Category: News

{{A YORK Fairtrade business based in USA is looking to expand by selling handcrafts from women in the country.}}

Amy Trumpeter one of the business owners got inspired to start the intiative of supporting local handcrafts when she visited Kigali recently after studying the 1994 genocide from a religious and historical perspective.

She joined a volunteering project organised through Global Volunteer Network with partner charity FVA (Faith Victory Assosciation) supporting women who were victims of gender-based violence.

She said: “During my time in Rwanda, I met an amazing woman called Habiba. She was pregnant during the genocide, but lost her baby because there was no access to healthcare, and she needed a midwife.”

Habiba now does beading to try to survive, yet the slow pace of tourist trade in Rwanda means she struggles to sell her work in her own country.

“I loved her beaded pens so much, and was amazed by her courage and determination, so I decided to support her,” said Amy.

Amy, who moved to York in September and lives Holgate, spent just £20 on the beads and equipment at the local market to help Habiba continue her business and promised to sell the pens back in the UK.

Amy said: “If I can sell just ten pens this month, this will pay for her children to go to school for a term, and help her to buy food and clothing.”

Habiba now sends about 30 pens a month and Amy sells crafts, including hand-woven baskets, earrings and wood carvings, for about 65 other Rwandan families through her business, Kigali Crafts.

She sells the items through York retailers including the ethical ONE Boutique, Bolsita Bags and The Gift Gallery, as well as online and at craft fairs.

Amy also holds fundraising events for the community and has joined up with fellow Fairtrade businessman Jeremy Piercy, of Shared Earth, who has set up Walk Against Crime to help give young people in Kenya a future.

Amy is helping set up a Karoake Against Crime fundraising event on October 22, and is currently looking for a DJ and caterer to help with the event.

{{The founder and the CEO of ‘IGIHE’ Ltd Meilleur Murindabigwi scooped the only award given to young entrepreneurs in Rwanda.}}

The award dubbed Celebrating Young Rwandan Achievers (CYRWA) is under patronage of Imbuto Foundation led by TheFirst Lady Jeannette Kagame.

It was initiated to encourage young Rwandans that have achieved a recognizable hardworking and succeeded in their innovations serving the society.

“I was excited receiving the award, it’s a sign of recognition for what IGIHE.com has done serving the society. It is a big honour,” Murindabigwi said.

“It is a prestigious award to see Imbuto Foundation recognizing me. It is an award given every after two years and seven entrepreneurs among hundreds and hundreds of entrepreneurs,” he added.

Murindabigwi said that the award had an impact directly on his company and his personal profile.

He said it also gave him a fresh beginning adding that it empowers him to embark on new projects in pipeline and very focused to the future to have a better destiny.

The 27 year old, scooped the award for his efforts to start an online news website IGIHE.com, the most visited local website publishing news in three languages; Kinyarwanda, English and French.

IGIHE Ltd begun its roots in 2008 when Murindabigwi started gathering others to share vision and the first article about technology was published on June 30, 2009 written by Innocent Mutabazi who is now a businessman in Mozambique.

According to Murindabigwi, IGIHE Ltd started with a bigger vision than a news website to give a broad range of IT related services.

Murindabigwi is a final year student of a business IT at the National University of Rwanda with a passion of information gathering and publishing.

Several others were also awarded on the basis of their positive and life changing actions and achievements in the past two years.

{{Rwandans living in Kampala Uganda, are mourning the death of Manasseh Haajje-Gashegu, an educationist who played a huge role in the liberation struggles both Rwanda and Uganda.}}

Gashegu, 88, a Ugandan of Rwandan origin succumbed to heart failure at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala .

Tarsis Karugarama, the Rwandan Minister for Justice said the country had lost an important person who was part of the nucleus that formed the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), a Tutsi-led rebel group that fought to liberate Rwanda in the 1990s.

“He was a committed person who devoted not only his time in the RPA struggle but also contributed ideas and financial support,” Karugarama said.

