Category: News

{{The Burundi Ombudsman has told {Igihe.com} that his team is in Rwanda to familiarize themselves with Rwanda’s success story in the fight against corruption. }}

In November 2010 the world bank recognised Rwanda government’s commitment to business reforms and the zero-tolerance approach to corruption making Rwanda a better place to do business each day.

In the same year, Rwanda was ranked sixth less corrupt country in Africa and 66th globally in the Transparency International’s global Corruption Perceptions Index 2010.

Globally, the other East African Community states – Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi are ranked as 116th, 127th, 154th and 170th, respectively.

The Corruption Perception Index helps to highlight the propensity of domestic corruption and its damaging influence.

Exclusively speaking to {Igihe.com}, Donavine Niyongabire, the Cabinet Chief in the Burundi’s office of the Ombudsman said that Burundis anticipated target is Zero tolerance to corruption. This follows a pleadge by President Pierre Nkurunziza during recent presidential campaigns.

“In the previous presidential elections, our president talked about corruption saying it’s a major issue he will address during the next five years of his term”.

She explained that Burundi government will deal with corruption using the possible measures like other countries have used in sighting a good example of Rwanda.

The Corruption Perception index previously confined to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, expanded to include Rwanda and Burundi in 2010.

According to the 2010 East African Bribery Index Burundi is on the top position with a corruption prevalence of 36.7%.

Uganda comes second with a corruption prevalence of 33%, while Kenya takes the third position after registering an improvement, by moving from a prevalence rate of 45% in 2009 to 31.9% this year.

Tanzania is fourth with a prevalence of 28.6% while Rwanda is the least corrupt country in the region with a corruption prevalence of 6.6%.

The East African Bribery Index is a governance tool developed to measure bribery levels in the private and public sectors in the region.

The survey was conducted among thousands of respondents selected through random household sampling across all the administrative provinces in the five countries between January and March 2010.

{{ {Banana plantation harvest in Rwanda is still very low yet the crop occupies the biggest arable land, the Minister of Agriculture Agnes Karibata has revealed.
} }}

“We face a challenge of productivity. The Banana plant occupies the biggest land area in Rwanda but many of these banana trees bear nothing- output per acre is very low,” She stressed.

The minister, however, pointed out that the problem of low productivity is not unique to Rwanda but prevalent to most tropical African countries and the constraints causing low productivity can only be solve through effective collaboration between the countries in the region.

She further emphasised that although banana plantations still serve a fundamental role in combating soil erosion, they still need to bear fruitful productivity.

In an international conference that bought together delegates from Burundi, Tanzania and DR Congo at Mubano Hotel over the weekend, participants, highlighted Bacterial wilt as an issue which the regional and local agriculturists should carry out adequate prevention measures.

Jean Pierre Busogora technical assistant in the Integrated Post Management (IPM) project funded under the Belgian BTC on his part, said farmers have complete lack of knowledge of the constraints such as tilt bacterial control, pest and other crop diseases that is killing their crop

He observed that Banana is a big crop, a major source of food for the population as well as a raw material for the brewery industry in Rwanda. “That is why we are trying to come up with the right measures for its improved production” he emphasised.

The three day conference recommended for introduction of improved banana genotypes, suitable implementation of integrated banana production methods, diversity of banana pests and diseases and promotion of appropriate methods and benefits of banana research for the farming community among many others.

{The staff of Rwandan office of the ombudsman led by Dr.Tito Rutaremara have this morning led the newly elected Burundian Chief Ombudsman, Mohamed Rukara and other four delegates to Kigali Memorial site, Gisozi to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi.}

Speaking to {Igihe.com} shortly after the visit, the Director of Cabinet, office of the ombudsman of Burundi, Donavine Niyongabire said: “Actually we know all that happened to Rwanda since it’s our immediate neighbour but it’s really sad about the history and we don’t wish any other nation across the world to experience what happened in Rwanda. We can say; never again to Rwandan genocide.”

