The statement released last night shows that 496 people have caught the virus out of 8 251 sample tests, 11 recovered while 43 are critically ill.
A total of 432,429 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,092,466 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.
The revelation follows a statement released last week by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that 13 countries have agreed to temporarily host at-risk Afghans evacuated from Afghanistan and a dozen more have agreed to serve as transit points for evacuees, including Americans and others.
In evacuating Afghans who previously worked with its forces, the US has sought third countries to house refugees while their applications are processed.
Blinken said that potential Afghan refugees not already cleared for resettlement in the United States will be housed at facilities in countries including Rwanda, Albania, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Ukraine and Uganda.
Transit countries include Bahrain, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
The White House said Monday that the US has evacuated or helped to get approximately 48,000 people out of Afghanistan since Aug. 14, with about 10,900 of them airlifted out during 12 hours Monday.
These include workers of non-governmental organizations, public servants and others at risk depending on the nature of their jobs like journalists, interpreters and human rights activists among others.
According to CNBC, the tally represents an apparent acceleration in the military’s colossal efforts to relocate as many people as possible amid a Taliban takeover. In addition, coalition forces evacuated approximately 5,900 people over the weekend.
Since the end of July, the US has relocated approximately 53,000 people, the White House said. There are still several thousand Americans believed to be awaiting evacuation, according to the State Department.
The Pentagon said evacuees are flying from Kabul to temporary safe-haven locations across the Middle East and Europe, including US installations in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Afghan nationals arriving in the United States will be housed at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Lee in Virginia, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and Fort Bliss in Texas.
As desperate Afghans were trying to escape the Taliban and board planes, during chaotic scenes at Kabul airport, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on Monday last week, called for international unity on Afghanistan, in a briefing to an emergency session of the Security Council.
“The following days will be pivotal”, said the UN chief. “The world is watching. We cannot and must not abandon the people of Afghanistan”.
After seizing large swaths of territory in recent months, the Taliban on Sunday took control of the capital, Kabul, home to some six million people.
President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country, according to media reports, and desperate residents have been scrambling to the airport to get flights out.
Afghanistan’s UN ambassador, Ghulam M. Isaczai, recently spoke of the fear that has gripped Kabul where people displaced from other provinces had flocked to the capital, viewed as the last refuge in the country.
As Isaczai said, Kabul residents reported that Taliban forces started house to house searches in some neighborhoods in Kabul, registering names and looking for people in their target list.
“There are already reports of target killings and looting in the city,” he revealed last week.
As per RURA’s statement dated 19th August 2021, the telecom must have solved all network issues related to poor calls connections (first attempts failures), dropped calls and silent garbled-speech by the aforementioned dates.
RURA has revealed that the decision follows the hearing session held on 23rd July 2021 during which the management of MTN Rwanda acknowledged the gap between Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the translation of these improvements into customer oriented experience.
“Should these deadlines be exceeded, further sanctions including the monetary sanction shall be applied immediately,” reads the statement in part.
The regulatory has also explained that MTN Rwanda failed to meet the initial deadline of the remediation plan to improve the quality of services in the City of Kigali and upcountry districts as submitted in the letter dated 9th April 2021.
In June 2021, MTN Rwanda explained that 40 new telecommunication towers have been installed to improve service delivery.
At the time, the telecom said that these infrastructures have been installed in different parts of Kigali city namely; Nduba, Jabana, Rusororo, Bumbogo among others to enrich customers’ with improved experience.
The recently announced upgrade followed subscribers’ complaints for network failures, dropped calls, unclear calls and slow internet.
Speaking to the media in June; Eugene Gakwerere, the Chief Technical Officer at MTN Rwanda revealed that the telecom is installing 27 more towers to be completed by August 2021 to maintain improved service delivery to over 6 million customers who subscribed to its network.
According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), the campaign targets residents aged 18 years and above starts with Kigali as a densely populated zone with highest infection rate in the country.
Vaccines are being administered at multiple sites across the Kigali districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge.
Mobile teams are also moving door to door to vaccinate people with mobility challenges during the exercise expected to last two weeks.
