Jean Marie Vianney Kayitana, one of the paraded drunk drivers, said that he was arrested after involving in an accident.
“I was arrested on Saturday, November 18, after involving in an accident at Rwandex. I had taken two bottles of beer and the blood acohol content was at 2 millilitres,” Kayitana said.
“Driving under influence of alcohol is a fatal decision because I was like an impaired person and I would have easily died,” he added.
RNP Deputy spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo reminded motorists to avoid driving when they consumed alcohol.
“Rwanda National Police took time to conduct countrywide awareness on safer road usage including dangers associated with drunk-driving. Police will always conduct campaigns to influence behavioral change but also penalizing those who continue to keep deaf ears and violating traffic rules and regulations,” CSP Africa said.
He urged road users and drivers in particular, to act responsibly when using the road to prevent loss of lives and property.
Rusesabagina was arrested in August last year. He has been undergoing trial along with 20 co-accused terror suspects including Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group.
The suspects face charges including the formation of an irregular armed group, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.
The crimes were committed since 2018 when the aforementioned terror group plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of nine innocent residents in the Southern Province.
They left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage in South-West Rwanda.
During trial proceedings, the Prosecution sought life sentence for Rusesabagina and 25 years for Callixte Sankara.
Among those sentenced was the FLN’s commander and spokesperson, Callixte Nsabimana, who was arrested in 2019. Prior to this, he had claimed responsibility for the 2018 attacks, and had announced plans for further attacks. He has been sentenced to twenty years in prison, having pleaded guilty to most charges.
Another FLN spokesperson, Herman Nsengimana, was sentenced to five years in prison. A member of the CNRD (Conseil national pour la renaissance et la démocratie), Nsengimana was arrested in 2019 in Congo’s South Kivu province along with over 400 other CNRD insurgents.The CNRD is a splinter faction of the Congo-based FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda). It was led by FLN co-founder Colonel Wilson Iratekega until his death in January 2020.
Also convicted was the FLN’s founder, Paul Rusesabagina, who was sentenced to twenty-five years. Prior to the trial, Rusesabagina publicly admitted to founding the group as the armed wing of his political party, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD). He had repeatedly expressed support for the group’s activities including after the 2018 attacks.
Rwanda Government Spokesperson, Yolande Makolo has said that the ‘lengthy trial has exposed the terrorist activities of the FLN group led by Rusesabagina’ noting that the ruling has delivered justice.
“The evidence against the accused was indisputable, and the people of Rwanda will feel safer now justice has been delivered. The trial has been a long and painful ordeal for the victims of FLN attacks, particularly for those who were called upon to testify. Our thoughts today are with these brave witnesses, and the family and friends of the victims,” she said.
{{What to know about the case involving terror suspects }}
1) The first FLN attack took place on 19 June 2018, in Nyabimata, Nyaruguru District. A subsequent attack took place nearby, in Kitabi, Nyamagabe District on 15 December 2018. Nine Rwandan civilians lost their lives in the attacks. The victims included two children: Ornella Sine Atete (13), and Isaac Niwenshuti (17).
2) In December 2018, Callixte Nsabimana, also known as “Sankara”, took to international radio and social media to announce that the FLN had claimed responsibility for these attacks. He was arrested in April 2019, and immediately pled guilty to 16 charges of terrorism.
3) The FLN is the military arm of the PDR-Ihumure party founded by Paul Rusesabagina, and the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD) political coalition which he led.
4) Also in December 2018, Rusesabagina issued a statement on the MRCD-Ubumwe YouTube channel (later removed but can be found here) as the “President of MRCD-FLN”. In the statement he announced that the FLN had “launched a military struggle to liberate the Rwandan people”, and that “the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda”. He pledged his “unreserved support that our youth, the National Liberation Forces, launches against the Kagame army, in order to free the Rwandan people”.
5) On 21 October 2019 Belgian Police searched Rusesabagina house in Brussels and on 13 May 2020 Belgian Prosecution Authority sent to NPPA evidence obtained from the inspection of computers and telephones seized during the search.
6) On 31 August 31, 2020, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau announced that Mr. Rusesabagina was in its custody. He had been the subject of an arrest warrant and was subsequently charged with multiple offences, including terrorism for founding the National Liberation Front (FLN).
