Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Speaking to the East African, the British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Omar Daair confirmed the development.

“Some of these processes take time; different countries take different amounts of time to deal with these things. I won’t comment on details of that process, but the result is the appointment has been approved. We are looking forward to having the high commissioner arrive in the UK, and my colleagues are looking forward to working with him and the government of Rwanda ahead of CHOGM,” Mr Daair said.

Johnson Busingye will replace Amb. Yamina Karitanyi who was named CEO of Rwanda Mines, Gas and Petroleum Board (RMB).

He had served as the Minister of Justice for eight years prior his new appointment.

The official closing of the training, which was organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, was presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in Charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza

The closing was also attended by the Acting Director at the Dallaire Institute for Peace and Security – African Center of Excellence, Francisca Mujawase.

Gen (rtd) Romeo Dallaire is a Canadian who was commanding the UN peacekeeping troop deployed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

DIGP Ujeneza stressed that in order to prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence, it requires real shift from “simply saying ‘prevention’ to put words into action.”

“In order to prevent the recruitment and use of children in violence – be it trafficking, sexual violence, criminal networks, radicalization, or armed forces, groups or gangs – what is needed now is the real shift not just to say “prevention”, but to be practical with tangible approaches such as training police officers to equip them with knowledge and skills… to create more peaceful societies,” said DIGP Ujeneza.

By training female police officers, she added, RNP complements Rwanda’s efforts to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1325), the Kigali Principles on the protection of civilians in peace operations and the Vancouver principles on peacekeeping and prevention of the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.

The DIGP noted that the training also gives RNP an opportunity to create a wider impact in peacekeeping.

She reminded the trained officers to make a difference in their daily duties and to be good ambassadors for children’s rights, both at home and abroad where they will be deployed.

DIGP Ujeneza further thanked the Dallaire Institute leadership for the partnership to protect the rights of children.

On her part, Francisca Mujawase said that improved training and capacity building for the police enhances the protection of children abroad and at home

“The knowledge on prevention of the use of children as soldiers isn’t only important for our troops engaged in peacekeeping forces but also for the benefit of our domestic security. Rwanda as an exemplary country globally, understands the importance of security sector-oriented approach to protect children and the need to invest in the children, peace and security as children are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Mujawase.

“This is the second Dallaire institute training that will lead to certification of the RNP trainers who will be supporting the Dallaire institute mission in training other troops. The audience is also unique because we all acknowledge the importance of the women, peace and security agenda and the recognized gender roles in peacekeeping,” Mujawase added.

The outreach is part of the RNP countrywide awareness programme to
improve public knowledge and skills towards prevention and response to fire emergencies.

At the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, the pupils were taught on causes of fire and showed different equipment that RNP uses in fire fighting including the Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, fire trucks and the crane truck used to rescue people trapped in tall buildings.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Gatambira, the Commanding Officer for Fire and Rescue Brigade, said that equipping children with fire safety knowledge helps them to grow up as responsible people and to keep them safe.

“This fire safety training outreach has not ignored children. Children are often curious and tend to manipulate or tamper with electric equipment at home, which can cause fire outbreak. So, when they are informed about fire safety, they keep reminding and take precautionary measures when using electric appliances. Here, they also get to know what to do immediately when fire breaks out to swiftly call for intervention and who to call,” said ACP Gatambira.

Barbara Mutabazi, the Director at Jardin de tout Petits Nursery school, thanked RNP for organizing the training.

“From this important training, children and the teaching staff have acquired vast knowledge and skills required to know fire and safety practices at home and places of work,” Mutabazi said.

Similar awareness and training was also later in the day extended to 72 staff of Ruli hospital Saint martin Porres located in Ruli Sector, Gakenke District.

They include doctors, nurses, heads of departments, cleaners and security guards at the hospital.

Today, travellers access services at one spot unlike the past when documents were processed at two locations – one in Rwanda and the other across the Tanzanian border.

Passengers attest that the development is coupled the upgrading of border infrastructures which contributed to improved services and reduced time it would take from four hours to 30 minutes.

Faustin Niyonzima, a truck driver has revealed that the one stop border post enhanced easy access to services and enabled uninterrupted travels.

“Immigration and emigration officers from Tanzania and Rwanda operate in the same building, hence easing service delivery unlike the past when a passenger had to get documents processed twice,” he said.

Niyonzima explained that set up infrastructures including a modern, ample Parking have played a big part to fast track service delivery at the border. The latter has the capacity to accommodate over 100 trucks.

The Assistant Commissioner in charge of Customs Operations at Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), Yvonne Gatera has said that the establishment of one stop border improved services and reduced time it would take to clear goods.

