The new cases bring the total number to 5129 while no one was registered to have recovered, leaving recoveries at 4851 and while the active cases are now 243 active cases.
Of the new cases, two were found in Kigali, while in Kirehe recorded 40 new cases from new cases in a refugee camp, Nyamagabe also recorded two new cases.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
Gishwati Mukura landscape was declared as UNESCO biosphere reserve during the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (UNESCO MAB) International Co-coordinating Council meeting on October 27th-28th, 2020 at the organizations head offices in Geneva.
A biosphere reserve is made up of the parts of earth where life exists—all ecosystems, and extends from the deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environments of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests, high mountaintops, and transition zones like this one, where ocean and terrestrial ecosystems meet.
The UNESCO MAB Programme develops the basis within the natural and social sciences for the rational and sustainable use and conservation of the resources of the biosphere and for the improvement of the overall relationship between people and their environment.
“We are proud to welcome Gishwati Mukura Landscape Biosphere Reserve #Rwanda to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves,” the organization said in a Twitter message.
This means that Gishwati Mukura Landscape in Rwanda is now one of the 701 Biosphere Reserves globally where humans have played a role in co-existence with their eco-system around them.
“Congratulations to all partners involved in this historic achievement including Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank. This will bring a range of benefits for local communities and biodiversity in Gishwati Mukura,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
On Friday, May 22, 2020, Rwanda joined the international community in celebrating the National Day for the Protection of the Biodiversity Network celebrated with the theme: “Our solutions are in Nature”.
Rwanda used the opportunity to encourage planting trees, especially fruits because they give off fresh air and provide with seeds, avoiding waste everywhere and dumping contaminated waste wherever it occurs as it ends up in floodwaters during rainy seasons.
UNESCO also boosts of 252 natural World Heritage sites, 161 UNESCO Global Geoparks of which Rwanda is currently pushing to have three of its genocide memorial sites included in the former package.
The suspects identified as Felicien Kimenyi, Jean de Dieu Nizeyimana and Frank Dusengimana were intercepted in Rwempasha Sector, Ryeru Cell.
They were also caught with 16 litres of the illicit crude gin locally known as Kanyanga, which is outlawed and classified as a psychotropic substance in Rwanda.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson of the Eastern region, said that the suspects had used a porous border to sneak the outlawed polythene bags and kanyanga into Rwanda from neighboring Uganda.
“Members of the public residing on the borderline called the Police after they saw the three suspects using a porous border to cross into Rwanda from Uganda with the luggage.
Police officers were immediately dispatched and they arrested the trio carrying boxes of plastic bags amounting to 20, 000 pieces, and with 16 liters of kanyanga, which they had put in soft drink bottles to prevent being detected,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He commended the role of the residents in fighting trafficking and selling plastic bags as well as narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Last month, three people were also arrested in Matimba Sector with four sacks of plastic bags.
Another suspected trafficker of plastic bags was also intercepted in Nyagatare town in July with 18, 600 pieces of the non-biodegradable products.
CIP Twizeyimana warned that such illegal cross-border movements could be the source of further COVID-19 spread, and urged the public to continue reporting such errant individuals.
Article 10 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items, states that any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Frw700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12 of the same legal instrument, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
On the other hand, kanyanga is listed among simple narcotic drugs under Ministerial Order Nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
Article 5 defines simple narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and unauthorised drinks as alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws; chemical substances whose original intended use has been altered, and applied as narcotic drug; use of 116 controlled substances listed in the same Order.
Anyone convicted for simple narcotic drugs under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, face between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Frw5 million and Frw10 million.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, October 27, as the cabinet decided that the measures intended to contain the spread of COVID-19 remain as they were reviewed until October 12 except for few changes.
The cabinet decided that “services at places of worship will increase to 50% of venue capacity.”
Earlier on, in a church of 3000 sitting capacity, some 250 people would be allowed in a single service. There was also a space of 2 hours between services to allow sanitizing.
The cabinet increased the number of those to participate in wedding ceremonies to 75 people up from 30 people. The cabinet further said that COVID-19 tests will not be required with wedding receptions including fewer than 75 guests.
