Kagame posted the message on Twitter along with a photo of his granddaughter holding the newly born baby.
Ange Kagame was married to Ndengeyingoma in July 2019. The couple was blessed with the first child born on 19th July 2020.
Last year, Ange Kagame joined the ‘Parenting Month’ campaign in Rwanda by sharing tips for parents on how to boost their babies’ brain development through play.
The month-long campaign was launched on 1st June 2021, by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda, and other partners to promote positive parenting.
In the video released last year by UNICEF Rwanda; Ange Kagame, talked about how a baby’s brain develops most in the first 1,000 days at a pace never repeated again.
The video explains the various techniques such as ‘serve and return’ that parents can use to strengthen their bond with their babies while ensuring their holistic development.
At the time, Ange Kagame highlighted the role of both parents, male and female in the overall development of their baby.
In the earliest years of life, a child’s brain develops at an astounding speed of more than 1 million new neural connections every second.
This period offers once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape a child’s ability to learn, grow, form healthy relationships, and contribute fully to society in adulthood.
Parents are the key providers of health, nutrition, stimulation, opportunities for early learning, and protection that babies need for healthy brain development. Another area where parents can contribute significantly to a child’s development is by playing with the baby.
This helps babies learn and build crucial life skills – from problem-solving to expressing ideas – and strengthening the bond between child and parent.
The building opposite Kigali Convention Centre was refurbished and reopened four years ago.
It is located in a Kimihurura Gateway, an area reserved for different businesses, hotels and entertainment activities.
The statement announcing the auction reads that bidders of the the building worth Rwf23.8 billion, must present a surety worth Rwf1.19 billion.
The Managing Director of KBC, David Mporanyi told IGIHE that the business complex was completed at a tune of Rwf21 billion of which 48% of the funds was provided by the investor while 52% was a bank loan.
The auction is open from 17th July 2022 to 24th July 2024.
KBC is a household name of a commercial building that existed since 2003. The building underwent a major facelift since 2016.
It houses different companies including La Planète Club, Chicken Tonight, Sony and Brioche.
Other businesses in the KBC include supermarkets, banks, clothes’ stores, pharmacies and restaurants among others.
The building has 13,477 square meters reserved for retail spaces, 4,000 for office and more than 200 parking spaces.
It was constructed by a Chinese construction firm dubbed Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) while its design was conceptualized by a Belgian company, CERAU.
ERF2 was introduced following the successful completion of ERF1 which was launched on 8th June 2020 with a value of 100 billion Rwandan Francs that was distributed across the various sectors that make up the economy.
The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) Plc and the Business Development Fund (BDF) are the custodians of the ERF2 whose main purpose is to support economic recovery through increased access to finance for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; with BRD overseeing the lending part while BDF will be in charge of the credit guarantee part.
ERF 2, through BRD, will provide funding to critical sectors of manufacturing that champion innovation, create employment opportunities, and prioritize Made in Rwanda, such as construction materials, agro-processing, textiles, and light manufacturing. The fund is also expected to provide working capital loans to businesses that demonstrate a negative impact of COVID-19 on their operations, proven by at least a 20% reduction in sales for the past 12 months compared to pre-COVID-19.
Additionally, the fund will allocate working capital for micro businesses, guarantee schemes of a higher percentage for special categories such as youth, women, and people living with disabilities, and provide a refinancing window for eligible sectors.
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HATANA, translated to “be relentless” in English, is the brand name for this fund at BRD to encourage businesses to keep thriving and reviving their businesses. It targets firms that have persisted and remained operational despite the numerous setbacks caused by the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
As a custodian of HATANA (ERF 2) fund, BRD emphasizes the spirit of resilience that the Bank sees in Rwandans throughout Rwanda’s transformative history.
HATANA is a five-year strategic project that will help reduce the current trade deficit by enabling more investments for exports and import substitution in promotion of ‘Made in Rwanda’ products.
The lending is being done directly through BRD and through on-lending to participating financial institutions (PFIs). Terms and conditions apply.
