Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education (RPCEO), said that Byumvuhore had targeted mobile banking agents in Kabeza village, Gihundwe cell, Kamembe sector, to deposit the counterfeits on his mobile money account.
“Byumvuhore first fleeced one agent, whom he gave Rwf52,000, all counterfeit, to deposit it on his mobile money account, but he was arrested red-handed shortly after with more counterfeits amounting to Rwf46,000, eight bills in the denominations of Rwf5,000 and three notes of Rwf2,000, as he attempted to con another agent,” said CIP Rukundo.
The suspect and exhibits were handed over to RIB at Kamembe station for further legal process.
“The search for other accomplices is still underway. These are serious but avoidable crimes and we call upon the public to always share information with the Police on anyone they suspect to be engaged in these criminal practices of counterfeiting and circulating money,” CIP Rukundo warned.
Article 269 of law No 68/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.
Article 174 of the same law states that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of not less that Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
“The Chamber orders the trial to commence at the Hague branch with opening statements on the 29th of September… and evidence to start on the 5th of October,” MICT judge Iain Bonomy said.
Kabuga is charged with seven counts including five related to genocide; genocide, complicity in genocide, director and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide.
Other charges are persecution and extermination, both as crimes against humanity.
Arrested on 16th May 2020 in France, Kabuga was transferred to a UN tribunal in The Hague for stand trial. He is known as the Chief Financier of Genocide against Tutsi.
He was a wealthy businessman and core member of the Akazu (a small powerful circle of ideologues that masterminded the Genocide). He was also the founding president of the board of shareholders of hate radio RTLM, which incited killings.
Kabuga was originally scheduled to appear in court in Arusha, where the other arm of the MICT resides, but judges had ruled he would remain in The Hague “until otherwise decided.”
According to AFP, Bonomy said on Thursday that the defendant would appear “three times a week for two hours at a time.”
Kabuga is being held at the tribunal’s detention unit a few kilometres (miles) away.
GasMeth Energy Ltd is a local Rwandan company which will run the gas extraction and processing project worth US$530 million.
It was awarded a 25-year Concession Agreement by the Government of Rwanda to extract methane gas from the deep, Methane-rich waters of Lake Kivu in Karongi district, Western Province.
The plant will be built in Bwishyura Sector of Karongi District, Eastern Province.
The groundbreaking ceremony held on Thursday 18th August 2022, was also attended by the CEO of GasMeth Ltd, Stephen Tierney along with government officials including the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Ernest Nsabimana; the Minister of Local Government, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB) among others.
The plant is expected to address shortages of cooking gas which has become an issue of global concern.
The project which kicked off today aims to provide a long-term, environmentally friendly, affordable source of domestically produced gas.
It includes producing the gas (held in solution in the water), processing it on barges tethered in the lake, piping it to shore, compressing it, and distributing it as Compressed Natural Gas (“CNG”) within Rwanda.
The CNG will replace other fuels on the market such as; gasoline, diesel fuel, peat, coal, wood and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The gas will be used primarily in Rwanda’s transportation, industrial, household, and power generation sectors and, eventually, for export.
Commenting on the start of the construction phase, Gasmeth CEO Stephen Tierney said expressed delight for the project’s progress and considered the ground-breaking ceremony as a step closer to realizing the company’s plans ‘for supply of a cleaner self-sufficient energy source for Rwandans’.
In his remarks, Premier Ngirente commended Gasmeth for partnering with the Government of Rwanda in undertaking the important project for Rwanda.
In order to get the value stored in the methane gas, Premier Ngirente revealed, the Government of Rwanda welcomed Gasmeth project aimed at extracting natural gas directly from Lake Kivu, process and distribute it throughout Rwanda.
He underscored that the ‘strategic project’ will create a level of energy independence for Rwanda removing the dependency on imported energy sources.
“Indeed, projects and partnerships like these play an important role in our journey towards domestic energy security,” he noted.
