Category: News

{{Since September 24th – 27th 2012 a host of international health information professionals participated in Kigali’s first ever Open Health Information Exchange (OpenHIE) symposium. }}

The symposium brought key open source health software communities together to collaboratively create and deploy an integrated eHealth system for the Rwandan Ministry of Health.

The summit was sponsored by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Health and Jembi Health Systems, the symposium brought together officers from each of five major free and open source health systems to contribute to the refinement and extension of the OpenHIE system initially being deployed in the Rwamagana district, Eastern Province, Rwanda.

The Rwandan OpenHIE, created by the Rwandan Ministry of Health and partners under the auspices of the PEPFAR funded Rwanda Health Enterprise Architecture (RHEA) Project, is being instantiated to initially support a shared electronic medical record for expectant mothers visiting antenatal clinics in the Rwamagana district and later to support all the other areas of primary and secondary care.

The project is intended to improve maternal care in the district by increasing health workers’ access to high quality medical records.

The symposium continues the cutting-edge work begun in Rwanda’s Rwamagana district by the Ministry’s eHealth unit, under the direction of Dr. Richard Gakuba, Director of eHealth for Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, to include medical facilities in all regions of the country as well as extend to support additional clinical and public health areas.

This implementation demonstrates how Rwanda’s health care delivery system will be enhanced by OpenHIE using effective open source health tools and collaboration.

The use of OpenHIE is anticipated to improve clinical outcomes, optimize the effectiveness of health care delivery, and provide patients with better, more cost effective health services.

“An integrated eHealth system is a new and innovative way of thinking. Using open source approaches to develop a national healthcare information infrastructure has proven successful for organizations like OpenMRS which has been adopted as the national electronic health record system solution in Rwanda”, said Dr. Paul Biondich, Research Scientist and Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Informatics at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Biondich is one of the principal architects providing leadership for this initiative.

This initiative will greatly strengthen Rwanda’s health system supported by a robust health information system infrastructure.

By being developed collaboratively and made freely available, OpenHIE will enable Africa to mitigate the traditional challenges associated with re-engineering proprietary and stand-alone systems to create an effective shared electronic health record.

Implementing OpenHIE is an achievement on par with the introduction of mobile telephony, an innovation which has permitted many Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) to communicate without stringing together millions of miles of copper cable.

{{The Rwanda Education Board (REB)’s Dr. Joyce Musabe and the Literacy, Language, and Learning (L3) Initiative’s Norma Evans and Caroline Dusabe represented Rwanda at International Literacy Day in Washington, DC.}}

The event marking the occasion took place on September 7 and was co-hosted by USAID, the Global Partnership for Education, and the Brookings Institute.

Dr. Musabe’s presentation focused on the Rwanda Reads initiative launched by REB and its partners this past July. The umbrella initiative, which brings together education stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, is promoting the development of literacy skills and a culture of reading for enjoyment through numerous projects.

Among these initiatives, Musabe highlighted the establishment of new national reading standards for primary 3 and 5. These standards will inform the revision of curricula and the tracking of students’ reading progress throughout primary school.

REB, with partner L3, will support the achievement of these goals through the development of new instructional materials, a professional development program for teachers, and efforts to increase students’ access to quality reading materials.

Dr. Musabe emphasized that all levels of government, from the first lady to sector education officers, are well informed and engaged in the project. “Everybody’s watching,” she said. “The Prime Minister knows about the mobile libraries, that writer’s workshops must be done. These things are very well known.”

Such support is instrumental for Rwanda Read’s success.

In DC, the Rwanda delegation also visited Oyster Adams Bilingual School, which uses English and Spanish as languages of instruction.

Oyster Adams’ literacy program emphasizes the use of story and guided, leveled reading in the classroom. Children write or draw responses to stories and answer questions about what they have read or heard.

These elements, among others, are included in the work of the L3 initiative. “We’re going in the right direction,” said L3’s Dusabe.

The delegation also participated in the Mobile Education Alliance International Symposium on September 5-6 in DC. The event aimed to highlight the innovative use of technology for supporting literacy education.

The delegation was particularly interested in mobile technologies which distribute children’s stories through mobile phones and which allow teachers to search for words and stories containing the language sound they are teaching at that time.

Dr. Musabe said the team is already in contact with some organizations to inquire about these tools. “If those tools are being used in other countries, especially in Africa, why not in Rwanda?”

{{Police in Huye district have arrested 29 individuals suspected of dealing and consuming drugs and other illicit beverages.

According to a police source, the operation was carried out in the areas of Matyazo and Kaburemera, on the outskirts of Huye town.}}

The areas are known for being a den of drug dealers and consumers, with many involved in the making, selling and consumption of the illicit liquor Kanyanga and Nyirantare.

Nyirantare is produced using several ingredients, including water, sugar, sorghum and yeast, but sources allege that brewers use other crude materials as ingredients.

