Rwanda began countrywide vaccination program on 5th March 2021 after receiving approximately 400,000 vaccines through Covax initiative while 50,000 vaccine doses were donated by India.
The second dose of AstraZeneca is offered between 8 to 12 weeks while the second shot for Pfizer vaccine takes between 21 to 28 days.
Inoculation exercise for the second shot kicked off in Kigali on Friday 2nd April 2021.
At the time, the Ministry of Health told the general public that recipients of AstraZeneca doses will be communicated on vaccination schedule in due time.
Following a successful roll out of COVID-19 vaccination campaign that has seen 350,400 inoculated, Rwanda started a new nation-wide vaccination drive to fully immunize those who had previously received first doses of OXFORD-Astra Zeneca vaccine effective 29th May 2021.
The move came after the country received an additional 247,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, including 117,600 doses donated by the Government of France.
Since then, a total of 133,460 people have been vaccinated in two days.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 918 people have been tested positive of whom 25 609 have recovered, 957 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.
The trio was arrested on Saturday, May 29, in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District. They are identified as Barnabas Siborurema, 36, Theoneste Muhirwa, 43, and Pangrass Twizerimana alias Paccy, 37.
They were showed to the media on Sunday, May 30, at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District.
Theoneste Muhirwa, who was guising as “IP (Inspector of Police)” told journalists that he joined forces with Barnabas Siborurema in 2018, when they started defrauding people, targeting mainly those aspiring to be drivers and in the process of acquiring a driver’s license.
“I met Siborurema in 2018 when we started conning people. We were calling ourselves Police officers although the whole idea was brought by Siborurema. We started targeting people, who failed driving tests,” said Muhirwa.
He recalled that in 2018, they defrauded two people of Rwf300, 000.
“It is almost impossible to acquire a driver’s license without going through the usual process of registering, sitting for tests and passing, but we were targeting people, who are easier to manipulate because of their vulnerability especially those who failed the tests and feel frustrated,” said Muhirwa.
Muhirwa’s recruiter, Barnabas Siborurema also recollected that in this month of May, they fleeced another man in Rwamagana District of Rwf500, 000 after making him believe that they are Police officers attached to the traffic department and in position to get him a driver’s license without doing the mandatory tests.
Jean Paul Iraguha is the victim, who was defrauded of Rwf500, 000. He explained that he paid the money to Siborurema at different intervals to get a driver’s license for Category B.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned the public to avoid shortcuts and opt for the legal procedures of acquiring driver’s license.
“These three people were arrested over impersonation and fraud, the criminal acts they committed while fleecing different people whom they were promising to give driver’s license,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “We always remind the public to avoid such criminal shortcuts where they end up being victims to such fraudsters. It is your right to acquire a driver’s license, but you must go through the well laid process instead of ending up being cheated of such big sum of money. If you fail the first attempt, try again and again; do not give up because paying someone to give you a license is also criminal.”
Article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, and a fine of between Rwf3 million and Rwf5 million.
In article 279, any person, who without tittle usurps public, civil or military functions or poses the acts of one of these functions or falsely attributes to himself/herself the quality of a public official or publicly wears a costume, a uniform, badge or an emblem with an intention to mislead the public, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than three years, with a fine of between Rwf300, 000 and Rwf500, 000.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 918 people have been tested positive of whom 25 609 have recovered, 957 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.
The statement released last night shows that 69,869 people were vaccinated yesterday.
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 Commissioner General of Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS), Dr. Chisela Chileshe is among true witnesses of Rwanda’s transformational journey and home grown solutions including inmates’ correction and rehabilitation process to convert them into responsible citizens.
Speaking to IGIHE during his recent visit to Rwanda from 25th to 30th April 2021, Dr. Chisela talked about cooperation between both countries’ correctional services and lessons learnt from Rwanda’s bets practices.
“The transformations that we have seen in terms of correction is quite huge. The correctional facilities are showing positivity of how a human being should be treated,” he said.
During his visit, Rwanda and Zambia signed implementation guidelines of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on December 3, 2020.
The MoU aims at strengthening institutional capacities to rehabilitate inmates into more responsible citizens contributing to national development upon release.
It also incorporates clauses to exchange best practices whereby Zambia can learn from Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) model to introduce community based health insurance for prisoners.
