The announcement was made during the Kigali City Council meeting held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The meeting, attended by leaders from the village level upwards, aimed to assess the progress made in the city’s development, identify ongoing challenges, and discuss strategies for improvement.
One of the key projects highlighted was the second phase of the Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP II), which focuses on upgrading informal settlements. The initial phase will include the Ramba Hills development in Kacyiru, featuring two adjacent high-rise buildings—one with 26 floors designated for office space and another with 24 floors for residential apartments.
The project also includes the construction of 160 housing units in Vision City, which will contribute to giving the entire hill a modern look and enhancing the image of Gasabo District.
In Nyabisindu, 680 housing units will be built to resettle residents currently living in informal settlements, reinforcing the city’s efforts to combat unplanned housing.
Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva emphasised the importance of building a resilient economy to achieve the city’s long-term goals. He called on all stakeholders to play an active role in this transformation.
“For us to make real progress as the City of Kigali, we must first develop a strong and resilient economy. As leaders, we must continue working together to build a safe and sustainable African city,” he said.
Dusengiyumva added that while much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go, especially in addressing informal settlements.
“We’ve already achieved a lot. Several infrastructure projects are underway, particularly in the upgrading of informal settlements. We started in Mpazi, where we built homes to improve residents’ living conditions. We are now working in Nyabisindu and will soon expand to Gatenga, Kimihurura, and other areas,” he explained.
Minister of Local Government Dr. Patrice Mugenzi commended the progress made by the City of Kigali during the 2024/2025 fiscal year and urged local leaders to help shift public attitudes.
“We urge local leaders to guide their communities in changing mindsets and to promote awareness, especially about avoiding informal settlements and encouraging people to live in designated areas with proper documentation,” he said.
Dr. Mugenzi further stressed that urban development should go hand-in-hand with quality service delivery, public health, and security.
The new facility will be unveiled during Imboni Xperience, a flagship event scheduled for July 12, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Imboni Creative venue in Kigali (KG 550 St, No. 12). The event promises an immersive celebration of fashion, artistry, and community.
According to the organisers, Imboni Xperience will bring together some of the country’s most talented fashion designers, accessory makers, and visual artists in a vibrant showcase that reflects the richness and diversity of Rwandan creativity.
The Imboni Creative Hub is a dedicated space designed to support, connect, and nurture the next generation of designers and innovators.
Described as a “home for emerging talent,” the new Creative Hub will offer young Rwandan creatives access to workshops, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities.
At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to cultivating a community-driven approach to creativity, where artisans can co-create, share expertise, and collectively shape the future of Rwandan style.
“We believe the true magic of creativity shines brightest when it’s nurtured collectively. Our goal is to uplift these passionate talents so they can craft their own futures and inspire others to do the same,” said Ibambe Johnson, who co-founded Imboni Creative alongside two others.
Through the Imboni Creative Workshop, young designers and accessory artists will gain exclusive access to hands-on mentoring and the tools they need to hone their skills, spark their creativity, and bring their visions to reality.
With this celebration of art, fashion, and community, Imboni Creative invites all to come together and embrace the spirit of collaboration at the Imboni Xperience event, where “ideas blossom, tradition meets innovation, and artistry becomes a shared journey.”
Hosted at the International School of Kigali (ISK), the festival became a rallying point for Rotarians, youth, and dignitaries who gathered to champion a cause to raise funds to procure an electric minivan to support cancer patients cared for at Bethania home care in Kinyinya.
The Festival of Sports – Rotary Edition was proudly organised by Wura Holdings Ltd, led by a committed Rotarian, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga, in collaboration with Rotary Sport and the Rotary Club of Kigali Golf.
For many of these patients, treatment means a gruelling 30-kilometre journey to and from Kanombe Military hospital each day, a journey that had grown increasingly difficult without reliable transport.
Jacqueline Duniah, President of the Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga, reflected on how a simple visit to Bethania inspired meaningful action.
“We believed that through sport, the awareness of our cancer patients’ needs could reach a wider audience. This is a continuation of our efforts, and we hope it inspires others to join us in providing solutions for our community,” she said.
Her words carried the spirit of the festival, a vibrant day filled with football, basketball, cricket, tennis, and pickleball, fencing and a variety of other games not just for fun but for a greater purpose.
The Rotary Club’s resolve turned sports into a symbol of solidarity, channelling community energy into practical support. A total of 57 million Rwandan francs was raised to support cancer patients during the event.