The delegation is in Rwanda for a three-day study tour aimed at obtaining better information on dealing with injustices and ensuring sustainable development back in Burundi.

“Since the Rwanda’s office of the Ombudsman is older and has better experience in dealing with injustices, we want to learn from them and do better when we return back home,” Niyongabire said.

The group will also pay a call courtesy to MINALOC, Rwandan Chambers of Deputies and Senators, Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD) and officials in the Rwandan office of the Ombudsman.

The visit will end with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen ties between the two institutions in order to ensure justice and promote development in the two countries.

{{The First Lady of Rwanda Mrs. Jeannette Kagame has visited the St. Mary’s Namagunga Girls school accompanied by her host, the First Lady of Uganda, Mrs. Janet Museveni}}.

Mrs. Kagame is on a 3-day private visit to Uganda.

Namagunga Girls, established in 1942, is known for its stellar academic performance and is one of the best girls’ schools in Uganda.

While at the school, the Ladies took a tour of the school, each planted a tree and later spoke to over 700 secondary school girls.

The day ended with a lively interactive session between the girls and the First Ladies, where the girls heard inspiring words, in response to their questions that ranged from gender to music.

In her message, Mrs. Kagame encouraged the girls to have a clear vision and know where they want to go.

She also cautioned them that HIV/AIDS has no face, anyone can transmit it; she advised them not to diagnose it with a naked eye and always protect themselves.

She reminded the girls to be confident and dignified; to hold on to strong values and make the most of the education they are receiving.

She concluded by saying, “You are what you have been waiting for, your generation holds the promise of so many bright futures, if only you will open your minds to the possibilities and let your light shine.”

Mrs. Museveni, whose daughters attended Namagunga Girls, noted how delighted she was whenever an opportunity arose for her to speak to young girls especially about HIV/AIDS.

She advised the girls to be part of the youth that contributes to an HIV free generation. She thanked Mrs. Kagame for coming to Uganda and for creating an opportunity to visit Namagunga school.

The First Ladies also toured the Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara district the day before. The centre promotes regional understanding through cultural exchange.

The centre consists of a cultural village and a museum that showcases the rich culture of Western Uganda.

These activities were part of Mrs. Kagame’s 3-day private visit to Uganda. The First Ladies were accompanied by Ugandan Minister in the Office of the President, Mrs. Kabakumba Matsiko and Rwandan Minister of Gender Mrs. Aloisea Inyumba.

{{Rwanda is yet again going green by strengthening reliance on renewable energy resources by establishing a third Rusizi power plant. The power plant will have capacity of 145 mega watts that will contribute towards the goal of supplying electricity to fifty percent of all the homes countrywide by 2017.}}

In a joint collaboration of countries under the CEPGL and the European investment bank, a convention was held at Serena hotel for the implementation of a treaty for the management of the Kivu lake and river Rusizi basin which will be setting up a framework for the cooperation allowing them to initiate The Rusizi 3 hydro electric power project.

“Our country has embarked on a steadfast development road and it can only be sustained by availability and affordability of power” says Minister of natural resources, Stanislas Kamanzi “ at this stage the rate of accessibility is very low , our ambition is actually to increase so by 2017 we can increase the accessibility to 50 percent from 10 percent presently.”

Rwanda which is currently producing 80 MW is aiming to be producing 1000 MW by 2017.The region around lake kivu is a very densely populated region desperately in need of electricity. This area comprises of eastern DRC, Burundi and Rwanda.

Apart from the hydro power project,there are other projects under way that will help in preserving the environment and biodiversity around the lake as well as promoting agriculture and fishing among others.

The project is estimated to cost US$785,000. The European union has shown substantial interest in funding this project but mobilisation of funds is still under process.The minister adds on.