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Since the launch, BRD has so far disbursed close to Rwf41 billion to various commercial banks and companies which has been invested into the economy particularly in the manufacturing sector; and an additional Rwf75 billion has been approved and currently fulfilling all documentation required.
The HATANA (ERF2) fund is currently accessible through different banks including; NCBA, BPR Bank, RIM, Bank of Kigali (BK), Equity Bank, GT Bank and I&M Bank.
Further information about applying, eligibility and more can be accessed via hatana.brd.rw/.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday 19th July 2022.
During the signing ceremony; Rwanda was represented by the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Ernest Nsabimana while Austria was represented by its ambassador in Rwanda with residence in Kenya, Christian Fellner.
Minister Nsabimana has said that the bilateral agreement expected to strengthen existing cooperation between both countries, is a fruit of existing relations that have deepened roots.
He explained that it provides opportunities to continue expanding the large network in tourism and trade.
The agreement entails processes aimed at enhancing air transport including a legal framework for the regulation of frequency and capacity of air services between both countries and pricing among other aspects.
Amb. Christian Fellner said that the agreement will add up to efforts meant to enhance movements and commended existing cooperation between both countries in different areas of development.
The development follows another deal inked on Monday 18th July 2022, where Rwanda and UniCredit Bank Austria signed a financing agreement worth EUR 7.5 million (approximately Rwf 7.5 billion) for the establishment of a Technical and Vocational education and Training (TVET) Centre of Excellence in the Kigali Special Economic Zone.
The centre of excellence will enable establishment of a modern and highly efficient dual training program which will be a model for industrial-academia linkages that allows exchange of training facilities such as workshops and equipment for mutual benefits.
According to the financing modalities, 15% of the US$ 7.5 million (or EUR 1.125,000) will be a grant. The financing facility will be guaranteed by Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) on behalf of the Republic of Austria at 0% interest rate, with a payment period of 18.5 years after a grace period of 8.5 years.
The meeting was organized after identifying numerous issues including shortage of health workers and inadequate capacity among African countries.
Figures show that 70% of African countries face the shortage of healthcare professionals.
Apart from the shortage and inadequate capacity, challenges faced by investors in the sector also results into shortage of infrastructures and high cost of pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Pascal Zurn, a Health Economist at World Health Organization has revealed that the meeting is of critical significance because healthcare professionals need adequate training to bridge gaps in the sector.
He also stressed the need to make follow up to ensure trained individuals are hired to serve people especially in rural areas and expressed optimism that training beneficiaries will contribute to the advancement of the health sector in their respective countries.
“We expect experts gathered here to be equipped adequate knowledge helpful in building capacities of health workers in their countries,” he said.
Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) thanked organizers of the meeting noting that it is a platform for countries to exchange ideas on how persistent issues can be addressed. He also shared Rwanda’s efforts geared towards building the capacity of health workers.
“We conducted an assessment which indicated that we need healthcare professionals in public and private facilities. Since then, we established the body of human resources for health workers’ capacity building,” he said.
Despite pointed out gaps, the health sector on the African continent has registered commendable efforts to increase healthcare professionals where health schools rose from 168 in 2005 to 401.
The number of trained healthcare professionals also increased from 6000 in 2005 to 28600. At least, 60,000 nurses graduate every year compared to 26,000 graduates released in 2005.
As of today; 148, 000 healthcare professionals attend different trainings every year.
The goods, including banned skin bleaching cosmetics, had been sneaked into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region.
The successful operations were conducted on Monday and Tuesday.
Those arrested include one Asia Uwamahoro, 35, who was intercepted on Tuesday, July 19, in Rurembo Village, Byahi Cell of Gisenyi Sector with assorted skin bleaching cosmetics, used shoes and clothes, tobacco and an illicit gin called simba waragi, all worth over Frw8.6 million.
“Uwamahoro had hired other people to smuggle the goods into Rwanda from DRC, but her employees dropped them and run away after they saw the Police,” said SP Karekezi said.
The seized outlawed skin whitening oils and creams, include Cocopulp, Carolight and Elegance. They are among the 1,342 listed cream and oil brands with hydroquinone and mercury, which are prohibited in Rwanda.
