Detained officials include; Marie Claire Kayitesi the officer in charge of disaster management; Espérance Dukundimana, the director of administration and human resource, Epimaque Hagenimana the director of social protection and Martin Habimana the advisor to the district executive committee.
The four are being detained at Gisenyi police station on account of the negligence of duty and waste of public property.
The spokesperson of Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Modeste Mbabazi has confirmed their arrest adding that investigations are ongoing.
Damaged cement was provided by the Ministry of Defense through the Reserve Forces one year ago following the heavy rain that left a number of houses destroyed in Rubavu district.
The heavy downpour of 3rd March 2018 that struck Rubavu district resulted in the flooding of River Sebeya, destroying 26 houses and dampened over 900. Most of the victims are still housed by good Samaritans.
RIB appealed to other public officials to efficiently manage public properties in their custody lest they face the law.
Following the relocation of inmates, Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) announced that the land was left under the trust of the Government which has to determine how it should be utilized.
Some people advised that the land and building should be preserved as a museum with a history of being the first prison in Rwanda while others were of the view that housing units for low and middle-income earners would be ideal.
The mayor of Kigali city, Pudence Rubingisa recently told IGIHE that some investors have expressed interest, pitching projects that might be run on the land of ‘1930’.
“These include Champion Investment Corporation (CHIC) investors who expressed interest to raise more buildings. We have so far received demand from many investors. We are currently under the phase of examining what investment suits the master plan so that the project can start,” he said.
The chairperson of CHIC, Tharcisse Ngabonziza has told IGIHE that they decided to build apartments and waiting for the City of Kigali’s approval.
“We have pitched the project, agreed on all the basics and waiting for the City of Kigali’s feedback. It is obvious that the case is being examined with urgency,” he said.
Ngabonziza explained that they plan to build apartments for low and middle-income earners in three categories.
“The land is made of over 8 hectares. We observed that only five hectares can be exploited because the rest is located on elevated land where it is impossible The budget to put to use the land has not yet been established but the number of apartments is estimated between 700 and 800 units.
Police said that Benjamin Tuyishimire, 22, was arrested in Masaka Sector carrying the machines which were stolen from Gako Cell.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorrette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the arrest of Tuyishimire followed a complaint filed by Chinese nationals in Masaka about the alleged theft of their betting machines.
“Law enforcement personnel in Masaka responded immediately but in the process they received information from local residents about a commercial motorcyclist whom they saw transporting a betting machine,” CIP Umutesi said.
“Indeed, when security tracked down the alleged motorcyclist that night in Cyimo cell, they caught him with the same machine and other electronics which were stolen from the Chinese,” she added.
According to local residents, Tuyishimire allegedly works with thieves who break into houses especially at night targeting valuables including television sets, computers, home theatres and gas cylinders.
Tuyishimire was last year also implicated in the theft of television sets from different homes in Kicukiro.
CIP Umutesi also mentioned another motorcyclist, who was caught in Jali Sector of Gasabo District transporting a calf, and warned of “breaking the law.”
“There are lawful ways of transporting livestock but not on a motorcycle,” she said.
She warned taxi-moto operators against abetting crimes and called for information sharing on “errant motorcyclists, who engage in criminal activities and tarnish the image of motorcycle transport business.”
Owned by Dubai Ports World, the Kigali Logistics Platform has been operational since September 2018 in test mode and has an annual capacity of 50,000 TEUs. When operating at full capacity, it has the potential to save Rwandan businesses up to $50 million a year in logistics costs.
President Kagame toured the facility and taken through benefits it is posed to bring to Rwandans.
Following the tour, the President said he was impressed by its operations and considered it a high-tech operation that offers real-time cargo tracking to customers.
He congratulated Dubai Ports on successfully completing the test phase, which has already demonstrated significant reductions in truck turn-around time.