The Minister of environment and natural resources in DR Congo Jose Endundo, observed that despite the fact that implementation of similar projects had failed in the past, there was no need to be pessimistic and he encouraged political determination as well as proper cooperation between countries in the CEPGL for successful completion of the project.

Rwanda government has taken a big commitment in bridging the energy gap by turning to alternative energy sources. Most of the population relies on wood as an energy source and represents around 93 % of energy consumption nationwide.

With the prevailing rate of exploitation, wood resources will completely be exhausted by 2015. This will not only upset ecological balance but also economic stability including environmental pollution.

With the setting up of the hydro power plant, Rwanda strengthens its mission to sustainable development.

{{The Netherlands has for the first time tried and sentenced to life in prison Joseph Mpambara for the crimes of genocide committed in Rwanda in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.}}

Mpambara is the first Rwandan to be tried in the Netherlands for genocide crime and other crimes against humanity which were perpetrated against Tutsi and claimed over a Million lives within a short period of a hundred days.

The Hague court in March 2009 found Joseph Mpambara guilty of ordering the murder of several Tutsi refugees. He was convicted to 20years in prison but he appealed aganist the verdict.

Mpambara was also found guilty of torturing a German doctor, his Tutsi wife and their two months old son by threatening and detaining them at a roadblock on the bridge over the Kiboga River as they tried to flee the country.

Mpambara was also charged with killing dozens of Tutsis who fled to the church complex of the Seventh-Day Adventists in Mugonero, as well as the rape of four women.

But the judges said they found inconsistencies in the testimonies of five key witnesses linking Mpambara to the massacre.

This ruling was confirmed by the head of the Genocide fugitive tracking unit Jean-Bosco Siboyintore who welcomed the decision.

Siboyintore told journalists that the Rwandan prosecution had carried out investigations in Mugonero and gathered compelling evidence against Mpambara. Later he was indicted by the genocide fugitive tracking unit.

Siboyintore said they expected the convicting verdict against the accused for he had even been previously sentenced to 20 years in prison by the first instance court in Netherlands.

The decision at the time was appealed and court officials recorded implicating statements from 30 new witnesses.

{Source; ORINFOR}

By:Randa Rugangazi

{{The Republic of South Sudan is set to become the 55th African nation as of July 9 following the southern Sudanese referendum elections that enabled them secede from Khartoum government in January 2011.}}

In 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between Southern Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Khartoumgovernment. Five years later, the North failed to convince the South not to secede.

The vote for secession was the result of years of oppression and neglect from the Khartoum government. Years of conflict between the two regions has led to the loss of life of an estimated 2 million people during the over 20 year’s armed conflict.

South Sudan expressed interests in joining the East African Community. However, representatives of the East African regional bloc have only made statements that the EAC will consider South Sudan’s application after it is a sovereign state.

South Sudan has gone as far as declaring English, the commonly used language across East Africa, as its official language.

Kenyan and Rwandan heads of states earlier this year both invited South Sudan to join the East African Community.

It is reported that 98 percent of South Sudan’s government budget is from oil revenue. Most of the South Sudan’s oil production goes through pipelines to the north to Port Sudan.

The Khartoum government is set to charge the south hefty prices for oil transfer through their pipelines.

There is a proposed oil pipeline from South Sudan to Kenya that seems like an unlikely project in the near future. Nevertheless, if the project were to see the light of day, it would alleviate the high prices countries within the region pay for imported oil, Rwanda included.

However, the south Sudanese current government seems steadfast and committed to the project. Reuters reported of Toyota Kenya being contracted by the southern government to research the possibility of an oil pipeline to the Kenyan port of Lamu.

The pipelines would be part of a regional corridor between the two countries that would also have railway, roads, and fibre optics.

Arkangelo Okwang, South Sudan’s director general of energy, said the corridor would cost $1.5billion and would cover 1,400km.

In addition to its oil wealth, South Sudan is reported to possess untapped gold, copper and iron ore. The new country possesses fertile lands, which for the most part wait to be exploited.