Meanwhile, funeral services “should not exceed 75 people”, which is also another improvement compared to a maximum of 30 people initially.
The cabinet increased the number of civil services in offices from the initial 30% of offices capacity to 50% meaning that they will continue to work on rotational basis; these are joining the private sector offices who have been allowed to operate to this capacity for a couple of months now.
It was also decided that gaming operators will resume gradually upon fulfilling COVID-19 prevention requirements and inspection to be conducted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
On these measures that are expected to be reviewed after 15 days, the cabinet made a reminder to the general public to continue to observe COVID-19 measures including wearing a face mask, keeping social distance, and washing hands regularly.
In other decisions that are not related to COVID-19, three advisors were appointed and they include; Uwonkunda Claudette, advisor to the Speaker of Parliament, Bideri Ntagozera Rina-advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry and Wanyana Denise-Advisor to the Minister of State in charge of Primary Health Care in the Ministry of Health.
The cabinet meeting approved the Presidential order establishing the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board and Prime Minister order determining responsibilities of the national civil aviation security committee, its members, and functioning.
Also approved was a Prime Minister order determining responsibilities of the airport security committee, its members and functioning.
A ministerial order relating to the appeal committee in Civil Aviation was also approved, together with Ministerial order on court fees in civil, commercial, labor administrative and criminal matters.
There are currently a number of technology companies in Rwanda supporting the country’s goal of becoming a technology hub in Africa. It is a vision that will be achieved through the participation of everyone, especially the private sector.
Among the private companies that have started to invest in this sector are the provision of information technology services, and the completion of data storage facilities in Rwanda, AOS.
AOS Ltd is a joint venture of the Government of Rwanda with Korea Telecom in a long-term partnership evolved into the strong agreement to collectively achieve bigger goals: developing the ICT sector into a vibrant industry, positioning Rwanda as the regional ICT hub, and fueling economic growth by enabling effective delivery of business services in Rwanda.
The company, on October 26, 2020, launched a campaign to show private companies the opportunities they have for storing their information inside the country.
The Chief Marketing Officer of AOS, Manzi Olivier Rwaka, told IGIHE that hosting locally contributes to the development of our economy by hiring Rwandan workforce and promoting made in Rwanda solutions.
“Institutions hosted locally will have a better experience with reduced network latency therefore enjoying faster browsing, more website uptime and better loading time while accessing their data especially if the data hosted is mostly accessed by users in Rwanda. Another advantage is that institutions hosted locally get 24/7 online support from the local hosting provider in the same time zone with the choice of using our home language. There’s also a security aspect to have your data hosted locally especially sensitive data for Rwandans” said Manzi Rwaka
Talking about the challenges COVID-19 has caused to this field particularly and how are AOS is planning to help clients revive their business by cutting down the cost of hosting, the Chief Executive Officer of AOS, Mr. Seong Woo Kim said that the pandemic has affected many of customers hosted with their company because some of them faced challenges in their businesses as well therefore making it difficult to pay for the hosting services.
“We are currently contributing to reviving businesses by offering utmost discounts of up to 77% on web and email hosting and up to 50% on our cloud hosting services” Said Mr. Seong Woo Kim
The reason why AOS is doing a campaign to attract private sectors is that they have a mandate to contribute to the growth of the IT sector in Rwanda by providing reliable ICT solutions and services at affordable prices.
“By targeting the private sector, we would like to encourage businesses (SMEs, Startups, etc…) to have an online presence, attract more companies to host locally and bring back local content in Rwanda for those hosted abroad.”
“We are also targeting companies in the region. We have been also working closely with Government institutions to improve service delivery since most of them are hosted locally and making the hosting services affordable to them as well.” Said Mr. Seong Woo Kim.
AOS ltd is giving a discount of up to 77% on web and mail hosting with Automated provisioning, various packages, Ease of online payments, wide range of Add on services from their online market portal with the lowest option being 12,150 RWF per year (1,013 RWF per month).
The company is also offering a discount of up to 50% on cloud hosting services with the lowest option being 26,275 RWF per month.
