The statement released last night shows that 648 out of 7614 sample tests, 19 recovered while 56 are critically ill. The country has recorded 6119 cases in seven days.
A total of 460,837 have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines 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.
Like many other cannabis distributors, who have been arrested in the past; Niyonzima’s luck run out on Friday, July 30, when the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) caught him red-handed in Gahira Village, Buringo Cell of Bugeshi Sector in Rubavu District with two bundles of cannabis weighing 33kgs.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, ANU has been trailing Niyonzima following credible information from residents about his criminal dealings.
“Niyonzima resides about 10 metres from the borderline with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Bereshi Village, Hehu Cell, Bugeshi Sector in Rubavu District. ANU had prior information that he is part of the racket involving Congolese, that sneak narcotics into Rwanda from DRC, through illegal border-points,” CIP Karekezi said.
“On Friday, July 30, at about 6pm, Police officers attached to ANU conducted a target operation following information that he had brought a new consignment of cannabis. He was arrested red-handed in Gahira village with two bundles containing 33kgs of cannabis,” he added.
At the time, Niyonzima, who had just received the narcotics from his Congolese suppliers, was headed to Kabatwa trading center in Bugeshi sector to supply his retailing clients.
CIP Karekezi lauded the impact of community policing and public ownership to report drug dealers, which facilitates the police to break chains of suppliers and local retailers.
Niyonzima has since been handed over to RIB at Gisenyi station for further investigations and legal process in connection with the alleged criminal acts.
The Ministerial order Nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies Cannabis among the “very severe narcotic drugs”
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 up to Rwf30 million.
The statement released last night shows that 860 people have caught the virus out of 9519 sample tests.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 70 698 people have been tested positive while 808 succumbed to the pandemic.
A total of 455, 673 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation programme 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 official send-off event held at RDF Headquarters Senior Officers Mess on 31 July was presided over by the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Albert Murasira on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief of RDF.
Maj Gen Murasira applauded the retirees for their personal sacrifices, service rendered and contribution to the country.
“After contributing to the liberation of your country Rwanda, individually, collectively and at different stages; you also participated in the international peace in which the RDF has played an active role.”
The Minister also recognized their contribution to the professionalisation of the RDF and other national development programmes.
“For this personal dedication, commitment and patriotism, we take this opportunity to thank you,” he said.
On behalf of the retirees, retired (Rtd) Col John Karega emphasised that they are retiring as happy people because their contribution to liberate Rwanda was not in vain.
He thanked the President of Rwanda and Commander-in-Chief of Rwanda Defence for his good leadership during the liberation struggle for the past 30 years up to day and vowed to remain loyal and committed to national development journey.
“As we retire, we seize this opportunity to assure the Commander-in-Chief and the entire RDF leadership that even though we are retiring, we shall remain committed to the continuous journey of liberation of our country and that we shall never betray our comrades on the course of national development”.
The retires were awarded certificates as a recognition for their service rendered to Rwanda Defence Force. The event was also attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, selected Generals and senior officers.
It will be her maiden visit to Rwanda after assuming office in March 2021.
IGIHE has learnt that Samia will arrive in Kigali on Monday.
On the first day, Samia will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial where she will pay tribute to over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi laid there before meeting with her counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.
On the second day, Samia will visit Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro which hosts different factories from Tanzania.
Her coming to the country of thousand hills follows Rwandan officials’ visits to the country.
Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente was in Tanzania attending the state funeral for late President John Pombe Magufuli while other Rwandan officials who visited the country include the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Staff and the Inspector General of Rwanda national Police (RNP).
Among others; Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire and her counterpart of Tanzania Faustine Ndugulile met recently to discuss projects including telecommunication infrastructure development.
Samia’s visit to Rwanda follows the deployment of 1000 troops of the Rwanda Defence Force and Rwanda National Police to fight insurgency in the northern part of Mozambique.
Located at the north of Mozambique, Tanzania is among countries affected by insecurity in the neighboring country.
Rwanda and Tanzania enjoy cordial relations and cooperation in the areas of politics, infrastructure, economy and security.
Tanzania is considered a major development partner where over 70% of Rwanda’s imports and exports are transited through.
Both countries have a joint mega project to build ‘Isaka-Kigali’, a 532-kilometer railway expected to be completed at a cost of USD $ 3.6 billion.
The project is much anticipated between both countries especially for Rwanda as a landlocked nation.
The long awaited railway linking to Rwanda to neighboring countries is expected to give relief to traders catering for expensive cost of land cargo transport.
The railway on Rwandan side will follow the lowland through Ngoma, Kirehe, Bugesera and Kicukuro districts.
