The contingent known as Rwanda FPU8 was headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Kamunuga as its commander. It was the eighth rotation since 2010.
Upon arrival, the officers were received by Commissioner of Police (CP) George Rumanzi, commissioner for operations, on behalf of Rwanda National Police (RNP).
“Your country commends you for the selfless service and patience. There was no case of indiscipline and you have come back home healthy; the duty continues back home and the knowledge and skills you acquired should be your weapon of effectiveness,” CP Rumanzi told the officers.
The Contingent Commander, ACP Yahaya Kamunuga said “We were sent to do a duty, which we are glad to have accomplished. We are happy that no one was hurt during our year-long peacekeeping duty in Haiti.”
“We had a duty to protect civilians, UN staff and their property and key installations; but we were also tasked with training Haitian Police. We acted as a team and we are happy that all this went well,” ACP Kamunuga said.
ACP Kamunuga also thanked the people of Haiti, local leaders and other peacekeepers for their “friendliness and partnership” in security and humanitarian activities including Umuganda—a monthly communal work.
While officiating this exercise, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Kenya Amb. James Kimonyo who is also Chief Returning officer welcomed the voters and commended them for turning up in good numbers to exercise their civic duty before explaining the voting process.
A total of 537 applied for parliamentary contest, 64 per cent are women.
Leading the pack was Amb Kimonyo, casting his vote before 7 am at the High Commission on Limuru Road.
The Under 20 volleyball team representing Rwanda at the 2018 Women’s U20 African Nations Championship in Nairobi also broke from camp and arrived in their official national kits to vote ahead of their final match with Egypt on Sunday evening.
“It is a day for Rwandans to exercise their democratic rights and it doesn’t matter where in Diaspora the citizens are; they are allowed to vote for their favourite leaders back home,” said Mr. Kimonyo.
He said at least 2000 registered voters were expected to cast votes in Nairobi.
The other polling station in Kenya is Mombasa where according to the Commission’s First Secretary Kim Kamasa was also experiencing a smooth exercise.
“We are so excited to vote today in the midst of our preparations for the final match and this gives us a lot of fulfillment,” said Kansime Julius, head of the Rwandan Under 20- volleyball team.
Kansime said many in the team were voting for the first time in these elections after turning 18 years.
The exercise at the embassy saw women with children stacked on their backs patiently waiting for their turn to vote in this secret ballot exercise.
Mrs. Lucia Ingabire who showed up with her baby on the back couldn’t hide her joy minutes after casting the vote.
“I am happy. I have made it here to make a choice.”
Also voting in the exercise was the Rwanda East Africa Legislative Assembly member and former Prime Minster of Rwanda Pierre-Celestin Rwigema.
“I had to come here and vote because it is a very important exercise in the way we manage our public affairs with the endorsement and authority of the Rwandan people,” he said after voting.
Rwandans in Mombasa voted from Royal Castle Hotel.
Hussein Mugisha who was the first person to cast his vote said he had waited long for the voting occasion.
“I turned 18 years old three month ago. I have been waiting for this moment. As you can see I am in school uniform and from here I will proceed to school; that’s why I got here before anyone else so that I can vote and go on with my schooling business,” he said Mugisha.
Rwandan Parliament is comprised of 80 members for a five-year term elected. Among the 80, 53 members from different parties and independent candidates are elected in general elections. Other 27 seats go to women with 24 seats. youth with two seats and one seat for the people with disabilities.
In the country, general elections are taking place this Monday.
According to Xinhua, President Kagame described the summit as timely since there is “need for cooperation more than ever” as some countries make clear their intention to serve themselves first over other countries.
Established since 2000, FOCAC the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation, FOCAC, is a meeting between the two partners and is largely premised on ways to increase diplomatic, economic and bilateral ties.
The head of State said that China and Africa share a common aspiration for development and stability. With a solid foundation in place for China-Africa cooperation, Kagame said he expects the summit, set for Sept. 3-4, to further expand the scope of cooperation and do “better and more of what we are doing well now.”
