The Rwanda Meteorology Agency forecast indicates that maximum temperatures will range between 21°C and 32°C, while minimum temperatures are expected to remain between 10°C and 18°C. The expected maximum temperatures are slightly above the normal August range, which usually falls between 20°C and 31°C.
The highest temperatures, ranging from 31°C to 32°C, are expected in parts of southern Kigali City, eastern Bugesera, Kayonza, Kirehe and Gisagara districts, western parts of Ngoma District, as well as the Bugarama plain.
Meanwhile, cooler conditions are expected in parts of Nyabihu District, western and northern areas of Ngororero and Musanze districts, and eastern parts of Rubavu and Rutsiro districts, where maximum temperatures are forecast to range between 21°C and 23°C.
Minimum temperatures will remain within the normal August range, with the coldest areas expected to record between 10°C and 12°C. These include parts of Nyabihu, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru districts, northern and western parts of Musanze and Ngororero, northern Gakenke and Rulindo, southern Burera, western Gicumbi, and parts of Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Rutsiro and Rubavu.
The warmest nights and early mornings are expected in central and western Kigali City, Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Kirehe districts, as well as the Bugarama plain, where minimum temperatures could range between 16°C and 18°C.
Rainfall expected below average
The country is expected to receive between 5 and 100 millimetres of rainfall during August, below the long-term average range of 20 to 126 millimetres for the month.
The highest rainfall amounts, ranging between 80 and 100 millimetres, are forecast in western parts of Musanze District and northern areas of Nyabihu and Rubavu districts.
Rainfall between 60 and 80 millimetres is expected in parts of Musanze, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Burera, Gakenke, Nyamagabe, Ngororero, Karongi and Nyamasheke districts.
Several other parts of the country are expected to receive between 20 and 60 millimetres, while some areas are forecast to receive as little as 5 to 20 millimetres.
Strong winds expected in some areas
Moderate to strong winds are expected across the country, with speeds ranging between 4 and 12 metres per second.
Strong winds of between 8 and 12 metres per second are forecast in parts of Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Rubavu, Burera and Kirehe districts, as well as parts of Nyamagabe, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Gicumbi, Gatsibo, Ngoma, Nyagatare and Kayonza.
Moderate winds of between 4 and 6 metres per second are expected in parts of Kigali City, Musanze, Rulindo, Nyanza, Gakenke, Nyabihu and Gisagara districts, while other parts of the country are expected to experience winds ranging between 6 and 8 metres per second.
The expected maximum temperatures are slightly above the normal August range, which usually falls between 20°C and 31°C.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sports, Sudanese giants Al Hilal, Kenya’s Gor Mahia and South Sudan’s Jamus SC have secured places in the semifinals, setting up two exciting clashes as teams battle for a place in the final.
Rayon Sports booked their semifinal spot in style, finishing the group stage with a perfect record after winning all three matches.
The Rwandan side defeated Al Hilal 1-0 on Saturday at Amahoro Stadium, with Antonio Atisso Kodjo scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute. The victory saw Rayon finish top of their group with nine points, having shown both attacking quality and defensive resilience throughout the opening stage.
Rayon Sport defeated Al Hilal 1-0 on Saturday at Amahoro Stadium, with Antonio Atisso Kodjo scoring the decisive goal in the 16th minute.
The Blues will now face Jamus SC, one of the tournament’s surprise performers, in the second semifinal.
Jamus SC, representing South Sudan, reached the knockout stage after impressive displays against more established regional sides, earning recognition as one of the emerging teams in this year’s competition.
Rayon Sports head coach Christian Haringingo said reaching the semifinals was an important step for his team as they continue preparations for the new season.
“This is part of pre-season and we are now ready to face any team in the semifinal stage,” Haringingo said.
In the other semifinal, Al Hilal will take on Kenya’s Gor Mahia in a clash expected to attract attention across the region.
Despite losing to Rayon Sports, Al Hilal advanced as the best second-placed team after collecting six points from the group stage. The Sudanese side showed attacking threat throughout the tournament and will look to bounce back when they face Gor Mahia.
Al Hilal advanced as the best second-placed team after collecting six points from the group stage.
Gor Mahia, one of East Africa’s most decorated clubs, secured their place in the last four after a strong group-stage campaign and will be aiming to add another regional title to their historic record.
Meanwhile, Tusker FC and Zanzibar’s KVZ SC were eliminated after finishing third and fourth respectively in their group.
Tusker ended their campaign with a 2-0 victory over KVZ SC, with Ian Simiyu and Victor Mbaoma scoring the goals, but the result was not enough to keep the Kenyan side in contention.