Sources reveal that Rwanda is required to pay US$4,990 per single container carrying 25,400 kgs. Once completed, the railway anticipates reduced transport costs by 40% hence positively impacting on Rwanda’s imports and exports.
Among others, the project will be impactful particularly for Rwandan traders considering the fact that 70% of Rwanda’s imported or exported cargos are transited through Dar es Salaam Port.
The report released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) in March this year, shows that Rwanda received imports worth US$33,75 million from Tanzania against US$27,97 of the previous month.
The duo has been working at the Office of the Presidency in communications team.
The Office of the Prime Minister has revealed that the new appointments are part of resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on 30th July 2021.
Stephanie Nyombayire has previously served as the Deputy Principle Private Secretary in charge of communications at the Office of the Presidency while Makolo was the senior presidential advisor on media prior to Prior to her new appointment.
These are some of the resolutions adopted on Friday, July 30, as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza concluded his official visit to Malawi at the invitation of his counterpart, Dr. George Kainja to further enhance partnership in national and regional security.
The two forces also agreed to further build their capacities through shared advanced training, establish or strengthen victim support units and to bolster the canine unit including bleeding of sniffer dogs.
IGP Munyuza’s visit to Malawi followed the visit of his counterpart, Dr. Kainja to Rwanda in June as the two Police Chiefs continue to spearhead the implementation of the cooperation pact signed between Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Malawi Police Service (MPS) in March 2019 to formalize cooperation and collaboration in sharing intelligence, tracking and exchange of fugitives, training as well as fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, among others.
During his week-long visit to Malawi, IGP Munyuza also toured some of the MPS facilities including Zomba Police College in the Eastern region, South-West Region Police headquarters in Blantyre Province, and Limbe Police Station.
The group include local musicians James Ruhumuriza (King James), William Muhire (K8 Kavuyo) as well as Shadia Mbabazi (Shaddyboo). They were showed to the media this Friday, July 30, in Rutsiro.
The violators cames from different places in Rwanda and abroad, and travelled to Rutsiro on Wednesday, July 28.
Three came from the USA, two from Kamonyi, one each from Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro districts.
Rutsiro is among the eleven districts that are under lockdown due to the high rate of Covid-19 cases.
Shadia Mbabazi commonly known as Shaddyboo told the media that although they had a movement permit to travel to Rutsiro, they engaged in social gathering and in big number, contrary to the health guidelines against the spread of Covid-19.
“Although we secured a movement permit to come here in Rutsiro, we admit our inappropriate behaviours to engage in prohibited practices even without knowing our status because we did not test for Covid-19 prior,” Shaddyboo, who asked for forgiveness, told journalists.
King James claimed he was not aware that Rutsiro was under lockdown but admitted they organized a party well knowing that it is prohibited.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region said Police was called in by residents reporting people, who were gathered in the guest house and making noise.
“When Police officers arrived at the guest house, they found the eight people in one room drinking alcohol,” CIP Karekezi said.
He warned especially the young people against such inappropriate behaviors, which lead to the spread of the pandemic and derail government efforts to combat it.
The violators were also fined and tested for Covid-19 at their cost.
The decision is part of resolutions of the cabinet meeting held today chaired by President Paul Kagame.
The lifted lockdown [was initially imposed from 17th till 26th of July 2021.->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/kigali-city-eight-districts-placed-under-lockdown] It was later extended for five days to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Among others, movements between and other provinces and districts of the country are allowed except movements from and to [selected sectors recently placed under lockdown. ->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-puts-fifty-sectors-under-lockdown]
Movements are also prohibited from 6p.m through 4a.m while all businesses must close by 5p.m.
Public and private offices are allowed to reopen at 15% capacity while other employees must continue working from home.
Private businesses shall continue operations with essential staff at no more than 50% capacity.
Meetings and conferences are allowed not exceeding 30% of venue capacity, public transport should not exceed 50%, restaurants and cafés are allowed providing takeaway services only.
Civil and religious weddings are also allowed to a maximum of 10 people but all guests must present negative COVID-19 tests within 72 hours.
Minister Biruta made the observation on Thursday 29th July 2021 during a press conference to brief the media on various key local, regional and global issues.
“There is no major progress to restore relations with Uganda to normalcy but the Government of Rwanda is ready to live in peace with neighboring countries including Uganda,” he said.
Minister Biruta explained that finding solutions to outstanding issues is a matter of political will.
“Political will is paramount to normalize relations with neighbors. We also need to find a solution for issues that we have been discussing for many years. These include torture of Rwandans crossing to or living in Uganda and the support of Ugandan security officials to rebel groups intending to destabilize our country. It necessitates political will, and Rwanda is ready to do its part to live in harmony with Uganda,” he said.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents that are posing a threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
