Bishagara passed on Monday at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore- Maryland in USA.
Her demise was announced by Senate President, Bernard Makuza in a communiqué released on behalf of the parliamentary chamber of senate.
Speaking to IGIHE, Senator Makuza has revealed that the body of Bishagara will arrive in Rwanda on Tuesday night next week.
“Her body will be flown to Rwanda on Tuesday. The burial will take place on Friday if nothing changes but a written agenda might be communicated on Monday,” he said.
Later Kagoyire will be laid to rest at Rusororo cemetery in Gasabo district.
The Executive Secretary of Kimironko sector, Mapambano Nyiridandi has told IGIHE that police fire brigade and citizens intervened and extinguished the fire before destroying all equipment.
“They have intervened to extinguish the fire before burning all equipment but we have not yet established the value of destroyed property. Investigations are underway to establish the cause of fire but we have learnt that it started with sparks that lit mattresses as a plumber repaired the water system,” he said.
The fire that gut the facility around 11am follows similar incident recently where Agakiriro in Gisozi sector of Gasabo district caught fire thrice leaving equipment destroyed.
Muri iki gitondo, ahagana sa tanu n'igice, inkongi y'umuriro yibasiye agakiriro ka Kimironko mu karere @Gasabo_District. Ishami rya Polisi rishinzwe ubutabazi no kuzimya inkongi z'umuriro ryatabaye rizimya uwo muriro.
Tax revenue collection for 2018/19 was Rwf 1398.8 billion while the target was Rwf 1373.1 billion, an excess of Rwf 25.7 billion above the target.
Compared to Rwf 1234.1 billion collected in FY 2016/17, additional revenue of Rwf 164.7 billion was collected (a growth of 13.3%).
Non-tax revenue collected by RRA amounted to Rwf 22.9 billion compared to the target of Rwf 19.0 billion. Compared to FY 2017/18, it increased by 26.0%.
Taxes were collected since July 2018 until June 2019.
Local Government (LG) taxes and fees collections totaled to Rwf 60.5 billion, an achievement of 100.6% of the Rwf 60.1 billion target and an excess of Rwf 0.4 billion.
This represents year-on-year growth of 12.5% and a nominal increase of Rwf 6.7 billion.
Speaking to the media yesterday, RRA Commissioner General Pascal Ruganintwali attributed 2018/2019 revenue performance to a number of factors such as a lower inflation, improved voluntary compliance of taxpayers and administrative measures among others.
“The economy was projected to grow by 7.5% during FY 2018/19 and data released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda shows a growth of 7.7%, 9.6% and 8.4% for the quarter 1 (July-September), quarter 2 (October-December) and Quarter 3 (Jan-Mar) of 2018/19 respectively,” he said.
For the FY 2019/2020, RRA announced a target of collecting Rwf 1,535.8 billion representing 54.1% of the national budget which is Rwf 2,876.9 billion.
“For the FY 2019/2020 RRA will enhance its compliance improvement plan mainly to; Information and Communication Technology sector; Hotels, Bars and Restaurants; importers and customs brokers (Clearing Agents) to improve their levels in voluntary compliance,” said Ruganintwali.
The course enabled officers to acquire basic marine skills and knowledge, including navigation, swimming, maintenance of marine equipment such as engine, and saving lives, among others.
Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, the Commissioner for Operations and Public Order in Rwanda National Police (RNP), while closing the training in Rubavu District, lauded both trainers and trainees for the great work done professionally, discipline and hard work to accomplish the course.
“The training was meant to equip participants with skills and knowledge on the basic but important duties of marine police officers, especially intelligence gathering and other maritime operations, accomplishing it required determination and your full commitment,” CP Rumanzi said.
He urged them to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired to ensure security in water bodies.
CP Rumanzi urged the Marine Unit to continue building its capacity particularly through training and skills development.
“I am confident that you have benefited immensely from this training, so translate the knowledge and skills acquired into safety and security in water bodies,” he noted.
During the closing of the training, trainees shared the experience gained throughout the course and conducted physical exercises to demonstrate the acquired skills.
Inspector of Police (IP) Elie Mureramanzi, one of course participants, said that the training increased their understanding of maritime security and that they learned many new things related to comprehensive maritime operations, which they will also share with other Police officers.
Police Constable (PC) Philbert Murengezi, another participant, said: “I am new in the unit; I needed to learn many things to be able to fulfill my daily marine duties. I now know many things like how to rescue people or apprehend criminals who operate in water,” PC Murengezi stated.
