The disease was reported recently at New Explorers Girls Academy (NEGA), a high school in Gashora sector of Bugesera District and Rambura Girls School in Nyabihu District.
The disease was first reported a month ago at Rambura Girls School where it weakened the knees, inflicted pain and incapacitated the victim to walk.
The Minister of Education (MINEDUC), Eugene Mutimura has via twitter account explained that the examination carried out by MINISANTE experts indicated that the disease relates to consciousness and individuals’ behaviors and can spread to a group of people simultaneously.
Mass hysteria is “the rapid spread of illness signs and symptoms affecting members of a cohesive group, originating from a nervous system disturbance involving excitation, loss, or alteration of function, whereby physical complaints that are exhibited unconsciously have no corresponding organic aetiology.”
Minister Mutimura said: “We assure parents and Rwandans in general that we take control of students’ wellbeing across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and relevant parties. Students continue their courses uninterruptedly.”
When the disease was reported in Nyabihu, the Director of Shyira Hospital, Dr. Maj. Emmanuel Kayitare told IGIHE that the disease was identified on 25th May 2019.
He said some them recovered after taking tranquilizers.
One suspect only identified as Joseph was arrested recently in Nyagatare, Rwemasha Sector, Retare Cell, Mashaka Village with 164 pellets of Mayirungi.
Meanwhile, another suspected trafficker of khat is still in hiding after he abandoned his bicycle and a bag of Mayirungi on Tuesday in Kirehe, Kigarama Sector, Kigarama Cell in Humura Village.
“Mayirungi is treated like cannabis and other narcotics… it is a narcotic drug and dealers face the same law that punishes anyone carrying out acts related to the use of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said.
Majority of Mayirungi traffickers are arrested in Nyagatare and Kirehe districts being trafficked either from Uganda or Tanzania, respectively.
The crime carries a sentence ranging from seven years to life imprisonment as stipulated under article 263 of the new penal code.
Side effects
Mayirungi remains one of the less talked about psychotropic substances composed of leaves of a wild plant, and considered harmful to users. It was classified as narcotic drug with psychological dependence, in 1980 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Medical experts say the use of khat cause many side effects including mood changes, excessive talkativeness, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, manic behaviour, paranoia, and psychoses. Insomnia or trouble sleeping, loss of energy (malaise), and lack of concentration usually follow.
It contains two mild stimulants; cathinone and cathine, and is associated with increased risk for a variety of medical complications, including dental disease and mouth cancers, heart problems, liver disease, sleep problems and reduced appetite.
Information from the family of the deceased indicates that Nzungize fell in comatose soon after the was hit with the nail in the head and taken to Kabutare Hospital from where he was transferred to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) and University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK).
Nzugize had served 18 years in prison while Hitimana who killed him was handed 30 years sentence since 17th October 1994. He still had five years to complete the jail term.
Speaking to IGIHE, Rwanda Correctional Service spokesperson, SSP Hillary Sengabo said it was the first time such incident happens in Rwanda’s prison.
“The cruelty has left us a lesson to deeply assess inmates’ characters before they are reintegrated in the community,” he said.
Figures indicate that at least over 800 genocide convicts will be released this year, 920 will be released in 2020, 1496 in 2021, and 3620 in 2022 while 2012 will be released in 2023.
The killer has been handed to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB).
Attended by 150 mourners, the ceremony held on Sunday was marked by a walk to remember from Place du souvenir Africain, a place where the memorial of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi built in 2018 is located, crossed around Dakar city before returning to the memorial.
The President of Rwandan diaspora in Senegal, Patrick Karamaga reflected on history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and hate speech propagated by politicians.
He recalled the speech of Leon Mugesera in 1992 held in Kabaya mobilizing Hutus to return Tutsi home in Ethiopia through River Nyabarongo which later turned into reality when Tutsi were thrown in the river dead or alive during genocide.
Karamaga reminded the youth of their role to build the nation free of divisionism and ensure genocide never happens again.
The President of the Friends of Rwanda’s Association, Dr. Sakhoudia Thiam said that commemorating genocide should be everyone’s responsibility.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Senegal, Dr. Mathias Harebamungu explained how colonizers divided Rwandans and early preparations of genocide since 1959 when Tutsi were deprived of their rights and killed at different regimes until the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi was executed.
Amb Harebamungu also reflected on 10 commandments of Hutus and hates speeches mobilizing Tutsi killings and called on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to increase memorials of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi across the world and urged people with genocide archives to share them with Rwandans.
