The talks between the two leaders are expected to ease tension between Rwanda and Uganda; considering the frosty relations between the two neighbors in the recent past.
Some of the dignitaries present in the meeting were Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Louise Mushikiwabo; Secretary General at the national intelligence and security services (NISS), Maj. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita; Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage and Principal Private Secretary to the President, Lt. Col. Patrick Karuretwa.
The visit comes a few days after a historic signing of the African Free Trade Area pact in Kigali, an event that President Museveni skipped and was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa.
The two governments have at different times accused each of other of supporting dissidents from the other country and espionage, among others.
Although in a recent press conference, Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, said that the problems between Rwanda and Uganda were being addressed in the interest of citizens of both countries.
“We cannot mistreat Ugandans, they are our relatives, we share a lot; we share history, we share blood. Many Ugandans are our relatives. To us that is very important.” she said.
The meeting is a follow up on the Addis Ababa talks of February, whose aim, included to find a solution to the tensions between the two countries.
According to a statement released by the African Union Commission, President Paul Kagame announced the support in Kigali yesterday during a meeting, with President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, the Chairperson of the Commission, and the Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel, Maman Sidiko.
The meeting took place on sidelines of the Extraordinary Summit on the Continental Free Trade Area which took place on Wednesday.
“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, wishes to commend President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Chairperson of the African Union, for his country’s contribution of one million US dollars in support of the operationalisation of the G5 Sahel joint force,” the statement reads.
Mahamat stressed that the contribution is a strong expression of solidarity with the G5 Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism and organized crime.
Also, Rwanda pledged to provide in-kind support.
The statement says that the financial contribution will be immediately available.
“The Chairperson of the Commission seizes this opportunity to appeal to member states to extend support to the G5 countries,” reads the statement.
The Sahel region is facing political instability involving a combination of rebellions, jihadist insurgencies, coups d’état, protest movements and illegal trafficking.
Nyirasafari was speaking yesterday to the Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights and Petitions in the Senate.
In August 2016, Catholic Church banned all artificial contraceptives in affiliated health facilities saying that they negatively impact lives of users. However they urged for natural family planning control measures.
Nyirasafari said that Churches should understand that family planning is in the benefit of the country, and, whoever sees it to the contrary is not building the nation.
Senator Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo said the government has the power to change mindsets of the Catholic Church.
“These are partners who should change mindsets, the government should discuss with them so that they will understand the problem,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Nyirasafari urged Catholic Church community to choose ways which are better for them as the government encourages citizens to have children they are able to take care of.
Dubbed ‘Young Africa Works’, the project has two initiatives which are ‘Hanga Ahazaza’ with $50 million to promote economic opportunities, businesses and tourism, and ‘Leaders in Teaching’ which aims at teachers’ capacity building.
Speaking at the launch of the five-year project, MasterCard Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Reeta Roy said that the initiatives are the beginning of organization’s new strategy focused on youth employment.
“There has never been a more consequential time to come of age in Africa. Young people today are growing up with better access to education, health, technology and opportunities undreamed of by their grandparents and parents. It’s amazing to behold,” she said.
“A job is about so much more than money. It’s about dignity. When people have the dignity of work, they are invested in the future,” she added.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Prime Minister, Dr. Eduard Ngirente said that the new Pan-African strategy marks a new partnership between the Government of Rwanda and MasterCard Foundation.
“I am honored privileged to witness the launch of this new MasterCard Foundation Strategy. As it has been explained, this strategy has two significant initiatives: {To develop tourism and hospitality industry, and to improve quality of secondary education.} The initiatives are in line with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation which was launched last year,” he said.
“In this National Strategy that aims at taking Rwanda beyond high income to high living standards by 2050, tourism and improved quality of education are among key priorities,” he added.
He said Rwandan Government appreciated the new initiative which is also aligned with the Africa’s broader transformation agenda as planned in the Africa Agenda 2063.
He promised Rwanda’s support to ensure the new partnership will remain strong and fruitful.
With $50 million Hanga Ahazaza Initiative, 30,000 people in tourism will be trained in ICT, good services delivery and access to finance services by small businesses.
The Leaders in Teaching Initiative will help to train teachers and school head teachers and over 250 students from secondary school will benefit from the initiative through Smart Classroom Programme.