According to a statement by MoH released ahead of the third phase of mass vaccination, people who received the first dose earlier this month are also reminded to return to their respective facilities across Kigali for their second dose.
Kigali, which generates close to 50% of Rwanda’s national GDP, has been hit particularly hard and went into lockdown three times since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
Rwanda plans to vaccinate 30 per cent of the population by the end of 2021 and continues efforts to acquire sufficient doses through direct purchases and other arrangements, to ensure as many Rwandans as possible are protected from COVID-19.
The country has been administering other types of vaccines including AstraZeneca manufactured from the United Kingdom and Pfizer from the United States.
Recently, health officials told the media that Rwanda was undergoing discussions to start administering Johnson & Johnson and other types of vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
On Thursday19th August 2021, the Government of Rwanda received over 200,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses of COVID-19 from China to support ongoing inoculation program being rolled out countrywide.
The Sinopharm COVID-19 doses were an addition the first batch of 480,000 Pfizer vaccines Rwanda received on Wednesday last week from the United States.
So far, Rwanda has 1021 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic emerged.
A total of 424, 768 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,048,640 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Liquid, diverse and well-regulated local capital markets are an essential source of local-currency financing for the government, financial sector participants, and end users such as small businesses.
Under the Rwanda Capital Market Development project, IFC will advise the National Bank of Rwanda, CMA, and other key stakeholders on increasing secondary market liquidity in the government debt market, increasing the supply and issuance of non-government bonds, and developing a professional investor base.
The statement released recently shows that IFC will also provide advice on adopting appropriate investment guidelines and help assess the potential for alternative investment vehicles and instruments to mobilize long-term financing for key sectors.
While Rwanda’s capital market has developed a basic enabling regulatory framework since its inception in 2007, it requires further development to enable more issuance of securities and strengthen the capacity of market players, intermediaries, investors and issuers.
Commenting on the development, John Rwangombwa, the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda said: “IFC’s support will enable the local capital market industry to play a key role in supporting Rwanda’s economic development by improving the framework for money markets and government securities markets, among others. Strengthening the financial management and governance of businesses will benefit the banks that lend to them and enable them to access capital markets for funding.”
Eric Bundugu, Ag. Executive Director of the Rwanda Capital Market Authority stressed that the Rwanda Capital Market Development project will contribute to further developing the local capital market industry by making it more diverse and liquid.
He however highlighted that tapping into the Rwandan capital markets as an essential source of local currency financing for both the private sector and government ‘requires the development of financing techniques and instruments that meet the requirements of capital market investors’.
Dan Kasirye, IFC’s Resident Representative for Rwanda also stated that the support will be allocated to key sectors driving economic development.
“Through the Rwanda Capital Market Development project, IFC will support the creation of a solid enabling environment for crowding in private sector finance into key sectors for economic development. Better developed domestic capital markets can help allocate investment more efficiently and allow for better risk-sharing, while providing an alternative funding source to complement bank financing,” he noted.
The initiative follows IFC’s support in 2008 to CMA and other key stakeholders under the Efficient Securities Markets Institutional Development Africa program to help improve local expertise and design effective environments for mobilizing long-term capital.
{{About the Rwanda Capital Market Authority}}
CMA is a Rwandan public institution responsible for developing and regulating the capital markets industry, collective investment schemes (CIS), commodities exchange and related contracts as well as warehouse receipts system. The CMA continues to maintain a conducive legal and regulatory environment to enable Rwanda’s economy to access long-term funding through the capital markets as well as ensuring investor protection. For more information, visit https://www.cma.rw/index.php?id=2
{{About the National Bank of Rwanda}}
BNR is the Central Bank of the Republic of Rwanda. BNR supervises and regulates the activities of financial institutions: banks, micro finance institutions, insurance companies, social security institutions and pension funds institutions.
BNR also issues government securities on behalf of the Government of Rwanda. It further houses the Central Securities Depository (CSD) for the Rwandan market. For more information, visit https://www.bnr.rw
{{About IFC}}
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
In Burera District, Francine Mukurizehe, 38, was found in possession of 10kgs of cannabis while the duo of Redempta Mukandamutsa, 28, and Damascene Akimana, 32, was respectively arrested with 3,000 and 2,116 pellets in Nyabihu District.
