Category: News

{{In a continuous campaign to ‘Keep Kigali Clean’ the problem of lack of public toilets in the city requires immediate attention if the city of Kigali is to retain its position as the cleanest city in Africa.}}

City places especially around CHK and the route towards Camp Kigali Primary school have become stinky for many pedestrians urinate along this path every day.

Busy places including; Remera, Giporoso, Nyamirambo ,gatsata ,gikondo ,kimironko and kacyiru lack public toilets and this has contributed to emergence of stinking spots that contrast the clean image of the city.

The fast growing city of Kigali requires improved sanitation facilities especially public toilets. However such public toilets are rare to find around the city and the ones available are not known to people and very far from where people have their routine businesses.

The busy city business center Mateus also lacks public toilets. {Igihe.com} talked to the business people at Quartier Mateus who said they quickly need the problem to be fixed because this is a highly congested center.

Uwase Jane, a wholesaler of home equipment said that it takes them long time to get to public toilets. “I always leave home after I have used the bathroom. It saves me time and money while using the city public toilets located as far as the main roundabout,”explains Uwase.

Mama Jackie adds that she bought a bucket that she uses whenever she wants to ease herself. “I bought the bucket because I knew I couldn’t make it to Rubangura’s house and other public toilets not near,” she laments.

There are several city dwellers that use private buckets to ease themselves.
Although they didn’t reveal where they empty their waste, a respondent who preferred anonymity told this reporter that at the end of the day such contents normally mixed with water and detergents are emptied into the streets drainage system.

Mugabo Jean, a wholesaler of plastic shoes said like many others says he uses restaurant toilets especially during lunch period, “Whenever I go for my lunch I make sure that I come back when I have finished easing so that I don’t take long distance searching where to ease from”.

“The major Public toilets are mostly found at UTC complex, Rubangura house and opposite the roundabout in Kigali city costing 100Frw per user. Toilets are fewer than the high demand from city dwellers,” explains Mukahirwa Chantal a caretaker at UTC public toilets.

Mukahirwa says, “We always receive many people. In most cases some have to wait in a long queue because of lack of enough public toilets”.

The Gasabo district Mayor Ndizeye Willy acknowledged the public toilets problem saying that toilets are few. However, the mayor says building of public toilets is among the district goals they have to achieve.

“We don’t have enough toilets. We have already built public toilets at Gisozi. Construction is also underway at Kicukiro and Kinamba. Plans are also underway to construct public toilets at Nyakyonga and Gatsata such that by next year the city shall have enough public toilets,” says mayor Ndizeye.

{{Rwanda is the only country in the east African region where road traffic discipline is highly observed. Wearing helmets while riding on motocycles, fastening seat belts and other road user cautions have become part of Rwandan culture.}}

However, there have been complaints about the un hygienic sharing of a single helmet by many passengers that ride on moto taxis. This has resulted into an innovative gear known as ‘{{Smart Cover Head}}’.

The ‘smart cover head’ is made from artificial tissue that can be disposed of without any hazzadous effects to the environment.

The ‘smart cover head’ is fitted onto the head, on top of which the passenger wears a helmet. The ‘smart cover head’ is used by one person.

the Moto taxi operator is responsible for providing the ‘smart cover head’ to every passenger they carry.

{{The teaching partnership and student internship exchange program between Carleton University located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario and the School of Journalism and Communication of the National University of Rwanda has been suspended.}}

Professor Allan Thompson, a journalist that helped run the project since its inception in 2006, declared in a statement Thursday that the school has closed down a house where students lived on the exchange.

Thompson in a letter to current and past participants in the initiative noted, “It is with a great deal of sadness that I confirm that the Rwanda Initiative has formally suspended its activities.

“We have closed down our house in Kigali and paid severance to our local staff members.”

He added that the project cost $240,000 a year to run and would not continue until a new source of funds and new housing arrangements are found.

The school had exhausted spare funds after its partnership agreement with the U.S. Government expired in May.