Among the many supporters at the event was Dr. Tunde Adelakun, President of Rotary Sport in the UK, whose presence underscored the global nature of Rotary’s reach. He brought an impassioned message about the power of sport to influence lives far beyond the field.
“Through our sporting projects, we’re raising awareness of mental health, lifestyle choices, eating well, and reducing the risks of debilitating diseases like cancer. It goes back to healthy living and doing good in the community,” Tunde said.
He went further, painting sport as a tool not only for awareness but also for youth development and leadership.
“We want to build leaders through sports. Sports are unique because they teach us rules. If from a very young age, our children understand that rules guide sports that there are offside lines, fouls, boundaries, then they will grow up respecting structure and responsibility. That’s how leaders are built,” he noted.
Tunde pledged that all future fundraising efforts through his Rotary Sport network would be focused on sporting initiatives with a purpose, pointing to the Kigali event as a model of what sport can achieve when tied to compassion.
This commitment was deeply felt by the staff at Bethania Home Care, where every day is a delicate balance of care, logistics, and hope. Sister Helena Katebera, the program coordinator, spoke of the relief this donation would bring.
“We often face different challenges, but the most pressing was transporting patients over 30km daily from our centre in Kinyinya to the treatment facility in Kanombe,” she said.
“Our old ambulance could only carry one patient. Through the support raised from this sports festival, our charity journey will continue smoothly, and this van will be a tremendous relief,” she added.
Founded in 2018, Bethania Home Care, operated by the Sisters of Our Lady Queen of Africa, provides food, shelter, and psychological support for over 250 patients undergoing cancer treatment. For many, it is the only place they can find care and dignity amid the hardship of illness.
The Festival of Sport was a declaration that community-driven action can lift the burdens of those most in need. As Rotarians, diplomats, and athletes came together in Kigali, they demonstrated that with the right intention, even a game can save lives.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, the two leaders met at Urugwiro Village, where they exchanged insights on pathways to stability, cooperation, and progress in the region and beyond.
“This afternoon at Urugwiro Village, President Kagame received Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for a wide-ranging discussion. They discussed the situation in the region, along with various key issues of continental and global significance. The two leaders shared insights on pathways toward stability, cooperation, and progress,” the statement reads.
Obasanjo, who currently serves as co-chair of the Panel of Facilitators for the peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), plays a central role in efforts to address the ongoing crisis. He shares the leadership of the panel with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The panel was formed in March following the merger of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes. This unified framework seeks to improve coordination among stakeholders and harmonise efforts to resolve the complex conflict affecting the eastern DRC.
In addition to Obasanjo and Kenyatta, the expanded facilitation team includes other former African heads of state: Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia. The panel is tasked with steering peace talks between the Congolese government and the AFC-M23 rebel group, among other armed factions.
The merged process aims to promote direct dialogue, implement previously agreed measures such as the neutralisation of the FDLR militia linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and engage a broader range of regional actors to support mediation efforts.
Parallel peace initiatives are also being supported by Qatar and the United States, as part of a wider international push to restore peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.
Two Kigali-based yoga instructors, Rebecca Gakwaya and Steffi Mushayija, have announced plans to launch a yoga training school aimed at equipping local instructors with the skills needed to expand access to the practice across the country.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Saturday, June 21, as the world marked International Yoga Day, the duo revealed that they aim to have the school up and running by mid-2026.
Rebecca, who began practising yoga in 2012, and Steffi, a physiotherapist who discovered yoga’s benefits later, have been teaching community classes at Ivy Wellness Studio in Nyarutarama since returning from a yoga training course in Indonesia in 2024.
The duo’s mission is to make yoga accessible to all Rwandans, breaking down barriers of cost and misconception through their “pay what you can” classes held every Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
“Yoga is for everyone,” Steffi emphasised. “It’s not just for flexible people or Westerners, as some believe. It’s a practice that connects you to your breath and body, offering benefits from stress relief to physical health.”
Rebecca added, “Yoga is everything. In the day-to-day, we sometimes forget to breathe. You run into an issue, and the first thing that you do is kind of hold on to your breath. And the more you hold on to your breath, the more stress you encounter. It’s a tool for wellness that belongs in schools, hospitals, and workplaces.”
The duo teaches Vinyasa yoga, a dynamic style where movements flow with breath, tailored to suit beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
Steffi noted the importance of proper guidance to prevent injuries, a concern she echoes from her physiotherapy background.
“Many try yoga once and feel pain because they push too hard,” Steffi said. “We adjust poses to meet people where they are.”
The inspiration behind the move to open a school stems from a desire to nurture more qualified local instructors who can spread the practice across the country.