7) On 3 December 2020, the High Court Chamber for International Crimes agreed to the request to merge the trial of Mr. Rusesabagina and his co-accused.
8) The trial was initially scheduled to begin on 26 January 2021 was postponed due to COVID concerns. Proceedings eventually commenced on 17 February 2021. A live stream of the trial, including one with English translation, was available online throughout.
9) The court was also shown various documents, including e-mail message records, revealing that Rusesabagina was in direct contact with Antoine Hakizimana (aka Gen Jeva), commander of the FLN’s operations in the northern region of the DRC. In the exchange, Hakizimana updated Rusesabagina on the group’s current military operations and asked him for additional financial assistance. Rusesabagina thanked him for the report and promised to provide funding.
10) Further evidence was provided by Dr. Michelle Martin, an American human rights activist and professor, and former volunteer at the Chicago-based Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation. In her testimony, during which she displayed and read items from Rusesabagina’s personal e-mail correspondence, she expressed her belief that the foundation “operated as a political organisation whose apparent primary goal was overthrowing the Rwandan Government”.
Kagame made the revelation today as he participated in a conversation with the Founder of African Leadership Group, Fred Swaniker and students from different universities in Rwanda.
As he featured in the talk show dubbed ‘In The Room’ initiated by Swaniker , Kagame responded different questions.
Fred Swaniker asked Kagame why he chooses to do hard things which many people fear to confront, pointing out an example of Rwanda’s plan to manufacture vaccines.
Kagame told him that complicated work can be done depending on one’s approaches.
The President said that it has never been part of his plans to dodge hard things.
He went on explaining that, sometimes, hard things result from the combination of simple things achieved at different times that adds up to the situations that require doing hard things.
“You can make the work of doing hard things much easier by paying attention to the simple smaller things on time. […] the pathway can be very simple or difficult depending on the way you paid attention to the simple and hard things,” he said.
Swaniker asked Kagame to give an example of something which started small but currently perceived as a great achievement.
The President pointed out an example of Kigali City saying it has undergone huge transformations compared to its situation in the past 20 years ago.
These include infrastructure development, maintaining high standard of hygiene and red lights among others.
Kagame said that the journey started 20 years ago by doing what is within the country’s means with utmost efficiency .
The President recalled the time when he spoke to cabinet members when the countrywide initiative to maintain cleanliness began.
As he explained, Kagame asked them if the country would require donors to maintain hygiene and pushed forward the idea to dump garbage in the right place.
The President stressed that there are works within people’s capacity that can be done without external support.
“Sometimes when that exercise started, I would be driving in the city. When I saw the litter around, plastic bags, papers from all over; I would literary go and stop my car, convoy, and that also tended to stop the traffic. […] I would get out with my escort guards who are paid to do different things […] we would pick that litter around and say, why would I pass and leave that litter?” he said.
“That has an effect even starting with my entourage. They started thinking ‘well, we shouldn’t leave these things here’. First of all, why do people go throwing litter around? And the same time, the traffic that has come to your halt start saying, what is wrong with him. When they have seen you do that, they start thinking about it and say ‘why would the president stop and do this’. Then you say, I should also take note and do the same. These are simple things. You don’t need to pay a lot of money, you don’t need to be paid a lot of money to do that,” added Kagame.
Kigali is among cleanest cities in the world. Recently in August 2021, the Skytrax World Airport, the coveted quality accolades for airports across the world, and a global benchmark of excellence ranked Kigali International Airport among the best and cleanest airports in East African Community (EAC) and Africa for 2021.
It was ranked 8th best airport in EAC and 7th cleanest on the continent.
The event will be covered by Rwanda Television and livestreamed on YouTube.
This year’s namers will include notable partners, conservationists, international celebrities, dignitaries and friends of Rwanda but their names have not yet been disclosed.
Ahead of the event, organizers of Kwita Izina ceremony launched an online contest during which participating youth had to select one of two provided names for a baby gorilla.
During the contest launched on 16th September 2021 via Kwita Izina Twitter handle, the youth were requested to pick one of two names for a baby gorilla. The two names include ‘Kabeho’ (Live Long) and ‘Mudasumbwa’ (Outstanding).
Winners will receive jerseys of Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain, two teams on the European that entered partnership with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to market Rwanda’s tourism.
