Sources say the three suspects are Mutuyimboni Bonyde, Uwera Clarisse and Nyiransabimana Epiphanie. They were apprehended on March 17th, 2020 and are currently held at RIB Ngoma station.
Umuhoza Marie Michelle, RIB Spokesperson confirmed the arrest but omitted the amount of money they embezzled as further investigation is being conducted.
RIB reminded Rwandans that all forms of embezzlement are punishable by law and urged them not to withhold information about such criminal offenses.
Article 10 on corruption and embezzlement in the penal code of Rwanda states that embezzling funds from public organs, civil society, private institutions and international organizations operating in Rwanda is a criminal offense.
On conviction, culprits are liable to between 7 and 10 years of imprisonment and a penalty threefold the amount embezzled.
The decision follows a drastic slump in air travel demand globally after governments closed borders, companies banned lucrative business travel and conferences and events were canceled in response to coronavirus.
Jambojet started flying to Kigali in November 2019 and recently bought two De Havilland aircraft, flying from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Kigali International airport once a day.
The airline announced it was suspending flights to Kigali via Twitter in an announcement that reads: “Over the past few weeks, there has been a global spread of the COVID-19 which resulted in a decrease of airline passengers, especially on the international routes. As a result, Jambojet has decided to suspend its services to Kigali, Rwanda, and Entebbe, Uganda with immediate effect.”
Jambojet will keep operating its flights to Malindi, Ukunda, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret in Kenya. The airline cancels Kigali and Entebbe flights at a time when major airlines in the world are struggling to keep afloat. Since its establishment in 2014, Jambojet has transported more than 3 million passengers.
Flights from Kigali to Nairobi cost Rwf 102,000. Jambojet obtained a flight permit from Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) on November 19th, 2019.
The suspect who is a resident of Gatsibo district is accused of raping two young boys on March 15th, 2020 after luring them with money.
Marie Michelle Umuhoza, RIB Spokesperson told IGIHE that RIB was informed of the crime by one of the boys’ parent who called in for help. “The suspect is currently held at RIB Rukara station as further investigation is being conducted.”
Umuhoza warned Rwandans that no criminal acts will be tolerated and that rapists in particular will be shown no mercy.
The penal code of Rwanda subjects one found guilty to between 20 and 25 years of imprisonment for sexual crimes committed on minors including defilement. If the victim is under 14, convicts are liable for life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
When rape on a minor resulted into an incurable disease or handicap, the convict is liable for life imprisonment with no room for parole.
CHAN 2020 was expected to be the 6th edition of the championship and was scheduled from April 4th to April 25th, 2020. The championship was expected to bring together 16 football teams including Rwanda.
The announcement which was released on March 17th, 2020 attributes the changes to the outbreak of coronavirus. The next dates for the event were not communicated.
FIFA requested all member bodies to halt all football events till April with the hope that the World Health Organization (WHO) will find a cure to the pandemic.
CAF explained that the decision to postpone CHAN 2020 resulted from WHO advises to contain coronavirus and the fact that more cases have been identified in Africa. In Cameroon, 4 cases have so far been identified.
On March 17th, 2020, COCAN, CHAN governing body in Cameroon confirmed that it is practically impossible to host the championship with the ongoing pandemic.
Many African countries including Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Rwanda, and Egypt have made changes in their football activities to address health threats posed by a coronavirus.
Zhang Xinmin, director of the National Center for Biotechnology Development, named the drug at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
He said the drug was found to be effective in clinical trials by two medical organizations in the country. He said the medicine worked for coronavirus-related symptoms including pneumonia and had no obvious side effects.
The director said the tests were conducted in the cities of Wuhan and Shenzhen and involved 240 patients and 80 patients respectively.
He said those who were given the medicine in Shenzhen turned negative for the virus after a median of four days after becoming positive, while it took a median of 11 days for those without the drug.
The trial also found that X-ray photos confirmed improvements in lung conditions in about 91 percent of the patients who were given the medicine. The number stood at 62 percent for those without the drug.
The director said the drug is highly safe and its effect is obvious, and formally recommends the use of the medicine as a way to tackle the virus.
A Chinese firm that has licensed the drug from its Japanese developers got government approval last month to mass-produce the medication.
China on Monday confirmed 21 new cases of the virus infections, bringing the total in the country to more than 80,000. It’s death toll now stands at 3,226.
The government has been working on the program of completely getting rid of asbestos roofing materials for ten years because of its effects on human health including incurable diseases like lung cancer and others.
In May last year, President Kagame while on a visit to Musanze and Nyabihu districts, reiterated that the roofing materials have to be got rid of once and for all.
“We took decision on removing asbestos roofing materials from government buildings ten years ago. That is what I tasked leaders because on arrival here that is what one sees first.”
