Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The collaboration was announced by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, Opportunity International CEO Atul Tandon, and five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

As part of the partnership, the two institutions have committed to building the courts and hosting basketball clinics in 2025. Each court will host a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA coaches clinic aimed at elevating and upskilling 100 teachers and coaches in each city.

According to NBA Africa, an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the collaboration aligns with its commitment to building 1,000 courts across Africa over the next decade.

NBA Africa and Opportunity International explained that the development for coaches and teachers in both cities is aimed at providing them with skills and best practices in coaching, refereeing, game operations, event management, program administration, and more.

“Our collaboration with Opportunity International reflects our commitment to investing in local basketball ecosystems across Africa and providing youth with the resources and opportunities to develop their leadership and basketball skills,” Tatum said.

“We look forward to working together to create safe spaces where Kenyan and Rwandan youth can play the game and participate in programs that help develop the next generation of coaches and mentors.”

Opportunity International is a global nonprofit organization that develops innovative programs using financial services, training, and support to address some of the greatest challenges faced by those living in poverty around the world.

The company’s CEO, Atul Tandon, noted that the new partnership will help bring world-class basketball courts and coaches to Africa.

“This initiative is key to our longstanding commitment to bring more education and opportunities to the youth of Africa, and we are grateful to NBA Africa, NBA Deputy Commissioner Tatum, and our longtime friend and partner Sam Garvin for coming together to help build a rising Africa,” Tandon stated.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches fundamental skills and the core values of the game at the grassroots level to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches, and parents.
Last year, Jr. NBA programming directly reached more than 170,000 youth across Africa.

The two countries signed a funding agreement on October 8, 2024, with the German Development Bank KfW representing the German Government during the signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) in Kigali.

In a statement, MINECOFIN stated that the funds will be channelled into the Pro-Poor Infrastructure Basket, aimed at supporting rural districts by financing essential local infrastructure to improve the living conditions of citizens.

The new funding builds on Germany’s initial contribution of €16 million to launch the basket and complements contributions from other development partners, such as AFD (France) and LuxDev on behalf of the Government of Luxembourg.

The Inclusive Pro-Poor Basket, implemented by the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), focuses on improving access to basic public services, rehabilitating infrastructure, providing employment opportunities, improving climate resilience, and making a positive impact on women.

The districts earmarked to benefit from the initiative include Gisagara, Nyanza, Ngoma, Nyaruguru, Gatsibo, Nyamagabe, Ruhango, Kamonyi, Rulindo, Gakenke, Burera, Gicumbi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Nyamasheke.

Minister of State in Charge of Public Investments and Resource Mobilization, Mutesi Rusagara, who was among high-ranking officials who attended the signing ceremony, welcomed the additional funding, expressing optimism that it will enable LODA to support local governments in investing more effectively in local economic development projects.

“The Government of Rwanda has set ambitious targets in NST2 to enhance service delivery, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth. The Pro-Poor Basket is an efficient and effective tool to contribute to these goals and, thus, to the implementation of NST2,” she stated.

LODA’s Director General, Claudine Nyinawagaga, highlighted the long-standing working relationship with KfW, noting that setting up and implementing the Pro-Poor Basket in close cooperation with KfW, AFD, and LuxDev marks an important milestone in achieving the socio-economic development of Rwanda’s rural population.

Dr. Simon Koppers, Head of the Central Africa Division at the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), emphasized that Rwandan-German development cooperation has long focused on improving public services and infrastructure for the poor and vulnerable.

He noted that the additional funding for the Pro-Poor Basket is a testament to the enduring strong ties between the two countries.

Members of Parliament allied with President William Ruto accuse the 59-year-old politician of corruption, undermining the government, and practicing ethnically divisive politics, among other charges.

Gachagua, however, denies the allegations, insisting that the impeachment motion is a political witch-hunt aimed at illegally hounding him out of office.