Ms. Kyte was in Kigali for the three-day Sustainable Energy Forum for East Africa 2018 that kicked off on Monday.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Tuesday, Kyte hailed the East African (EA) countries’ efforts towards providing universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to their populations as set out in goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that must be achieved by the year 2030.
She, however, noted that EA’s 25% energy access is still among the lowest in the world because it started from a low base and urged the EA countries to set aggressive targets and to move at the highest speed to ensure that energy access goal is achieved earlier because it is a precondition for other goals to be achieved by 2030.
Kyte said there isn’t any reason the region cannot achieve the goal considering its energy resources and technical potentials, calling for contribution of all stakeholders including governments, development partners, private sector, civil society and every citizen.
{ {{Below are interview’s excerpts:
}} }
{{IGIHE: How do you perceive the state of renewable energy in the East African region and Rwanda in particular compared to other parts of the world?}}
{{Kyte:}} There is good news and bad news for East Africa. The good news is that there is abundant renewable energy in the region: hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, everything. There has been incredible innovation in East Africa particularly in helping low income people participate in economy. So the advance of using business models with renewable energy started in East Africa to inspire the world. The other part of the good news is that the East African countries are making incredible progress including in renewable energy sector in closing energy access gaps.
The bad news is that there is still a very long way to go. East Africa started the journey from a low base. It is still one of the parts of the world where energy access gap is the largest. We are not yet where we need to be, we need to move at big speed and scale to achieve the sustainable development goal 7. By energy access gap, I’m talking about one billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity, three billion people worldwide who don’t have access to the technology and fuels to cook cleanly.
The goal is to achieve universal energy access by 2030. In East Africa, the access is at 25%; so we have got a long way to go. It is however important to note that having energy access is important, but it is more important of what you can do with it.
{{What are the issues impeding effective development and use of renewable energy in this region and Rwanda in particular?
}}
When we think of sustainable energy, we think of three things happening at the same time. Energy system must be more efficient; so we have to use less power to do things. Secondly, we have universal access, everybody should have access. Thirdly, the energy mix should be cleaner; so there is need for more renewable energy.
In this forum, we are talking about what the East African governments can do to set more aggressive targets for energy efficiency and to improve the regulations and standards across the region. If East Africa has the same standards, that creates a bigger market for the private sector. Secondly, we are talking about what works for attracting investors in renewable energy for both the grid and off-grid. Thirdly, there is a lot of conversation about off-grid energy systems providing cheaper access to those people who do not have access. People in isolated areas, it is more likely that they will get affordable and reliable power from off-grid solutions like mini-grid or solar home systems.
Underpinning those three things is finance. Is finance available? Are the local banks lending enough into energy sector in particular to off-grid? Are the financial institutions supporting this sector enough? What can governments do? All this is being discussed.
{{What do you think of Rwanda’s higher focus on off-grid to achieve energy access by 2024?
}}
First of all, Rwanda has made incredible progress. When I first came to Rwanda (in 2008), people were talking aspirationally about Methane Gas from Kivu, about hydros on paper, about extending the grid, solar was an aspiration. Rwanda has now come a long way in a very short time. About grid or off grid, the leading countries in the world think about energy systems in an integrated way. So, there is no either or. There must be the grid, it must be as smart as possible, has to be efficient with no transmission losses, it has to be clean. And there must be mini-grids, solar, etc. So the consumer will choose what is better for them, but all must be made efficient and affordable. If the price is coming down, people can choose either grid or off-grid.
{{What do you think can make energy affordable to the most vulnerable people in East Africa?
}}
We are lucky that the energy technology has dropped in prices, at least by 75% in the last seven years. Prices of batteries for solar home systems have also dropped by 75%. There are many projects spreading solar home systems to rural communities here in Rwanda and government can step in with development partners to help set the prices affordable to the most vulnerable. We are even now looking at how we can provide renewable energy to displaced people, to refugee camps in countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania because they host very large numbers of displaced people, the most vulnerable people in society.