The MoU was signed by RCS Commissioner General, Juvénal Marizamunda and his counterpart of Zambia, Dr. Chisela Chiles during a meeting aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two institutions in the field of correctional services.
Rwanda is among countries that have embraced technology to streamline the judicial sector’s efficiency known as Rwanda Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) helping inmates to follow up their court cases.
CG Marizamunda explained that they are ready to assist Zambia to initiate the technology that has proved efficiency.
On another note, Zambia as a country with advanced expertize in research to monitor inmates committed to train Rwanda’s prison warders.
CG Dr. Chisela Chileshe also reiterated his country’s readiness to strengthen existing cordial relations and enhance inmates’ rehabilitation.
Among others, Dr. Chisela and his delegation visited Kigali Genocide Memorial located in Gisozi where they received explanations on history of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
After touring different parts of the memorial, the delegation laid wreaths to mass graves and paid tribute to genocide victims.
The Commissioner General of Zambia, Dr. Chisela said that genocide was perpetrated with extreme cruelty and called on Rwandans and the international community to learn from such history to prevent reoccurrence of Genocide.
“I would like to convey a message that hatred we should not leave loopholes for hatred, and ethnic divisionism because they are destructive,” he said.
Dr. Chisela warned people denying and trivializing Genocide against Tutsi particularly perpetrators roaming freely in foreign countries that they should return to Rwanda to witness severity of their wrongful acts.
“They should neither deny nor trivialize Genocide against Tutsi. What happened in Rwanda reflects extreme cruelty. Genocide fugitives who killed neighbors and friends should return to witness their wrongful acts,” he said.
“Today, Rwanda is a peaceful and secured country abiding by laws. They can seek forgiveness if they return. And am sure that they can be forgiven or get justice. I stand against people denying Genocide against Tutsi after witnessing history at this memorial,” added Dr. Chisela.
He stressed need to draw special attention to inmates convicted of Genocide crimes to rehabilitate them into more responsible citizens upon release.
“Zambia and Rwanda Correctional Services are learning from each other. We have a heavy responsibilities to ensure that inmates are not only rehabilitated physically but also psychologically because a traumatized mind is very dangerous,” said Dr. Chisela.
“Thousands of inmates in Rwanda, are Genocide convicts who need a lot of attention. We will work together with RCS to ensure that we build capacity together and help our brothers in other areas of cooperation so that inmates are rehabilitated into responsible citizens upon reintegration into the society,” he said.
On the last day of his visit, Dr. Chisela visited the liberation museum located in Kimihurura.
“When we visit memorials or museums, our thoughts are reminded of what happened to forgive further so that we look forward to a very united society and above all, learn to be patriotic. It is time for non-patriotic people and others outside to visit Rwanda and develop patriotism spirit because it brings development to all countries. That is my appeal to all Rwandans outside. We have seen tremendous development here and we can only move on that development trajectory,” he said.
The General Commissioner of ZCS said that he was impressed by Rwanda’s remarkable progress and thanked Rwanda’s leadership led by President Paul Kagame for reuniting Rwandans and rebuilding the country from ashes following the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
The house named ‘Rotary House for Cancer Patients’ was completed at Rwf 51 million and has the capacity to accommodate 25 patients.
The facility from where patients will rest and commute to the hospital during treatment was handed over to Gasabo district officials on Friday 28th May 2021.
The President of Rotary Club Kigali-Virunga, Jwala Vijay Kumar has said that the project was implemented to facilitate cancer patients with no means to afford accommodation as they get treatment at Kanombe Military Hospital.
“The treatment takes between three to six weeks for patients getting radiotherapy treatment at Kanombe Military Hospital from across the country. Some people were advised to stay in Kigali as they get treatment yet some of them cannot afford accommodation expenses in hotels or don’t have friends to receive them. They would prefer to spend days in slums and unhygienic places where they were exposed to infections,” he said.
“That is why we decided to provide a comfortable house where they will stay as they get treatment,” he added.
The executive secretary of Gasabo district, Pauline Umwali thanked Rotary Club for the newly renovated house replacing old structures that have been idle.
“The district had not yet got means to renovate old structures until Rotary Club Virunga provided support so that the house can be used by cancer patients. We are grateful for this kind gesture in no smaller part,” she noted.