The aim of the training was to equip participants with requisite seamanship skills, enabling them to perform basic engine maintenance and casualty control, equip them with necessary skills to perform a vessel board, search and seizure. Others include water survival, weapon training, maritime interdiction and terrorism.
The Quadripartite Summit held yesterday in Luand,Angola, follows a previous one held in Kinshasa on 31st May 2019 focusing on regional security matters.
The quadripartite summit stressed the importance of permanent, frank, open multilateral and bilateral dialogue for the consolidation of peace and security in the region as well as a premise for economic integration.
The Heads of state welcomed DRC initiative to restore security and discussed armed groups in Eastern part of the country intending to destabilize regional countries.
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) recently launched attacks to disarm armed groups based in Eastern part of the country particularly in Ituri Province which destabilized rebels like ‘P5’ comprised of united armed groups led by Kayumba Nyamwasa among others.
These attacks dubbed ‘Tempête de l’Ituri’ began on 21st June 2019 to defeat armed groups in different parts of DRC forests where they kill, persecute, rob and rape citizens.
Among other discussed topics include DRC efforts in combating Ebola outbreak which spread to the country for the 10th time in 2018.
The four heads of state also committed on striving for common interests. Part of resolutions of the summit include promoting relations rooted on citizens’ interests in terms of politics and economy and solving conflicts amicably.
Concerning souring relations between Rwanda and Uganda, the summit welcomed both parties willingness for dialogue to solve existing problem.
“As far as the bilateral relations between the republic of Rwanda and the republic of Uganda are concerned, the summit welcomed the willingness of the two parties to continue a dialogue with a view to finding a solution to the existing problem,” a communiqué released after a quadripartite summit between Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo and their host President João Lourenço, reads in part.
“In this regard, the summit also welcomed the readiness of the republic of Angola with the support of the Democratic Republic of Congo to facilitate this process,” the communiqué adds.
Uganda has been deporting different Rwandans who accuse it of inhumane imprisonment and torture on false accusations by Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and rebel groups against the Government of Rwanda.
A total of 900 Rwandans were reportedly detained in Uganda as at the end of March 2019.
This saw the Government of Rwanda advising Rwandans not to travel to Uganda for their security until the situation gets back to normal.
It has been two years since Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened.
Rwanda expressed concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being Rwanda’s spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of conspiracy with rebel groups intending to destabilize state security.
On 25th March 2018, President Paul Kagame met his counterpart of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to discuss security matters and crisis between both countries among other issues of national interests.
Since then no progress was made to bring the situation back to normal until President Museveni wrote to his counterpart of Rwanda that he accidently met RNC head of diplomacy, Charlotte Mukankusi and Eugène Gasana, former Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Nations.
During an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Bapfakurera highlighted that food commodities are most likely to get the biggest market in DRC because the later imports more.
Trade opportunities between Rwanda, DRC have been recently boosted by the launch of RwandAir flights from Kigali to Kinshasa, the capital city of DRC while cargo flights are also expected to follow.
Bapfakurera has said that Rwandan traders welcomed both countries’ efforts to improve relations and demonstrated willingness to expand businesses in DRC.
“They have started visiting DRC to analyze the market and identify partners so that they can run businesses next time. They were extremely delighted,” he said.
Rwanda has the largest export market of foods and other commodities in DRC particularly in Eastern part of the country namely Goma and Bukavu which Bapfakurera said is set to get a boost.
Bapfakurera explained that the launch of cargo flights will be a great trade opportunity with DRC because investors would often use passengers’ aircrafts to carry luggage which would run short of space.
Rwanda, DRC relations started getting a boost when President Félix Tshisekedi was elected at the beginning of 2019.
President Paul Kagame has recently revealed that RwandAir was denied route to Kinshasa to DRC at the reign of former President Joseph Kabila.
The anticipated digital platform dubbed “Sobanuza Inkiko [S-inkiko]’’ will complement the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) used to file lawsuits and filling court case forms.
The platform will be accessed online or using short message to seek explanations.
For instance when a concerned individual complaining about corruption will type corruption, leave a space and send the message to 2640 which will be received by all concerned institutions associated with judicial service delivery and fight against corruption in Rwanda.
The digital platform is built in a way that the complainant will be updated on the progress and the person following up the case that it will be easier to identify who is delaying the process.
S-Inkiko will be operational since 16 July 2019.
Speaking to the media, Mutabazi Harrison, the Judicial Spokesperson said the technology will save time people used to spend seeking assistance in courts.
