Category: News

By: {{Igihe.com reporter}}

{{An activist in the UK’s conservative party Lynne Faulkner has said she has been impressed with Rwanda’s way of using foreign aid.}}

The 66 year old retired international human resource manager at CBP and Water Company says she has witnessed the benefits of the UK donations to Rwanda.

“Some African countries have been so corrupt that you cannot see what the donation has done on ground. Rwanda is pulling herself up, I am impressed,” Faulkner said in an interview at the communal work Umuganda held at a primary school in Kanombe sector where both Uganda and Rwandan Presidents participated.

Faulkner is among 100 volunteers from the conservative party that have been in the country for two weeks training Rwandans working in different sectors including; businesses, sports, education and health under project Umubano.

She said that Rwanda is a country that truly showed value for not only UK’s financial support for her development but also other donations.

“We are very much inspired by the developments in Rwanda. Human spirit is indomitable and by working together like this in Umuganda nothing can fail this nation,” She also added while commenting on Umuganda.

The National Vice chairperson of European Union of women, British section said that through Action Aid, Conservative Party volunteers have supported vulnerable groups in Gitezi near Kabuye, Gicumbi District.

They bought a milling machine that has helped different families by improving their livelihood. They now have two goats and earn some money for their home support.

According to her, UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron has a vision of creating a big society of volunteers to carry out social actions.

So far, the conservative party has sent volunteers to Rwanda under the project Umubano led by state minister for development, Andrew Mitchel.

Emma McClarkin a member of European parliament said Umuganda was a good spirit that needs to be spearheaded by the youth.

{{An association of Kenyan residents in Kigali dubbed, All Kenyans in Rwanda (AKR) has vowed to participate in this Saturday’s Umuganda Communal work, {igihe.com } has reliably learnt.
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The association was created five years ago and today it counts more than 3,000 members according to its aspiring chairman, Boniface Mutua, who says AKR didn’t do much except organizing amicable get-togethers, during which members just ate and drank without a tangible result.

He however, points out that is yet to change now. And as part of his campaign manifesto, Kenyans ought to take part in the country’s community development activities, and to start with, the team will tomorrow participate in the monthly event at Bwiza cell in Kacyiru district, opposite the national police headquarters.

Mutua urges those who are professionals to act like mentors, especially to local students who have just finished their higher learning education since there are few local companies to nurture their skills.

“On my part as an accounts professional I intend to connect some Rwandans who are practicing accounting for instance to some of the Nairobi’s renowned auditing firms and those in Rwanda for them to gain experience ,” he rvealed.

Contributing to the society is not a wish to Mutua but rather a passion, so far he has constructed a school in his village situated in Mwala district close to Machakos town, in the same community he also took part in the construction of a water well which connects more than 200 households.

He, Moreover, wants to replicate the same in Rwanda by constructing houses to orphans as well as sponsoring students who have lacked finances to continue with their education on team-work basis.

“Normally I don’t work alone. I believe in joint efforts and that’s why I managed to uplift my village which was on the verge of facing famine.

“I’m not saying all this because I want to be voted as the AKR chairman; whether in leadership or not I’ve always had a passion to assist the needy and my friends have been supportive including some of the AKR members whom I know will vote for change,” he remarked.

He emphatically says the association needs to be streamlined, in the interests of its members such as initiating income-generating projects that will create jobs for members who are jobless.

Mutua is also the Country Director of PKF an audit firm from Nairobi further pointed out that, the job opportunities will also favor Rwandans who will be recommended to Kenyan firms seeking local employment because “perfect information sharing is essential”.

In order to further improve the flow of information, AKR has linked up with the Ke­nya-Rwanda Business Association (KRBA) which was created to enhance collaboration among business­ people of the two countries.

In a previous interview with the KRBA chairman Edgar Ogao who is also a mem­ber of AKR, through joint efforts the two associations have made available information on trade op­portunities in Kenya and Rwan­da.

