The vaccines have been delivered through COVAX, a global initiative aimed at working with vaccine producers to provide countries worldwide with equitable access to safe and effective vaccine.
The shipment followed more 857,000 AstraZeneca doses that Rwanda received from Italy in the morning on 4th October 2021.
Since March 2021, Rwanda has been receiving vaccine doses through COVAX initiative, donations from partner countries or direct purchases.
The Ministry of Health recently announced that 21% of the target population of 7.8 million people (representing 60% of the Rwandan population) is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As of today; a total of 1,684,266 people have been fully vaccinated while 2,134,072 received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
The country targets to have vaccinated 30 percent of the population by December 2021 and 60% by June 2022.
The number of new COVID-19 cases has been decreasing gradually which is considered a great milestone towards defeating the pandemic. However, citizens are reminded of the critical importance of adhering to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing to consolidate gains.
As part of the deal, the Rwandan flag carrier will also launch new non-stop flights between their Kigali hub and Doha in December.
According to a statement released today, the agreement benefits travelers from across the globe who fly with both airlines, which expands each carrier’s route network.
Customers can enjoy the simplicity of buying connecting flights on both airlines using one reservation, with a seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check experience that encompasses the entire journey.
Commenting on the development; Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir CEO said that it is a major milestone for RwandAir and marks the beginning of an exciting new journey with Qatar Airways.
“We are also immensely proud to welcome Doha to our route network, connecting customers with Qatar’s hub and further expanding their flight map. This codeshare agreement will give our customers significantly more choice and flexibility, allowing RwandAir to strengthen its global presence and build on its strong and loyal African customer base,” she noted.
“As we continue to grow out of the pandemic, this partnership represents yet another extremely important step on our recovery runway, and we hope to deliver more commitments like this to our customers in the very near future,” added Makolo.
Mr. Akbar Al-Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive highlighted that the company shares a very close and collaborative bond with Rwanda and welcomed RwandAir’s new non-stop service between Kigali and Doha.
“With this comprehensive codeshare agreement, we are committed to deliver greater choice and connectivity to our customers in Africa and around the world. The new partnership will help position Qatar Airways in the region and complement our African expansion strategy,” he said.
“As we brace ourselves to meet pent-up demand for travel, I see dynamic partnerships like this one propel travel, tourism and trade firmly on the path to recovery,” added Akbar.
The new codeshare will enable RwandAir customers to book attractive offers to popular destinations in the U.S, such as New York, Washington D.C., Dallas and Los Angeles.
The partnership will also see these offers extend to key European cities, such as London, Zurich and Madrid, and points across Asia, such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
Those travelling on RwandAir will benefit from outstanding service, as the airline won the award for best airline staff in Africa at the 2021 Skytrax awards.
The agreement also increases Qatar Airways’ footprint in Africa, with access to destinations such as Bujumbura, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
Both airlines recently announced a loyalty partnership, giving RwandAir Dream Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty members access to each other’s destinations.
This gives customers the opportunity to accrue and redeem miles across their reciprocal route networks and access the airlines’ airport lounges at both airline’s hub homes in Doha and Kigali.
RwandAir continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 25 destinations, offering unrivalled (smooth or seamless) connectivity to customers and making it easy for them to change their travel dates or destination as required.
Earlier this year, RwandAir became the first African airline to achieve Diamond status in the APEX Health Safety audit powered by SimpliFlying.
{{About RwandAir}}
Operating from Kigali, RwandAir is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest state-of-the-art fleets on the African continent. With a reputation for delivering a premium service to all its customers, RwandAir operates 12 aircraft with an average age of just under six years. The airline currently offers services to 25 destinations across 21 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
{{Rwanda is at the Forefront of Covid-Testing (and Thus Protecting) Their National Parks}}
All tourists and locals must provide a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours before entering park gates. This is to protect the animals in the parks including the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. And if travelers are spending a chunk of time in Rwanda, they have to make sure their Covid test is still within the 72-hour window, or they have to get another one (which means multiple Covid tests during their stay).
This is good news for visitors (and for the animals of Rwanda). Regular testing ensures those visiting the park are Covid-free. Travelers will have a strong sense of security visiting the national parks of Rwanda, knowing that the country places such a high value on keeping everyone safe and healthy. There are four national parks in Rwanda, all worth visiting.
{{Rwanda Opens the Newest National Park in Africa (and You Can Trek with the Chimps)}}
Gishwati Mukura National Park is one of the youngest national parks in Africa. In December 2020, the park officially opened its doors to the public (although with Covid, the park still has not seen many visitors). This means that parts of the vast montane forest that once stretched across much of central Africa now has permanent protection and is open to visitors.
Gishwati is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees, making it one of only two places in Rwanda to go on a bucket-list worthy chimp trek. There are also a variety of other primates visitors can see including golden and blue monkeys. The park is currently part of an ambitious landscape restoration program. Previously, the area was nearly depleted largely due to resettlement, illegal mining in the mineral-rich forest and livestock farming. Now, the park is addressing those issues by increasing the number of trees to improve soil fertility, stabilize slopes and regulate stream flow.