Umwali explained that the district will maintain collaboration with different partners to take care of patients of the facility be it the provision of food and cleaning the house among others.
All services at the house will be offered for free.
Renovations of the ‘Rotary House for Cancer Patients’ started in 2019 until 2021.
Rotary Club Kigali-Virunga built the house in partnership with various partners including Kibagabaga Hospital, Kanombe Military Hospital, non-profit organizations from Germany and the United States of America and US embassy in Rwanda among others.
Rotary club is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes and fighting disease.
Rwanda has six clubs of Rotary Club including, Kigali Mont Jali, Musanze, Kigali Virunga, Kigali Doyen, Gasabo and Butare.
Those arrested are identified as Angelique Byukusenge, 21, found with 1,000 pellets and Marie Therese Uwiduhaye, 25, found with 1,836 pellets.
According to Chief Insepector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi , the Police spokesperson for the Western region, ANU first arrested Byukusenge at about 10am, in Kibaya Village, Kamashashi Cell, Nyarugunga Sector of Kicukiro District, with 1,000 rolls of cannabis.
“Following her arrest, Byukusenge disclosed that she got the narcotics from another supplier (Marie Theresa Uwiduhaye) in Kageri Village, Kora Cell, Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District, where Uwiduhaye was also located and arrested with 1836 pellets,” said CIP Karekezi.
Byukusenge is also a resident of Bigogwe Sector in Nyabihu District.
Uwiduhaye is suspected to be a major drug trafficker with links in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where she gets the narcotics.
Investigations indicate that she has been frequenting DRC and sneaks the narcotics into Rwanda herself, through porous borders.
The 2,836 rolls of cannabis was her latest consignment she brought few days prior to her arrest.
Meanwhile, at the time of Byukusenge’s arrest, she was delivering the narcotics to one David Semana, 31, in Kibaya Village, Kamashashi Cell in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District.
However, Semana was at the time already in Police custody over the same crime.
CIP Karekezi commended the existing partnership between the Police and public through credible information sharing on major drug dealers.
“This partnership is helping to break such chains of supply, and it is crucial in fighting drug related crimes,” the spokesperson said.
Byukusenge and Uwiduhaye were handed over to RIB at Jenda station for further legal process.
Article 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation 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 narcotic drugs,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of up to Frw30 million.
The statement released last night shows that 35 people have caught the virus while 89 recovered.
New cases were found in Kigali: 12, Karongi: 3, Ngororero: 3, Kirehe: 3, Muhanga: 2, Nyanza: 2, Gakenke: 2, Huye: 2 , Rubavu: 2 while Nyamagabe, Musanze, Kayonza and Burera districts recorded one case respectively.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 26 878 have been tested positive of whom 25 542 recovered, 984 are active cases while 352 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
With several cases of international partnership for peace building projects endorsed by youth and women organizations categorized by each region – Africa, Europe, and Asia, this year’s event aimed to discuss a citizen-led peace movement and cooperation to promote coexistence and harmony in the global community, and to overcome global challenges that stem from hatred, conflicts, misunderstanding, and lack of communication in this current pandemic era.
The event commemorated the Declaration of World Peace, proclaimed on May 25th in 2013, which contains not only the cooperation of each state to establish international law for peace and the role of the media in contribution to sharing information of peace but also the active peace movement of youth and women who seek to transform themselves from the greatest victims of war to the greatest actors for peace.
From this peace initiative, HWPL says that millions of global citizens for 8 years have participated in promoting peace projects locally fitted to creating a favorable environment of peace, including education, relief, and forums to offer public policies to meet the needs of the community.
Chairwoman Pascale Isho Warda of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization(HHRO) in Iraq, who was appointed as Minister of Migration and Displacement by the UN from 2004 to 2005, introduced a legislation project of law that prevents violence against women and children in cooperation with IWPG.
Regarding the importance of peace activities through education, she said, “We need to learn the mechanism of guiding everyone to become a tool of peace, strengthening from daily life, and sometimes throughout the simplest matter of life, starting with personal peace with oneself, in the family, and with others.”
Ven. Ashin Htavara, General Secretary of All Burmese Monks Representative Committee in Norway, who went through the Saffron Revolution in 2007, stated that 3 HWPL Peace Libraries were established in Payapon, Myanmar and that a fourth library is currently being prepared.