They also assist entrepreneurs who experience trade-related problems in either of the two countries and Ogao cites a case where Rwandan traders discovered that products they had bought in Nairobi were counterfeit whereupon, the association did not only help them to recover their money but also linked them with authorized dealers who have legitimate products.

Unlike an association where members are brought together with a common interest, AKR is rather driven by a family spirit. As a result, its executives also want to promote social activities such as a sports day which will involve as­sociation members and the public.

{{A Ugandan singer Bobi Wine commonly known as ‘Ghetto President’ is in the country to solicit funds for his wedding.
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Bobi will this evening perform at Sports View Hotel in Kigali, and according to the close pals; all proceeds from the show will go to his wedding preparations.

The Ghetto President has invited all Ugandans, all his fans to come and support him as he tries to win his long date ‘Barbara’ commonly known as Bebe.

He will be accompanied by his ‘Firebase Crew’ and also local artistes including Kamichi, Knowles, Kitty, and Uncle Austin among others. He will also have an after party with loaded guys with the aim of soliciting more contributions.

Confidants say he is set to walk down the aisle of his Bebe, in August this year and the couple already has three kids.

Igihe.com spoke to the organizer of this show, Eric Mugisha who denied the allegations that he is here to solicit funds for his wedding.

“That’s not true. What they are saying is really wrong. He will perform but not solicit contributions for the wedding” he emphasized.

Efforts to reach singer himself were futile as we were told that he is doing interviews on the local radio station.

Bobi Wine’s real name is Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, born on February 12, 1982 in Mpingi District South West of Uganda’s capital Kampala.

He joined music industry in the early 2000s and his first singles were Akagoma, Funtula and Sunda featuring Ziggy D, which brought Bobi Wine into the limelight. He was previously part of the group Fire Base Crew. Later he formed new group Ghetto Republic of Uganja.

{{Rwanda’s Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga has expressed shock about the news that one of the highly ranking genocide suspect has been given a new refugee hearing despite being turned down six times.}}

Exclusively speaking to Igihe.com, Ngoga said, “In fact I am surprised by the news that this suspect could be given the hearing for the refugee status. The Canadian Law Enforcement is aware of the accusations against him and my hope is that certain steps will be taken to prevent him from gaining the status.”

“He is the one of the notorious fugitives who among other criminal acts standards accused of killing a neighbor who refused to have sex with him. The accusations are too serious to be ignored by any standards,” Ngoga added.

Henry Jean Claude Seyoboka, 44, a resident of Gatineau, accused of shooting to death a neighbor who refused to have sex with him at a roadblock in Rwanda, will have his case re-heard by an Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), following an appeal to the Federal Court of Canada.

Officials said no date has been set for his hearing, which will take place in Toronto.

The IRB spokesman Robert Gervais said a hearing date for Seyoboka is not “in the public domain.”

Seyoboka is not on a list of 30 of the CBSA’s Most Wanted but victims want him added to bring a speedy deportation. Five of the 30 fugitives have since been arrested.

He was refused refugee status due to his links to war crimes and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda that left over 800,000 Tutsis killed by the majority Hutu extremists.

Seyoboka a relative of the former first lady of Rwanda Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana, was a former head of Rwanda’s presidential security and was the president’s personal secretary, according to court documents.

His father-in-law Colonel Elie Sagatwa was with Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana aboard a plane that was shot down on April 1994. All 12 people were killed.

He is described in the documents as a former “Second-Lieutenant” in the Rwandan army and an advocate of Hutu extremism.

Seyoboka arrived in Canada in 1996 and filed a successful refugee asylum claim, which was revoked in 1998 after it was discovered he was in the military and had participated in the massacres, court records state.

He is accused of killing a woman, who was only identified as Francine, and her two children, because she refused to have sex with him in return for protection, according to court records.

“Mr. Seyoboka was part of a group manning a roadblock where Tutsis were being killed, and that he had murdered his neighbor, Francine, allegedly because she refused to have sex with him,” the high court heard last May in Toronto.

