The two children belonging to Ngabonziza Norbert and Bantegeye Kayitesi died yesterday night as candle flames caught and burnt mattresses and mosquito net spreading to the entire house and burnt to ashes all equipment inside.
Police spokesperson in Kigali city, CIP Umutesi Marie Gorette has told IGIHE that the house was burnt by a candle lit by 18 year old girl who lived with the children. The fire gut the house as the girl went to buy another candle as they had no electricity.
“It is true that two children died. Their parents were not present and had left the children to 18 years old girl. She lit a candle and went to buy another. The lady found the house burning as she returned back,” she said.
CIP Umutesi explained that Police fire brigade intervened to extinguish the fire but found the children already dead.
“The girl is a relative and the fire was not intentional. It is however a result of carelessness related to leaving the candle burning and returning late,” he said.
CIP Umutesi appealed citizens against leaving flammables burning because it poses incendiary risks.
The bodies were taken to Kacyiru district hospital for postmortem.
The president expressed Rwanda’s readiness yesterday at the Parliament during an interactive discussion with young African Social Media influencers and journalists ahead of the 25th Liberation Day #Kwibohora25.
Kagame was responding to journalists’ question to give his views on Tshisekedi ambition to collaborate with neighboring countries to fight the rebels. President Kagame welcomed the initiative.
“For the part of Congo and what the President of Congo said, we will join. We have been waiting and I am glad that we have a person there saying he wants to work with neighbors to get rid of this problem. Because it has been there for too long and it affects Congo, neighbors and all of us,” said Kagame.
“There is no point in sitting with that problem or allowing that problem to stand in the way of the progress we should be making. I am really happy that it is the way the president of Congo is going on, thinking about it,” he added.
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has recently announced that the matter of armed groups based in DRC is being discussed by MONUSCO and concerned neighboring countries.
He revealed this as he addressed citizens on Sunday where he highlighted that the problem of insecurity in DRC originates from armed groups from other countries.
The revelation was made at a time when the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) have been launching 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.
In his previous visit to DRC, President Kagame; Rwanda, RDC and Angola have signed tri-partite agreements establishing a joint platform for the three countries to enhance cooperation in the area of security particularly aimed at uprooting all non-state armed groups and end threats to state security and economic cooperation.
DRC forests are home to Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) for over 20 years.
Towards the end of 2018, Rwanda’s prosecution issued arrest warrant for Kayumba Nyamwasa and other ring leaders of rebel groups known as P5 or RNC organizing their activities in DRC forests to threaten Rwanda’s security.
The threat of non-state armed groups in the Great Lakes region remains active, with DRC’s forests still hosting both Congolese and foreign terrorist groups that threaten state and regional security.
The groups include Rwandan terrorist group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which is comprised of remnants of the genocidal forces that killed more than a million Rwandans during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Through collaboration with FARDC, the national army of the Democratic Republic of Congo, some FDLR commanders including Laforge Fils Bazeye, FDLR spokesperson and chief spy Lieutenant-Colonel Abega have been arrested and sent back to Rwanda to face justice.
Heads of States who have already confirmed include the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé; Namibia President Hage Geingob and his wife; the President of Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra; the President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed; Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa; Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his wife as well as the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.
It will also be graced by Nigeria Vice President , Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs in Uganda, Dr. Ali Kirunda Kivenjija among other Foreign Affairs Ministers from Africa.
Rwanda will be marking 25 years after RPF Inkotanyi soldiers liberated the country from bad leadership which had deprived hundreds of Rwandans of their rights leading some of them to fleeing the country and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Apart from dethroning bad leadership, the liberation struggle also stopped genocide.
25 years after liberation, Rwanda has made tremendous progress along the resilience journey and has earned international repute from wounds of genocide to become a role model with good leadership under the championship of President Paul Kagame.
Over the 25 years journey, new infrastructures were set up, roads were constructed and expanded electricity to rural areas among other activities promoting social wellbeing and economic transformation.
Different activities are were held in preparation of Kwibohora25 including sessions explaining history of the liberation struggle that started in 1990 paving the way for inclusive development of the country.