Additionally, park officials are working with people living in the surrounding areas to create positive impact on their livelihoods, which in turn offers the forest a better chance of regeneration in tandem with the potential to raise living standards in the longer term.
For tourists, the upside is that they can book a chimp trek now (which normally has a waiting period of three months to a year).
{{Visiting Rwanda’s Baby Gorillas}}
Each year, Rwanda holds a special ceremony naming the new baby gorillas born in the last twelve months. The ceremony is called Kwita Izina and this year it was held on September 25, World Gorilla Day. This year’s ceremony was the 17th anniversary of the tradition and the theme for 2021 is ‘Conservation and Sustainable Tourism – A Foundation for Future Generations’. A surprising 24 baby mountain gorillas have born in the country’s Volcanoes National Park over the last 12 months. To date, 328 baby gorillas have been named since the first Kwita Izina was held in 2005.
Visitors to Volcanoes can not only see the beautiful silverback adult male gorillas, but they can also see one of the adorable babies.
{ {{This article was first published by Forbes on 4th October 2021}} }
The goods were seized in the operations dubbed “Usalama VII” conducted between September 7 and October 1, across the country. The goods were showed to the media at RIB Headquarters in Kimihurura, Gasabo District on Monday, October 4.
The impounded products include assorted Illicit brew, liquors, outlawed cosmetics and non-biodegradable polythene bags, counterfeits, substandard food items, pharmaceutical products, substandard electric cables, second-hand clothes and shoes commonly known as Caguwa, minerals and narcotic drugs.
Usalama, which means ‘safety’in Swahili, is an Interpol supported operation conducted simultaneously in all Eastern and Southern Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO and SARPCCO) member states against harmful and high impact crimes.
Jean Marie Twagirayezu, the RIB Director General for Criminal Investigations (DGCI) said that the operations were conducted across the country are part of the regional efforts to fight against outlawed goods as well as counterfeit and expired products sold on the market.
“These are annual operations meant to remove illegal and harmful products from the market in which 36 people were arrested,” Twagirayezu said.
Lazare Ntirenganya, the Division Manager in Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) said that the impounded products were banned due to their ill-effects to health, environment and overall human security.
“FDA released a list of foods, drinks, pharmacueticals and other products that are not allowed in Rwanda which some of those allowed were either found to have expired, substandard or counterfeits brought on the market through illegal channels,” Ntirenganya said.
“There are other products like pharmaceuticals, which are sold by non professionals in unlawful places. Medical drugs can only be sold in pharmacies and other licensed health facilities.”
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that illicit and substandard products breach the safety standards, thus a security concern.
“People cannot be safe and secure when they are using illicit, substandard and expired goods especially medicines,” CP Kabera said.
CP Kabera warned that although this specific operation is conducted periodically, fight trafficking, smuggling and sell of illicit, substandard, counterfeit and outlawed products is part of the daily RNP operations.
“This should send a strong message to anyone poisoning residents of Rwanda. Rwanda National Police and other law enforcement and relevant entities will continue to these operations. Dealers should know that police eyes and ears are everywhere because of the ownership and responsiveness of the public, who share information on dealers,” CP Kabera warned.
Beatrice Uwumukiza, the Director General of Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) commended the collaboration between the institutions in the fight against harmful products on the market.
Uwumukiza said that awareness campaigns will also be extended to traders and customers to emphasize quality and goods allowed on the Rwandan market, to protect consumers.
The statement released last night shows that 81 people have caught the virus out of 7506 sample tests while five recovered.
A total of 1,684,266 have been fully vaccinated while 2,134,072 received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Iremere na Yolo is offering even more to the youth in the form of prizes and entertainment. The promo will reward Yolo customers for their continuous and increased use of Yolo data, MoMoPay and Ayoba.
Prizes will be won on a daily and weekly basis for a period of twelve (12) weeks, nation-wide. Among the list of prizes to be won are plasma TV screens, laptops, cash, motorcycles, bicycles, smartphones and shopping vouchers awarded per week and voice minutes, data bundles and other freebies as daily prizes.
For the final prizes; three (3) winners will be awarded Rwf 5 million, Rwf 3 million and 2 million each respectively.
Yolo customers can join the promo by dialling *154*7#.
The Iremere na Yolo announcement was made at the launch event, attended by MTN Rwanda Chief Consumer and Digital Officer and Miss Popularity 2021 (MTN Yolo Ambassador) at the MTN headquarters, while Yolo customers, MTN staff and many more joined via an online live stream.
Speaking at the launch, Yaw Ankoma Agyapong, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Consumer and Digital Officer said: “As we gear towards the end of the year, we want to reward our ever-supportive Yolo customers. We have managed to reach our 5th anniversary because of their loyalty and support and what better way to say thank you than through this promo. There are plenty of prizes up for grabs daily and weekly by accumulating points through the continuous usage of Yolo data bundles, using MoMoPay and chatting, calling and channel browsing on Ayoba.”