John Rukumbura, of the Rwandese Canadian Association, said Seyoboka was among the highest-ranking Rwandans of the dozens of suspects who fled to Canada.

“This man has a lot of blood on his hands,” Rukumbura said. “He has caused a lot of pain and should be deported from Canada immediately.”

He also called on the federal and provincial governments to stop funding legal aid for suspected war criminals since it can run into millions of dollars yearly

{Additional Reporting: Toronto Sun}

{{A young Rwandan artist, Edouard Uwayo Bamporiki aged 27, says he will focus his work on ensuring that peace prevails in Rwanda using his natural gift as an artist.}}

In an exclusive interview he told {igihe.com} during the two-day unity and reconciliation lectures held at Lycée Notre-Dame de Cîteaux that: “I came to know this school last year when I was invited to give a lecture about unity and reconciliation to the youth.

“I was enticed by the students here, who showed much concern at knowing and getting involved in demonstrating the meaning of the words “peace, unity and reconciliation” to the rest of the youth.

“ I therefore decided to be visiting them annually, give such lectures and my own films, and award the best student to promote peace at the school.” Uwayo emphasized.

The event was organized by Bamporiki himself in partnership with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) which was intended to award the best student at the school in promoting peace and unity.

The artist stressed that today Rwandans should be enthusiastic to heroism, and bring back the value of Rwandans.

“Let’s inherit our parents responsibility to reconstruct our nation for a brighter future instead promoting divisionism that cause the inhuman catastrophe that ended a million innocent Rwandans”

Lise-Vivian Rurangwa 18 years old at this girls’ school finished last year andis the only girl who was awarded for her great efforts and heroism in promoting unity and reconciliation.

In appreciation of the Award Rurangwa said: “I think I am given the award on behalf of my colleagues with whom we help activities at this school last year that were symbols of great heroism.

“The activities included composing poems and plays among others practically taught peace and unity to fellow students” she said amidst claps from the audience.

She stressed that to enlighten youth on reconciliation is much easier when the message is delivered through plays and poems and other activities.
Jean Batiste Habyalimana, the NURC’s Executive Secretary present also said; “We normally do sensitization in the youth to show them where the tragedy, the country has gone through.

“Many of them do not know about its history. We want them reconstruct the nation knowing well where it has come from because the youth are the only ones that hold the destiny of Rwanda” he emphasized.

The school’s Directress, Sister Helene Nayituriki said that their role is to empower these young people with knowledge, and show them how to live and to give them moral generosity on how to live with the rest in society both within and outside the school.

Nayituriki added: “In this week I decided to work with the NURC and Edouard to give them reconciliation lectures before they set off for holidays and we have done it for two days which I think will help them even in holidays.”

She challenged the Youth in general to study from the role model people, and learns constructive ideas that will help them cite the example of the awarded former student.

Isimbi Sandrine 18 years old, Head Girl at the school said there were positive recommendations on the lectures.

“Such discussions help us to create a clear focus in our minds because sometimes as young people we think in a childish way.

I think from such discussions we shall build our nation as expected,” she told igihe.com.
Magnifique Mukundwa aged 15, in senior 3 student noted; “What I have leant from Bamporiki’s film is that our parents who could have been involved in 1994 genocide should accept their faults and pledge forgiveness.”

Bamporiki is an Awardwinning Filmmaker, actor and poet who have received national and international attention for his stories of hope, unity and reconciliation.
He wrote, directed, acted and produced “Long Coat” film and others that include “Where the truth is storm is over” and acted “Munyurangabo Film

BUGESERA: {{The Rwanda National Police has destroyed illicit drugs that were seized during an ongoing operation in the district in collaboration with community policing committees and other security organs.}}

The police crackdown was held in Ndago, Rusarabuye Sector in Burera district; on Wednesday July 27 where , 578 liters of local brew (kanyanga), 93 dozens of Chief Waragi and 6840 bottles of African Gin which are usually smuggled from neighboring Uganda were all destroyed.

