The malaria vaccine would be introduced in April 2025 targeting children aged from six months to five years, said the ministry in a statement.
According to the ministry, for every 10 sick people in Uganda, three have malaria, while for every 10 children below five years old admitted to the hospital, six have malaria and may die. Among every 100 pregnant women, 20 suffer malaria and risk losing their babies and even their own lives.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine will strengthen the government’s efforts in further reducing the incidence and severity of malaria and contribute to overall childhood survival and reduction of infant/child mortality,” the ministry said.
Data from the health ministry showed that malaria kills between 70,000 to 100,000 people in Uganda annually, mostly pregnant mothers and children.
The life-threatening disease is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of outpatient hospital visits, 15 to 20 percent of admissions, and 10 percent of inpatient deaths.
The trial, the first of its kind globally, is being conducted in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). It involves testing the safety and efficacy of two treatments: Remdesivir, a drug already used to treat COVID-19, and MBP091, a special antibody designed to fight the Marburg virus.
According to WHO, the trial is the result of two years of work by nearly 200 researchers, developers, Ministry of Health officials, and global partners, including representatives from 17 African countries at risk of filovirus outbreaks, such as Ebola and Marburg.
In addition to the treatments, Rwanda recently rolled out vaccinations for frontline health workers and high-risk individuals.
So far, over 700 vaccine doses have been administered. The first batch of 700 doses, provided by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, arrived just nine days after the outbreak was declared. A second shipment of 1,000 doses followed on October 13, 2024.
Since the outbreak was confirmed late last month, Rwanda has reported 62 cases and 15 deaths from over 4,000 tests conducted. Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana has been providing daily updates on the outbreak.
According to the minister, all new confirmed cases have been within the hospital cluster in Kigali and their contacts, and all are under isolation and treatment. There is no evidence of community transmission.
The Marburg virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever, is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding.
To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.
The 22-page report alleges torture and ill-treatment of prisoners and detainees by officials at Nyarugenge Prison in Kigali, Rubavu Prison in the Western Province, and the Kwa Gacinya detention facility.
In a swift rejoinder, Rwanda Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo rubbished the claims, highlighting HRW’s lack of credibility due to its history of false and malicious reports.
“Human Rights Watch does not have a monopoly on human rights and has repeatedly shown itself to be neither serious nor credible. They continue to target Rwanda with fabricated stories, just as they did in 2017 when several Rwandans, whom HRW falsely claimed had been ‘summarily executed’ for stealing goats and fruit, appeared alive at a press conference held by Rwanda’s National Commission for Human Rights,” Makolo stated, referring to HRW’s past report titled “All Thieves Must Be Killed”.
The 2017 report alleged that 37 people were killed by police officers, soldiers, reservists, and members of the District Administration Security Support Organ (DASSO) in the districts of Rubavu and Rutsiro over ‘suspected theft and petty crimes’.
It was later established that all the aforementioned individuals were alive, following an investigation carried out by the National Commission for Human Rights.
In the latest report, titled “‘They Threw Me in the Water and Beat Me’: The Need for Accountability for Torture in Rwanda”, HRW claims that judges in Rwanda ignored complaints from current and former detainees about unlawful detention and ill-treatment.
The organization purports to have relied on testimonies from 28 individuals interviewed between 2019 and 2024 and demands that the government conduct a comprehensive investigation into torture in Rwanda’s prisons.
Ironically, in the same report where HRW accused the government of inaction, they lauded the trial of six prison officials and 12 detainees who were convicted over the assault of inmates in Rubavu Prison in April this year.
HRW has severally been criticized for making false reports motivated by political reasons.
In March 2022, the government spokesperson rejected a report accusing the Rwandan government of abusive prosecutions against opposition members, journalists, and commentators based on their speech and opinions. Makolo termed the report, titled “Rwanda: Wave of Free Speech Prosecutions”, as biased.
In September 2023, HRW released another report accusing Rwanda of abusing the rights of transgender people, sex workers, and street children.
At the time, Rwanda explained the report was a calculated attempt to harm a strategic sector of Rwanda’s economy with fabricated allegations.
