Category: News

{{The police is hunting for a man identified as Ismail Uwimana for his alleged illegal cars dealing in the country.}}

It is said that Uwimana has been in this illegal buying and selling cars so as to avoid taxes.

Available information has indicated that, Uwimana brings cars into the country and puts old number plates as a way of dodging taxes.

According to the official website of Rwanda National Police, Uwimana has a network of other culprits because they help him remove and attach the number plates.

However some of the accomplices in this illegal act have been arrested and they include Uwimana’s wife, Hamida Uwihanganye, Issa Nkundabagenzi, Yahaya Mukundabantu, Hashim Habimana.

According to both RRA and Police, the following vehicles are among those which were on the streets with old number plates but were later detected; Toyota Corolla RAA255K, Toyota Land Cruiser RAA496L, Toyota Land cruiser RAA 664B, Toyota Land Cruiser 974w, Toyota Land Cruiser RAA 074J, Minibus Toyota Townace RAA375C, Isuzu Trooper RAA785V and Minibus Toyota Townace RAA415Q.

Reports indicate that many vehicle owners were unaware that the log book registration numbers of their vehicles were not genuine.

The garage owners play a distinct role which includes importing vehicles and giving them old number plates to authenticate local ownership.

Last week, Police nabbed four suspects involved in the scam.

ACP Emmanuel Butera, who is in charge of operations and public order at the Rwanda National Police, said there are some people who commit such crimes hoping to elude law-enforcement organs, adding that police, in collaboration with other stakeholders like RRA, will always unearth such criminal actions.

“We are still carrying out investigations to establish whether there are other people who engage in such habbits,” Butera stressed.

Butera advised whoever plans to buy a car to always carry out thorough investigations about the vehicles that they would want to buy.

{{ENDS}}

{{A Canadian court will today give its final ruling on whether Genocide fugitive Leon Mugesera should be deported to Rwanda ending a decade legal battle of running away from justice.}}

Mugesera who was supposed to have been deported last week by Thursday, has narrowly extended his deportation twice first by a surprise illness and last Friday his lawyer tried to him more time in the Quebec Superior Court.

There was also an intervention of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Committee against Torture (OHCHR-CAT) said to have requested by his family.

The UN torture office asked the Canadian court to stop the whole process for it to investigate the claims that Mugesera would be tortured by Rwandan government if deported to face justice for his role in the 1994 Genocide.

The Canadian federal government lawyer, Lisa Meziade has however her government have spent over six years assessing if there would be possible torture of 59-year former linguist lecturer when deported but found none.

She added that the federal government is not bound by UN treaties, even if the country ratified them, if they are not incorporated into domestic laws.

The Quebec Superior Court still remains with powers to decide whether Mugesera should be deported or not and immediately orders of his deportation will follow booking of the next flight in the range of hours decided.

It is said that mid this week Mugesera will be brought to the Rwandan soil, according to analysts.

In a 1992 speech, Mugesera called the Tutsi “cockroaches” and “scum,” as he encouraged the Hutu to kill their neighbours.

Mugesera was a vice chairman of the party (MRND) that plunged Rwanda into 1994 Genocide that claimed over one million lives.

In his insidious speech on November 22, 1992, he allegedly told 1,000 party members that “we the people are obliged to take responsibility ourselves and wipe out the Tutsi” and those they should kill and “dump their bodies into the rivers of Rwanda.”

{{ENDS}}

{{The army commander of Northern Province Brig Gen Alexis Kagame has recommended detention of disobedient young generation in rehabilitation centers as a way to help them change their immoral behaviors.}}

Addressing residents of Gasiza sector, Rulindo District in a closing ceremony of a monthly campaign on good-governance, Kagame added that rehabilitation centers like Iwawa are ideal since they offer trainings on vocational skills.

He said the beneficiaries become productive once they are integrated back in their respective societies and also serve as a role model to their former quack friends.

