Category: News

{{President Paul Kagame has today during a monthly press conference stated that the senior military officers who are currently under house arrest violated the disciplinary norms and not any other unconfirmed rumours that may be arising.}}

According to President, their house arrests are on grounds of indiscipline, doing activities not in line with their military assignments, getting involved in civilian business dealings.

President Kagame was responding to the question raised by a journalist saying that there are ongoing rumours that the arrested senior military officers were planning a coup.

Kagame also said that the investigations upon them are still underway adding that rumours will always be there and cannot be stopped. “It’s upon one to choose between truth & rumors,” H.E Kagame noted.

Senior officers including Lt.Gen Fred Ibingira, Brig. Gen. Richard Munyuza, Brig.Gen. Wilson Gumisiriza, Brig.Gen. Richard Rutatina and Col.Dan Munyuza with effect from January 17, 2012 were suspended from duty and placed under house arrest.

{{President Paul Kagame and top government officials including RDF officers, families of fallen heroes and other distinguished quests have today joined Rwandans in commemorate the country’s heroes.}}

The event was held at Heroes cemetery at Remera today February 1 to celebrated 18th heroes day under the theme; let’s strive for heroism by fighting violence against children.

While at the cemetery the government officials humbled themselves to honor the fallen heroes. Families of heroes brought flowers to mourn and remember their relatives.

Commemoration of the Heroes day continues at the village levels throughout the country.

{{Residents of Ngoma and Kirehe districts have expressed concern over lack of proper information on their resettlement to pave way for the construction of a hydropower project at Rusumo falls.}}

They argue that there is need for a good layout of detailed information on resettlement and compensation action plan.

Their concern to the government and all parties involved in the project is to what extent are the measures being put in place to mitigate the huge loss of properties.

The concerns were raised during an open discussion by the Nile Media Initiative members in Rwanda with the residents and their leaders in the two districts of Ngoma and Kirehe.

Francis Bushayija the Executive Secretary Murama Sector noted, “Recently over 1000 hectares of land covered by maize were drowned due to flooding caused by heavy rains but residents say that the project started and we did not inform them on the operation yet I myself have non of the details going on.”

“Our people depend on farming and we want to know about results of the studies that were conducted and how and it will be helpful to them,” he added.

There is a strong commitment among the basin Governments towards addressing the regional energy crisis implying the need to expand electricity access, and supporting development to break out of downward spiral of land degradation, unsustainable use of water, low access to public infrastructure and services.

The constraints have been bitter to private sector development, so the provision of electricity will be the key in advocating for economic and social development in the region.

The impact of this project to the people around the project area would be to develop renewable hydroelectric power as part of a broader program to support sustainable management of the Kagera river basin and promote growth and poverty reduction.

Rwanda’s only Kirehe district has 950 hectares identified downstream and 500 hectares along the project area.
Concerning reinitialization and intensification Rwanda has 935 Crop Area to Terrace, 500 Crop Area of irrigation and 1,535 Households to be relocated.

Major economic activities in the project area are small scale agriculture, livestock keeping, trading at urban centers and formal employment in the civil service, refugee agencies and development agencies.

Despite the constraints on eviction and poor communication, the drafted study show the project; over 4000 direct jobs are expected to be created as a key economic benefits during the construction phase, while there will be 50 to 60 permanent jobs for operation and maintenance of the dam and associated facilities.

The Rwanda Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) has been tireless in making sure that
stakeholders’ participation of all levels is done.

“As we reach the objective of the project, the whole community will benefit and that’s why you (villagers) have not to be left out it or be affected in any way,” Jean Batiste Habiyaremye the chairman of NBDF-Rwanda challenged affected people.

Concerning project knowledge, community awareness and knowledge about the project varies from ward to another and from village to village.

Local leaders should be more informed on whatever action taking place to help them inform their ordinary villagers.

As well the communities should be involved in the evaluation and compensation planning, know the policies, or the regulations relating to resettlement procedures.

There is also a need for information desk or institution in place where affected people can seek for clarifications or report their grievances.

Standing at 90 megawatts, each state member will have 30 megawatts that will be connected to the national grid.

