Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

There are more than 900 reasons why every business should use IremboPay

IremboPay simplifies the payment process, ensuring it is as fast as it is secure—allowing you to focus on enjoying your time without worrying about complicated transactions. Besides, we don’t know any other fintech platform or payment gateway you can use in Kinyarwanda. Do you?

IremboPay began as a solution for IremboGov, a platform designed to streamline access to government services. Its initial focus on efficiency quickly proved successful, demonstrating the ability to handle high transaction volumes with remarkable reliability. As it gained traction, it became clear that the robust infrastructure behind IremboPay could extend beyond public services, paving the way for broader enterprise applications.

Today, IremboPay is a powerful standalone payment solution ready to enhance payment processing for businesses across various industries.

IremboPay functions as a payment gateway—and more! It helps businesses collect payments securely and efficiently through various methods, such as mobile money, debit and credit cards, agents, and bank transfers. It makes transactions simple, offering customers a quick and seamless payment experience.

With easy integration into your system, IremboPay ensures a smooth, unified payment experience across platforms. It is a complete fintech solution with advanced features like real-time processing, support in multiple languages, offline payment options, insightful analytics, and automatic reconciliation, among others. It’s like having a versatile tool that handles payments and empowers businesses to improve their daily operations and boost customer satisfaction.

{{Nine reasons (out of 900) why your business should use IremboPay
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We could list all the 900 reasons, but we figured you’d appreciate getting the highlights before next year. So, here are nine reasons why IremboPay is the ideal payment solution for your business:

{{Multilingual support
}}

Serving a diverse clientele means communicating effectively. IremboPay supports English, French, and Kinyarwanda support, enhancing accessibility and customer engagement.
Effortless integration.

No one really likes complicated setups. If you want to add payment processing to your existing systems, IremboPay offers user-friendly APIs
that simplify integration. You can start accepting payments quickly without the headaches.
Ability to use payment links

If you’re looking for a quick and easy setup, our payment link solution allows you to accept payments without needing an integration; you can generate them and send them to your customers via email, WhatsApp, SMS, or any other platform, and they can then pay through all our supported channels.

{{Unmatched reliability
}}

With a 99.9% uptime, IremboPay ensures your payment systems are always operational. This reliability means fewer disruptions, allowing you to focus on your core business without worrying about payment failures.

{{Real-time processing
}}

Time is precious. Whether you run a hotel, restaurant, tour company, school, or manufacturing plant, the last thing you want is to hold your customers hostage because you can’t verify in time that they paid you, as their proof of payment took too long to reflect in your systems. IremboPay’s real-time capabilities ensure payments are completed on the spot, keeping your relationship with your customers intact.

{{Diverse payment options
}}

Flexibility is crucial in today’s marketplace. IremboPay supports various payment methods, including mobile money, cards, agents, and local bank transfers, with more options on the way. This diversity caters to different customer preferences, making transactions seamless for everyone.

{{Multi-currency acceptance
}}

IremboPay facilitates transactions in multiple currencies, including RWF, EUR, GBP, and USD. This flexibility attracts a broader range of customers, including international travellers and expatriates who can pay in their preferred currency.

{{Actionable insights
}}

IremboPay provides robust analytics, giving businesses valuable insights into customer behaviour and transaction trends. This data empowers one to make informed decisions, optimise inventory, and tailor offerings to meet market demands.
Offline payment capabilities

IremboPay supports offline payments through local mobile operators and banks, ensuring transactions can occur even in areas with limited connectivity. All your users need is a Bill ID, which they can present to agents, banks, and mobile money operators to make payments instantly.

{{Who needs IremboPay?
}}

IremboPay offers comprehensive solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction across various sectors.

In tourism and hospitality, it streamlines check-ins and payments to create a welcoming guest experience.

For education, the platform simplifies fee collection processes, making tuition and other payments easier to manage securely and efficiently.

Similarly, transport services benefit from real-time payment processing, ensuring smooth transactions for flights, public transport, and car rentals.

The manufacturing industry leverages IremboPay to maintain production flow by facilitating effective payment management and ensuring timely transactions with suppliers.

Moreover, software and IT companies enhance their services by integrating this reliable payment solution, improving client experiences and building trust in their offerings.

For a business to reach new heights, every decision counts. The right tools today pave the way for tomorrow’s success.

