Category: News

{{Police is investigating the possible causes of death of a young man of about 25years whose body has been removed from a trench at Rwampara,Kigarama, Kicukiro district.}}

The deceased was identified as Bizimana Jean D’Amour. His body was retrieved on Tuesday morning by the National Police and transported to a Police Based hospital at Kacyiru for postmortem.

Residents in the area said they learnt of the presence of the body in the trench after a tip off from passersby who noticed only the legs hanging in a trench filled with runoff water.

The Police spokesperson Supt. Theos Badege said that investigations have already began into the possible caused of the death.

Muhire Prosper the area official urged area residents living by the trench to be careful because there have been many cases of adults and children falling in the trench although its the first time death has been reported.

{{The heat button has been punched on in the race for the next US president as Republican Party nominee Mitt Romney officially attacks President Barack Obama accusing him of ‘false promises and weak leadership’ and mishandling of the economy.}}

“The last few years have been the best Barack Obama can do, but it’s not the best America can do,” Romney told cheering supporters.

Romney former Massachusetts governor scored victories in five primaries on Tuesday to cement his position as the Republican candidate in November’s presidential election.

Obama won the presidency in 2008 in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and since then economic growth has rebounded slowly and joblessness has receded gradually while housing prices have continued to drop in many areas of the country.

“Our businesses have added more than 4 million jobs over the past two years, but we all know there are still many Americans out there looking for work or trying to find a job that pays enough to cover the bills and make the mortgage,” the president Obama said.

Obama told voters in North Carolina and Colorado – making the case that, however slowly, the economy is growing stronger.

Romney interjects saying, “As I look around at the millions of Americans without work, the graduates who can’t get a job, the soldiers who return home to an unemployment line, it breaks my heart,” he said.

“This does not have to be. It is the result of failed leadership and of a faulty vision.”

{{Rwanda Attorney General has asked the EACJ’s Appellate Division to overrule a judgment of its lower court declaring the detention of Lt. Col Rugigana Ngabo by government of Rwandan as being in breach of the fundamental and operational principles of the East African Community.}}

The appeal was submited on Monday.

Appearing before the Appellate Division of the Court, Mr. Aimable Havugiyaremye, counsel for the Appellant (Rwandan Government) argued that not only did the First Instance Division overstep its mandate, the Court did not respect the Vienna Convention and Law of Treaties and therefore did not interpret the matter in good faith.

The First Instance Division of the Court had in December last year ruled in favor of Ms. Plaxeda Rugumba (sister to Lt. Col Ngabo) who challenged the Rwandan government’s action in Reference No. 8 of 2010.

In its judgment, the Court also declared the five-month detention of Lt. Col. Ngabo unlawful according to the laws of Rwanda, and that the continued detention of the subject without trial in a competent court was a breach of the same.

Havugiyaremye further argued that since Lt. Col. Ngabo had been arraigned before the National Military Court of Rwanda, the EACJ’s intervention lacked legal basis.

He also noted that the matter had been filed out of time, as Article 30(2) of the EAC Treaty provides that proceedings should be instituted within two months of enactment or publication of the directive, decision or action complained about.

Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, representing the respondent Ms. Plaxeda Rugumba asked the Court to uphold the decision of its First Instance Division, submitting that the EACJ had jurisdiction to entertain the matter according to Article 27 (1) of the Treaty.

On the issue of filing out of time, Rwakafuzi argued that the detention is a continuous action and that every day the subject is detained there is a new cause for action.

He argued that if limitation were allowed as argued by the Appellant it would lead to limited justice for East African citizens.

The Appeal was heard by Justices Harold Nsekela, President, Philip Tunoi, Vice President, Emillie Kayitesi, Laurent Nzosaba and James Ogoola.

{{East African Heads of state will meet for the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State scheduled for 28 April 2012 at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania. }}

President Mwai Kibaki of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the EAC Summit, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda, President Pierre Nkurunziza of the Republic of Burundi and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda are all expected at the Summit.

At the Summit, the Heads of State will consider, among others, appointment of a new Deputy Secretary General from Uganda; renewal of contract of Jean Claude Nsengiyumva (Deputy Secretary General – Productive and Social Sectors); a report of the Council of Ministers on the proposed attainment of a Single Customs Territory; and a report of the Council of Ministers on the application by the Republic of South Sudan to join the East African Community.

{{The Ministry of Internal Security has issued a directive calling for confiscation of driving licenses of grave traffic rules violators.

Negligence and sheer lack of observation of traffic regulations is blamed on the growing road accidents which continue to claim innocent lives.}}

Motorists risk confistication of their driving permits if they do not abide by the traffic regulations

The directive affects drivers, who attempt to hide their role in accidents that have claimed human lives, accidents that ends up killing or maiming someone as a result of violating traffic rules, multiple traffic violations and driving while one’s license had been confiscated.

The directive also will affect drivers who are caught drunk driving one year after being penalized for the same offence as well as the driving while under restrictions from a doctor due to disease or other medical reasons.

According to Traffic Police Commander Chief Superintendent (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa, Police will forward case files of drivers in question to the Rwanda Public Prosecution Authority.

“Once they are produced in court it’s up to the judge to decide how long they will be banned from driving,” CSP Twahirwa said.

He noted that traffic Police officers have already been briefed about the directive and are expected to implement it.

