Category: News

{{The Minister of Finance and economic planning John Rwangombwa has announced that teachers’ salaries will be increased by 10% in the next financial year.}}

Rwangombwa made the announcement during a joint press conference after the cabinet meeting.

“This will be based on qualification and experience in the teachers’ profession,” Rwangombwa said.

The minister said that the next financial year have been increased by Rwf 59 million so as to cater for such long awaited needs and to cover 2000 teachers expected to join the profession 2012.

It is also intended to widen the ‘One Laptop per child’ program in schools, gir’inka and also acquiring more shares in the cement factory CIMERWA, which was other factor to increase the government budget.

In the same joint press conference, the minister of health Dr Agnes Binagwaho emphasized that organ transplant from dead people would help a lot in Rwandan saving of lives.

These all among the recent cabinet meeting that brought a mixed filling about organ transplant.

Organ transplantation is the removing of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient’s own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient’s damaged or absent organ.

A section of the ministerial decree determines the donation card and the will format for a person to donate his or her body, body parts or organs for research, medical, scientific and educational purposes.

Another section determines procedures for importation and exportation of organs, tissues and products from a body of a dead person for therapeutic or scientific research utilization purposes.

The cabinet also approved a ministerial decree establishing a list of diseases whose medical tests must be undertaken by a person willing to donate or to receive an organ or tissues of human body.

Dr Alex Butera the Ag. CEO of one of the referral hospital King Faisal told the New Times that the ministerial decree will streamline the exercise.

“The decree came in the right time; you have heard of cases of organ trafficking, these decrees clearly state how organs are to be imported and exported,” said Dr. Butera.

He said since the hospital started conducting organ transplants, donor responses have been impressive.

“People in this country are good at donating organs; we have had cases of parents willingly donating organs to children and relatives”.

According to medics, organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, eyes, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and thymus. Tissues include bones, cornea, skin, heart valves, and veins.

Worldwide, the kidneys are the most commonly transplanted organs, followed closely by the liver and the heart.

{{ENDS}}

{{Provisional statistics from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) indicate that investment registration has reached US $ 598 million surpassing US $ 550m target.}}

According to John Gara the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the target was attained due to proper packaging of Rwanda’s investment opportunities to potential investors.

“We are happy with the figures registered so far, that surpassed our set targets, we initially thought we were quite ambitious setting it,” Gara said.

He added that the target aimed at recovering lost grounds suffered last year with Investments registration of US$398m.

According to available statistics, Agriculture has topped investors’ attraction list with US$116.3m closely followed by ICT with US$109.6m and US$108.8m in tourism.

This is contrary to last year’s investors’ choice list which construction and hospitality sectors that dominated the list.

The Foreign Director Investments into Rwanda, one the key aspects to the transformation of the country’s economy, stands at 62 percent with over US$371 million, compared to less than 50 percent last year.

At least 47 projects have been listed as FDIs, 73 are local investments with 13 projects designated as joint ventures, bringing to 133 the total number of registered investments expected to generate 8,688 jobs into the economy.

{{Ends}}

{{The Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has said that the transformation of the national broadcaster ORINFOR is government priority.

Habumuremyi made the remarks during a guided tour at ORINFOR audio,visual and print facilities.}}

“Despite the good work ORINFOR provides to the nation, there is need to improve the overall performance of the institution. The printing press should be enhanced to capture the regional market, print {Imvaho} newspaper on daily basis before the end of January 2012. ”

The premier also hinted on the increment of remuneration of ORINFOR staff however he said this should be done with corresponding equipment improvement.

“Giving good salary to staff that lack skills wouldn’t transform the institution into achieving its objectives,” The Prime minister noted adding that Capacity building for instutions staff was paramount and should be strengthened quickly.

{{Friday, Kenyans will receive from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) the medical test results of a woman who died from a mysterious disease with signs similar to a hemorrhagic disease.}}

The woman identified as Gladys Muthoni died from what looked like a highly contagious and fast-killing Ebola in Nairobi.

Before succumbing to death the woman exhibited symptoms including bleeding from all openings in her body and destruction of main body organs. This has stunned Kenyan medical fraternity and threatens Xmas celebrations.

Workmates say blood oozed from all her openings including eyes, ears and mouth, leaving her supervisor, fellow workers and patrons in shock.

Before she was rushed to hospital, Muthoni had mingled with many people at the busy hotel along Sheikh Nkrumah Road in Nairobi, where she reported for work on Wednesday night.

She also went to the market to buy supplies for the hotel, where her colleagues said she was suddenly hit by heavy bleeding, before she collapsed.

Several medical specialists at KNH led by Dr Masika Wafula doused both the bloodstained car that carried the disease and from which the body had not been removed five hours later with disinfectants.

Those who brought her were quarantined to be tested and to prevent spread of the virus if it turned out to be killer Ebola.

{{Over 12 people were killed by heavy rains that left Dar es Salaam submerged by the floods. About 30 houses were destroyed by strong currents.