Majority of the South Sudanese population are nomadic cattle herders. Much like in Rwanda, cattle in South Sudanese culture are a status symbol used to measure wealth.

Traders from neighbouring Uganda and Kenya have shown lots of interest in South Sudan. The new market in South Sudan is attractive for EAC businesses. So far, the biggest companies operating in the newly formed republic are from Uganda and Kenya.

Before any major economic developments can be made, the Juba government has a lot of work to do as far as building the necessary infrastructure from scratch. Most importantly for a resource-rich state, South Sudan will have to build efficient state institutions.

This will guarantee that the country’s natural resource revenue is reinvested in the infrastructure.

{{The recently beaten journalist Jean Gualbert Burasa who is also the chief editor of Rushyashya newspaper has denounced rumors that he is being used by the ruling party (RPF) or the government to discredit his assaulter Paul Ruhamyambuga the landlord of City-Plaza building.}}

Burasa gave the remarks in a press conference amidst members of the Forum of Private Papers (FPN), he further stressed that he is an independent and professional journalist therefore there’s no way he could have been involved in politics.

The journalist alleges that one of the sympathizers to Kayumba Nyamwasa and Patrick Karegeya that fled the country assaulted him. Burasa also rejects allegations that he reported the matter to police in favor of the government.

In our earlier story of the assault, Burasa claimed that he was attacked by Ruhamyambuga friends in a bar, it is still unclear whether the arguments were under the influence of alcohol or it was planned. So far he has filed a complaint to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Media High Council MHC.

Reacting on the matter, Patrice Mulama the MHC executive secretary council noted that investigations were still underway. He further condemned attacks towards journalists especially those who are on duty.

{{RDB’s environmental specialists at Nyungwe National Park are in fear of environmental and natural resource destruction with in the park that may be a result from the ongoing process of a 32km road rehabilitation from Pindura, a junction at the main road within the park connecting to Bweyeye Sector at the Burundi boarder. It is meant to be widened up to 7 meters.}}

The road construction had been put to halt for almost two years due to misunderstandings between road contactors under the supervision by MININFRA and the park’s management authority that is under Rwanda Development Board.

Speaking to igihe.com at Bweyeye Sector, Patrice Nzamuye who is in charge of Nyungwe NP protection and Law Enforcement Warden noted; “As you can see yourself, there will be a lot of negative consequences affecting natural resources. For example the falling debris and degradation will contaminate the river tributaries; there will be cutting down of trees, querying murram within the park among others which is really against the law of conserving environment.”

He says that he is not opposing the road rehabilitation that will be helpful to many people living in the area. Instead there should be a clear study and also collaboration between the two parties so that the eco-system in the park is not much affected.

It’s the only biggest natural forest that has high mountains in the whole of Africa and thus careful construction and study on the project’s impact onto the park ecosystem be made.

“The Ministry of Infrastructure should cooperate with environmentalists and formulate possible ways of rehabilitating this road as expected. We even direct them to other areas outside the park where murram can be got in case they approach us,” Nzamuye said.

Fidele Ruziganderwe who does Monitoring and Evaluation at the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Society said; “The National Park is so important not only to our country but also the whole world in terms of preserving ecosystem, promoting tourism sector among others and incase of continued destruction, there will be a big loss to our country and the world in general.”

According to him; 70% of the Rwanda’s natural water has its source at Nyungwe NP and also that if contaminated, it will pose a big risk.

Juvenal Harerimana a resident of Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district urged; “government should help us and make this road finished because the transport here is a big challenge to all of us as the residents of this area.”
“Two heads are better than one, so let leaders from the two parties heed to our plea so that the problem can get rectified because both the road and the NP are all important to us,” Harerimana added.

For a person to walk from Pindura to Bweyeye it takes over 7hrs, riding bicycles takes approximately 3hrs and hiring a motorcycle costs Rwf7000, while one using a car, the 32kms takes almost 2hrs drive.