“We want to create a program that trains Rwandans—by Rwandans,” said Rebecca.
“We see the demand, but we can’t reach every corner of the country. So we want to equip others who can.”
Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, emphasises the union of mind, body, and breath. Since its adoption as a UN-recognised international observance in 2014, International Yoga Day has become an annual moment to reflect on the practice’s global relevance.
Until the yoga teacher training school formally opens its doors, the pair continues to invite newcomers to their Saturday morning classes.
“The first step is to just show up,” said Rebecca. “Sit down, breathe, and feel. That’s how it starts.”
After six weeks of testimony and more than 30 witnesses presented by prosecutors, the defence confirmed on Monday that it will not call any witnesses, including Combs himself, and will instead introduce exhibits into evidence. Closing arguments are expected to begin on Thursday.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The charges stem from allegations that Combs ran his entertainment empire as a criminal enterprise designed to exploit and abuse women over the span of several years.
Legal experts say the decision not to present witnesses is strategic rather than unusual.
“It’s not uncommon for the defence to rest without putting anyone on the stand,” said former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner. “They may argue that the government’s own witnesses helped their case, and they have no obligation to prove innocence — that remains the prosecution’s burden.”
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on the testimony of three women: singer Cassie Ventura, an ex-assistant referred to as “Mia,” and a former girlfriend using the pseudonym “Jane.” Ventura described being coerced into sexual encounters called “freak offs” and claimed Combs used intimidation and drugs to control her. “Jane” and “Mia” offered similar accounts.
Supporting evidence included over 50 videos and hundreds of messages, including texts between Combs and his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, discussing arrangements with women and emergency contraception. Financial and travel records also linked Combs’ corporate accounts to escort payments and luxury travel.
Among the prosecution’s most shocking claims was a 2012 arson incident involving rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche, allegedly firebombed after Combs threatened him. A former employee testified Combs paid to suppress hotel security footage of him assaulting Ventura in 2016, potentially supporting obstruction of justice claims.
While Combs’ defence initially floated the possibility of calling three witnesses, including a former Bad Boy Entertainment executive, lead attorney Marc Agnifilo told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian they would rest after introducing documents and stipulations instead.
The defence is expected to file a routine motion to dismiss the case before closing arguments, a legal formality unlikely to succeed. In closing, Combs’ lawyers are anticipated to challenge the credibility of prosecution witnesses, suggesting exaggeration or motives tied to ongoing civil lawsuits.
“He can’t testify without being subjected to a withering cross-examination about other bad acts, all of which could expose him to civil liability in lawsuits brought by others,” said legal analyst Mark Zauderer.
If convicted of any charge, Combs faces a lengthy prison sentence. The jury, made up of eight men and four women, will soon be tasked with weighing a sprawling case that has combined celebrity, sex, power, and alleged criminal enterprise.
In an exclusive interview on the Long Form Podcast with host Sanny Ntayombya in Nairobi, Lumumba proposed a radical restructuring of the DRC’s governance to address systemic issues fueling the conflict, including weak state institutions, colonial-era borders, and ethnic exclusion.
Lumumba suggested that the Kinshasa administration convene an all-Congolese meeting, including all rebel groups, to discuss a confederation model inspired by Switzerland.
“A confederation that has a very loose centre, a loose centre that only takes care of defence, takes care of foreign affairs, and takes care of what I call national coordination,” he said.
He argued that granting regions autonomy in policing and policy formulation would “unburden the centre” and address grievances driving rebellions like M23, which he described as a “symptom” and “reaction” to exclusion.
Without such measures, Lumumba warned, the DRC risks becoming “more and more ungovernable,” potentially leading to de facto division despite international recognition of Kinshasa’s authority.
In Switzerland, the confederation model functions as a federal state with a strong emphasis on subsidiarity and direct democracy. It’s a system where power is distributed across three levels: the Confederation, the cantons, and the communes, each with its own specific powers and responsibilities.
The principle of subsidiarity dictates that tasks should be handled at the lowest possible level of government, and the Confederation’s powers are limited to those explicitly granted by the Federal Constitution.
This robust decentralisation ensures that cantons and communes retain significant autonomy over local matters like education and policing, while citizens actively participate in governance through frequent referendums and initiatives, fostering a bottom-up approach to decision-making that requires both a national majority of votes and a majority of cantons for key federal decisions.
The cantons are akin to states or provinces, serving as the primary administrative divisions with a high degree of sovereignty. Communes, also known as municipalities, are the smallest political units, analogous to local towns or villages.