The District Police Commander (DPC) for Burera, Superintendent of Police (SP) Aphrodis Nkundineza said that Mukurizehe was intercepted by residents in Rwerere sector sneaking drugs into Rwanda from Uganda.
“Residents were conducting Umuganda when Mukurizehe, who was with another man carrying a luggage, bypassed without joining them for the community work. However, at that moment, the man run away which prompted the residents to get suspicious and apprehended Mukurizehe, searched their luggage and found it contained cannabis, they called and handed her to the Police,” SP Nkundineza said.
Mukurizehe claimed that the narcotics belong to the man, who run away, although she could not disclose his identities.
She claimed that she was just hired by the said man to transport the narcotics to Base for Frw10, 000, where he would board the bust to Kigali, to deliver the narcotics to another dealer.
SP Nkundineza lauded the residents for the vigilance and community policing spirit, which he said plays a big role in identifying and arresting wrongdoers as well as fighting and preventing crimes.
On the same day, the two other drug dealers; Mukandamutsa and Akimana were respectively arrested in Jenda and Bigogwe sectors of Nyabihu District, while trafficking drugs to their clients.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that Police arrested Mukandamutsa, who availed further information on Akimana, who is also a member of the same trafficking ring.
“Police had information that Mukandamutsa was a major drug dealer, who sneaks the narcotics into the Rwanda from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Police went to her home where she was found at about 5am where she was arrested with 3000 pellets of cannabis.
Following her arrest, Mukandamutsa revealed that she hired a taxi-moto operator identified as Emmanuel Nzayituriki, to bring the drugs from DRC and she had supplied other narcotics to her client Damascene Akimana, who operates in Bigogwe sector, where he was also arrested at his home with other 2116 rolls of cannabis,” CIP Karekezi said.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further legal process while the search of their accomplices is still ongoing.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019_ establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation go classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.’’
Article 263 of law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for very severe narcotics, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The statement released last night shows that 393 people have caught the virus out of 12 650 sample tests, 11 recovered while 42 are critically ill.
A total of 424, 768 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,048,640 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.
At least 33 drunk drivers were arrested in City of Kigali while 13 others were arrested in Kamonyi district.
Blood alcohol content in their body was way above the 0.08 maximum, RNP deputy spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Apollo Sendahangarwa, said.
Fidele Ntirushwa, is a school bus driver, who was arrested on Saturday, August 21.
At the time, he had taken the vehicle for inspection at Remera Motor-vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC), where he was arrested after being tested with a breathalyzer.
Another drunk driver, Etienne Kayisire, said he was arrested after he was involved in an accident with a taxi-moto operator.
“I had taken alcoholic drinks and when I was involved in a road crash, Police officers used a breathalyzer to estimate the quantity of alcohol I had taken, and the blood alcoholic content was at 2,” Kayisire said.
On Friday, August 20, RNP paraded other 29 people, who were arrested in Kigali driving under the influence of alcohol.
Another group of 37 drunk drivers arrested in Kigali was paraded on August 16.
CSP Africa advised drivers to always avoid driving when they drink alcohol.
“The breathalyzers Police use in testing alcohol do not identify the type of alcohol consumed; they only indicate the volume of alcohol in your blood. So, there is no excuse for those, who claim that they had taken energy drinks,” said CSP Sendahangarwa.
“When you drive while under the influence, you are a danger to your life, other road users and property. You will choose to drink and not to drive or to avoid drinking and drive.”
He further urged all road users to refrain from any reckless behaviours that can lead to road accidents and loss of lives and property.
It is against this background that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Japan has been helping Rwanda to mitigate effects of the pandemic.
Through UNDP, Japan has provided over US$1.2 million that helped Rwanda to mitigate effects of the pandemic in different areas.
Initially, part of the funds were allocated to strengthen the capacity of COVID-19 laboratories across the country and helped to hire over 100 health workers deployed to 11 newly established centers for COVID-19 testing.
It has resulted into increased sample tests and reduced time it would take for the release of results.
Under this framework, selected hospitals received all necessary equipment to provide oxygen for critically ill patients at intensive care units.