The school will also stop sending visiting lecturers to the National University of Rwanda or Great Lakes Media Centre.

The Rwanda project had served as a chance for journalism students to take a two-month internship with a media organization by both Rwandans and the students from Carleton University.

The professor also outlined in the letter that the University of Rwanda refused to keep paying rent on the project house located in Kimihurura sector, Kigali city, and that “the school therefore had to vacate the house by the end of August and let our staff go”.

Thompson added the initiative continues to seek new funding opportunities.

{{The Mayor of Gicumbi District Bonane Nyangezi has said that 52% of 300, 071 residents in Gicumbi District, Northern Province have now access to clean and safe water.}}

The Mayor was speaking in an interview shortly after addressing residents on an occasion to officially open water points in Bwisigye sector, Gicumbi District and neighbouring sectors.

Six water points providing clean and safe water were built on donation of L’APPEL France’s arm in Rwanda in conjunction with {Eglise Presbyteriene au Rwanda} (EPR).

“Our target to have all residents get access to clean and safe water is within five years,” Nyangezi said.

Nyangezi also said there were a number of upcoming projects to make access to clean and safe water a reality and other approaches of gathering rain water for storage to be used in future.

Despite the hilly terrain there is still luck that there is a natural stream that provides water to the District and some residents still have to walk from 1 to 3 Kilometers to get access to clean and safe water.

Elisée Musemakweli the president of EPR said that the church has been involved with many developmental projects including getting access to clean and safe water across the country.

Musemakweli said that EPR church in Rwanda had previously completed similar water projects in Shyorongi and Karongi among other upcountry areas.

Rwanda is ambitious to reach the Millennium Development Goal target of providing 85% of its population with potable water by 2015.

It is estimated that current water coverage in Rwanda is at 75% up from about 55% in 2005.

{{Global facts on water}}

According to The Water Project.org globally 70% of water sources is for agriculture and irrigation, and only 10% on domestic uses.

The Water Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization bringing relief to communities around the world who suffer needlessly from a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation.

And 84% of the people who don’t have access to improved water, live in rural areas, where they live principally through subsistence agriculture.

Less than one in three people in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to a proper toilet.

Over half of the developing world’s primary schools do not have access to water and sanitation facilities. Without toilets, girls typically drop out of school at puberty.

While 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases. Girls under the age of 15 are twice as likely as boys their age to be the family member responsible for fetching water.

Almost two-thirds, 64% of households rely on women to get the family’s water when there is no water source in the home.

In developing countries, as much of 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions.

Nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to a water-related disease.

By investing in clean water alone, young children around the world can gain more than 413 million days of health!

Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a water-related disease.

Nearly a billion, 884 million people do not have access to clean and safe water. 37% of those people live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The average container for water collection in Africa, the jerry can weighs over 40 lbs when full.

The United Nations estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa alone loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water; that’s the same as a whole year’s worth of labor by the entire workforce in France!

Research has shown that for every 10% increase in women’s literacy, a country’s whole economy can grow by up to 0.3%.

According to the World Health Organization, for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $3 and $34!

1 in 8 people world wide do not have access to safe and clean drinking water

{{Synergy International Rwanda (SIR) Ltd, a new industry and a vocational training institute is set to ensure and promote quality technical skills in order to equip Rwandans with entrepreneurial knowledge.}}

Speaking to {igihe.com}, Esther Nduta Chege, a social entrepreneur and Managing Director, SIR Ltd, observed, “Many Rwandans don’t believe in themselves and fear taking risks in doing business yet fearing risks has negative impact on ones life.”

SIR Ltd, consists of both textiles industry and a vocational training institute.

“We looked at the needs of Rwanda society and seek to bridge the illiteracy gap and decided to import the trainer to train local people and equip them with market skills, especially in fashion design, equip them with business skills, entrepreneur skills, and teach them business English that can help them communicating well with clients,” Chege added.

