The building was located near Kigali City roundabout, opposite the Kiyovu neighborhood. It was closed and demolished in 2014 due to the under-use of the land and building.
“Together with the French embassy in Kigali, we are discussing on how to bring back the French Cultural Centre. This might not include the action of rebuilding the house but together we are looking for a place where they can operate from, which will be very soon. They are appreciating some of the buildings, and we are helping them to see if the areas are suitable for their activities”, said Marie Chantal Rwakazina, Mayor of Kigali City during a press conference.
Before its demolition, Centre d’Echange Culturels Franco-Rwandais had facilities such as a library and could host French lectures, seminars about culture and small concerts.
While speaking to over 1000 university youth in Musanze district during talks organized by Unit Club Intwararumuri, Gen Kabarebe said despite obstacles encountered they regained strength and hope for triumph emanating from values their commander President Paul Kagame instilled in them.
Unity Club, is an organization made up of former and current cabinet members and their spouses created with the aim of promoting unity while contributing to the socio-economic development of the country that following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The liberation war began on 1st October 1990 launched by RPF-Inkotanyi. After the second day of the liberation war, the force lost the top commander Maj Gen Fred Rwigema and close subordinates including Bayingana.
“This disturbed us and made us feel how the battle was complicated than expected,” he said.
Gen. Kabarebe revealed that the key to success following such loss was values instilled by President Kagame and his expertise commanding the war.
He explained that Kagame re-organized the battle from scratch because soldiers seemed to be on the brink of defeat over inadequate skills to combat and organizing a war.
“We were armed soldiers when we raided Rwanda. We would find Habyarimana soldiers playing cards in Kagitumba. They would flee as we shot them and conquer the area but without determined goal and values for the battle,” he said.
Gen Kabarebe stressed that their efforts would remain futile hadn’t they had President Kagame who came in with new tactics , reorganizing the battle and setting up defined goals.
He said President Kagame withdrew the force from Mutara where they were prone to gun and helicopters’ shots to Virunga National Parks where he set a redefined vision to fight for unity, human rights and Rwandans development among others.
“He taught us war techniques, does and don’ts, high level discipline and values,” he told the youth.
The latter enabled RPA military to understand that values and building mindsets opposed to adversaries is paramount.
“He urged us to be disciplined, love the nation and fight for it, sacrificing for the nation. Dedication and using few resources to achieve more. Every soldier was equipped with values and understanding the rationale for the battle. Such values gave us more strength than equipment we had because RPA had few resources,” said Gen Kabarebe.
He called on the youth to be characterized by such moral values, patriotism and sacrifice for it where necessary and draw from it a lesson to become confident.
One of members of Unit Club, Stella Ford Mugabo requested the youth to root on these values and preserve the country’s achievements.
The youth also pledged to utilize their efforts creating own solutions and building the nation.
The visit was in line with the existing working relations between Rwanda and Italy.
IGP Munyuza and His Excellency Domenico discussed measures to strengthen parternship between RNP and Carabiniere.
Carabiniere is the National Gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations.
HE Domenico described the bilateral cooperation between RNP and Carabinieri as “excellent.”
The partnership is guided by the cooperation pact signed in January 2017, which elaborates exchange of best practices and capacity building in varied areas.
The agreement focuses mainly on training; counter-terrorism, public order management, traffic and road safety, peace support operations, aviation security, border security and cybercrime investigations, among others.
Under this framework, hundreds of Rwandan Police officers have been trained in various policing disciplines such as Counter Terrorism, Aviation Security, Road Safety and Traffic Management, Public Order Management, Canine Handling and Special Forces Training.
The discussions have also been attended by Rwanda’s ambassador to Egypt,Sheikh Habimana Saleh.
During his visit to Cairo, Minister Sezibera also had a meeting with Gen. Mohamed Zaki, Minister of Defense of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
He also met with H.E Dr. Ali Abdel -Aal Sayed Ahmed, the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, who is expected to pay an official visit to Rwanda soon.
Rwanda,Egypt enjoy cooperation in three areas including trade,education and health to which both countries are earmarking much effort to generate mutual benefits.
In education sector, Rwandans students have been getting opportunities to further studies in Egypt.
Today, 63 students are pursuing studies in Egypt of whom 51 are studying at Al-Azhar University on partnership with Muslim community in Rwanda, 7 are self-funded at Alexandria University , 2 students attend studies at Cairo University and 1 studying at British University in Cairo.
They also laid wreaths at the mass graves and toured different facilities at the memorial to learn more about history before, during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Hidalgo lauded efforts of Kigali Memorial to preserve genocide history.
“I appreciate works done at this memorial. It replicates the entire truth on the execution of genocide,” she said.
Hidalgo stressed that depicting truth on history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is the right way to regain strength towards the resilience journey.
It is said that the victims were weeding beans’ garden of an old woman Pascasie Mukamusoni, 63, when it rained heavily. They all went to seek shelter at the home of Jean Bosco Habimana where lightning struck them.
Mukamusoni and Bernadette Bapfakururimi died on spot while six others were taken to Rusasa health center.
The head of Rusasa health center, Désiré Bwenge has told IGIHE that the six survivors are recovering.
