After the merger, the lender revealed, BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, the bank went through a transition from the previous core banking systems Temenos 24 Release 12 (Former BPR) and Temenos 24 Release 14 (Former KCB Rwanda) to a unified and upgraded system Temenos 24 Release 21, which is an amalgamation of all customer data in its totality.
The lender has through a released statement explained that the goal of integration and upgrade of the system is to enhance delivery of services to its customers through provision of best-in-class financial technology which is ultimately purposed to create a consistent seamless experience.
“The process of integrating and upgrading our core banking system was completed and rolled-out across BPR Bank Rwanda Plc on 23rd January 2023. While the latest platform is live, we have experienced intermittent access to over-the-counter services and alternative channels. These interruptions are periodic, and are being addressed in real time, complemented by a 24-hour Call Center to provide additional support. All inquiries are being attended to and will be resolved in due time,” reads part of the statement.
BPR Bank Rwanda has also reassured all customers and stakeholders that a detailed assessment of service delivery technology is ongoing to ensure post deployment of the new system is adequate to meet all customer requirements.
“We are grateful for the feedback we have received that is enabling us to make continuous improvements. With the core banking system upgrade, customers will experience more functionalities, flexibility, and improved service uptime. Delivery of convenience to our customers is central to our operations and we remain committed to improving service delivery,” adds the statement.
For further clarifications, customers are encouraged to reach out to the bank’s call center on 1500 or 5222 and 0788140000 or 0788187200. They can also email the lender on contactus@bpr.rw or info@bpr.rw for more information and support.
Some people think that this practice is for developed countries only that it is not possible in Rwanda but it’s not the case. As Rwanda develops in all different areas, this technology was not left behind.
In 2021, it was reported that since the start of the measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the number of IT business services providers had increased by 20%.
The figures showed that food sales on online marketplaces were up 50%, baked goods were up 25%, and cleaning supplies were up 12%.
62% of the orders were worth between Rwf20,000 and Rwf50,000, while the rest were less than Rwf10,000.
[Murukali ->https://murukali.com/] is a good example of online marketplaces based in Rwanda.
Over the past seven years, it has worked with more than 650 merchants to increase online shopping.
Products include food, clothing, and various other items that a person can buy from anywhere using the internet, and, this company will deliver whatever was bought in a short time.
The CEO of Murukali Online, Yvette Uwimpaye has said said that apart from the fact that different people swear on this website without leaving their homes, they also help students by giving them knowledge about business done on the internet.
“They come and see how it is done and they understand the pathways. Until now we are happy that we benefit many people in one way or another, whether they are individuals or certain companies,” she revealed.
Uwimpaye further explained that the uniqueness of this website is that they have about three international certificates in terms of technology and providing good services and one from Rwanda that confirms it as an official website for shopping.
“We welcome clients from all over the world. We have a lot of products on the platform and help the traders market groceries on the site,”
For the seller who wants to put his products on the website, he pays Rwf50,000 as a membership fee per year and pays 10% of the sales, which is used to pay for services that include payment methods for advertising and customer support.
To improve the level of internet trading, the CEO of Murukali said that they have invested in this website where they currently have an American team that is monitoring its affairs, and they are also putting effort into providing better services to their customers.
She vows that in the next five years, they want to be the first solution for anyone who wants to shop in Rwanda without leaving their home, wherever they are located in the world, and what they want will reach them in a short time.
They intend to help people who do different jobs in business but lack a place to display their products, and it is done by developing Murukali so that it becomes an opportunity for everyone with small and large capital, which will also help to reduce poverty in the country.
It’s just that until now the companies that help people to deliver the goods bought to the customers (Logistic Companies) in Rwanda still have problems because they don’t provide the desired services that are suitable for online shopping, and with the price of 4% they say is high that the traders can’t understand.
Uwimpaye said that despite the situation, things are getting better because they have started providing unauthorized services in Rwanda where people did not know it was possible but now it is known and it has started to be used.
