The suspect was arrested shortly after the rightful owner reported the alleged theft, said Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali.
“The motorcycle TVS registration number RC 953T was stolen at about 9p.m, from Kagasa trading centre in Gahanga sector where it was parked.
The motorcycle was recovered shortly after the Police and Irondo personnel (local night security personnel) intervened, and the suspect arrested as he attempted to flee,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
He appealed to the public to always be quick to report any theft to facilitate swift response to recover what was stolen and to bring culprits to justice.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner; the theft is carried out during the night or the theft is carried out by more than one (1) person.
Amb. Nkulikiyimfura made the call on 28th February 2023 as he interacted with ten Rwandan entrepreneurs participating in the trade show.
Rwanda is participating in the trade fair for the second time and received an award known as ‘Trophée des agricultures du monde’.
Amb. Nkulikiyimfura told them that investors need to expend much effort in exhibitions and bring their products in large quantities to meet the demand of diverse clientele.
Speaking to IGIHE, Amb. Nkulikiyimfura disclosed that the embassy is delighted with Rwanda’s participation noting that Rwandan companies made sales in large quantities, which gives optimism for an expanded market.
“You are showcasing today but this market will need your products in the future. France has a large market promising to help investors win clientele of the entire European market,” he noted.
“They have to make possible effort because their products gained popularity. The remaining thing is to increase the supply of products because they meet standards,” added Amb. Nkulikiyimfura.
He commended the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) for tireless efforts to market Rwanda’s visibility and promote the country’s brands at different exhibitions.
Products being showcased in Paris include coffee, avocadoes, honey, French beans, chili and vegetables of different varieties among others.
One of Rwandans participating in the exhibition, Nadege Uwamahoro representing coffee processing company dubbed Brampire Ltd, said that her participation is of great significance because she learnt a lot of best practices that will help her business to thrive.
“I got chance to interact with entrepreneurs from different countries involved in the same business and learnt from their innovations. It was an amazing experience to share each other’s expertise,” she disclosed.
Uwamahoro explained that the sharing of expertise is an addition to interactions with customers in the country where they were taken through market conditions and tipped on needed efforts to upgrade Rwanda’s market to the international level.
The Paris International Agricultural Show will run for eight days from 25th February to 5th March 2023.
The trade fair attracts players from the agriculture sector across the world to showcase their products and share expertise.
Other Rwandans participating in the trade show include Guershom Niyondorera from Aubin Produce International, Maggie Kagimbanyi Uwimbabazi representing COOPAC Ltd, Latifah Umugwaneza from High and Lum, Solange Murekezi Geantox, Uwingabiye from Aux Délices Honey Ltd, Ritha Umutoni from CGB ltd/Raphi coffee and zulaih Gatera representing zatoms.
The rise in prices has been alarming where the inflation increased by 20.7% in urban areas in January 2023 while the country had registered an increase by 21.6% in December 2022.
The rise in January 2023 was mainly attributed to the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages which increased by 41%. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 8.3 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.1 percent on monthly basis while transport increased by 12.6 percent on annual basis and increased by 0.5 percent on monthly basis.
Addressing participants of the second day of the National Dialogue Council, Dr. Ngirente expressed optimism that prices will continue to fall in this year.
“I would like to reassure Rwandans that we did not forget them. The government did not ignore Rwandans’ concerns in this situation,” he said.
Premier Ngirente explained that the government has done a lot and subsidized prices in different ways.
“Hadn’t it been the subsidies, the current prices would have doubled. Even the current state is a result of the government’s great intervention,” he noted.
Dr. Ngirente disclosed that petroleum products were also subsidized.
“The prices would have soared further. Possibly, they could have doubled of increased three times, hadn’t it been the subsidy,” he said.
The major drivers for inflation include low agricultural produce amidst increased cost of growing crops. For instance, the prices of agro-inputs increased two times.
The latter pushes farmers to sell their produce at higher prices to prevent losses.
The second reason is the increase in prices of petroleum products which affected transport.
The issues are also related to the war between Russia and Ukraine and the economic recovery from effects of COVID-19.
Premier Ngirente said that the subsidy for petroleum products slightly reduced the cost of transport and expressed optimism that the recent subsidy in the Agriculture Season A is expected to increase produce and result in prices’ drop.