With IremboPay, you’re not keeping up; you’re setting the pace!
Instant payments, limitless potential: #IremboPay grows with you, offering everything from… pic.twitter.com/jFfWgvK9IB

— IremboPay (@IremboPay) November 19, 2024

No matter your industry, IremboPay has the tools to support your payment needs.

As IremboPay grows, it’s ready to transform how businesses handle payments, regardless of scale or size. Choosing IremboPay means you not only enhance your operational capabilities but also adopt a solution that guarantees efficiency, reliability, trust, and innovation.

Ready to discover how IremboPay can elevate your business? Visit [{{www.irembopay.com}}->https://www.irembopay.com] or email irembopay@irembo.com to learn more and start your journey toward streamlined payments today.

November 22, 2024
Rwanda partners with Bio Usawa to set up eye treatment manufacturing plant

Bio Usawa Inc. is a privately owned biotechnology company focused on developing and manufacturing monoclonal antibodies in Africa. The company aims to address medical needs by producing affordable therapies in areas such as oncology, immunology, and ophthalmology, ensuring that no patient is left without essential treatments due to cost barriers.

Diabetic macular edema occurs when the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision becomes swollen due to fluid leakage from damaged or fragile blood vessels. It is estimated that 7–10% of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic macular edema, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Announcing the partnership, the company noted that while effective mAb biosimilars for diabetic macular edema are approved in high-income countries, their availability in African nations is extremely limited, despite the rise in diabetes cases reaching pandemic proportions.

The facility to be set up in Rwanda, the company said, will pave the way for local, end-to-end manufacturing of biosimilars that are affordable, high-quality, and accessible to all. Production of the first biosimilar from this facility is expected within 18–24 months.

“Our long-term goal is clear: to build biomanufacturing capacity across Africa, by Africans and for Africans, ensuring that no patient is denied life-saving therapies due to prohibitive costs. With this partnership, Bio Usawa aims to make treatments for serious eye diseases accessible and affordable, aligning with Rwanda’s strategic position as a healthcare hub in East Africa.

“We are immensely grateful to the Government of Rwanda for its steadfast commitment to advancing healthcare and are excited about the path ahead. Together, we look forward to transforming healthcare access across the continent and bringing affordable biologics closer to home,” said Menghis Bairu, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Bio Usawa.

Francis Gatare, Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer, lauded the partnership as a significant step in advancing Rwanda’s healthcare sector and regional innovation.
“By establishing the first facility for monoclonal antibody-based biosimilars in the country, we are addressing critical healthcare challenges, including access to life-saving treatments like those for diabetic macular edema. This collaboration reaffirms Rwanda’s commitment to improving healthcare access and building local capacity, ensuring sustainable solutions for Africa by Africans,” stated the RDB CEO.

The new partnership is part of Rwanda’s efforts to increase healthcare capacity, transforming the country into a healthcare hub that offers quality services to locals and those beyond its borders.

November 22, 2024
ICC issues warrants of arrest for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant

The Hague-based court, also issued a warrant of arrest for Hamas militant Mohammed Deif for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the territories of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine beginning October 7, 2023. However, Deif is believed to have been killed in an airstrike in al-Mawasi in August.

The ICC announced the decision to prosecute the leaders on Thursday, November 21, 2024, after the court’s Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously rejected Israel’s challenges to its jurisdiction under the Rome Statute.

Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of co-perpetrating crimes that include the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity such as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

The charges stem from actions during an armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, with the ICC finding reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli authorities intentionally deprived Gaza’s civilian population of essential resources, including food, water, and medical supplies.

The court noted that restrictions on humanitarian aid were unjustified under international humanitarian law and caused significant suffering and deaths among civilians, including children.

“By intentionally limiting or preventing medical supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, in particular anesthetics and anesthesia machines, the two individuals are also responsible for inflicting great suffering by means of inhumane acts on persons in need of treatment.

“Doctors were forced to operate on wounded persons and carry out amputations, including on children, without anesthetics, and/or were forced to use inadequate and unsafe means to sedate patients, causing these persons extreme pain and suffering. This amounts to the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts,” reads part of the ICC’s statement.

Israel had filed two requests challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction and procedural steps. The first argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over Israeli nationals and the broader situation in Palestine, while the second requested a renewed investigation notification and a halt to proceedings related to the arrest warrants.

