office of the Prime Minister.

For him, unquestionably awareness on ideology of “Ndi Umunyarwanda” means the rebuilding of trust among Rwandan citizens by telling the truth, by disconnecting ethnic sectarianism which culminated in the 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

He said he had no role in the genocide against Tutsis in 1994, nevertheless, added Habumuremyi “I regret having done nothing to save lives from the moment that I was not targeted as a candidate for death.”

The Director to the Prime Minister Office, Ambassador James Kimonyo explained how in his difficult life full of refugee injustice, he cultivated a hatred against Hutu Ethnic Group.

The final straw was when, back home and found none of his family member remained alive. However he said that with the awareness program on Unity and Reconciliation and the ideology of “Ndi Umunyarwanda” he now feels free from this hatred evil.

Innocent Nkurunziza, an advisor to the Prime Minister in his speech, showed how he suffered all ethnic sectarianism throughout his high school to the point that he sought to obtain 3 different identity cards in order to be able to escape those who chased him.”

“After the genocide, I was annoyed to see that the new identity card had no mention of ethnicity when I wanted to feel proud of my ethnicity”

Another official in the Prime Minister Office, André Bucyana said he was being pursued by the stigma caused by the fact that members of his family, including his older brother killed the Tutsis. He took the opportunity to ask for forgiveness. These debates on Rwandan citizenship just follow others that have occurred in other institutions and public institutions in the country.

{The 15th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State was marked by the signing of the East African Monetary Union Protocol that is set to strengthen economic cooperation through a single currency for all EAC members. During the one day-summit, Presidents of the five EAC members reviewed the progress of the Community and adopted resolutions that aim to ensure implementation of policies in key sectors including infrastructure, development, trade policy and common custom territory.
}

President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted his nomination for the chairmanship of the East African Community and spoke on behalf of the leaders of the EAC:

“The East African Community is now fully embarked on enormous, ambitious and transformational initiatives. It is time to liberate our people, businesses and capital to allow them to deliver prosperity. That is the true promise of integration.”

Directly addressing the rumors of division within the EAC, President Kenyatta reassured those present of the EAC leaders’ commitment to regional unity:

“We speak with one voice and walk together towards our destination of a better Africa for all.”

Today’s summit which was preceded by ministerial meetings began with private consultations among Heads of States. The EAC Summit communique adopted by the Heads of States reiterated the need for a custom union, improved trade policies and infrastructure projects.

{Following recent claims that citizens are asked to pay Rwf 500 per month for electricity connection, EWSA (Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority) has, today, announced the removal of the monthly electricity meter charges.
}

Last year during the 2012 National Dialogue “Umushyikirano”, President Paul Kagame wanted to know why the Energy Ministry was charging a flat power con­nection rate to all Rwandans poor and rich, describing it as cheating.

“This is unfair. You must change this policy,” said Kagame, a statement that was greeted with applause from the audience

In a statement released today, EWSA said “In reference to the National Dialogue Proposal regarding Electricity monthly meter rent, EWSA would like to inform the public that after consultation with its stakeholders and based to the objective of the facilitation to access and use of electricity to all for both urban and rural areas, the monthly electricity meter charges will be removed from 1st December 2013.”

The removal of the monthly electricity meter charges comes few days before the 2013 National Dialogue which is to start from 6-December 2013.

{{angedelavictoire@igihe.com}}

{{UNICEF report shows that new infections among adolescents could be halved by 2020 with targeted and increased investment}}

{ A new report released today by UNICEF shows that great progress has been made to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, with more than 850,000 new childhood infections averted between 2005 and 2012 in low- and middle-income countries. }

In Rwanda, the government is on track to achieve MDG 6 and virtual elimination of MTCT by 2015.

However, the new 2013 Stocktaking Report on Children and AIDS raises the alarm on adolescents, citing the need for increased global and national efforts to address HIV and AIDS among this vulnerable age group.

AIDS-related deaths amongst adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 increased by 50 per cent between 2005 and 2012, rising from 71,000 to 110,000, in stark contrast to progress made in preventing mother-to-child transmission. There were approximately 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV in 2012 in the world.