In Rwanda, the total access to electricity stands at 71.92%, whereby 50.61% of all households are connected to the national grid, as of May 2022.
This plant is expected to provide a new energy source for domestic use, which will bring Rwanda closer to the goal of 100% access to energy by 2024.
Among others, Premier Ngirente revealed that the use of natural gas will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by releasing less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels, in line with the country’s Green Growth and Climate Resilience Programme.
“This new source of energy will help reduce usage of firewood where national dependency level is over 85% despite strong efforts to reduce this. It will also improve the health and safety dangers related to possible gas eruptions,” he stated.
“The Government of Rwanda welcomes the fact that developers of this project wish to use the gas to replace fuel in vehicles, cooking in schools and other government institutions. This will address the issue of availability and affordability of gas in Rwanda,” added Dr. Ngirente.
The groundbreaking is seen as a testament to the enabling environment, the Government of Rwanda has put in place to encourage investments and private sector participation.
The latter includes incentives and encouraging initiatives put in place to promote investment in the renewable energies.
Premier Ngirente has also thanked all of the people who played a role in putting the project together from the Gasmeth side, the local communities, public sector among others and reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to collaborating with Gasmeth for implementation of the project.
Speaking at the event, RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi said that Rwanda is on a journey of transformation and prosperity ‘and looking for investments that are inclusive, sustainable and of good quality’.
She also welcomed the launch of the project expected to fulfil all these objectives.
{{About Gasmeth Energy Ltd}}
Gasmeth Energy Ltd is a Rwandan company focused on the processing and delivery of the Lake Kivu compressed natural gas(CNG) project. This project is expected to provide an abundant source of domestically produced gas to transform the Rwandan economy, breaking the dependence on importation of fuels. It will form the basis for attracting all new inward investment and a large step towards a green affordable future.
The incident happened in Ruhamagariro Village of Gafunzo Cell in the evening of Tuesday 16th August 2022 around 8:30 p.m.
Sources reveal that the husband killed his wife identified as Vestine Yankurije,26 as she came to request money for subscription of Mutuelle de Santé.
They couple had begotten one child but were not legally married and no longer lived together.
The Mayor of Ruhango District, Valens Habarurema has confirmed to IGIHE that the man has been arrested.
“It is true. The incident happened as the wife returned to ask for community based health insurance. The man has been arrested. Following the murder, local leaders visited residents to comfort them and advised them against unlawful acts,” he said.
Habarurema further disclosed that the husband had records of indiscipline where he was released recently after serving five-year sentence over smoking cannabis.
“They no longer lived together over disputes. This happened when the wife returned to visit him and requested money for subscription of health insurance. They also shared drinks that no one around suspected the man. They had sired together one child who will be taken care of,” he said.
The suspect is detained at Ruhango RIB Station pending further legal process.
“President al-Sisi expressed his gratitude for the efforts exerted by Amer and accepted his apology for not continuing in the post,” the statement said, adding a presidential decree was issued for appointing him as an advisor to the president.
Amer served as the governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) since 2015.
The resignation of Amer came one day before a periodic meeting of the CBE’s Monetary Policy Committee to discuss the fate of the basic interest rates.
However, Anvisa said it continues to recommend the use of face masks and social distancing as they are effective measures to mitigate the risk of disease transmission.
“Given the current situation, the use of masks that was adopted as a collective health measure will become an individual protection measure,” it said.
In May, Anvisa authorized the resumption of food services on airliners, as well as maximum passenger capacity, but maintained the use of face masks on planes and in restricted airport areas.
As of Tuesday, the South American country had registered 34.2 million COVID-19 cases and 682,010 related deaths, with an average of 176 deaths per day in the last week.
So far, a total of 24 ships have left Ukraine under a grain deal signed last month in Türkiye.
Also on Wednesday, five vessels entered Ukrainian ports for loading, which are expected to supply more than 70,000 tons of wheat, bran, sunflower oil and corn to international markets.
Ukraine has set a target to handle about 100 vessels per month in its Black Sea ports, which would allow exporting some 3 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs.
