The decision is among resolutions taken during a meeting between the Minister of Local Government (MINALOC), Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi; the management of the Kigali City and Provincial Governors on 6th February 2022.
The leaders also reviewed other measures to fast track national development and change citizens’ livelihoods.
It was agreed that the community work will resume in all districts across the country towards the end of February 2022 in adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.
The last monthly community work was held before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. It was halted as part of measures to prevent public gatherings that could provide loopholes for the spread of the virus.
The meeting was also attended by other officials including, the Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs at MINALOC, Assumpta Ingabire among other heads of departments in the same ministry. She commended local leaders for fruitful efforts in fighting the pandemic for more than two years.
As Minister Gatabazi said, the meeting also took measures to supervise recently elected local leaders to ensure they are delivering on expectation to address citizens’ needs.
It was agreed to reinforce the capacity of grass root leaders through different trainings and other programs.
The meeting also resolved on resumption of citizens’ forum to hear their concerns and have them addressed in the right time.
School dropouts, street children, poor hygiene and stunting among children are among other issues that are set to be given special attention in collaboration with parents.
During the retreat, leaders discussed ways to streamline efficiency to fast track performance contracts and envisaged progress.
Jeanne Mutoni, Rwamagana vice mayor in charge of social affairs told participants that the district recently registered more than 700 children who dropped out of school of whom the majority is from primary school.
Of these, 171 are secondary school dropouts while 544 are from primary school.
Karenge was pointed out as the sector with a large number of drop outs.
Mutoni has said that the district collaborated with head teachers to identify the exact number and locate dropouts to be returned to school. She revealed that the district has initially pledged to bring back to school 319 children who dropped out of school due to indecorous behavior.
Among others, Mutoni explained that some children drop out of school due to school feeding cost.
“Rwamagana district stands at 99% in implementing the school feeding program but some parents are not actively involved in supporting the Government’s efforts. They do not provide Rwf4000 contribution per school term as required but it should not be among reasons causing children to miss classes,” he observed.
Other reasons pointed out include sickness, domestic conflicts and children abandoning schools to seek jobs among others.
Mutoni urged parents and educators to follow up children to prevent dropouts.
She reminded parents with no cash in hand that they can provide part of their agricultural yields to support school feeding program.
Prof. Manasseh Nshuti, the State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged participants to collaborate with parents, neighbours and relevant authorities to return them to school as soon as they can to prevent related negative impact to the society.
The retreat was concluded with recommendations to roll out a campaign at sector level to return children to school.
According to sources, the truck which carried cassava roots swerved off the main road, overturned and hit a road camera.
Witnesses say that the truck was over speeding that the driver might have experienced brake failure.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) René Irere, the Spokesperson of Rwanda National Police (RNP) Traffic and Road Safety department has told IGIHE that there were three people onboard.
These include the owner of cassava roots, the driver and his assistant who died on spot.
SSP Irere appealed on drivers to avoid over speeding and remain vigilant along the road.
“We would like to remind drivers to drive at a moderate speed and remain vigilant as they cross road bends. Else, they have to read signposts and drive carefully along slippery roads,” he said.
SSP Irere has told IGIHE, by press time, that investigation was underway to establish cause of the accident.
The deceased and the two survivors were taken to Kibogora Hospital.
Speaking to participants of the event, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Congo Brazaville, Théoneste Mutsindashyaka reflected on bravery that characterized Rwandans in the past to defend national sovereignty.
“Since the creation of Rwanda, nationals have been characterized by bravery through expanding Rwanda’s territory, defending the nation against external aggression, liberating the country and striving for its development,” he said.
Amb. Mutsindashyaka urged Rwandans to emulate virtues that characterized the country’s heroes, particularly strong love for the nation and continuously striving for its prosperity.
He concluded advising the youth to be exemplary citizens contributing to national progress.
Participating Rwandans thanked the ambassador for delivering an insightful talk and pledged to continue working with other nationals for the development of their homeland.
Attendees also threw a party to celebrate the New Year 2022 together.
The National Heroes’ Day is celebrated on 1st February every year.
This year’s ceremony was held under the theme ‘ Our Heroism, Our Dignity’.
According to the law establishing the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honor “a hero is any person who pursues objectives he/she undertakes to obtain a special achievement for the public interest and with high proven integrity, sacrifice and noble courage in his/her acts and who avoids being a coward in his/her actions in very trying situations.”
