Gakiza, who was arrested Saturday, January 15, was at the time traveling in a bus when it was stopped and searched in Gihinga Village, Gisiza Cell in Musasa Sector along Rubavu-Karongi highway.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, said that the arrest of Gakiza is part of the ongoing Police operations targeting drug dealers and smugglers.
“Majority of the smugglers and drug traffickers use Rubavu-Karongi via Rutsiro highway. On Saturday, at a check point mounted in Gihinga Village, Police officers while searching vehicles, they recovered a bundle containing 808 rolls of cannabis under one of the seats belonging to Gakiza, in the bus that she was traveling in en-route to Karongi. Gakiza was immediately arrested,” CIP Karekezi said.
Gakire did not disclose where she got the narcotics or where he was going to supply them. He was handed over to RIB at Gihango station for further investigations.
CIP Karekezi advised people engaged in drug related crimes to think of better business alternative instead of wasting their future in prison.
Art 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/moh/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation 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.
Minister Biruta who briefed officers of Rwanda Formed Police Unit One (FPU-1) and the Protection Support Unit (PSU), delivered a message from His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda thanking them for the selfless service and job well done to represent the country in the international peacekeeping duties.
The Minister was also briefed by the contingent commanders on their core tasks, including protection of civilians, protection of UN personnel and facilities, protection of CAR government official, Special Penal Court judges and MINUSCA high profile personnel as well as escort duties, among others.
He commended all Police officers for the courage, discipline and professionalism demonstrated in accomplishing their assigned tasks.
“Your country and His Excellency the President thanks you for your sacrifice, resilience, and the commitment you continue to demonstrate in accomplishing your mandated tasks. Your professionalism demonstrate the values and the image of Rwanda, which you stand for as ambassadors,” Minister Biruta told the officers.
He further briefed them on Rwanda’s status of cooperation with other countries, which continues to improve.
Minister Biruta also updated them on Rwanda’s strengthened measures against the pandemic of Covid-19, including vaccinating all people aged 12 years and above.
More than six million Rwandans have so far been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The Minister challenged the officers to continue to uphold the Rwandan values, maintain discipline and to always strive to raise the Rwandan flag during their tour-of-duty.
Rwanda maintains over 500 police peacekeepers under MINUSCA. The FPU-1 and PSU, each composed of 140 officers, are among the three Rwandan Police contingents deployed in CAR. Another FPU-2 contingent of 180 officers is deployed in Kaga- Bandoro in Nana–Grebizi prefecture about 400 kilometres from the capital Bangui.
The PSU is particularly charged with the protection of the SRSG, his two deputies, the Prime Minister of CAR, President of the National Assembly, Minister of Justice and the Head of MINUSCA Police Component.
Rwanda was the first country to deploy a Police contingent (FPU-1) in CAR in 2014.
The program’s final virtual event took place on January 12th-13th, where the six finalists pitched their concepts to a prestigious jury panel.
The statement released on Friday 14th January 2022 reads that the winners will share a prize fund of €200,000 and receive a year-long mentorship with internal experts from Tommy Hilfiger and from INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools. They also secured a place in an INSEAD program that brings people, cultures, and ideas together to cultivate innovative leaders.
More than 430 startups and scaleups from 22 countries submitted their ideas in January 2021 for this initiative, which echoes Tommy Hilfiger’s sustainability vision to Waste Nothing and Welcome All.
This year’s program particularly sought to amplify and support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who are working to advance their communities, while fostering a more inclusive future for the fashion industry. For the first time, fans of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand were able to participate in the initial phases of the challenge, where they cast their digital vote to help narrow down the applications to identify the finalists. Alongside Tommy Hilfiger associates at the final event, they were also invited to vote for their favorite pitch to award an additional €15,000 to one of the finalists.
“This empowering challenge brought together passionate and hard-working individuals with fresh ideas on how to create a future of fashion we can all look forward to,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “It was an impressive final event, and I am proud to continue this journey with the entrepreneurs who presented groundbreaking and impactful solutions that challenge how we think, build, and create.”
Lalaland, a Netherlands-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to generate customized and inclusive synthetic models, was awarded €100,000.
“Creating technology that drives a more inclusive and diverse e-commerce platform is at the heart of our vision at Lalaland,” said Michael Musandu, co-founder, and CEO of Lalaland. “Being part of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge brought incredible insights and will elevate our A.I. solution to reach more people than we could have imagined. Through donning this achievement, our team cannot wait to empower a welcoming online shopping experience, so no consumer feels under-represented.”
UZURI K&Y, a Rwandan-based eco-friendly shoe brand that uses recycled car tires from sub-Saharan Africa and employs 80 local youth, was also awarded €100,000.
Commenting on the development, Kevine Kagirimpundu, co-founder, and CEO of UZURI K&Y said: “We are honored to be named a winner of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge. This opportunity has provided mentorship, strategic guidance, and given us a platform to share our dream of bringing sustainable footwear options from Africa to the global market. We are dedicated to drive real impact and inspire the youth of today to craft a cleaner future.”
Clothes to Good, a South African-based social enterprise that creates micro-business opportunities and jobs for people with disabilities through textile recycling, was also awarded €15,000.
“We feel blessed to be recognized by the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge viewers, it’s an experience we will never forget,” said Tammy Greyling, Operations Director and Occupational Therapist at Clothes to Good. “It’s humbling to know others believe in our dream to really make a difference for people with disabilities and their families. Receiving this award will empower Clothes to Good to continue creating micro-business and job opportunities through textile recycling from the South African community.”