Kagame’s reactions are considered among solutions to curb the rise of crimes orchestrated by mostly the youth who are often caught in the acts of drug abuse, prostitution, robbery etc.

He further encouraged residents to report acts of indiscipline to relevant authorities since keeping silence on the issues facilitated the spread of insecurity in their neighborhoods.

In this respect, he cautioned particularly on domestic violence since it was among the leading cases resulting to deaths in the district.

“No one should take the law in their hands, we’re tired of hearing a man or a woman has died, if someone has really wronged you, report them to the police or local leaders and the law will take its course,” he advised.

{{ENDS}}

{{A senior official from USA based University Bruce H Krogh has said Carnegie Mellon University will be opening its Rwanda based campus this year.}}

It will be operating in Terracom House just below Laico Hotel formerly Hotel Novotel waiting to expand in three years in a more expanded campus in collaboration by government of Rwanda.

Carnegie Mellon University is said to be among 20 best universities in the world having expanded its influence largely in African developing countries to enhance technology.

Application for the applied masters’ degree program have started coming through the University’s official website www.cmu.edu/rwanda for and will be completed in April, according to Krogh.

“Classes will begin in august and we are targeting 40 students in our first class. In February we are also beginning short courses in professional development in ICT business strategy and moble-technology and it can be applied on our website too,” Krogh the Director of CMU-R said in an interview with IGIHE.com.

Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R) introduces new models of education, research and development, and the commercialization of today’s information and communications technology (ICT) in a region.

CMU-R is offering a Master of Science degree in Information Technology (MSIT) with a multidisciplinary curriculum that strikes a fine balance between technology, business, and innovation, preparing the next generation of IT leaders in East Africa.

On Monday information session for professionals in ICT is scheduled sponsored by Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

Krogh said it was also an opportunity for the University to learn more and get involved in the development and emerging markets.

“Many of the technologies like mobile money we don’t have it in USA, but we are looking at how best technology can serve the needs of the society. We have come to contribute towards getting home based solution in technology,” Krogh added.

“Rwanda has created a good environment for business and investment as well. The university was pleased by the way Rwanda has grown creating infrastructure, attractive environment and policies for business, Rwanda does not suffer extreme corruption like many African countries,” Krogh said.

Krogh said the university wants to be part of the government’s vision 2020 for skills development and growth of ICT in Rwanda and East Africa at large.

According to him the university will offer same courses and same examination but the special difference is applications meant to look for home based solution technology.

Commenting on those students with financial need, Krogh said government is yet to avail financial the support to only unable to pay their tuition fees.

“One thing I would like to communicate to Rwandan students is that opportunities given are the same given to our students elsewhere in the world and offering the world class degree,”

“Our contribution is one part of a very big picture of ICT. But we are training people that can or going to make impact on the technologies based on home ground technologies. There is no need to import solution for particular technology that is not used here,”

“we are training people to be leaders and be at the center of providing technologies that get solutions for available problems. Create people who can be entrepreneurs and innovative like technologies that can help let say making impact on agriculture,”

Krogh adds that a few students will spend a semester in the USA campus to try to interact so all students from both campuses and even other campuses to feel united and connected towards a common goal of excellence in technology.

“It takes many people to achieve a full range of technology, but all what is needed is a people who can be creative, innovative and make a change,” He said.

He said that the uniqueness of this programme is that the student will get a a world class degree associated with what is happening here.

“We have not heard any program like this in whole of Africa. A world class degree associated with what is happening here. We want to have a special flavor of this world class degree just for Rwanda,” he said.

“Technology translated to problems happening in this area for students to be part of solving problems in their own technology. Actually we will also be learning like what is the best way to go and we will be working very carefully interacting with them,”.

{{ENDS}}

{{Police has arrested Simon Ndikumana and Celestin Hitimana for breaking into the house of Pastor Parfait Karekezi and stealing USD 36,000 (approximately Rwf 21.7 million) and Rwf 450,000.}}

Another suspect Joseph Nkurikiyinka, is still on the run.