“There is nothing new with the directive as it is has been part of the law since 1987. We are simply going to get tough in terms of implementation,” Twahirwa said.

{{As schools open for the second term,a Rwandan living in Holland has given school bags containing various scholastic materials to over 439 pupils of Kanyanza Primary school in Muhanga district.}}

Brigitte Mugiraneza ({pictured above}) founded the ‘United Wisdom of Africa Foundation (UWAF)’, that organised the ‘One-school Bag per Child’ campaign aimed at motivating children to attend school.

Mugiraneza told IGIHE that through the ‘One Bag Per Child’ program, UWAF grants binders equipped with pens, dictionaries, a mathematical set and exercise books.

“This program will motivate children to attend school,” She said adding that it reduces the pressure on poor parents and improves education.

“We focus on concrete and achievable objectives.Initially, the programwill distribute 3,500 school bags in nine schools in the district of Muhanga. After the first phase, the UWAF plans to replicate the program in districts in the country, “she said.

Védaste Mukeshimana, director of the school attended by other students under the 12 years of basic education,says, “this program will motivate students to study.”

Other books and mathematical sets remaining were distributed to 472 other students of the 12 years of basic education.

{{The Media has been transferred to the local government ministry (MINALOC). It was previously under Cabinet Affairs Ministry.}}

Discussions are underway between MINALOC and the Cabinet Affairs Ministry to officially effect the transfer.

The Minister of Local Government Musoni James told a local news website, “from now it is MINALOC that will be catering for issues of media policy and going to Parliament and Cabinet on issues of media.”

The recently established Rwanda Governance Board [RGB], supervised by MINALOC, will handle media advocacy.

Sources indicated that Minister Protais Musoni previously in charge of Media expected to address the Legatum institute in London,UK on Monday morning but it was cancelled.

The Legatum Institute is an independent non-partisan public policy organisation whose research, publications, and programmes advance ideas and policies in support of free and prosperous societies around the world.

LI’s signature annual publication is the Legatum Prosperity Index, the world’s global assessment of national prosperity based on both wealth and subjective wellbeing.

LI is a co-publisher of Democracy Lab (with Foreign Policy Magazine), a website dedicated to covering political and economic transitions around the world.

{{Huye district officials on 22 April, visited members of Urumuri Club- that brings together orphans of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi- they usually stayed at school in holidays because they had no home.}}

During the visit, Urumuri members presented challenges they face. The district officials promised to solve their challenges.

Mutwarasibo Cyprien, the Vice Mayor in charge of economy and finance led the delegation. He said the district will continue to help Urumuri Club.

He said these young boys and girls have no other parents and said the district would act as their parent and urged the orphans to work and build their future.

Members to Urumuri said they are satisfied by the visit, and suggested that an increase of such visits saying they needed people to support them ensuring they are not left lonely.

Urumuri club was established created after a notice that some students stayed at school because they had no homes to go to during school holidays.

The district worked with partners to build homes for them, and so far these children’s life has improved. Some have already completed their studies and others are still studying.

{{The young lady ‘Lulu’(red dress) suspected of having a hand in the death of Tanzania’s film superstar several weeks ago, appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dare salaam Monday for preliminary hearing amidst tight security.}}

Lulu, whose true names are Elizabeth Michael aged 17, also an actress, is charged with the murder of film star Steven Kanumba.

Six prison officers guarding Elizabeth had a difficult time as they made their way to the courtroom through a crowd of anxious members of the public and journalists who thronged court corridors hours before she was brought in.

At this stage of the case, a magistrate will hear the case to determine if Lulu should be tried for the crime she is charged with, based on whether there is substantial evidence that she committed the crime, before the case goes to the High Court.

She would not be allowed to enter any plea since the lower court has no jurisdiction to hear a murder case.

It emerged Monday that a team of prominent lawyers including an official of the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) and former president of Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) Joaquina De-Mello have came to the defence of the young actress.

United States Embassy this year awarded De Mello the 2011 Tanzania Women of Courage Award in recognition of her efforts to promote equality, opportunity and justice for Tanzanian women and girls.

Others are Mr Kennedy Fungamtama who has successfully been representing Dowans Tanzania in a $94million case against state power company Tanesco and TLS vice president Peter Kibatala as well as Mr Fulgence Massawe from the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).

The late star’s girlfriend, Lulu, is believed to have pushed him to his death during a particularly heated argument between the two lovebirds at midnight on April 7, 2012 this year at Sinza Vatican.

State Attorney Elizabeth Kaganda informed the court that investigations into the case have not been completed and asked for the court to set another date for the case. Magistrate Rita Tarimo adjourned the case to May 5.

Unlike a fortnight ago when Lulu appeared calm and composed on her first appearance in court, yesterday tears flowed freely from her eyes.

Donned in a red long gown, Lulu appeared panicky and in a tense mood. She soon started crying, something that forced the magistrate and prison officers to repeatedly console her.

{{Fire has gutted a mattress factory commonly known as Kigali Foam. The incidence happened Monday evening. The cause of the fire hasn’t been established yet.}}

The factory belonging to Mutangana Jean Baptiste is located at Gikondo at Parc Industriel in Kicukiro district. Mutangana is also proprietor of another factory Volta Super.

IGIHE reporter who was at the scene by the time of inferno said the fire fighters arrived at the scene on time and prevented fire from attacking the nearby factory Volta Super.