On Tuesday Red Cross teams were sent in to distribute relief food, leaving Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces to focus on rescue operations.}}

There were reports of extensive damage to public infrastructure such as bridges and roads. Personal property, including houses and other belongings, were swept away by the flood waters.

Some key Dar es Salaam roads were closed after bridges were destroyed or submerged in the raging waters.Morogoro Road at Jangwani, covering the stretch between Kariakoo and Magomeni, was hard hit.

The same road was temporarily closed at Mbezi Mwisho after flood waters rose beyond bridge level.

Upcountry travellers were stranded for hours before the raging water subsided mid-morning. Part of Kawawa Road was also closed at Msimbazi.

{{The head of the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit, Jean Bosco Siboyintore has exclusively told IGIHE.com that Mukeshimana deportation from USA to Rwanda is a success to the Rwandan Justice}}.

“Now Mukeshimana is in 1930 Kigali Prison,”Siboyintore confirmed to IGIHE.com.

“We have been following Mukeshimana. She flew out of the country in 2005 aware that Gacaca would start. In December 2009 Gacaca court in Mwurire located in Mbazi sector in Huye district sentenced her to 19 years of imprisonment,”, said Siboyintore.

The U.S. immigration officials had earlier reported that they have deported a convicted human rights violator from Michigan to Rwanda to serve a 19-year prison sentence for murder during 1994 Tutsi Genocide.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said in a release that 43-year-old Marie Claire Mukeshimana was returned to the Rwanda on Wednesday. U.S. authorities turned her over to the Rwandan National Police in Kigali.

The Associated Press reports that authorities say Mukeshimana took a child from a school in 1994 and her actions resulted in the child’s death during the Rwandan genocide. Officials say she was sentenced in 2009 then fled.

An arrest warrant issued by Rwanda’s Gacaca Courts, which have jurisdiction over genocide related trials, indicated that during the 1994 genocide, Marie Claire Mukeshimana, 43, acting with a purpose to murder, removed a child from a school in Save, Rwanda, and that her actions resulted in the death of the child. Mukeshimana was sentenced in 2009 before fleeing the country.

Mukeshimana was removed to Rwanda on a government charter flight. She arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, on Dec. 21. Upon arrival in Kigali, ICE ERO agents turned Mukeshimana over to the custody of the Rwandan National Police.

Mukeshimana attempted to enter the United States last year on a travel visa but was denied entry. She was placed in removal proceedings and has remained in ICE custody since then.

In June, an immigration judge ordered her removed from the United States to Rwanda, a decision which was upheld by the Board of Immigration Appeals on Nov. 15, 2011.

“ICE is committed to rooting out human rights violators like Mukeshimana who flee their countries in order to evade justice,” said ICE Director John Morton. “While this removal cannot undo the pain Mukeshimana caused, we hope that the family of the victim will receive closure knowing that justice will be served.”

{Additional Reporting: AP}

{{Wednesday, 21st December 2011, a Cabinet Meeting was convened at Urugwiro Village and chaired by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul KAGAME.}}

The Cabinet Meeting started by highly acknowledging the “Lifetime Achievement” award that was given to H.E The President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame in Kampala, Uganda on 11th December 2011, in acknowledgement of his leading role in promoting the youth.

The Cabinet Meeting directed that, use of ICT should be emphasized amongst the citizens.

Cabinet also set 4th May 2012 for Gacaca jurisdictions completion closing ceremony.

During the cabinet meeting, it was requested for immediate correction of the shortcomings observed in the implementation of Girinka and loans scheme.

Request was also made in the Cabinet meeting for everyone concerned to work together and speed up the national campaign for milk consumption for Children specifically and Rwandans in general to eradicate malnutrition in Rwanda.

Eradication of asbestos roofs on buildings was also highlighted requesting all concerned institutions to work hand in hand on this exercise and have it completed as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Education was instructed during the cabinet meeting to work on any other pending issues on starting operations by Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda.

A request to lease an Agriculture land 50 Ha and 27 of Land in Kayonza District to East African Growers (EAG) for Production of Avocado was approved during the cabinet meeting.

Four draft laws were approved in the cabinet meeting today including; Draft Revised Budget for fiscal year 2011/12 as provided for in Article 45 of the Law n°37/2006 of September 12, 2006 on State Finances and Property’.

Draft law authorizing the ratification of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) adopted in Vienna in 1980.

Draft Organic Law modifying and complementing the Organic Law No06/2009/OL of 21/12/2009 establishing General Provisions on Public Institutions.

Draft Law modifying and completing Law n°62/2007 of 30/12/2007 establishing and determining organisation, functioning and management of the community based health insurance scheme.

Also the cabinet approved various Prime Minister’s orders and Ministerial orders.

Appointments approved during the cabinet meeting include; Mrs. MUHONGERWA FURAHA Patricia as MINAFFET Director of Human Resources and Administration.

Mr. NYIRUBUTAMA Jean Paul’s appointment as Deputy CEO RwandAir.

Mrs.KAYIHURA Vivian KAYITESI as Head of Investment Promotion and Implementation Department in Rwanda Development Board.

