Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has sounded a fresh call to the general public to refrain from behavours and practices that continue to fuel further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that some people continue to disregard the governement prevention directives and health guidelines to engage in prohibited or banned activities, where in some cases those infected end up infecting others.

“On Christmas Day alone, Police recorded 4,600 people across the country, who violated the directives. They include those who were holding illegal gatherings, overcrowded in taxi-parks, not wearing face masks, violating the curfew, operating bars without authorisation, and hosting house parties,” CP Kabera said.

“Comply with the directives without any exception. There are those, who were arrested visiting people, who tested positive for Covid-19 and under home care and those who hold parties. Sadly, these people ended up contracting the virus and spreading it to others, which we view as intentional spread of the virus, and which amounts to a criminal act,” he added.

He singled out two recent cases in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District where in incidents people were visiting Covid-19 positives friends.

“Sixteen people were recently arrested gathering in a house of a Covid-19 patient in Nyarugunga sector, Kicukiro District, and tests for three of them later turned positive. It was the same in the night of Christmas also in Nyarugunga where another group was caught visiting a positive person and were found drinking together. The law criminalizes such acts done intentionally and they will face the legal process.”

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CP Kabera, however, pointed out that the general security situation remains calm in this festive period with no serious incidents and called for continued cooperation and information sharing on anything that can affect the security and wellbeing of the people in their communities or businesses.

He was killed in the night of Christmas 25th December 2021.

Nshimiyimana’s body was seen in the morning of 26th December in Karere village, Gacaca cell, Rubengera sector.

Residents rushed to alert local leaders and security officials, whereafter, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) arrested eight people who had shared drink with the deceased and returned home together with him on Christmas.

The executive secretary of Rubengera sector, Medald Nkusi has told IGIHE that his body was seen with wounds in the chest raising suspicion that he might have been stabbed.

“We request residents to provide information on time and avoid disputes that can trigger similar incidents. They should seek assistance from local leaders to solve disputes,” he said.

Nshimiyimana who worked as a porter leaves a woman and three children.

Havugimana was paraded to the media on Sunday, December 26, at Gisenyi Police station in Gisenyi Sector, Rubavu District

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that Havugimana was arrested at Bugeshi health centre attempting to use the forged certificate to have him registered as fully vaccinated.

“Havugimana is not vaccinated, so on Friday, he went to Bugeshi health centre with a forged vaccination certificate and tried to influence medical workers there to have his names entered into the RBC system. The medical workers called the Police and Havugimana was taken into custody,” said CIP Karekezi.

Upon his arrest, Havugimana said that he got the falsfied certificate in September from someone in Musanze District, whom he did not disclose, for Rwf1, 000.

He added that he used the same fake certificate to attend a wedding reception for his relatives back in September in Nyarubande Sector, Musanze District.

The suspects was handed over to RIB at Gisenyi police station for further legal process.

Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.

Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million or only one of these penalties.

The Australian government recently commemorated the 2020 and 2021 Australian Children’s Week under the theme “children have the right to choose their friends and safely connect with others”, which is based on Article 15 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. What is most noteworthy is how the pandemic, caused by COVID-19, affected students mentally and emotionally.

Due to COVID-19, most schools transitioned to virtual methods and this heavily impacted students’ educational achievements. Students who should be at school learning how to communicate and socialize with each other are in an environment where they have to receive education non face-to-face.

HWPL’s Sydney branch also commemorated this week by inviting VIPs in educational fields who talked about the impact of COVID-19 on students and introduced how peace education is necessary for students.

Those who attended the event agreed that it was essential to provide peace education so that children would have the necessary character to live with others while experiencing COVID-19.

Abraham Quadan, the board member of Cambodia Centra for Mediation said that it is clear from Ayman’s presentation that ‘the pandemic has brought us together, whilst exposing what we also need to do more to prioritize our children so we can teach children to have essential skills, such as having empathy and understanding for one another’.

Arezo Zoe Safi, the principal lawyer of Safi Legal, spoke on the subject of setting priorities to smoothly transition children from the pandemic situation into their daily lives.

She said during COVID-19, refugee children were not given the basic essential education such as an online study environment.

Safi further argued the urgency of providing a short and long term policy that prioritizes in protecting the children. She also mentioned that necessary measures should be reinforced so children can be guaranteed equal education rights regardless of their environment.

HWPL’s Sydney branch in Australia will work with VIPs in various educational fields to provide many educational opportunities so strength can be built to guarantee the safety of the children and create a safe world.

One of those arrested tested positive for Covid-19. Those arrested include the executive secretary for Shyorongi sector, Jean Vedaste Nzeyimana, Christine Mukashema, who is in charge of civil affairs in the sector and the executive secretary for Bugaragara cell.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) for Rulindo, said that Police was called in by some concerned residents after it emerged that the event was being held contrary to the directives.

“Dusingizumuremyi Vedaste and Angelique Niyoniringiye earlier that day had a civil marriage and hosted their guests at their home. Residents got concerned about the violations, called the Police and officers found about 15 people at the couple’s home but managed to apprehend 11 of them including the two local leaders,” said CIP Ndayisenga.

Apart from the couple, he added, none of their guests had a Covid test as required and one of them has so far tested positive

“The local leaders are partly responsible for ensuring the compliance with the national directives against the spread of Covid-19, which they ignored,” the DPCEO said.

He thanked residents, who reported the violations.

“This is not time to lean back or be carried away by emotions or friendship. As local leaders, you have to be responsible. First, the couple did not notify authorities seven days prior and local leaders did not bother to ask if all people in attendence during the civil marriage they conducted, had covid-19 negative tests.”

All the violators have been isolated.

The warning comes after Police arrested 23 people in the night of Thursday, December 23, who were holding separate house parties in Gasabo and Kicukiro districts.

The violators were paraded to the media on Friday, December 24, at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.

This came a day after 16 other people were arrested visiting an isolated Covid-19 positive person in Kicukiro District with three of them contracting the virus.

“On Thursday at about 9:30pm, Police found 20 people in a house holding a birthday party for one of their colleague identified as Ella Dufitumugisha, 23, in Karongi Village, Kibagabaga Cell, Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District,” said Cheaf Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo, the RNP Deputy spokesperson.

“Other three people were arrested at about midnight in a house located in Nyarugunga Sector of Kicukiro District. They were reported by residents for causing noise pollution and were found drinking beer.”

CSP Africa cautioned against holding such home parties and urged the public to continue reporting such violations.

“Health measures have been revised due to the recent increase of Covid-19 infections and parties and related celebrations have been prohibited. We remind the public to be responsive during this festive period, respect the guidelines to stay safe.”

The violators were educated on the government directives, health measures, tested for Covid-19 and handed administrative fines, accordingly.