The training was conducted within 12 sectors of Rubavu district. Beneficiaries were trained to use smartphones and computers, requesting services available online from government institutions like payment of Mutuelle de Santé among others.
Marie Thérèse Mukakinani representing women in Bugeshi sector lauded offered pieces of training but requested support to get smartphones and increasing telecommunications towers to upgrade the network.
“ We were trained that we can currently use smartphones to get services that would only access after long distances to service centers. We can pay for Mutuelle de Santé, see examinations results, pay school fees and taxes but we have problems of inadequate means to afford smartphones. They are expensive,” she said.
In response to her concerns, Minister Paula promised them smartphones and increasing towers.
“You are going to be facilitated to own smartphones. We shall work with SACCOs so that you can get them on loan and pay Rwf 5000 per month for the period of two years. We want people equipped with technology from wherever,” she said.
Ingabire explained that they will keep close collaboration with partners to increase towers to fast track the target of speeding up development.
The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Solina Nyirahabimana urged women to pass acquired knowledge to others.
Ruli residents have connected the suicide to a debt of over Rwf 35 million Twagiramungu he owed to a company extracting minerals in the area.
He is suspected to have poisoned himself with pesticides and breathed the last yesterday morning as he was being transported to CHUK.
Talking to IGIHE, the executive secretary of Ruli sector, Jean Marie Vianney Nizeyimana, has confirmed his demise.
“It is true that he has committed suicide using pesticides. Residents have connected his suicide to the debt he owes a company extracting minerals but we cannot confirm this. The investigation is underway to establish the truth,” he said.
Nizeyimana explained that the deceased had land-related conflicts with the company extracting minerals which local leaders had fixed before his death.
The master plan is expected to address issues related to the shortage of water mainly rooted in an improper budget plan. The latter will specify areas for markets, the quantity of water needed by the population depending on the topographic structure in residential areas and required investment in the right place.
The project expected to be completed in 2021 was launched yesterday by JICA Rwanda.
Maruo Shin, the chief representative of JICA Rwanda office said that the master plan will be completed within one year.
“ We will in the following year conduct a study for water investment to be used in the next 15 years,” he said.
He explained that the master plan will draw the study of three projects that might be a water treatment plant or waterway systems depending on the government of Rwanda’s choice.
Aimé Muzola, WASAC Chief Executive Officer said that improper budget planning was the root cause jeopardizing the distribution of safe water in some parts of the country.
“When we talk about how the master plan helps us in budgeting, you should understand that we experience some water shortage cases over improper budget plan. Making it convenient enables to provide water and address shortage. Then we will have proper areas for distribution and identify proper areas of investment. It will reinforce fast-tracking the delivery of water to all Rwandans,” he said.
The master plan will also cover areas nearby Kigali city including Karuruma,Shyorongi, Runda, Gahengeri, Rugarika, Ntarama, Muyumbu and Nyakariro.
Access to water is made easier when residents can fetch from 200 meters in the countryside or 500 meters in town according to the current water distribution policy in Rwanda.
Based on such indications 62 % have access to water while those who can afford water in no more than 5 kilometers are beyond 80%.
Health centers, schools, trading companies and all the population in Rwanda are expected to have 100% access to water within seven years as planned in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 1) 2017 – 2024
The directive puts Rwanda on the list of countries that have suspended the flights of the airplanes including USA, China, Singapore, and Indonesia among others.
There airplanes have been reportedly involved in two fatal accident over the past five months.
The accident in which Boeing 737-8 Max belonging Ethiopian Airlines was involved took place last Sunday and follows another of the plane belonging to Lion Air Flight from Indonesia which took lives of 189.
RCA has released a statement informing pilots and aircrafts operators of any Boeing 737-8 Max and Boeing 737-9 Max not to conduct any flight in Rwanda’s airspace effective until further notice.
Both crafts belonging to Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air flight involved in fatal accidents recently were brand new and crashed few minutes after taking off.
So far, 50 countries including Rwanda, Tunisia and Ethiopia have suspended these aircrafts.
The call was made yesterday by Edouard Bamporiki, the Chairperson of National Itorero Commission during the celebration of International Volunteerism Day at national level in Gisagara district.