The semifinals will be played on August 4 at Kigali Pele Stadium, with the remaining teams now focused on taking the final steps toward lifting the CECAFA Kagame Cup trophy.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sports, Sudanese giants Al Hilal, Kenya’s Gor Mahia and South Sudan’s Jamus SC have secured places in the semifinals, setting up two exciting clashes as teams battle for a place in the final.
Diamond shared the news on Sunday, August 2, through a post on Instagram featuring a photo from the hospital, where Zuchu was seen resting on a bed while cradling their newborn. The baby’s face was covered with an emoji as the couple appeared to protect her privacy.
“Welcome to the world, our precious little angel. You are already loved more than words can ever say,” Diamond wrote in the caption.
Zuchu, whose real name is Zuhura Othman Soud, responded to Diamond’s post with a heartfelt comment: “My whole world.”
The birth of their daughter comes after a period of ups and downs in the couple’s relationship. Earlier in June, Zuchu publicly announced that she and Diamond had separated, saying she had endured years of disrespect and was choosing her peace.
Shortly after the announcement, Zuchu revealed her pregnancy through a series of maternity photos, showing her baby bump and ultrasound images. Diamond later confirmed that he was the father, sharing his excitement over the new addition to their family.
The couple later appeared to reconcile, hosting a lavish baby shower and gender reveal celebration at Mbezi Beach in Dar es Salaam. During the event, Diamond publicly apologised to Zuchu and gifted her TSh78 million (about Rwf43 million), a gesture many fans viewed as a sign of commitment as they prepared to welcome their child.
The arrival of the baby girl has sparked celebrations among fans across East Africa, with many congratulating the couple on the new family milestone.
Diamond Platnumz, whose real name is Naseeb Abdul Juma, is one of the biggest names in Bongo Flava music and is the founder of WCB Wasafi. Zuchu rose to fame after joining the label in 2020 and has since become one of Tanzania’s leading female artists.
The pair have also collaborated on several hit songs, including Cheche, Litawachoma, Wana, Mtasubiri, Nani and Inama, earning millions of views across digital platforms.
The birth of their daughter marks a new chapter for the two artists, both personally and professionally.
After years of an on-and-off romance, the couple married in a private Islamic ceremony last year.
The sharp denial, reported by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, follows statements posted by Trump on Truth Social in which he claimed Washington paused planned military action after receiving requests from Tehran and neighboring Middle Eastern nations.
The claims and denial
According to Iranian military sources cited by Mehr, Tehran made no direct or indirect request to halt U.S. operations. Instead, officials characterized Trump’s statements as a tactic designed to leverage pressure against Gulf states.
“Iran’s armed forces remain at the highest level of readiness and are fully prepared for any eventuality,” the military sources stated.
The response directly refutes claims made late Saturday by President Trump, who asserted that secret diplomatic openings had led to a temporary hold on fresh bombardments.
“We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that any pause was contingent on securing a broader agreement quickly.
Escalating regional tensions
The public dispute comes against a backdrop of intense military posturing and fears of a widening regional war. U.S. forces have recently signaled readiness for expansive strikes targeting strategic Iranian infrastructure, while regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, have publicly and privately urged diplomatic restraint.
Iranian military officials on Sunday rejected assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that Tehran had requested a hold on American military strikes, dismissing the claims as a “new lie” and an attempt to pressure regional Gulf allies.
The announcement was made by Micheal Martin, the Irish prime minister whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, after calls from Spain as well as a 22-country initiative led by Italy and Denmark for a coordinated European response to the migrant crisis.
Italy and Denmark on Saturday spearheaded a joint initiative, calling for a coordinated European response to recent developments at the EU’s external border in Ceuta, according to a statement released by the Italian government.
People gather on the Moroccan side of the border with Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, preparing to cross into the enclave, on July 30, 2026.
The letter, signed by 22 European heads of state and government, was sent to top EU leaders, citing “serious concern” over the situation in Ceuta and stressed the need to prevent uncontrolled irregular crossings, fight migrant trafficking networks, eliminate all factors that may incentivize new illegal entries and ensure a unified and effective European response.
“We are determined to prevent smugglers from challenging the integrity of the Union’s external borders,” the letter said.
“We have a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration, by coordinating our action, strengthening our external borders and addressing all policies that can serve as pull factors, such as the regularization of very large number of irregular migrants,” the letter added.
On the same day, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also called on the EU to convene an extraordinary meeting to coordinate a common response to the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, while criticizing what he described as the “selfish” attitude of some member states.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (C) observes the work of the Civil Guard in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, on July 31, 2026.