The incident reportedly took place at 9 AM on Sunday in Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District as Karekezi and his wife were out.

Hitimana, who was friends with Karekezi’s watchman, Paul Ntakirutimana, lured the latter from his post at the gate by promising to buy him beer while they chatted.

The distraction allowed the other burglars to break in without interruption.
The burglars later met in Zindiro to share the loot.

According to Ndikumana, the trio hatched the plan after learning that Karekezi, whom he had worked for earlier, was back from the United States.

“We were not sure whether he had money but since he was from America, we presumed so,” Ndikumana said.

Police have so far recovered USD 15,266 (approximately Rwf 9.2 million) while the rest is believed to be with the third suspect. Investigations are still ongoing to arrest Nkurikiyinka and recover the rest of the money.

Though Pastor Karekezi indeed concedes that he was negligent, he says that upon his return, he was engrossed in a lot of work that he had no time to take the money to the bank .

“I was not advertising that I had a lot of money. It’s just that I had not expected someone to break into my house after I had warned my watchman never to leave the house on Sundays as he is the only one there,” Pastor Karekezi said.

This is not the first time that burglars have attempted to steal from the pastor.

Last year burglars broke into his house and took off with a laptop and other valuables.

Supt. Theos Badege, the Police spokesperson, once again urged people to stop keeping large sums of money in their houses and instead resort to banks where safety of their cash is guaranteed.

“This is a sign of negligence. If Karekezi had kept his money in the bank, none of this would have happened,” Badege noted.

Ends

{{Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has called for improvement in service delivery and customer care so as the country’s service sector to improve.}}

The premier made the call in Northern Province during the presentation of the province’s achievements as of 2011 and 2012 resolutions.

The Rwandan premier was saluted with the greeting depicting the Northern Province, that of peace, tolerance, unity and reconciliation.

The prime minister was flanked by other government officials as they joined residents of that province to celebrate their achievements as of 2011.

The Northern Province according to its governor Bosenibamwe Aime is now boasting of improved security, poverty eradication through land consolidation and best practices in agriculture, multiplying agricultural produce especially coffee, tea, potatoes, beans and maize.

The governor further revealed that more people are now members of different cooperatives adding that the one cow per poor household has registered impressive improvement.

“Our province came first in poverty eradication; agricultural produce has increased 3 fold. Gakenke and Gicumbi districts have been exemplary in coffee production.” He explained.

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi who was the guest of honor said that Rwanda has been recognized globally mostly due to its rapid development, attributing this development to the leadership of President Paul Kagame.

The premier welcomed the achievements realized by the Northern Province but called for more efforts this year especially in service delivery if they aspire more development.

The Prime minister said; “Our desire is that Rwandans work hard, when you work for a few hours; there is a lot of time wasted on unworthy causes. We want these things that lag us behind to change. Our desire is that this issue of customer care can be put to rest; we are singling out the banks, hotels, restaurants, shops, the private sector, ministerial offices all the way to the cell level.”

The prime minister called for increased production of maize and wheat so that processing plants that have been shut down can be revived.

This was echoed by the governor of the Northern Province who said time is ripe for residents of that province to double their efforts and be more competitive because this New Year comes with new performance contracts that have to be implemented.

{{ENDS}}

{{Three men are being held at Remera police station for conspiring to steal 36 thousand USD and Rwf 300,000.}}

It has been reported that the three men enticed their victim with alcohol before taking off with the mound of cash.

The theft took place at the home of one evangelist who chose to remain anonymous for personal reasons.

The three men are reported to have enticed their friend, a house-help at the home of the evangelist.

They later broke into the house through the windows and took with a whooping 21 million RWF.

Ntakirutimana Paul who worked at the house which later turned into a crime scene after the theft is also under police custody with the three men.

He admitted his laxity, saying he accepted to go and have a drink with his friend.

He added that he never knew that their plan was to intoxicate him and then get a chance to break into the house.