By press time, all the suspects were being detained at Ngoma Police Station as they waited to be aligned before courts of law.

Drug consumption is regarded as the major cause of crimes in the district.

Speaking from their detention, the suspects acknowledged their role in drug dealing and consumption, but requested for mercy.

Last week, Police said it arrested 81 people and seized 185kg of marijuana and over 806 litres of illicit liquor (kanyanga) during an operation carried out across the country.

{{After his speech Tuesday, September 25th to the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, gave an exclusive interview with Jean-Pierre Amisi Ramazani Maha Fayek and the UN Radio. }}

Kabila spoke of the security crisis in the Kivus, the summit planned for this September 27th in New York and the current state of relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

UN Radio: {{Concerning the problems of security in the DRC, there was first the RCD, then today is the M23. What do you think is the solution to settle the security crisis in eastern Congo?}}

{{Joseph Kabila}}: I have already said. The solution can be military, the solution can be political, diplomatic solution can be either or a combination of these three solutions.

We are actually working on three possible solutions. Whether it here at the United Nations, it is also in the region of the African continent.

{{What did you get from these conferences held in two phases in Kampala. Has there been any results?}}

It’s too early to talk about results. But I think we’re on the right track. It is anticipated a summit here in New York, a summit of the Great Lakes region that added to the top of the member countries of SADC.

The goal is a lasting peace because we are all in search of peace. But the ultimate goal is not only peace, peace for what to do for the development of our country mainly the Democratic Republic of Congo, but in turn the countries of the region as well.

{{With Hillary Clinton you met President Kagame, what is the current status of the relationship between the DRC and Rwanda, especially after this meeting with Hillary Clinton especially on the eve of the conference [scheduled for 27 in New York on the DRC? ]}}

Listen truth is stubborn. The truth is that it does not have good relations with our neighbouring Rwanda. The idea is to start working for us to have good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

But for now, this is not the case.

Are you optimistic about the conference on the Great Lakes region?
I do not know. We’ll see.

{{What would be acceptable to you Mr. Kabila?}}

What would be acceptable not just for me but for the Congolese people, it is a just peace between the countries in the region not only Rwanda but all the countries of the region.

I’m happy because the Democratic Republic of Congo has very good relations with almost all countries of the region. It has nine neighbors except one country.

So what would be acceptable to me and the Congolese people is a lasting peace for all of us.

{{On another note, there is talk of revolution of modernity in the DRC. Is that the five projects are included in the revolution of modernity? What is it?}}

The revolution of modernity is the extension in the logical continuation of the so-called five yards of the republic.

Interview by radio UN in New York

{{Ugandan troops have heavily deployed along the boarder with DRC following the death of a UPDF solider who was killed by suspected Congolese gunmen.}}

State owned Newvision reported that UPDF and Police have deployed in Kango sub-county, Zombo district along the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border following the death of two people.

An official of Zombo district Rashul Aluma said the victim was shot dead by armedmen suspected to be from DRC at Adwodogo market on Sunday night.

This angered the residents of Kango village who became rowdy and targeted Congolese nationals in retaliatory attacks.

Residents are blaming undisciplined elements in the DRC army saying they have been looting their shops along the border and could have been behind Apiuyo’s killing.

“We are appealing to the people to stay calm and allow the security personnel to look into this matter. I have been in contact with my counterparts in Mahagi since the incident happened,” Aluma said.

{{A man identified as Ndabagaruye Jean Bosco, 37, has been arrested for reportedly stealing over 1750 kilograms of fertilizers.}}

Ndabagaruye was arrested in Burera district, Kagogo sector while transporting the fertilizers in a truck RAB 462 K to Uganda in order to sell them at a higher price. He is currently detained at Gahunga Police Station.

Ndabagaruye would get to Uganda passing through Burera District to sell the fertilizers. He was arrested after residents suspected him of hiding fertilizers in his vehicle.

They immediately informed police which arrested him.

“It is not for the first time fertilizers from Musanze and Burera had been smuggled to Uganda. Towards the end of last month, hundreds of kilograms of fertilizers were taken to Uganda and recently, 250 kilograms were handed over to Burera local leaders by Uganda local leaders following mutual cooperation.

The Police spokesperson in Northern Region Superintendent Francis Gahima said.

François Nsengiyumva, the chairman of task force for harvest and storage in the Ministry of agriculture also noted that about 5000 kilograms of fertilizers crossed the border to Uganda last June.

Police Spokesperson in Northern Region condemned that act and warned those involved in stealing and transporting and fertilizers to neighboring countries not to get involved in such malpractice.

Gahima stressed that the arrest should be a warning to whoever entertain the habit of stealing, transporting and selling fertilizers that Police will never tolerate such acts.

“Fertilizers are meant to help local farmers increase farm production and thus improve their standards of living but not for illicit commercial interests”, François Nsengiyumva noted.