“There are too few libraries for children in Myanmar. I wanted to give hope to these little children. In the future, the library will conduct peace education, peace activities, and peace campaigns, and we will do everything that can help achieve peace,” he said.
The event also advocated global participation in peace activities such as the peace tree planting campaign that began in Ukraine with 1,000 participants from 21 countries and peace policy proposal dialogue between citizens and policy experts in Mali where the recent coup triggered social unrest.
“It is we in this day who have to do all the necessary things to make peace and prevent our globe from being destroyed. War does not end with words, but it comes to an end with our practical actions. I believe that this can be achieved since no one in our global village is not willing to see peace,” highlighted Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL.
The money was recovered from the prime suspect identified as Ildephonse Munyabarenzi, 28, in Rusizi Village, Ryankana Cell, Bugarama Sector in Rusizi District.
The Rwf4.8 million recovered in part of over Rwf7.8 million, which Munyabarenzi allegedly stole on May 26, from one Berthe Umwanankabandi in Ntarama Sector, Bugesera District.
Munyabarenzi is Umwanankabandi’s uncle. The former, who resides in Rusizi District, had visited his niece in Bugesera where he had spent two weeks before stealing the money as Umwanakabandi was away.
According to the victim, she withdrew Rwf7,879,590 from the bank earlier that day before and kept it in her bedroom. The money was for their local savings group of which Umwanankabandi is the treasurer.
She had, therefore, withdrawn the money which was to be shared amongst members of the saving scheme before her uncle allegedly broke into her bedroom where the money was kept, stole it and fled.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that following the alleged theft, the victim reported to the Police.
“As per the information provided by the victim to the Police in Bugesera, especially regarding the prime suspect–Munyabarenzi–and from where he hails; the District Police Units of Bugesera and Rusizi worked together to locate the whereabouts of Munyabarenzi,” CIP Karekezi said.
“He was on May 27, located in his home village in Ryakana Cell, Bugarama Sector in Rusizi District, where he was arrested with Rwf4,899,000. We are yet to establish where he put the remaining part of the alleged stolen money,” he added.
Munyabarenzi was handed over to RIB at Bugarama Police station for further investigation.
Article 166 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six months or only one of these penalties.
The penalty for theft doubles if: the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out in an occupied house or in a building used for habitation or in its surroundings; theft is carried out during the night
Macron arrived at Kigali International Airport on Thursday morning where he was welcomed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
He was later welcomed by his counterpart of Rwanda, Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro around 9am from where he headed to Kigali Genocide Memorial.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Dria and parliamentarians including Hervé Berville hailing from Nyamirambo in Rwanda are among top officials that accompanied Macron on his historical visit.
Gen Jean Varret, a historian who served as the head of France-Rwanda military cooperation mission from October 1990 to April 1993, was also part of the delegation accompanying Macron.
On his visit to Rwanda, Macron visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid tribute to over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and admitted his country’s responsibility during the Genocide.
He also participated in a joint press conference with his host, President Paul Kagame, visited Tumba College of Technology where a Department of Mechatronics will be set up through a partnership with French Agency for Development (AFD).
On the same day, Macron visited Gikondo Health Center before officiating the launch of French Cultural Center located near Kigali Convention Center, Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District.
The center has a section dedicated to learning French, culture-based training and providing official French language certification, boasts a large outdoor stage that can host shows and concerts.
The French Cultural Centre will also host cinema screenings for the general public, and workshops among others.
On Thursday night, Macron and Kagame watched quarter-finals of the inaugural season of Basketball Africa League (BAL) during which Patriots BBC representing Rwanda beat Ferroviário de Maputo representing Mozambique73-71 at Kigali Arena.
Among others, his visit left various agreements signed between both countries. The pacts include a framework for bilateral cooperation signed between French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta.
The two countries signed an agreement for sports and talent development which saw Rwanda receiving €1.5 million (approximately Rwf1.84 billion) for sport and talent development.
Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana also signed a Euro 60 million financing agreement with Rémy Rioux the Director-General of French Agency for Development (AFD).
His coming to Rwanda is considered a major milestone to turning a new page for both countries relations blurred by France’s failure to admit its role during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Rwanda, France diplomatic relations date back in 1962 after obtaining Independence.
Macron has been in Rwanda for two-day following the visit of Nicolas Sarkozy on 25th February 2010.