“The facility has been helpful in many ways, particularly enhancing trade. For instance, the time spent on procedures to verify goods at the border reduced from four hours to thirty minutes,” she said.

The time has also reduced for passengers.

Rusumo border plays a significant role to national economy where of imports are transited through. The border is crossed by cargo 300 trucks and up to 1000 passengers every day.

“Having an ample office building has been helpful. Employees and passengers sit comfortably because there is enough space. Apart from that, the integrated border management system has been upgraded. All these efforts have contributed to improved services,”

The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, Imai Masahiro has said that financing the harmonized border between Rwanda and Tanzania is part of initiatives to promote trade in the East African Community (EAC) and ease movements of people and goods between both countries.

“We have supported projects that enhanced free movement of goods and people. This also gave boost to inter-regional trade which will be a key driver for achieving Rwanda’s goal of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2035,” he said.

Amb. Masahiro explained that the development of Rwanda in the transport sector particular is the evidence of the cordial relations between Japan and Rwanda, and it includes facilitation of cross-border trade.

The construction of OSBP facilities, financed by Japan at a tune of approximately US$ 19 million, started in 2012 and the completion ceremony was held in January 2015.

Japan also funded other development projects in Eastern Province namely; the improvement of Kayonza-Rusumo along 92 kilometers, roads connecting towns in Kayonza, Ngoma and Kirehe districts, as well as the upgrade of Ngoma-Ramiro road along 64 kilometers to connect some parts of Eastern Province to Southern Province.

{{Rusumo Bridge renovated}}

Before the renovation, Rusumo Bridge was old and narrow that it could not allow vehicles to pass one another. The state of the bridge also sparked fears that it could collapse one day.

Today, the bridge has been renovated and expanded with two lanes through Japan’s grant aid program.

The mayor of Kirehe district, Bruno Rangira has said that the bridge has helped vehicles to cross directly instead of waiting for others to cross first which improved the quality of services.

“It was a small bridge that vehicles would not pass one another. The new bridge is large enough as vehicles can cross directly without waiting for others to pass. This translates into improved services and fast movement of cargo,” he said.

However, diseases associated with inaccessibility to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), malnutrition such as stunting, waterborne diseases including diarrhea, remain the main threat for children to thrive and the families’ improved well-being.

The recent Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2019/2020) indicates that around 33% of children are stunted. Other surveys highlighted the existing gaps in access to quality rehabilitation and assistive technology services for people with disabilities.

With the country’s efforts for achieving universal coverage in WASH services for the Rwandan population, 20% of households in Rwanda lack access to an improved water source, and 28% of households don’t have access to improved sanitation, adds the DHS.

Domestically, 52% of children under age 5 have symptoms of diarrhea according to the same study; and it wouldn’t be implausible to link this situation to scarcity of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services for families, especially in rural areas.

The United States Government (USG) through USAID, and the Government of Rwanda have officially launched two new five-year programs on March 17, 2022, namely Gikuriro Kuri Bose and Isoko y’Ubuzima, aimed respectively to improve the health, functioning, nutritional status and wellbeing of women of reproductive age and children under six years of age as well as improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services for Rwandans. The USAID’s total investment in the two projects over the next 5 years is US$59 million.

“A healthy and prosperous Rwanda is a driving force behind all progress for the Government of Rwanda and we welcome the commitment by the United States Government to continue supporting and accompanying us in this development journey.” said the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, while officially launching the two new projects.

The two programs are aligned with Rwanda national policies and strategies, and will work to prevent malnutrition, provide water access, sanitation, and disability care for better health outcomes of the Rwandan people.

Gikuriro Kuri Bose and Isoko y’Ubuzima will build on previous USAID funded projects that ended in 2020, to strengthen governance, coordination, early childhood development, nutrition, and disability inclusion in all sectors, cells, and villages of the ten districts where each program will be implemented.

The US Government’s commitment through Isoko y’Ubuzima and Gikuriro Kuri Bose activities is aligned with Rwanda’s national policies and strategies to promote nurturing care, comprehensive health and nutrition outcomes of children, women, and families.

{{Towards reducing stunting and combating malnutrition}}

USAID in the past five years funded the Gikuriro program which aimed to improve outcomes in nutrition for women of reproductive age and children under the age of five years by blending initiatives in agriculture, health education, savings, lending, and water access.

Over the past five years, the program successfully rehabilitated more than 12,000 children under five years of age from both acute and moderate malnutrition, around 192,896 under-five year children were reached with growth monitoring and promotion and other nutrition-specific services, constructed 509 community water supply infrastructures (60 boreholes, 104 water kiosks, 315 water springs, 9 community water supply extension lines) among other achievements. This contributed to the reduction of diarrheal disease prevalence from 22% to 12.7% in five years.