The ICC dismissed both challenges, stating that jurisdiction is based on Palestine’s territorial scope and that Israel’s requests were premature.

{{Hamas Leaders
}}

The prosecution had initially filed applications for warrants of arrest for two other senior Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. Following confirmation of their deaths, the Chamber granted the withdrawal of the applications on August 9, 2024, and October 25, 2024, respectively. Regarding Deif, the prosecution indicated that it would continue to gather information about his reported death.

Hamas launched missile attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, stating that the attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, threats to the status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners.

Israel responded to the attack with a devastating bombardment of Gaza. Palestinian authorities reported that Israel’s retaliatory actions killed more than 25,000 people, mostly women and children.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan indicated in May that his office had “reasonable grounds to believe” that Sinwar, Deif, and Haniyeh were “criminally responsible for the killing of hundreds of Israeli civilians” during the October 7 attacks. Khan also applied for a similar warrant of arrest for Netanyahu and his then defence minister.

Netanyahu dismissed the probe into Israel’s actions in Palestinian territories, stating that any arrest warrants against its officials “would be an outrage of historic proportions.” He noted that Israel “has an independent legal system that rigorously investigates all violations of the law.”

Earlier this month, the Israeli Prime Minister dismissed Gallant from the defence role, citing a “crisis of trust” as the primary reason. He stated that his confidence in Gallant had “eroded” over the past few months, prompting the decision. Foreign Minister Israel Katz was picked to take over Gallant’s role.

Gallant attributed his dismissal to disagreements over three key issues. One of these was his belief that Israel could secure the return of the remaining hostages from Gaza by making “painful but manageable concessions.”

November 21, 2024
Rwanda’s central bank maintains lending rate at 6.5%

Central Bank Governor John Rwangombwa made the announcement following a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) earlier this week.

Addressing members of the press, Governor Rwangombwa noted that in the third quarter of 2024, headline inflation decreased to 4.1 percent, down from 5.1 percent in the second quarter, and is expected to remain within the target range, averaging around 4.6 percent for the year.

Looking ahead, the Central Bank revised its inflation projection for 2025 upwards, from 5.0 to 5.8 percent, due to expected pressures on food prices from unfavourable weather conditions.

“Due to unfavourable weather conditions this season, we expect the performance of maize and key agricultural products for Season A, beginning in December, to be less favourable than initially projected,” he explained.

The Governor also warned that the projections could be affected by various risks and shocks. Heightened global geopolitical tensions, including conflicts in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia, could create uncertainties around international commodity prices.

Looking at the components of inflation for the third quarter, core inflation decreased to 5.3 percent, down from 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2024. This was mainly due to a reduction in food prices, including rice and sugar.

Energy inflation slightly increased, with the Central Bank Governor attributing the rise to the base effect of solid fuels.

“The prices were very low in the same quarter last year,” he noted.

Fresh food inflation decreased to 0.2 percent from 1.6 percent, due to strong agricultural performance in the first two quarters.

The decision to maintain the country’s benchmark lending rate at 6.5 percent is expected to make borrowing more affordable compared to last year, encouraging increased spending and investments.

November 21, 2024
RwandAir expands network with eighth cargo destination

The route marks RwandAir’s eighth cargo destination across Africa and the Middle East.

Other destinations include Kigali (Rwanda), Nairobi (Kenya), Entebbe (Uganda), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Bangui (Central African Republic), Djibouti, and Sharjah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We are thrilled to introduce Harare, Zimbabwe, as our eighth cargo destination! This milestone inaugural ad-hoc cargo flight highlights our commitment to enhancing connectivity, supporting global trade, and solidifying our position as a leading cargo carrier in the region,” the airline announced in a statement on Wednesday.

RwandAir plays a crucial role in Rwanda’s economy, facilitating the transportation of fresh produce, medical supplies, and other essential goods. The new destinations will enhance market reach, offering cargo services to a wider range of businesses and consumers, thereby driving the diverse and growing economy of both the country and the continent.

In November 2022, RwandAir acquired its first dedicated freighter, significantly improving its cargo services. Previously, the airline relied on passenger planes to transport goods. The Boeing B737-8SF freighter, with a capacity of approximately 23.9 tons and a range of 2,620 kilometers, offers cost-efficient operations compared to other cargo aircraft.