The power generation infrastructure will be located at Rusumo Falls on the border between Tanzania and Rwanda, shared between Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Transmissions lines will extend from the power generation plant to Gitega (Burundi), Kigali (Rwanda) and Nyakanazi (Tanzania)

{{Police in Rwamagana district have arrested a man and his wife for strangling to death their one year old boy child identified as Irakoze and throwing his body in a swamp. }}

Sources to the police say Christine Mutuyimana strangled her son after it emerged that her marriage to Nshimiyimana Ngarambe stood no chance.

Ngarambe did not father the child. The two had agreed to take Irakoze to live with Mutuyimana’s parents in Gicumbi after realizing that the kid did not get enough support from the mother and step father.

However, her parents refused to take in the child explaining that they had no means to take care of Irakoze.

On their way back from Gicumbi, the two decided to kill the child and do away with the body before returning back home Gishari sector, Rwamagana district.

Upon arrival neighbours asked them the whereabouts of Irakoze and were told that he had remained with his grandparents. However, they did not settle for an easy answer and continued pressurizing the couple.

Unsatisfied, residents called Police and the two later conceded that they had killed Irakoze and threw him in the swamp.
With Police in tow, the couple retrieved the dead body which was taken to Rwamagana mortuary while the culprits are detained at Kigabiro Police Station.

Police spokesperson, Supt.Theos Badege termed the crime as horrendous and unacceptable in the Rwandan society.
“It is unfathomable how a parent can decide to kill her own child. It is a shame to our societal values,” Badege said.

The criminals will be charged with premeditated murder according to article 312 of Rwandan penal cord which carries a life sentence.

{{The Ministry of Health (MINISANTE) has rejected claims that an overdose of peniciline could have resulted in the death of a patient after a nurse allegedly administered into the patient three injections of the antibiotic.}}

The ministry was reacting to a recent story circulated in different media outlets alleging that a nurse identified as Desiré Ngirabacu served Alphonse Muhigana with 3 injections of penicillin antibiotic which caused his death.

The then Rusizi based nurse is currently on run and relevant authorities are persuing her.

“Based on a recent story published on this website titled{{‘Nurse Disappears After Killing Patient’}}, the Ministry of Health would like to explain that the body of the deceased (Alphonse Muhigana) was indeed found at Gira Ubuzima dispensary last week and taken to Nyanza hospital for autopsy,” the statement reads in parts.

“The Ministry of Health would like to clarify that these doses of penicillin antibiotic cannot kill a person except in particular circumstances where the patient is allergic or if the nurse used a wrong way to inject the said patient,” the statement adds.

The statement also explains that Gira Ubuzima dispensary had been closed by the Ministry of Health and the Police, months before the incident occurred for failure to meet required health standards.

Police is said to have taken the body to Nyanza hospital and requested the doctor on duty, Dr. Sylvain Kapinga Musangu for an autopsy of the deceased.

The statement has indicated that the said skilled general practitioner is not qualified to perform such post-mortem examination but instead went ahead to perform it.

“By doing so he drew uncertain conclusions and misled the entire health sector and police authorities,” it reads in parts.

“This is improper medical practice because such cases are handled at hospitals such as the Kacyiru Police Hospital,” that statement continues.

According to the statement, the ministry of health has suspended doctor Kapinga Musangu for scientific malpractices agreeing to perform an autopsy that he is not qualified to do which they say resulted into providing a wrong report.

The Ministry of health has warned all health professionals saying that there is a zero tolerance for all acts, care and oral or written report that are not based on good practices and scientific evidence.

“Thanks to technology there is no excuse today for not having evidence based results,” the statement read parts.

Investigations however to ascertain why it was later opened without authorization from the Health Ministry has been launched.

“As investigations continue, we would like to assure the entire population that the health sector is committed to providing quality health care to all citizens and evidence based results in health related investigative cases.”

{{ENDS}}

{{A New Zealand woman, Vhari Campbell will arrive in Rwanda to act as a substitute mother to orphans and help them with their homework, feeding the smaller ones, cooking and cleaning.}}

Vhari will be in Rwanda by September 30 ready to start work on October 1 and she will be around for the whole of October.