The deputy president’s remarks regarding the impeachment plot have been the subject of intense debate in Kenya, as his fallout with his former ally and boss, President Ruto, becomes increasingly apparent.

As the political landscape grows more polarized, pressing questions arise about the future of Kenya’s stability, democracy, and unity.

In the latest episode of our weekly show, The Perspective, we explore the genesis and intrigues surrounding Gachagua’s impeachment and potential pathways toward resolution.

Watch the video below to gain more insights into the situation in Kenya:

In a notice to passengers, Rwanda’s national carrier stated that this mandatory measure aims to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone as outlined by the Ministry of Health. Passengers can fill out the questionnaire with the assistance of staff from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) or complete a [declaration form online->https://phpd.moh.gov.rw/travel/], download the QR code, and present it upon arrival at the airport.

Travellers are also advised to monitor for MVD symptoms—such as fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea—before departing Rwanda and to seek medical advice immediately if they experience any of these symptoms.

To help curb the spread of the virus, RwandAir stated that passengers should expect routine temperature checks using Thermo-Scan Cameras, as well as the availability of hand sanitizing stations.

The airline emphasized Rwanda’s capacity to manage the health emergency, stating, “Rwanda’s proven ability to handle public health challenges ensures a safe environment for all travellers. The country’s commitment to scientific and evidence-based responses, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a top priority in safeguarding the well-being of everyone in Rwanda.”

So far, Rwanda has confirmed 56 cases of Marburg disease, with 12 deaths and 8 recoveries. Cumulative tests have surpassed 2,300.

Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include high fever, severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, it can cause severe hemorrhaging, organ failure, and shock.

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 attack, considered the deadliest in Israel’s history, involved militants storming Israeli communities and targeting multiple sites, including a music festival where at least 370 people were killed. More than 250 individuals were captured and taken as hostages to Gaza, many of whom remain captive a year later.

Hamas launched missile attacks on Israel, stating that the assault was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the 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. In retaliation, Israel began bombing the Gaza Strip the very next day.

Monday’s anniversary featured memorials and vigils, including a moment of silence at Kibbutz Reim, where the music festival massacre occurred.

AFP reports that families of the victims, still grappling with the trauma of the attacks, were overwhelmed with emotions as President Isaac Herzog met with the crowd. The publication highlighted that the Israeli head of state began the commemoration with a moment of silence at 6:29 a.m, the exact time the attack started at Kibbutz Reim.

In Tel Aviv, families of hostages and supporters rallied before dawn, holding banners and placards bearing the pictures of their loved ones and calling for their release.

The October 7, 2023, attack initiated a devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has since expanded to Lebanon, with Israel also fighting Hezbollah forces.

The conflict has left Gaza in ruins and resulted in significant loss of life and displacement. The ongoing conflict continues to affect the region, with daily rocket fire and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas forces in Gaza, as well as clashes in Lebanon.

In fact, on the day of remembrance of these deadly attacks, Hamas and Hezbollah fired rockets at Tel Aviv in continuation of hostilities, with Israeli attacks reported to have killed at least 12 people across Gaza.

The commemoration comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, marked by a significant missile exchange.

On October 1, 2024, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, targeting areas such as Nevatim Airbase and regions north of Tel Aviv. Iran cited this attack as retaliation for Israel’s alleged assassinations of key figures linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas political leader), Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah leader), and Fuad Shukr (Hezbollah senior commander).

During the latest assault, Israel’s air defenses intercepted the majority of the missiles. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, escalating regional tensions further. The U.S. has also pledged support for Israel in dealing with the aftermath.

The besieged Kenyan second-in-command, widely reported to have fallen out with his boss, William Ruto, pleaded with the Head of State to pardon him if he and his spouse, Dorcas Rigathi, had done anything to offend him.

“I want to say to my brother President William Ruto, if, in our zeal to work, I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. If my spouse, in her duties with the boy child, has wronged you in any way, please find it in your heart to forgive her,” Gachagua pleaded during a church service at the National Prayer Altar in Nairobi.