By end of 2012 in Rwanda, approximately 180,000 adults (>15 years) and 27, 000 children (<15 years) are living with HIV and over 900 new HIV infections are estimated to occur in children. With additional funding and increased investment in innovation, many of the challenges could be overcome, the report says. “If high-impact interventions are scaled up using an integrated approach, we can halve the number of new infections among adolescents by 2020,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “It’s a matter of reaching the most vulnerable adolescents with effective programmes – urgently.” High-impact interventions include condoms, antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, voluntary medical male circumcision, communications for behaviour change, and targeted approaches for key populations and marginalized groups. This is in addition to investments in other sectors such as education, social protection and welfare, and strengthening health systems. In contrast to adolescents, progress has been impressive in the area of preventing new HIV infections among infants. Some 260,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2012, compared to 540,000 in 2005. “This report reminds us that an AIDS-free generation is one in which all children are born free of HIV and remain so––from birth and throughout their lives––and it means access to treatment for all children living with HIV,” said Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “It also reminds us that women’s health and well-being should be at the centre of the AIDS response. I have no doubt that we will achieve these goals.” Thanks to new, simplified life-long antiretroviral treatment (known as Option B+), there is a greater opportunity to effectively treat women living with HIV and to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies during pregnancy, delivery, and through breastfeeding. This treatment involves a daily one-pill regimen. The new report also emphasizes that for an AIDS-free generation to become a reality, more children living with HIV should receive antiretroviral treatment. “The government of Rwanda has demonstrated leadership in becoming a nation free of HIV/AIDs where, for example all HIV infected people and children are provided with antiretroviral therapy free of charge” said Ms. Noala Skinner, UNICEF Representative in Rwanda. Innovations and new ways of working are making testing and treatment more accessible, effective and efficient. One example is the use of mobile phones in Zambia, Rwanda and Malawi to quickly deliver HIV test results. The challenge now is to apply the knowledge that already exists, continue to focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents, and pursue new opportunities and innovations—while using finite resources as efficiently and effectively as possible. “The world now has the experience and the tools to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Children should be the first to benefit from our successes in defeating HIV, and the last to suffer when we fall short,” said Lake.

{A Kampala city socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa aka Bad Black has been arraigned in court following her extradition by the Rwandan authorities on Thursday.}

Interpol director in Uganda, Asan Kasingye, confirmed her extradition. Bad Black has appeared before Nakawa Magistrates Court in Kampala.

She was recently arrested at Kigali International airport Rwanda after a Kampala court issued a warrant of arrest for jumping bail.

KCCA Magistrate, Juliet Hatanga, issued the warrant in March this year after she failed to appear in court on two occasions without any explanation from people who stood surety for her.

Bad Black is facing charges of a traffic offence at KCCA Court in Kampala.

The Court of Appeal granted the elusive socialite bail to travel abroad to remove her breast implants last year after she told court that her breasts were swollen and the implants inside needed to be removed.

The claims were confirmed by a doctor who was summoned by the court saying she needed urgent medical treatment.

Prosecution alleged that on December 4, 2011, Black at Casablanca Pub & Restaurant along Acacia Avenue, while driving a Mercedes Benz UAM 833Z, carelessly and without reasonable consideration for other road users, knocked a motorcycle UDN 916E and damaged it.

Further, prosecution alleges that in the process of knocking the motorcycle, three people; Ismail Nsamba, the rider of the motorcycle, his wife Fatuma Namusoke and their six months old baby Jamila Namulindwa were seriously injured.

{{New Vision}}

{A general meeting of the Consultative Forum of accredited political parties in Rwanda (FFP) has concluded that each political party has the right to join or not join the Forum, with the proviso that any newly approved Party should, to be part of FFP, write to the General Assembly of the Forum in order to get exclusive right which approves its membership.}

The decision was taken on November 28th 2013 during a general meeting of the Consultative Forum of accredited political parties in Rwanda (FFP).

The Communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said that the meeting was devoted to a thorough review of each section of the draft revision of the Organic Law regulating the Forum.

Among the reviewed articles, there is one which states that membership in FFP is voluntary.

Parties that wish to stay in the Forum will put their signatures to the document on the internal rules of the Forum.

For a new political party, the application will be written and addressed to the General Assembly of the Forum.

{{angedelavictoire@igihe.com}}