The Minister of Infrastructure, Gatete Claver, recently told the media that this year 2020, will leave all state buildings free of asbestos roofing because the required funds have been realized. The removal of remnant sheets will be done be the RDF Reserve Force.
Gatete also said that they are consulting with the private owners of asbestos roofed buildings to follow suit in their removal.
By June last year, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced that 57% government buildings with asbestos materials had been removed and 66% for private buildings.
Statistics show that since 2016, 73 juvenile convicts were pardoned and offered a chance to resume their studies but that only 47 did so while 26 dropped out of school.
Article 109 of the Constitution of Rwanda states that “The President of the Republic has the authority to exercise the prerogative of mercy in accordance with the procedures provided for by law and after consultation with the Supreme Court.”
Some of the youth who were granted pardon explained that they failed to resume studied due to a lack of means and stigmatization from school officials.
Nkundimana Dieudonné, one of the youth who were pardoned said “I met difficulties when I went back to school because I was required to start high school anew when I was supposed to be in my fourth year.”
One other youth said that he had obtained good grades in Ordinary level but that he was not able to pursue studies due to poverty.
Kayitesi Alice, Kamonyi district mayor said that apart from assisting the pardoned youth to find jobs, no other incentives were put in place to support them.
“We support the youth in finding jobs and creating businesses through the Business Development Fund (BDF) but so far no incentive is available to support youth who dropped out of school.”
Some of the youth who were granted pardon was expected to have graduated high school last year. CP Jean Bosco Kabanda, Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) Commissioner in charge of correction said that going forward, RCS will collaborate with districts’ administrations to follow up on the education of pardoned youth and seek sponsors for those who are not able to pursue their studies due to financial barriers.
On March 16th, 2029, the European Union announced a complete shut down on all Schengen Area Borders, as an extreme measure to prevent the Coronavirus from further spreading in the borderless area.
The decision follows President Donald Trump’s resolution to ban entry to the US for Schengen area travelers.
President Macron confirmed that all travelers to the European Union (EU) and Schengen countries will be banned for 30 days starting Tuesday, March 17th, 2020 at noon.
“The travel ban was triggered by a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 patients in the EU and Schengen countries and banning travels is not only a preventive measure but also a way to avoid putting unbearable pressure on our health systems.”
Macron said that French citizens still in foreign countries can go home and reminded those in France to remain isolated to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The embassy of France in Rwanda advised French citizens in Rwanda to go back home before stricter bans are imposed and due to continuous flights suspension by various airlines across the world.
“All French tourists are immediately requested to leave Rwanda and inform the embassy about the airline they flew with.”
On Monday, March 16th, 2020, Brussels Airlines announced that all flights to and from Rwanda will be suspended starting Wednesday, March 18th, 2020.
In France, the number of newly infected coronavirus patients triples every day. It resulted into France banning all major businesses in the country to operate for 15 days.
5423 people have so far tested positive for COVID-19 whole 127 died from the virus.
French top health official Jerome Salomon said on March 16th, 2020 that the partial lockdown was imposed to curb the outbreak of the epidemic and put less pressure on the health system which is almost at capacity.
The announcement was published by the RRA on March 16th, 2020 via Twitter and involves many other preventive measures to be observed by taxpayers including using e-payment for custom duties and fees and declaring all imports and exports online.
Taxpayers who have not yet registered for e-payment services can approach their respective banks for support.
“For taxpayers who have already bought cars which are parked in the customs warehouse, acquisition of plate numbers and customs clearing will be done by their agents.”
In addition, customs exemption procedures will be done online via https://sw.gov.rw
Motor vehicle services request for vehicle duplicate documents and certificate for motor vehicle/cycle ownership is suspended for 2 weeks.
To all businesses, EBM installation and training will be conducted online but EBM local audit will continue to work as usual.
RURA urged the public to avoid all unnecessary travels and if not possible to clean their hands every time they onboard a motorcycle.
Lt. Col Patrick Nyirishema, RURA Director General called upon all taxi-moto drivers cooperatives to avail soap and clean water at park stations as a cautionary measure against COVID-19. The measures are set to start being implemented starting today, March 17th, 2020.
RURA announced the new preventive measures after the Ministry of Health announced that the number of coronavirus cases has reached 7 in Rwanda.
The ministry of health advises Rwandans to keep observing preventive measures to counter further spread of the virus and to call the toll-free number 114 to report any symptoms.
COVID-19 spreads through direct contact with the infected person, sneezing and coughing. To prevent the spread of the virus, regular hand washing with alcohol-based hand sanitizers or clean water and soap is advised, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and avoiding large gatherings. In addition, it is important to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Rwanda has taken various preventive measures to counter the spread of the virus including closing all public, private schools, and higher education institutions, prohibiting mass gatherings and postponing social events.