Moses Kabali was found guilty by the Kahawa Magistrate Court, where he faced charges of hoaxing under Section 26 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2012.
Kabali was accused of writing a false email to the Interpol General Secretariat in France, requesting them to alert Kenyan security agencies, specifically the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), about an imminent terrorist attack.
In the email sent on June 30, 2024, Kabali further claimed that two individuals known to him, along with other unidentified terror operatives, were planning to carry out an attack in Kenya using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The prosecution informed the court that once the ATPU was alerted, its detectives launched investigations, leading to the arrest of a female suspect whose phone number was mentioned in Kabali’s report. However, the subsequent investigations revealed that the alert was false and misleading.
“Upon questioning, she disclosed that the phone number in question had been registered using her ID card but was being used by her cousin. A manhunt for the cousin ensued, and she was arrested in Eastleigh, Jam Street, on August 31, 2024. However, further investigations confirmed that she had no links to any terrorist group and was unaware of any planned attack,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement.
Kabali was arrested on September 3, 2024, at the California Group of Schools in Eastleigh. A search of his residence led to the seizure of two mobile phones, two laptops, and various documents.
Forensic analysis at the Anti-Terrorism Forensic Laboratory revealed that Kabali was the author of the email, which was found to have originated from his Yahoo mail account.
“It was further established that Kabali had sent the malicious email to the Interpol General Secretariat in France out of anger, intending to punish his wife after their separation,” DCI added.
Kabali was subsequently arraigned in court to face the charges. Chief Magistrate Gideon Kiage sentenced him to five years in prison with an alternative fine of Ksh5 million (approximately Frw 52 million).
The Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), which owns RTV, confirmed Munyangeyo’s resignation on Monday, October 14, 2024, citing links to gross misconduct during his tenure.
“The Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) hereby informs the public that Mr. Munyangeyo Kennedy Dieudonné, the Head of Rwanda National Television, has resigned from his duties. This resignation follows the discovery of gross misconduct during his tenure,” RBA said in a statement released on Monday night.
The state broadcaster further emphasized its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity across all operations.
Although the RBA statement did not specify the exact reasons for Munyangeyo’s resignation, speculation began circulating on social media after a screenshot surfaced, showing a WASAC post accusing the media executive of illegally using their water.
While the post has since been deleted, a WASAC official confirmed that on October 10, 2024, the agency discovered Munyangeyo using water that had not passed through a meter. He was fined Frw 1,000,000 and ordered to pay for the water he had used before his reconnection.
“He (Munyangeyo) has paid the fine and settled the bill owed to WASAC,” Robert Bimenyimana, the PR and Communications Manager at WASAC stated, adding that only RBA could confirm the official reason for his departure.
“Gross misconduct could refer to various other reasons or wrongdoing during his tenure at RBA,” he added.
Announcing the changes, the organizers of the concert stated that the rescheduling was due to circumstances beyond their control. However, the statement did not specify the exact reasons.
They confirmed that those who had already purchased tickets could still use them on the new concert date.
The concert, dubbed ‘Sol Fest Kigali Pre Party,’ will precede the main ‘Sol Fest’ event, which is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 19 to 21, 2024.
The Kigali concert will feature performances by Savara Mudigi, Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, and Polycarp Otieno, also known as Fancy Fingers, the founders of Sauti Sol.
The event will also include performances by artists such as Mike Kayihura and Ariel Wayz, while DJs such as DJ Sonia and DJ June will be mixing the music.
It is expected that there will be a VIP ‘Sol Fest’ concert on December 19, 2024, followed by the main concert for music lovers on December 21, 2024. The events will feature top Kenyan singers and rappers like Khaligraph Jones and Nyashinski.
The concert aims to preserve the legacy and honour of Sauti Sol and follows last year’s event in 2023, which was attended by more than 15,000 fans.
Sauti Sol, known for their numerous hit songs such as Sura Yako, Suzanna, Short N Sweet, and Live and Die in Africa, was formed in 2005. The group announced an indefinite hiatus in 2023.