The ceremony was concluded by laying wreaths in Atlantic Ocean.
The ceremony took place within 100 days of national mourning in commemoration of genocide victims.
They join 700 other young African leaders for a six- week program, and will be hosted by 12 prestigious United States universities followed by a conference in Washington, DC.
The 12 Rwandan recipients were selected from over 600 Rwandan applicants and represent an extraordinary group of leaders already making important contributions in entrepreneurship, public administration, and civil society in their communities.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
The Fellowship will provide outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa the opportunity to hone their talents at a U.S. higher education institution with support for continued professional development after returning home.
These institutes focus on leadership and skills development in one of three areas: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.
In the past decades since the inauguration of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the larger YALI program have become a model for exchanges in Southeast Asia, the Americas, and in Europe. There is the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) and the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI).
The agreements were signed yesterday at UoK headquarters after holding a panel discussion engaging students on the importance of leveraging development on digital financial transactions.
The partnership aligns with KCB vision to acquaint the university youth with labor market competencies and promoting the society’s welfare in general.
KCB Treasury Manager, Nicole Kazura said the bank is glad to enter the partnership with UoK to prepare for students’ future.
“We believe you (students) will take advantage of the opportunity and work hard. KCB has places for students in economics, technology among other courses. It is the beginning of the partnership but we want to see students getting more internship opportunities and jobs. This is our ambition. We want to contribute to national economic development,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor of UoK, Prof. Abraham Waithima commended KCB for the program creating room for students to immerse their skills.
KCB began operations in Rwanda in 2008. It has been active in different programs meant to promote education and protecting environment among others.
The Bank also partnered with the National Youth Council for youth scholarships to study vocational skills of who 100 were sponsored last year and 200 this year under the ‘KCB Igire Program’.
The president made the observation today in Belgium as he attended Europe’s leading development forum, European Development Days (EDD).
President Kagame said that Africa is also starting to come together to assert its interests with one voice referring to the African Continental Free Trade Area as one of the most significant recent achievements in expanding the horizon of opportunities on the African continent, which will be formally launched next month at the African Union Summit in Niger.
Kagame stressed that there is more work ahead to make sure that this agreement results in increased prosperity for all people noting that the continent is eager to get started because the task of addressing inequality has always been the primary responsibility of each individual country.
He explained that in the current global context, it is more imperative than ever that developing countries take more effective lead of their general development agenda, as well as raising the level of prosperity.
“It is not something that can be done by external actors alone. The starting point is an inclusive politics that puts citizens at the centre. Community ownership of development empowers citizens to hold government accountable,” said Kagame.
The President highlighted that the latter builds public trust without which it is difficult for governments to define the challenges that impede progress, and implement appropriate solutions.
Referring to Rwanda’s situation, Kagame explained that Rwandans have been able to get some good results relative to the limited level of resources at their disposal, particularly in areas including health, access to education, and environment.
“This shows what is possible in other areas, and on a larger scale, especially by investing in human capital and technology,” he said.
“In addition, we are working to create new employment opportunities for women, youth, and vulnerable groups, so that they are able to make full use of their talents and innovation to achieve a better standard of living,” added Kagame.
He also lauded the President of the European Union, Jean-Claude Juncker who is completing his mandate for his committed leadership as well as the strong and productive partnership that has been built over time, between the European Union, and both Rwanda and Africa.
This Year’s European Development Days (EDD) forum was organized under the theme: ‘Inequalities: trends and challenges in the context of globalization.’
Kagame was invited to deliver a keynote speech on ‘Addressing inequalities: Building a world which leaves no one behind’ at the two-day summit held on 18-19th June 2019.
European Development Days was launched in since 2006.
It is organized by the European Commission, the European Development Days (EDD) and brings the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
In 1987, Tanzania offered Rwanda 17, 5-hectare (ha) piece of land additional to 12 ha received from Kenya in 1986 at the regime of President Daniel Arap Moi.
Again in 2013, Djibouti offered Rwanda a 20-hectare piece of land at the port of Djibouti which it expanded buying more 40 ha. The latter was in reciprocity to a plot of land in the Kigali Special Economic Zone.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye has said that the process of defining the implementation modalities and the development of her land in Djibouti is on course with already designed blueprints for exploitation.
