Category: News

{{Rwandan Youth have been urged to collaborate with security organs through information sharing aimed at promoting peace and order.}}

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Musoni Protais made the appeal Friday while addressing residents of Kiramuruzi sector, Gatsibo District in the Eastern province as part of the ongoing commemoration of Police week.

“Police cannot be everywhere, that’s why we need collaboration of citizens so that security loopholes can be sealed for overall security,” Minister Musoni said.

Emmanuel K. Gasana the Inspector General of Police noted that the youth are known to engage in criminal activities for various reasons.

Rwandan youth should be nurtured to be responsible adults and this should begin now.

{{There is a growing concern of drug abuse in secondary schools where consumption of narcotics including; Cannabis and kanyanga are very prevalent.}}

The Police will reach out secondary schools students through awareness campaign against drug abuse and alcohol consumption.

The campaigns are aimed at encouraging the youth to refrain from drug trafficking and consumption that are harmful to their lives and instead shift their focus towards national development.

The campaign is part of the Police week, an annual event marked by many activities countrywide aimed at supporting the public in different areas.

Over the two-week course, a series of activities have been organized by the Police force and local authorities to support the population on issues relating to economic development and improved human security.

The 2012 Police week focuses on the eradication of drug abuse and gender based violence. These two are big issues that Police hopes to address in the interest of the population especially the youth.

{{The Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has challenged Africans to come up with new innovations to promote the housing sector.}}

The Pan-Afrique meeting (Shelter Afrique 31st Annual General meeting) hosted in kigali on low income housing supply, is held under the theme “Financing Low Cost Housing in Africa: Meeting the challenges”.

The meeting aims at addressing housing needs of the populations.

Dr. Habumuremyi asked Africans to promote the housing sector through, new innovations, to reduce on the costs of construction materials and to reduce importation of construction materials such as doors and iron sheets.

The chairman of the board of directors of Shelter Afrique, Elias N. Mpondela said that participants will learn from experiences of other countries in providing low cost housing.

Rwanda’s Minister for Infrastructure Albert Nsengiyumva revealed that since Rwanda joined Shelter Afrique in 1987 it has received enormous funding to boost its construction sector.

Rwanda is yet to raise its stakes in Shelter Africa from US$34000 to US$2 Million.

Shelter African has 43 member countries. Annual General Meeting will approve the application by Cote D’Ivoire to join this growing body of countries keen to improve housing in Africa as its 44th member.

{{Rwanda National Police will host the first ever Police Command Post Exercise (PCPX) dubbed “Solidarity”.}}

This is aimed at promoting partnerships and readiness to combat emerging crimes that are a threat to the region.

It will harmonize Police practices and procedures to improve EAPCCO members’ collective capability to combat cross-border and transnational crimes.

The Inspector General of Police and the current EAPCCO chairman Emmanuel K. Gasana says it is imperative that the EAPCCO members pursue a policy of collective security if the region is to efficiently fight security threats that affect the region.

“We need to share, collaborate and work jointly to better police our people,” IGP Gasana said highlighting terrorism, human trafficking and small arms proliferation as transnational crimes that are on the rise.”

Gasana further noted that while security organs tend to stick to routine, criminals were exploring every single opportunity to destabilize the region.

“As crimes get sophisticated by the day we cannot afford to do things routinely,” he said.

The exercise, which is slated for August this year, will focus on human trafficking, counter terrorism and peace support operations.

Gasana called for the need to have standard operating procedures for all EAPCCO’s member states which require training to understand what needs to be done.

“We cannot move on when there is still the concept of every man for himself,” He added.

{{Its not new but suprising to many. The Palm trees in the middle of Kigali city roads are washed with OMO detergent soap to keep them absolutely clean and appealing to the public.}}

Mbarushimana Assouman is one of the cleaners of Palm trees along Airport road Gishushu-KBC. He told IGIHE that works for IKONDERA cleaning company responsible for cleaniliness withing the city of Kigali.

“We work seven days a week and throughout the night and day. We have been cleaning these trees with OMO soap,” Mbarushimana said adding that if any car knocks down a palm tree, the driver is fined over a Frw 1 Million.

Ikondera company also planted all the grass and flowers seen in the city center blouverds.

Mbarushimana also noted that the cleaning company has a mobile gabbage bin which is carried on a motorcycle.

“The motorcycle man moves around the city every night picking litter dumped by passengers.”

{{The Mayor of Gicumbi district, Nyangezi Bonane has resigned from duty citing personal reasons. His resigniation letter has already been submited to district management committee.}}

Gatera Jean D`amour the head of the ditrict management told press that he had received Nyangezi’s resignation letter saying the letter didn’t contain any reasons for his resignation.

Subject to the law the former deputy Mayor will henceforth replace Nyangezi as acting Mayor of the district.

Mvuyekure Alexandre is now the acting Mayor of Gicumbi district.

{{In Tanzania, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court has adjourned a murder case facing local film actress Elizabeth Michael a.K.a Lulu to June 18.}}

Lulu is charged with the murdering of local movie star Steven Kanumba on April 7, 2012.