Joan Gakwenzire, President Yoweri Museveni’s senior presidential adviser on poverty, said: “During the bush war, his home became a refuge for Museveni’s supporters.”

At the time of his death, he had headed and taught in over 10 schools and institutions of higher learning in Uganda, including Mengo SS, Bishop SS Mukono, Kitunga High School, Buwalasi Teachers College and Namutumba Teacher’s College.

{{Counting five months from now, MTN a leading telecommunication company in the country is challenging developers through its application competition which will be held in 21 countries in which MTN operates.}}

This is aimed at having developers come up with applications meant to improve performance in the ever growing demand for smart-phones and tabs.

There will be five monthly winners and an overall winner, the first prize for monthly winners is a Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the second prize a Samsung Galaxy S2. While the prize for the overall winner is a trip to the Mobile World Congress next year.

Interested developers are advised to come up with creations that deal with any facet of life in Africa and the Middle East – from solving some of the regions’ most pressing challenges, to lifestyle and entertainment, or even social networking.

However, all apps must be built for the Android operating system, and be in English

MTN’s events and promotion coordinator, Alain Numa, encouraged Rwandans to take part in competition in large numbers since it might promote the country’s image of having the most developers.

His colleague Robert Rwakabogo in charge of marketing noted that majority of developers were excited with the competition since it brought their ideas together and would eventually solve some of the cell phone software challenges they’re facing.

Francine Gatarayiha who represented the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) hailed the competition adding that it would improve communication in the country adding that RDB was willing to equip Rwandans with latest telecommunication technology.

Those willing to contest will send their applications through MTN website www.mtnplay.com/appcomp or email the two alainn@mtn.co.rw, garyt@mtn.co.za.

The 21countries MTN is present include, Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Irani, Liberia, Nigeria, Afrika y’Epfo, Sudani, Swaziland, Siriya, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.

{{Igihe.com has reliably learnt that Zimbabwean police have issued an arrest warrant against Rwandan genocide suspect, Protais Mpiranya, bowing to international pressure following allegations that the country had offered sanctuary to the mass murderer.}}

The United States government has offered a reward of US$5 million to anyone who “furnishes information leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country” of Mpiranya, a former commander of presidential guard, accused of partaking in an operation to exterminate Tutsis.

Jeanbosco Siboyintore, the Acting head of Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU) told {Igihe.com}, “in the recent African Prosecutor’s meeting, we requested all African governments to help us and hunt these people and for the case of Zimbamwe; ICTR together with our government had requested to hunt for this man.”

“They had delayed and even denied the allegations saying he was not in their country but since they have started hunting for him, I think the results from the investigation will be successful ,” he pointed out.

He added that according to the 13 high profile genociders who are on the hunting list, 4 of them have been arrested.

They include Jean Uwiyindi who were in Uganda, Ildephonse Nizeyimana also caught from Uganda, Bernard Munyagishari (Congo) and also Grégoire Ndahimana (Congo).

Among others still on the hunting list of the high profile genociders include; Augustin Bizimana, who held the office of Minister of Defense in the Interim Government of 8 April 1994, Felecien Kabuga who was an influential businessman, who used his wealth to outfit the Interahamwe and other seven of them.

Zimbabwean police announced on Radio Zimbabwe last Saturday that they were searching for Mpiranya. Radio Zimbabwe is a local station that broadcasts in the vernacular Shona and Ndebele languages.

Zimbabwean Police had previously denied claims that Mpiranya was in Zimbabwe.

Chinembiri told radio listeners that Mpiranya uses several names that include James Kakule and Patrick Sambo.

The international media has also reported that the genocide suspect has other aliases including Yahaya Mohamed, Hirwa Protais Alain, Alain Protais Muhire and Mambo Mapendo Augustin.

In the radio broadcast, constable Chinembiri said any person with information on Mpiranya should immediately contact the Criminal Investigations Department, homicide section (CID-Homicide) or the nearest police station.

Three detectives identified as Maida, Muzenago and Chiremba were said to be working on the case.