“Considering the agricultural yields in the Season A, we are optimistic that maize produce doubled as is the case for Irish potatoes. Beans’ produce decreased slightly due to experienced drought in Southern Province and part of Eastern Province,” he noted.
“As a result, the price of maize has fallen from Rwf800 to Rwf400. This means, the prices for other crops including Irish potatoes will continue to drop,” added Dr. Ngirente.
His death has been confirmed by his family which announced that the mourning is being held at his home in Nyarutarama.
Rusera is the owner of Gorilla Hotels in Rwanda. In 2012, he opened Gorilla Golf in Nyarutarama, Kigali City.
At the time, Rusera disclosed that he drew investment’s inspiration from advises of President Paul Kagame who urges Rwandans and Africans to strive for self-reliance without waiting for foreign support.
The results were announced on Tuesday 28th February 2023 during the closing ceremony of the 18th edition of National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano).
During the ceremony, ministries, public institutions including Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) as well as Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) signed new performance contracts (imihigo).
Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente explained that the first six districts namely; Nyagatare, Huye, Nyaruguru, Rwamagana and Rusizi did not register a difference of more than 2.5 points
Meanwhile, the last six districts including Nyamagabe, Gakenke, Gicumbi, Musanze, Rutsiro and Burera scored below the average.
Premier Ngirente urged leaders to fill the remaining gap to achieve intended results.
He disclosed that the grading considered full implementation of different projects because it was not agreed to achieve performance contracts halfway.
At provincial level, the Eastern Province emerged the best with 79% points followed by Southern Province with 78%.
The Western Province took the third place with 76% followed by Kigali City with 75% while the Northern Province tailed with 70%.
President Paul Kagame blamed the least performing districts and observed that they share the same problems that should be assessed.
“The first possible reason in Burera, is the abundance of Kanyanga [illicit gin]. Please, follow up and prove me wrong. […] Besides, Nyagatare’s best performance might be a result of reduced consumption of Kanyanga. It also used to face the same problem,” he said.
“Leadership is the other likely reason. There might be leadership problems. You also need to assess this issue,” added Kagame.
Kagame has also criticized leaders who choose to turn a blind eye, finding comfort in perpetuating wrongs.
He underscored that it is the same as choosing to sit in dirt, and ‘waiting for someone to come and tell you that you are seated in it’.
M23 sounds the alarm after rights group in North Kivu of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) indicated that over 100 women have been raped within four months in the territory while more than 180 women were killed since the rebel group resumed fighting in November 2021.
The Voice of America has reported that the crimes were committed in Kishishe, Bunagana, Jomba, Kinyandonyi, Bambo and Rugari.
Even though M23 is blamed for the crimes; the rebel group claims that it is part of Congo’s plans to tarnish its image.
The group’s military spokesperson, Major Willy Ngoma has told the media that it was never involved in rape cases.
He explained that its soldiers came from Ugandan cantonments where they were surrounded by beautiful girls in Ankole but ‘the country never accused us of rape’.
Maj Ngoma said that the rebel group lives in harmony with citizens in captured areas noting that Congolese government’s acts to cover rape crimes committed by its army and allies including Nyatura and Mai Mai are ridiculous.
The UNMISS Force Commander, Lt Gen Mohan Subramanian presided over the medal parade awarding ceremony. He congratulated the Rwanbatt2 peacekeepers for the exceptional services provided in Upper Nile State.
“As UNMISS, we recognize your excellent service in accomplishing the UNMISS mandate,” said the UNMISS Force.
With over 8.79 million ballots, Tinubu secured the highest number of the total votes cast during the election, Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, said.
The 70-year-old president-elect defeated his closest rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Abubakar got over 6.98 million votes and was closely trailed by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labor Party, who secured about 6.1 million votes.
The election was one of the most hotly contested in the country’s history, with Tinubu losing Lagos, his stronghold in the country’s southwest region, to Obi.
Tinubu, who served as a former Lagos State governor and senator, had been eyeing the presidency for years to build a strong political structure with a vast network of supporters nationwide.
The fake bills in the denominations of Rwf5,000 were recovered from the suspect, who was arrested in Ndago market in Mubuga cell, Kibeho sector where he was trying to buy clothes.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Habiyaremye, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the suspect, who was handed over to RIB at Kibeho station, was arrested at about 4p.m.
“Police was called in by the would-be victim selling clothes at Ndago market whom the suspect was trying to defraud with the fake bills,” CIP Habiyaremye said.