A mother of two, Vhari will spend a month in a children’s orphanage in Rwanda, in a placement arranged by the Global Volunteer Network.

The network is a New Zealand-based company and will place Vhari with a Christian-based project.

Vhari says,“This is something I have wanted to do for a long time.”

“I knew Africa was where I wanted to go, so when I came across this company it was exactly what I was looking for. I don’t know where I will be going, but I have already been reading books about Rwanda.”

To help raise the money she needs, Vhari is going on a marathon sponsored cycle on June 9 and 10. She will be accompanied by two friends, Morna Wilson-Smith and Laura Morley who will also be sponsored.

The cyclists will cover 112 miles over the two days. They will leave Fettercairn and go over the Cairn o’ Mount to Banchory, then on to Ballater and Braemar.

After an overnight stay in Braemar, the three will go on through Spittal of Glenshee to Kirriemuir, then on to Edzell before returning to Fettercairn.
Vhari (44) works in the Fettercairn Hotel, the Ramsay Arms.

The Ramsay will be the venue for a traditional music night on Friday, February 17, when donations will be accepted towards her trip and the Rwandan project.

Vhari is mum to Mary (15) and Chrissie (12) who both attend Mearns Academy.

{{The National University of Rwanda (NUR) is to officially open a newly built laboratory worth Euros 3.6 Million.}}

Dr. Desire Ndushabandi, the vice rector in charge of finance said that the building has a meeting room with seating capacity of 1000 units. The building is valued at Euros 2.1million and materials cost Euros1,5 Million.

Dr. Ndushabandi said the building will help the university to achieve its goals of being unequalled in education and serving people as highlighted by the institution’s motto; “Excellence in Education and Service to the People.”

He said, “It will facilitate lectures in conducting research in various domains such as water analysis, plants fertilization and many others important to the population.”

The laboratory will also help students in their research in Biology and Chemistry fields which are necessary in daily human life.

He indicated that the laboratory is also likely to be used by people whom the university used to send outside the country in pursuit of PHD programs due to absence of some vital facilities and materials required in such programs.

The laboratory was funded by Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC).

{{The Rwanda National Police one stop center ‘Isange’ has set aside a room for people with psychological problems especially gender based violence sufferers.}}

The inspector of Police, Goreth Mwenzangu said that a victim is admitted at the center once dangerously affected.

“A victim is brought in the safe room while the case is being carefully treated and they are discharged later,” said IP Mwenzagu.

The Victims mental status is assessed by a clinical psychologist and later allowed into the safe room and a social worker together with a clinical psychologist help them reintegrate to society after healing.

Mwenzangu explained that the two people make a follow-up by working together with local authorities and community policing for successful reintegration of victims after healing.

The time to stay in the safe room is mainly determined by the difficulty of the problem. A victim may spend even a month in the room and approximately 7 victims are received within a month.

Isange One Stop Centre provides free services for survivors of child domestic abuse and gender-based violence.

{{United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has lauded success achieved by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) in saving thousands of lives across the continent saying ALMA has offered a good model for tackling social ills.}}

Ban Ki-Moon made the remarks while addressing guests at ALMA event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the secondary event of the summit meeting of the African Union.

“The African Leaders Malaria Alliance is breaking down barriers, forging partnerships and getting supplies to families in record time,” Ki-Moon said in his remarks.

“This is remarkable progress. We need to encourage it and use the response to malaria as a model for battling other illnesses and social ills,” he added.

Malaria kills almost one million Africans every year and affects over 200 million more, mostly pregnant women and children under five years of age, resulting in at least $12 billion of costs every year through lost development and opportunity.

Launched in September 2009 in New York, ALMA is a high-level forum set up to oversee the efficient procurement, distribution, and utilization of malaria control measures, with the aim of ending unnecessary deaths from the disease by 2015.

“This alliance against malaria is stopping the disease and saving thousands of lives.It is a great success story. You are bringing us closer to our Millennium Development Goal on malaria and showing how we can reach all the MDGs: with commitment at the highest level,” Ki-Moon added referring to the goal of halting and reversing the incidence of malaria by 2015.

Just last month, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) announced that malaria deaths declined by 10 per cent between 2008 and 2009.