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The M23 rebellion, fighting against decades of marginalisation and persecution of Congolese Tutsis, earlier this year captured large swathes of territory in eastern DRC, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
There are ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict, particularly through Qatar’s involvement in mediation and the African Union-led process, but challenges remain, with the rebels accusing the Kinshasa administration of acting in bad faith by refusing direct talks, blocking confidence-building measures such as prisoner releases, and deliberately undermining peace efforts.
Lumumba criticised the Tshisekedi administration for its reluctance to engage in meaningful dialogue and for expelling East African forces that had been deployed to separate belligerents in 2023.
He further expressed concern over the involvement of foreign mercenaries in the conflict, including those linked to Erik Prince’s Blackwater, warning that external actors are exploiting the DRC’s instability to extract its natural resources.
“There are powers and principalities outside the Democratic Republic of Congo… who believe an unstable and disorderly Congo is necessary for their well-being,” he said, citing historical exploitation by colonial powers like Belgium.
Beyond the DRC, Lumumba offered insights on other pressing African issues. He praised Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traoré as a symbol of resistance against neo-colonialism, particularly French influence, but cautioned against oversimplifying his role.
“The jury is still out as to his actual performance,” Lumumba noted, urging that Traoré’s rise not be reduced to “empty slogans” or Russian propaganda.
He emphasised the need for a broader movement to sustain such momentum, warning that individuated leadership risks elimination, citing historical figures like Thomas Sankara and Patrice Lumumba.
On Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Lumumba lauded his disciplined governance post-1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, crediting him with Rwanda’s remarkable recovery, under “very difficult circumstances”.
Lumumba also addressed the ongoing conflict in Sudan, describing it as a “war of egos” between leaders like Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. He lamented the destruction of Sudan’s infrastructure and economy, warning that the proliferation of mercenaries and drones could lead to a “society that will take generations to revive.”
He called for stronger African Union intervention to resolve such conflicts, criticising the organisation’s reliance on external funding.
Reflecting on global perceptions of African leadership, Lumumba expressed dismay at U.S. President Donald Trump’s public berating of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over claims of “white genocide” during his visit to America in May.
He described the incident as painful but suggested Ramaphosa’s calm response may have mitigated the humiliation.
“When history is written, [Trump] will be the one who will be humiliated,” he said, though he questioned the timing of Ramaphosa’s U.S. visit.
Lumumba’s overarching message was a call for African unity to counter neo-colonialism and internal dysfunction. He criticised African elites for their selfishness and lack of patriotism, which he said perpetuates a “culture of scarcity” and impunity.
Quoting the late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, he urged the continent to speak with one voice diplomatically and economically to resist external exploitation.
“A united Africa will immunise us from the diabolical machinations of others,” he said. “A disunited Africa will be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
Kabila, who had been living in exile since late 2023, returned to the rebel-controlled eastern region of the DRC in May 2025 and was received by the AFC/M23 leaders.
Over the last several weeks, he has been holding discussions in Goma with various Congolese groups, including religious leaders, politicians, and civil society members, listening to their ideas on how peace could be achieved in the DRC, particularly in the eastern region where AFC/M23 leaders accuse the Kinshasa administration of exclusion.
After spending more than a month in Goma, on June 24, 2025, Kabila travelled to Bukavu, where he plans to hold further consultations with the Congolese people.
As Kabila explained in a message delivered to the Congolese before his return to the DRC, his talks are based on 12 pillars that he believes will help the country achieve lasting peace.
The pillars include reconciliation among Congolese people, ending the war, improving relations between the DRC and neighbouring countries, dismantling armed groups, and ending authoritarian rule.
The DRC government, however, accuses Kabila’s activities in the eastern part of the country of fueling the conflict. It has initiated proceedings against him for charges including treason, involvement in an unauthorised armed group, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Shayeq Al-Hajri, deputy chief of Joint Operations, confirmed in a press conference that the missiles were launched in two separate waves. The intercepted missiles were destroyed over the sea after entering Qatari airspace.
“We received intelligence earlier in the day indicating a threat to several regional military installations, including Al Udeid,” Al-Hajri stated. He emphasized Qatar’s military readiness, noting that its capabilities “go beyond what has been demonstrated.”
The attack prompted a temporary suspension of all air traffic. The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority later announced the full resumption of flights, praising the coordination among government agencies to ensure aviation safety.
In a subsequent briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said Qatar is weighing a “firm and wise” diplomatic response. He described the attack as a “surprise” given Doha’s significant diplomatic efforts to mediate regional conflicts.
