Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Alison Thorpe, announced the funding on Thursday, October 31, 2024. She expressed confidence in Rwanda’s response to the crisis and highlighted the UK’s commitment to saving lives and preventing further spread of the virus.

“We are proud to collaborate with the government of Rwanda, the WHO, and partners to end this outbreak. The UK contribution will support Rwanda’s impressive efforts in tackling Marburg and saving lives,” said Thorpe.

“The UK stands with the government and people of Rwanda in ending this outbreak as quickly as possible.”

Of the allocated funds, £0.5 million is designated for UNICEF to implement infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as risk communication and community engagement to educate the public about MVD and necessary precautions.

Up to £0.45 million will support an 11-person UK Emergency Medical Team providing IPC assistance to ambulance services for MVD and non-MVD patients and intensive care support in non-MVD wards.

Additionally, £0.6 million is allocated for expert support to bolster the overall response. This includes surge support for UN agencies to address key gaps through the Standby Partnerships mechanism, as well as technical expertise based within the British High Commission to guide the UK’s support for Rwanda’s Response Plan.

Lastly, £0.4 million is directed to the WHO Africa Regional Office for the procurement of essential supplies, including MVD test kits.

UK experts in Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers have been involved since the early days of the outbreak, supporting the Ministry of Health in Rwanda to launch a groundbreaking Marburg treatment trial. This trial, facilitated in partnership with the WHO and other agencies, is expected to contribute valuable insights into potential treatments for Marburg Virus Disease.

Funding has also been directed to key partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), to aid vaccine and therapeutic trials led by Rwanda’s Ministry of Health. These trials aim to develop effective preventative measures and treatments, supporting both current efforts and future readiness.

The UK’s support extends to research that examines the origins and zoonotic transmission of the Marburg Virus, crucial for understanding and managing future outbreaks.

The UK-Rwanda collaboration comes amid growing global health concerns, with a recent discovery of a [more contagious strain of Mpox in London->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/first-case-of-contagious-mpox-strain-detected-in-london#:~:text=Common%20symptoms%20of%20Mpox%20include,energy%20and%20swollen%20lymph%20nodes.] underscoring the urgency of effective containment strategies.

The beauty queen appeared at Kicukiro Primary Court, where she faced multiple charges, including driving without a license, driving under the influence of alcohol, damaging public infrastructure, and fleeing the scene.

The prosecution informed the court that the defendant had been drinking at a bar identified as “Atelier du Vin” around midnight before driving home. They alleged that due to her limited driving skills and high level of intoxication, she crashed into an electricity pole and a tree.

According to the prosecution, after the crash, she allegedly fled the scene but later returned to retrieve her phones, only to find the police had arrived. She reportedly then claimed that she was not the driver of the vehicle.

The prosecution also noted that this was not her first offence, pointing out that she had previously been cautioned and apologized for similar behaviour on September 23, 2024. They urged the court to find her guilty of all charges.

The prosecution stated that Muheto’s blood alcohol level was measured at 4.00, while the legal limit is 0.8.

Accompanied by three lawyers, Muheto pleaded guilty to three charges but denied the prosecution’s allegations that she fled the scene after causing an accident.

“I admit to driving under the influence, driving without a license, and causing the accident, but I do not admit to fleeing,” Muheto said in her defence.

She explained that after the crash, she moved aside due to the crowd that had gathered but remained nearby, awaiting the police.

One of her attorneys argued that Muheto accepts responsibility for her actions, has apologized, and has cooperated with the authorities throughout the investigation. He added that she had a provisional driving license, meaning she was aware of traffic regulations, although she made the mistake of driving without a full license.

The defence attorney pointed out to the court that the electricity pole and tree Muheto struck are still standing, indicating that she did not flee. He asserted that if she had intended to escape, she would have done so immediately after the crash, as she had the means to drive away.

The prosecution is seeking a one-year and eight-month jail term for Muheto: six months for drink-driving, two months for driving without a permit, and one year for fleeing after causing an accident.

Republican candidate Donald Trump leads Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by an average of 0.4 percentage points in national polls as of Tuesday, according to the U.S. election information website Real Clear Politics.

Trump leads by just a hair in many swing states, including Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina, while Harris leads by half a point in Michigan.

The swing states are likely to determine the election outcome, and both candidates have been actively campaigning there, attending rallies to present their case to voters.

“The presidential race remains tight, but Harris has been outspending Trump by a 2 or 3 to 1 margin in advertising,” Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

Inflation and the economy are among the main issues. While President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris have overseen an economy with low unemployment, many voters are outraged over the high prices that have taken hold during the current administration.

Besides, Trump’s campaign has been accusing the Biden-Harris administration of leading to a major increase in crime in urban areas.

Stores are now locking up their merchandise, as shoplifters brazenly fill up garbage bags full of goods and simply walk out of the store without paying. Drug addicts shoot up heroin and other hard drugs in broad daylight in many cities. They harass and physically assault passersby, and urinate and defecate on sidewalks in downtown areas.

