Category: News

{{The government has prioritised rehabilitation and construction of main roads so as to enlarge road network in the country, according to the state minister in charge of Transport.}}

Minister Alexis Nzahabwanimana said the Ministry of Infrastructure has prioritized the development and maintenance of road Transport infrastructure.

The minister was touring Kagitumba –Kayonza , Kayonza –Ngoma roads in Eastern Province yesterday.

The State Minister also visited 34 km unpaved Rwamagana-Zaza road which the 1st phase of 6 km and asked the Engineers assigned to rehabilitate the road to speed up so that the second phase of 28 km starts very soon.

The State Minister asked Eastern Province road users to be patient as plans for rehabilitation are underway and would begin soon.

The Mayor of Rwamagana District said that the rehabilitation of Rwamagana -Zaza road will enable economic exchanges between two districts.

Semuhire Claver, a resident in Sovu Sector said that the road had hindered severely their economic activities.

“We have been told since last year that rehabilitations will begin soon, but up to now there has been no development” Semuhire said.

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{{The president of Rwanda H.E Paul Kagame has noted that conflicts are still a major stumbling block undermining peace building and development in Africa and the world at large.}}

President Kagame was officially opening the high level meeting on post-conflict peace building that started today at Serena Hotel, Kigali.

“Conflicts undermine human progress, affects peace and development therefore it should be resolved,” said Kagame.

Kagame added that nations recovering from wars should give priority to general aspirations of its people adding that this can also be achieved through Improving social cohesion and economic development.

He also gave a brief history of how Rwanda has emerged from the 1994 Genocide war in 1994 and how stability was achieved.

“After the war there was a need to restore public order and political stability as well as ensuring repatriation of refugees, marginalized people were also brought on board and women who are often undermined were given top leadership positions,” Kagame remarked.

“Good committed leadership at all levels is essential,” he added, “continued dialogue has enabled shaping of the national vision, this has also enabled Rwandans to make their own decisions and decide on their priorities, now all Rwandans enjoy progress of the country,” president Kagame added.

He further pointed out that Rwanda has also set Institutions that enhance accountability such as the Auditor General office , ombudsman’s office etc.
“And this has deterred the culture of impunity.” President noted.

Kagame noted however that Rwanda’s remaining challenges include {Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda}(FDLR) rebels in the Eastern part of DR Congo.

But the president added that the continued collaboration with DR Congo is showing progress in weakening the armed group.

President Kagame said peace building discussions were timely given the number of African countries emerging from conflicts and learn best practices from countries which have progressed from wars.

Judy Cheng Hokins a UN assistant Secretary General in charge of peace building insisted on accountable governance as well as respect towards human rights as way to ensure peace building and political stability.

Hokins hailed Rwanda’s progress adding that it was remarkable to have Rwanda on top 20 countries on the right path of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

She also hailed the presence of over 50% women in decision making positions.

“The UN will continue to support Rwanda on its path to stability and I urge other countries to envy Rwanda’s way of empowering women, as well as adhere to global commitments especially those that aim on enhancing peace building,” Hokins said.

The President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza said that his country was also progressing well from a series of ethnic and political conflicts.

President Nkurunziza added that his country was becoming stable which has enabled the country send military forces for peace keeping missions in some of the war torn Somalia, Sudan, Haiti and Ivory Coast.

“Rwanda’s progress has been an inspiration to us and we are trying to strengthen our legislative assembly and also integrate our security systems,” said Nkurunziza.

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{{The United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari has expressed his regret of why United Nations watched as 1994 Genocide was taking place in Rwanda.}}

Professor Gambari who has visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Cite is in the country for a two-day meeting on post-conflict peace building.

The meeting aims at drawing from Rwanda’s experience in addressing some of the critical challenges the country faced in building peace and bringing unity and reconciliation after the Genocide.

“Every time I come at this Genocide memorial I am hurt and saddened by what befell on Rwanda. United Nations should put in action Never Again,” Gambari said at the Memorial cite.

Gambari was accompanied by Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyanvumba UNAMID Force Commander who said that Rwanda was exemplary in building peace and also contributing to peace building elsewhere.

Several other dignitaries who turned up for the high level peace building meeting has also visited the memorial cite.

The meeting was organized by the government of Rwanda, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the U.N. Peace Building Commission.

The meeting with a theme ‘Peace and State Building; The Rwandan Experience’ have also attracted the leadership of the six countries currently on the UN Peace Building Commission (PBC) agenda, namely Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

It also included four other countries emerging from conflict like Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor Leste; as well as the Chairs of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Country Configurations.

Countries whose top leadership is confirmed so far at the Kigali meeting are South Sudan, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, and Timor Leste.

Recently Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the meeting aimed at enhancing the ongoing global dialogue on peace building, and getting Africa to be a more important contributor to the process.

Participants will assess Rwanda’s journey towards reconciliation, reconstruction and development, with a focus on leadership and national ownership; innovative approaches to reconciliation and socioeconomic development; and the strategic use of aid, as the key drivers.