FOCAC emphasizes a form where countries come together for cooperation, carrying a positive message for the whole world, he added.
On Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Rwanda in July, President Kagame said it “offered us a great opportunity to discuss and strengthen our friendship and cooperation” at the bilateral level and beyond. The visit was the first to the African country by a Chinese head of state.
On Rwanda-China relations, President Kagame called it a “productive partnership” of mutual benefit, observing that it has brought great benefits to Rwandans.
{{AU reforms fit well with China cooperation
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President Kagame, who is also the Chairman of the African Union (AU) elaborated on his goal for institutional reform of the continental bloc, noting that the ongoing reform of the AU fits very well with the continent’s cooperation with China.
He said that there was a lot of strength in unity, and AU member states need to work closely for a better future of the continent.
“We should be able to take care of ourselves”. Kagame said
Preliminary results announced Sunday evening by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) show that Mussolini won 75.6% votes equivalent to 485 individuals from the voting representatives of people with disabilities around the country.
Having physical disability himself, Mussolini defeated nine candidates including Gaston Rusiha who was an MP in the immediate last term.
NEC President Prof. Kalisa Mbanda said the poll for the representation of people with disabilities started at 10 am and closed around midday in the districts across the country.
He said the elections were held in a peaceful and transparent environment.
Mussolini has been the Executive Secretary of the National Council of People with Disabilities (NCPD) in Gasabo District, Kigali.
He doubled as a member of Gasabo advisory council.
The voting council of people with disabilities consists of 668 but only 641 participated in the poll yesterday, representing 96% of the total voters.
People with disabilities have one representative in the parliament as the Constitution puts it.
Rwanda’s Parliament consists of 106 parliamentarians of who 80 are elected for a 5 year term in the lower chamber. The lower chamber includes 53 MPs elected in general elections, 2 representatives of the youth, 24 representing women and one representing people with disability.
General elections, started in a special way as a great number of early-risers were already positioned at polling stations, at 5 a.m.
{{How Elections are going in different parts of the country
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Several dignitaries, officials have started voting.
-* First ever polling stations in hospitals
At least 33 polling stations have been opened in hospitals for the parliamentary elections. The stations help especially patients, their caregivers and hospitals’ workers to cast their votes.
Agnes Nyiraneza who was due for a sonogram session at Muhima Hospital welcomed the initiative.
“I had already decided not to vote since I usually leave the hospital at a late hour, but now I will be able to vote.” She said
Pacifique Gashirabake who is in charge Civic Education in Muhima Sector said “Every sick person is entitled to come here. Even if the person is too sick, we will help him/her to vote.”
{{Progress
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Rachid Mugemana aged 75, has already voted at Groupe Scolaire de Kimironko II.
Speaking to IGIHE, he said that although much has been accomplished, in the country, MPs need to continue speaking for citizens and see that their concerns are addressed.
Over 11 742 voters are expected at the polling station where Dr Frank Habineza, President of Green Party, voted from.
In all parts of the country, voting has started. Intrepid ones who arrived early at polling stations, are on their way home.
{{Elders first at Polling Stations
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Suzanne Niyonteze aged 66 from Gitwa cell, Tumba sector arrived at 5 a.m.
“I feel like I have to be the first one in all good things. From here, I am going straight to my business and work in peace.”
Eastern Province’ Governor, Fred Mufulukye on a line, together with locals to vote
07:00: Voting starts all over Rwanda
06:50: Electoral volunteers from Kabusunzu Site have arrived in Nyarugenge District, Kigali where they will be working.
Electoral Volunteers from Rusizi .
In Rwamagana, observers from the Embassy of the United States of America have arrived at the polling stations.
06:40: In Rusizi, 96 polling stations and 598 electoral rooms have been set ready in colorful embellishments for the elections. In Buranga, voters have already arrived, waiting for the hour to vote (7 a.m). 7542 voters are expected to turn out at the station.