Entries for the next challenge will open in March.
Minister Biruta conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander -In- Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, wishing them a happy New Year and thanking them for fulfilling their mission with discipline and professionalism in Central African Republic.
Minister Biruta updated the Forces on current security situation in Rwanda and also on efforts the country has made in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic including giving vaccines to the population. He also briefed them on current relations between Rwanda and neighbouring countries.
The Head of Defence Intelligence, Brig Gen Vincent Nyakarundi urged the Forces to remain very determined in accomplishing their tasks.
Rwanda Defence Force is the largest troop contributing to the United Nations Multidimensional Integration Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic.
Brig Gen Didas Ndahiro, the RDF Command and Staff College Commandant said that the cultural day fosters intercultural dynamics amongst countries represented.
He stressed that sustaining the college’s prosperity and progress is predicated on the effective use of the talents and abilities of the college faculty and students in academic and social settings that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The cultural day is an opportunity to exchange lifestyle norms, values and customs of countries represented at the college.
The student representative, Lt Col Callixte Migabo said that culture is very paramount for defence forces as the doctrine of a military force is based on its historical background, the values and norms which are important aspects of a culture.
He noted that cultural understanding enables defence forces to deal with contemporary security threats which are difficult to tackle by a single state in isolation. Most of the current threats demand joint effort either under regional, continental or international mechanisms.
On behalf of allied students, Maj Bervyn Gondwe from Zambia Air Force said that the friendships forged as students from different course participating countries will prove very useful in future when students take up strategic leadership roles.
Eleven countries represented include Rwanda, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
They were arrested in mining concessions, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamduni Twizeyimana, Eastern region Police spokesperson.
He identified the suspects as Samuel Uzaribara and Fred Gisubizo, who were arrested red-handed in a wolfram concession located in Ryamutumo Village, Nyamugali Cell in Mwili Sector.
One Clementine Nyiramisago was also arrested in Gahengeri Village, Bunyetongo Cell, Murama Sector.
CIP Twizeyimana said that all the illegal miners were reported by security guards protecting the concessions.
“Police received information on Thursday at about 6am, from security guards at Ryamutumo mining concession that there was two people who were excavating minerals. An operation was swiftly conducted and Uzaribara and Gisubizo were found with traditional tools they were using to excavate minerals. They also had 10kgs of unprocessed wolfram,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
On the same day, he added, at about 1pm, Police received another call reporting Nyiramisago, who was seen leaving a cassiterite concession in Murama sector.
Nyiramisago was arrested with 3kgs of cassiterite.
CIP Twizeyimana warned against those involved in unlawful mineral related practices which in some cases result into loss of lives.
He further thanked the guards for reporting such illegal mining acts and urged the public to share information on such unlawful practices.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Mwili and Murama stations for further legal process.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Among others; a total of 1399 have succumbed to the virus since Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020.
The Ministry has also revealed that the country confirmed 533 new COVID-19 cases out of 15,000 sample tests, 10 people have been hospitalized bringing the total number of patients admitted at treatment centres to 45 of whom nine are critically ill.
Rwandans have been reminded of the critical importance of continuing to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures including proper wearing of face masks, frequently wash hands, keeping social distancing and receiving vaccine shots.
Ingabire was ordained priest on 21st August 2021 and assigned pastoral duties in Kizimyamuriro in Buruhukiro sector of Nyamagabe district.
The Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese, Célestin Hakizimana has told IGIHE that he also heard about the resignation adding that the priest himself knows the reason behind the resignation.
A letter that went viral on social media, apparently written by Father Ingabire reads that the resignation has nothing to do with his calling but the ‘Bishop of Gikongoro Diocese declined to support me and give attention to my concerns’.
Gikongoro Diocese is expected to review the letter and react to the priest’s resignation.
Efforts to contact the priest remained futile as his phone was off by press time.
They include Egide Ndikumana, 31, who was arrested Thursday, January 13, in Busasamana Sector, Nyanza District with a fabricated Covid-19 test message.
Abdoul Twaha, 30, who was also arrested on Wednesday, January 12, at Kamembe driving test centre in Rusizi District with a forged identity card and provisional driving licence in the names of one Issa Mwizerwa.
Their arrest came two days after other seven people were also apprehended at the driving test sites in Huye and Nyamagabe districts with forged ID cards and falsified RBC Covid-19 test results.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the suspects were identified as Police officers were checking the candidates’ documents.
“When Police officers at Busasamana site were checking whether the driving candidates fulfill the requirements, they noticed that Ndikumana had edited a Covid-19 test message, which had been sent to his wife,” SP Kanamugire said.
For Abdoul Twaha, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Western region spokesperson, said that he was trying to do the practical driving tests for one Issa Mwizerwa.
“Twaha had a forged provisional driving licence and identity card. The ID card was in Issa Mwizerwa’s names but bearing Twaha’s photo. When searched, Twaha was found with a service card of one of the local transport companies where he was already a driver,” said CIP Karekezi.
According to Twaha, Mwizerwa had promised to pay him Frw300,000 after passing the driving tests.
He urged those inspiring to be drivers to be first train and be equipped with competent knowledge and skills, follow due process to be good drivers and avoid imprisonment.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further legal process as the search for accomplices is still ongoing.
Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.
Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