He further explained that suspect was attempting to pay Frw61,000 for the clothes he had bought from the would-be victim, but the seller noticed that all the 13 bills in the denominations of Rwf5,000 were fake, prompting him to call the police.
“The suspect was arrested at the scene, searched and found in possession of counterfeits totalling to Rwf680,000, all bills with the same serial number,” said CIP Habiyaremye.
Investigations are still underway to arrest all those connected to this counterfeit, he added.
Article 269 of law No 68/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who fraudulently counterfeits, falsifies or alters coins or bank notes which are legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, notes issued by the Treasury with its stamp or brand, either banknotes or alike that have legal tender in Rwanda or abroad, or one who introduces or issues in Rwanda such effects or notes with knowledge that they are forged or falsified, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than seven years.
Since 2017, the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with relevant partners introduced the use of cooking gas at the camp, replacing charcoal and firewood.
Mahama is located at the border between Rwanda and Tanzania, at the banks of Akagera River, a tributary to Lake Victoria.
It is a place that knows little rainfall due to its landscape and scarcity of forests.
By 2022, 67% of 120 000 refugees accommodated in Rwanda were using cooking gas.
Mahama and Mugombwa, are the first refugee camps that adopted the use of gas since 2017, to reduce people’s dependency on firewood and charcoal, thus protecting environment.
According to Ministry of Emergency (MINEMA), every household in the camp used to spend Rwf36,000 (US$36) per month to cater for firewood or charcoal.
Concessa Mumararungu fled to Rwanda from Burundi and has been living in Mahama Camp since 2015. She now lives in the camp with her five children who are all students.
“There is a difference between how we used to live in 2015 and now. With cooking gas, we eat on time. It came as a solution to us,” she says while cooking food for her children who have gone to school.
“Once they come back home, I will have finished cooking. They no longer get late, cooking gas helps a lot,” she adds.
According to the Government of Rwanda, 380 hectares were down every week by 2017 in search of charcoal and firewood.
The target is to narrow down the number of those who rely on charcoal and firewood to 42% by 2024 from 67 % in 2017.
“It was difficult to get enough firewood to serve all camps in the country due to the high demand, as well as coping with the government’s policy to preserve our environment,” says Karayenzi Kevin, the Mugombwa Camp Manager adding that gas reduced conflicts between refugees and local population.
The Government of Rwanda together with other partners like the United Nations High commission for refugees (UNCHR) cater for related cost so that refugees get cooking gas timely.
The gas allocated to one family, varies depending on the number of members.
Laetitita Kamahoro from Mahama Camp was returning from gas refilling station inside the camp, carrying her gas cylinder.
The amount of gas she had would last for 21 days.
“It has been three years since I started cooking using gas. It takes few minutes to have food ready. Whenever I want to cook, I do it instantly,” she says.
“For example, it is raining today but I don’t have any worries. I am cooking inside which would not be the case if I were cooking with firewood” she added.
The effort to reduce dependency of charcoal and firewood in Rwandan refugee camps, went hand in hand with planting more trees around the camps.
Cyriaque Rugengamanzi, is a volunteer in charge of environment in Mahama camp.
His tasks include planting trees around the camp which used to be like a desert.
“The trees you see all around, we are the one who planted them. Before, we were prone to heavy winds which would destroy our homes. The situation has changed that we no longer experience heavy winds and we get rain timely,” he narrated.
The Ministry of Emergency also noted the reduction of conflicts between refugees around the camps and the local population.
Pierre Niragira who has spent seven years in Mahama camp recalls the disputes that used to be between refugees and Kirehe residents, due to search of firewood.
“After we started using cooking gas, conflicts have reduced between refugees and surrounding local population. We would go outside the camp to fetch firewood and be in fight with residents. Such issue no longer exists,” he recalls.
In Mahama alone, phasing out the use of firewood went hand in hand with planting more than 250 000 trees, with target of reaching more than 400,000 trees in next five years.
The use of firewood and charcoal are also linked to health problems especially, respiratory diseases.
In 2019, Ministry of Health in Rwanda announced that every year, more than three million Rwandans suffer from respiratory problems of which 13 per cent is caused by air pollution.
The Ministry said that such diseases are mostly caused by cooking with firewood, charcoal, petrol, fuel and ambient air pollution.
Rwanda accomodates more than 120,000 refugees from neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