Gachagua also made a similar passionate appeal to members of Parliament in an attempt to make amends ahead of the consideration of his impeachment motion.

In an apparent reference to his controversial remarks that the government was like a company where those who voted for the current administration hold more shares than others, Gachagua pleaded with Kenyans to pardon him, insisting that he did not mean to cause ethnic divisions but intended to appreciate those who voted for him and Ruto into power.

“Probably, you find that in appreciating our people and the support they gave the president and I, our utterances made you feel uncomfortable; we did not mean bad; we were appreciating the people who voted for us. If you feel that we rubbed you the wrong way, please find it in your heart to forgive me,” he further appealed.

Gachagua is facing ouster two years after assuming office in a joint ticket with President Ruto.

The impeachment motion, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, lists 11 grounds for his removal from office.

Among the charges are allegations of dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines, undermining President Ruto’s administration, and other state agencies.

Other charges include amassing wealth illegally, bullying, and intimidating state officers. In one incident, Gachagua allegedly intimidated a contractor to divert materials meant for the construction of a public road to tarmac a private road leading to his beach resort in Kenya’s coastal region.

Parliament approved the motion to table and debate it after garnering signatures from 291 MPs. Public participation for the motion was conducted on Friday and Saturday ahead of the debate on Tuesday.

The motion must garner the support of 233 MPs, representing two-thirds of the total 349 MPs, before being transmitted to the Senate for consideration.

Gachagua, who brought in significant votes for Ruto from Kenya’s populous Mt. Kenya region in the August 2022 election, insists that he is innocent. He has dismissed the impeachment plot as a political witch hunt.

In a recent media address, the minister stated that the use of shared helmets by pillion passengers, especially those showing symptoms, could increase the risk of spreading the virus. He urged individuals exhibiting symptoms to avoid motorcycles and seek emergency help from the ministry immediately.

“People have asked us whether it’s possible to contract the virus from using a taxi motor helmet that has been worn by someone else. If a person is showing symptoms, especially high fever, painful headache, or muscle aches, they should not be getting on a moto or wearing a shared helmet. Doing so could increase the risk of spreading the virus.

“What you should do instead is call the emergency helpline so that we can assist you and prevent the virus from becoming life-threatening,” Dr. Nsanzimana advised.

He called for increased hygiene in the sector, including the cleaning of helmets before use as a precautionary measure.

“As for the helmet itself, there is no immediate concern. However, as a precaution, anyone using a shared helmet should clean it before use,” the minister added.

Dr. Nsanzimana noted that hygiene practices had proved successful in containing previous outbreaks, such as COVID-19.

“During COVID-19, we adopted practices of maintaining hygiene—not just with the helmets but also in public spaces like seating areas, toilets, and other high-contact surfaces. We must continue to be vigilant, especially in places where someone with the virus might have been, to avoid contracting it through direct contact,” he added.

He argued that imposing stricter measures, including suspending the use of the popular means of transport, was not “necessarily the solution.”

“Stopping the use of taxi motors isn’t necessarily the solution; instead, we should encourage people to use them in a safe and hygienic manner,” he added.

“The Rwandan government has made it a priority to fight every outbreak using all available resources to avoid harsher restrictions. Our goal is to manage the situation alongside normal activities without resorting to uncomfortable measures.”

Meanwhile, the minister announced on Sunday that Rwanda had initiated vaccination trials for Marburg. The initial phase targets healthcare workers directly involved in treating patients, as well as individuals who have contracted the virus.

The Ministry of Health indicated that the country had received 700 vaccines on October 5, 2024, and various agencies had already assessed them, allowing individuals on the list of those at high risk of infection to start receiving these vaccines.