In the case of merchants who have not yet risen to the use of the method, they should know that today their customers are kings. It means that the merchant will have to provide the customer with information about the services they provide through all possible means and the internet sales are not left.
Uwimpaye says that their commitment and keeping up with the latest trends and innovation is what makes them one of the leading companies that helps online shoppers get the best service.
When Rwanda was undergoing difficult times of Covid-19, Murukali leveraged its technology to supply to different customers. Its platform is designed in a way that a customer gets automatic discount after shopping items worth more than Rwf1 million.
It also has a feature that reminds customers that what was previously in storage is back and so on.
E-commerce is one of Rwanda’s most important aspects in the development of technology because statistics show that Rwandans are increasingly embracing it even though it has not yet reached a satisfactory level.
The latest report of the Central Bank of Rwanda shows that the number of people using phones to make regular payments has increased by 9 percent, from 5,079,232 in June 2021 to 5,528,109 in June 2022, while the number of people using cards has increased from 4,635 to 5,263.
Prof. Wangombe holds a BA (Hons) and MBA from the University of Nairobi as well as a PhD and Associate Professor of Accounting and Sustainability from Strathmore University, Kenya. He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA(K) and an alumnus of the International Faculty Development Program (IFDP) of the highly-rated IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain (2008) and Teaching the Practice of Management (TPM).
He brings to his new role a wealth of demonstrable knowledge and experience, having worked in various institutions of higher learning as the Dean of School of Management and Commerce at Strathmore University, Kenya for 10 years, Director of Strathmore Enterprise Development Centre and Strathmore Research and Consultancy Company, Vice Chancellor designate of Tangaza University college and a lecturer in the fields of Finance, Accounting and Enterprise Development for over 2 decades.
Prof. Wangombe has been the lead consultant in the Development of Resilience Strategies for 5 cities in Kenya, a World Bank-funded project under the State Department of Housing and Urban Development ending in February 2023. For over 10 years, Prof. Wangombe has built capacity for Healthcare Leaders in Africa under the Management Ddevelopment Institute (MDI), a joint project of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Africa Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and funded by Johnson and Johnson.
He has further trained over 15,000 entrepreneurs with banks and enterprise centres in Kenya and over 1,000 African faculties on case methodology under the Partnership for Pedagogical Leadership in Africa (PEDAL), a program of PASGR that seeks to improve faculty pedagogical skills. He has consulted for several organizations including Strathmore Business School (SBS), Adamsmith International, Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), Kenya Commercial Bank and Strathmore Research and Consultancy Company (SRCC).
The Board of Directors, Management team, staff and students of University of Kigali congratulate Prof. Wangombe on his appointment and commit to supporting his efforts in steering the affairs of UoK towards the achievement of its strategic goals.
The investment deal was signed during the visit of Mr Curt Fintel, the Principal of VARIANT Investments in Kigali, in early December 2022. The investment was secured with support from Jali Finance’s local financial advisors.
Jali Finance Ltd, is a financial institution that has been operating for over 5 years with a focus on motorcycle leasing. Since its founding in 2017, it has made it a mission to promote job creation using an innovative credit approach.
Through leasing motorcycles, Jali Finance has created over 700 jobs and indirectly impacted over 3,500 lives in various communities in Rwanda.
The firm ensured that its job creation efforts are aligned with environment protection and advancement of locally made products, hence building a growth strategy around promoting electric mobility (e-mobility) and sourcing local and African motorcycle suppliers for partnerships.
It is in this line, therefore; that Jali Finance received the investment to boost the electric-mobility sector in the course of reducing the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Rwanda. In addition to reducing the GHG emissions, the investment will be meant to create more jobs as over 2,000 electric bikes are expected to be leased to youth male and females before the end of 2023 while and indirectly impacting over 10,000 lives in various communities in Rwanda. The firm will help the country avoid 50,000 tons of CO2 emission.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of JaliFinance, Mr Felix Nkundimana, e-bike users have testified extended advantages because the bikes help them to save significantly: i.e., for an amount of Rwf1,390 spent on a battery swap, an e-bike will travel 71 km as opposed to just 37 km that the fuel-based motorcycle will travel if an equal amount is spent on fuel. E-bikes also help drivers save at least 25% without counting about $200 per year spent on oil change.