This year’s celebration comprises of a revamp of Yolo products (voice and data) to offer more options, value for money and value-added services. Yolo customers can expect less restrictions on Yolo extra, more Mega Bytes (MB) for social media data bundles, the addition of TikTok to social media platforms that can be used with the social media bundles and more partners added to the loyalty program ‘Yolo Star’.
“At MTN, we want to encourage and empower the youth through this year’s Iremere Wubahwe Yolo celebration to create and shine in their respective domains, be it in the arts, sciences or creative spaces; for they are the future of this country,” concluded Agyapong.
Customers within the age groups of 16-25 years old can join Yolo by dialling *154# to purchase the various bundles available.
{{About MTN Rwandacell PLC}}
MTN Rwandacell PLC (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our footprint and are the country’s No 1 network. MTN Rwanda offers various innovative services to consumers and enterprises, including personalised voice, data, home and fixed connectivity solutions. The company is also the front runner in Mobile Financial Services in Rwanda delivered through its FinTech subsidiary, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd.
The heavy rain is predicted between 1st and 10th October. Apart from aforementioned provinces, the weatherman has also predicted the rainfall ranging between 40 and 140 mm in other parts of the country.
Heavy rainfall is particularly expected in the districts of Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe while average precipitation ranging from 80 and 140 mm is predicted in different parts between five and eight days.
The weatherman has also predicted above normal temperature between 30°C and 32°C in some parts of Kigali City, Bugarama Valley and Eastern Province while the temperature between 30°C and 32°C is expected in the rest of the country.
The wind is also predicted to blow on average speed between 4m/s and 10m/s across the country expect the districts of Karongi, Rutsiro, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Gakenke, Rulindo, Huye, Rusizi, Gisagara and Nyanza where the speed is expected to be avove average between 8m/s and 10m/s.
Meteo Rwanda has urged farmers to continue growing crops friendly to their respective regions due to expected rain and soil humidity.
Segun was previously Managing Director and CEO of Airtel Nigeria and was responsible for the overall management of the operations in the Company’s largest market.
He has more than 25 years business management experience in banking, consumer goods and telecoms.
Before joining Airtel in 2012, Segun held leadership roles at Coca-Cola in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya (as MD and CEO). He has also been the Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (Coca-Cola Hellenic owned) and Group head of retail banking operations at Ecobank Transnational Inc, covering 28 countries in Africa. He is an electronics engineer and also a chartered accountant.
As he took over duties, Ogunsanya said that pledged to build on the solid foundations the Group has established for future sustainable growth across Africa.
“Moving forward, we will invest even more in our network and distribution channels to serve the communities where we operate. By doing this, we will continue to sustainably bridge the digital divide, expand financial inclusion and meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he said.
A total of 251,906 candidates including 136,830 girls and 11 576 boys sat for primary leaving exams while 121,626 including 66,240 girls sat for ordinary level exams.
At least 121,626 pupils exhibited excellent performance. These include 66,240 girls and 55,386 boys.
Candidates who passed in Division I are 14,373 equivalent to 5.7% while 54, 214 (21, 5 %.) candidates passed from the Division II.
A total of 75,217 candidates passed in the Division III whereas 63,326 (25, 10%) are classified in Division IV.
Among others, 44 176 (17, 50%) pupils failed exams.
On the other hand, 19.238 candidates from the lower secondary education (15, 8%) passed in Division I; 22 576 equivalent to 18, 6% passed in Division II, 17 349 (14,3%) in Division III while 45.842 (37,7%) passed in Division IV.
The results released today shows that 16,466 (13, 6%) candidates who sat for ordinary level national exams did not get at least a minimum number of points to pass.
Yannis Ntwari Rutaganira from Kigali Parents has emerged the overall top performer in primary six while Françoise Tumukunde from Institut Sainte Famille Nyamasheke was awarded as the best performing student in ordinary level.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine has said that students who failed exams will be helped to repeat courses unlike the past when they would be allowed to the next level.
The next 2021/2022 school year is expected to begin on 11th October 2021 to close on 15th July 2022 as per timetable released by MINEDUC.
After releasing results, the Ministry has revealed that students admitted in Senior 1 and 4 will start classes at a later date on 18th October 2021 for parents to make enough preparations.
The calendar also shows that the first term to begin on 11th October will end on 24th December 2021; the second will run from 10th January until 31st March while the 3rd term will begin from 18th April through 15th July 2022.
Upon arrival at Kigali international Airport, the shipment comprised of Astra Zeneca doses was on behalf of the Minister of Health received by Hassan Sibomana, the Director of Vaccination Program and Amb. Guillaume Kavaruganda, the Director General for Europe, Americas and International organizations.
These shipment is additional to other vaccine doses received through COVAX initiative, donations from partner countries or direct purchases.
The Ministry of Health recently announced that 21% of the target population of 7.8 million people (representing 60% of the Rwandan population) is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
A total of 1,680,361 people have been fully vaccinated while 2,131,766 received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
The country targets to have vaccinated 30 percent of the population by December 2021 and 60% by June 2022.