Superintendent Felix Rutayisire, the District Police Commander cautioned residents; “Drinking illicit brew is the main cause of crimes in our area and you should desist from drinking these dangerous substances.”

Zaraduhaye Joseph, the Vice Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Affairs in Burera District told residents who had gathered at the scene that illicit brew is dangerous to their lives. He said that it leads to crimes such as defilement, family issues as well as other social crimes.

“I urge you to collaborate with police through sharing information so that such criminals may be arrested,” Zaraduhaye added.

Rwanda National Police continues to urge Rwandans to abstain from use of illicit breweries as it affects their health, impacts on their prosperity and causes insecurity

{{After three years, the Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga has finally broken the silence and revealed that his office has taken to court cases for prosecution on charges of embezzlement of public funds, illegal public procurements, forgery of documents that were exposed in the Auditor General’s annual report2007.}}

Addressing a press conference Wednesday at his office in Kimihurura, Ngoga revealed that about 223 people are involved in the charges but refused to disclose identities of officials accused and the institutions they represented.

When Journalists insisted on revelation of the implicated public officials, the prosecutor general said: “We are not authorized to publicise their identities before the Prime Minister-the head of government business has gone through the report” Ngoga said amidst murmurs from the scribes.

After the explanations, Ngoga said the investigations established that public officials embezzled Frw 3.2 billion while other financial irregularities including; evasion of taxes and public procurement, fines have been imposed and funds have been recovered.

He further clarified that not all the cases were criminal by nature and that some accountability documents that were not available during the external audit were later acquired by the institutions concerned and exonerated.

The prosecutor general pointed out that of the 112, twenty six of them implicating 66 public officials amounting to Frw 125.3million were investigated and taken to court while over Frw 40.7 million was recovered and returned to government coffers.

“It was either through fines on procurement irregularities or the implicated officials returned the funds in good faith”, Ngoga stressed but hastened to explain that such were cases that are not above Frw 5million related to breach of tendering procedures whereby those involved have a fine to pay as the law stipulates.

“We decided to settle these cases internally where those involved pay the taxes for instance including the fines.

“If this happens to the same official twice irrespective of the amount they are taken to court or relieved from their duties,” Ngoga emphasized.

As such, the government charged Frw 22.8 million worth of fines, and recovered Frw17.9 million from officials who voluntarily returned funds.

Out of a total of 112 cases, only 26 have been forwarded to courts, 13 were fined and resolved out of court, 4 were sent to military courts while 32 are still under investigations. It was further revealed that a whooping 37 cases lacked credible evidence for prosecution.

The allegations are the result of a year long investigation and those being charged include directors of national institutions, university heads and national researchers.

What appeared to be a big challenge on the anti-corruption crusade, however, is that besides the huge backlog cases for the 2007 annual report, the proceeding three year annual reports have exposed a whooping over Frw 25 billion unaccounted for and culprits are yet to be forwarded to judiciary.

By: Dianah Mutimura

{{The East Africa Music Awards (EMAs) nomination list has been released and the publication was presented at the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi.
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The Board of Judges drawn from eight East African Countries presented the publication in the presence of many Kenyan artistes according to a Ugandan Daily newspaper, the Red Pepper

Rwanda’s Dr. Claude is seen in the same group with, Bebe Cool from Uganda, Nhaitty from Ethiopia and Jaguar from Kenya who are nominated in the Male Artiste of the Year category.

Liza Kamikazi from Rwanda competes with Kenya’s Wahu, Lady Jay Dee from Tanzania, and Juliana Kanyomozi from Uganda who has two nominations including Female Artiste of the Year.

She is also up for the Best Collaboration awards for her ‘Haturudi Nyuma’ alongside Kidum.