Referring to fertilizers theft qualified as an anti-developmental act, Superintendent Francis Gahima called on the public to shun people with such ideas and instead report any information about dubious activities so that they can be apprehended and brought to book.

{{The Rwanda Governance board RGB and GIZ have issued operational guidelines for the management of joint activities between the two agencies.}}

The purpose of the guidelines is to establish the key process and procedures to be observed in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness of the technical support provided by GIZ to RGB in implementing joint action plans in the areas of capacity building and citizen particpiation with a view to realise benefits of decentralisation in general.

{{The Rwandan community in Kenya has officially launched Agaciro Development fund.}}

The function was presided over by Hon. Christopher Bazivamo the National Vice chairman of RPF accompanied by Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga, both Members of parliament of the East African Legislative Assembly(EALA), and in the presence of the Rwandan High commissioner designate, Mrs. Yamina Karitanyi.

Hon. Bazivamo told the Rwandan community in Kenya that Rwandans willingly decided to contribute to Agaciro Development fund to render support to government efforts in developmental programs of the country.

The idea conceived in the last National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) and was latter approved by cabinet.

Two accounts were opened,one in US dollars and another in Kenya shillings at the Commercial Bank of Africa. The account numbers are: 6503940078 USD and 6503940065 Ksh.

The RPF vice chairman requested the Kenyan Diaspora to support and contribute to the fund. He informed the audience that so far 16 billion Rwanda Francs have been contributed in Rwanda, and the money will be well utilized on essential government developmental projects.

Hon.Bazivamo pledged a contribution of USD 1,000 towards opening the Rwandan Community in Kenya – Agaciro Development Fund.

He also explained that the Rwandan Patriotic Front(RPF) is in preparation of celebrating twenty five years of existence. “alot has been done in the reconstruction of the country, good governance, democracy and reconciliation.”

Bazivamo added there is still more to be done and the celebration will be to reflect where more efforts are needed. There are many activities that have been planned at different levels to celebrate the achievements including competitions in cultural songs, dance.

There will also be public speeches on various topics like efforts to eradicate poverty, unity and reconciliation, government programs. the RPF’s main objective is to strive for the well being of all Rwandans; the RPF vice chairman emphasized.

What the Rwandan people do they should not do it to be praised but should do it for the good of the country and for the benefit all the citizens of the country. The main celebration will be held on 1st October 2012.

Bazivamo explained the prevailing political and security situation between Rwanda and DRC. “DRC still hosts FDRL rebels who committed genocide and are a threat to Rwanda security.”

To date the international community has not been able to find a solution but instead people come up with false accusations against Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels in DRC.

He explained efforts that have been made to resolve the conflict in Eastern DRC, and expressed optimism that a solution will be found.

Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga said in celebrating RPF’s 25 years of existence, it is an opportunity to reflect on our past as the Rwandan people and adequately plan where we are going.

Hajebakiga further clarified that contrubtion to Agaciro Development fund is voluntary and each person contributes according to ability.

The Kigali High Court has rejected a request to grant provisional liberation to the Genocide suspect Jean Uwinkindi.

Prosecution had opposed the request saying that it was likely he would try to escape. Adding that Uwinkindi was arrested in Uganda after more than 10 years in hiding; he was arrested in 2010 and brought to the Arusha tribunal until he was transferred to Rwanda in April this year.

The judge at the High Court said that the fact that Uwinkindi had been detained at the ICTR for two years before his transfer shows that his case is too serious to merit provisional liberation.

The Rwanda Focus reported that “The court rules that the provisional detention remains unchanged; thus the accused is remanded for 30 days in prison,” the judge said.

However Uwinkindi claims that he was brought to justice under a false arrest warrant intended to arrest someone else named Jean Bosco Uwinkindi instead of Jean Uwinkindi, but the court rejected the argument saying that the ICTR had already changed the name on the warrant arrest by dropping ‘Bosco.’

Uwinkindi, 61, a former pastor with the Pentecostal Church in the former Kanzenze commune, currently in Bugesera district, is charged with Genocide and other crimes against humanity.

He was arrested on June 30, 2010 in Uganda and transferred to the ICTR in Arusha two days later.

On April 19, he was transferred to Rwanda as the first Genocide suspect deported from the tribunal to be tried in domestic courts.

{{The case of Bugingo Sadi who is a Genocide suspect will today take place at Oslo District Court (Oslo Tinghus) in Norway.}}

Bugingo Sadi, a former businessman who run stores in downtown Kibungo was arrested in Norway in 2008. He worked as a cleaner when he was arrested.

Bugingo is a second person to be tried in a special courtroom built in Oslo after convicted Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik.

This is the first trial related to genocide to be held in Norway.

‘We have witnesses who will prove that he is responsible for the killings’–prosecutor Petter Mandt told the court.

Bugingo trial will hear 80 prosecution witnesses plus 26 Defense.