At the same time, Trump has ruffled several feathers, as he is known to do, with what critics call incendiary rhetoric.

Critics also blasted Trump for his plan to launch the mass deportation operation of millions of immigrants who illegally poured over the border since the current administration took office. Trump’s critics fear this could lead to problems including breaking up families and giving law enforcement too much power.

It remains unknown what undecided voters will do.

“Many undecided voters will not vote at all,” Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua, adding that the people who are unlikely to vote, based on past elections, accounts for a large percentage of adults.

Mrs. Kagame arrived in the Middle East country on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, to participate in the global conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF). She was accompanied by Ms. Uwimana Consolee, Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Family Promotion.

The two-day high-level forum, organized by the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), kicked off on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, with more than 2,000 participants, including policymakers, researchers, practitioners, youth leaders, and families, converging at the Qatar National Convention Center.

A statement issued by the Rwandan Embassy in Qatar revealed that Mrs. Kagame will participate in the session titled “Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming the Poverty Trap” scheduled for Thursday.

The session will examine the relationship between family dynamics and the persistence of poverty, touching on critical topics such as poverty and child marriage, parental motivations for early marriages, and family-based social protection policies.

“This session forms part of the broader conference theme, “Family and Contemporary Megatrends,” which will explore how global shifts such as technological change, demographic changes, migration, and climate change are impacting families,” the embassy stated.

IYF, first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1994, highlights the family as the fundamental unit of society and underscores the importance of supporting and empowering families worldwide.

The Rwandan First Lady expressed her anticipation for the event, emphasizing the importance of the conference’s goals.

“The theme of this commemorative conference resonates deeply with Rwanda’s own ambition for empowered communities through empowered families. I look forward to learning and engaging, for international collaboration is essential to the accomplishment of our shared aspirations, and specifically our Sustainable Development Goals,” she stated.

Mrs. Kagame is recognised globally for her dedication to vulnerable communities. She champions family well-being through her leadership at Imbuto Foundation and other organisations she patrons. Her initiatives focus on health, education, and social protection for marginalized groups.

“H.E. Mrs. Jeannette Kagame’s participation in the conference reaffirms the importance of family-centered policies in combating poverty and reinforces the shared commitment between Rwanda and Qatar to uplift families worldwide,” the embassy added.

The Rwandan Embassy in Qatar highlighted that the participation of the First Lady and the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion at the conference underscores the strong ties between Rwanda and Qatar. According to the embassy, the duo’s involvement reflects a shared commitment to social development and the promotion of family-centered policies on a global scale.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sherifa Noman Al-Emadi, Executive Director of the Doha International Family Institute, expressed appreciation for Ms. Kagame’s much-awaited contribution to the conference, noting the significance of her insights on poverty and family empowerment.

“H.E. Mrs. Jeannette Kagame’s insights in ‘Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming the Poverty Trap’ bring essential perspectives to our shared mission, reinforcing our commitment to policies that empower families and foster resilience in the face of today’s global challenges,” she remarked.

The agreement, between Rwanda National Police and Qatar Internal Security Force, was signed in Doha on Tuesday, October 30, 2024, during Milipol Qatar 2024, a global exhibition and conference focused on homeland security and safety.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, Vincent Sano, and Major General Hamad Hassan Al Sulait signed the MoU on behalf of the two institutions.

Rwanda’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Vincent Biruta, and Commander of Lekhwiya, Qatar’s Internal Security Force, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, witnessed the signing.

In a statement, the Rwanda National Police noted that the agreement paves the way for the RNP and Lekhwiya to exchange expertise on operational procedures and training in internal security systems.

“The two parties committed to further provide mutual support and to explore the latest technologies,” the statement reads.

The agreement also opens additional channels for deeper cooperation and joint efforts to address emerging security challenges.

Officers from Rwanda’s security forces have recently benefited from the deepening ties between the two countries.

In August, 100 personnel from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Military Police completed a six-week intensive training program focused on counter-terrorism, VIP protection, and anti-riot tactics.

The training, held at the Rwanda Military Academy Gako, was part of a partnership between the RDF and Qatar Armed Forces.

Justice Lydia Mugambe of the High Court of Uganda is reported to have been arraigned in court on August 7.

Reports of her prosecution surfaced earlier this week on Ugandan media outlets, a few days after Thames Valley Police confirmed on October 22, 2024, that a woman with the same name had been charged with three counts related to modern slavery.

The charges brought by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service include one count of conspiring to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national. The 49-year-old was also charged with one count of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with intent to exploit, and one count of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

In response to the media reports linking Mugambe to the incident, the Chief Justice of Uganda issued a statement late on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The Chief Justice’s office noted that the Judiciary had reached out to UK authorities to ascertain the facts of the case and would release a detailed statement soon.

“The attention of the Chief Justice of Uganda has been drawn to media reports that Hon. Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe, of the High Court of Uganda, has been charged in a UK court,” stated Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo. “The Hon. Chief Justice is engaging relevant government authorities regarding the matter, after which a formal communication will be issued.”

