UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, confirmed the funding at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 in Kigali on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
The contribution will be directed towards AgDevCo Ventures, a funding facility designed to help small and medium-sized agribusinesses grow.
With previous UK investments, AgDevCo has already made a significant impact on Rwanda’s food security, improving nutrition and creating a substantial number of quality jobs in businesses such as Kigali Farms and Kivu Choice.
The Africa Food Systems Forum is the world’s premier event for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical action and share lessons to advance African food systems. The summit kicked off on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday, September 6, 2024.
Minister Collins is in the country for a three-day visit. As part of the visit, he will also review the successes of UK action on climate finance and sustainable cooling, and visit Trinity Metals to understand how responsible mining supports Rwanda’s green energy transition ambitions.
“During my visit to Rwanda, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of our relationship. Our two countries continue to collaborate on a range of important issues, including climate change and mutual prosperity,” he stated.
The minister is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, James Kabarebe, focusing on bilateral relations and regional issues.
The Kigali Green City is a sustainable and affordable development project featuring eco-friendly buildings that utilize renewable energy, recyclable materials, and are constructed with locally sourced materials. The master plan for this city has been finalized, and residents are now permitted to begin construction in line with it, provided they obtain the required building permits.
The project will be undertaken in a 600-hectare area, where the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle was previously located, in Kinyinya, within the City of Kigali and its surroundings. The planning director of Kigali City, Marie Solange Muhirwa, announced that the master plan, which will guide the implementation of the Kigali Green City project in Kinyinya, is now ready.
The Green City project will be divided into 18 zones, each equipped with all necessary amenities.
“We envisioned a city where all essential services are available within a 15-minute walking distance, and we are conducting a trial in Kinyinya. Once completed, we will implement this in other areas as well,” Muhirwa stated.
In Green City Kigali, affordable housing will be constructed for a population ranging from 170,000 to 200,000 residents. Muhirwa explained that the project will include mid-range housing accessible to people from all walks of life and will be designed to withstand climate change.
“This will be a neighbourhood like any other, but with the capacity to handle climate change. We also want to use materials produced in Rwanda,” she said.
“We aim to build affordable housing within the financial reach of current and future residents so that those living here today can continue to do so.”
As part of the Green City plan, different sections will be prepared, each resembling a village, with basic infrastructure such as schools, roads, markets, health centers, and entertainment facilities. She highlighted that the master plan was developed in collaboration with Fonerwa and the residents of Kinyinya, who were given the opportunity to provide input.
Regarding transportation, it is expected that residents will rely on public transport or bicycles for their commutes. There are also plans to build roads connecting the area to job opportunities, such as a road linking to the Masoro industrial park, where employment is available.
As an environmentally friendly city, it will play a significant role in beautifying Kigali and reducing the impact of air pollution. Additionally, waste will be managed in a way that promotes recycling rather than becoming a problem, as is commonly the case.
The master plan indicates that at least 75% of the electricity used in the neighbourhood will come from renewable energy, and the houses will be designed to conserve both electricity and water.
Beyond entertainment areas, the plan includes spaces dedicated to tourism promotion and environmental conservation, such as an Urban Eco-Park. It is also planned to create at least 50,000 jobs in Kinyinya through the establishment of business opportunities within the different zones. In this project, residents can build houses that comply with the master plan, or investors may do so on their behalf.
The types of houses to be built will vary depending on the location, with more sophisticated buildings required as one approaches the main road. The government’s role is to provide the necessary infrastructure for the area, including roads, water, electricity, schools, markets, health centers, and more.
Some residents had previously expressed concerns about not receiving building permits since the project was announced, but now the City of Kigali is ready to issue them to those who wish to build in line with the master plan.
There will be a road surrounding the area, as well as one designated for large public transportation buses, making travel easier. A network of roads will also be built on slopes, areas with trees, and covered pedestrian paths. A valley will connect pedestrian pathways surrounded by forests and the road designated for large public transportation buses.
Additionally, there will be easy-to-use infrastructure accessible to everyone. The area will have nursery, primary, secondary, vocational (TVET), and university schools, as well as areas designated for economic activities aimed at promoting non-agricultural jobs.