The contest was closed in the night of Friday 17th September 2021 around 11:59.
IGIHE has learnt that 30 participants were selected and started receiving their jerseys on Monday 20th September 2021.
During Kwita Izina ceremony , Rwanda will join the rest of the world to mark World Gorilla Day, the day renowned gorilla conservationist Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in 1967. It is a day that encourages people around the globe to celebrate conservation of the mountain gorillas and honour those who protect them daily in their habitat.
The virtual ceremony will feature updates on Rwanda’s conservation efforts including the population growth of the mountain gorillas and the need to expand their habitat, and community support to improve community livelihoods while enabling wildlife conservation.
The Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony reflects centuries-old tradition in which Rwandans name their children in the presence of family and friends. For three decades before the first official gorilla naming ceremony, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorilla babies to monitor each gorilla in their family and habitat.
In 2005, Rwanda began officially naming mountain gorillas in what has become a global celebration of nature. By giving a name to these majestic animals, they are given the value they undoubtedly deserve.
The ceremony is also an opportunity to thank the communities that live around the gorilla habitat, Volcanoes National Park, research partners, vets and the dedicated conservationists, rangers and trackers who protect the gorillas daily.
Since 2005, a total of Rwf6.5 billion have been pumped into 780 projects in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, education, provision of decent shelters for vulnerable residents, building health centers, promoting livestock farming, beekeeping and crafts among others.
Despite unprecedented effects occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, Rwf700 million were invested in 30 projects in the areas of infrastructure and agriculture this year.
Rwanda’s tourism sector earned US$121 million in 2020 down from US$498 of 2019.
Over the last sixteen years, 328 mountain gorillas have been named. Today, Kwita Izina forms part of an ambitious strategy to preserve Rwanda’s natural heritage and further expand the role of tourism in the country’s transformation. As a result of the naming ceremony, Rwandans from all walks of life understand the intrinsic value of gorillas and their contribution to the country’s development.
{{Below is the list of baby gorillas to be named during the upcoming event:}}
{{1. Africa’s Son (Isimbi Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 3th January 2021 to mother Africa from the Isimbi family of mountain gorillas.
{{2.Ejoheza’s Son (Isimbi Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 6 January 2021 to mother Ejoheza from the Isimbi family of mountain gorillas.
{{3. Ijambo’s Son (Igisha Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 11 December 2020 to mother Ijambo from the Igisha family of mountain gorillas.
{{4. Ikaze’s Daughter (Musilikale Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 6 February 2021 to mother Ikaze from the Musilikale family of mountain gorillas.
{{5. Impano’s Son (Igisha Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 8 January 2021 to mother Impano from the Igisha family of mountain gorillas.
{{6. Inkubito’s Son (Muhoza Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 7 January 2021 to mother Inkubito from the Muhoza family of mountain gorillas.
{{7. Ishema’s Son (Pablo Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 12 July 2021 to mother Ishema from the Pablo family of mountain gorillas.
{{8. Kubana’s Daughter (Kureba Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 12 December 2020 to mother Kubana from the Kureba family of mountain gorillas.
{{9. Kurudi’s Daughter (Titus Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 18 April 2021 to mother Kurudi from the Titus family of mountain gorillas.
{{10. Magayane’s Son (Hirwa Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 27 June 2021 to mother Magayane from the Hirwa family of mountain gorillas.
{{11.Munezero’s Son (Agashya Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 14 June 2021 to mother Munezero from the Agashya family of mountain gorillas.
{{12. Nchili’s Daughter (Kwitonda Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 29 August 2020 to mother Nchili from the Kwitonda family of mountain gorillas.
{{13. Ndimubanzi’s Daughter (Kwitonda Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 20 August 2020 to mother Ndimubanzi from the Kwitonda family of mountain gorillas.
{{14. Nezerwa’s Daughter (Amahoro Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 18 June 2021 to mother Nezerwa from the Amahoro family of mountain gorillas.
{{15. Nzeli’s Son (Kureba Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 13 November 2020 to mother Nzeli from the Kureba family of mountain gorillas.
{{16. Okapi’s Daughter (Kwitonda Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 1 January 2020 to mother Okapi from the Kwitonda family of mountain gorillas.
{{17. Rugira’s Son (Musilikale Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 30 July 2020 to mother Rugira from the Musilikare family of mountain gorillas.