Appointment of Mr. NSANGANIRA Tony Roberto to RDB’s Head of Agriculture Development Department.

{{The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment two former top Rwandan politicians, Matthieu Ngirumpatse and Edouard Karemera, for their role in the execution of the 1994 Tutsi genocide.}}

The two were held responsible as senior officials for crimes committed by members of their party, notably its Interahamwe youth wing.

Mathieu Ngirumpatse(above) and Edouard Karemera, who were president and vice-president of the ruling MRND party at the time of the genocide, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“The chamber unanimously condemns Ngirumpatse to life in jail,” said presiding Judge Dennis Byron, before pronouncing the same sentence for Karemera.

Hirondelle News Agency report that according to the judgment, Karemera and Ngirumpatse had authority and effective control over Interahamwe, who participated in attacks on Tutsi civilians throughout the genocide, and failed to punish them.

They also had authority over personnel such as Colonel Théoneste Bagosora in ministries controlled by the MRND, such as the Ministry of Defence, the court said.

The Chamber found that the two convicts conspired with the interim government to adopt a policy of genocide, which they executed primarily through their Civil Defence Plan, a thinly veiled strategy for extermination of Tutsis.

Furthermore, it said that as of May 25, 1994, Karemera had authority and effective control over civilians who participated in the Civil Defence Programme and local officials who were part of the territorial administration.

Ngirumpatse was born in 1939 in Ntare commune, Kigali Rural prefecture, and trained as a lawyer. He was President of the MRND party in 1994 and had been a member of its steering committee since 1993.
Ngirumpatse was arrested in Mali on June 11, 1998, and transferred to the ICTR in Arusha, Tanzania, a month later.

Karemera was born in Mwendo commune, Kibuye prefecture, in 1951 and also trained as a lawyer. Like his co-accused, he held various senior positions, including Minister of Interior in the interim government in place during the genocide.
He was arrested in Togo on June 5, 1998 and transferred to the UN Tribunal on July 10, 1998.

Their trial began in November 2003. The prosecution fielded 46 witnesses, of whom 30 appeared in court and 16 gave written evidence. The defence called a total of 74 witnesses, of whom 35 for Karemera and 39 for Ngirumpatse, including the defendants themselves.

{additional reporting: Hirondelle}

{{Police in Nyamagabe district have arrested a group of four men suspected of selling illicit brew popularly known as ibikwangari. 11young men were also captured in connection with involvement in drug abuse and gambling.}}

During the arrest police captured 640 liters of the crude liquor know to have negative side effects when consumed.

One of the victims narrated, “After taking a couple of bottles, I immediately got blind and my legs got swollen, this isn’t wine but rather poison” admitted Angelina Nyirangendahimana.

Joseph Ndayambaje agreed with the old blind woman that, “drunkards often lose their senses and start fighting; indeed the wine is made from a cocktail of various substances including; pineapples and some chemicals used to preserve human corpses”.

Joseph Kanuni the executive secretary of Kabirizi sector admitted that the center is known for cases of prostitution, drug abuse, sexual assaults towards women.

“They’re drinking harmful substances. We even seized NPK-17 fertilizer suspected to be used as a catalyst in the processing of the dangerous liquor,” he remarked.

However, suspects arrested blame distributors whom they claim lie to them that the substance is traditional banana wine ‘Urwarwa’.

“Trust us we’re innocent because we normally buy the wine from people who persuade us that it’s legitimate and has no effects on our health,” claimed one of the suspects.

According to a communiqué from the police, measures will be enhanced to verify health standards of those processing traditional brew.

{{15 Rwandan refugees living in Zambia on Tuesday have arrived in Kigali by bus. }}

The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDMAR) received those refugees and argued that the Rwandan Government will continue to help refugees to return by helping them to get transport facilities.

Antoine Ruvebana the Permanent Secretary in MIDMAR, said that the Government will continue to support and reintegrate them. Returnees in their first days in the country will stay in the Hotel located in Kigali City.

Speaking to IGIHE.com returnees disclosed that they’re very glad to come back to Rwanda; they said that the time is over to continue living like refugees in foreign countries.

“We’re very happy to come back in our country, for more than ten years we’re living abroad, we left this country during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi,” said one of the returnees.

They commended Rwandan government for helping them return their country and its sensitization aimed at helping people to return home.

Chantal Ushizimpumu, said that they delayed to come back in the country due to misinformation alleging that there’s no peace and security in Rwanda.

Ruvebana from MIDMAR told media that Rwanda is ready to help anyone willing to return in the country by helping them to get transportation.

He confirmed that Rwandan government has an agreement with different cross boarder Transport Company to help refugees to come back in their native country.

He added that now MIDMAR has accord with RwandAir to bring back home refugees who flew in different African Countries like Malawi and Cameroon.

Rwanda has repatriated more than 3.3 million of its citizens since 1994, with just about 70,000 still regarding themselves refugees in various countries.

The United Nations Agency for Refugees has extended the implementation of the cessation clause to June 30 next year. The clause was supposed to be implemented on December 31, this year.