According to a statement released by Airtel Rwanda, the stories with the highest engagement will win 1 (one) of 3 (three) superfast PocketWifis, a starter Pack of 30GB of free Data.
“We sought to make this month even more special by inviting everyone, in a language of their choice, to express their heartfelt Love for Rwanda. Stories could be about anything that our customers, citizens and residents of Rwanda feel passionate about,” reads part of the statement.
“We will award 50 winners everyday with a PocketWifi, a superfast mobile router can connect up to 10 devices to enable remote working and online studies, free 30GB of Data for each device. This device has become the perfect companion for all that seek to remain connected at all times,” adds the statement.
Airtel added that stories submitted by the users of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram social media platforms can range from ones love and appreciation of personalities, about frontline workers such as Doctors, Nurses and the Police, supermarket workers, pharmacists, farmers and everyone who has contributed to keep us safe during the Global Pandemic. Entries can also be about ones love for a sports club, a service such as Irembo or our beautiful road network.
“Write your #NkundaUrwanda Love Story, post it on your own platform or on Airtel’s Twitter @airtelrw, Facebook @airtelrwanda or Instagram airtelrw platform, tag as many of your friends and followers and you could emerge among three daily winners” the statement added.
The hashtags for the campaign are #NoLockDownOnLove #NkundaUrwanda #LoveIsRed
For more information on visit https://www.airtel.co.rw/
{{About Airtel Africa Limited:}}
Airtel Africa Limited is a pan-African telecommunications company with operations in 14 countries across Africa. Airtel Africa is driven by the vision of providing affordable and innovative mobile services to all and is supported in pursuing this vision by its largest shareholder, Bharti Airtel. Its product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G wireless voice and data services and mobile commerce through ‘Airtel Money’. Airtel Africa had over 97 million customers across its operations at the end of December 2018.
The violators were found in four bars as well as those who had organised a party at home while others were found in Sauna and massage.
In Gatsata Sector of Gasabo District, 28 people were arrested in Kilimanjaro bar, 19 in Zebra Guest House and Bar while nine others were found in Shukuru Hospitality.
Other 47 people were caught in Kirabo bar located in Nyabugogo while 10 other violators were found in a house party in Gacuriro.
In Kicukiro District, 16 people were found in Sauna and massage at Glads Apartment located in Nyarugunga Sector, Kamashashi Cell.
Samuel Kamanzi, the proprietor of Zebra Guest House and Bar said his employee opened the bar to people who had come to seek shelter as it was raining.
“We have not been operating, but today people who were sheltering from the rain ordered for alcoholic drinks, one of my employees opened the bar and started serving them,” Kamanzi argued.
Jean Claude Bucumi, one of the those found in Zebra Guest House and Bar drinking, however, said that he has been frequenting the same spot.
“I had just entered and ordered for a drink when Police entered the bar and arrested us. I thought it was going to be like any other days when we would came here, drink and go home,” Bucumi said.
According to Bucumi, he was supposed to meet his other two friends at the same spot for a drink but he was arrested before his colleagues could arrive.
Aileth Gakwaya, the owner of Glads Apartment claimed that he did not know that COVID-19 can be transmitted when people are in Sauna.
“I admit that I violated the directives but I knew that people in Sauna cannot infect others. We have not been operating everyday but once in a while we open to clients,” said Gakwaya.
He admitted that his clients were coming from different places and regretted undermining the prevention directives.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera warned that no one will violate the directives and go unnoticed or unpunished.
“If you know that what you are doing is contrary to the government directives and think that you were not arrested yesterday or today, tomorrow might be your turn,” CP Kabera warned.
He further cautioned those using allowed businesses as cover to operate prohibited services.
Among others, 67 new cases have been found while no one succumbed to the virus.
New cases were found in Kigali: 19, Nyamagabe: 8, Muhanga: 7, Karongi: 7, Kayonza: 4, Ruhango: 3, Ngoma: 3, Ngororero: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Rusizi: 2, Burera: 2, Gakenke: 2, Huye: 2. Nyaruguru: 2, Rubavu: 1 and Gicumbi: 1.
