The new schedule follows the previous communiqué signed by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe which indicated that Rwanda Day 2019 was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances that another schedule would be communicated.
Rwanda Day 2019 is a gathering that brings together Rwandans living abroad and their friends.
It was previously set for Saturday 24th August 2019 but has been postponed to 5th October 2019 in Bonn city, Germany as announced by Rwanda’s embassy in Germany.
Rwanda Day has been held since 2010 and serves as a platform for bringing together all Rwandans from the diaspora and their friends to discuss how to further advance the development of the country and get up to speed on the current progress.
The latest Rwanda Day took place on 10th August 2017 in Flanders Expo, a multipurpose hall in Ghent town, Belgium.
Rwanda Day presents opportunities for attracting foreign investments and networking.
Participants are given the floor to address their questions directly to the Head of State, share ideas and express their wishes as well.
At the occasion, Rwandans get insights into Rwanda’s progress and share ideas on ways forward.
Since 2011, Rwanda Day has been taking place in Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta in the United States of America, Paris in France, Toronto in Canada, London in the United Kingdom, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, San Francisco in USA (Rwanda Cultural Day), and Ghent in Belgium.
The narcotics were recovered on Thursday in her house located in Kigabiro Sector, Cyanya cell.
Police said the arrest of Ngendakumana followed a tip-off from members of the public, who suspected her to be a drug trafficker.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdum Twizeyimana, the Eastern region police spokesperson, said that after police received information about the suspected illegal conduct, they made a search at her home where the drugs were recovered.
She was soon after taken into custody for the criminal act.
“Her accomplice, a man, who was at home, fled on seeing Police officers. Residents said he is a stranger in the community. He is suspected of being one of Ngendakumana’s customers and had come from Kigali to purchase cannabis from her,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
He explained that police have strengthened the crackdown on drug trafficking and distillers of unhygienic and harmful alcoholic drinks but commended the role of the public through credible information sharing.
If convicted, she faces between 20 years and life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rwf20 million, according to article 263 of the penal code.
The support will be channeled through Japan’s Sector Policy Loan for Nutrition Improvement through Agricultural Transformation.
The agreement has been signed by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Dr. Uzzile Ndagijimana, Mr. Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda and Mr. Shin Maruo, the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Rwanda office.
Since 2012, Rwanda has seen a decline of stunting among children of age between 6 months and 5 years, however, the decline is still short of Rwanda’s target to reduce stunting below 19% by Rwanda fiscal year 2023/2024.
Despite substantial growth in agricultural production over the past 10 years, food security and nutrition remain concerns, especially when looking at the vulnerability to shocks at the household level.
The Food Consumption Score is 76% by 2018, but a large share of the population remains dependent on rain-fed agriculture and home-consumption.
Primarily, agriculture plays the role of availing food by ensuring that production meets the diverse dietary needs of the population.
Despite the growth in production over the past 10 years, staple food production remains below the targeted demand for domestic consumption and is substituted by importation.
The program will be executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the National Early Childhood Development Program (NECDP), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) under the supervision of MINECOFIN.
The program will focus mainly on two components of Food Security and Multi-Sectoral Coordination.
In regards to agriculture transformation-related activities, the program will help MINAGRI to set up nutrition-sensitive agriculture guidelines, strengthen the availability of protein-rich food through the small livestock distribution program under RAB.
Additionally, it will leverage on the achievement of Smallholder Market-oriented Agriculture Project (SMAP), a JICA Technical Cooperation Project to build the capacity of targeted beneficiaries in terms of nutrition aspects.
At a more decentralized level, the program will fill a food nutrient gap in each district and suitable nutritious crops will be identified and promoted for production.
Other components include making crop calendar for irrigation schemes, nutrition public awareness campaigns.
Minister Ndagijimana said that channeling the funds through Rwanda’s budget reflects how Japan maintains trust in Rwanda’s good governance and efficient use of funds.
Ambassador Miyashita explained that Japan channeled the funds through the budget because of the trust bestowed upon Rwanda’s systems towards the implementation of targeted activities in addition to proper management of funds.
Since malnutrition is a multi-sectoral issue that involves various stakeholders, the program will support the coordination at the national level with the NECDP to the grass root level with the community health workers and farmer promoters’ coordination.
The program is scheduled to run from 2019 to 2021, with the expectation to have a big impact in eradicating the undernutrition and fighting against the stunting.
He made the promise on Saturday 10th August 2019 during his visit to Gakenke district where he visited different development projects and held discussions with staff and management of Ruli Hospital in the aforementioned district that were given the floor to raise their concerns.
Premier Ngirente was accompanied by other Government officials including the Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Ndagijimana Uzziel; the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Kayisire Marie Solange; the Governor of Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi among others.
Ruli Hospital works with 9 health centers and 764 community-based health workers. The hospital also offers congenital malformations services.
It has 121 workers of whom 41% are contracted employees while the salary for the rest is catered by Ruli Hospital.
The Director-General of Ruli Hospital, Dr. Deogratias Kaneza said that inadequate personnel and lack of contracts for approximately 40% of them (receiving Rwf 12 million) are among the faced challenges.