Among others, the funds helped to provide equipment including masks shields, face masks to 41 hospitals, train frontline workers and robots deployed to disinfect different places.
UNDP Country Representative, Maxwell Gomera has told IGIHE that they rushed to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 considering the pandemic’s nature which requires stronger collaboration than ever.
“The pandemic has awakened us to be far-sighted and concert efforts because no country can feel safe when neighbors are hit hard by the pandemic. It is under this context that UNDP and partners like the Government of Rwanda and Japan teamed up in the cumbersome situation to mitigate occasioned effects during and after the pandemic,” he said.
Gomera has also rallied foreign countries to continue providing support within their capacities to fight the pandemic.
“This time around, we should be much concerned about consolidating efforts to fight the pandemic which continues to take people’s lives instead of turning against each other. I would like to call upon developed countries for emergent support to African countries battling to access medical supplies and vaccines,” he noted.
The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, Imai Masahiro has also stressed the need for consolidated efforts if the world is to defeat the pandemic.
“I am convinced that the most important thing during these difficult times is concerting efforts to help developing countries access vaccines and other medical supplies,” he revealed.
Amb. Masahiro also referred to the use of technology in the project with UNDP, which is aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 in Rwanda.
“Rwanda is a country moving fast to embrace technology on the African continent. The use of innovation in COVID-19 response should have a positive impact on the frontline healthcare facilities. Technology is not only bound to positively impact Rwanda but also neighboring countries,” he affirmed.
In February this year, UNDP handed over two Ultraviolet-C (UV-C robots) to Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC). These robots are used to disinfect treatment centers and public places to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The acquired UV-C Robots have unique features which include the UV-C lamps that emit ultraviolet lights destroying deadly microorganisms that may be missed during the manual cleaning process, hence helping to reduce infection rates for patients and healthcare workers.
Among other capabilities these robots have is the capacity to undertake speedy cleaning and disinfecting patient and operating rooms, labor and delivery, ICU rooms, isolation discharge rooms and other indoor spaces. On average, one robot can disinfect one room in 32 minutes. They can also kill virus other than SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Dieudonné Nshimiyimana, a health worker at Nyarugenge Hospital which has been turned into COVID-19 treatment center has explained that these robots are efficient to disinfect varied items.
“A robot can perform the task that would require five persons in 30 minutes. It is fast, reliable and has the capacity to kill the virus at 99.9 percent,” he said.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then the government has been instituting different measures to prevent spread of the virus including lockdown imposed at different times, halting businesses, suspending movements, closing borders among others which shook the economy.
Through the funding of Japan, UNDP has helped 227 members from 13 cooperatives of persons living with disability across the country to mitigate COVID-19 effects.
Beneficiaries received food relief, enlightened on COVID-19 prevention measures while their cooperatives received funds to resume operations that had halted during lockdown.
One of these cooperatives include Union of Deaf Women Cooperative (UDWCO) involved in hand crafts, sewing and knitting in Kigali City.
The President of UDWCO, Micheline Nikuze has revealed that the cooperative encountered losses during lockdown that businesses would not resume had it not been the funding of UNDP.
“We were hit hard that time because we had no income generating business. We are however grateful for the support of UNDP which intervened with food assistance and provided funding to resume operations,” she noted.
Nikuze explained that received funds helped them to resume business promising to financially transform their lives during and after the pandemic.
The decision of scrapping transfer charges for Push and Pull services is part of new directive released by BNR and follows concerns among members of the public lamenting that transfer charges from one’s bank account to mobile money wallet and vice versa could slow down the country’s efforts to embrace cashless transactions.
In May this year, BNR announced that it was conducting a study to fix prices for digital financial services.
The directive signed by the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa reads that ‘Charges and fees on transfer of funds between e-money and deposit accounts belonging to the same person are prohibited’.
The Central bank has also waived 6 per cent interest rate which banks have been paying previously on the funds held in the trust account.
“Trust accounts and related individual e-money accounts are only used for the purpose of facilitating payment services. As such, interest on trust accounts and interest on individual e-money accounts are prohibited unless the latter is explicitly used as a savings account,” adds the directive.
