Prof. Rugimbana holds a BSc. (Ed) degree from the University of Dar-es Salaam, a Master of Business Administration from University of Newcastle and a PhD from Macquarie University. He brings to this new role many years’ experience in important university academic roles such as lecturing at Newcastle University, Griffith University, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University; and governance roles such as Executive Dean, Campus Rector, Associate Dean, Director of a Graduate School and Head of Department.
As an accomplished academic researcher, Professor Rugimbana’s main research interests are in the areas of International Consumer Psychology, Cross-Cultural Marketing and Poverty alleviation, Enterprise Development & Entrepreneurship, International Marketing Education, Corporate Social Responsibility as well as Diffusion of Technologies in the 4th Industrial Revolution. His works appear in prestigious journals, such as the European Journal of Marketing, the Journal of African Business, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, Australasian Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Journal of Psychology & Marketing.
He has also published several book chapters and internationally-refereed and accredited journal and conference papers. He completed an edited book on Cross-Cultural Marketing published by Thomson Learning International Business Press – UK in 2002, co-authored an award-winning Principles of Core Marketing textbook published in 2008 by McGraw-Hill, Australia, an adaptation of Kotler & Armstrong – South African edition 2010 and 2015 and recently Applied Strategic Marketing, 5th Edition in 2020. He is currently a co-author of a Marketing Text book titled “Essentials of Marketing” by Routledge Publishing, UK.
Acknowledging welcome messages from members of the Executive Organ, the new Vice Chancellor thanked UoK’s Board of Directors for their confidence in him and assured the team of an inclusive leadership style which will value contributions from the various stakeholder groups of the university.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday 2nd March 2022 at the headquarters of NIRDA in Kigali City.
The agreement incorporates clauses that NIRDA shall provide more than 150 hectares suitable for growth of medicinal plants to ensure smooth supply chain of raw products with uncompromised quality.
Among others, Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited will receive some of NIRDA’S equipment that were previously used at its medicinal plants’ laboratory in Huye district.
The Director General of NIRDA, Dr. Christian Birame Sekomo has revealed that Rwanda will reap many benefits from the cooperation with Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited.
“First of all, it will help us to make herbal medicines available to Rwandans at affordable price. It will also create job opportunities for Rwandans including farmers and others who will directly work with the plant,” he said.
Dr. Birame further stressed that the plant will help Rwanda to reduce reliance on imported herbal medicines.
Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited is a joint venture between three investors namely; Prof. Rajendran Aanaimuthu, an Indian with expertise in herbal medicine; Dr. Francis Habumugisha who currently serves as the CEO of Bold Regains International and Jean Pierre Ndahayo.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Rajendran Aanaimuthu affirmed that they want to produce herbal medicines at affordable price.
“There are enough natural resources here that we are set to exploit through the production of quality medicines at affordable cost,” he said.
Dr. Francis Habumugisha revealed that Life Care Phyto Labs-India led by Prof. Rajendran was merged with Bold Regains International to form one company dubbed Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited.
He explained that the collaboration with NIRDA will expedite preparations to begin operations in Rwanda.
“It is apparent that the Government welcomed the project because it will create jobs for many Rwandans, be it in the agriculture sector, direct employment at the plant and acquaint them with technical skills as they learn from experts from India,” he said.
Dr. Habumugisha revealed that part of herbal medicines produced by Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited will be exported.
Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited plans to set up herbal medicines and nutraceuticals manufacturing plant in the near future.
Russia launched attacks to Ukraine on 24th February 2022. As of today, the crisis has escalated and took many people’s lives. Among others, the attack has left people displaced and infrastructures destroyed.
UN fundamental principles incorporate clauses of peaceful coexistence among countries irrespective of individual security interests.
During the UN General Assembly’s emergency session on Ukraine crisis held on 2nd March 2022, Rwanda disclosed its stand on the situation by voting in favour of the resolution in support of, and with respect for, the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of any country.
Rwanda has called for action to cease military operations in Ukraine immediately noting that the Russian Federation and Ukraine have the key to resolving the conflict and external intervention ‘will only exacerbate the situation’.