Later, in May 2023, RwandAir further strengthened its cargo services through a partnership with Qatar Airways. This collaboration led to the establishment of a new cargo hub in Kigali, aiming to position the city as a central air cargo hub in Africa. As part of the initiative, Qatar Airways introduced a Boeing 777x freighter to Kigali, enhancing the airline’s capacity for regional and international cargo transport.

The airline’s continued commitment to expanding its cargo services is set to bolster Rwanda’s economic growth and strengthen its position as a vital logistics hub in Africa.

November 21, 2024
Ecobank taps international capital markets with $400 million Eurobond

In a statement, Ecobank Group revealed that the bond was oversubscribed by more than 2.1 times, reflecting strong investor confidence in the institution’s financial growth and strategy.

The issuance marks a major milestone for ETI, as it is the first public Eurobond issuance by a financial institution in sub-Saharan Africa since 2021.

The bonds, also known as notes, will mature in October 2029 and offer an interest rate of 10.125%, payable semi-annually in arrears to the investors who have lent Ecobank $400 million.

Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, emphasized the importance of the bond’s success, saying, “Our successful Notes issuance demonstrates how Ecobank is blazing the trail for sub-Saharan African financial institutions and corporates in accessing the international capital markets.”

The CEO added that the strong demand for the bond from both international and African investors is a testament to the growing trust in Ecobank’s ‘Growth, Transformation, and Returns Strategy’.

The net proceeds from the bond will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing a $350 million Senior Bridge-to-Bond Loan Facility secured earlier in the year. This move is expected to further enhance Ecobank’s financial position and support its strategic initiatives.

Ayo Adepoju, the Group’s Chief Financial Officer, thanked the bank’s partners, including Absa, Africa Finance Corporation, and Standard Chartered Bank, who acted as Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners for the bond issuance.

“We deeply value and appreciate the strong support from our Development Finance Institution partners and bond investors,” he said.

With a presence in 35 African countries and a growing international footprint, Ecobank’s latest bond issuance strengthens its position in the global capital markets and supports its long-term growth objectives.

The market opening ceremony at the LSE was attended by members of the ETI board and management, celebrating a key achievement in Ecobank’s ongoing expansion and commitment to African financial growth.

November 20, 2024
Kizza Besigye facing charges of illegal possession of firearms after ‘abduction’ in Nairobi

The veteran opposition politician was arraigned alongside his ‘comrade,’ Hajj Obeid Lutale, and remanded until December 2 on charges related to security, including illegal possession of two pistols and eight rounds of ammunition.

The prosecution told the General Court Martial, chaired by Brig. Freeman Mugabe, that the two committed the offences in Nairobi (Kenya), Athens (Greece), and Geneva (Switzerland).

In the first count, the prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale, and other suspects still at large held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi between October 2023 and November 2024 to solicit logistical support and identify military targets in Uganda, with the intent to undermine the security of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

In the second and third counts, the two are accused of illegally possessing two pistols, contrary to Uganda’s Firearms Act, at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024. The prosecution alleges that they were found with two pistols: one model 27KAL No. 765 and another HB 10414 1953, which are ordinarily the monopoly of the Defence Forces.

They also face an additional count of unlawful possession of eight rounds of ammunition.

The defence lodged a primary objection to the charges, arguing that the charge sheet was defective since the alleged offences were committed outside the jurisdiction of the UPDF and Uganda’s army.

“All the acts highlighted in this charge sheet do not constitute criminal offences under the laws of Uganda. The UPDF Act is not applicable in Kenya, Switzerland, or Greece. Unlawful possession of firearms? Firearms Act of which country? The charge sheet is ambiguous in nature. This is a defective charge sheet that should not sustain any criminal proceedings before this tribunal. It’s our prayer that this honourable tribunal strikes out this charge sheet accordingly,” the lead counsel for the defence, Erias Lukwago, told the court.

Lawyer Lukwago further argued that the accused persons had travelled to Kenya lawfully for a legitimate meeting.

The martial court ordered Besigye and Lutale to be remanded to prison until December 2, 2024, when their case will be mentioned.

Reports of Besigye’s arrest went viral on Tuesday night following revelations by his wife that he had been abducted from Nairobi and was being held in a military detention facility.

Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), condemned the detention and called for her husband’s immediate release.

