The initiative is part of a national exercise that seeks to map out and increase the number of tourist attractions in the country.
Some of the potential tourist sites that were visited yesterday include; Fumbwe Hill in Rwamagana District, the deep pots of Rubona in Gatsibo District, the Ngarama rock of tales in Gatsibo District and Nyabwishongwezi where the late Gen. Fred Rwigema was killed in 1990 during the liberation war.
The exercise continued today with a meeting in Nyagatare District that brought together local leaders, tourism professionals and members of the local hospitality industry.
While making his opening remarks, the Governor of the Eastern Province, Fred Mufulukye, urged the different stakeholders to capitalize on Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage, improved transport infrastructure and hospitality sector in the province to attract more tourists and earn more revenues.
On her part, The RDB Chief Tourism Officer, Belise Kariza said:
“Rwanda is eyeing more opportunities in widening its tourism offering and identifying new tourist sites is part of the plan. The sites we visited yesterday not only need to be promoted as new cultural tourist destinations but the private sector also needs to invest in the area in order to create more opportunities for the surrounding communities as well.”
This was announced on Thursday as the bank presented the national economic outlook which showed that as export volumes increased, the value of-of imports also increased by 12.4%.
BNR Governor John Rwangombwa explained that the disequilibrium came about when the value of imports increased by 9.5% while exports increased only by 5.5%.
BNR explained that the increase in imports was a result of infrastructural projects which include the electricity plant being built in Gisagara, the Bugesera Airport, different Road construction projects, and more.
“Currently, the increase of Rwanda’s exports is credited to the introduction of Made-in-Rwanda,” Rwangombwa concluded.
The purpose of the visit was to assess how various governmental activities and programmes in education, health, agriculture, and industry sectors are being implemented.
The visit kicked off at Kiziguro Hospital, where the Prime Minister toured different departments of the hospital and met some patients, met managers of the hospital and discussed how to fast-track completion of new buildings that will help the hospital to expand and upgrade its services.
After visiting Kiziguro Hospital, the Premier visited a 12 Year Basic School at GS Nyagahandagaza in Kayonza District where he inspected classrooms, had a conversation with both pupils and their teachers and visited the school kitchen. He advised the school leaders on how to improve the quality of education.
The next stopover was the University of Rwanda/Rukara College of Education. The Prime Minister toured different facilities of the college and was briefed on various challenges that the school is facing but also the strategies to overcome them. He also met the college staff and students.
In his remarks, he commended the University of Rwanda for its effort to make Rukara College of Education a modern university. He assured them of the support of the Government of Rwanda to address the challenges that still prevent this University to achieve its mission.
The Prime Minister visited Gishari Flower Park project which, in 2018, fetched $4 million and employs 550 staff and SteelRwa Factory in Rwamagana District to assess how Rwanda can recapture the domestic market and increase exports in steel products. He appreciated the achievements of the factory, encouraged its managers to increase production and reiterated the continued support of the Government of Rwanda.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister concluded his visit in the Eastern Province, by touring the Rwamagana Industrial Park. He held deep discussions with the Province and District leaders on how this industrial park can contribute more to the development of the Rwandan economy.
In this working visit, the Premier was accompanied by the Minister of Education, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister in charge of Cabinet Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and State Minister in the Ministry of Health in charge of Public and Primary Healthcare.
The General said this during a dialogue with the youth dubbed “Youth know your history” in Kimisagara and attracted over 600 Rwandan youth.
Gen. Kabarebe told the youth that they should be grateful for their president who cares for all citizens and to learn from him on his leadership style.
“When he is outside the country, he doesn’t speak on his behalf but on behalf of Rwanda. Indeed, not all leaders do so, most of them speak on their behalf planning to enrich themselves after their mandate is over, but Kagame is not that kind. He is an example that all of you should follow,” said Kabarebe.