On July 22, Ukraine and Russia separately signed a deal with Türkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea.
On Aug. 1, the first cargo vessel carrying grain left the Ukrainian port of Odesa for the port of Tripoli in Lebanon.
The Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, said that one of the suspects identified as Islon Mugisha was apprehended on Wednesday, August 17, at his home in Kirabyo Village, Gahinga Cell, Mururu Sector where Police recovered 8 Cellar Cask wines, and 60kgs of second-hand clothes.
One Pacifique Ndihokubwayo, he added, was also arrested on Tuesday, August 16, at about 9pm, in Kamurera Village, Gihundwe Cell, Kamembe Sector with 5kgs of second-hand clothes.
“These successful operations were conducted by the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) on tip-offs by members of the public. If you are engaged in this fraud, know that RNP has ears and eyes where you are passing or operating from; you will be known and arrested like many others,” CIP Rukundo warned.
The Western borderline with the DRC is marked as one of the major smuggling routes with second-hand clothes and shoes as well as liquors, among the main intercepted goods.
Drug traffickers especially cannabis and dealers in skin bleaching products also attempt to use this route from the DRC.
The arrest of the Mugisha and Ndihokubwayo came on heels of increased operations against smuggling and fraud.
On Monday, August 15, and Tuesday, August 16, the RPU and the department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crimes (ASOC) arrested six people in Nyabihu and Rubavu districts with assorted goods, including clothes, shoes, prohibited skin bleaching cosmetics and energy drinks.
This application will provide video on demand services granting subscribers access to relevant video content that meets their informative, educational and entertainment needs at the most affordable prices, and in the most convenient way via their smart devices.
To access Y’ello TV MTN customers will pay a subscription fee, starting from RWF 150 for two (2) hours of streaming, to watch any video content at no additional data cost. This means that once subscribed, customers can enjoy a variety of content without worrying about utilizing any of their data bundles or Airtime.
Weighing in on the paramount launch of Y’ello TV, Yaw Ankoma Agyapong, MTN Rwanda Chief Consumer and Digital Officer said: “This partnership with AfrikaStream avails a new application which will allow customers to access their favourite shows from a single platform through their Y’ello TV subscription. We are pleased to be partnering with AfrikaStream to provide local and international content to our customers. It is partnerships like these that make it possible for us to lead digital for Rwanda’s progress.”
The partnership between MTN Rwanda and AfrikaStream is underpinned by MTN Rwanda’s overarching belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.
Commenting on this partnership, Dominque Ntirushwa from AfrikaStream highlighted: “We thank MTN Rwanda for partnering with us on launching this app that serves everyone. Technology has evolved tremendously over the years, allowing us to access myriads of information at a click of a button and at AfrikaStream our goal is to ensure we contribute to this with the addition of a virtual outlook using multimedia. The cherry on top with this app is the social networking aspect, where users can chat and share videos with their contacts, so MTN customers are really in for a treat with Y’ello TV.”
The online live TV service such exciting features as video screen sharing and social networking, through which users can connect with friends and get a preview of what they are watching.
“There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Content on Y’ello TV varies from local and international current affairs and sports, entertainment (including Y’ello Kids programs), music, and so much more,” added Agyapong.
Y’ello TV can be downloaded via Google Play Store, and all first-time users will be able to enjoy three (3) hours of free streaming valid for three (3) days.
{{About MTN Rwandacell}}
MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, It has continuously invested in expanding and modernising its network and leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress.
The telecom offers various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalised voice and data offers for individuals and corporates with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to customers.
IGIHE has learnt that the deceased had been running a small shop in which he sold sold tea, milk, beignets and other items.
“We found him dead. He was killed and locked inside the shop. His domestic servant is suspected of being behind the murder but investigations have not yet confirmed it,” revealed a witness.
The Executive Secretary of Kinyinya Sector, Charles Ntabwiko Havuguziga has also confirmed the death noting that Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has launched investigation to establish the cause of his death.