Presently, only 15,182 USD and 57,000 RWF has been recovered.

Police spokesperson Spt. Theos Badege said that they are still searching for the one of the culprits who managed to get away.

Supt. Badege called on the public to remain vigilant and avoid keeping large amounts of cash in their homes.

At the same police station, police are holding a man identified as Mugema Pecos charged with stealing 5 computers.

Police say that at the time of his arrest, Mugema, a security guard at the company he stole from had already sold one computer.

{{ENDS}}

{{The Québec superior court will decide on Monday whether Leon Mugesera suspected of inciting the 1994 Genocide will be deported to stand trial in Rwanda.}}

Yesterday his lawyers had pleaded with the court to adjourn its decision pending a torture review by the UN Committee against torture.

Leon Mugesera, who made an infamous speech in 1992 that is alleged to have played a major role in inciting the genocide two years later, was to be deported last week.

But eleventh-hour appeals to two Canadian courts and the UN Committee against Torture earned him a reprieve until January 20.

After hearing from lawyers for the government and Mugesera, Quebec Superior Court Judge Michel Delorme delayed his decision until Monday.

Canada would like to deport him now while Mugesera’s lawyers are asking for the government to follow a UN request for a six-month delay so that it can probe a claim that he faces persecution at home.

Canadian Montreal Gazette reported that if Delorme decides the issue doesn’t belong in Superior Court, Mugesera, who is in detention after being deemed a flight risk, could be deported, although his lawyers would likely appeal the decision to the Quebec Court of Appeal.

Federal government lawyer Lisa Maziade argued the case belongs in Federal Court and accused Mugesera’s lawyers of “shopping for a stay.”

She said the issue of whether Mugesera will be tortured if returned to his native Rwanda has already been exhaustively examined by the Canadian government so it’s unlikely the UN Committee against Torture, which wants to review the case, will find anything different.

{{ENDS}}

{{Two days ago, over 15 Rwandan returnees who returned from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have disclosed they never enjoyed refugee rights rather faced suffering and isolation.}}

Isidore Nkurunziza hopes things will change, now that he’s back in his mother country.

“I started planning my travel back to Rwanda in October last year from Kinshasa where I resided with my family, to be honest we were suffering especially because we didn’t have DRC’s legal documents, meaning we were not given priority in government initiatives for instance,” he remarked.

Another returnee, Felicien Nsanzineza explained he and his friends never enjoyed the rights of a refugee since they were not living in a camp. They had to move out in search for greener pastures but unfortunately things didn’t turn out how they expected.

“We were frustrated because of being refugees and I couldn’t keep a job for two months for example yet I wouldn’t report some work related injustice to any authority because I didn’t have legal documents, really we have suffered enough and I hope that life will be smoother according to what Rwandan authorities assure us,” he said.

The return of Rwandan refugees is expected to increase following a UN cessation clause ending refugee status of all Rwandans by June 2013.

Some of the Rwanda refugees residing in Uganda, Congo Brazaville and Cameroon amongst others, have shown fears of being persecuted in the country due to their role in the 1994 genocide.

{{ENDS}}

{{Religious leaders and officials from the Ministry of Local Government have discussed ways of how good governance can involve the clergy.}}

The meeting which took several hours looked at religious leaders can play a key role in the implementation of good governance principles in the country.

The country is now in the month of good governance aimed at instilling and discussing and understanding good governance.

“The religious leaders pledged to embark on an awareness campaign to enable Rwandans understand the country’s development programmes, such as family planning, education and other social affairs,” the statement reads.

Participants commended the country’s efforts in fast tracking the development process but called for more enhancement of better service delivery.

“Be part of the country’s development process,” James Musoni, the Minister of Local Government, urged the religious leaders.

Musoni stated that the leaders should play a key role in supporting the government to realize its development agenda.

The meeting condemned those who don’t participate in the country’s development programmes on the pretext that they contravened their religious beliefs.

{{ENDS}}