“It is a common problem also experienced by health centers yet 20% of 40% of employees without contracts meet requirements qualifying them to be paid by the Government,” he said.
Dr. Kaneza explained that the hospital has only 2 ambulances while roads in the area are poor hence making the transfer of patients from health centers difficult.
Lacking a specialist doctor and Rwf 180 million Mutuelle de Santé arrears were among other problems reported to Premier Ngirente.
Theophila Niyonsenga, a midwife at Ruli Hospital also raised the concern of healthcare practitioners who don’t get promotions and an inadequate motivational fee.
Premier Ngirente told the staff and management of the hospital that the Government is holding discussions with relevant institutions including the Ministry of Health to address some of the raised concerns.
“Province officials, the Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions will keep holding discussions to seek a durable solution to improve health practitioners’ wellbeing and address problems related to motivational fee, inadequate ambulances, and water among other infrastructures,” he said.
During his visit to Gakenke district, Premier Ngirente also visited Ruli Higher Institute of Health where students and the management requested the introduction of a bachelor’s degree in midwifery and nursing courses.
He advised the management of the school to keep in touch with the Ministry of Health and Higher Education Council for an inspection that might lead to approving the request if requirements are met.
The artiste who arrived at Kigali International Airport today morning has been welcomed by Joseph Mushyoma, events manager at East African Promoters which organized Iwacu Muzika Festival.
Diamond told the media that he expects an exciting concert as he performs to Rwanda.
A press conference with Diamond is scheduled before heading to Bujumbura where he is set to hold a concert before returning to Kigali for Iwacu Muzika Festival.
The concert will take place at the parking of Amahoro Stadium tomorrow on 17th August 2019. It is the fifth concert of the Iwacu Muzika Festival 2019 following previous concerts held in Musanze, Rubavu, Huye and Ngoma towns.
Many local artists got the opportunity to promote their talents and were joined by François Nsengiyumva’s upcoming star known for his hit ‘Igisupusupu’.
Singers released by the East African Promoters Ltd to feature in the final concert that will be graced by Diamond include Intore Masamba, Senderi International Hit, Safi Madiba and Marina who performed in Ngoma concert, Queen Cha and Amalon who recently performed in Rubavu concert, Bull Dogg who performed in Huye and Bruce Melody who sang in the first Iwacu Muzika Concert held in Musanze.
Sintex and Bushali are upcoming artistes selected to feature in the grand finale.
The entrance ticket is Rwf 15,000 in VIP seats booked earlier while the price will increase to Rwf 20,000 on the same day of the concert. A ticket for an ordinary seat is sold at Rwf 5,000.
It will be the third concert graced by Diamond Platnumz in Rwanda following the previous one held in 2017 in Nyamata featuring Morgan Heritage.
The agreement was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi and the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dr. Gerd Müller; according to a statement from RDB.
They also discussed how to increase the level of German investments in Rwanda.
The MoU outlined the planned partnership with RDB under Germany’s new “Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation”, which intends to support the Rwandan government in its efforts to implement its reform agenda set out in its National Strategy for Transformation (2017-2024).
The initiative is expected to foster economic development in Rwanda and create training and job opportunities, especially for young people, with a view of driving the Rwandan economy towards middle-income status.
Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation aims at creating 1.5 million decent jobs by 2024, which is slightly over 200,000 off-farm jobs per annum.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Western region Police spokesperson; the suspect arrested in Nyabihu identified as Ronald Rutayisire was at the time traveling in a passenger service vehicle.
“Police had information that Rutayisire is a suspected trafficker and retailer of cannabis. On Wednesday, new information came in that he had a consignment of cannabis he was trafficking to Kigali from Rubavu and he was traveling in a public bus,” he said.
“The bus was identified and stopped in Kazibate village, Rugeshi cell in Mukamira sector along Rubavu-Musanze highway; Rutayisire was identified from other passengers, his luggage searched and Police officers found 400 pellets of cannabis. He was immediately taken into custody,” the spokesperson added.
In Gasabo, Police in conjunction with DASSO recovered 264 pellets of cannabis from the house of one Euphrasie Bankundiye, a resident of the Nduba sector, Gasanze cell Kagatama village.
Bankundiye is still on the run, Police said.
Elsewhere in Nyagatare, CIP Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern Province confirmed that two people including a known drug trafficker identified as Emile Semabumba were arrested in Rwimiyaga Sector on Tuesday.
“Semabumba was on the list of cannabis suppliers in Nyagatare. Following information of his whereabouts, Police officers were dispatched and they caught him in Kagera Village, Karushungu Cell of Rwimiyaga Sector with 4kgs of cannabis,” he said.
Semabumba was arrested with a commercial motorcyclist identified as Theophile Nkizumutoni, said to have been transporting him and his narcotics.
Police lauded the role of the public in identifying and sharing information on a suspected drug dealer, assault, domestic and gender-based violence child-related crimes.
The President made the critics yesterday in a conversation dubbed ‘Meet The President’ held at Intare Conference Arena in Rusororo where he affirmed that nothing is fabricated about the progress Rwanda is making.