Oscar, one of Jali’s early e-bike customers, speaks of what made him shift from a fuel-based motorcycle to an e-bike. “A fuel-based motorcycle has numerous expenses tied to it. In addition to buying fuel, I had other regular expenses such as a weekly oil change and other service-related expenses. Ever since I shifted to an e-bike, I’ve noticed a significant increase in my savings. For instance, I manage to pay my children’s school fees on time, I save regularly in my savings group, and I gave my wife startup capital to launch her small business, which means that we now have more than one source of income at home”.
The youth, among others, discussed the role of their organization in community policing and working relations with the District Police Units and local leaders.
While officially opening the meeting, Commissioner of Police (CP) Bruce Munyambo, the Commissioner for Community Policing at the RNP, said that every generation must fulfill its mission to sustain and continue to build on what has been achieved.
“We have a generation of those who sacrificed and put their lives on the line to liberate this country and to lay a foundation for transformation, so you have a mission to sustain the achievements and build on that,” CP Munyambo said.
He added that although the youth volunteers have contributed on the country’s security and development programmes, there are other concerns that still require immediate attention.
“There is still a lot to do to fight stunting and malnutrition, early pregnancy, drugs and school dropout,” he said.
Youth Volunteers in Community Policing, a group formed in 2013, has been credited for their volunteerism work valued in billions of money, including construction and renovation of houses for the disadvantaged families, roads, organic gardens, planting trees and supporting other human security and community development activities.
Eric Twahirwa Bayisenge, the RYVCP executive secretary, said that the focus has been on fighting stunting and malnutrition, promoting sanitation and hygiene, donating health insurance and heifer as well as awareness against crime, especially drugs.
“Currently, members are about 500,000 but we want this number to grow to at least one million. This is largely because having such a big number of young generation with the same mindset and purpose, knowing that they are not engaged in any crime; that itself is a big achievement,” said Bayisenge.
On Friday, February 3, Police met with truck drivers at different sites in Kigali and in other parts of the country to mitigate accidents largely resulting from reckless driving behaviors.
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, while speaking to truck drivers at Giticyinyoni in Kimisagara Sector, Nyarugenge District, hinted on their careless driving that sometimes lead to road fatalities.
“Gerayo Amahoro campaign is for every road user, including truck drivers to prevent behaviors that cause accidents and loss of lives.
When on road, remember that there are other road users, who also have rights that must be respected,” CP Kabera said.
Observing traffic rules, he added, means respecting rights of other road users and that it instills road safety as a choice and culture.
Accidents involving trucks are in most cases fatal, and CP Kabera said that this is sometimes attributed to disconnecting speed governor device and speeding, drunk driving, overloading, driving when exhausted or under stress, and using a phone while driving.
“Be responsible when driving because any reckless act while on the wheel might be fatal. When you report anyone driving carelessly, you will be protecting their lives and that of other road users,” the spokesperson observed.
Jean Claude Musengimana, the spokesperson of the association of truck drivers, said that Gerayo Amahoro campaign provides a moment especially for drivers, to assess their driving behaviors and make right choices that keeps them safe on the road.
“There are professional drivers, who put safety first, but there are others whose careless behaviors like driving while drunk, dangerous overtaking, affect the image of the good ones,” Musengimana noted.
He said that as an association of truck drivers, Gerayo Amahoro campaign has put them in the right position to monitor behaviors of their members and taking action to those, who go against traffic rules, as a way of enforcing road safety and preventing accidents.
The accident which occurred on Friday 3rd February 2022, claimed 11 lives and injured 36.
The statement released by Prime Minister Ngirente reads that the government stands in solidarity with bereaved families.