Independent verifications with the Zimbabwean Police CID homicide this week proved that indeed Mpiranya was on the run.

In February last year, Belgium said the Zimbabwean government was sheltering the fugitive who was said to be operating businesses in Harare.

Some accounts alleged that the Rwandan solider stayed in Norton a few kilometres outside Harare, after arriving in the country in 2001.

Among Mpiranya’s crimes are allegations that at the start of the genocide he “tracked down, arrested, sexually assaulted and killed” Rwandan Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyi-mana.

The presidential guards, of which he was a member, are also accused of taking into custody 10 Belgian peacekeepers on United Nations duty who had been guarding her house, who were later killed.

He has been charged in absentia with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

{Additional reporting: financialgazette}

{{Gil Courtemanche a journalist in international and third-world politics, and an author of several non-fiction works, whose novel on Rwanda’s 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, was successful and translated into 23 languages, died early Friday from cancer. His publisher les Éditions du Boreal said.}}

A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali (original French title: Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali) is the first and successful novel by Montreal author Gil Courtemanche
Un dimanche à la piscine à Kigali, which recounts the Rwandan genocide of 1994 against the Tutsi, and it, was published in 2000.

The novel was translated into English as A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali in 2003 and made into the acclaimed film Un dimanche à Kigali in 2006.

Another of his books, Une belle mort, was also adapted for the screen in 2010.
He is survived by his mother, daughter, granddaughter, four sisters and one brother.

Courtemanche, who was born in 1943 and became a journalist in 1962, was recognized for his analysis of international politics for a variety of media.

These included Radio-Canada, the French-language network of the CBC; Quebec City Le Soleil; and most recently Montreal Le Devoir.

He was also one of the co-founders of the now-defunct sovereigntist newspaper Le Jour in the 1970s.

{{The Coffee cup of excellence stages two and three are slated for this 22nd to 25th of August 2011. The best coffee will be awarded on 26th August at Karongi District }}

This follows the pre-selection stage of coffee samples that was done by experienced international and national coffee cuppers between 18-22 last month.

The first stage was aimed at eliminating poor quality coffees.

Out of 189 samples that were brought to the competition, 132 samples qualified for the international jury selection.

The Coffee Cup of Excellence benefits coffee farmers, as the winning coffees are sold through an Internet auction to the highest bidder.

In 2010 the top winning coffee was awarded by The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and was then sold at $52.05 per kilo and the last at $16.09.

These coffees have a very rare and exemplary quality. They are perfectly ripe, carefully sorted and processed, with well-developed body, pleasant aroma and a lively sweetness that only extremely high quality specialty coffees contain.

Each winning coffee has its own flavor signature from the soil where it grows and has been handcrafted to enhance its unique characteristics.

The Cup of Excellence Program is owned by non-profit Alliance for Coffee Excellence INC and is dedicated to exemplary coffee and coffee farmers.

Since 1999, the Cup of Excellence programs have been hosted in Brazil, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Colombia and 2011 will be the third time in Rwanda.

The Alliance for Coffee Excellence team in collaboration with the National Agriculture Export Development Board are in charge of bringing this program and competition to the African continent for the third time.

The Rwandan coffee sector aims at recognising quality coffee from big and small farms. The competition is normally conducted in three stages.

{{Rwanda’s Judiciary has launched new electronic system called Electronic Filing System that will be used to file all cases and submitted online to the Courts of Laws.}}

The new eletronic system enables more efficiency in Information Technology projects currently being implemented in a number of pilot sites.

Electronic Records Management System Includes a Case Management Module, Digital Court Recording System, Electronic Filing System which will include other subcomponents such as electronic payment of court fees, toll free lines, Electronic Alert System using SMS and Email, Video Conferencing System and Legal Information Portal.

Charles Kariwabo the Judicial Spokesperson noted, “the new system will help citizens in submiting their cases electronically without wasting time and money coming here.

Citizens will just scan and email detailed documents of their cases to the courts and people in charge will be working immediately notifying back that person telling him that his documents have been delivered to the court.”