“Users can get 50% off with our cloud welcome package with Easy service upgrade, flexible packages, Security and Data Backup” said Mr. Manzi Rwaka
The Chief Executive Officer of AOS, Mr. Seong Woo Kim said that the main lessons learnt during this pandemic is that most businesses had to move from the traditional way of doing business to the digital way and have an online presence to continue providing services.
“We have seen an increase of businesses looking for online platforms to host their services to cope with the new trend of doing business online for effective and efficient service delivery and most importantly business continuity. Companies should adapt to this new way of doing business. “ He said
According to a statement from Rwanda National Police (RNP), provisional licenses and driving permits applicants who applied for the tests in March this year before the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown will be considered first.
“The applicants who were given timetable of driving tests before they were halted in March 2020 will be considered first. The list of these applicants, driving test venue, and dates will be announced before the test period,” reads a statement from the police.
The statement also said that “Driving school owners who would wish to start can start operations promptly, but schools that teach traffic rules will have to wait until 2nd November. The schools will reopen, but with respect to Covid-19 preventive measures including physical distancing, regular hand washing, and the wearing of masks,”
The three ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, Oman, and Vietnam held brief meetings with President Paul Kagame at the President’s office Urugwiro Village in Kacyiru on a rainy morning in Kigali and later briefed local media on their plans in Rwanda.
The ambassador of Korea, Jin-Weon Chae who was accompanied by his wife, and has a permanent residence in Kigali said that both countries will continue working on the bilateral cooperation which mainly has focused on economic development through technology.
“During my term of office, I will put emphasis on promoting the long standing relationship between Rwanda and Korea especially in the areas of economic development,” Chae said.
Rwanda and Korea have a cooperation that mainly focuses on the areas of education and capacity building, rural development, agriculture, as well as information and communications technology.
Development cooperation with Korea is implemented through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) which has an office in Kigali. KOICA’s main projects in Rwanda in the next four years are in the sectors of Agriculture, TVET as well as in tax policy and administration.
RDB has registered nine (9) investments in Rwanda from Korean companies during the period of 2012 – 2020:
These investments, totaling an approximate amount of $268.5 million, include KT corporation (formerly Korea Telecom), Korea’s largest telecommunication company, which has invested in Rwanda’s 4G LTE broadband network. 2 o HeWorks LTD, another Korean firm, has invested in the sericulture business and has started to export silk thread to Korea this year.
The company is trying to revitalize the silk industry in Rwanda to build a full-scale silk factory in Bugesera by 2021 that could employ 3000 local people.
Ambassador Saleh Bin Suleiman Bin Ahmed AL-Harthi of the Sultanate of Oman, who has a residence in Nairobi, Kenya and was accompanied by his wife, said that his agenda will be to promote areas of trade, tourism and education, which have been the focus areas of the two countries.
Both Rwanda and Oman established diplomatic relations in March 1998 and the two countries have a long-established trade relationship with the Omani merchants who initiated the first commercial centers in Rwanda since the early 1900’s.
In terms of trade between the two countries, it is estimated to be valued at $920,000 to $2.3 million in 2017 and 2018 respectively of which 82% of the imports from Oman to Rwanda is largely petroleum products while Rwanda mainly exports to Oman include: vegetables, processed food and cereals.
Despite its history of being a war zone, Kagame pointed out that Vietnam’s success was a source of inspiration for Rwanda especially in trade and agriculture.
During this State visit, three cooperation agreements, were signed in the areas of agriculture, health, and education.
Ambassador Nguyen Nam Tien of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, said he will work on building that rekindled relationship.
“This is a big moment for me and I look forward to being central in growing this relationship” Tien said.
Rwanda and Vietnam have arguably one of the oldest established diplomatic relations which was started in 1975 and a general cooperation agreement signed later on in May 2008 when President Kagame paid a state visit to Vietnam upon invitation by his counterpart. The visit ended with a tripartite cooperation agreement in the sectors such as agriculture, health and education.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, said that some people become victims due to “lack of compliance” to weather and disaster advisories or trying to force their way through flooded areas.