“The Government of Rwanda conveys its condolences to the families of the bereaved. Those injure dare being attended to by emergency health personnel and evacuated to medical facilities. The government will provide appropriate support to the bereaved families and the injured,” reads part of the statement.
The government has also assured to take measures to ensure the safety of built up structures is reinforced to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Speaking to IGIHE, Bafakulera disclosed that he submitted his resignation to PSF’s Board of Directors on Friday 3rd February 2023.
“I have resigned over personal reasons,” he noted.
Bafakulera said that PSF has made good progress and expressed hope that his deputies will continue to lead the organization until the election of a new chairperson.
“This federation which currently stands firm is led by my former deputy, Jeanne Françoise Mubiligi whom we have been working together. She knows what to do and will work with the second assistant to help her discharge the duties until the election of a new chairperson,” he disclosed.
Bafakulera was re-elected to lead PSF for the second term in March 2022. He had been elected for the first renewable term in 2018.
Bafakulera is among Rwanda’s tycoons where he runs several investments including hotels.
He owns different hospitality establishments including Ubumwe Grand Hotel. Bafakulera is also involved in logistics business as well as trade of rice and cooking oil.
The deal signed in April 2022 paves the way for deportation to Rwanda of migrants and asylum seekers staying in the UK illegally.
Under this program, migrants are set to benefit from secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons and higher education.
After signing the agreement, it was reported that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
The UK made the decision to discourage people crossing to the country illegally and reduce the budget spent on them every year.
During an interview with TalkTV, Prime Minister Sunak said that there is hope to start sending immigrants who entered the UK illegally to Rwanda.
He said that they want to break the chain of illegal immigration, which has allowed people to enter the UK through the waterway from France, known as the English Channel, in large numbers.
Figures from the British government show that last year, immigrants who entered the country using small boats through illegal waterways reached 45,756, up from 2,526 in 2021. The figures represent an increase of more than 17,000.
In addition, the government is paying £5.5 million to care for illegal immigrants staying in hotels while their applications are being processed.
The policy to deport migrants to Rwanda [has been fiercely criticised by human rights organisations and opposition parties->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/ruling-on-deportation-of-asylum-seekers-from-uk-to-rwanda-may-be-appealed], but Mr Sunak promised to keep the drive in place.
“The system that we need, the system that I want to introduce, is one whereby if you come here illegally, you should be swiftly detained and then in a matter of days or weeks we will hear your claim, not months and years, and then we will safely remove you somewhere else. And if we do that, that’s how we’ll break the cycle,” Sunak told TalkTV.
The Prime Minister said he was able to reach an agreement with France to increase patrols on the waterways in his first 100 days as PM noting that it has begun to yield results.
“A, I’ve got a new deal with France, which is increasing the amount of patrols that are happening on French beaches, which is making a difference already.
“Secondly, I’ve got a brand new deal with Albania. Albania accounted for 30 per cent of all illegal migrants.
If you come illegally, you will not be able to stay here – we will have the ability in the vast majority of cases to send you to an alternative safe country,” he said.
Their first flight to Rwanda was expected on 14th June 2022 but was cancelled at last minute after an intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
Recently, the High Court in the United Kingdom ruled in favor of the country’s policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. It however resolved that the cases of eight people who were initially scheduled for deportation to Rwanda had not been properly considered, and ordered a new review of them by the home secretary.
2023 marks 20 years of Giants of Africa travelling the African continent conducting basketball camps for boys and girls, building courts, and facilitating youth outreach initiatives.
“It has been humbling to reach such an incredible milestone and there is much to be proud of as we reflect on the last two decades. 20 years of service has only been possible because of the passion and commitment of every person and community that has come together to make Giants of Africa what it is today,” said Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa co-founder and Vice-Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors.
“We’ve really only just begun. There is an understanding that we need to keep going and a desire to learn from our journey so that we can continue to help more. We are excited about the bright future as Giants of Africa continues to develop infrastructure and inspire African youth worldwide with programs focused on education, empowerment, and leadership, both on and off the court.”