{{The Audit and Corporate Governance Centre (ACGC)–a Kenya based management consultants and trainers firm has gathered different top officials in public and private institutions from Rwanda and all over the EAC bloc in a week long training on enterprise risk management.}}

ACGC is a regional company that started in 2007, which recently opened its branch in Rwanda and Uganda targeting to link strategy and innovations to come up with better products and services to the client.

Elijah Saboke, the firm’s Managing Director and a trainer who officiated the training at Goldenhill Hotel in Kigali told igihe.com that, “We identify business, and management risks and train institutions on how to handle them in order to come up with better services and be able to assess such risks at their own.”

Among the trainees, Peter Ruyumbu a Commissioner for Quality Assurance in Rwanda Revenue Authority said, “The training is pleasant because it helps institutions to identify management risks and other challenges that would retard their objectives and other anticipated targets.”

Adding to his fellow trainee, Amin Nsimbe the Acting Manager Internal Audit and Risk Management Function in Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Uganda said that after the workshop he will be able to go back and organize the whole team on risk management in order to reach the company’s target.

Rwanda institutions that participated in the training include among other, SORAS, RRA, BNR and KCB Rwanda.

{{Local private media has attacked the government for dragging its feet when it comes to have businesses with them through advertising in their media outlets.}}

Journalists and media owners were reacting on what a board member of Media High Council Arthur Asiimwe comment saying they should ensure professional delivery since it would persuade potential clients to advertise with them.

Members of the private media disagreed collectively with Asiimwe alleging no harder how one would be professional; the strategy of getting advertisements from government institutions was still twisted.

Shyaka Kanuma the Editor-in-Chief of Rwanda Focus newspaper noted that it is a pity to find government advertisements in magazines or newspapers that have just got into in the media market yet those that have been there also known by the majority are left out.

“This is one of the reasons why the local media doesn’t have enough income for facilitating reporters in the field for instance, and it is due to this challenges that makes it harder for many to report independently,” he added, ”imagine one can’t even access credit from financial institutions since the paper’s business doesn’t look consistent,” he remarked.

Attempting to give a solution on the matter, Robens Mukunzi the Editor-in-Chief of Oasis newspaper advised his colleagues to adapt to the Rwandan market and deliver stories which are relevant to the local readers.

He was reacting to tabloids which are known for writing rumors that lack tangible proof, yet the same style was used to incite violence during the 1994 Genocide 17 years ago.

The former Director General in the Ministry of information Ignatius Kabagambe was pointed out that media practitioners should strive to report stories that improve readers than finding problems where they don’t exist.

He Implied that the press should start practicing development journalism that entails stories that cover infrastructure, health and ICT.

Kabagambe claimed that educative stories often pull the public attention since majority want to know what is important to the progress into their lives.

“I think the way forward is for journalists to learn some of the best practices from those doing well, this would be better rather than wasting time complaining of how some oppressed feel,” he remarked.

The local press were sharing grievances and the rising challenges in the print media; the matter raised at the commemoration of Africa press day held today.

Members of the press present reviewed progress at the same time gave opinions on some of the challenges including lack of access to information, censorship and lack of advertisements to sustain their businesses.

{{The Minister of Defense Gen. James Kabarebe has told association of students who survived 1994 Genocide (AERG) they were a group of heroes.}}

The Minister, who was officiating the association’s 15th anniversary, said that based on their goals and what they have achieved so far qualified them to be heroes among youth.

“Regardless of hard circumstances you passed through and still face challenges but you have persisted to forge for the best in life and you have championed unity and reconciliation,” Gen. Kabarebe said in his speech Sunday.

“I would like also to congratulate you for your efforts to towards the fight against Genocide deniers,” Kabarebe added.

“We encourage you to be more innovative and be job creators,” he added.

Kabarebe said that the association was formed at a time the country was facing challenges but the group persevered.

He called upon for partnerships if problems facing Genocide survivors have to be solved saying that better solutions can only be achieved through cooperate responsibility.

The association also awarded several personalities who have contributed a lot into their lives including President Paul Kagame who was given a certificate of recognition for his role in leading the Rwandan liberation war and stopping the Genocide.

The Minister of Defense Gen. James Kabarebe, received the award on behalf of the President.

Kabarebe told AERG members that President Kagame was committed to keeping assisting them in all ways possible to attain a brighter future.

The students also awarded city businessman, Egide Gatera, who donated a 1.5 hectare parcel of land at Kagugu, Gasabo District for the construction of the ‘One Dollar Complex’ for survivor children.

Others awarded include the UK-based Survivors Fund (SURF) and the headmaster of APERER Secondary School, Edson Nsengiyumva, for his role in ensuring that students who survived the Genocide acquired adequate education.

The association which was formed October 20, 1996 with 12 students at the National University of Rwanda and has since extended to all universities and about 350 secondary schools with membership increase to over 43,000.

