Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a statement, the ministry said the virulent disease, which causes haemorrhagic fever, has been confirmed among a “few patients in health facilities across the country,” and investigations are underway to determine the origin of the infection.

“Enhanced preventive measures are being implemented in all health facilities. Contact tracing is underway, and cases have been isolated for treatment,” the ministry stated.

The ministry urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, vomiting, muscle aches, and stomach pain to call the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) on toll free number 114 or visit the nearest health facility.

“The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates regularly. The public should continue with their usual activities while maintaining a high level of vigilance and hygiene,” the ministry cautioned.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.

Like Ebola, Marburg causes severe haemorrhagic fever, affecting multiple organ systems and often leading to profuse bleeding. It affects both humans and nonhuman primates.

The viral infection is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans.

“Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies,” a statement on the WHO website reads.

Once infected, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials such as beddings and clothing.

The Marburg virus is named after the German city of Marburg, where it was first identified in 1967.

The initial outbreak was associated with laboratory work involving African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.

Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

In a statement, the police said the suspect, who was on the list of major drug trafficking suspects, was intercepted at the Grand Barriere border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while crossing into Rwanda on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

At the time of the arrest by officers from the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) and Border Security Unit, the suspect was found in possession of 40 large bundles of cannabis.

The suspect is said to have created a secret compartment in his car to conceal the narcotics in an attempt to evade security checks.

“On Wednesday, September 25, at around 3:30 p.m., police officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a Congolese-registered vehicle at the Grand Barriere in Kivu village, Nengo cell, Gisenyi sector. The vehicle was transporting 40 large bundles of cannabis, and the driver, who is the suspected rightful owner of the narcotics, was arrested,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the police spokesperson for the Western Region, said.

The suspect was handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau at Gisenyi station.

Investigations indicate that the suspect was on his way to Kigali when he was cornered by the police.

“We believe he was headed to Kigali to supply one of his clients. Operations are still underway to bring all members of this drug trafficking ring to justice,” SP Karekezi said.

SP Karekezi praised the impact of community policing in identifying and arresting drug dealers, as well as dismantling trafficking networks and local retailers.

Cannabis is classified as a severe narcotic in Rwanda, with penalties ranging from 20 years to life in prison.

This is the 19th group of evacuees from Libya and the first group since the agreement, signed in 2019, was extended last month.

The individuals originate from five countries and include 41 Sudanese, 36 Eritreans, 12 Somalis, 17 Ethiopians, and 13 South Sudanese.

They were received at Kigali International Airport by Philippe Habinshuti, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA); Belen Calvo Uyarra, Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda; and Aissatou Dieng-Ndiaye, UNHCR Representative in Rwanda.

The UNHCR Rwanda representative, while lauding Rwanda as a safe haven, said the refugees and asylum seekers will be hosted at the Emergency Transit Mechanism Centre in Gashora, where they will await a durable solution, such as resettlement.

“Rwanda constitutes a safe place for them because they are coming from Libya, where they don’t receive any assistance and are insecure, also coming from detention centers, living through trauma and very difficult conditions,” she stated.

Last month, the Rwandan government, UNHCR, and the African Union Commission (AUC) reached an agreement to extend the refugee evacuation programme until December 31, 2025.

In a joint statement on August 22, 2024, Rwanda, the AU, and the UN refugee agency emphasized that the extension reaffirms their commitment to providing protection and seeking durable solutions for those evacuated, offering them a safe haven in Rwanda.

“The Government of Rwanda reaffirms its unwavering commitment to receive and protect these individuals, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at risk,” the statement read in part.

The parties disclosed that the second addendum to the original Memorandum of Understanding, dated September 10, 2019, emphasizes a more transparent selection process for evacuees, ensuring equal opportunities for all potential candidates, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, age, or any other criteria beyond their vulnerability.

The first group of 66 evacuees arrived in Rwanda on September 26, 2019. Since then, over 2,400 have been received, with 1,835 resettled to third countries.

The resolution was made during the 2024 ISO General Assembly, held in Cartagena, Colombia, from September 9 to 13, 2024.

ISO is an independent, non-governmental organization that develops international standards for various industries. These standards provide guidelines for businesses, industries, and governments to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency in their operations.

The organization draws members from around the world. The Rwanda Standards Board is a member of ISO.

The ISO General Assembly is the annual meeting of all ISO member countries. It is an important platform for member countries to share their views, collaborate on standards development, and contribute to the global standardization system.

Rwanda Standards Board Director General Raymond Murenzi welcomed the decision to host the next AGM, stating, “It is indeed our honour and pleasure to host you next year in the beautiful, safe, green, and clean City of Kigali, at the heart of the hospitable and remarkable Rwanda.”

In a notice on Friday, September 13, 2024, the police said the auction will take place in Gatsata, in Kigali, from October 8 to October 10, 2024,

“The auction will take place publicly where the vehicles are parked, in Gatsata. Viewing of the vehicles will begin on September 16 and end on October 3, 2024,” the notice reads, adding, “The law stipulates that a vehicle held for over a month in police parking can be auctioned.”

All individuals whose vehicles have been seized have been urged to promptly visit the location where the vehicles are parked to resolve pending issues that led to the seizure of their vehicles before they are auctioned.

Some of the reasons a vehicle may be impounded include the lack of an inspection certificate, traffic offenses such as speeding, reckless driving, and unpaid fines, among others.

Public transport vehicles and trucks are subjected to mechanical inspection every six months.

The vehicle roadworthiness inspection tests the shock absorbers, brakes (including the handbrake), axle play detection, wheel alignment and vehicle geometry, steering system, headlights, and a visual inspection of the vehicle’s body condition, among other aspects. It also tests fuel emissions to combat greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.

The monument was installed in the north garden area at the UN offices on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, coinciding with the 79th session of the UN General Assembly which opened on Tuesday.

Mellisa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General of Global Communications at the UN, termed the installation of the monument as a permanent tribute to more than one million people who were systematically killed during the 100 days of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

“The Kwibuka Flame of Hope will burn forever as a visual reminder for the international community and all visitors coming here to the United Nations on the need to speak out and say no to hate,” Fleming stated.

“It serves as a solemn reminder of the responsibility that we, as diplomats and representatives of the international community, bear in preventing atrocities. The flame urges us to act when confronted with the early warning signs of mass violence, to ensure that the lessons of Rwanda are not forgotten.”

The Genocide followed years of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech exacerbating ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi communities in Rwanda.

The international community is blamed for its inaction to stop the Genocide which left many more victims injured and raped.

Rwanda’s Permanent Mission to the UN said the Kwibuka Flame of Hope monument “serves as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility to prevent such a tragedy from ever occurring again.”

The inscription on the statue “The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda Remember – Unite – Renew” emphasizes the importance of remembering, uniting, and rebuilding as a nation to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for all Rwandans, while honouring the memory of those lost.