“We fully support international efforts to de-escalate the war, including UNSG efforts in seeking a solution to the crisis. We urge all concerned parties to demonstrate calm and seek a solution to the conflict through dialogue to ensure that civilians do not continue to pay the heaviest price of military escalation,” Rwanda’s representative said.
Rwanda revealed that a lasting solution will only be achieved through dialogue by parties, taking into account the concerns of both sides highlighting that the current war does not guarantee that it will bring peace but rather ‘it is likely to generate subsequent crises and human suffering’.
Rwanda also expressed serious concern with the extent of humanitarian devastation and peace and security challenges caused by this war including reports that Africans are being racially segregated and denied safe exit and admission to neighboring countries.
“We call upon all those involved to allow unhindered evacuation without looking at their color or origin.”
Rwanda said that diplomatic options present better solutions to sustainable peace and called for open dialogue and negotiations in good faith.
“Rwanda calls for a sincere commitment to the United Nations Charter and international order. The ongoing crisis poses a severe threat to international peace and security. We encourage concerned parties to give a chance to peace. We wish to underline that a long-lasting solution to the current crisis is primarily in the hands of Russia and Ukraine. Dialogue is their best option to resolve this crisis,” Rwanda’s representative added.
The resolution was voted by 141 of the 193 UN member states. Other African countries that voted in favour of the resolution include Kenya, Ghana, Gabon, Djibouti, Congo, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Among others, 35 countries including 17 from the African continent countries abstained from the vote.
The African countries include Burundi, Senegal, South Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, Mali and Mozambique.
Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Russian Federation, and Syria form the group of countries that voted against the resolution.
The General Assembly has only held 10 emergency sessions since 1950, in line with the adoption of resolution [{{377A(V),}} ->https://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/otherdocs/GAres377A(v).pdf]widely known as ‘Uniting for Peace’.
The resolution gives the Assembly power to take up matters of international peace and security when the Security Council is unable to act due to unanimity among its five permanent members – China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia – who have the power of veto.
Ndayambaje, who was traveling in a bus, was intercepted at about 1pm, in Kinini Village, Kirenge Cell of Rusiga Sector with assorted Covid-19 kits.
The seized kits include Covid-19 Ag Rapid test device positive control, Covid-19 Ag Rapid test device negative control, extraction tubes, rapid test device buffer, nasal swabs and extraction tube caps, among others.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Regional Political and Civic Education officer (RPCEO) for the Northern region, said that the arrest of Ndayambaje was part of Police operations to fight smuggling and drug trafficking.
“Police had mounted a check-point along Musanze-Kigali highway. When they searched Ndayambaje’s bag, they recovered the Covid-19 kits in his bag, which he had smuggled into Rwanda from Uganda, and took him into custody,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Ndayambaje argued that he was hired by unnamed person in Butaro Sector, Burera District to deliver them to someone in Kigali.
He added that he was supposed to be paid Rwf250,000 upon delivery of the kits.
SP Ndayisenga warned against trafficking and selling smuggled goods, in particular Covid-19 kits which may be substandard and pose a challenge to the health system in the country.
Ndayambaje was handed over to RIB at Bushoki station for further investigation.
Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods and automobile used in smuggling, are auctioned. The driver also faces a fine of US$5,000.
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.
Article 87 of Law N° 026/2019 of 18/09/2019 on tax procedures states 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.
Ildephonse Ndayambaje, 33, Fidele Nteziyaremye, 24, and Jean Claude Rukundo, 30, were arrested Tuesday, March 1, following information on a racket, which had sneaked narcotics into Rwanda from Uganda, through a porous border.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said that ANU first arrested Jean Claude Rukundo with 200 pellets of cannabis.
“Following a tip-off, ANU arrested Rukundo in Kinihira en-route to Kigali. Rukundo then disclosed Ildephonse Ndayambaje as his supplier. Ndayambaje was located and arrested in Miyove with 3kgs of cannabis,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Ndayambaje also revealed that he sneaks the narcotics into the country from Uganda and hides them in the house of Fidele Nteziyaremye in Migendezo Cell, Cyinzuzi Sector.