He made the call yesterday as he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of seven prosecutors who were reappointed by the Cabinet Meeting of April 3rd, 2019.
Sworn-in prosecutors include: Mrs. Marie Josée UMUTANGUHA and Mr. GAFISHI RUKEMA Sammy, Prosecutors at Intermediate level; Mr. Maximilien NZEYIMANA and Mrs. Jeannine NIYONKURU, Prosecutors at Primary level.
In this ceremony, the Premier also received the oath of three contractual prosecutors namely: Mr. Marcel NIYONSHUTI, Mr. Léonard NDOLIMANA, as well as Mr. David NZAYISENGA.
Premier Ngirente wished them all the best in their duties and urged them to diligently fulfill their responsibilities by impartially respecting the human rights.
He also reminded them some key values that must characterize every prosecutor. In this regard, he encouraged them to be honest and work professionally so as to effectively accomplish their responsibilities, avoid favoritism or nepotism; fight corruption, closely work with their professional peers, strive for better service delivery and embrace the use of ICT in their daily duties.
Ngirente further requested the Prosecution Authority to focus more on cases that affect both the national interests and of the Rwandan society at large. Among the cases that deserve particular attention, he highlighted crimes that ruin the national economy, cross border crimes, human trafficking crimes, cybercrimes and theft.
Ngirente also reiterated that he believes that sworn-in prosecutors will diligently fulfill their responsibilities and collaborate with their peers by always striving to uphold the values of a good prosecutor.
The arrest of the suspect that took place on Monday is part of the Police crackdown on automobiles and drivers using forged traffic related documents.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region said that Police mounted a checkpoint and they first apprehended the owner of the Fuso truck plate number RAD 850G, who was driving it at the time.
The Fuso truck loaded with charcoal bags was at the time headed to Kigali from Nyamagabe District.
“The mechanical certificate for the Fuso indicated that it would expire on August 23, 2019, when officers checked with a Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) device they found that it expired on June 12, 2019, the person (owner) who was driving it at the time was held, but it later came to light that his driver (Habineza) was behind the forgery. Habineza was later traced and brought into custody,” CIP Karekezi explained.
The HHT is a cashless system and part of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Information Management System. Penalized traffic offenders can pay using smart cards, VISA or telecom banking systems and can check the authenticity of vehicle mechanical certificate and driver’s license.
“Operations are continuous, and with the HHT, anyone holding forged traffic-related documents will be brought to book,” CIP Karekezi said.
This company has announced that the reduction is in honour of Rwanda’s celebrations of 25 years of liberation observed on 4th July and valid until 8th July 2019.
Any traveler, either Rwandan or foreigner buying tickets from Kigali or that are destined to Kigali will enjoy the reduced charges.
Brussels Airlines whose parent organization is Lufthansa Group makes five flights per week from Kigali.
Brussels Airlines is the flag carrier and largest airline of Belgium, based and headquartered at Brussels Airport. It has over 120 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
In February 2017, Brussels Airlines and RwandAir signed partnership agreements that include cooperation in marketing and in technical matters, including synchronization of schedules.
Kagame made the observation Tuesday afternoon at the Parliament where he held an interactive discussion with young African Social Media influencers and journalists ahead of the 25th Liberation Day #Kwibohora25.
Commenting on the secret to Rwanda’s progress, Kagame said the secret lies in knowing that ‘whatever you get will be on the basis of your efforts combined with others effort’.
He stressed that the country has always tried to balance resources and what it can do with those resources whereby domestic revenues have been rising very fast while the country has gotten money and assistance in terms of development assistance.
“Everything has been in an upward trend. I think so far so good. The challenge we have is that of the flow of resources. We get resources, but it’s always never enough as you always need more to do even more to consolidate the gains we have made,” said Kagame.
“I don’t think we have made enough progress. We have to keep doing more and better. There should never be a point where we feel like we have arrived. Keep going, even when you are doing well, always be worried about something: either of doing more or be worried that what you have achieved can slide back. That’s our philosophy. It’s a daily thing,” he added.
Kagame talked on the rationale for launching the liberation war in 1990 originating from injustices where hundreds of Rwandans were being denied their rights, those living outside and those inside living under harsh conditions.