Sanchez said around 50,000 migrants had entered Ceuta irregularly, but that Spain had restored control of the border in less than 48 hours, provided humanitarian assistance, returned virtually all of those who had crossed illegally, and prevented any unauthorized onward movement to mainland Europe.
He said these efforts were made possible through close cooperation with Moroccan authorities and with the support of other EU member states, while highlighting Spain’s long-standing migration policy, which he said had made the country one of the EU’s most secure external borders.
Sanchez also said that while most EU governments had expressed solidarity and offered assistance, others had chosen to “attack Spain” and call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area.
The latest developments came after one of the largest irregular migration incidents on Spain’s southern border in recent years. According to the Spanish government, at least 67 people died during the crisis, while more than 48,000 of the nearly 50,000 migrants who entered Ceuta had returned to neighboring Morocco.
The late Donatille Mukabalisa, who served as Speaker of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies for 11 years, oversaw some of the country’s most significant legislative and constitutional reforms, from amendments to the Constitution to the synchronisation of presidential and parliamentary elections.
Mukabalisa died on July 30, 2026, after an illness while receiving treatment at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. She was widely remembered by colleagues as a consensus builder whose leadership coincided with a period of major institutional reforms.
First elected to Parliament following the post-1994 transition period, Mukabalisa served in both chambers before being elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in 2013, a position she held until August 2024. Following her tenure in the Lower House, she returned to the Senate, where she served until her passing.
Colleagues remember Donatille Mukabalisa as a dedicated and hardworking leader.
Overseeing constitutional reform
One of the defining moments of Mukabalisa’s tenure came in 2015, when Parliament processed a constitutional amendment following a petition signed by more than four million Rwandans requesting changes that would allow President Paul Kagame to remain eligible for office.
Under the Constitution in force at the time, the President was limited to two seven-year terms. Kagame, first elected in 2003, was due to complete his second term in 2017.
Following the amendment, Article 101 was revised to introduce five-year presidential terms after a transitional seven-year term. The changes were later approved in a national referendum.
The process required Parliament to manage a politically significant constitutional review while building consensus among lawmakers.
Serge Guillaume Nzabonimana, who served as Mukabalisa’s adviser between 2014 and 2020, said Parliament handled the process in accordance with public expectations.
“Parliament received petitions from about four million people across the country. Reviewing, verifying and processing such a large number of submissions was a major undertaking, but it was completed in line with what citizens had requested,” he said.
Nzabonimana Guillaume Serge, who served as Donatille Mukabalisa’s adviser, said he learned valuable lessons from her approach to leadership and public service.
Strengthening parliamentary oversight
Mukabalisa’s leadership also coincided with a period of sustained economic growth and expanding public expenditure, prompting Parliament to intensify its oversight of government institutions.
After lawmakers were sworn in following the 2013 parliamentary elections, President Kagame urged them to ensure government programmes served citizens’ interests.
Parliament subsequently increased scrutiny of government performance and public spending, seeking to identify weaknesses in service delivery and ensure accountability in the management of public resources.
Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, a former Deputy Speaker and MP who served alongside Mukabalisa, said Parliament played a more prominent oversight role as Rwanda’s economy expanded.
He argued that stronger parliamentary oversight helped improve accountability among public officials and contributed to reducing financial irregularities highlighted in successive reports by the Office of the Auditor General.
Musa Fazil Harerimana said that under Mukabalisa’s leadership, Parliament became a cornerstone of Rwanda’s development.
Landmark legislation
During Mukabalisa’s tenure, Parliament adopted several laws that reshaped different aspects of Rwanda’s legal framework.
Among them was the 2016 law governing persons and the family, which sought to modernize family law and provide clearer mechanisms for resolving domestic disputes.
Parliament also enacted tax reforms aimed at strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and reducing reliance on external financing.
The Penal Code and criminal procedure frameworks updated during her tenure were aligned with Rwanda’s broader national policy promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation and plea bargaining.
Lawmakers also passed legislation governing healthcare services, including provisions on reproductive health, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and surrogacy.
A revised labour law adopted in 2018 required the responsible minister to establish a national minimum wage through a ministerial order, although that order has yet to be issued.
Additional legislation enacted during Mukabalisa’s tenure covered areas including land administration, commerce, taxation, justice, technology and the creative sector.
Donatille Mukabalisa was sworn in as Speaker of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies in 2013, leading the lower house through some of the country’s most significant legislative and constitutional reforms.