The case was yesterday brought before Resident Magistrate Augustina Mmbando for mention, with the prosecution informing the court that investigations were still going on.

“The case is before the court today for mention because the investigations are not complete,” said State Attorney Peter Sekwao.

Sekwao asked the court to set another date for mentioning the case and magistrate Mmbado adjourned it to June 18, this year.

While the case continues at the Kisutu Court, the High Court will on June 11 this year rule on an application by the accused seeking the court’s order to determine her age.

Advocate Peter Kibatala filed the application after a lower court turned down their request to transfer the case to a juvenile court.

According to the lawyers for the accused, she has not attained the age of 18 years to merit prosecution in an adults’ court.

However, the lower court said that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain any application because the charge before it involved murder.

But in his application Kibatala stated that the lower court has power to investigate the age of the accused according to section 113 of the Child Act.

The advocate wants the court to take consideration of her age to maintain Lulu’s basic rights as a child, according to section 4(2) of the Child Act.

{{Heavy fighting continues in the DRC in the hills of Runyoni near the town of Bunagana in Rutshuru territory.}}

DRC forces reportedly launched the attacks to dislodge rebels of the Movement of March 23 (M23) from the hills.

According to residents of Bunagana, heavy gun fire started as early as 5 o’clock local time.

Government forces claim that since the fighting began, the military has already taken three vital hills in the area.

In the town of Bunagana located about 10km north-east of the venue of fighting, some residents already have taken refuge into Uganda.

Local sources indicate that people in places between the groups and Jomba Bweza also began to flee towards Rubare and Rutshuru-center. Rebels of M23 have been occupying the hills of Runyonyi for over a month.

In the middle of May, residents of Bunagana had fled to Uganda following clashes between the rebels and the army in their area before returning, reassured by the presence of peacekeepers and FARDC MONUSCO around hills and Runyoni Chanzu.

{{Rwanda National Police yesterday built six houses for the most vulnerable residents of Nyabinoni cell, Cyanika sector in Burera district.The activity is part of the Police’s two weeks campaign dubbed police week.}}

Other activities done in Burera included giving about 100 health insurance cards while others got mosquito nets as the force’s support to vulnerable people.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police Stanley said that protecting life and properties is an ultimate goal of the Police force, “supporting vulnerable citizens is also Police’s concern.”

He urged Burera resident particularly the youth to refrain from drug abuse and engage in more developmental activities that would lead to improved living conditions.

Aime Bosenibamwe the Northern province Governor lauded Police for the outstanding commitment to crime prevention in the country. He urged residents to uphold hygiene and sanitation.

Emphasizing the need to shun drugs, Bosenibamwe stated that the vice has always been blamed to be a source of several crimes like rape and assault.

Samuel Sembagare the Burera District Mayor urged residents to work hard and ensure food security in the district.

Sembagare said that the district managed to discourage dealers of illicit drugs an achievement he attributed to the good collaboration of citizens with security organs.

“Last year we destroyed about 5000 liters of illicit local beer (kanyanga), and this year we have recorded very few cases people dealing in illicit beer,” he added.

During the event Police also destroyed about 400 liters of illicit local beer commonly known as kanyanga.

Present also was Lieutenant Colonel David Murenzi the Rwanda Defense Forces area commander.

{{Today June 5, The Minister of East African Community Hon. Monique Mukaruliza will visit Ruhuha market used by both Burundi and Rwandan citizens on cross border. }}

The minister’s 3 days visit is part of one week sensitization campaign on EAC Integration and Mainstreaming of EAC into government plans.

The district sensitization aims to raise awareness of district mayors and staff on benefits of EAC Integration and the role of MINEAC in coordination of EAC activities in Rwanda. The sensitization campaign will target 13 districts bordering EAC Partner States.

This exercise will also help the ministry to gain understanding of the needs of the districts on EAC integration and MINEAC will introduce the idea of mainstreaming Regional Integration into EDPRS II to mayors.

Regional and International Economic Integration is the sixth pillar of Vision 2020 and will be incorporated into EDPRS II as a cross-cutting aspect which is envisioned to promote economic transformation through diversification of export base among other things.

Mainstreaming EAC integration into government plans will improve coordination of EAC activities and implementation of Rwanda’s commitments which will increase benefits from EAC membership.

It is from this context that MINEAC will prepare district officials about EAC mainstreaming and associated benefits.

District sensitization campaign will enable MINEAC to provide districts with information on EAC and its prioritization in the next five year development plan and districts will inform MINEAC their needs, challenges and priorities.

The exercise runs from June 3 -9, 2012. The targeted districts include Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, Kirehe, Ngoma,Bugesera, Nyanza, Gisagara, Nyaruguru, Rusizi, Musanze, Burera and Gicumbi.

In the spirit of promoting district led development, sensitization on EAC and mainstreaming will continue to other districts after this exercise.

The ministry of East African Community will also engage the community members in the targeted districts through community Radio stations to create awareness on EAC integration opportunities and receive feedback from the community as well respond to questions and concerns on local communities on EAC issues.