The decrease in COVID-19 new cases is related to preventive measures that have been put in place. Recently, the Government imposed three-week lockdown in Kigali city that has been major hotspot for new infections.
The lockdown was lifted on Monday 8th February 2021 but enforcement of preventive measures continues including inter-district lockdown, extended curfew hours to 7pm to 4am, encouraging the public to adhere to health guidelines including hand washing, wearing of face masks and respecting social distancing among others.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17 267 people have been tested positive of 14 447 have recovered, 2554 are active cases while 236 people have succumbed to the virus. The Ministry of Health has reported that 14 patients are critically ill.
This event was co-hosted by Risingbd of Bangladesh, The DAWN of South Sudan, PTV World of Pakistan, and an UN-affiliated NGO named Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) headquartered in South Korea.
Dr. Javed Ali Kalholo, Senior Producer of PTV World, stated that the globe witnessed disastrous diseases in the new century from swine flu to Eblola before COVID-19. He advocated international cooperation to “fight the existing menace of virus collectively and do share a cognitive approach towards the post-pandemic world.”
Mr. Nabeel Tirmazi, Broadcasting Consultant & Programme Manager of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), mentioned that media responsibility in democratic states has grown to “dispel wrong notions, apprehensions and misinformation”, adding to the functions of informing and educating.
To cope with the COVID-19 crisis, he suggested capacity building for healthy journalism from international media practitioners with the case of combating misinformation regarding the pandemic with international organizations including WHO and UNESCO.
Mr. Ibnul Qayum Sony, Senior Sub Editor of Risingbd, Actor and Independent Film Director explained that the current phenomena of COVID-19 have mixed results. In the case of Bangladesh, he said that loss of lives and economic downturn from the lockdown coexist with the significant decrease in the level of pollution in rivers of the country resulting in biodiversity.
“South Sudan is the newest country, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but a political crisis two years later has left it bleeding,” said Mr. Okech Francis, Deputy Editor in Chief of The Dawn Newspaper. To respond to poor infrastructure, health services, and economic performance in the country and region, he highlighted that knowledge and skills for sustainable future of peace and security need to be provided, rather than handouts.
Mr. Supalak Ganjanakhundee, Bangkok-based Southeast Asia Analyst, Thailand, says that the country is “still struggling to contain the spread of the deadly disease” and the recent student democratic protest, which also “extended to neighbor Myanmar after the military in that country staged a coup in the pre-dawn of 1 February.” He added that the demands from protest are to be taken seriously “to bring genuine democracy, stability and peace to the country.”
Dr. Ian Seo, General Director of HWPL, pointed out that the recent dysfunctional election system in Thailand and South Korea and public dissatisfaction with the current leadership during the pandemic brought uncertainty of democratic system of the two countries. He suggested that giving insights and inspiration to youth is media responsibility and dedication for the future with peaceful societies.
The incident took place on Thursday night in Kabahinda cell, Mururu sector when armed gangsters brought residents together and stole their money. It is said that gangsters escaped after stealing Rwf 30,000.
The vice mayor for economic affairs in Rusizi district, Kankindi Leoncie has told IGIHE that thieves shot and injured one resident who got suspicion that they are not soldiers.
“We have started activities to comfort residents. We visited residents yesterday and reminded them to provide information on time using designated official phone number. Security officials have launched investigation into the case,” she said.
“The resident who survived is getting medical attention at Gihundwe Hospital. There is hope to recover quickly because he was not severely injured,” added Kankindi.
She reassured residents that investigations are underway to hold masterminds accountable.
{Five outstanding projects promising to mitigate COVID-19 effects have won US$150,000 (approximately Rwf 149 million). The funding was provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which organized the contest through Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA).}
NINJA is a startup support initiative by JICA launched in January 2020, to promote innovation and creation of new businesses on African continent.
In collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), JICA has awarded five outstanding projects selected from 113 competing startups. Each project walked away with US$ 30,000.
Akai Yuki, the project coordinator at JICA Rwanda has said that the initiative organizes competitions across 19 African countries aimed at uplifting projects bringing innovations and transforming livelihoods on the continent.
“These projects will not only provide solutions to the current COVID-19 related effects but also are expected to bring economic transformations after the pandemic. In Rwanda, five out of 113 projects that submitted applications have been awarded,” he revealed.
Iradukunda Yves, the State Minister at MINICT lauded JICA for the initiative and congratulated winners.
“We voice our appreciation to JICA for the initiative and congratulate winners. We stand firm to welcome innovative solutions transforming livelihoods in the country and beyond,” he said.
Iradukunda also revealed that MINICT partnered with JICA to assist beneficiaries in project implementation and capacitating them to come up with solutions mitigating COVID-19 effects.
Winning companies include KHENZ Ltd with digital payment solutions for public buses traveling upcountry, IRIBA WATER GROUP Ltd helping people with limited income to access safe drinking water at affordable price using ATMs.
The company targets to deliver safe drinking water and sanitizers to 4000 people on daily basis.
Other projects include MAGOFARM LTD, AD Finance providing software management systems to medium-sized financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa and Health Edu which seeks to train health workers through virtual sessions.
So far, 2713 projects have submitted applications in 19 African countries including Rwanda, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Misiri, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
He revealed this yesterday as he took over from Dr. Musafiri Papias Malimba during a ceremony held at UR headquarters in Gikondo witnessed by the Ministry of Education, Dr. Dr Uwamariya Valentine.
Prof was appointed by the cabinet meeting held on 2nd February 2021, four months after the predecessor Phillip Cotton ended his tenure and temporarily replaced by Dr Musafiri Papias Malimba who once served as the Minister of Education.
During the handover ceremony, Dr. Musafiri presented several achievements of the university since established in 2013 and reminded his successor of duties ahead to manage the university faced with several challenges including hardships brought by Covid-19 pandemic and poor funds management as indicated by the Auditor General’s report.
The new Vice Chancellor, Prof Lyabanje thanked the Government of Rwanda for bestowing trust upon him.
“We are pleased that His Excellency President Paul Kagame and the Government of Rwanda trusted Rwandans to manage the university and particularly granting me, the chance to do so,” he said.
Prof Lyambabaje committed to promote quality education in close collaboration with colleagues.
“When you speak to people around, they have a negative perception that today’s graduates are not competent enough compared to the past. I am not sure if it is an exaggerated reality but we have to accept that time changes. The more technology evolves, the harder we must utilize it with all efforts so that graduates are able to leverage that technology to efficiently accomplish their duties at work,” he said.
“Continuously striving for quality education, is one of areas we should prioritize in a way that embeds research to facilitate lecturers and students to sharpen knowledge,” added Lyambabaje.
Among others, the new Vice Chancellor expressed commitment to draw emphasis on efficient funds management.
“Another area of focus is related to funds management. It is necessary to work with the Auditor General, our staff and other relevant institutions to do what is required. As I told you, when you think I am misusing funds contributed through taxes to educate students, it is your rights to file a complaint through the Auditor General inquiring into why I am not fulfilling promises,” he said.
Prof Lyambabaje also highlighted that they will streamline internal audits to ensure proper management of financial and human resources.
In a bid to advance quality education, he revealed plans to develop partnerships with private universities to training their lecturers, and work with local and regional research centers, uplift sports and cultural activities at the university as well.
The Minister of education, Dr. Uwamariya Valentine said that the Government expected Prof Lyambabaje to promote quality education at the University of Rwanda and contribute to research geared towards transforming national economy.
“The University of Rwanda has a clear vision and goals which he comes to cement. Most importantly, we want quality education to get boost at the university and carry out its mandate of transformational research positively impacting national economy,” she noted.