“They have no complicated issues. We are taking care of them and hope they will all recover,” he said.
This follows Sunday incident where lightining struck dead seven cows of James Rutayisire in Nyagatare district.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye officiated the pass-out ceremony held yesterday and gave the new officers the rank of Police Constable.
The pass out ceremony was also attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza, Governor of the Eastern Province, Fred Mufurukye; Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Services, George Rwigamba; Prosecutor General, Richard Muhumuza; Secretary General of Rwanda Investigation Bureau, Col. Jeannot Ruhunga; and Deputy IGPs; Juvenal Marizamunda of Administration and Personnel and Felix Namuhoranye of Operations, among others.
“We are here today not only to support our Police but also to acknowledge and cement the existing relations and partnership. The parade, smartness, equipment, the men and women matching before us come from us to ensure peace, security and freedom, which lays a firm foundation for development and our country’s transformation,” Minister Busingye said.
He added: “There’s time when security was at its lowest; crimes against humanity, discrimination and ethnicity were the definition of work and governance in our country. The unity, security, peace, and development we have today were achieved at a cost of sacrifice, putting lives on the line and patriotism.”
Minister Busingye highlighted that security is guaranteed today while crimes are at the lowest like never before noting that this is how it should be and the way of life.
He observed that RNP’s participation in peacekeeping continues to define the country’s image on the international scene.
With about 1200 Police officers in various peacekeeping missions across the globe, Rwanda ranks the second Police contributing country and first female contributor.
“To Police officers graduating today, a lot is expected from you to supplement this journey of defining the safety and dignity of our country through teamwork and partnership with other Police officers and Rwandans to fight and prevent crime,” Minister Busingye said.
He thanked them for joining RNP to serve their country and for the resilience, sacrifice and commitment throughout the course, but challenged them not to engage in any malpractice that tarnish the image of RNP.
Minister Busingye pledged the country’s commitment in skills development of officers through training both locally and in other countries, and acquiring hi-tech equipment to ensure quality policing services
The Minister further acknowledged the force’s role in the country’s development through its human security programmes as well as empowering Rwandans through community policing to be custodians of the law.
Through the RNP human security programme, the force constructs roads linking communities, shelter for vulnerable families, provides medical insurance to the disadvantaged, plants trees as part of the country’s environmental protection programme, and has so far donated solar power system to about 4000 households located far from the national grid.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Vianney Nshimiyimana, the commandant of PTS, said that the Police Basic Training Course equips participants with use of arms, homeland security operations, peacekeeping, use of technology in crime investigation, law, community policing, disaster response, drills, physical fitness and other policing related duties.
The commandant also thanked the trainees for their discipline, respect, teamwork and resilience throughout the course.
He also thanked the government for support in quality training programmes.
The incident took place yesterday night. The executive secretary of Nyagatare sector, Ingabire Jenny has told IGIHE that lightning struck the cows under a tree where they were sheltered.
” It is true that lighting struck and killed all the seven cows sheltered under a tree,” she said.
The donations delivered on Friday followed a visit to Kabgayi genocide memorial where they laid wreaths on graves in honor of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Each beneficiary family received 25 kgs of rice, African wrapper, Kitenge, eight kgs of sugar, and two cartons of soap. In addition two of the families received cash donations to buy either two pigs or two goats.
Beneficiaries hailed the support that came in handy.
Espérance Mukagasana, who is in the first Ubudehe category said: “We are grateful for donations. Indeed received livestock will be the foundation for my agri-business project.”
Another beneficiary Euphrasie Nyiramasuka said the gesture gives hope that they are not left behind in development.
The executive secretary of Shyogwe sector, Vedaste Habinshuti hailed the support noting that it signifies a lot to beneficiaries wellbeing.
” The donors have comforted us and contributed to our welfare,” he stressed.
The Director General of RPPA, Augustus Seminega revealed that the kind act was meant to demonstrate the brotherhood and remind those mothers that they won’t walk alone along the resilience journey.
” We decided to support this group after consulting with CNLG and establishing the main pressing issue facing them.” he said.
The donations of foodstuff and livestock were worth over Ref 1.5 million.
RPPA organizes such charities annually joining the rest of Rwandans to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He is was among 38 students who received Master’s degree in eEconomics during a the ceremony held yesterday at the headquarters of the College in Massachusetts in which other 511 students were conferred upon Bbachelor’s degrees.
The President of Williams College, Maud S. Mandel said that it was the 230th intake and lauded different guests including friends and relatives of graduates from different corners for attending the ceremony.
The graduates are from 61 countries.
One of the guests Joseph Wilson said that it is of great value to reach the milestone successfully after graduates spent days and nights studying to succeed exams and being away from their homes.
Graduates were asked to use acquired knowledge to transform their communities and play a role in seeking solutions to address existing problems.
Ange Kagame who also obtained Master’s degree last month at the School of International and Public Affairs, SIPA in Columbia has via twitter account congratulated his brother Ian Kagame who was a player of the Williams College in football and Track & Field.
“Two Sport College Athlete (Track & Field Captain & Soccer). To the sibling that makes the rest of us feel like we’re underachieving. Congrats on another milestone-Economics Degree. Sooo proud of you,” she said.