“Avoid driving or passing through floods, adhere to the Police instructions especially in areas affected by floods, follow any issued advisories, either issued by Rwanda Meteorology Agency or Rwanda National Police. Forcing your way through these floods can be fatal like we have witnessed in the past,” CP Kabera said.
He further advised motorists against using some routes, which are impassable due to life-threatening floods and roads blocked by trees.
CP Kabera advised the public to always heed the weather warning and Police instructions and “avoid areas with potential danger during heavy rains.”
The spokesperson further advised people against using bridges as shelter, to prevent being washed away by floods and struck by lightning.
“Take shelter in safer places but not under bridges, water channels or trees. Don’t be a bystander; your call could save someone’s life. Don’t undermine floods; find safer places when floods start entering your house especially when it’s raining heavily.”
CP Kabera also called for timely information sharing on disasters like floods, landslides, trees falling in middle of the road and other places where it affects movement or posing threat to people’s lives, for quick response.
For disaster response, the public are urged to always call 112 (emergency), 111 (Fire and Rescue Brigade), 113 (traffic accidents), 110 (Marine security), 0788380953, 0788311224 and 0788311155.
{{Road safety tips for motorists}}
The rainy season is here. Whereas this is a good sign to some people like farmers, it can be a hazard for motorists if no precaution is taken.
It is always advisable to take extra caution when it is raining or after it has rained. Besides dealing with heavy downpour, drivers also have to contend with likely strong winds, which call for one to exercise caution when driving in such weather.
In case you are driving or riding in the rain, it would be safer to anticipate how to deal with wet roads as well as poor visibility that characterize such weather; as usual your car should be in good condition with head and tail lights, brakes, turn signals, and windshield wipers working. Ensure that tyres are in good shape and properly inflated to contend with the slip.
Turn headlights on when it’s raining to challenge the low visibility and fog, and to signal the equally affected motorists coming from behind and those from the opposite direction.
As usual, drive in your lane, go slow, give each driver space, don’t enter flooded roads, stay alert and pull-over where necessary; exercise extra caution when overtaking because heavy rains and fog can affect your visibility.
When driving under such weather conditions, you don’t have to move at 40km/hr or 60km/hr just because the traffic signpost grants that speed; it comes back to your individual responsibility to set your rules below the set maximum speed as the weather dictates. Be a responsible driver or rider and always take safer decisions when on road.
The ministry said the deceased on Tuesday was an 88-year-old woman from Kirehe.
On October 27, 2020, 11 new cases of COVID-19 were found out of 1594 sample tests taken, bringing the total number to 5084 while three have recovered, bringing the number of recoveries to 4851 and198 active cases.
Of the new cases, eight were found in Kigali, while in Kirehe, Musanze and Nyamagabe Districts each has recorded one case.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
At the time, Mugisha, who was traveling in a passenger service vehicle, was allegedly trafficking the narcotics to Karongi from Rubavu District, Police said. He was intercepted halfway, in Rutsiro district, Kivumu sector in Kabujenje cell.
The police spokesperson for the western region, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi said that the police officers, while in their routine operation, stopped the bus that Mugisha was traveling in, for a usual inspection.
“When they checked a sack that Mugisha had, they found it contained pellets of cannabis. Mugisha was with another lady, who managed to sneak out of the bus during the search, and fled,” CIP Karekezi said.
Mugisha admitted that he got the narcotics from Rubavu District and was on his way to supply other dealers in Karongi District.
The search for his accomplice, the lady, who fled from the scene, is still underway, the spokesperson said.
Mugisha was then handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) for the next legal steps to be taken.
CIP Karekezi said that it is not the first time for suspected drug traffickers to be intercepted along Rubavu-Karongi road, adding that most of them usually use taxi-motos.
He urged people involved in drug trafficking and consumption to quit to be safe from “severe legal consequences” but also to prevent health effects related to consumption of such harmful narcotics.
Cannabis is listed as a “very severe drug” in Rwanda, alongside cocaine, opium and heroin, under the Ministerial Order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation.
In article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, it is stated that anyone convicted for “severe narcotic drugs” faces a life imprisonment and a fine of between Frw20 million and Frw30 million.