Mugambe’s trial is scheduled for February 10, 2025, and is expected to last for three weeks.

Family sources who spoke to the Daily Monitor suggested that Mugambe could be a victim of a scheme by a girl she helped travel to the UK.

According to the sources, the girl had intended to go elsewhere but was advised by her friends upon arrival in the UK to report that she was being held against her will to gain permanent residence and employment benefits.

“…That was her first stop when she arrived in the UK, and she got comfortable there. But she wasn’t supposed to stay. She was advised by other girls in the neighbourhood that she could obtain permanent papers and more opportunities if she claimed she was being held against her will, which wasn’t the case at all,” a source was quoted as saying.

A total of 38 students from EAC Partner States graduated with a Master’s Degree in Health Supply Chain Management, bringing the total number of graduates to 135 since the program was launched in 2017. The ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente.

The Master’s in Health Supply Chain Management (MHSCM) program is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face instruction, online learning, and field placements over four semesters. According to EAC RCE, this structure ensures optimal knowledge transfer while minimizing disruptions to participants’ work commitments in their home countries.

The EAC Vaccines Centre lauds the graduates’ efforts throughout the two years of study, highlighting their zeal to engage in comprehensive course works, hands-on projects, and collaborative research which equipped them with essential skills to improve health supply chain systems in the region.

The training coordinator at the Centre underscored the significance of the program to the region’s health development goals.

“The Master’s in Health Supply Chain Management programme was designed to address the critical challenges facing health supply chain systems in the East African Community. With this milestone, we are confident that these graduates now possess the skills and knowledge necessary to make meaningful contributions to our healthcare systems in the region”, noted Dr. Jean Baptiste Nyandwi.

The Centre is steadily growing, having started a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance in November 2023. It is also set to launch two other programs soon, namely the Master of Science in Vaccinology and the Master of Science in Medical Products Regulatory Affairs.

With funding from the German Development Cooperation and the German Development Bank through various grants since inception, the EAC RCE-VIHCM has been able to advance its talent development efforts in creating a conducive environment for vaccine manufacturing in the EAC region and beyond. It is thanks to this support that the Centre can equitably award full scholarships worth €15,000 to each deserving public servant from the EAC.

Established in 2014, the UR/EAC RCE-VIHSCM aims to address challenges in health supply chain management within the EAC region through research and training initiatives.

At the heart of this historic trial, Eugène Rwamucyo, born on June 6, 1959 in Gatonde (Rwanda), faces charges of genocide, complicity, involvement in a conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity.

André Martin Karongozi, a Lawyer for the civil parties, made an impassioned plea to the jury: “Do not let Mr. Rwamucyo perpetuate the genocide committed against the Tutsi through his denial; do not let Mr. Rwamucyo falsify history.”

He added emphatically: “When you retire to deliberate, the hundred thousand souls of the victims killed in Butare will join you on the steps of this palace: a hundred thousand victims far exceed the capacity of the Stade de France, which is 80,000 people.”

For the families of the victims, the stakes go beyond just Rwamucyo’s trial. According to Karongozi, it is about “preventing other enemies of freedom” and affirming that “never again is not an illusion.”

In the courtroom, the weight of words resonated. Richard Gisagara, also a lawyer for the civil parties and a fervent defender of the victims’ memory, spoke of the doctor’s association with what he described as a “death enterprise.”

He emphasized the methodical and systematic violence of this destruction project, which, in his view, “aimed to erase a part of the Rwandan population, even the memory of their victims.”

For Gisagara, this trial is an opportunity for France to show its refusal to become “a safe haven for genocide perpetrators.”

To support his remarks, Gisagara reminded the jury of European tragedies, drawing a parallel with the Holocaust: “What happened in Rwanda is akin to what took place a little over 80 years ago when France and Europe witnessed the horror of the Holocaust and Nazi crimes.”

In this appeal, the lawyer wants the same dignity and recognition be accorded to Rwandan victims: “May the view you take of these facts, and of the victims, be the same as you would take for a victim of the Holocaust or Nazi crimes.”

For the civil parties, this legal battle is also a fight for truth. The context of this trial dates back to 2009, when Rwamucyo was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a Gacaca court in Rwanda.

The charges against him are severe: he is alleged to have formed extermination groups, incited the population to perpetrate Genocide, provided weapons, and participated in the abduction of Tutsi women and girls. In France, his trial began in October 2024 after several years of legal proceedings and controversy.

Emmanuel Daoud, representing the organizations LDH and FIDH, emphasizes the importance of holding this trial in France, asserting that Dr. Rwamucyo “publicly supported the regime responsible for the genocide.”

Despite this, Philippe Meilhac, the defense lawyer, continues to deny his client’s involvement, arguing that these accusations are unfounded.

As deliberations continue, attention turns to the verdict. For the families, survivors, and the Rwandan community in France, Dr. Rwamucyo’s trial is more than a simple judgment; it is an act of remembrance and a message of hope that justice can prevail, even thirty years after the events.

karirima@igihe.com