“A citizen will only opt for this platform after proceeding with the court case and appealing,” he said.
Rwanda requested to host the tournament dubbed ‘Rubavu Beach Volleyball Tour’ according to officials from Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) that the country was qualified because it met requirements.
Speaking to the media on preparation of the event, FRVB President Léandre Karekezi said that Rwanda was approved to host the tournament one year ago and is earmarking much effort to make the tournament successful.
“We have been qualified to host the tournament one year ago. We have been also undergoing year-long preparations because it requires competent infrastructure and running different activities to meet standards to host the tournament,” he said.
Karekezi underscored that preparations are underway as they are now busy with preparations of grounds and construction of fans seats as required by FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.
“The rest is to preparation of playgrounds and building fans’ seats. It is a bit late but we are about starting but activities agreed with FIVB are on a good progress in general,” he said.
The Secretary General of FRVB, Adalbert Mfashimana has revealed that the tournament attracting 28 teams in each men and women category.
The Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC), Guy Rurangayire said that Rwanda will try by all means for better organization of the tournament.
A total of US$10,000 has been allocated to award the first three teams in each category where the first will get US$5000.
The tournament was sponsored by the Government of Rwanda will comprise 86 games from different teams across the globe.
Only three local teams will participate. Participating teams will be announced 21 days before the official opening of the tournament.
Graduates who were conferred upon their degrees yesterday at the university’s headquarters in Kigali city completed courses from different departments including environment protection, economics and accountancy, law and ICT and were all urged to take advantage of their qualification for individual progress and the country in general.
The Vice Chancellor of UNILAK, Dr Jean Ngamije told graduates that they were equipped with necessary knowledge to turn their dreams into reality and reminded them that their families, communities and labor market expect a great contribution.
“Acquired knowledge will help you to address faced challenges and taking advantage of the country’s opportunities made available for you to become entrepreneurs. It is up to you to maximize opportunities from that strong foundation built by the Government doing a lot of things fast and conveniently striving for the better future of the nation,” he said.
Dr Ngamije reminded them that dedication towards their job and being inclined on Rwandans virtues will be a key to achieving their aspirations.
The Vice Chairman of the Board at UNILAK, Alphonsine Murekatete commended the University for Contribution to quality education imparting knowledge rooted on Christian values.
She requested graduates to support the Government’s goal of improving citizens’ livelihoods within seven years plan.
“You need to create new income generating jobs to promote national economy and combat poverty,” she said.
The Chancellor of UNILAK, Prof Dr Butera Alexis asked graduates to strive for a better world working hard with dedication to shape the future of the country.
He reminded them that learning is an ongoing process that they should be flexible to acquire new knowledge and skills, work together to address different challenges including poverty.
Rugaju Editha, one of Master’s graduates from International criminal law lauded whoever contributed to their intellectual journey that will serve as a foundation to shaping their future and contributing to national welfare in general.
UNILAK was established in 1997 through the undeterred efforts of the Federation of Adventist Parents’ Associations for the Development of Education in Rwanda (FAPADER) members that were beleaguered by the scarcity and limited opportunities of students that had accomplished their secondary education to further for tertiary education.
Since then UNILAK has risen from grass to grace and from strength to a stronger institutional firm which is founded on Seventh –Day Adventist beliefs, values and practices.
UNILAK has so far released 10,000 graduates from different branches in Kigali, Nyanza and Rwamagana districts.
They were apprehended on Wednesday in a targeted operation against environmental destruction conducted by Police with local leaders in Ntyazo Sector.
At the time of their arrest, the suspects identified as Jean Bosco Minani and Casimile Kabuye had already cut 32 trees in the gazetted forest located in Byabusunzu.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamari Mberabagabo, the District Police Commander (DPC) for Nyanza, said that the suspects were apprehended thanks to people’s information.
“The forest is near the new trading center where people are building houses, and some of them have the tendency of encroaching on the forest to cut trees for construction. So, when residents saw people cutting trees they called the Police and local leaders,” SP Mberabagabo explained.
He strongly warned against such environmental crimes. “Cutting trees without official authorization is a criminal offense which is punishable by law,” said the DPC.
He called for more cooperation with the public to fight against environmental degradation, through information sharing.
“We all know great importance the environment have on human lives, which we should strive to protect jointly,” he said.
“Cutting of trees without authorization in Rwanda is illegal and punishable by the law. It is considered as an act of environmental degradation, which has negative impact on nature and humans in particular.”