Speaking during a media engagement in Kigali on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Irembo’s Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Gategabondo, said the expansion strategy aligns with the company’s vision of providing a unified platform for all types of services.
Irembo, established in 2014, is renowned for developing and maintaining IremboGov, a one-stop portal for e-governance services and the gateway to Rwandan government services. Some of the new services on the platform include applications for import permits, business operator licenses, premises registration services, the legalization of public documents from Rwanda to be used abroad (Apostille), and ID replacement for diaspora residents, among others.
As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has obtained a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from the Central Bank, which enables the company to offer secure and efficient digital payment solutions through its platform, Irembopay.
“We’ve seen how our collaboration with the government has effectively addressed challenges in government-to-citizen and government-to-business services. We believe this approach will be even more impactful in solving business-to-citizen and business-to-business needs,” Gategabondo stated.
As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has also set its sights on markets beyond Rwanda’s borders, aiming to forge broader partnerships and extend its influence regionally and internationally, particularly the Global South.
“Irembo was a brainchild of the new Rwanda, but when it began being developed, we immediately understood that there was no way we could build a solution that does not extend beyond just Rwanda. So, one of the absolute plans and dreams we have is to build something so intelligent that it will actually help build other continents,” Gategabondo explained
Considering that there are more or less similar issues in terms of access and reaching out to citizens this development seeks to replicate the model available in Rwanda in other places including Central, Western, Southern, Eastern Africa, and beyond.
“We have a strong belief that we are on the right path, and hopefully, if we can move forward soon enough, we’ll be able to reach the next level,” Gategabondo said, emphasizing the company’s future plans.
IremboPay is a digital payment gateway that allows companies and other organizations to receive digital payments. It supports various payment options and is integrated with telcos, mobile money, and credit or debit cards.
Kevin Kabera, the Business Development Manager at Irembo, told IGIHE that the service, which has primarily been operational for government institutions, has now begun expanding into the private sector.
“Now that we’ve secured the license from the Central Bank, we are currently engaging different private companies to start supporting them with digital payment collections,” Kabera revealed, adding, “Irembopay is fully integrated with Momo, Airtel Money, different banks and cards.”
The recent certification from the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) allows Irembo to compete with other payment gateways in the market.
In the recent past, Irembo has established significant strategic partnerships to broaden its service offerings and reach new markets.
One major collaboration is the partnership with Old Mutual Rwanda, which aims to create an easy-to-use online platform where people can explore and purchase insurance products without the need for in-person consultations.
According to the management, the collaboration with the insurer represents Irembo’s significant move into the private sector, which focuses on providing digitized insurance services.
Kagame made these remarks on Monday, September 2, 2024, during the ongoing 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) in Bali, Indonesia.
Organized by the Indonesian government, the forum, themed “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063,” aims to foster cooperation and partnerships between African states and Indonesia.
The Rwandan Head of State underscored that both Indonesia and Africa possess an abundance of critical raw materials essential for driving the global transition to sustainable energy. He emphasized that these resources are pivotal for advancing local industries and creating more jobs.
“We need to share experiences to ensure that it gains from these historic opportunities that benefit our people in the form of new jobs, our complex manufacturing value chain,” President Kagame stated, adding, “We cannot accept the exploitative pattern of the past be repeated unchallenged.”
At the same time, President Kagame observed that there are vast, untapped opportunities in technology, education, and innovation that remain underexplored by both Indonesian and African companies.
“We see Indonesia leading the way in technology, education and innovative business model yet relatively few Indonesian companies are active in Africa and the opportunities in Indonesia are also relatively unknown to Africa’s private sector. This should change,” he added.
He extended a warm invitation to Indonesian investors and entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Rwanda, noting that a new agreement would be signed on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, between Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance this partnership.
“Rwanda is open for business and we extend a warm welcome to investors and entrepreneurs from Indonesia. I am pleased that an agreement will be signed tomorrow by our respective business associations and I trust that it will be quickly put into action,” President Kagame noted.