He further said that having a president like Paul Kagame is one of the greatest things that happened to Rwanda and that most of the developed countries of the world credit their development to good leadership.
He added that Kagame is an honest president working towards unity and good cooperation with other countries.
Last President Paul Kagame visited 28 countries including; Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, Switzerland, DRC, Belgium, America, Canada, Russia, Ghana, England, Kenya, Mauritanie, Djibouti, South Africa, Namibia, China, Armenia, France, Qatar, Argentina, Egypt, Austrich, Jordania and Ivory Coast.
The conference began with the congratulatory message from Cr. Stephan Barbour, the Deputy Mayor of North Sydney Council. “I was so surprised that young people are building a foundation for peace in support of the DPCW. I am also very excited to see the scene where the peace letters, which contain the voices of young people for peace, are delivered to the representatives of each country. This is evidence that young people are changing the world,” he said.
The “Peace Letter Campaign”, one of the IPYG’s initiatives that create the world without war, urges the heads of each state to enact legally binding international law for peace based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). The DPCW consisting of 10 articles and 38 clauses includes provisions to avoid war-related actions and achieve peace and addresses respect on the international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and spreading a culture of peace.
Youth group leaders delivered the peace letters to 30 national leaders including Governor General of Tuvalu. In the speech, H.E. Iakoba Taeia Italeli, Governor General of Tuvalu, replied to the youth by saying “I have received your hearts through the letters, and will make the best of my effort to realize the world you dream to come true. I will do my best to encourage the rest of the world to support the DPCW so that we may bring a better future for the youth.”
Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, an international peace NGO under the UN ECOSOC, said, “I met leaders of politics, religion, and social group from all over the world, but no one wanted war. If war does not happen, peace will be achieved. With the principles guaranteeing peace and avoiding conflicts and wars, the DPCW will contribute to the cessation of war, ultimately leading to the world of peace. It will be achieved when every individual of our global society advocates for it. Let us all become one and make peace.”
Mr. Young Min Chung, the General Director of IPYG, emphasized the role of youth in creating peace in this world for the responsibility of future lies in their hands. Also, he encouraged the participants to join the “Peace Letter Campaign” that will convey their longing for peace to the heads of state as well as their neighboring nations.
After the opening video of urging for the eradication of religious discrimination, 4 speakers delivered messages on the cases of religious discrimination and action plans of religious leaders for promoting religious harmony.
Nelson Pervaz, a pastor of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, read a letter that will be sent to the United Nations Human Rights Council, “I am a Pastor working in Australia and Pakistan. Pakistan is a dominantly Muslim country where religious tension and discrimination exists. I understand how we must all work to bring about true harmony between people of different faiths and cultures. The act of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) about Ms. Gu Ji-In who were killed in the aftermath of coercive conversion in Korea should never be ignored and what they do should stop.”
Coercive conversion in South Korea has raised the issue of human rights violation as the number of victims especially women who are threatened by pastors and families to give up their religious faith has reached 1,000. After the death case of Ms. Gu from kidnapping, confinement and physical violence, there have been rallies to establish legal protection for freedom of religion and women rights.
Participants in the event urged the dissolution of religious organizations who engage in politics and persecute other religions or denominations by forcefully converting individuals. They signed Statement Denouncing Coercive Conversion Programs and Religious Discrimination and proclaimed to support the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
Regarding the role of religious leaders for establishing a world peace, Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL said, “I came to Australia for telling that 10 articles and 38 clauses of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) are necessary to make a world peace and leave a legacy of peace for future generations. This is more important than anything else, and we have to become a peace messenger.”
HWPL proposes peace initiatives such as the establishment of international law for peace, an interfaith dialogue meeting for religious harmony, peace education and so on. In particular, the interfaith dialogue meeting called World Alliance of Religions Peace (WARP) Office is currently in operation in 219 places in 129 countries. The DPCW addresses principles of conflict resolution and international cooperation for peacebuilding such as respect on the international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and spreading a culture of peace.