Another suspect identified as Marie Aimée Mukamazimpaka, 28, was arrested, Monday, July 18, in Isangano Village, Rukoko Cell also in Gisenyi Sector with smuggled electric cables, used clothes and shoes, and non-biodegradable polythene polythene bags, all worth over Rwf550,000.
SP Karekezi added that the two suspected smugglers and dealers in illegal goods were reported by residents.
Article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also used in Rwanda, specifies a penalty of US$5000 to a driver found driving a vehicle with smuggled goods while the vehicle and the goods are auctioned.
Article 87 of law on tax procedures, provides that a person who, while intending tax evasion, commits one of the following acts: use of forged documents in his or her accounts; counterfeit and use of documents or materials of the tax administration used for taxation; hiding taxable goods or assets related to business; making a declaration indicating that the taxpayer has not made sales; changing the trade name by a person prosecuted in relation to tax; fraudulent registration of trade under the name of another person; hiding accounting documents from the tax administration or damaging them; use of forged accounting records; commits an offence of tax evasion.
Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than five (5) years.
Article 266 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who produces, sells, or prescribes harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substance or any other products derived from plants, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.
The accident occurred in a business center in Rwinanka Village, Ntwari Cell of Munini Sector on Monday 18th July 2022.
One of witnesses has told IGIHE that the accident happened around 3 p.m. as a Fuso truck which carried sand from River Giswi in Muganza Sector moved along a steep part of the road with high speed and hit two houses.
The Executive Secretary of Munini Sector, Raphal Uwimana has confirmed to IGIHE that the accident has killed two people and injured ten of whom three survived with serious injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Innocent Uwiragiye, 23, who was inside the house and Jean Damascène Habimana, 29, who was onboard the truck.
The local leader has also disclosed that seven survivors were taken to Munini Hospital while those who were critically injured were sent to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB).
The centre of excellence will enable establishment of a modern and highly efficient dual training program which will be a model for industrial-academia linkages that allows exchange of training facilities such as workshops and equipment for mutual benefits.
It will also allow students to learn and acquire modern and high-tech skills being applied in industry and aligned to the current and future technologies and innovations; exchange of academic staff and industrial sector experts between the school and companies to enhance the skills needed for the modern labour markets.
Speaking after the signing ceremony on Monday 18th July 2022, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana noted that establishment of the TVET centre of excellence will boost the Government of Rwanda’s existing initiatives towards developing applicable skills that meet labour market demands through TVET.
“This financing comes to support human capital development priorities under our National Strategy for Transformation especially by enrolling at least 60% of students into TVET schools and scaling-up the number of TVET graduates with skills relevant to the labor market,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
Former Austrian Chancellor Dr. Alfred Gusenbauer noted that the financing agreement presented a starting point for a deeper cooperation between Austria and Rwanda.
“Sustainable cooperation between the new countries would lead to import of the technology, knowledge transfers and employment opportunities to Rwandans. We look forward to exploring other areas of cooperation,” he said.
According to the financing modalities, 15% of the US$ 7.5 million (or EUR 1.125,000) will be a grant. The financing facility will be guaranteed by Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) on behalf of the Republic of Austria at 0% interest rate, with a payment period of 18.5 years after a grace period of 8.5 years.
This service is launching soon after MTN Rwanda’s announcement that it would be launching a device financing initiative in partnership with Bank of Kigali, offering customers the opportunity to buy brand new smartphones on credit.
MTN Rwanda’s extended warranty offers customers additional protection for any smartphone purchased at any MTN Service Centre or Connect Shop and also for any smartphone a customer has owned for less than three (3) years, upon the purchase of a screen protector and/or phone case for that existing phone. The warranty is for a period of twelve (12) months.
MTN Rwanda is also offering customers one free repair of their smartphones if any fault develops during the warranty period. For any additional repairs, customers will receive an eighty per cent (80%) discount on the repair costs.