Aligning presidential and parliamentary elections
Another notable institutional reform during Mukabalisa’s leadership was the decision to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously.
Since 2003, Rwanda had held the two elections separately because members of Parliament served five-year terms while the President served seven-year terms.
After the 2015 constitutional amendment reduced presidential terms to five years beginning in 2024, the government decided to synchronize both elections to reduce costs and improve electoral efficiency.
Raising Rwanda’s parliamentary profile
According to Nzabonimana, Mukabalisa also strengthened Parliament’s engagement with legislatures abroad, helping expand Rwanda’s parliamentary diplomacy.
She frequently represented Rwanda at international forums, where she highlighted the country’s progress in promoting women’s participation in leadership.
Rwanda continues to rank among the world’s leading countries in female parliamentary representation, with women holding 63.8% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 50% in the Senate.
During her tenure as Speaker, Mukabalisa oversaw Parliament’s core responsibilities, including passing legislation, scrutinising government performance and representing citizens’ interests.
Colleagues remember her as a consultative and experienced leader who approached public service with humility and a strong commitment to consensus-building.
On a monthly basis, the general PPI rose 0.4 percent between May and June 2026.
The report, which tracks prices received by domestic producers across mining, manufacturing, and utilities, showed divergent trends between goods sold locally and those destined for export. The local PPI increased 20.6 percent year-on-year and 0.8 percent month-on-month, while the export PPI rose 29.2 percent annually but fell 3.3 percent from May to June.
Mining leads the surge
Mining and quarrying prices jumped 76.5 percent year-on-year and 2.9 percent month-on-month, making it the single largest driver of the overall increase despite accounting for only a small share of the general index by weight. In the export index, where mining carries a much larger weighting, the sector’s growth was the dominant factor behind the annual gain.
A split picture for manufacturers
Manufacturing prices told two different stories depending on the market. For goods sold locally, manufacturing prices rose 19.3 percent year-on-year and 0.9 percent month-on-month, with beverages up 31.9 percent and food products up 20.3 percent over the year. Textiles were the exception, falling 7.2 percent annually.
For exporters, manufacturing prices moved in the opposite direction, falling 12.3 percent year-on-year and 9.8 percent month-on-month, with export food products down 15.2 percent annually.
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply prices rose 34.8 percent year-on-year, though they were unchanged on a monthly basis. Water supply and sewerage prices were flat both annually and monthly.
Why it matters
The Producer Price Index tracks the prices businesses receive for their goods before they reach consumers. Higher producer prices can eventually lead to higher prices for shoppers if companies pass on the extra costs.
The PPI is compiled using a monthly chained Laspeyres-type formula, with prices collected at the factory gate around the midpoint of each month. Weights are based on the value of output reported in the 2024 National Accounts.
Producer prices in Rwanda climbed 22.3 percent in June 2026 compared to the same month last year, driven largely by a sharp surge in mining prices, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the incident as “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.”
Most of the victims drowned while attempting to swim around the El Tarajal border breakwater separating Morocco and Ceuta, according to the Spanish authorities.
Sanchez traveled to Ceuta on Friday together with Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to inspect the situation. During the visit, he announced new measures to strengthen border security, including the installation of floating barriers near the El Tarajal breakwater to prevent further sea crossings.
He also pledged to accelerate the identification and return of irregular migrants, thanked Morocco for its cooperation in border management and repatriation, and vowed to intensify efforts against human trafficking networks.
Migrants try to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday, July 31, 2026.
The Spanish government has reinforced security in Ceuta by deploying additional National Police officers, Civil Guard personnel and military units, while emergency reception facilities remain under heavy pressure.
The Spanish authorities estimate that around 50,000 migrants have entered Ceuta over the past two days, making it one of the largest irregular migration crises ever recorded on the enclave’s border.
Migrants cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The global football governing body issued the statement on Friday after the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF rejected plans that could allow private investors to acquire a minority stake in a new commercial venture known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
The backlash has intensified into one of the biggest governance disputes in recent FIFA history, with confederations representing 143 of FIFA’s 211 member associations now opposing the proposal.
UEFA, which represents 55 national associations, warned that none of its member nations would take part in FIFA competitions if the proposal proceeds.
In a strongly worded statement, European football’s governing body said the World Cup “cannot be treated as an investment product” and accused FIFA of developing the proposal without meaningful consultation.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety,” UEFA said.
CONCACAF, which represents 41 member associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected the proposal, while the AFC, representing 47 associations, called for an urgent review of FIFA’s governance and decision-making processes.