She added that the institution is aiming at mentoring entrepreneurs,”as Africans there is unemployment challenge especially among the youth.”

“There are some of the students that will be retained in my textile industry, and the rest we are looking for other possible means to help them start small businesses because most of them are financially crippled,” the director noted.

The institution is now training fashion and design, entrepreneurship skills, business English and computer skills.

It is also intending to expand to other areas of training like in carpentry, leather work, plumbing, wielding.

According to the director, there are some challenges met. “I get many people to teach but most of them can’t afford school fees due to financial problems and sometimes I even dig from my pocket to pay their tutor,” she said.

Esther Nduta Chege holds 2nd upper class degree in Psychology from Kenyatta University. She has worked with Martin Luther for Africa Foundation as Program Manager. She is also working with an NGO called Amani Africa Rwanda, and a social entrepreneur who owns a textile industry.

Saloma Wamachii Ngabi, a professional in clothing, textile and fashion design and also a trainer to the institution pointed out: “I give them hand skills which they can use any time in their life.

“With such skills they can do some temporally jobs and earn a living or start up a small related business which can earn them some good money.”

According to the her if someone starts a small retail business with the starting capital worth Rwf350.000, that person can be in position of earning up to Rwf1M per months.

She also says there are challenges she meets while training her students, “The challenge is getting them to the required standard because most of them never went to school and for them to understand what I teach them is somehow difficult.”

Samson Nzabihimana 40, from Remera sector, Nyabisindu cell has a family of three children and is a trainee, “It’s really interesting to study this course because we are heading to the modern world where skills attained from here are not only meant for survival but also can be turned into a life business.

“The only challenge I find is mixing studies with my family which is quite costly but since it is for the future benefit, I have to be patient and finish my course,” Nzabihimana added.

Angelique Musabyemariya 24, a mother of one child from Masoro in Gasabo district is also a student at this instititution.

She says,“We have been learning how to do tailoring for 6 months now but it is helpful to us because we are considering it as our future life business and after studying I will do tailoring together with my school mates since we have come into a cooperative and we are empowered to start up business after the course.

“We normally find the major problem of paying school fees due to lack of finance but since we are committed and know what we are doing, we shall then do it and succeed if God helps us,” Musabyemariya pointed out.

{ {{“I regret to inform you that the university is closed with immediate effect. Handover university property in your custody,” the Makerere University Council chairman Dr.Charles Wana Etyem has announced.}} }

The Makerere University which is Uganda’s main government institution that accommodates over 600 Rwandans pursuing both Bachelors and Masters degree has been closed indefinitely following a lecturers’ and students’ strike for week ago.

This has followed the misunderstandings that failed to reach a clear resolution during the meeting by the management and lecturers today, a source at the scene told igihe.com

“During the assembly, lecturers failed to reach a resolution because some were accepting to teach as others denied saying that the management should rectify the situation first,” a source said

The decision was therefore taken that the University closes as lecturers sort out themselves on the issue and the petition was this afternoon taken to the Ugandan Parliament and presented to the Speaker.

Since the semester started, the students have not been receiving lectures following the sit-down strike of their lectures and now students are accusing the University management of denying them the right to education.

Exclusively speaking to Ann Kariza, a Rwandan and a Minister at the School of Economics and Management Makerere University and also an Auditor General of the Makerere University Banyarwanda Students Association (MUBSA) noted, “We fear to go to the campus because when we reach, other students wants us to get involved into the strike and so we have to stay at our hostels. Other Ministers have been calling me saying that we have to go on strike tomorrow and fight for our rights to education,” she said

She added that though the decision has been taken to close the university, students have been tempted to go on strike tomorrow.

The lecturers snubbed appeals from the University management and Council to return to duty prompting the Council chairman Dr. Charles Wana Etyem to announce the closure of the University.

Students were then expected to vacate the premises in the next six hours. “We are going to escort all students out of the University premises. International students will receive their transport refund back home,” Wana said.