“Smartphones are the gateway to unlimited information and an array of digital services, and we want to ease the process of owning and maintaining one. For a lot of our customers, smartphones are the first big-expense item they purchase for themselves, meaning screen protectors and phone cases are a must-have given the durability of smartphones.
The idea of introducing an MTN extended warranty and repair service went without saying. This is part of our commitment to ensure that as we connect everyone to the digital world, we think of the entire customer journey and offer our customers peace of mind,” said Yaw Ankoma Agyapong, MTN Rwanda Chief Consumer and Digital Officer.
The extended warranty (beyond what is covered in the manufacturer warranty) insures against accidental damage, cracked screens, cracked casing, water and liquid damage as well as malfunction after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.
MTN Rwanda’s repair service offers top-notch diagnoses at designated MTN Service Centres. Customers located in Kigali will have their phones repaired within 3 days and those located upcountry will have their phones repaired within 5 days.
“We look forward to our customers enjoying this service as we continue to pursue the delivery of digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress,” concluded Agyapong.
{{About MTN Rwandacell }}
MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, it has continuously invested in expanding and modernising its network and leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress.
The telecom offers various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalised voice and data offers for individuals and corporates with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold and new digital world to customers.
During the event held on Monday 18th July 2022, Premier Ngirente was joined by officials including Hailemariam Desalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta and the Minister of Environment, Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.
The inauguration took place at a time when Rwanda is hosting Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC).
The congress running between 18th and 23rd July 2022 is organized by African Wildlife Foundation, an international conservation organization focused exclusively on Africa’s wildlife and wild lands.
The first Africa Protected Area Congress underway in Kigali is intended to further enhance the status of conservation in Africa by engaging governments, the private sector, civil society, indigenous peoples and local communities, academia to shape Africa’s Protected and Conserved Areas Agenda to better deliver benefits for people and nature.
The Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Juliet Kabera has explained that Nyandungu Eco-Park is located in a wetland that was seriously degraded.
She revealed that the project is the beginning for the restoration of five more wetlands in Kigali City.
Martine Urujeni, Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs has revealed that protecting the environment will help Rwanda to keep moving forward with its vision of green economy.
She requested Rwandans to protect wetlands and thanked partners helping the city to remain clean and promote green economy.
Urujeni also assured the city’s support to activities mean to enhance conservation of the Nyandungu Eco-Park.
During the event, Premier Ngirente and accompanying officials planted trees for environmental conservation.
Nyandungu Eco-Park was open to public on 8th July 2022. QA Venue Solutions, which also operates BK Arena, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the park and offer guided tours to visitors and its attractions.
The opening of Nyandungu Eco-Park represents the single largest addition to public green space in Kigali in the city’s history.
The park provides a space for residents and visitors to the city to explore and learn from nature, and is part of Rwanda’s efforts to harness eco-tourism to restore biodiversity and conserve urban wetland ecosystems.
The restoration of the wetland and creation of an eco-tourism park was funded by the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) with support from the UK Government, the Italian Government through the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the UN Environment Programme.
The six-year initiative has restored the Nyandungu wetland ecosystem and promoted the sustainable management of natural resources. The initiative has also created approximately 4,000 green jobs.
The rapid growth of Kigali and the associated human activities have put significant pressure on the wetlands. Wetlands, including Nyandungu, have been degraded and this led to biodiversity loss. Encroachment has also resulted in downstream flooding as well as increased pollution due sewage outflows.
In 2016, the Government of Rwanda through REMA developed the Nyandungu restoration project to respond to these challenges and demonstrate the potential of wetlands to abate pollution and reduce the risk of flooding in urban areas.
Since then, the Rwf 4.5 billion project has restored critical habitats, including a native fig forest and the wetland itself, and rehabilitated streams and ponds to alleviate floods and reed-beds to reduce pollution.
Stretched on 121.7 hectares in size, including 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest; the wetland also features a medicinal garden, a Pope’s Garden, five catchment ponds, three recreation ponds, a 10km network of walking and cycling paths, viewing areas, picnic areas, an information centre, and a restaurant among other facilities.
It is home to more than 62 local plant species and over 100 bird species.