The celebration was marked by different volunteerism activities through a community work conducted in Ndora sector by volunteers and the youth attending civic education training.
Bamporiki reminded them to pass the legacy to younger generation starting from their families to help the country reach its goals.
“It must start from families with parents telling children that volunteering for Rwanda is a legacy and responsibility,” he said.
Some of such acts common in Rwanda is six months volunteerism conducted at village level by the youth after completing secondary school studies, community health workers, community mediators, advisory committees and elections volunteers among others.
Viviane Mukeshimana is one of volunteers in education sector. She said that volunteerism executed appropriately replicates heroism and brings advantages to the doer and the country in general.
“A volunteer should do the right thing without counting on hours. I volunteer to give in my contribution to both my progress and my country in general,” she said.
Residents were also sensitized on improved hygiene, planting trees and fighting against erosion, building kitchen backyards and preserving environment among others.
Volunteerism policy was introduced in Rwanda in 2012. The International Volunteerism Day is celebrated on 5th December annually.
BK Capital Ltd was first introduced to the market in 2013 as BK Securities Limited; a security brokerage licensed by the Capital Markets Authority. Over time, its portfolio has expanded to offer the following services: Investment & Wealth Management, Corporate Finance & Advisory services, Brokering of capital markets instruments – bonds & equities, Pension Fund’s administration.
Commenting on the launch, BK Group Plc Chairman, Marc Holtzman said that the development was borne out of the institution’s need to tap into Rwanda’s economic landscape and vision of a more robust budget.
“Rwanda’s economic landscape holds so much untapped potential, so we’ve aligned our strategy to capitalize on it. Our priority is expanding our financial services portfolio to make our brand into a One-Stop Center under which those services are available to customers. The country envisions to have a more robust budget, and we are proudly taking a lead.” Holtzman said
After this addition, BK Group now counts 4 main subsidiaries which are namely the Bank of Kigali Plc which provides corporate and retail banking services; BK TecHouse’s whose task is to drive digital innovation through providing connectivity solutions and software and analytics products; BK General Insurance which offers insurance packages including motor, fire, transport & money insurance and more; and BK Capital Ltd.
BK Capital Ltd has entered into a partnership with Swan Group, the leading financial solution provider in Mauritius. The non-insurance cluster of Swan, licensed by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius, offers corporate advisory services, asset management services and stock-broking services, has a total asset under management equivalent to 1.4Billion USD and presents extensive expertise in the fund management business in Mauritius with global outreach.
The Bank of Kigali was among the very first banks opened in Rwanda. It was incorporated in 1966 and started operations a year later. The institution was also the first Rwandan bank to list on the Rwanda stock exchange, in June 2011, also becoming the first Rwandan company to cross-list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange last year.
The Group has posted consistent positive growth since it issued its IPO in 2011, largely attributed to a strong management team with extensive banking sector experience, complemented by an experienced and diversified Board of Directors.
In an interview with France Culture, the former head of the French military cooperation mission in Rwanda said he had opposed the support of Paris to President Habyarimana, though efforts were futile.
Aged 84, General Jean Varret had agreed to testify before the France Parliament committee which carried out an investigation on Rwanda in 1998.
The General who had taken time to tell his military career in a book, in which he talked on the role he played in Rwanda in a few pages has decided to testify in front of a microphone and a camera, 25 years after the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsis.
From October 1990 to April 1993, Jean Varret was the head of the Military Cooperation Mission in Rwanda. He explained that he had tried to oppose the support given by the France military to the regime of former Rwandan President Habyarimana that resulted in being removed from the position on pressure from a specific group.
“This group, which I knew certain elements, was pressured to remove me from my responsibilities. These soldiers did not want to take into account the risks of the policy to support Habyarimana. The cooperation was to provide training, equipment, but certainly not to fight. I think another support was more inclined to help in combat,” he said.
General Varret recalled the situation back in November 1990 in a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Rwandan gendarmerie, Colonel Pierre-Célestin Rwagafilita asking for big guns.