“Our produces are not accessed to the market just because of this ditched road and sometimes, one to go to Cyangugu has to pass through Burindi and then connect there, which is also difficult to those people that do not have boarder pass permits,” Jean Pierre Twagirayezu told igihe.com.

Bweyeye Sector officials attribute that, as the Minister of Natural Resources Stanislas Kamanzi had confirmed earlier; the road construction should be done and materials like murram should be got from the national park.

“We recognize the importance of the two and are all necessary but then after the road construction, there can be rehabilitation on the destroyed resources like replanting of trees by both the road contractors and also village citizens, through communal work and we can make it happen. Like the Minister said, all materials should be got from the park,” Joseph Rusaya, the Executive Secretary Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district.

What does the top brass officials from two parties attribute towards the saga?
Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General REMA comments; “We are not against Rwanda’s development but we also have to protect natural resources and ensure the sustainable management. Its over 60% of the rain we receive in Rwanda that come from Nyungwe and that’s why we have to manage it carefully as Rwanda’s heart.”

“During the meeting with MININFRA, we had agreed to go to this area together and find well established sites where to get murram and after they were supposed to show environmental management plan to us but when the team went there, MININFRA’s technical team did not come into agreement with us just because they don’t want to comply with us,” Mukankomeje added.

“For us we don’t want conflicts with MININFRA because the road is also for our people but we need a well defined policy over the project with a clear document presented,” she pointed out.

MININFRA’s Minister of State in charge of Transport noted; “For us we followed procedures as were required and we even came into agreement that materials for the road project should come from within the park. In charge people for environment should conduct training to the road contractors upon the environment policy instead of stopping the road construction.”

Speaking to the MINIRENA’s Minister is still futile but we shall keep you updated upon the issue.

What does the law say about the issue?
According to the organic law n. 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 that determines the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda; article no. 29 says that no competent authority, in accordance with the existing laws, can issue permission for the construction in cases where such constructions may degregade the environment

Article 31 says; every government project or private individual activities can not be permitted to operate if they are contrary to their plan and shall aim at considering the strategies of conservation of environment as provided by the law.
To be continued…

Bananas are among Rwanda’s main staple food widely harvested by the majority of farmers, yet the plantation faces many challenges including pests, infertile soils and low yield.

However, all this can be turned around if more farmers are given competent farming skills, Julianus Thomas, the Farmer Field School (FFS) master trainer says.

He said that FFS was formed two years ago in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Belgian Development Agency (BTC) in order to train farmers on better planting skills on crops such as banana, maize, potatoes, cassava amongst others.

Currently, in Rwanda a lot of efforts are enhanced in fighting pests attacks on banana plantations, the most common being banana-mild-mosaic-virus.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Busogoro, the Technical Assistant BTC noted that among the ways to control the virus spread is by warming the sucker for 20 degrees Celsius before planting in order to kill the bacteria.

“Farmers should also sterilize their farming tools if they want to avoid spreading of the bacteria from an infected banana plant,” he remarked.

Dr. Busogoro spoke at the beginning of a 3 day regional conference involving experts from East and central Africa, organized to exchange experiences based on better practices in various aspects of the banana value chain such as the introduction and dissemination of banana improved varieties.

He further pointed out that competence matters a lot since it strengthens the production of traditional banana plants which many fear might become extinct due to the introduction of modern varieties that have better yield.

“There’s nothing unique with exotic bananas, the difference is that they are planted through the use of modern expertise skills which can be applied to the traditional ones and give better results,” he clarified.

Among the techniques being disseminated are the use of fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation.
“I’ve seen farmers who have done all this on their traditional bananas and have seen their yield improve from 15kg to 75kg,” Bugosoro stressed.

Thomas on his part says that some banana species can be multiplied in the laboratory in what is also known as tissue culture. So far two Americans investors have showed interests to start the business in Rwanda.