“After the war we started rebuilding. We had to call upon everybody’s contribution. Rwandans from outside and those inside were able to move together and get us where we are now. In Rwanda we never saw ourselves as an island. We are part of a much bigger family, the African continent. We are part of the EAC and a much wider continent as it is the best way to reconnect and tap into this relevancy of coming together through social, political and economic integration,” he said.
President Kagame said that along the 25 years journey, the country fought one war of liberation and later reached a phase of explaining everything done. It is in this context that Kagame stressed that doing the attention should be drawn on doing the right thing because some people keep thinking differently.
“Perception will always be there, you can’t avoid it. Mainly it portrays you the way you are not. Rwanda still suffers from that. There are people who still see us like we were 25 years ago. Don’t be discouraged by perception. Just be educated by it. You need to work hard to change your perception; you can’t bribe your way through. Keep doing your best,” said Kagame.
He went on to say that ‘before you even convince anybody outside, convince your own people, and make sure they are with you. Make sure they are involved, they are benefitting. It is built on tangible things. People themselves will start disproving the wrong perceptions’.
President Kagame also advised the youth to be confident and make the right contribution.
He said Sacrifice may get to some point that worries people but highlighted that there is always a contribution to make to oneself and country through participation.
“Your sacrifice should be not to jump too fast to what you think is the easiest path for yourself. How do you contribute to changing the things that affect you, when you don’t expect that somebody else is coming to fix it for you?” Kagame advised.
The training program was organized by WaterAid in collaboration with the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and NIRAS, an international consulting firm.
NIRAS trains personnel with duties related to water and sanitation from private, public institutions and civil society organizations from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The training is also meant to build their capacities in the implementation of water and sanitation policies, improving cooperation and exchange of knowledge among workers in the same field so that they can create innovative projects tackling citizens’ problems in indentfied areas of concern.
Dr Nelson Ekane, an expert from Stockholm Environment Institute in Sweden who is in charge of training programs explained that trainings are offered in 15 months within five parts.
The first part of the training lasts four months dedicated for analysis of challenges stalling the implementation of water and sanitation policies at institutional level.
The second session lasts three weeks where participants meet with fellows from different countries in Sweden to discuss challenges affecting water and sanitation policies at country level to draw solutions to overcome these issues through promising projects.
During the 3rd session lasting four months, training beneficiaries return to their countries to implement their projects promising to address water and sanitation challenges and meet to discuss achievements.
The 4th session lasts two weeks during which participants come together in one of countries where the program is implemented to share experiences on how initiated projects are turning into solutions on the support of delegated country supervisor.
“During the 4th session , trainees make a report on the implementation progress of pitched promising projects and present it to their country supervisor who also advises them on faced challenges if any,” said Dr Nelson.
The last part lasts five months. Trainees return to their countries to keep the implementation of their projects in collaboration with co-workers and supervisors.
“We expect them to mobilize their employers, fellows on the need to closely follow up water and sanitation policies and incorporating them in budget planning as well,” explained Dr Nelso.
Jean Lambert Sebareze, the Head of Programmes at WaterAid Rwanda who also supervises Rwanda trainees explained that WaterAid facilitates the implementation of the project seeking employees in related field to be part of the program.
WaterAid also helps them to meet requirements to attend trainings and following up the implementation of their projects promising to address issues pointed out through research.
“They design projects to address all issues pointed out. Thus, we come in to oversee the implementation and facilitate them to share experiences gained from realized achievements,” Sebareze highlighted.
The program was launched in Rwanda in 2017. Dr Sebareze explained that 36 among 137 applicants are incubated under the training program while 12 trainees have already graduated and received certificates of completion.
Two of beneficiaries of the training program have received certificate of completion recently on 27th June 2019 during a meeting bringing together local trainees to assess their project implementation progress.
Eng. Emmanuel Turikumwe, Wash Project Manager at COFORWA said his project focused on preservation of public water taps and reducing wasted water.
Through his project, Turikumwe has trained ten administrators of public taps on best practices to reduce wasted water.
Theobald Mashinga, the National Programme Manager for Natural resources
At Swedish Embassy said Sweden chose to offer the training program to improve stakeholders’ capacity in planning and coordinating water and sanitation activities.