06:30: At Giporoso Station, those who came to vote have started forming lines, waiting for Elections to start.
06:10: In Kigali, in Gatenga High school, 7000 voters are expected to turn in the 12 polling stations. Up to now, electoral volunteers together with some locals have arrived.
{{Electoral rooms opened 6 a.m.
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05:50: Rwamagana, early risers have joined Islamic polling station. Some of them were requesting polls to start at 6 a.m sharp, for them to go on with their works.
Kicukiro and Musanze are the first and second runners-up with 86.69% and 86.17% respectively. Muhanga District closes the ranking as the 30th with the score of 51.66%.
The last year’s performance was announced Friday as districts signed new commitments in the youth category for the fiscal year 2018-2019 which is underway from July 1.
Robert Mwesigwa, the Executive Secretary of National Youth Council, said the youth will focus on collective work supporting the vulnerable families with the construction of latrines, vegetable gardens and promoting youth saving groups, among other activities.
Local Government Minister Francis Kaboneka encouraged youth leaders to keep up the commitments through ‘imihigo’, saying that their activities are contributing in the citizens’ welfare.
Rosemary Mbabazi, the Minister for Youth, urged the youth to reach out further to smallest administrative entities, namely villages and cells.
She told districts’ mayors to reactivate currently dormant centres in their respective districts.
“There are currently unproductive youth centres yet they should be helping our youth with leisure, health services, jobs application, training, creating jobs, and more,” said Mbabazi.
{{Ranking of Districts in implementing Youth Performance Contracts 2017-2018
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The call was made by fellow women from across the country who said that without proper addressing of premature and unwanted pregnancies, the women folk will have big percentages bogged in reproductive health problems and trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.
IGIHE talked to a number of female voters who gave an insight of what their expectations from female members of Parliament are, where most gave an intersection of ideas on pragmatically addressing premature pregnancies.
Marine Nsengiyumva a resident of Kimonyi sector, Musanze District said that mobilization from the villages is very important as it guarantees proper permeation of messages to the desired populations.
“We want them to come to grassroots level and see for themselves if really gender balance is applied. Moreover, we wish that women, who will be elected, do their best to eradicate the issue of young girls who leave school due to unplanned pregnancies,” she commissioned.
Uwimana from Rushashi sector, Gakenke District, said MPs needed to legislate tougher punitive sanctions against men who cause teenage pregnancies as part of the paths towards curbing the challenge.
Mukabano Agnes, who wishes to represent women in the Southern province, admitted that unwanted pregnancies were hindering teenage girls from realizing their full potentials. She pledged to focus on the issue when elected.
“There are a big number of children who drop out of school because of this problem, and it is hindering their lives, education and the country’s development in general,” Mukamabano said as she pledged to sensitize and fight the problem when elected.
According to statistics published by Ministry of Gender and Family Planning in 2016, a total of 17,500 teenagers left school due to unwanted pregnancies. Gasabo District had the highest pregnancy rate (1,157) in 2016 and 1,274 in 2017.
Parliamentary general elections are taking place tomorrow in the country but the Diaspora usually votes a day before.
Rwandans in New Zealand were the first to vote this Sunday. They convened at the polling station at 9am there, that was 11pm on Saturday in Rwanda.
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette have also voted from Beijing where the couple is participating in China-Africa Summit, FOCAC2018.
{{Elsewhere in the world, casting votes is going on
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-* In Egypt, Rwandans were casting their votes in Cairo at their Embassy’s Headquarters. Elections started from 9 a.m to 3p.m. Over 111 voters turned out in the elections.
-* In Congo Brazzaville, Rwandans are voting as well.
-* In Canada too, Rwandans were voting
-*Ambassador to Sweden, Christine Nkurikiyinka, casts vote.
-* Ambassador to Netherlands, Jean Pierre Karabaranga and other Rwandans there vote in for MPs.