{{18. Tegereza’s Son (Ntambara Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 24 December 2020 to mother Tegereza from the Ntambara family of mountain gorillas.
{{19. Turiho’s Son (Muhoza Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 26 February 2021 to mother Turiho from the Muhoza family of mountain gorillas.
{{20. Umoja’s Daughter (Hirwa Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 18 December 2020 to mother Umoja from the Hirwa family of mountain gorillas.
{{21. Umujyanama’s Daughter (Pablo Family)}}
This female baby gorilla was born on 9 February 2021 to mother Umujyanama from the Pablo family of mountain gorillas.
{{22. Ururabo’s Son ( Igisha Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 6 July 2021 to mother Ururabo from the Igisha family of mountain gorillas.
{{23. Karema’s Son (Sabyinyo Family)}}
This male baby gorilla was born on 25 January 2021 to mother Karema from the Sabyinyo family of mountain gorillas.
A total of 538 refugees from 119 families have moved to Mahama today morning while more 500 are expected to be relocated on Thursday this week.
MINEMA plans to relocate at least 1000 refugees every week until the exercise to resettle 9,992 refugees from Gihembe camp is completed by December 2021.
They are joining more than 2,393 refugees from 520 families relocated to Mahama camp in May 2021.
Refugees being relocated were settled in Gihembe camp 23 years ago.
IGIHE has learnt that the relocation is meant to accommodate them in decent shelters because buildings at Gihembe camp are old that refugees would be prone to disasters during rainy season.
The camp will be demolished after resettling refugees.
The manager of Gihembe camp, Goretti Murebwayire said that some of refugees’ belongings will not be moved immediately.
“We are ready to transport their properties but there must be preparations to assess if they will get pasture for their cows. We cannot take cows to the camp but we will help refugees notifying us that they have got land,” she said.
Refugees said that are readiness to mix with the new community considering the appreciation of colleagues relocated in the first batches.
“We have welcomed the decision because it is necessary. Besides, we are still in the same country and we are joining our colleagues resettled recently,” said Sifa Nyirakamana, 23.
Fabrice Nkurunziza who arrived in Gihembe in 2012 coming from Nkambi transit camp based in Rubavu district said that colleagues from Mahama have spoken well of the living conditions in the new camp.
“They have been telling us that everything is going well. So, we are ready for integration in the new community,” he said.
Another refugee identified as Patrick Sebuhoro thanked the Government of Rwanda for provided support to lead decent life.
“We have run short of nothing in Rwanda. We are grateful,” he noted.
Refugees from Gihembe camp recently expressed worries over relocation to Mahama claiming that the exercise would leave some of them leaving their occupations.
IGIHE has learnt that refugees not willing to leave jobs are allowed to stay in the area.
The representative of United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to Rwanda, Boubacar Bamba has thanked the Government of Rwanda for the decision to relocate refugees from risky zones.
“It is a good decision to save refugees’ lives. The relocation won’t affect them negatively because they will continue receiving support,” he said.
Refugees boarded buses today morning heading to their new camp in Kirehe district.
He made the observation on Sunday 19th September 2021 as he chaired the annual meeting of the Broadband Commission.
The virtual meeting was also attended by the co-chair of the commission, Carlos Slim along with co-vice chairs Houlin Zhao and Audrey Azoulay.
This year’s meeting is themed ‘People-centered Approaches to Universal Broadband’.
Kagame who is also the chairperson of the commission stressed that digital cooperation should not be limited to broadband access.
“Before we begin, let me just make brief comments. The first is that digital cooperation needs to go beyond access to broadband. We also need to close the gap in the adoption and use of affordable devices and services, in accessible content, and in digital literacy,” he said.
“The second is to note the value in multi-stakeholder platforms that complement the work of the Broadband Commission, such as the Edison Alliance. Harmonizing these initiatives would create useful synergies,” added Kagame.
The President also recalled that ‘the strength of the Broadband Commission lies in the diversity of the perspectives that our Commissioners bring to the table’.
He concluded his remarks highlighting that the Broadband Commission should continue to be a forum to find consensus and speed up progress towards digital transformation.
The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development was established in May 2010 as a joint initiative by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with the aim of boosting the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda, and expanding broadband access in every country as key to accelerating progress towards national and international development targets.
The Commission was renamed the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, following the adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015.