“We need to gauge how acquired knowledge is set to help you while planning and coordinating water and sanitation programs at your institution. You have to share experience with the rest of fellow workers,” he said.
Mashinga requested trainees to promote popularize benefits of best water and sanitation practices at their institutions.
Following the meeting, participants agreed on establishing a platform facilitating exchange of ideas to move forward the implementation of water and sanitation best practices.
The event attended by 3,000 participants on Sunday at Petit Stade in Remera was graced by the Minister of Sports and Culture, Espérance Nyirasafari and the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Solina Nyirahabimana.
Also present at the event, was Rwanda National Police (RNP), the Head Coach of National Footbal Team ‘Amavubi’ and different players including Ndayishimiye Eric ‘Bakame’ and Muhire Kevin.
Ijabo Ryawe is an umbrella body that brings together all local football academies and training centres and member of the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
Minister Nyirasafari said that the event was organized to fight against drug abuse among the youth and adolescents pregnancies and is expected to be rolled out across the country.
“It is meant to campaign for anti-drugs and fighting against adolescent’s pregnancies. We are glad to launch the campaign to be rolled out to other provinces. It is meant to increase people’s awareness on the dangers of drugs to the youth and effecting part of youth’s behavior leading to unexpected pregnancies,” she said.
Minister Nyirasafari expressed delight to have partnered with ‘Ijabo Ryawe Rwanda’ during this campaign and requested others to join the drive meant to curb drug abuse among the youth.
The President of Ijabo Ryawe Rwanda, Sheikh Habimana Hamdan said that the event was launched to raise sports talents of young aspiring children in football among others taking consideration of their discipline.
“At Ijabo Ryawe Rwanda, we have three objectives mainly related to discipline and development. We have raised different talents but we also want to take heed on discipline because the talent would be useless with the absence of discipline. That is why we decided to join to drive as Government partners,”
Ndayishimiye Eric ‘Bakame’, playing for AFC Leopards in Kenya who represented the captain of national football team advised the youth to stand against drug abuse to see their future flourishing as tomorrow’s players and leaders.
The minister made the remarks yesterday during the event to accord decent burial to 15,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi killed at Gatwaro Stadium in former Kibuye Prefecture currently in Western Province.
Kibuye Prefecture was inhabited by a large number of Tutsi specifically in former commune Gitesi, Rwamatamu, Gishyita, Mabanza, Bwakira among others.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, killers gathered them together between 7th and 14th April 1994. They were brought at Gatwaro Stadium and cut the supply of drinking water on the orders of former head of Kibuye Prefecture, Clement Kayishema.
Genocide survivors in the area testify that the mayor of commune Mabanza, Ignace Bagirishema took a big role taking Tutsi at the stadium where they had to be killed. The latter was acquitted by Arusha court on 7th June 2001 and currently lives in France.
On 18th April 1994, genocide unfolded as Tutsi brought in Gatwaro stadium on the order of Kayishema were shot dead of who the first victim was Ezechiel Munyakaragwe.
Minister Busingye said, people at the time seemed to have no country.
“We had no country. We only had bandit killers whose plans were dominated by killing people and reporting it. We saw all reports done at the time. They are related to setting road blocks and profiling who to be killed,” he said.
“Tutsi were persecuted at different times until the execution of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. We should dedicate time to always meditate this issue. Rwandans should deeply reflect on hard times during these 25 years. How come people would feel right to kill others? Let’s be strong because it won’t happen again in this country,” promised Busingye.
The President of IBUKA, Prof Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu commended the efforts of displaying a list of all culprits involved in the killing of Tutsi to be seen by all visitors of the memorial.
Ambassador Jacqueline Mukangira, a survivor in the area thanked RPF Inkotanyi soldiers for rescuing them and introduced the Government of unity promoting inclusive development.
Part of 15,000 victims buried at the new genocide memorial are Tutsi who walked a 20 km journey from Rubengera to be killed at Gatwaro Stadium.
Dr Charles Twagira and Claude Muhayimana are among suspects involved in killed Tutsi in the area hiding in France.