The conversation which involved the youth from different levels of employment, students, and nationals from the diaspora among others revolved around different national development programs.
The comments followed an article published by Financial Times, which reported that Rwanda manipulates its economic data to hide its poverty.
The Financial Times claimed to have conducted an analysis of the survey’s more than 14,000 data points and interviews with academics show that rising prices for Rwandan families meant poverty most likely increased between 2010 and 2014.
The analysis of the National Institute of Statistics (NISR) on findings of the 4th Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4) and (EICV3) indicated that poverty reduced by 6.9% between 2011 and 2014.
The FT analysis of the same data contradicts that finding, suggesting there has been a consistent attempt to misrepresent the results.
According to the Financial Times (FT) calculations, it is only possible to show a poverty decline of 6.9 percentage points if the mean value of the NISR’s cost of living index was 4.7 percent.
The Financial Times explained that poverty could only have fallen by such a large margin if average prices for the poorest 40 percent of households increased by 4.7 percent or less between January 2011 and January 2014.
The magazine consulted Diane Rwigara, David Himbara, a dissident who fled the country, a Belgian Fillip Reyntjens among others.
Sam Desiere, a senior researcher at Belgium’s University of Leuven who has studied Rwanda’s poverty statistics, says average prices probably increased by at least 30 percent between 2011 and 2014 based on his analysis of price data included in Rwanda’s household survey.
That conclusion would imply that poverty increased by about 6.6 percentage points, according to the FT analysis. “The higher the inflation rate,” said Mr. Desiere, “the more poverty increases.”
Rwanda denied that it has misrepresented the results. “The claim that poverty in Rwanda increased between 2011 and 2014 is wrong,” said Mr. Yusuf Murangwa, the Director-General of NISR.
The NISR later added that it was “inappropriate” to use a mean of the cost of living index to understand how it adjusted prices between the two surveys but declined to provide any further details about the rates it used.
Commenting On the report yesterday, Kagame said: “I will bet with anyone that there is actually nothing fake or fabricated or doctored about the progress we are making. If anyone is saying we still have problems to deal with, then they are right because there are still many challenges we have to deal with. We are dealing with them and we will deal with them. There is nothing new about Rwanda having problems, and all of us working together to make a difference for ourselves.”
Claiming the report false, the President also referred to the reports of the World Bank report, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic Forum and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) which recently upgraded Rwanda’s economy from “B” to “B+”.
“The S&P agency rated Rwanda from B to B+, the same week Rwanda is said to fake data about poverty levels. There is such a thing as western propaganda. That is why I really want us to be together in this fight because it is a fight for who we are and who we want to be. It is a fight about ourselves, about Rwandans, about Africans,” he said.
“We have been downtrodden largely because of ourselves. Because we have not addressed some of the things that people build on to look down upon us. When you don’t solve your problems, and these are the problems that are going to create a ground for people to look down upon you, I think you are largely to blame. We should first take this blame,” added Kagame.
The President advised the youth to develop the mindset of doing things right other than striving to impress anybody.
Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, 62, was born in 1957. He is an Ethiopian politician who was President of Ethiopia from 7 October 2013 to 25 October 2018.
Details on held discussions have not yet been disclosed.
President Paul Kagame recently said that Rwanda, Ethiopia relations are built on strong foundations that no obstacles can persist without finding a solution.
As he attended the 28th African Union summit, Kagame said that both countries relation is deeply founded on unity and complementing each other.
Rwanda and Ethiopia enjoy existing cooperation in different areas including agriculture, trade, and education among others.
Both countries also work closely to share military training and exercises.
Rwanda and Ethiopia signed cooperation agreements in air transport services which saw both countries opening airspace for national airlines.
In 2017, Rwanda and Ethiopia signed 11 bilateral agreements meant to further strengthen diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The bilateral agreements signed were in the areas of Extradition Treaty, Mutual Legal Assistance, Communication, Information and Media, Youth and Sports, Tourism, Health, Education, Culture, Cooperation in Correctional Services, Gender, Women and Children and Water resources management.
For the next two weeks, 1200 military/police personnel and civilians from 26 countries, AU, ICRC, and UN will be trained on commanding and controlling a realistic multinational/multidimensional UN/AU Peacekeeping Operation.
This training will help improve not only the interoperability and capabilities of participants but it is also an opportunity to share knowledge and experience with partners.
While officiating at the opening ceremony, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Patrick Nyamvumba said that Rwanda remains committed to offering its contribution towards achieving global peace and security.
“It is in this regard that we participate in UN missions where our troops not only support attainment of sustainable peace and security in affected countries but also have been at the forefront in advocating for necessary improvements in UN peacekeeping modus operandi focusing more on the protection of civilians,” he said.
Shared Accord 19 comprises of a Field Training Exercise (FTX) which will be conducted at the RDF Combat Training Centre in Gabiro along with a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at Rwanda Military Academy-Gako and a Medical Readiness Exercise (MEDREX) at Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe from 14-29 August 2019.
Currently, Rwanda is the second biggest Troop/Police contributing country in support of UN/AU peacekeeping mandates.