President Kagame also called for more partnerships that would enable more African students to study science and technology in Indonesia, as well as facilitate collaboration with Indonesian startups.
Additionally, the Rwandan Head of State emphasized the need for increased coordination in multi-sectoral settings, particularly in areas such as climate change and trade negotiations.
He stated, “Whenever our interests overlap, we should never take too long before we streamline that.”
President Kagame commended Indonesian President Joko Widodo for his efforts in strengthening Indonesian and African relations, notably with Rwanda.
In July, Rwanda and Indonesia signed a Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders.
Additionally, Rwanda has been included in Indonesia’s Visa on Arrival (VoA) list since February 2023. This arrangement exempts holders of Rwandan passports travelling to Indonesia for tourism, business, transit, or official purposes from applying for a visa prior to their travel, as they can obtain it upon arrival.
“You have been a true friend. Working together, a strong foundation has been laid and I have no doubt that there are going to be concrete results that we will all be proud of,” President Kagame told his Indonesian counterpart.
The report released on August 31, 2024, shows that the decline was primarily driven by a 6.9% decrease in manufacturing activity prices, which contributed to the overall reduction.
The PPI is a crucial economic indicator that tracks the average change in prices received by domestic producers for their goods and services. Unlike consumer price indices, the PPI reflects price movements from the seller’s perspective, providing early insights into inflationary trends before they reach consumers.
Despite the downturn in manufacturing, the report highlighted contrasting trends in other sectors. The mining sector saw a 1.5% increase in prices.
Generally, this means that businesses in Rwanda paid less for goods and services used in their production processes.
On a monthly basis, the general PPI increased by 0.8% from June to July 2024, mainly due to a 1% rise in manufacturing activity prices.
Further analysis revealed that the local PPI, which measures prices for goods produced and sold within Rwanda, fell by 7.1% year-on-year in July 2024. This was largely due to a 9.1% drop in manufacturing prices. However, on a monthly basis, the local PPI saw a 0.9% increase, driven by a 1.2% rise in manufacturing prices.
The export PPI, which tracks prices for goods produced in Rwanda and sold abroad, decreased by 1.3% year-on-year in July 2024. This decline was mainly due to a 5.2% drop in coffee product prices, despite a 4.1% increase in tea prices and a 1.5% rise in mining prices.
On a month-to-month basis, the export PPI rose by 0.5%, with tea prices up by 1% and coffee prices up by 0.5%.
The report, released on Friday by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), said there was “fog and deteriorating weather” near Mzuzu Airport, where the plane was destined to land.
The German investigators managed to retrieve GPS data tracing the aircraft’s flight on the material day from take-off at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, to the crash site in Chikangawa Forest near Mzuzu.
However, according to the report, some data regarding the communications between the crew and navigation services were not recorded as the military aircraft, Dornier 228-202(K), Malawi Air Force, had no Cockpit Voice Recorder or Flight Data Recorder.
“The radio communications between the flight crew and the air navigation service units at Lilongwe, and radio communications between the flight crew and the Flight Information Service were not recorded,” said the interim report, signed by Jens Friedemann, investigator in charge at the BFU.
The German investigators said in the report that they are compiling the final report on the accident and that it is expected to be released by the summer of 2025.
The BFU has since made safety recommendations for the concerned Malawian authorities.
“The minister of defense of the Republic of Malawi should ensure that aircraft of the Malawi Air Force transporting persons are equipped with a functional Emergency Locator Transmitter,” said the report. “The minister of transport and public works of the Republic of Malawi should ensure that up-to-date information concerning radio navigation aids in Malawi is available to aircraft crews at all times.”
The military plane crashed mid-flight during a domestic trip from Lilongwe to Mzuzu with Chilima, former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, and seven others on board.
The former vice president and his team were scheduled to proceed by land from Mzuzu Airport to the lakeshore district of Nkhata Bay to attend the funeral of Ralph Kasambara, the country’s former attorney general and justice minister.
While confirming the accident, police in Uganda said the crash, involving a Jaguar Bus Company vehicle, registration number UBP 964T, occurred at 2 a.m. near Kabale-Bugonzi, close to Peak Eclat Primary School.