{{Rwandan heroes are classified into three categories namely:}}
{{Imanzi:}} The unknown soldier and Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema.
{{Imena:}} Mutara III Rudahigwa, Rwagasana Michel, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, Niyitegeka Félicité and Nyange students.
{{Ingenzi:}} No hero was classified in this category.
The worshippers, who belong to Anglican and Pentecostal churches, were found in a cave located in Kabaya Village, Ruyenzi Cell in Runda Sector at about 1pm.
Their arrest followed a tip off by local residents, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Southern region Police spokesperson.
“They had converged in the cave called ‘Mu rya Yakobo’ praying, and this is the second time the same group has been arrested in the same area, which is under big rocks. It is equally so dangerous to go in this rocky cave,” SP Kanamugire said.
The violators were taken to Runda Police station where they were educated on health measures against Covid-19, tested for Covid-19 at their own cost and handed administrative fines.
The Police Marine Unit seized from the smugglers over 400 pieces of Kitenge, an African fabric, and 125kgs of powdered milk.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Western region Police spokesperson said that the smugglers had used Lake Kivu to smuggle the goods into Rwanda in Miramba Village, Kinyaga Cell, Nkanka Sector in Rusizi.
“Residents in Kinyaga Cell called the Police Marine Unit at about 11pm, reporting a group of people, who were at the time unloading goods from a boat on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Police officers attached to the Marine unit were swiftly deployed but the smugglers, on seeing the Marine boat, fled back leaving the smuggled goods behind,” said SP Karekezi.
He thanked residents for the community policing spirit to fight smuggling and related illegal cross-border activities.
The impounded goods were taken to the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) offices in Rusizi as the search for the smugglers continues.
In article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, smuggled goods are auctioned.
{{Tax fraud}}
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is also subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years.
“We are looking at [cooperation with UAE in] space sector. One of the things we’re looking at is how do we leverage data in general, but very specifically geospatial data, to support some of the programmes and policies that we are implementing in agriculture, education, mining, and infrastructure development,” said Paula Ingabire, Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation.
In an exclusive interview with WAM at Rwandan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, she noted that the geospatial data is globally being leveraged and utilised in policy decisions and programme implementation.
“We know UAE is quite advanced in this area and we would like to learn from the UAE,” affirmed Ingabire who is a known technology enthusiast. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management, in the System Design and Management programme.
{{Satellite launching, geospatial data cooperation}}
Asked whether Rwanda is looking for the UAE’s cooperation for launching its own satellite or sharing geospatial data from the Emirati space assets, the minister said, “It’s actually a mix of both. The starting point is building capacity. You can have access to different geospatial datasets, and you have the capacity and the ability to mine, analyse and translate that into a way that creates value for us. So that’s our starting point,” she explained about the potential cooperation with the UAE.
Being able to have those analytical skills and tools will enable Rwanda to use that data for valuable insights in its policies and programmes being implemented in the country, Ingabire emphasised.
“We also have ambitions, obviously, to partner with countries like UAE to build and be able to launch our own satellite. That may be a mid to long term ambition, even as we already think about the low hanging fruit, which is really around building analytical skills and how we can make the best use of these geospatial data,” she explained.
{{Cooperation in governance, technology, innovation}}
The minister made it clear that Rwanda is keen to cooperate with the UAE in any potential sector.
“The anchor of those kinds of cooperation is around knowledge and skills transfer and building the right capabilities that will allow us to benefit from the experience that UAE has.”
Ingabire pointed out that the UAE has a very good government, and experience in exchange programmes focusing on technology and innovation. “The UAE has deployed various technologies and innovations to really improve efficiencies and drive productivity. So, that’s another framework that we’re looking to engage on with UAE.”
{{Education, agribusiness, e-commerce}}
Education is another potential area of cooperation, the minister added. Human capital development, trade and investment, agribusiness, and e-commerce, along with technology and innovation, are potential areas.
“We are working to create partnerships around artificial intelligence (AI). Both UAE and Rwanda are hosting the World Economic Forum Centres for 4th Industrial Revolution. The UAE is around building the right policy and business landscape to nurture AI innovations,” she pointed out.
Another potential area of cooperation is cybersecurity and the biggest focus is really on skilling – providing the much-needed skills and nurturing specialists in this sector, she said.
Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO mediated the conflict in Mindanao by proposing a peace agreement by local representatives. Witnessed by Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL, the peace agreement was signed by Hon. Esmael G. Mangudadatu, the then Governor of Maguindanao, and Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando Capalla of the Archdiocese of Davao representing local leadership. Since then, the province of Maguindanao and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) declared January 24 as “HWPL Peace Day” and have commemorated it as annual event to reaffirm international cooperation and local partnership for peacebuilding in Mindanao.
The event, under the theme of “Law of Peace in Heaven and on Earth”, aimed to promote interfaith harmony between religions and raise public support to establish international law for peace.
Key figures gave congratulatory messages including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, and TV News Anchor Mariz Umali from the Philippines. Keynote speakers from various fields also presented commitment messages declaring their plans on promoting peace in their respective sectors including law, education, youth, women, private business and media.
Prabhu Mahendra Das, Temple President of Sri Sri Radha Madhava Mandir, said that he decided to participate in the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office organized by HWPL as “a global platform for religious leaders to talk, share, discuss, learn, and grow together harmoniously and peacefully.” Commenting on the contribution to peace in the field of religion, he suggested that all religions should enter into a partnership through the form of a Memorandum of Understanding.
Justice Raoul Victorino (ret), Chairman of Philippine National Prayer Breakfast (PNPB) and Dean of the College of Law of Philippine Christian University (PCU), shared how he was inspired by the “revolutionary movement” that HWPL initiated to endorse global peacebuilding through the draft the “Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)” by global experts in international law to advocate peace as a global culture and norm. He declared, “I will strive to get the support of the President of the Philippines for the National Solidarity Support of DPCW. At the same time, I will integrate DPCW [education] in the college of law by collaborating with the Philippine Association of Law Schools.”
Also, representing the Philippines education sector, Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commissioner on Higher Education (CHED) shared, “The CHED Commission en Banc has issued an endorsement to President Duterte, urging him to declare January 24 as ‘National Peace Day’, that will provide for simultaneous celebration and observance of peace through peace activities, events, and ceremonies by all instrumentalities and agencies of government, including the private sector. This shall also be celebrated and observed in the education sector.”
“Our purpose is to bring all people in the world together to create a world of peace and leave it as a lasting legacy for future generations. To make this world a peaceful place without wars, let us become messengers of peace. Let us remind people around the world of that emotion—a longing for peace—and the Peace Day so they can remember all of this forever,” said Chairman Lee during the closing remarks.
The delegation led by Major Gen (rtd) Jai Menon, the Director of the UN Office of Strategic Partnership for Peacekeeping (OPSP), was received at the RNP General Headquarters by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza.
The visit is aimed at observing the training packages given to Police officers selected for peacekeeping missions, prior to their deployment.
The delegation also inspected the the contingent owned equipment used by the deployed units in UN peacekeeping missions.
Maj. Gen (Rtd) Menon commended RNP for the quality training which he added that it defines their performance and successful tour-of-duty.
“The inspection and evaluation we have made indicate that RNP has quality training modules for its Formed Police Units prior to their deployments in UN peacekeeping missions, and their equipment fit the required standards,” said Menon.
He thanked Rwanda as the second leading Police contributing country to UN peacekeeping missions, for its commitment to international peace.
Rwanda is second after India, with about 1,000 Police peacekeepers in different UN peacekeeping missions.
DIGP Ujeneza, on her part, thanked the United Nations delegation for visiting RNP.
“Rwanda National Police remains committed to Rwanda’s stand on international peace and always willing and ready to deploy and serve whenever called,” DIGP Ujeneza said.
The remains were found and exhumed on Thursday 3rd February 2022 in Sabununga village, Nkamba cell of Ruramira sector.
The President of Ibuka in Ruramira sector, Elsa Nziyoroshya has told IGIHE that the remains were seen by a resident tilling his garden on the side of the dam.
“A resident tilling his land on the dam’s edges has found remains of a Genocide victim while more victim’s remains were found at the same place recently. They are an addition to more remains exhumed from the dam in December 2021 during community work,” he said.
Nziyoroshya said that they are awaiting the Government to decide on the way forward to continue searching for remains of victims dumped in the dam during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
A total of 228 remains of Genocide victims have been exhumed since activities to drain the dam began in 2020.