“During this meeting, the chief of the gendarmerie asked the support of big guns. I asked him why trying to convince him that gendarmerie is not made to have machine guns. After my refusal, the chief of the gendarmerie told his colleagues: ‘You can go, I’m staying with the general’ and he says to me: ‘We are alone as soldiers and hope we will speak clearly. It is because I am going to use them to neutralize a problem. The problem is very simple: the Tutsi are not the majority. We are going to liquidate them. ‘He told me that clearly and felt horrified. ”
Jean Varret then asked to meet President Habyarimana to whom he expressed his worries.
Upon hearing it, Habyarimana became furious and left the General into confusion wondering whether the secret was leaked by the head of the gendarmerie or he didn’t tell the truth.
General Varret says he immediately updated France Ambassador to Rwanda and the Ministry of Cooperation.
“I did not keep this information for myself,” said General Varret, ” The risk of genocide was on display. This guided all my actions afterward.”
According to the French officer, his efforts were futile as the alert did not elicit any reaction, neither from the military staff nor from the political power.
“My warnings have not been taken into account”, lamented the General Jean Varret.
Jean Varret is not the only one who alerted of the risk of genocide to France as it had been informed by the Foreign Intelligence Service (DGSE) which even had enough information on the shooting of Habyarimana plane.
At the beginning of 1993, the situation was getting worse in Rwanda as the procedure of genocide went up to a notch. In January 1993, the commission of inquiry of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) started collecting pieces of evidence of ethnic massacres.
In February 1993, new killings were perpetrated by Hutu Power extremists linked to President Habyarimana’s political party while the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) stood firm with several attacks to liberate the country.
He said that during that time France reinforced its troops sending a new unit of the 1st Régiment de parachutists d’infanterie de marine (RPIMa) to support the Rwandan army.
General Varret revealed that one day he learned about the intervention when he was inspecting the 1st Military Police and Training Detachment (DAMI) of the 1st RPIMa in the Akagera Park which was under his command.
He came to establish that they had been to Uganda for reconnaissance purposes on RPF soldiers which were against his wishes and considered ‘A red line not to cross’.
“When I learn that,” continues Varret, “I bawl them in. I returned to Paris and received the following message three days later,: ‘The DAMI units are no longer under your orders.’ I took this as a disavowal. I was no longer trusted. ”
In April 1993, General Varret was removed from his post at the Military Cooperation Mission. The Minister of Cooperation, Michel Roussin, announced that he would not be reinstated for a year, as he wished. Jean Varret was replaced by General Huchon.
Removed from his post, Jean Varret refused the honorary proposal made to him and decided to desert from the army.
He said the forced departure was “a chance” for him. “Otherwise, I would have had my share of responsibility, at the time of the genocide, explained the general Varret.”
He observed that “some” civilian or military officials have a “responsibility” in the chain of activities that led to the Genocide Against Tutsis:
“There was still blindness, said Jean Varret. “ No civil or military leader wanted genocide, but some did not take the risk seriously.” He added.
“I did not know how to convince the risk of genocide. I wanted to let France and the West, know how to protect themselves against this risk. France has a responsibility in this affair,” Concluded Jean Varret.
The accusations were however refuted by Amiral Jacques Lanxade in an interview with Radio France and Mediapart.
Amiral Jacques who was the Army Chief of Staff of France Army between 1991-1995 said that there was no blindness.
“I think we were always aware of what could happen. That’s why we were there.” Jean Varret had a reason to say what he said, but we cannot draw the conclusion that we were reckless,” he said.
Laxade said that there are truths which Jean Varret doesn’t know because it was not part of his responsibility that they followed the right choice under the guidance of President Mitterand.
He, however, observed that it is saddening for failure to stop genocide despite their presence in Rwanda.
Among the three main areas of focus during their presence to Rwanda; he said, was a political action to convince Habyarimana to democratize the country, enable negotiations involving in the Arusha Peace Accords and providing support for the army to neutralize RPF attacks.
{{New witness
}}
During the investigation carried, Radio France and Mediapart newspapers unveiled witness of Walfroy Dauchy who was the head of Red Cross based in Goma towards the end of 1994 at during Operation Turquoise.