The bus was travelling from Kampala to Kigali, Rwanda, when it veered out of its lane and collided head-on with a Fuso truck, registration number UAV 988N.
Police said all the deceased were passengers on the bus. The victims have been identified as Moses Awinyi, Musa Munyanda, Steven Kayinamura, Edwin Tushabomwe, Liz Akaliza, Teopista Amalia, Evelyn Natukunda, and Acham.
An eyewitness told Uganda’s Daily Monitor that the driver of the bus lost control, causing it to collide with the truck travelling from Masaka to Kampala.
“The bus overturned several times before swerving off the road and falling into a valley,” the witness, identified as Sam Musoke, revealed.
According to the eyewitness, at least 40 injured persons were rushed to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for treatment by locals and a response team from the Uganda Red Cross Society and police.
Southern Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye attributed the accident to speeding and warned motorists against the dangerous act.
“We continue to warn motorists against speeding. The accident occurred in the dark, and it is possible the bus driver had poor visibility, which impaired his decision-making and endangered the lives of those onboard,” Kasirye stated.
A statement released by the RDF on Sunday, September 1, 2024, indicated that President Kagame had promoted 654 officers to higher ranks within the army. Among those promoted are two Colonels who have been elevated to the rank of Brigadier General: Col Justus Majyambere and Col Louis Kanobayire.
Additionally, fourteen senior military officers holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel have been promoted to Colonel. These officers are Lt Col Francis Nyagatare, Lt Col Jessica Mukamurenzi, Lt Col Mulinzi Mucyo, Lt Col Alexis Kayisire, Lt Col Emmanuel Rutebuka, Lt Col Jacques Nzitonda, Lt Col Ephraim Ngoga, Lt Col Emmanuel Rukundo, Lt Col Silver Munyaneza Akarimugicu, Lt Col Tanzi Mutabaruka, Lt Col Prosper Rutabayiru, Lt Col Hubert Nyakana, Lt Col Joseph Kabanda, and Lt Col Danny Gatsinzi.
Thirty officers have been promoted from the rank of Major Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, while 280 officers have been elevated from Captain Major to Major.
President Kagame has also promoted 40 officers from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain, and 270 Second Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant.
Furthermore, nine medical officers in the non-commissioned officer category have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and nine other medical professionals have been elevated to the rank of Second Lieutenant.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Juvenal Marizamunda has promoted 4,059 non-commissioned officers to various ranks within the RDF.
In the latest round of promotions, one officer has been ascended from Warrant Officer II to Warrant Officer I, while five others have moved from Sergeant Major to Warrant Officer II. Additionally, 75 officers have been promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant Major, 139 from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant, 119 from Corporal to Sergeant, and a substantial 4,059 from Private to Corporal.
These promotions follow a recent meeting on August 29, 2024, where President Kagame discussed the country’s peace and security priorities with senior army officers.
The meeting also resulted in the dismissal of Maj Gen Martin Nzaramba, Col Dr. Etienne Uwimana, and 19 other senior and junior officers. The contracts of 195 other military personnel of various ranks were also terminated.
RDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga stated that Major General Nzaramba was dismissed for corruption and the misappropriation of funds designated for soldiers’ welfare during his tenure as Commandant of the Basic Military Training Centre in Nasho. Similarly, Colonel Dr. Etienne Uwimana was removed for gross misconduct and violations of the RDF’s core ethics and values.
The Rwandan Head of State arrived in Bali on Sunday morning to a warm reception, which included a ceremonial guard of honour.
Kagame is among at least six Heads of State and dozens of government officials scheduled to attend the three-day summit, which kicks off in Bali today, September 1, 2024.
The forum, organized by the Indonesian government, aims to foster cooperation and partnerships between African states and Indonesia.
Themed “Bandung Spirit for Africa’s Agenda 2063,” the forum will focus on issues related to energy, health, food resilience, and mining.
Rwanda is keen to sign several new agreements with Indonesia on the sidelines of the summit, Rwandan Ambassador to Indonesia Sheikh Abdul Karim Harelimana said last week.