This festival was co-organized by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a UN-affiliated NGO headquartered in South Korea, and Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP), a non-profit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Philippines.
The event was attended by social, educational, and political figures such as governors, 11 Davao chiefs, presidents of 16 universities, professors, students, citizens, and media. In the opening ceremony, the students associated in 13 universities performed parades and performances for the festival.
Hon. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, Governor of the province of Bulacan, delivered his welcoming message by saying “I thank all those who made this peace rally together and will devote all my best efforts to serve you, the heroes of peace, to achieve peace.”
In his speech, Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL stressed on the importance of uniting one as we are all peace messengers regardless of religion and nationality. He also urged for collective efforts of all members of society to establish sustainable development and peace secured by international law for peace. “Every individual of the family of the global village born in this era should become a messenger of peace to end the war and make sustainable peace a legacy for future generations,” Mr. Lee said.
As a part of combined endeavor for the establishment of international law for peace, Director of International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), Mr. Chung Young Min, encouraged the participants to support the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to develop it into a legally binding framework.
The DPCW was drafted by the collaboration of international law experts and HWPL in search of a resolution to build sustainable peace in the global society. It includes provisions to cease war-related actions and achieve peace such as respect on international law, prohibition of the use of force, peaceful dispute settlement, ethnic/religious harmony, and spreading a culture of peace.
According to organizers, this festival was the very result of a strategic partnership between HWPL and VIP to seek international cooperation for peacebuilding from civil society groups in the Philippines and South Korea through education and campaigns as a cultural approach. In their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), the two organizations planned to expand the work of peace starting with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and also established January 24th as ‘Day of Peace’ in support of the DPCW.
Dr. Ronald Adamat, Commissioner of Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as Chairman of VIP, expressed the expectation on the further partnership to promote peace education and projects for a culture of peace by saying “The value of our organization, so as this MoA, is to transform the Philippines into a society where people will live in harmony, respect each other to attain sustainable development.”
The event concluded with a signing ceremony of “Philippine Peace Declaration” as a common standard protocol to achieve national and global peace by abhorring all forms of armed conflicts, supporting all unification efforts, and educating the respect, love, and understanding.
The platform of the event, “World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office” meeting, was formed by an international peace NGO under the UN ECOSOC, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), in cooperation with Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP), a non-profit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Philippines.
Religious leaders of various sects reaching an agreement for the importance of finding the most trustworthy scripture through comparative studies on religious scriptures for peace and the truth to achieve religious reconciliation through interfaith dialogue was discussed at this event.
Mr. Roberto Mata, the Operations Manager of Islamic Studies Call and Guidance of Philippines, said, “If we eventually find the trustworthy Scripture and if that scripture is proven the trustworthy Scripture then we have to accept it wholeheartedly even if it is not our own Scripture, for the sake of our unification.”
Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL said, “Although religion has to do good and deliver hope to the world, many of today’s conflicts are caused by religion. Isn’t it worse than a non-believer? That is why religions must return to the truth. Religions will become one under trustworthy Scripture. Therefore, religious leaders worldwide should participate in the WARP Office meeting and proceed the comparative studies on scriptures.”
At the event, the voices of denouncing religious organizations and religious leaders who destroy peace and human rights, and use religion a means of profits followed. Not only the leaders of religion but the civil society also urged for banning illegal acts of violation of human rights.
Mr. Shin Chang Kim, the representative of the Global Citizens’ Human Rights Coalition to Call for the Shutdown of the CCK, shared the cases of victims that have suffered under coercive conversion by Christian Council of Korea (CCK), which brought out a civic demonstration against human rights violation.
Rev. Marcel Tanguilan, Pastor of the Knox United Methodist Church, rebuked the coercive conversion, quoting it as “devilish acts”, carried out by the corrupted religious groups whereas Rev. Jun Ewick, Senior pastor of New life Evangelical Holy Church, called for the closure of such religious groups.