Al Ansari confirmed that Iran had provided advance notice of the attack to both the United States and Qatar through diplomatic channels. He affirmed that the incident would not deter Qatar from its ongoing mediation role.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Amb. Weiss shed light on Israel’s grave concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the ongoing conflict, and the broader implications for regional and global stability.
“Any country has the right, not only the right, the obligation, for self-defence of its people,” she asserted.
The interview, conducted two days before the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear sites, highlighted Israel’s long-standing warnings and its determination to neutralise what it perceives as an imminent existential threat.
Amb. Weiss revealed that the conversation was taking place during a “massive attack by Iran” targeting civilian areas in Israel, resulting in dozens of injuries. She expressed regret that the international community had not heeded Israel’s warnings about Iran’s nuclear program over the past three decades.
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According to the envoy, Israel recently detected Iran’s rapid progression towards acquiring nuclear weapons, prompting its actions, which she insists are in self-defence.
“Iran had or held a mass that can create nine nuclear bombs in a very short period,” she stated, emphasising that “from the moment we realised it to the moment Iran could have held nuclear bombs, it could be days.”
She explained that Iran possessed enough 60% enriched uranium to produce nine nuclear bombs, with the final enrichment stages taking only days.
Two days after the interview, President Donald Trump disclosed that his administration had obliterated three Iranian nuclear sites in a surprise attack.
“Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump declared. “Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear capacity and to eliminate the threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
Beyond the nuclear threat, Amb. Weiss detailed Iran’s extensive ballistic missile program. Israeli intelligence indicates that Iran is preparing to produce approximately 3,000 ballistic missiles per year, capable of reaching 2,000 kilometers.
“There’s no country in the world, even Israel, of course, in the size of Israel, and even much, much bigger countries in size, that can hold an attack of, let’s say, an accumulation of 3,000 in a year,” she stressed.
For Israel, this dual threat has rendered the situation “imminent,” placing the security of the state at grave risk.
Amb. Weiss noted that Israel’s operations in Iran are highly surgical, meticulously targeting elements of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs.
“The attacks are very much to the, I would say, really surgical elements of harming the elements of the nuclear program and the ballistic programs,” she explained.
She reiterated Israel’s stance that it “will do whatever it takes to remove the threat from the table.”
The ambassador also highlighted the recent elimination of nine nuclear researchers and scientists, emphasising the importance of targeting expertise to hinder the program’s resumption.
“The biggest problem is that when you have people who are experts, even if you take down the targets and you don’t take down the experts, the resumption of the program will be very fast,” she noted.
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Amb. Weiss affirmed Israel’s strong and continuous collaboration with the U.S. government.
“We are in touch with the US government, and we are in touch with them, and of course, we’re working in accordance with conversations, and we’re not alone flyers in the world,” she stated.
She underscored that the decision to act was not made lightly but out of the understanding that “there’s no time to wait anymore.”
The envoy criticised countries that have supported Iran in multilateral arenas, arguing that such support undermines international safety and prosperity.
Ambassador Weiss also pointed to the recent declaration by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran is a non-compliant state, validating Israel’s long-held concerns about Iran’s refusal to cooperate with international inspectors.
Ambassador Weiss characterised the Iranian regime as “disturbing, malign, terroristic” and responsible for direct threats not only to Israel but to the entire Middle East, Western countries, and Africa through its proxies and terror cells.
She stated that removing the regime was not a declared target of the current operation, but acknowledged that such a development would “benefit the entire world.”
Amb. Weiss refuted any comparison between Iran and other regimes, asserting that the internal unrest within Iran is unrelated to Israel and stems from the regime’s long history of repression against its own people. She detailed the economic hardship faced by Iranians, contrasting it with the regime’s allocation of billions to terror entities.
Warning of Iran’s actions, the ambassador emphasised that Iran’s aspirations extend beyond Israel, noting its ballistic missiles are capable of reaching Europe and citing a stated goal to “hit the US, we want to hit Israel, and we want to hit the West… heavily.”
She warned of a “massive, massive threat not only to Israel, of course, but to the entire world” if Iran were to possess nuclear warheads.
Discussing regional dynamics, Ambassador Weiss noted that relations between Israel and the Abraham Accords countries have remained unaffected since October 7, indicating a shared concern about Iran’s actions. She believes that a Middle East without a nuclear-armed Iran would lead to greater stability.
Amid the escalating conflict, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has accused Israel of initiating the current conflict and making a “grave error” that will lead to their “ruin.” Iranian officials consistently label Israeli actions as “clear and flagrant breaches of international law” and “unprovoked aggression.”