“Ndayambaje then led Police officers to Nteziyaremye’s house where other 28kgs of cannabis and the latter arrested,” SP Ndayisenga said.
He recognised the impact of the public in breaking chains of drug dealers.
Article 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.”
Article 263 of the law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general states that any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
In case of “very severe narcotic drugs” the offender is liable to between 20 years and life imprisonment and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The figures were disclosed on Tuesday 1st March 2022 as Rubavu district handed over 10 houses to families without shelters in Rubavu sector.
The houses were built by friends of Rwanda from the United States of America.
Rubavu district vice mayor for social affairs, Pacifique Ishimwe has said that the district plans to build houses for 148 families this year as part of ongoing efforts to improve residents’ wellbeing.
“We plan to build houses for 148 residents. We have so far built 88 houses excluding the launched 10 houses. They all make a total of 98 houses but we continue to scale up efforts to provide residents with decent shelters.
Construction activities are underway where some of houses are to be roofed as others get floors covered with cement. It is our target this year because we have more than 1700 residents without shelters registered last year. It is quite a large number but we are hopeful that we will make it in collaboration with partners,” she said.
Beneficiaries welcomed the support that comes in handy to improve their wellbeing.
“I went through difficult conditions as I lived with a child with disabilities who would dilapidate landlords’ houses. This irked and prompted them to move me out. I have so far been moved out from four houses. With the received decent shelter, I will no longer experience such dire conditions and live comfortably with my children,” said Bayahunde Espérance.
Marceline Uwimana, another beneficiary has revealed that she struggled to get rental fees yet she had to take care of her parent and children from little money obtained from hard labour.
“I will save the money spent for rent, take care of my children and mother who is critically ill,” she said.
The facilities in question are Hilltop Hotel and Country Club fined Rwf300,000 and warned against
“Following reports of poor service delivery by Hotel Hilltop and Country Club during the just concluded Tour du Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board would like to inform the general public that the establishment has been fined Rwf 300,000 and issued a warning,” RDB has tweeted.
Recently, RDB also fined hotels and restaurants for violating COVID-19 preventive measures.
The partnership was entered on Tuesday 1st March 2022 at a high-level ceremony in Kigali where Germany was represented by Svenja Schulze, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development while Rwanda was represented by Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and Mr Patrick Karera, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment.
The Climate and Development Partnership is aimed at working together to implement Rwanda’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. Under its NDCs the country has committed to slashing its greenhouse gas emissions by 38 per cent by 2030 compared to a business-as-usual scenario – under the condition of international support and funding. Other important parts of the NDCs relate to adaptation matters such as water security, agriculture, land and forestry, settlements and health. The new partnership between Germany and Rwanda gives particular attention to NDC implementation projects with the Rwandan green fund FONERWA and to sustainable urban development measures.
Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms Svenja Schulze, said: “The climate crisis affects all of us. We can only tackle this global threat by global cooperation. Fighting climate change is one of the top priorities of the German government and development cooperation is a very important part of this endeavour. Rwanda is a driving force in international cooperation on climate action. Together, we want to move forward into a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.”
Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, welcomed the partnership as a new chapter in the bilateral cooperation: “The partnership we just signed today between the Government of Rwanda and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is aligned with our National Strategy for Transformation One (NST1) under the Economic Transformation Pillar with the main objective to accelerate private sector-led economic growth and increased productivity focusing on promotion of sustainable management of the environment and natural resources to transition Rwanda towards a Green Economy. Furthermore, the partnership comes to support Rwanda’s Nationally Determined Contributions targets that is estimated at 11 billion US dollar investment cost.”
Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister of Environment, has stressed the need to foster an inclusive and locally led approach for climate action: “It is obvious through research that local communities are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Our strategies have clear climate resilience measures that are tailored to the communities’ livelihoods. Joining hands to embark on the Climate and Development journey with the government of Germany is a paramount action that will lead to the concretization of our plans.”
The impacts of climate change can already be felt in Rwanda today: Temperatures are rising and weather patterns are changing, landslides and floods are increasing, particularly affecting the poor, rural population. Therefore, climate action is of highest political importance for the Rwandan government. Rwanda was the first African country to submit an updated NDC in 2020, which has gained international recognition. It has also presented a very detailed NDC implementation framework in 2021 for adapting to climate change.
The Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership will scale up support for climate measures in the areas of intervention “Climate change mitigation and adaptation” and “Sustainable urban development”, on the basis of the Rwandan NDC Implementation Framework.
This will involve programs combining capacity development and financial support for the implementation of the Rwandan NDCs, strengthening the population’s climate resilience (involving reforestation measures, flood protection and water management enabling climate-resilient agriculture), as well as sustainable waste management and the circular economy.
In the field of climate-smart urban development the focus lies on the construction of a new settlement “Green City Kigali” with a high urban density and affordable housing for up to 8,000 inhabitants, quality and green urban infrastructure including nature-based solutions for drainage and heat absorption, rainwater use and fresh water supply as well as waste water treatment. This is complemented by measures to increase access to environmentally sustainable energy supply, by establishing hydropower and new energy lines.
The partnership will also enhance the climate policy dialogue on jointly fighting climate change with the aim of achieving global climate neutrality, initiate cooperation with the scientific community, the private sector and civil society, and foster an inclusive and locally led approach for climate action.
At the signing ceremony , Rwanda and Germany also kicked off the implementation of priority projects of the new partnership of a total envelope of 56 million euros (over Rwf63 billion): Agreements for the urban development project “Green City Kigali” (30 million euros) and for the implementation of the Rwandan NDCs through the NDC Facility at FONERWA (26 million euros) were signed with the German Development Bank KfW.
Complementing climate adaptation and mitigation projects in Rwanda, both countries also cooperate in international climate initiatives, particularly in the Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance and the NDC Partnership.
The new Climate and Development Partnership builds on the existing portfolio, which adds up to a total of 163 million euros. Germany intends to make further funds available in 2022 and also thereafter.
In the recent past, a number of driving school instructors have been arrested together with their students for attempting to offer bribes to Police officers so as to unlawfully pass driving tests.
In the latest development, one Jean De Dieu Rizinde, 39, a driving instructor in City of Kigali was arrested on Monday, February 28, after it emerged that he took Rwf100,000 from one of his students, apparently to bribe a supervising Police officer at the driving test site in Gasabo District.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, said that Rizinde was reported by the affected driving candidate.
“The student, who had successfully completed the first driving test for ‘Category C’, took the right decision to report Rizinde for his unscrupulous and criminal behaviours. The candidate had sent him Rwf40,000 on mobile account, which has been verified, and other Rwf60,000 cash in hand, which he was also caught with,” CP Kabera said.
He advised aspiring drivers to desist from such criminal shortcuts and to report anyone that attempts to lure them into such malpractices.
“Acquiring a driver’s license is done in a clear and lawful process. People should erase the thinking that they will acquire the permit through bribes, which only puts them in prison for something avoidable. Driving school instructors should equally lead by example to train their students to pass the tests but not to tempt them into criminal behaviours,” CP Kabera said.
He thanked the candidate, who did the right thing to report the driving instructor, who was handed handed over to RIB at Muhima station.
Article 174 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, states that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
Article 4 of law n° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states; any person who solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
Penalties provided under this article also apply to a person, who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/ herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted.
They rackets, which was defrauding people with fake gold, were arrested at about 5pm, in Rwabihanga Village, Gati Cell, Kigoma Sector, after fleecing a resident of Frw49,000. The money was also recovered.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire identified the suspects as Francois Ntakirutimana, 47, Jean Damascene Ntawizera, 47, Vedaste Niyibizi, 29, Silas Rwarinda, 47, and Ismael Kubwimana, 47.
“They were arrested attempting to defraud a resident identified as Colette Mukantwari, 51, whom they were selling fake gold for Rwf90,000. However, they were arrested red-handed receiving the first payment of Rwf49,000,” SP Kanamugire said.
SP Kanamugire advised the public against engaging in black market businesses to avoid falling prey.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Busasamana station for further investigation.
Article 174 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, states that; any person who, by deception, obtains another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or who offers positive promises or who threatens of future misfortunes, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two (2) years and not more than three (3) years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million.