The AFC said proposals of such global significance should be developed through “transparent governance, timely consultation, informed deliberation and genuine participation.”
FIFA, however, insisted the proposal has been misunderstood and denied suggestions that it was seeking to sell ownership of football’s flagship tournaments.
“We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise and would like to address the issues that have surfaced,” FIFA said.
The organisation maintained that FFE is intended to give member associations greater opportunities to benefit from football’s commercial growth.
“FFE has been proposed solely to ensure that all FIFA Member Associations have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries,” the statement said.
“Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”
Despite the widespread criticism, FIFA said it would proceed with a consultation process, arguing that all member associations should have the opportunity to examine the proposal before making a decision.
The controversy deepened further after Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and a former president of the United States Soccer Federation, resigned in protest.
“As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” Cordeiro said.
“I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for FIFA’s Member Associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
The proposed commercial venture has reportedly attracted interest from an investor group led by Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, with plans to acquire a minority stake should the project receive approval.
Critics argue that bringing private investors into FIFA competitions would fundamentally change the governance of world football by placing commercial returns ahead of sporting interests. They also fear investor pressure could encourage FIFA to stage larger and more frequent international tournaments, placing additional strain on domestic leagues and players.
With Europe’s governing body threatening to boycott FIFA competitions and support for the proposal weakening across multiple confederations, the governing body’s plans now face their most significant challenge since they were first revealed.
For now, FIFA insists the consultation process will continue, but the growing resistance suggests any attempt to reshape the commercial future of the World Cup is likely to face a difficult path.
FIFA has defended its controversial proposal to create a commercial entity linked to the FIFA World Cup, insisting that “nobody is selling football” despite mounting opposition from some of the sport’s most powerful governing bodies.
Uwimana, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said he spent three years with the FDLR, an armed group formed by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fled to eastern DR Congo following the genocide.
He shared his experience after being reunited with his family on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, following a rehabilitation programme by the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC). He was among 22 children who were reunited with their families.
Uwimana told IGIHE that he was abducted in Masisi Territory, in the Ironga area where his family lived.
“I had gone to visit relatives when FDLR soldiers who were heading to Pinga airfield to collect ammunition captured me. They forced me to carry the ammunition. After we delivered it, we arrived at their military camp, but they refused to allow us to return home,” he said.
He said they were later taken to the battlefield after spending three days at the camp, where they were forced to support the group’s operations.
“Whenever we asked why we could not go home, they told us we would only leave after the ammunition we had carried had been used up,” he said.
Uwimana said that once they reached the battlefield, they were given weapons and forced to participate in fighting.
The experience separated him from his family, who later fled and eventually settled in Rwanda’s Nyabihu District.
He revealed that he was unable to continue his education beyond Primary Three because of the conflict, adding that during his time with FDLR, he was subjected to training aimed at carrying out violent acts.
“We would go to the battlefield like other fighters. We were also sent to steal food, including cassava and beans, from civilians. They trained us to attack people, destroy property, rape and kill,” he said.
Uwimana said that at one point, as hunger worsened, FDLR members directed them to steal livestock from communities near Goma. However, they were attacked upon arrival, forcing them to flee, and he eventually found himself inside a national park.
He later decided to surrender after communicating with a former FDLR member who had already left the group and completed rehabilitation at the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre.
The former colleague encouraged him to surrender, after which Uwimana was taken through the La Corniche border crossing and transferred to Mutobo, where he underwent a three-month reintegration programme before being reunited with his family.
Uwimana said FDLR leaders had repeatedly warned them against returning to Rwanda, claiming they would either be killed or imprisoned if they did so.
“We were given false information by our leaders, and at times we believed what they said. But I was surprised by the way I was received in Rwanda. We were given clothes, food, and lessons that helped us return to normal life,” he said.
Now reunited with his family, Uwimana said he hopes to return to school and build a better future, noting that education provides opportunities that are difficult to access for those who cannot read and write.
He also called on other young people still in armed groups in the forests of DR Congo to surrender, saying many of the messages they receive from their leaders are based on falsehoods.
Valerie Nyirahabineza, Chairperson of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), said 22 of the 24 children who completed the rehabilitation programme had been reunited with their families, while efforts were ongoing to trace the families of the remaining two.
The children reunited with their families are aged between 16 and 18 years.
Since its establishment, the commission has helped reintegrate 1,029 children who were previously associated with armed groups.
David Uwimana, who spent three years with the FDLR, said he hopes to return to school and build a better future for himself.Valerie Nyirahabineza, Chairperson of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), said 22 of the 24 children who completed the rehabilitation programme had been reunited with their families.