Prof Lyambabaje was born in 1960. He studied at the National University of Rwanda from where he went to pursue Master’s Degree in Canada.
Lyambabaje holds a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mathematics and a Doctorate in Mathematics from University de Rennes in France.
He has served in different capacities in Rwanda’s public sector. Among these, in 1999, he was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education.
In 2000 he was appointed Minister of Commerce, Tourism Industry, Investments Promotion and Cooperatives, a position he held until 2003.
He supervised the formulation of policies for the ministry and in particular Rwanda Tourism Policy.
He also contributed to the regional integration process through active participation in regional ministerial meetings, including those of the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
From April 2014 to 2015, he served as a senior researcher at the University of Rwanda in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He also served as an Associate Professor of Statistics in the Institute of Applied Sciences Ruhengeri.
Prof Lyambabaje has been recently serving as the Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).
The duo of Jean-Paul Nikobari and Jean-de-Dieu Hategekimana was arrested on Thursday, February 11, in Rwosezero Village, Munazi Cell in Save Sector.
Nikobari and Hategekimana are prime suspects in the recent incident when they ambushed one Enock Manishimwe, stole his laptop and money amounting to Rwf150, 000.
Manishimwe is a student at the University of Rwanda-Huye campus.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Manishimwe was ambushed at about 6am as he was headed to the campus for lectures.
“The victim reported the alleged theft, Police and local leaders worked together to locate and arrest the two suspected thieves,” SP Kanamugire said.
According to the spokesperson, Nikobari and Hategekimana are part of the group behind similar criminal activities in Cyezuburo swamp, Rwaza Cell in Save Sector.
“Police managed to identify these two suspects because of the joint efforts to respond to residents’ complaints about a group of thieves operating in this swamp,” SP Kanamugire said.
“In response, a community patrol was put in this areas which made it easy to know these two suspects. With the help of local residents, we have also identified other individuals connected to this group and the search to take them into custody is also still going on.”
Hakizimana and Nikobari have been handed over to RIB at Save station.
In article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, any person convicted for 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 (6) months or only one of these penalties.
However, in article 167, the penalty doubles if the theft was committed by more than one person or at night.
Among others, 132 cases have been found, 259 have recovered while 16 patients are critically ill.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 17 200 people have been tested positive out of 938 902 sample tests of whom 13 937 have recovered, 3027 are active cases while 236 have succumbed to the virus.
Figures from the Ministry of Health shows that the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and deaths stands at 3%, 81% and 1.3% respectively.
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.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, the narcotics were seized from dealers, including major suppliers, most of them who were convicted and currently serving varied sentences.
The narcotics, including assorted illicit gin, were disposed of on Friday, February 12, in a public exercise held in Kariyeri Village, Rega Cell in Bigogwe Sector.
The destruction exercise was witnessed by the mayor of Nyabihu, Antoinette Mukandayisenga, Chief Prosecutor for Rubavu Intermediate Court, Janvier Munyaneza, Police, RIB, DASSO and local leaders in Bigogwe Sector.
Mayor Mukandayisenga reminded grassroots leaders to work with the people to create strong and active community policing structures in fighting drug delears.
She further urged them to work with security organs and Rwanda National Police (RNP) in particular to identify and report anyone they suspect to be engaged in drug related crimes.
“We all know how dangerous abusers are to the general safety and wellbeing of the people. We have seen crimes like theft, assault, sexual violence and domestic conflicts fueled by drugs or by people under the influence of these drugs. It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight them by reporting dealers,” said the mayor.
Meanwhile, CIP Karekezi said that most of those arrested with the disposed of narcotics were reported by residents.
“The destroyed drugs were seized from either dealers operating in Nyabihu or those using Nyabihu and transit route,” CIP Karekezi said.
Cannabis is listed as a “very several drug” under the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “very severe narcotic drugs” faces between 20 years and life in prison and a fine of between Rwf20 million Rwf30 million.