She revealed this on Monday during a press conference to disclose advantages Rwanda gains from admission to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“There have been delays in exploiting those pieces of land like the case for Djibouti. We engaged into discussions with the country and gave them the proposal on modalities to exploit the land,” said Minister Hakuziyaremye.
She explained that utilizing the donated land will attract both the Government because the private sector as some have demonstrated willingness to put it to use.
“Private investors demonstrated willingness given that they already run businesses in the country. We tasked them come up with a proposal to be presented to Djibouti so they can operate from the place if approved,” she said
Minister Hakuziyaremye said, the Government is following the project and communicates outcomes from discussions.
In May 2018, MPs asked the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Vincent Munyeshyaka why it has been four years since Rwanda’s land received from Djibouti remains unexploited.
Munyeshyaka explained that the Government had signed a contract with a Chinese company ‘Tourchroad International Holding Group’ which had to prepare the land but cancelled the agreements later.
“The company had no competencies to prepare the land and decided to look for another contractor,” he said.
Munyeshyaka said the tender was won by three contractors while Rwanda Development Board (RDB) still assesses the feasibility of the project.
“During previous discussions, they demonstrated willingness to start working on the project because the proposal was well elaborated,” he said.
In April 2017, the then Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo said exploiting the land was a priority. She revealed it on the occasion of working visit along with President Paul Kagame to Djibouti.
In June last year, the senators’ general assembly urged the Government to closely follow up the project and communicate on the progress.
The lawsuit was filed by three Rwandans accompanied by their lawyer Richard Mugisha yesterday at the branch of East African Court of Justice based in Kimihurura, Kigali city.
The complainants include Ezechiel Muhawenimana, 36, and his wife, Esperance Dusabimana who spent nine months in Uganda’s prison where the woman who was pregnant at the time of arrest delivered a baby.
The family hailing from Ngororero district requested USD $ 100,000 compensation for illegal detention and false accusations of illegal crossing of the border.
Muhawenimana and his wife were arrested in July last year on the way to attend the burial of a relative in Uganda.
The family filed the lawsuit along with Venant Hakolimana from Ngororero district who requested USD $ 1 million compensation for torture inflicted on him in Uganda.
Speaking to the media after filing the lawsuit, Richard Mugisha, the defense lawyer of the three Rwandans said that five more Rwandans tortured in Uganda have contacted him for legal assistance.
Mugisha said it is sad that his clients were tortured in a member state of East African Community and expressed optimism to get justice from the court.
“We trust the court to act within its mandate. EAC founders knew there might be problems and established the court to handle emerging issues. We believe in the court’s fairness while solving this issue,” he said.
Mugisha who was the Chairperson of East Africa Lawyers Association revealed he is representing these torture victims for free on request of Rwanda’s Lawyers Association.
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.
Last week, more 20 Rwandans were deported from Uganda after spending sometime in the country’s prisons.
A total of 900 Rwandans are 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.
In the first quarter services sector grew by 8% and contributed 48% of GDP, agriculture sector grew by 4% and contributed 28% of the GDP, and industry sector grew by 18% contributing 17% of GDP. 7% was attributed to adjustment for taxes and subsidies on products.
Ivan Murenzi, Deputy Director General of NISR said that while the first quarter growth was impressive, it was still early to make a conclusive remark on the whole economy because there are three other quarters to be covered.
“So far 8.4% is a good start and is a good growth by all standards,” Murenzi said.
The Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning Dr. Claudine Uwera, said that the economy was expected to sustain the positive growth rate.
“In general, the performance is good and we project a sustained trend,” she said.
According to the quarterly report, the 4% growth of the agriculture sector was a result of medium harvest from season A of 2019.
Export crops decreased by 9% mainly due to the decrease of 7% in the production of tea and a decrease of 19% in production of other cash crops, including flowers, pyrethrum & sugar cane, however production of coffee increased by 2%.
Industry growth was 18% and the main contributor was construction activities which grew by 30%. Mining & quarrying activities increased by 12%, while manufacturing grew by 8%. The growth in the mining sector is due to a 20% increase in quarrying activities. Made in Rwanda program has significantly contributed to the manufacturing sector.
For example, there has been a 15% increase in textiles clothes and leather goods, 38% increase in wood, paper and printing. Furthermore, the production of construction materials such as metallic products grew by 11%, while non-metallic mineral products such as cement increased by 21%.
The service sector grew by 8% and was mainly boosted by: wholesale and retail trade which increased by 7%, Transport which grew by 11% boosted by Air transport which increased by 21%.