“I request the government of Uganda to release my husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, from where he is being held immediately. He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Hon. Martha Karua’s book launch. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” Byanyima said in a post on X. She added, “We, his family and his lawyers, demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”

Human rights groups in Nairobi have questioned the circumstances surrounding Kizza Besigye’s abduction, accusing Kenyan authorities of complicity in the act.

November 20, 2024
Steve Harvey in Rwanda; Zelensky rules out election again: Snapshot of world’s top stories

{{Steve Harvey Visits Rwanda
}}

Renowned American comedian, television host, actor, writer, and producer Steve Harvey is in Rwanda for a private visit.

Reports of Harvey’s visit emerged on Tuesday after he was seen at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, where he paid his respects to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

On Wednesday, Harvey confirmed on his popular Steve Harvey TV Instagram account that he was in Kigali and had met President Paul Kagame. The TV star praised Kagame’s strength, humility, and Rwanda’s remarkable journey of resilience and forgiveness.

“We had the pleasure of sitting and meeting His Excellency, my brother, President Paul Kagame. I was truly inspired by his strength and humility—a testament to Rwanda’s resilience and acts of forgiveness,” he wrote.

According to a statement from the Office of the President, their discussions focused on potential areas of investment and partnership in various sectors including events and entertainment.

During his visit, Harvey is expected to explore various parts of the country, including a trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province. He is also set to meet several prominent figures in Rwanda.

{{Charges Dropped in Olga Kayirangwa’s Death Case
}}

Two men detained over the mysterious death of Olga Kayirangwa have been released due to insufficient evidence, the judiciary confirmed on November 19, 2024.

Judiciary spokesperson Harrison Mutabazi stated that prosecutors had withdrawn the case against Fred Nasagambe and Gideon Gatare, halting criminal proceedings.

Kayirangwa, 25, passed away on September 26 after visiting Nasagambe’s home in Kigali. While the prosecution initially claimed she died there, the suspects argued she passed away at DMC Hospital following a medical emergency. Nasagambe said Kayirangwa collapsed in his bedroom after using the bathroom, prompting him to call Gatare, a pharmacist, for assistance.

The suspects had been in custody since October, following a 30-day remand order by Kicukiro Primary Court. Their release request had been denied on November 18, citing additional evidence, including testimony from a domestic worker who alleged that Kayirangwa appeared lifeless on a bed.

On November 19, prosecutors sought their release, citing insufficient grounds for prosecution. Article 91 of Rwanda’s criminal procedure law allows releases when no basis for prosecution exists. The court granted the request, officially freeing the two men.

{{Date Set for Carmen Nibigira’s Burial
}}

Carmen Nibigira, a prominent figure in East Africa’s tourism and hospitality sector, will be laid to rest on November 24, 2024.

Nibigira passed away in Kenya on November 16, 2024, following a short illness.

A funeral mass will be held at Centre Christus in Kigali at 2:00 p.m., followed by burial at Rusororo Cemetery at 4:00 p.m.

Born in Burundi in 1978, Nibigira dedicated more than 24 years to advancing the hotel and tourism industry. At the time of her passing, she was the Lead for Tourism and Hospitality Management within the Mastercard Foundation’s Rwanda Programs team.

{{Kizza Besigye Reported Missing in Nairobi
}}

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been reported missing after attending the book launch of former Justice Minister-turned-politician Martha Karua in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024.

Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, disclosed on Tuesday night that she had learned her husband was being held at a military jail in Kampala, Uganda.

Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, condemned his alleged detention and demanded his immediate release.

“I request the government of Uganda to release my husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, from where he is being held immediately. He was kidnapped last Saturday while attending Hon. Martha Karua’s book launch in Nairobi. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” she posted on X.

She added, “We, his family and his lawyers, demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”

The motive behind Besigye’s alleged abduction and detention remains unclear.

{{Zelensky Rules Out Elections Again
}}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that elections will not occur until a “just peace” is achieved.

Speaking in parliament on November 19, 2024, while presenting his Internal Resilience Plan, Zelensky stressed that the Constitution prohibits elections during wartime. He dismissed calls for polls as detrimental to national unity and urged prioritizing Ukraine’s collective interests over political ambitions.

Zelensky’s term expired in March 2024 but was extended due to martial law imposed in 2022.

The war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a large-scale invasion. Tensions between the two nations had escalated for years, particularly after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support of separatists in Eastern Ukraine.