The advance of technology makes it possible for the most vulnerable people to have access to power for, first, lighting and charging phones, then, to add appliances like television, refrigerators, etc; all this is thought about as a step towards economic prosperity and how to cook cleanly in a sustainable way. Here in Rwanda, you have got people who are innovating business models the rest of the world is looking at. For example, pellets for cooking. So, here in Rwanda, some of the things the world thinks can be solutions are happening, so it makes East Africa quite special.
About prices, it is good to understand what people can pay, to understand the market, understand what people will use energy for. Traditionally elsewhere in Africa, the focus was on subsidising the utility to make it very cheap perhaps cheaper than what can make the energy sustainable, only going for grid but without any support to off-grid. It is up to governments to balance grid and off-grid to give people access, not just rolling out the grid. It is about how the government approaches the problem because if energy is not affordable, people will not use it.
There is another issue; this is not an issue in Rwanda but it is an issue in other countries in East Africa: the social cost of dirty energy. Countries may not count the cost to their health systems, costs on people with respiratory diseases because of dirty energy. The good thing with renewable energy is that it does not pose those risks; it does not affect the way people breathe. So, by cutting off those costs, renewable energy becomes much cheaper.
{{What do you find as available potentials and opportunities that regional countries can exploit to develop their energy sector?
}}
EAC as a bloc can create a big market if members come together and will make it easier to achieve their goals. Governments should educate local financial institutions on supporting energy sector. The region has great solar capacity, great wind capacity, great geothermal capacity, hydro capacity and potential bio-fuels, the region has everything.
{{What should the regional governments do to provide affordable and sustainable energy to their populations?}}
For the families in the lowest income boundaries, it is the state’s responsibility to make sure the access to energy is established because that access will help with the family’s health, in the children’s education, etc; it is in the state’s interests. The poorest segment in the society can receive some assistance in paying electricity bills to maintain access; they can get subsidised on healthcare, meals, clean cook stoves and fuels.
{{Which role can private sector, civil society and each citizen play in the process?
}}
First of all, this region is ahead of many regions in the world in creativity and innovation, in private sector and civil society organisations (CSO) activities. So, you have got plenty of innovations providing energy services. The role of CSO is to keep government honest, to demand clean, affordable and reliable energy; to demand that the area is clean. Private sector needs a regulatory environment that allows investment to flow domestically from foreigners; good regulatory regime without changing tariffs; good subsidies, procurement regimes, etc. Private sector has to sell good products and government must ensure that the consumer is protected. When the three are together, there is no reason this region cannot meet its targets.
We believe that governments should set the targets for themselves to achieve universal energy access goal before 2030 because if you don’t meet the target, that means you don’t have healthcare, your education systems are not working well. So, we think countries should set targets to achieve energy access early because it is a precondition for the other goals to be achieved.
{{As the UN SG’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, what’s your message to the region?
}}
My message is that there a lot of good things happening in the region, a lot of things that are working but we are not there yet; we need speed, we don’t need anyone behind. This region has the resource, has technical capacity to ensure that it doesn’t leave anyone behind. I now encourage everybody to check their ambition, to ensure that their ambition is high enough because I don’t think there is any reason this region cannot catch up and overtake the rest of the world.
Kagame who is also the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) was speaking this Wednesday while opening the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union.
The Summit aimed at signing the agreement establishing Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Today’s agenda is to adopt the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the Kigali Declaration, which expresses our unity in moving our continent forward,” Kagame said.
Taken together, these are surely to be counted among the most consequential actions that this Assembly has ever taken, he said.
The Continental Free Trade Area process was led by Niger President, Mahamadou Issoufou.
Kagame reminded that the Continental Free Trade Area is the culmination of a vision set forth nearly 40 years ago in the Lagos Plan of Action, adopted by Heads of State in 1980.
The undertaking, he said led directly to the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community in 1991.
“We continue to be guided by the foundational principles and detailed implementation roadmap that were laid down in those instruments,” he said.
Kagame said that among the most important guidelines is the pre-eminent role of Regional Economic Communities. He said they have been the model and the engine for Africa’s economic integration and they will continue to be.
He reminded that trade agreements cover many complex details. Behind the scenes, Commission staff, ministers, and technical experts put in countless days and nights of hard work. “This effort has paid off and we thank you,”
“What is at stake is the dignity and well-being of Africa’s farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth,” he noted.