“Rwanda is a member of the East African Community, the Economic Community of the Central African States and COMESA. The future of trade and integration on our continent is the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is already in force. Trading will commence in July next year. But trade agreements and economic policies won’t have much impact, without actual infrastructure,” he said.
“With the launch of this facility, Rwanda is doing its part to connect with the larger market of more than 1.2 Billion consumers in Africa and beyond,” added Kagame.
The Chairman and CEO of Dubai Ports World, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem thanked the Government of Rwanda’s support to make the construction of the first phase successful.
He said good leadership and a favorable business environment lured the company to expand footprints in Rwanda.
Since the commencement of its operations in the Rwandan capital last year, the Kigali Logistics Platform has reduced the truck-turnaround time which used to be an average of 10-14 days to just 3 days. The Platform has already contributed to socio-economic progress through the creation of 667 direct and indirect jobs, with 98% local employment.
Kigali Logistics Platform serves as a gateway to the heart of Africa, connecting Rwanda to neighboring countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. The facility will also access the port of Mombasa in Kenya and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, securing two trade gateways to the sea.
About 60 local investors were taken on a guided tour of the different areas in the Western Province district that present potential for investment in tourism and agribusiness.
Nyamasheke district’s potential in tourism is boosted by the Lake Kivu, Nyungwe National park and the soon to be inaugurated Gishwati National Park and a rich network of roads including the Kivu belt road that make it easily accessible.
Speaking at the function that attracted over 300 participants from the private and public sector, Ariella Kageruka, the RDB Head of Tourism and Conservation said: “I have talked to several potential investors today and they are excited about the tourism potential that Nyamasheke district presents. As RDB, we are ready to support your investment plans in the district.
Officiating the event, Prof Anastase Shyaka, the Minister of Local Government said that Nyamasheke district is endowed with natural beauty that offers great potential for tourism.
“There is also huge potential in agribusiness, especially in coffee processing. This potential needs to be exploited to have an impact on local transformation but also tourism in general,” he noted.
Barakabuye Nsengiyumva, a local investor and chairman of the Rwanda Hospitality Association said that there is huge potential especially in Nyungwe National Park that is rich in fauna and flora.
“This is an addition to national historical monuments in the district,” he stressed.
{{Investment opportunities in Nyamasheke district include;}}
{{In Tourism:}} There is huge potential in the development of tourism infrastructure along Lake Kivu and Nyungwe national park. The area around the lake presents scenic views that could be exploited for the construction of hotels and other tourism facilities. The lake is also dotted with islands that could be developed for tourism activities.
{{In Agriculture:}} The district has various agri-business opportunities for investors which include investment in tea and coffee processing. The potential for cross-border trade with the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo also presents an opportunity for investors.
If everything is done in due course, the hospital shall start receiving patients in February 2019.
The construction of Nyarugenge Hospital began in February last year on funding from Belgian Kingdom.
The first phase took over Rwf 6 billion. Both the first and the second phase will be completed at a cost of Rwf 12 billion.
The progress of the first phase is currently at 90%.
The mayor of Nyarugenge district, Kayisime Nzaramba has told IGIHE that they have released a tender of equipment to be available not later than December this year.
“Construction activities are at 91%. We are hopeful that activities will be completed by the end of November. We will be left with the only task of installing equipment inside. We have offered tenders that they will have been provided by December,” he said.
“We are optimistic that the hospital might be operational early next year in February if there are no hindrances. As of now, we are on good progress,” added Nzaramba.
The first phase of the hospital built on 2.2 hectares will have the capacity of accommodating 120 patients.
Nzaramba revealed that the next phase will be equipped with 180 beds raising the number to 300 including 120 of the first phase.
Apart from organizing parties at Hideout Lounge in Kampala, she is also a model.
Uwimbabazi took post at the facility as the successor of Teta Sandra at Hideout Lounge where she partners with another Rwandan to organize ‘Wednesday Bosslady’ party every Wednesday.