“We expect, on the sidelines of the IAF, that some other MOUs will be signed, especially between the Private Sector Federation and Kadin (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry),” Harelimana told local media.
In addition, Rwanda is seeking to sign a memorandum of understanding in the security sector.
“There were discussions about security—specifically between the Indonesia National Police and the Rwanda National Police. There is a draft MoU about collaboration and cooperation between both countries,” the ambassador revealed.
Other African leaders expected at the high-level summit include Presidents Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, and Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council.
Prime Ministers Russell Mmiso Dlamini of Eswatini and Xanana Gusmão of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, along with representatives from Uganda, DRC, Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Sudan, Angola, and Namibia, among others, are expected to attend.
In partnering with WIFR, institutional members like Mayfair Insurance demonstrate the importance they place on accelerating progress for diversity, equity and inclusion.
The insurer formalized its membership during an official Gender Charter signing ceremony held on Thursday, August 30, 2024, at its offices in Kimihurura. The event was graced by Mayfair Rwanda Managing Director Ms. Jessica Igoma, Zep-Re MD for Rwanda & Burundi Ms. Alice Uwase, and the WIFR founding chair Ms. Lina Higiro and Mayfair Management.
Speaking at the event, Igoma emphasized that joining the foundation reaffirms Mayfair’s commitment to making equality a strategic objective, just like any other business goal.
A study from McKinsey & Company, which analyzed more than 1,000 companies worldwide, proved that organizations with greater diversity among their executive teams tend to have higher profits and longer-term value as well.
“We are committed to being part of this journey to elevate women and to walk alongside Women in Finance Rwanda every step of the way,” Igoma noted.
Higiro lauded Mayfair for its decision to join the foundation, highlighting that it adds to the growing list of insurance companies committed to advancing the equality agenda in the sector. Other members include Sanlam and Zep-Re.
“Now we have a strong team to advocate and drive change for a more profitable and sustainable insurance sector,” Higiro stated.
The former CEO of NCBA Bank Rwanda was recently appointed Director of Regional Business at NCBA Group. She emphasized that Gender parity can have a large impact on whether an economy or society will thrive as such it is a critical lens for doing business. She also stressed the importance of nurturing an inclusive culture to sustain these efforts.
Companies joining WIFR commit to various initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and inclusivity within the financial sector. These commitments include supporting the progression of women to senior roles by setting internal gender balance objectives that focus on reducing imbalances, particularly at the executive level and within the middle management pipeline.
To ensure transparency and accountability, members commit to creating and sharing a clear diversity policy with specific targets set for all organizational levels. These targets should be made public, and progress towards them reported annually. Companies are also encouraged to develop tools to track and report on female representation, promotions, and any challenges in achieving gender equality.
Additionally, members commit to identifying and sharing obstacles and best practices in the industry to support the advancement of women and increase their presence in senior roles. Companies are also encouraged to establish a Gender Committee, if one does not already exist, to bolster these efforts. The aim is to create a more inclusive and balanced financial sector in Rwanda.
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Launched in 2023, WIFR has partnered with various institutions to help its members succeed in their careers and navigate the ever-changing landscape of the finance industry.
Higiro noted that, for instance, in the commercial banking sector, the foundation has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments to offer scholarships and special discounts for all staff both men and women.
“We also have a partnership with the Uganda Financial Institute for Training Home – UIBFS, which offers diplomas in credit analysis, a postgraduate diploma in agricultural value chain credit analysis, and microfinance banking. Members (All staff) receive special discounts on these courses,” Higiro revealed.
Additionally, the foundation provides capacity-building sessions designed to enhance skills and foster professional growth, where members have the opportunity to network with industry experts and gain valuable insights. It is also going to launch a mentorship program that connects members with industry and subject-matter experts to build meaningful relationships and support their professional goals.
Other financial institutions that have recently partnered with WIFR include Bank of Kigali, BRD, NCBA Rwanda, EcoBank, I&M Bank, Umwalimu Sacco, Coopedu and several others.