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{{Police has launched the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) a guiding booklet about prevention and response to child, domestic, based violence and abuse.}}

The booklet will help Police on different approaches while dealing with Gender Based Violence and child abuse, its consequences as well as basic rules of professional victim assistance.

In his remarks during the launch at Police headquarters at Kacyiru, the Commissioner for Operations, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Emmanuel Butera challenged the police officers saying;

“You need to perfect your tasks as this guide book shows an active way to build positive relationship and trust with victims hence delivering better services.”

The Director for Anti GBV directorate at Rwanda National Police, Superintendent Morris Murigo noted that the directorate was put in place to make it easy for GBV victims offer best services contributing to the fight against the menace.

“You should always give immediate attention to victims and never make them wait when they turn to you for help.” Murigo said.

The booklet has been availed to district police commanders, district judicial police officers, and station judicial police officers and anti gender based violence officers.

{{The National Police has arrested two young men suspected to have stolen approximately Rwf 5 million from their boss, one named Kumar an Indian National.}}

In a Police statement, suspects identified as Theogene Hakorimana and Protais Nyandwi allegedly broke into a money safe belonging to Anil Kumar and stole Rwf 4 million and US$ 3000 and fled to Muhanga district, Southern Province.

The two suspects used part of the money worth Rwf 470,000 to purchase house hold equipments including two televisions, beds, mattresses, sofa sets, subwoofers, kitchen utensils, phones among others before fleeing.

The suspects had eluded police for two weeks by switching off their phones but were this weekend nabbed through cooperation between Nyamabuye residents and Police and are currently held at Remera Police station.

Suspect Hakorimana testifies that he was tempted to take the money in the hopes that he would get a better life.

“I had not stolen before but I was tempted so I told Nyandwi to come with me since my boss knew him as my brother and would later be used to track me.”

Kumar after recovering most of the money expressed joy. “I am very happy with Police support. I wouldn’t have recovered the company’s money.”

He said that the money belonged to Angelique International, where he works as assistant director.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege noted that the arrest was possible due to the existing cooperation between police and the public.

Badege challenged the public to work hard to improve their livelihoods rather than be drawn into seeking quick riches through crimes such as theft.

He advised the public to keep large sums of money in banks.

“People should abstain from keeping large sums of money in their houses as it is prone to theft incidences,” the Police spokesperson advised.

If found guilty the suspects could be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in jail.

{{Thirty six Rwanda National police officers yesterday successfully completed a two months basic marine training course at Rubavu district.}}

According to a Police statement, the course is in line with ensuring that crimes committed on Rwandan water such as smuggling goods from neighboring countries. It will also ensure that maritime accidents are curbed.

Officiating at the pass-out ceremony, the Commissioner for Operation, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Emmanuel Butera on behalf of the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana told police officers and residents gathered that the training base will help them increase security on Rwandan waters.

At the event, the graduates also assembled and dissembled a boat engine in less than twenty five minutes.

PC Joseph Niyongira explained that the course has improved their skills to undertake Police maritime duties.

“We are now able to swim for long distance, rescue drowning people, night navigation operations and combat illegal business on waters. We are ready to effectively show skills that we have attained.” Niyongira said.

He requested for advanced training to empower them with more skills.

Chief Superintendent Jean Baptiste Seminega, Marine Police Commanding Officer explained the birth and development of the Marine Police Unit.

“We started with difficulties such as few staff and insufficient equipment but so far we are able to conduct our operations effectively despite the fact that we are still lacking in some areas,” Seminega pointed out.

{{The government of Rwanda through Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) is set to make a study on telecommunications interconnection charges in order to ensure reduction in calling rates across different telephone networks.}}

In telecommunications, interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier’s network with equipment or facilities not belonging to that network.

The announcement was made by Beata Mukangabo, the Director of Legal Affairs in RURA during a public discussion about mobile banking and electronic transactions in an event held at Telecom House in Kigali.

The discussion targeted all mobile banking and electronic transaction providers including banks, telecom companies and regulators.

“Interconnection charges are still high and this is a big challenge because you find a person holding over one telephone I order to avoid high call charges from one network to another,” Mukangabo pointed out.

She added RURA was dedicated to reducing interconnection charges ensuring that citizens enjoy favorable calling rates across all networks.
Mukangabo also challenged telecom providers to share infrastructure like towers in order to reduce costs on taxes so that calling rates can also be reduced and become favorable to all users.

Patrick Nyirishema, Head of IT in RDB said that at least 90% of households have mobile phones. He said it was a good step taken compared to the past years.

According to the statistics presented by the Minister in the Presidents’ office in charge of ICT, Dr. Inyansi Gatare said in 2009, Rwanda had a total of 2.4 million telecom users and had since increased to 4.3 million.

Dr. Gatare recommended the statistics saying there has been a great step forward by telephone users adding that as the number increases, better services should be increased and accessible to all Rwandans as well.

He challenged mobile banking and electronic transactions providers to increase awareness of the public as their ultimate objective for the increase of services.

The minister called upon for the proper partnership between service providers to make the initiative reach its target.