{{Trump Picks WWE Co-Founder for Education Role
}}

United States President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE and his former transition co-chair, as education secretary.

McMahon, a trusted ally, previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency and has been a significant donor to his campaigns.

Announcing the decision on Truth Social, Trump praised McMahon’s leadership experience, emphasizing her potential to shape the next generation of American students and workers.

This nomination follows Trump’s recent selection of Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

November 20, 2024
What we know so far about Kizza Besigye’s ‘mysterious disappearance’ in Nairobi

Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, revealed on Tuesday night that she had learned her husband was being held at a military jail in Kampala, Uganda.

Byanyima, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), condemned the alleged detention and called for her husband’s immediate release.

“I request the government of Uganda to release my husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, from where he is being held immediately. He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Hon. Martha Karua’s book launch. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” Byanyima said in a post on X. She added, “We, his family and his lawyers, demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”

The motive behind Besigye’s alleged abduction and detention remains unclear.

While in Nairobi, the four-time presidential contender had been booked to stay at the Wardi Paradise Hotel and Suites in Hurlingham, a neighbourhood about a 15-minute drive from the Riverside Drive apartment in Westlands.

An official at the hotel told Uganda’s Daily Monitor that Besigye had not returned to the hotel since leaving on Saturday to attend Karua’s book launch.

Ugandan Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, speaking to the Daily Monitor, could neither confirm nor deny Besigye’s detention.

“I’m currently in Soroti as part of President Museveni’s entourage. I’m not aware that he is being held by the government. I’m still cross-checking with our security agencies. In any case, why would he be arrested? The government is not in the habit of arresting citizens and keeping them incommunicado forever. If he’s arrested, then he will be arraigned in court and charged accordingly. However, we are also cross-checking with our security agencies and colleagues in Kenya because we were told he had travelled there for a book launch before he disappeared,” Dr. Baryomunsi said.

It is believed that Besigye was trailed and abducted before being driven to Uganda, almost 500 kilometres away.

The Spokesperson for the National Police Service in Kenya, Dr. Resila Atieno Onyango, has, however, denied claims that the Ugandan politician was abducted in Nairobi.

Some media reports in Kampala say that Dr Besigye was found in a hotel negotiating for arms with a foreign country. According to Soft Power news, an impeccable security source is said to have intimated that he was found undermining national security with foreigners and will be arraigned before the General Court Martial today.

Kizza Besigye was once an ally of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni during the Ugandan Bush War (1981–1986) and the following few years.

Before their fallout, Besigye served as Museveni’s personal physician during the war and later held various positions in Museveni’s government, including Minister of State for Internal Affairs and National Political Commissar. However, their alliance began to fracture in the late 1990s over political disagreements, particularly concerning governance and democracy in Uganda.

Besigye officially broke ties with Museveni in 1999, becoming a leading opposition figure. As the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party, the 68-year-old unsuccessfully contested for the presidency against Museveni in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016.

He has been arrested numerous times for leading anti-government protests in Uganda and charged with inciting violence.

This latest incident comes months after 36 Ugandan activists associated with Besigye were arrested in Kisumu, Kenya, in July and taken back to Uganda. They were subsequently charged with treason and remanded to Kitalya prison. They have since been released on bail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

November 20, 2024
Police dismiss reports of Miss Muheto’s re-arrest

The spokesperson for the Rwanda National Police, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, told IGIHE on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, that the circulating reports are baseless rumours.

Miss Muheto, who was recently arrested and fined for drunk driving, also denied the claims in an audio message shared on social media.

“I am fine, I am safe, and I thank God for everything. I truly thank God. I am not detained and don’t understand where all these rumours are coming from or who is spreading them, but they are completely false. These are baseless rumours from certain individuals who may not wish others well or want to see them progress in life. But I am at peace,” she stated.

The beauty queen was released from custody two weeks ago after being handed a suspended three-month sentence by the Kicukiro Primary Court for drink driving and driving without a license.

In a ruling delivered on November 6, 2024, the court also imposed a fine of Frw 190,000 for the two offences. The 21-year-old was acquitted of the charge of fleeing the scene after causing an accident.

The suspended sentence means that Muheto will not serve time immediately, but the sentence could be enforced if she commits similar offences again within one year.

November 19, 2024