A Judicial IT Committee has been created to ensure that information management initiatives are fully aligned to the Judiciary’s Strategic plan.

The major task of the Committee will be to devise a holistic approach to integrate the use of technology in litigation process and harnessing the benefit of experience.

The judiciary also intends to make the courts operational all the time, reducing long process delays, making best use of time and resources, reducing long queues when filing documents and also to avoid high costs of operating due to moving long distances.

Johnson Busingye the President of the Supreme Court, remarks, “This is to enable us identify and address problems before they surface when the use of EFS is made compulsory.”

Payment can also be done online and the system will support electronic servicing of court documents, subject to what the domestic legal acts allow.

A Pilot phase has already started with; Supreme Court, Commercial Court, Gasabo High Court, and also Nyarugenge High Court.

{{Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) under the patronage of Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are sensitizing for barrier free society for people with disabilities in order to enable them reach their needs of social and economic participation.}}

Kobayashi Hiroyuki, JICA resident representative told Igihe.com, “the workshop was to share knowledge and experience about barrier free activities because most of the Rwandans with disabilities cannot find it themselves and they could not recognize their difficulties as people with disabilities.

After getting lectures, they did practical workshop themselves and moved in different areas of the hotel to recognize it themselves and then tomorrow in their houses and everywhere they are going; they will experience it.”

JICA in Rwanda is involved I different sectors including; agriculture, water and sanitation, education, energy and transportation. The workshop was under the education sector.

Prof. Yoshihiko Kawauki, a JICA expert of barrier-free a wheelchair user is experience in raising awareness towards barrier-free society in many countries.

He told igihe.com, “about 40 years ago I broke my leg and I had to use a wheelchair up to now. After today’s session I realized that physical environment in Rwanda is far behind and its very necessary for the society to change their mind set and recognize people with disabilities in whatever they do like during construction process, they should put in mind that even people with disabilities will use the same building.” “We have been also lecturing them on how to overcome such challenges,” he added.

Zinda Victor, Vice Chair of people with disabilities in Niboye sector, Kicukiro district and a student at KIE has a family of three children and a wife. He attended the workshop to give a presentation.

Zinda pointed out that, “I started a cleaning company and will also be dealing with furniture workshop. Sometimes we get challenges and find with no people to push us while on our wheelchairs, or even claim for money and sometimes getting into the toilets is also a problem.”

He added, “The major problem is entering into the staled buildings, and also roads in our residential areas are not well formulated for our wheelchairs.”

He also said that the message received from the workshop will help them to advocate and also to transform their lives.

{{Police in Gisagara district is holding a man of gaharanyonga village suspected to have murdred three family members.}}

Felix Nzabalinda is in Police custody over the murder of Emmanuel Murekezi 39, J. Bosco Sinzabakwira 20 (an in law to Murekezi) and Vianney Gashongore 43, while three other suspects are still at large.

Its alleged that after entering a bar, four armed men opened fire right away that killed three people, other six escaped through the window uninjured.

According to the eye witness, the assailants fled without looting anything.

The eye witness further told police, that he recognized some two attackers as Peter Minani and Nkuriragenda, Burundian citizens who believed to have fled to Burundi immediately.

He added that, Minani had earlier called Murekezi asking him to pay money he owned him, the eye witness says, this is suspected to have been the cause of the murder.

According to information posted onto the National Police website, it is claimed that Peter Minani, the principal assailant was a business partner of Murekezi Emmanuel and they were involved in fraudulent sale of items from Burundi.

After arriving at the scene of crime, the Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana, Governor of Southern Province and the area RDF division commander, calmed and assured residents of ultimate security and promised to fetch the criminals to justice.

IGP Gasana secured residents, saying the Rwanda police is working hand in hand with Burundian counterparts to track down and take into custody the criminals that seem to have fled to Burundi.

Gasana said, “ You should enlarge local night patrols and for all time provide well-timed information to avert such criminal acts.”