-* Ambassador to India, Erneste Rwamucyo casts vote. More Rwandans in India vote in parliamentary elections on Sunday.
-* In Brussels and Liège, Belgium, Rwandans led by Ambassador Amandin Rugira vote. Belgium is home to one of the largest Rwanda’s Diaspora. Over 3,500 voters are expected to vote from Belgium.
-* In Paris, France, one Claudette Murekatete voted first out of 400 voters expected there.
-* In Moscow, Russia, Rwandans are voting as well.
-** Ambassador James Kimonyo leads Rwandan community in Kenya in the vote.
{{In Ankara, Turkey, Rwandans are voting.}}
-* New Zealand, 10 hours ahead of Rwanda, was the first to open the poll.
Speaking from New Zealand, Egide Kalisa told IGIHE that they got all the poll requirements from their embassy in Singapore on time. Kalisa was the first to vote among all Rwandans in Diaspora.
Rwandan youth in New Zealand in blissful faces after casting their votes.
L_R, Kevin Hazikimana, Flora Uwase, Allan Hakizimana and Godfrey Tahabwisi.
-* Rwandans in Tokyo, Japan, also voted early Sunday
-* Seoul in South Korea, Rwandans are voting for the 80-seat Lower House for the next five-year term.
-* Uganda, Rwandans are casting votes. There are 800 voters.
-* In Rwanda, polling stations have been set ready in colourful embellishments for the elections tomorrow.
Sunday and Monday polls will decide 53 seats. The 53 are sought by an RPF-lead coalition of seven parties, four other parties apart and four independent candidates.
The games that officially kicked off on 04th August saw its finals on this Saturday, 01st September, 2018.
The tournament which is organized by Rwanda Bankers’ Association-RBA, aims to create better inter-bank relations by giving members a chance to interact with each other, away from their core profession and also sustain their health through Sports.
The participating banks in the games were; Bank of Kigali, AB Bank, Access Bank, GT Bank, BPR, Cogebanque, Urwego Bank, I&M Bank, Equity Bank, KCB Bank, Unguka Bank, Central Bank and Bank of Africa.
BK took the volleyball title after Central Bank voluntarily forfeited. It had been earlier demolished by Ecobank.
The BK basketball team led by Popular Lionel Hakizimana defeated Equity Bank 87-63 in the final played at the Rwanda National Paralympic Committee gymnasium at Amahoro Stadium. He features for local giants Patriots basketball club.
Although beaten, Olivier Shyaka, who played for Equity Bank, was awarded as the best player of the game. He plays for local giants REG Basketball ball team.
Bank of Kigali also claimed the football title by defeating 2-0 against Equity Bank. On another side, BPR demolished BNR by scoring 7-2.
In each game, the first team got away with a cup and a cash prize of Rwf1 Million. The second was awarded with Rwf500 000, and the third went away with Rwf300 000.
Afterwards, Celebrations were held in Century Park, Nyarutarama, where Hip-hop artist, Riderman and DJ Ira warmed revelers.
The Head of state is in Beijing to attend the prestigious summit dubbed ‘Forum for Africa-China Cooperation, FOCAC’ hosted by the Chinese government.
Early in the morning, Rwandans based overseas descended to different polling stations located at embassies and consulates to vote for members of the august house.
Due to global time zone differences, Rwandans in New-Zealand were the first to cast their votes while it was night in Kigali. They were at their polling stations at 9a.m in the morning, being Saturday, 11 p.m in Rwanda.
In other places such as Tokyo, Rwandans also turned out early and in great numbers to vote for their candidates.
In Auckland, Rwandans gathered at 9 a.m to vote in proceedings that were said to be peaceful, according to Egide Kalisa, as they were given every necessity by their Embassy located in Singapour.
There are 46,955 voters expected to vote from 115 polling stations in Diaspora, up from last year’s 44,362 in 98 stations in presidential elections.