In 11 African countries, the disease’s deadly toll has been cut by more than half since the year 2000.

“Just as malaria is carried by a mosquito that goes from person to person, so does our campaign seeks to reach people just as directly,” said the Secretary-General.

“We want to give every community health worker, every family, every child the tools and protection they need.”

“We’ve delivered over 290 million nets to Africa since 2008. More nets and treatments are on their way. Universal coverage is not just a hope; it is within our reach.”

They are leaders of nations that have banned the importation and use of oral artemisinin-based monotherapies, which cause drug resistance that weakens the effectiveness of recommended malaria treatments, and that have removed tariffs on essential commodities used in the fight against malaria.

“All ALMA countries, by joining the Alliance, have demonstrated their commitment against malaria, and many have made important progress. The four recipients of the 2011 ALMA Award for Excellence have led the way with decisive actions to accelerate the saving of lives, and I commend their response,” said Ray Chambers, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria.

“Africa has never led a more unequivocal initiative against malaria, with the Secretary-General’s deadline of ending malaria deaths by 2015 just five years away.

Now is the time to overcome any barriers toward making that goal a reality,” he stated.

{{ENDS}}

{{Rwanda has been recommended for her efforts in accelerating and sustaining access to malaria control and treatment.}}

Rwanda emerged among the seven African countries that won the prestigious 2012 African Leaders Malaria Alliance awards.

The award was presented to President Kagame on this Monday during ALMA forum held on the sidelines of 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union.

In his acceptance speech, President Kagame noted that the reduction of malaria is a result of the numerous efforts geared towards improving the welfare of the Rwandan people. “Thank you for the award, which I receive on behalf of Rwandans who work so hard to make their lives better” Kagame said.

“The efforts recognized today are proof of what can be done with the resources at our disposal, relevant policies, and a great deal of commitment.” Current figures indicate that deaths due to malaria in Rwanda dropped to only 7% from 60% following years of a rapid scale-up.

The battle against Malaria in the country was characterized by massive distribution of insecticide treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying and a combination of therapies.

Addressing the high profile gathering, that included Heads of State and governments, attending the AU summit, President Kagame called for collaboration among countries in the fight against malaria.

“Shared information translates into shared and reduced costs thus helping countries to overcome the issue of insufficient funds,”

“If we work together and direct more domestic resources to malaria control, I believe this challenge can be overcome, and we can make even greater strides towards a healthier African population.” Kagame said.

Adding that cross border anti-malaria efforts are needed in areas such early detection of drug resistance and harmonization of control interventions. Award recipients were grouped into two categories.

The awards’ recipients were grouped into two categories.

In the First category, Rwanda alongside Burundi and Mozambique were recognized for having banned the importation and use of oral artemisinin which is a herbal treatment for parasitic infections and malaria and removal of tariffs on all essential commodities used in the fight against Malaria.

In the award acceptance speech, President Kagame said the reduction of Malaria in Rwanda results from efforts put in improving Rwandans’ welfare.

He added that the efforts recognized are proof of what can be done with the resources at one’s disposal, relevant policies, and a great deal of commitment.

ALMA award is presented to Rwanda at a time when the Country is drawing praises from all over the World for having reduced Malaria significantly.

Current figures indicate that deaths due to malaria in Rwanda have dropped to only 7% from 60% following years of a rapid scale-up.

The battle against Malaria in Rwanda was characterized by a massive distribution of insecticide treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying and a combination of therapies.

Addressing a high profile gathering including Heads of state and government who attended the AU summit, President Kagame also called for collaboration among countries in the fight against malaria saying that shared information translates into shared and reduced costs thus helping countries to overcome the issue of insufficient funds.

The second category of 2012 ALMA awards winners include Benin, Cameroon, Kenya and Tanzania.

The four countries were recognized for having made outstanding progress in malaria control over the last year.

ALMA whose chairperson is Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was launched in September 2009 to serve as a forum through which African Leaders work together to combat Malaria on the Continent.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was announced the new chair person of ALMA replacing Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete.

The Alliance comprises heads of state and government of 35 countries across the Continent.

{{ENDS}}