Kagame said that the promise of free trade and free movement is prosperity for all Africans as they are prioritising the production of value-added goods and services that are “Made in Africa”.
“The advantages we gain by creating one African market will also benefit our trading partners around the world, and that is a good thing. At the same time, we will be in a better position to leverage our growing strength and unity to secure Africa’s rightful interests in the international arena,” Kagame told different Heads of States in the summit.
He noted that the act is not just a signing ceremony as deliberations are critically important along charting the next steps on continent’s journey towards the Africa we want.
At the summit different Heads of States and Governments signed and ratified the agreement.
CBA came as the 16th commercial bank on the local market and becomes the 11th owned foreign-owned bank in Rwanda.
At the end of 2016, CBA had got approval to operate in Rwanda as a micro-finance bank.
With headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and 56 years of experience in financial sector, the bank operates in East African countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. It also operates in Ivory Coast. The bank’s total asset is $2.5 billion as by December 2017.
While launching the bank’s activities in Rwanda on Monday, CBA Group Managing Director, Desterio A. Oyatsi expressed great optimism on Rwandan market, as a country that has significantly economically developed and raised the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 7.2% from 2000 to 2017.
“That is why we observed long-term economic stability and we decided to invest in Rwanda. Until today, we have invested $9.5 million in Rwanda and will increase as we continue to expand our activities,” he said.
He said that the bank targets to use ICT services for all clients, with the ambition to dominate every market of the country they operate from.
In November 2012, CBA in partnership with Safaricom introduced M-Shwari, a programme which facilitated many clients in terms of saving and credit services in Kenya. The similar programme dubbed M-Pawa was introduced in Tanzania in partnership with Vodacom. Also the same programme was introduced in Ivory Coast.
“In 2016, we partnered with MTN in Uganda and launched MoKash which currently has over three million subscribers. In February last year, we extended our partnership with MTN and launched MoKash in Rwanda. We have reached a remarkable progress as we have 700,000 subscribers,” Oyatsi explained.
He said that they are committed to partner with Rwanda to achieve her goals. CBA investment in the country is in line with their targets to become the leading financial institution in Africa.
Central Bank Governor, John Rwangombwa said that there are opportunities on Rwandan market as there are a number of people who do not access bank services.
“CBA entered the market when the country committed to take financial services closer to people. As the 2016 financial scope shows, 89% of populations have access to financial services, 68% embraced reliable financial services, but, only 26% means 1.5 million people use bank services,” he explained.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete said that the commencement of CBA in Rwanda is a significant milestone in country’s financial sector.
“This event is also of great significance in the integration of the East African Community,” he said.
He said that the Government of Rwanda adopted Vision 2020 with the ultimate goal of transforming the country into a middle- income nation.
“In light of global shocks characterized by volatile commodity prices and financial market volatility resulting in massive capital outflows Africa needs strong and sound financial institutions to achieve its development agenda. The role of a developed financial sector towards economic growth and development is vital. The financial sector mobilizes savings and allocates credit across other sectors that are needed by private sector player,” he explained.
He said a developed financial sector provides not only payment services, but also enables firms and households to cope with economic uncertainties by hedging, pooling, sharing and pricing risks.
The event was also attended by Kenya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Monica Juma who is in Rwanda for the African Union Summit.
Kagame who is also the Chairperson for the African Union (AU) was speaking Tuesday in Kigali in African Continental Free Trade Area Business Forum.
The Forum takes place following yesterday’s special session of African Union’s Executive Council and last week’s session of Permanent Representatives Committee preparing the signing of the agreement establishing AfCFTA.
Kagame said that tomorrow, Heads of States will sign a historic agreement, creating a Continental Free Trade Area. He said the road to such point has been long and they still have a few more steps to take. However, he said they are persisting towards new chapter in the story of African unity.
He said that the stakes are enormous for Africa and the entire global economy where Africa will contribute greater share in the decades to come.
“The creation of one African market necessarily entails a metamorphosis, in how we think, and act. The full involvement of the private sector is needed, more than ever before,” he noted.
He said everyone wishes that the consultation between business and political leadership at all levels becomes a continuous feature of continental deliberations.