{{20 Years of Impact}}
Since 2003, Giants of Africa has positively impacted over 40,000 African youth across 17 countries through access to over 30 basketball courts and 80 basketball camps or clinics. Twenty-six of the total courts have been made possible through ‘Built Within’, the foundation’s multi-year, 100-court commitment to investing in sports infrastructure across Africa, launched in 2021.
Since its inception, outreach initiatives in at-risk communities and refugee camps have been at the heart of Giant of Africa’s purpose. In 2021, the foundation unveiled a new basketball court and multi-sport complex for the Samburu Girls Foundation.
Led by founder Dr. Josephine Kulea, the Foundation provides a safe haven for young women. Dr. Kulea and her staff rescue girls from FGM, beading and forced marriage in northern Kenya. Giants of Africa is grateful to help contribute to their mission and empower the girls through sport.
Hundreds of Giants of Africa alumni have received scholarships abroad including NBA player Precious Achiuwa of the Toronto Raptors, WWE Star Tolupe Omogbehin – aka Omos and countless others who have gone on to professional careers across a variety of industries.
{{2023 Marquee Events and Programs}}
{ {{Built Within (January and August 2023)}} }
The celebration of the 20-year milestone kicks off this month with the continuation of ‘Built Within’, the foundation’s multi-year, 100-court commitment to investing in sports infrastructure across Africa.
In January 2023, Giants of Africa unveiled five new courts in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso and Nairobi, Kenya, including revisiting Diwopa, Kayole to refurbish the first court ever built by the foundation in 2015. Additionally, a court was built at Elman Peace in Mogadishu, Somalia – a country plagued by civil war, political instability and traditional cultural practices that limit the rights and autonomy of women and girls.
Giants of Africa will be pleased to announce the unveiling of additional courts this summer.
{ {{AfriCAN (March 20 in Toronto, Canada)}} }
The second annual AfriCAN event aims to advance Africa forward by uniting working professionals from the African diaspora. The networking-style event creates a community that not only celebrates their African heritage, but also brings knowledge and resources back to the continent.
{ {{Giants of Africa Festival (August 13 – 19th in Kigali, Rwanda)}} }
The inaugural ‘Giants of Africa Festival’ will be held in Kigali, Rwanda. The week-long celebration of basketball, education, culture, and entertainment will unite more than 250 youth from 16 of the countries that the foundation has visited across Africa. The festival will use basketball as the tool to educate and empower African youth to dream big.
Program highlights include an opening ceremony celebration, an educational forum on International Youth Day bringing together over 2,000 Rwandan youth and a closing concert, all at the BK Arena.
{ {{‘The Giant of Africa’ celebration in honour of Nelson Mandela (December 3-5 in Toronto, Canada)}} }
A star-studded gala, Giants of Africa night at the Toronto Raptors game, a diversity, equity, and inclusion event and more.
{{About Giants of Africa and Masai Ujiri}}
Vice-Chairman and President – Toronto Raptors; Co-Founder – Giants of Africa Masai Ujiri is the first and only African-born President of a professional sports franchise in North America – the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors.
In 2019, Masai led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA Championship and the first NBA Championship won by a team outside the United States in NBA history. Born and raised in Nigeria, with a deep passion for basketball, Masai began to pursue a career as an executive when his professional basketball career came to an early end.
In 2003, Masai co-founded the Giants of Africa Foundation, based on the idea of using basketball as a means of educating and enriching the lives of African youth—both boys and girls. Giants of Africa has used sport to help empower youth to dream big, hosting basketball camps and clinics for boys and girls in 17 countries across the continent.
In 2021, Giants of Africa launched the ‘Built Within’ 100-court initiative and have unveiled 26 basketball facilities in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Somalia to date.
To celebrate the organization’s 20th anniversary, the inaugural Giants of Africa Festival will bring together over 250 youth from 16 countries across Africa to Kigali, Rwanda for a week-long celebration of basketball, education, culture, and entertainment in August 2023.