He explained that the zone controlled by France in the Western part of the country became a passage for genocidaires on the way to their refuge in DRC.
Walfroy used to fly to Kenya using Goma airport guarded by France soldiers. He witnessed that he met a young man from France aged between 23-25 who worked for his father’s company that supplied arms.
“ He said it to me. I asked him if he felt it was right to supply arms at the time genocide was taking place. The young man replied: ‘This is business. Others would do it if we cancel the supply,” said Walfroy.
He attests to not have seen the weapons but saw boxes containing them and jets from France that carried those weapons. According to Walfroy, all these activities were done in the daylight without concealment.
Responding on the delivery of arms support to genocidaires; the former FranceArmy Chief of Staff Amiral Lanxade replied that he doesn’t know about those weapons that the issue was not discussed among top military leaders.
“There is no evidence for that. There might be weapons that have passed through but I can tell you that France armed forces have nothing to do with it.”
The violent wind across the country is predicted between 14 and 16 March 2019 especially in Eastern Province at a speed of 8 and 12 m/s.
A statement signed by the Director General of Rwanda Meteorology Agency Aimable Gahigi indicates that the wind might cause infrastructure destruction among other ravages.
“Such winds usually dominate at the beginning or end of the rainy season. We call upon Rwandans to be proactive,” reads the statement in part.
The Minister in Charge of Emergency Management, Germaine Kamayirese recently reminded Rwandans to be prepared ahead of time against heavy rainfall predicted by Rwanda Meteorology Agency.
“Concerning schools, churches, and other public gatherings; we call upon the population to diligently check the structure of buildings, avoid the use of old classroom structures and installing lighting systems,” she said.
According to statistics from the Ministry in Charge of Emergency, last year’s heavy rains took lives of 234 people, injured 268, destroyed 15,264, ravaged 9412 hectares and killed 797 livestock.
Properties worth Rwf 204 billion were destroyed as per a survey conducted in 15 districts.
The incident took place at 3:00 am this morning when Niyomugabo was caught carrying home items stolen from Uwizeyimana.
It is said that Uwizeyimana raised an alarm as he fought with the thief until soldiers on patrol intervened.
The police spokesperson in Kigali City, CIP Marie Gorette Umutesi told IGIHE that Niyomugabo was shot as he tried to escape.
“As security personnel was taking him in the car to the police station in Gisozi sector, he then jumped from the car and was shot as he escaped,” he said.
“We have got information from residents that the man was a notorious thief living in Kamutwa cell,” added Umutesi.
The statement released by Uganda Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kuteesa yesterday indicated that Rwandan leaders have prohibited Uganda exports to Rwanda.
The government of Rwanda has today slammed Uganda’s claims considering them untrue.
“It is not possible to have free trade including free movement of goods if traders are killed, tortured, extorted and their property are illegally seized. These are the fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Claims that Rwanda has instituted trade embargo on Uganda are as untrue as they are diversionary,” reads part of the statement released by the government of Rwanda.
Among other fundamental issues pointed out by the statement include the fate of hundreds of Rwandans, whose names are known to the Government of Uganda, who have been killed, arrested, incarcerated without consular access and tortured, nor the close to one thousand illegally deported to Rwanda in inhumane conditions.
The presence of armed groups and terrorist organizations hostile to Rwanda, including RNC, FDLR, and others, who are supported in their activities, including recruitment, by institutions and officials of the Government of Uganda are among other issues of which details have been repeatedly communicated to the Government of Uganda according to the statement.
Uganda has been tasked to clarify the issue of targeting of ordinary Rwandan citizens involved in regular business and trade activities, within the framework of the East African Community and the hampering of the free movement of goods, including perishables, to and through Uganda.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Richard Sezibera recently told IGIHE that there is no established number of Rwandans killed in Uganda noting however that over 40 were arrested in the country while 986 have been expelled.
Rwanda has in the statement released today, assured commitment to free movement in the region and the continent in general.
“Rwanda’s commitment to free movement of people, including Ugandans, goods, and services within the region and on the continent is unquestionable. The Government of Rwanda calls upon the Government of Uganda to address the key issues stated above and as already repeatedly communicated in bilateral settings,” reads the statement.