“The vaccines arrived [in Rwanda] last night, and they have been verified by the relevant authorities here in Rwanda and the National Immunization Program, who have assessed them and are preparing them so that today we can begin vaccinating those who are most at risk of this outbreak,” Dr. Nsanzimana stated.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 46 cases, 12 deaths, and five recoveries from Marburg disease. Cumulative tests conducted have surpassed 1,700.

Dr. Thierry Roels, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Country Director in Rwanda, confirmed that the shipment of the consignment was completed on Friday, October 4, 2024.

“The U.S. government has completed an initial shipment of therapeutic and vaccine doses to support Rwanda in the first days of its response to the emergence of the Marburg virus in Kigali,” Roels said on Saturday, October 5, 2024, without revealing the number of doses delivered.

Roels indicated that the U.S. government is working closely with international partners and Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to initiate clinical trials for evaluating investigational countermeasures. The U.S. is also considering additional shipments that would supply the trials.

The delivery of the consignment comes days after Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, confirmed plans to roll out therapeutic clinical trials for the vaccination and treatment of the highly contagious disease.

Among the vaccines being evaluated is one developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Early-stage human trials have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and triggers an immune response.

On Saturday, the Sabin Vaccine Institute announced the delivery of approximately 700 doses to Rwanda for a trial targeting frontline workers, including healthcare professionals.

“In response to a request from the government of Rwanda and the Ministry of Health to support its ongoing Marburg outbreak response, we have provided an initial shipment of 700 investigational Marburg vaccine doses to be used in a trial targeting frontline workers. We dispatched the shipment within seven days of first being contacted for assistance, thanks to our many partners,” the organization said in a statement.

“We are prepared to supply additional vaccines pending a request from Rwandan officials and authorization from BARDA, which is funding our current research and development efforts.”

In addition to vaccination efforts, Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company based in Foster City, California, announced on Thursday that it would donate approximately 5,000 vials of its antiviral drug, remdesivir, to Rwanda for emergency use in response to the outbreak.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 46 cases, 12 deaths, and five recoveries from Marburg disease. Cumulative tests conducted have surpassed 1,700.

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 diarrhea. As the disease progresses, it can lead to severe hemorrhaging, organ failure, and shock.

To prevent infection, health experts recommend maintaining strict hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing Marburg-like symptoms.

In a series of posts on X, Muhoozi issued the ambassador an ultimatum to apologize to the Ugandan Head of State for his “undiplomatic behavior” by Monday or face expulsion from Uganda.

“If this current US ambassador does not apologize to Mzee personally by Monday morning (9:00 AM) for his undiplomatic behaviour in our country, we will demand that he leaves Uganda,” Muhoozi wrote.

He, however, emphasized that Ugandan authorities are not at odds with the U.S., but with the envoy.

“We have no problem with the USA; as I have said many times, it is a country we love and admire. But lately, we have a lot of evidence that they have been working against the NRM government,” he added.

In another post, he expressed his contempt for the ambassador, saying, “Fellow Ugandans, it is my solemn duty to announce to you all that we as a nation are about to have a serious confrontation with the current US ambassador to our country, for disrespecting our beloved and celebrated President and for undermining the constitution of Uganda.”

Gen. Muhoozi’s outburst is seen as an escalation of tensions between the Ugandan leadership and the U.S., following recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. against four officers in the Ugandan Police Force (UPF) for alleged human rights violations, including torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and punishment.

In the sanctions announced on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of State identified the sanctioned officials as Bob Kagarura, former Wamala Regional Police Commander, and Alex Mwine, former District Police Commander for Mitanya District.

Others include Elly Womanya, who at the time of the alleged violations was Senior Commissioner and Deputy Director of UPF’s Criminal Investigations Division in charge of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and Hamdani Twesigye, previously Deputy Inspector of Police assigned to the SIU.

The U.S. had previously imposed travel sanctions against several high-profile Ugandan officials, including Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, Parliament Speaker Anita Annette Among, and Minister Amos Lugoloobi, along with their families.