The best group nominees include P-Unit from Kenya with their ‘Kare’ song, Rwanda’s Just Family with Bareke and ‘Nakudatta’ by Goodlyfe duo of Moze Radio and Weasel TV.

Keko has a nod in the most talented artiste category while soul artist Maurice Kirya is nominated in the Afro Fusion category all from Uganda.

IGIHE.com communicated with just family about how they feel to have been nominated in the East African music awards and they were over excited with the achievement.

“We are so happy to represent our country and we are calling Rwandans to support us through out and continue to love their country music ever” Just family talking on the telephone.

EMA’s have nominees from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and the new independent African state Southern Sudan.

The awards aim at rewarding the contribution of talented singers in East Africa.

The awarding ceremony is set to August 20 and will be broadcasted in over ten television channels including DSTV.

{{Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will set foot in Rwanda on Friday to start his four-day state visit and will join Rwandans in the monthly communal work (umuganda) this Saturday.}}

President Museveni will be accompanied by other Uganda government officials including the Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa.

In a statement released by the Rwanda Foreign Affairs Ministry, Minister Louise Mushikiwabo explains, “Uganda and Rwanda enjoy strong and historical ties, including shared membership in the East African Community as well as the Commonwealth; and we are constantly looking for ways the people of our two countries can continually benefit from that relationship.”

The statement also says that the visit aims at advancing the ongoing multi-sectoral cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda.

The statement also reveals that prior to the state visit, there will be a two-day Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting led by the Foreign Affairs Ministers, Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda and Sam Kutesa of Uganda.

The meeting will rotate on the existing areas of trade, customs, security, infrastructure and ICT in order to seek possible ways of enhancing its mutual understandings.

On the first day, President Museveni will meet with Kagame and both Foreign Ministers to validate the recommendations of the meeting.

President Museveni will then visit the recently established Free Trade Zone, and will meet Ugandan Community in Rwanda in a joint press conference together with President Kagame.

{{Access to credit remains a big challenge to upcoming entrepreneurs despite presentation of well-prepared business proposals to financial institutions. }}

The financial institutions continue subject loan seekers to high conditions before SMEs access the loans.

Addressing the loan access difficulties, Peter Rwema a programs manager with the Association of Micro Finance Institutions Rwanda (AMIR), encourages potential entrepreneurs to design unique business proposals since majority present pirated proposals that are some times irrelevant to the local market.

“I think they imagine that reusing a business proposal that has been recommended fit for credit before was among the trick to access loans, yet they forget they need to be innovative and that’s what we want,” he advices.

Duplicated business plans can not only be blamed to the aspiring business man but also to some service providers who liaise with the client to get already used successful plans with an aim to access credit from banks.

Rwema discourages the unprofessional habit. “They can rather train them how to write good business plans that can help them acquire loans instead of pirating business plans that are often difficult to implement,” he remarks.

Capacity building would improve the situation especially in areas of management and implementation.

Service providers are also encouraged to conduct research based on the needs of entrepreneurs. Rwema highlights that the information can also be used to advocate for funds or even influence policies that would ease lending to SME’s.

Rebson Dzala the general manager Center for Business Solutions (CBS) highlights that a good analysis would serve as a source of information to those willing to start new ventures or willing to expand their business.

Once the client acquires information about their interest, it’s always better for the service provider to guide them throughout the implementation process.

John Kagarama of Business Development Fund (BDF) that offers financial guarantee to approved projects, urges service providers to work closely with their clients. “They should offer a full package covering the business inception, designing the plan as well as monitoring the implementation process”.

For consultants who lack some expertise it’s advantageous for them to collaborate with other similar firms in order to improve the clients performance.

The collaboration is even better among consultants and financial institutions especially when they have an agreement on lending credit.

This is well reflected by BDF’s collaboration with several banks where those who have their business proposals approved by the special entrepreneur fund are given loans without necessarily presenting securities.

“A professional business plan should be bankable and that’s one of main things that make a lender comfortable,” AMIR’s program manager emphasizes.