The meeting ended by delivering a commemorative plaque that holds the pledge of the religious leaders accomplishing the search of the trustworthy scripture in this very year, 2019. The Plaque was delivered to chairman Man Hee Lee, the founder of the Peace Initiative: World Alliance of Religions’ Peace [WARP] Office.
According to HWPL, WARP Office meeting is being hosted in 219 locations from 128 countries to encourage religious harmony to promote peace-building, as it is witnessed that religion has recently triggered global conflicts. HWPL says that comparative studies on religious scripture can pave the way to finding common core values of humanity transcending differences.
The MoU was signed by Frederick Silverio, President of Bulacan Press Club, and Mr. Man Hee Lee, Chairman of HWPL, at the Philippine Sports Stadium where the Grand Peace Festival was held with about 30,000 participants on the same day.
Provisions of the MoU include strengthening ties for cooperation in coverage of peace news by sharing peace-related articles or information in international peace media platform called Peace Initiative (PI).
Officially launched in 2018, Peace Initiative (peaceinitiative.net) “a global journalist network in efforts of facilitating a culture of peace as a contribution to conflict resolution and peace building through press freedom and freedom of information stipulated in the UN resolutions and international agreements.”
“This MOU between HWPL and Bulacan Press Club is expected to allow more journalists from 50 media agencies in the club to participate in producing and sharing peace-related news worldwide and to help establish a firm cooperative relationship in promoting peace journalism,” said Mr. Ian Seo, Department of Public Relations, HWPL.
HWPL has developed a partnership with 600 journalists in Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Africa to develop “Global Peace Media Network” proposed by HWPL and global journalists, and PI has around 200 peace-related contributions and opinions from civil society leaders globally.
Also, HWPL press briefing was held on 14th February with 15 members of the Bulacan-based reporters including Silverio a member of HWPL media publicity ambassadors.
Elder Stevenson and his wife Lesa are in Rwanda for a three-day visit as part of a visit to the Church congregation in the African region. This is Stevenson’s first visit to the country. His official itinerary also included Uganda.
In a message he wrote in the visitor’s book, Elder Stevenson said that he feels much sorrow as he remembers the heroes and the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“It has been a deeply touching experience for my wife and I to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and witness the record of the terrible consequences of human conflict promoted by hatred based on perceived differences.” He observed
He further noted his gratitude for the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which stands as a reminder to all that love for fellow men and women as taught by Jesus Christ should never be taken for granted.
“I echo President Russel M Nelson, Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Only the Comprehension of the true Fatherhood of God can bring the full appreciation of the true brotherhood of men and the true sisterhood of women. Such comprehension comes only as men and women fully embrace the true gospel of Jesus Christ with humility and full purpose of heart.” Stevenson added.
The objective of this historic visit by the apostle to Rwanda is to fulfill the divinely appointed mandate of apostles of Jesus Christ to declare his word among his people.
Elder Stevenson was leading one of the world’s largest sports equipment corporate of more than five thousand employees before being called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 3rd October 2015. Immediately after his visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, he was so touched by the spirit of reconciliation of the Rwandan people and made a cheque of five million Rwandan Frank as a symbolic donation in support to Aegis Trust work to prevent genocide, crimes against humanity and mass atrocities. As part of his responsibilities, he travels throughout the world as a representative of Jesus Christ, building faith, providing instruction and blessing and uplifting all to whom he will meet.
Faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints include Harvard professor Clayton M. Christensen whose best selling book “how will you measure your life” had been tweeted at 12:32 am in August 28, 2018, by President Paul Kagame as his number one must read book to the youth, Chairman of the Marriott Hotels J.W. Bill Marriott Family, the late Stephen R. Covey author of the seven habits of highly effective people book and former U.S. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leads free family history and genealogy records known as familySearch.org which provided U.S. Former President Barrack Obama and the British Prime Minister Theresa May with their historical family tree.