Led by President Paul Kagame and Carlos Slim Helù of Mexico, it is co-chaired by ITU’s Secretary-General Houlin Zhao and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
It is comprised of over 50 Commissioners who represent a cross-cutting group of top CEO and industry leaders, senior policy-makers and government representatives, and experts from international agencies, academia and organizations concerned with development.
Grace Uwizeye, 24, Jonathan Niyomungeri, 24, Ibrahim Mutabazi, 24, and Patrick Niyitegeka, 25, were arrested on Saturday, September 18, less than a week after six other people were also arrested at the border as they attempted to cross to DRC with forged Covid-19 certificates.
They were showed to the media on Sunday, September 19, at the Western Region Police headquarters in Rubavu District.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the quartet were also attempting to cross the border to DRC.
“Negative Covid-19 certificate is one of the requirements for one to cross the border to the either country. On Saturday, the four suspects who were trying to cross to DRC, presented forged Covid-19 negative certificates but the Police border security was able to notice the forgery and took all the four into custody,” CIP Karekezi said.
Grace Uwizeye and Jonathan Niyomwungeri admitted that they have been counterfeiting Covid-19 certificates.
“I went to the health center where I got a genuine negative Covid-19 certificate, which we have since been editing and updating to facilitate us to cross the border,” Uwizeye said.
Another suspect, Ibrahim Mutabazi said that he got the forged certificate from Patrick Niyitegeka. Mutabazi paid Niyitegeka Rwf5,000 for the forged certificate.
CIP Karekezi warned against such inappropriate and criminal behaviors urging the public to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines.
“Forging a Covid-19 certificate is a crime but it can also lead to the spread of the pandemic” CIP Karekezi said.
He called on the public to avoid such criminal shortcuts and to report those involved.
All the suspects were handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further legal process.
In article 276, 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.
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 Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The statement released last night shows that 140 people have caught the virus out of 5447 sample tests, one recovered while 19 are critically ill.
A total of 1,368,758 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,836,045 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine 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.
Upon arrival at Mocimboa da Praia on Saturday, the ACOS was welcomed by the Joint Force Commander, Maj Gen Innocent Kabandana who briefed him about the progress of military operations against terror groups in Cabo Delgado.
Lt Gen Muganga met Rwandan troops and commended them for the good work done since their arrival in Mozambique.
He further conveyed a message of appreciation from the RDF Commander-in-Chief, President Paul Kagame, for the security achievements gained since the force’s arrival in Cabo Delgado.
The ACOS urged the forces to keep the momentum and continue to be good ambassadors of Rwanda.
Rwandan troops in collaboration with Mozambican Forces fought and dislodged the terror groups from several towns including their main bases in MOCIMBOA DA PRAIA and other localities that include among others AWASSE, PALMA, QUIONGA, CHINDA, MBAU, MAPALANGANHA, TETE, NJAMA, QUELIMANE and most recently SIRI I and SIRI II considered to be their strongholds.
The gathering was in contrary with the national Covid-19 prevention directives.
They were found gathered in the house belonging to one Alphonse Habakubaho, 50, also arrested, located in Kabeza Village, Cyimo Cell, Masaka Sector.
The group was paraded on Sunday, September 19, at Kicukiro stadium in Kicukiro Sector.
Habakubaho said that had gathered at his home to provide traditional medical assistance to their patients.
“I am one of the traditional healers, we had four patients when Police arrived and arrested us for violating the Covid-19 prevention guidelines,” said Habakubaho.
Jean Bosco Kajongi, the chairperson of association of traditional healers is also among those arrested.
“We had come together to gather our spiritual talents to assist out patients but we did not go through the proper national procedures to comply with the Covid-19 prevention guidelines,” Kajongi said.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioners of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that the violators were arrested due to the existing partnership between the police and the public which facilitates easy sharing of information in lawlessness.
“This group of 37 people, majority of them traditional healers, were found on Sunday at about 4pm, overcrowded in the small room with their patients. The government directives were repeated and are clear; being a traditional healer does not give you the right to undermine them,” CP Kabera warned.
CP Kabera reminded the public that the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet been defeated and warned that Police operations will continue to arrest those who derail the national efforts.
The violators were tested for Covid-19 on own cost and handed administrative fines accordingly.