“In the meantime, international students, the disabled and those from the College of Health Sciences who were initially studying will be housed in one hall at the University campus.”

The staff is demanding for the swift release of their sh16.7b pension funds from the national insurance corporation (NIC) on top of a salary increment of sh8m for the lowest paid members of the academic staff.

The sh16.7b accumulated between July 1996 and 2005, when the company operated a deposit administration plan (DAP) for the university’s pension scheme.

A recent report by the Auditor General indicates that NIC owes Makerere sh26.9b, twice higher than both the corporation and the university were earlier quoting. However, the lectures and other staff were angered by NIC’s continued claim that it had a balance of only shs3.7b.

Besides, the staff also wants the University Council to stop contributing the 40% to their wage bill.

By press time, efforts to reach Rwandan Mission in Uganda about affected Rwandan students at the university were futile as nobody answered the Phone at the Rwandan High Commission in Kampala.

{{Rwanda’s Chief Justice Aloysie Cyanzaire has advised judges not to be discouraged by negative criticisms aganist the country’s justice system, saying the judiciary now has more experienced professionals unlike in the past one decade.}}

Cyanzaire was speaking at a press briefing aimed at highlighting activities of the yearlong judiciary campaign that showcased achievements relevant to the institution.

She pointed out that there are indeed tangible achievements despite some challenges that can be dealt with in collaboration with stakeholders.

“We have a backlog of cases. In the past seven years they’ve risen from 6,500 to 25,000 cases annually. Very soon we want to find how to cooperate with our partners in addressing the issue.”

“Currently the Abunzi (community judges) for instance would be of much help in settling cases at the grass-root level,” she emphasized.

She revealed that during the judicial week, the public will be sensitized on their rights since lack of the know how has blindly led some into corrupt activities.

“Understanding the law is very essential, a good example is the pre-trial detention period for suspects which can go for a long period as prosecutors gather evidence, but for those who don’t understand the procedural rules start complaining of injustice,” she remarked.

The Chief Justice said the judiciary has recorded progress since the 2004 reforms and now it has competent staff including 281 professional judges compared to 74 in past seven years and that the court rooms have been equipped with relevant infrastructure which facilitate the use of ICT.

The use of ICT according to her has smoothened the process of court rulings, especially in accessing files which would take days to be delivered to the judge but now the latter can access files through their computer.

Meanwhile, the judiciary is still constructing modern courtrooms of which out of 82 proposed rooms 26 have been completed while 28 have been renovated.

{{The new system of wearing helmets fitted with the new gargets called ‘smart cover head’ for hygiene has kick started. being used by the passengers who normally use Moto-taxis as means of transport. One cover will be used by one passenger and then be disposed off.}}

However most of the motor-taxi operators have not welcomed the move saying it’s costly and that it will lead to hazardous waste.

Jonas Bikorimana who operates in the zone of Remera noted, “They told us that it is good for health but according to me there was no proper study before they introduced the system because we are not allowed to carry any bag with us. How shall we keep them and how will they be disposed?

“ It’s the government program and we can’t work against it but as they introduced the system they should quickly introduce other means on how to keep them and how to dispose them off after the usage,” He added.

One motorist only known as Kofi who parks at the Gishushu, Nyarutarama road junction pointed out that: “The system is not clear though they are saying its health. How can you introduce them and fail to introduce bins where the used covers are to be thrown.

“The people in charge should work upon it very fast otherwise it is going to cause much waste since they will be littered everywhere.” He noted.

One passenger who was found by our reporter throwing the garget on the road side noted: “I can’t keep it in my bag and I have nowhere to dispose it, so I had to throw it here.”

A pact of these gargets is now costing Frw 1,250 and contains 25 covers.The Moto-taxi men decry the cost saying that the price is high as compared to the transport fares depending on the distance. They say they will increase the transport to cover the cost of these gargets.