“It should be understood, that profit and power are not an end in themselves. They are tools for creating prosperity, for every African. The AfCFTA symbolises our progress toward the ideal of African unity, but that is not the only reason, why it is historic. These are the kinds of complex products, that drive high-income economies,” he said.
Less than 20% of Africa’s trade is internal, meaning from one African country, to another. However, in the world’s richest regional trading blocs, the level of internal trade is three or four times higher.
“Increasing intra-African trade does not mean doing less business with the rest of the world. On the contrary, as we trade more among ourselves, African firms will become bigger, more specialised, and more competitive internationally,” Kagame noted.
“Let’s also be realistic. We cannot take the Continental Free Trade Area for granted. After it is signed, there will still be challenges. Any concerns or technical issues that remain should be addressed fairly but also expeditiously. Work on some additional protocols and annexes will also continue. Once again, the full engagement of the private sector will be absolutely essential,” he reminded.
Kagame called African countries to raise ambitions and work towards success of free trade. He requested them to move rapidly to accomplish the other flagship projects, in the first Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
He also called Member States to ratify the agreement and play their part to communicate their rationale and urgency to their parliamentarians, civil society organisations, and chambers of commerce and the media.
Kagame noted that the implementation will mean reform of procedures and rules, at the national level; however, he reminded that it won’t happen overnight as it will be a process requiring dialogue and flexibility.
This follows an exercise which started in February.
Affected churches are those found lacking basic infrastructure, poor hygiene, poor safety standards, lack of parking space, operating without licenses and operating in residential houses among others.
In Eastern Province alone, officials say that until Thursday last week, among 3,303 that were inspected, 1,415 were closed. Among those affected are 56 Catholic Churches, 109 Anglican Churches, 121 Adventist Seventh Day Churches and 21 Mosques.
In Southern Province, by the end of last week, 2,514 were inspected and 1269 were closed.
In Northern Province, they closed 775 churches among 2164 available in the whole province.
Recent statistics from City of Kigali show that 714 churches were closed among 1,351 which were inspected in three districts of the city.
The Western Province Governor Alphonse Munyentwali told IGIHE that until yesterday, 4228 churches were inspected among them 2142 were closed and others were given some time to continue operation as they implement recommendations.
However, these affected were given recommendations which they should put in place and be allowed to re-open.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Head of Political Parties and Civil Society Department at the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) Justus Kangwagye said that the prevalence of the problem was caused by people who misinterpreted and violated laws regulating faith based organizations in Rwanda.
“The 2012 law states that when people want to pray, they come together and inform local leaders. However, some went beyond bounds and turned prayer groups into churches. When they pray freely, they do not remember that there are basic requirements,” he explained.
Kangwage said that some people started churches with a small number of worshippers, but did not consider expanding the building when the size of congregation grew.
“Whoever started with 20 Christians or 20 Muslims and they became 100 and did not consider changing the building was also affected,” he explained
He said that others got chance to develop and relocated to other places for them to be able to expand, but they did not inform local leaders, and were also closed.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Director of Public Health and Environment in the City of Kigali, Patricie Mukangarambe said that the facilities were closed last weekend after establishing that they had failed to meet hygiene standards.
“Every closed facility has hygiene problems especially in kitchens. Food stores and preparation process which can cause health problems,” she explained.
“In the past two weeks, the monitoring team conducted the exercise and recommended to them what they ought to change, which they failed to do leading to closure,” she added.
Closed businesses are Kwetu Residence Inn, DV Apartment, La Palisse Nyandungu, Isimbi Hotel, Impala Hotel, Rolex Restaurant, Amazing Restaurant, Chez John Restaurant, Aromas Coffee House, Fantastic Restaurant, Sky Hotel (Eminence), Sundowner (Kimihurura) and Quelque Part Bar & Restaurant.
She said that the monitoring continues and numbers of businesses to be affected could increase.
Recently, the City of Kigali issued guidelines regulating hygiene in the city.
The hygiene standards spell that residential houses should not be used for restaurants,, located from far away from landfills, and in a reasonable distance from residential houses and free from mud.
The facility should also have rain water harvesting system, painted in white or yellowish and constructed with durable materials among others.