Uwimbabazi was involved in the fatal accident in Soya near Bunga, on 16th October 2019 hitting a person dead as she returned from work.
She was immediately arrested by Police in Kabalagala but has been released on bail to be reporting to Police every Monday.
“He was arrested last night for drunk driving. He was arrested in Remera around 2 am,” CIP Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali city has told IGIHE.
Drunken driving is an offense punishable with a fine of Rwf150, 000, 5 days imprisonment, confiscation of driver’s license and impounding the vehicle.
Police have warned motorists against driving under the influence of alcohol to curb related dangers to them and other road users.
It was revealed on Saturday during the party’s ordinary assembly aimed at discussing measures to addressing problems facing Northern Province and how to sort them out.
The Chairman of RPF Inkotanyi in Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi the media that lack of accommodations is among problems members committed to addressing.
A total of 1386 families in Northern Province are reported to be living without houses.
The construction of houses for 1368 families will be completed at a cost of Rwf 1.2 billion. Funds to build some houses will be catered for by districts’ budgets.
“There is no reason why we should start 2020 having residents with no accommodations. We are optimistic that they will all be properly settled by 32nd December 2019,” said Governor Gatabazi.
“We have discussed the complexity of the problem and made it our own that they immediately raised over Rwf 13 million contributions. There are other absent members who committed to support the initiative hence increasing the contribution. The next step is to buy roofing sheets and other necessary equipment to start construction activities,” he added.
The matter of families without accommodations was brought to attention recently on 1st October 2019 when the Minister of Local Government, Prof Anastase Shyaka visited Musanze district.
He requested concerned officials to put it among priority issues to be addressed to improve residents’ wellbeing.
The first meeting of the Ad Hoc Commission on the implementation of the Luanda Memorandum of Understandings between Rwanda and Uganda took place on 16th September 2019 in Kigali. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Manuel Domingos Augusto and Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, the Deputy Prime Minister of Interior of DRC.
The Rwandan delegation was led by Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in charge of the East African Community while Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs leads the Ugandan delegation.
Rwanda was also represented by Gen Maj Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda; the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye; the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Shyaka Anastase; Gen Maj Joseph Nzabamwita, the Secretary-General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and Col Anaclet Kalibata, the head of External Intelligence at NISS.
Uganda’s delegation also included the Minister of Defense, Gen. J.J Odongo Abu; Amb. Joseph Ocwet; the Director-General External Security Organisation (ESO), the State’s Attorney General, Byaruhanga and Uganda’s ambassador to Rwanda, Oliver Wonekha.
Facilitators included Angolan Ambassador to Rwanda, Horacio Uliengue; Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister and DRC Deputy Prime Minister and head of Intelligence Inzun Justin Kakiak.
Following the meeting, Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe explained that both countries will meet again in Kampala within 30 days to assess the implementation of today’s resolutions.
“There is a willingness to restore relations between Rwanda and Uganda citizens and be assured of their security,” he said.
Both countries agreed to follow due process in dealing with each other’s citizens; reiterated commitment to refraining from acts of destabilizing each other; finalize the extradition treaty in order to provide a framework for future exchange of criminal fugitives and cease all forms of hostile propaganda in both mainstream and social media.
Both countries also agreed that the issue of free movement of persons, goods, and services across the common border and other outstanding issues would be discussed in the next meeting that was due in Kampala, Uganda after 30 days to review the implementation progress of Luanda MoUs.
Commenting on the appointment following 30 days which ended five days ago, Nduhungirehe told IGIHE that ‘The invitation will come from Ugandans. We are not the ones supposed to send the invitation.”
He said that no progress made following the previous meeting in Kigali.
During the first meeting, Rwanda provided a list of Rwandans detained in Uganda and the Republic of Uganda committed to verify the information for the purpose of processing those named through a due judicial process and releasing those against whom no evidence of criminal conduct will have been found.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017.
Rwanda expressed concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being Rwanda’s spies.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of housing dissidents intending to threaten state security.