One Habumukiza working in the zone of Nyabugogo said,“We have nothing to do other than increasing on the transport fares. Now I have a Velo moteur (Mini motorcycle) and if I take a passenger at Frw 150 and I deduct either frw 50 or 100 for the garget, then what will I earn?

“That means that we shall be working in losses.” He lamented.
When contacted Dieudonne Nteziyaremye, the president of FERWACOTAM (Rwanda Federation of Taxi Moto cooperatives) said that the association has sent a letter to the RURA asking them to get involved efforts to increase on the transport costs because of the issue.

He also talked on the issue disposing these covers saying that they are working upon bringing recycling bins where the used gargets can be recycled.

The Managing Director of East African Cleanliness and Health Company, Anastase Balinda said that his company has so far shipped in four containers containing 1, 400, 000 gargets each from China.

They are now available at some taxi-Moto points around Kigali city and will be soon distributed country wide.

Nyamirambo taxi drivers are unhappy with the most recent humps on the roads connecting the city center to Nyamirambo and Kimihurura sector because they allegedly “smash up their cars”.

Theogene Ndagijimana a cyclist told {Igihe.com}, “We are not at all contented with the latest humps along the Nyamirambo road because they are damaging our motorcycles”.

He observed that the humps are too high above the ground to the extent passengers on motor taxis are tossed off when motorcycles hit at the humps.

Ndagijimana appealed to media to raise the issue to the traffic police and relevant public officials to address the inconveniencies.

Soudi Nzabonimana, a taxi driver says the humps damage the car exhaust pipes and other equipment fitted under the car.

However, according to Eugenie kamanzi, the humps are not bad as such. It depends on the speed at which the vehicles move.” Most motor riders are careless and do not respect the traffic rules and regulations, especially when they are competing for passengers,” she said adding that the traffic police should be so strict on the errant drivers.

A good number of the risky humps according to drivers, are those of Rwezamenyo Sector, Rwezamenyo cell normally known as ( kuri 40) and Gitega, St Andre and Tapis Rouge, not only Nyarugenge even in Kimihurura people also point at them.

They also identified humps in kimisagara near Restoration Church, BNR and other few places are well built. According to some travelers, they compare Europe’s humps with Rwanda where other places humps are made of plastic materials.

In an interview with {Igihe.com}, Emmanuel Nyandwi in Charge of a construction agency of Kigali City says, they use a construction plan which provides for a 3-meters distance across.

He added that, the old humps will soon be replaced with new measurements as required by new City road standards. On humps that allegedly damage cars, they will be crosschecked, if the allegations are valid the humps will be adjusted accordingly.

However, he warned that any negligent motorists and drivers, the traffic police in collaboration with the relevant public institutions will impose harsher fines and punishments to avoid the risks.

{{Amidst the ongoing scarcity of food in the region, Kirehe district will be less affected due to its recently constructed five grain-bulking centers that will not only improve food security but also facilitate trade towards farmers.}}

The construction of the storage centers was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and it will be managed privately by Enterprise Nkubili Alfred and Sons (ENAS).

Officiating at the launching ceremony, the minister of trade and industry (MINICOM) François Kanimba noted that the granaries would also improve production among farmers leading to better sales.

“This facility is for the farmers, and ENAS will find a market for them. Kirehe has set an example from which other districts will emulate. I promise that this will be replicated in other parts of the country,” the minister remarked.

The stores are equipped with modern drying, cleaning, weighing and storage facilities, which will help increase the quality of the harvest, and to maintain it for longer periods of time. This in turn will help producers with surpluses compete in domestic and regional markets.

It will also allow smallholder farmers to sell when prices are highest, not just at harvest time when prices are lowest given its capacity of 8,000 metric tons, aimed to benefit 18,000 mostly maize smallholder farmers in the area.

The granaries will change the farmers poor marketing strategy whereby they’ve historically been forced to sell quickly after the harvest, as the general lack of adequate storage facilities regularly resulted in the loss of more than 40% of their crop after harvest to pests, mold and other causes if stored more than a week or two.