The hiatus, the band said, would allow them to pursue individual and collective passions after 18 years of doing music together.
Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly in a historic vote on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. A total of 281 MPs voted in favour of the impeachment motion against him, while 44 legislators voted against it, and one abstained.
The 59-year-old is scheduled to appear before the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday this week to defend himself against a host of impeachment charges, which include corruption, insubordination, undermining the government, and practising ethnically divisive politics. The Senate will then vote on each of the charges and deliver its verdict.
Ahead of the “hour of reckoning” and amid a perceived general consensus among lawmakers allied with President William Ruto to remove him from office, Gachagua has turned to the Judiciary, hoping that the courts will save him from the wrath of MPs.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, the Deputy President beseeched the Judiciary to assert the will of the people over the whims of politicians. He expressed confidence in the Kenyan Judiciary’s ability to deliver justice.
“I am a believer in the independence of the Judiciary. I am certain the courts will exercise judicial authority, protect and uphold the Constitution, and honour the will of the people. Our Judiciary is efficient. They (judicial officers) protect the Constitution and the rule of law and always ensure that the people’s will is respected. I have confidence that the rule of law will prevail and the people’s choice will be upheld,” he told the congregation.
Gachagua, who was elected on a joint ticket with President Ruto in the August 2022 General Election, insisted that it would be unfair to remove him from office barely halfway through his five-year term.
“We elected many leaders (in the 2022 General Election). Is it possible to remove others from office? The President (William Ruto) and I were elected on one ticket. We are asking that the people’s choice be respected,” he added.
Gachagua also appealed to his supporters to pray for him and for the country, urging them to remain calm regardless of the outcome of his impeachment in the Senate.
“Despite everything happening in the country, my plea is that we maintain peace and calm. God is on the throne. Let’s preach and maintain peace, irrespective of the outcome. Kenya is our country,” he stated.
Late last week, Gachagua filed a petition at the High Court in Kenya seeking to block the Senate from proceeding with his impeachment trial. He claims the impeachment motion is malicious and that MPs were coerced into passing it. The petition is among at least 20 cases filed by various individuals and groups in a bid to stop what seems inevitable.
During his appearance in the National Assembly last Tuesday, Gachagua, whose impeachment has been linked to an alleged fallout with President Ruto, dismissed the charges leveled against him as “outrageous and baseless propaganda” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and unfairly ousting him from office.
He spent significant time addressing allegations of corruption, denying claims that he had amassed Ksh5 billion worth of wealth within two years through corrupt means. He insisted that the listed property belonged to his late brother, who had named him as one of the administrators of his vast estate.
If the Senate upholds any of the charges against Gachagua, he will become the first Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed from office through impeachment.
Addressing the press in Kigali on Sunday, October 13, 2024, Dr. Brian Chirombo, the WHO Representative in Rwanda, saluted the health workers as the heroes of the outbreak, noting that specialist health workers were most affected at the onset.
“The health workers were actually affected while working hard to save lives. They have put their lives on the line, and some of them have succumbed. They are the heroes of this outbreak. Even after some of their colleagues died early on, many of these healthcare workers and experts continue to work tirelessly, risking their lives,” he stated.
“Of course, the government and ourselves are working to ensure that they are kept safe while working, but the risks are not zero. These healthcare workers continue to face danger every day to save lives,” he added.
Dr. Chirombo also commended the measures implemented by the Rwandan government to contain the outbreak. He criticized those imposing travel and trade restrictions on Rwanda, arguing that significant progress has been made to combat the Marburg virus.
“The measures taken by Rwanda and its partners are sufficient. The decision to halt travel is not helpful and only exacerbates the country’s economic situation. Such decisions negatively impact the economy and society. The available data shows progress, with more people recovering, which is proof that things are improving,” he stated in an apparent reference to a travel advisory issued by the United States government last week.
“When people recover, it shows that the infected are receiving proper care. It is a very dangerous outbreak. Rwanda is not the first country to face this, and it takes time and effort to fight it.”
Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana also emphasized that the measures in place are yielding positive results, with more people recovering than dying from Marburg.
“There are positive indicators showing that the efforts being made are paying off. In the past three days, we tested and found no new cases of the disease. This is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We have seen that the number of recoveries continues to rise, now standing at 18, while 14 have died,” Dr. Nsanzimana said, adding that the vaccination of frontline health workers and high-risk individuals will continue.
Since the outbreak was confirmed on September 27, 2024, Rwanda has reported 61 cases and 14 deaths from more than 3,600 tests conducted.
The virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever, is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding.
To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.
The vaccines were delivered on Saturday, October 13, 2024, by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, which sent an initial shipment of 700 Marburg vaccine doses on October 5, nine days after Rwanda declared its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus.
The Ministry of Health rolled out vaccination efforts targeting frontline health workers on October 8.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute stated that the single-dose Marburg vaccine is being administered in accordance with clinical protocols reviewed and approved by Rwandan ethics and regulatory authorities.
The U.S.-based institution is currently conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for vaccines targeting both Marburg and Sudan ebolaviruses. As part of MARVAC, a WHO-coordinated consortium focused on developing vaccines for the Marburg virus, Sabin’s vaccine development is supported by BARDA, which has allocated $235 million to fund research and development for the filoviruses.
Rwanda has so far confirmed 61 cases of Marburg virus, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.
The virus is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.
The outbreak entered its third week on Saturday, October 12, 2024, following the confirmation of the first-ever cases in several health facilities in the country on Friday, September 27, 2024.
So far, the country has recorded 61 cases, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.
The Ministry of Health has been at the forefront of the response, implementing measures to contain the spread of this deadly hemorrhagic fever and protect public health.
The Ministry attributes its success in keeping cases and fatalities low to the establishment of a National Response Workforce. This multisectoral team is tasked with executing strategic objectives to manage and control the outbreak, minimizing transmissions and fatalities while protecting the health and dignity of communities across Rwanda.
According to the Ministry of Health, the National Response Workforce is organized into clusters, including communication, diagnostics, surveillance, evacuation, procurement, case management, strategic information, psychology, resource mobilization, operations, a call center, mobile vaccination clinics, and treatment facilities.
Currently, the response team is engaged in decontaminating infected areas, providing treatment to patients in designated centers, and addressing public concerns through the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) emergency number 114. Additionally, psychological experts on the team are tasked with offering counseling and psychosocial support to survivors and their families, aiding in rapid reintegration and combating stigma.
During a visit to Rwanda on October 8, 2024, the Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, commended the country’s rapid and effective response to the Marburg outbreak. Dr. Kaseya lauded Rwanda’s efforts to contain the virus after touring the Marburg Command Post and meeting with Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana.
“Impressed by Rwanda’s swift, proactive response. The Africa CDC stands firmly with Rwanda, committed to safeguarding lives and stopping the spread,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Following his visit to Kigali, Dr. Kaseya also condemned the decision by the United States government to issue a travel advisory against Rwanda over the Marburg virus outbreak, terming it unfair.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health agency of the United States, issued a Level 3 travel advisory on Monday, October 7, 2024, urging its citizens to reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda due to the outbreak.
Dr. Kaseya criticized the advisory, insisting that decisions during the ongoing outbreak must be guided by scientific facts to avoid spreading panic.
“The decision taken by the U.S. government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,” he stated, reiterating that Rwanda had implemented satisfactory measures to contain the spread of the disease and that the risk of spreading the virus to another country was “nearly zero.”
Some of the initial steps taken by the government at the onset of the outbreak included heightened contact tracing, suspending hospital visits, banning wakes and home vigils (locally known as Ikiriyo) for Marburg-related deaths, and limiting burials for Marburg deaths to a maximum of 50 people.
Additionally, all healthcare facilities were directed to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg virus disease, with strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
In recent days, the government has also rolled out other measures to reduce the risk of exporting cases to other countries, including mandatory symptom screening of all passengers departing from Kigali. Furthermore, the government has initiated the vaccination of public health workers and other high-risk groups.