The Government of Rwanda has put in place several policies, strategies, systems, and structures to fight malnutrition through early childhood development, adolescent, and maternal nutrition interventions.

However, in the 10 target districts where Gikuriro Kuri Bose will be implemented, the current context indicates that stunting range between 10.7% in Kicukiro to 46.7% in Nyabihu; and as such, the program will leverage a $ 43.7 million budget to contribute to the significant reduction of these rates in the coming five years by reaching 4,592 villages in 10 districts and working with over 30,000 frontline providers to reach 820,000 women of reproductive age and 725,000 children under five and their families.

“Joining hands with our development partners, like USAID, and mobilizing our own resources, Rwanda is determined to reduce all forms of malnutrition, including decreasing stunting from 33% in 2020 to 18% by 2024”.

Gikuriro Kuri Bose will support households to deliver high-quality, integrated, and inclusive nurturing care services. These services include health, adequate nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and security, and opportunities for early learning. This activity will benefit all children including those with disabilities through rehabilitation and Assistive Technology (AT) services.

The project will be implemented by a consortium led by the Catholic Relief to improve the health, functioning, nutritional status, and wellbeing of women of reproductive age and children under six years of age, with an emphasis on the 1,000-day window, strengthen the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities, and improve positive parenting and child development.

Other members of the consortium are Humanity and Inclusion, UMUHUZA, University of Global Health Equity, Three Stones International, and four implementing partners namely African Evangelical Enterprise (AEE), Caritas Rwanda, DUHAMIC ADRI, and Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) operating in the selected 10 districts of the program including Kayonza, Ngoma, Nyabihu, Nyanza, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, Rwamagana, Burera, Rulindo, and Nyamasheke.

{{Improved WASH services}}

For 5 years from 2016 to 2020, USAID funded the Isuku Iwacu project to improve WASH services. Through Isuku Iwacu, more than half a million Rwandans were supported to access basic sanitation services.

Despite these positive gains, critical challenges still exist. The 2021 Ministry of Infrastructure WASH Management Information System Report indicates that 23.7% of households have no access at all to water supply services, while 24.3% on average are households with access to only basic hygiene services.

Based on the 2021 Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) customers categories and the monthly consumption block, the average applicable water tariff was RWF 701.625/m3. The latest Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority Annual Report puts the quantity of water produced last year at 59,524,525 m3. This implies that Private Operators in the water sector expected revenue above RWF 41.7 billion.

However, this revenue was not generated as almost half of produced water, 42%, didn’t reach the consumers according to the same report, thus was not paid for. This water loss is attributed to leakages in the pipe networks, water theft, improper metering, and billing errors. In terms of revenue loss, the number talked about here is 17.6 billion.

And how much does the revenue loss translate into water systems? The Water For People organization in Rwanda estimates that building one kilometer of a water system costs on average around RWF 25 million. And the lost water revenue, if invested, could fund more than 704.9 km of new systems and increase the quantity of water generated, and ultimately the number of households accessing water supply services.

These occurrences are in part linked to low access and willingness to invest in improvements of WASH facilities, low demand for improved sanitation and willingness to pay, lack of WASH coordination between central and local governments, absence of District WASH Investment Plans, and skilled WASH staff.

Isoko y’Ubuzima with a $ 21 million budget will leverage achievements under former USAID Isuku Iwacu project to improve access to and encourage correct, consistent use of household WASH services to decrease diseases related to the lack of proper water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

The project will strengthen the capacity of the government and private sector to sustain water systems for 20 years, even 40 years, build the capacity of private operators to identify water losses and stop them and contribute to the reduction at a 25% rate the revenue loss due to non-revenue water over the next 5 years.

This will ensure that more Rwandans have improved sanitation and hygiene, and therefore greater protection against water-borne diseases, improved nutritional status, improved household economy – fewer days lost from work and less spent on hospitals – improved school attendance. It will increase and sustain equitable access to and use of safe drinking water and sanitation services. This will also reduce families’ health, economic, and social burdens due to the lack of WASH services.

Over the next 5 years, 120,000 people will gain access to basic drinking water services, 100,000 people will have increased access to basic sanitation services, while 96,000 will receive improved service quality from an existing basic or safely managed drinking water service in Rwamagana, Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe, Nyagatare, Ruhango, Nyanza, Nyamagabe, Ngororero and Nyabihu.

The program is being implemented from July 2021 by a consortium led by Water For People to improve WASH governance, drinking water services, and sanitation and handwashing services and products. Other members of the consortium are IRC, Vitens Evides International, CARE International, and African Evangelistic Enterprise.