Dr. Bizimana Jean held the position since 2015. The formation of the new Ministry was part of resolutions of the virtual cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 14th July 2021 chaired by President Paul Kagame.
The latter will focus on national unity, historical memory and citizenship education.
The newly created Ministry will also merge duties of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) and the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC).
The new appointments have been announced in a communiqué signed by Premier Dr. Edouard Ngirente on behalf of President Paul Kagame.
The communiqué also reads that Francis Gatare has been appointed Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic.
He has been serving as the CEO of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum & Gas Board.
Gatare will be replaced by Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi who previously represented Rwanda to the United Kingdom prior to new appointment.
Other appointees include Fidele Ndahayo named the CEO of Rwanda Atomic Board; Clarisse Munezero, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement Dr. Thierry Mihigo Kalisa who became the Chief Economist at the National Bank of Rwanda.
According to the Pew Research Center’s 2020 report, persecution against minority religions happened in more than 90 percent of countries. Leading media outlets including the New York Times reported related cases like India’s Hindu nationalist ruling party abused voters’ faith to instigate confrontation among religious groups, China’s Tibetan genocide, and Sri Lankan religious conflict.
Mr. Sathit Kumarn, the president of Ramakrishna Vedanta Association presented his opinion for peaceful coexistence with minority religion, “The one thing which is really important is treatment. We must treat equally neither who are in belief of major or minor religion.”
After opening presentations by religious leaders from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam about introduction of each religion, HWPL presented the definition of minority religions, cases of minority religious persecution around the world, and national and private cases of action for interreligious coexistence.
Participants then shared in groups perceptions of religion in each countries and discussed roles and ways to improve awareness of minority religions and achieve coexistence.
Prof. Tarig Mohamed Nour Ali, the associate professor of the University of Khartoum proposed the reason for the conflicts with minority religions and solutions by saying, “The important thing is to respect their religion. We should be careful that your belief is not the only one truth.”
Mr. Mambo Leonard Andruga, the advisor for program and administration to the secretary-general of South Sudan Council of Churches said, “We must recognize that we are all equal. We are all a part of the world. So we have to hear each voice by having inter-religious dialogues and understand each other.”
HWPL was established in 2013 to achieve world peace with cessation of war and has been working with more than 100 international organizations, civil society, and governments to promote peace. HWPL Religious Peace Camp has been held in India, America, Myanmar, Burundi, and other countries every year to overcome religious differences amid the growing issue of religious conflicts around the world. In September, HWPL will hold the HWPL World Peace Summit with politicians, legal professions, religious leaders, educators, youth, women and journalists to present concerted action for sustainable peace amid the current global crisis.
Ntwari who was killed in the night of Saturday has been working as a mechanic in Kampala City.
IGIHE has learnt that Ntwari has been living in Uganda for the past four years. He hails from Ngoma district in Eastern Province.
It is said that a colleague with whom they had traveled together to work in Uganda went to check on him at his home on Sunday morning before going to work but found him strangled to death with burns on his body.
Security officials were immediately alerted whereafter one of housemates was arersted while another one escaped.
His body was taken to the mortuary of Mulago Hospital on Monday morning.
Ntwari’s sister was notified and asked to make burial arrangements for her brother in Rwanda.
On another note, Ugandan Police announced, on 30th August 2021 around 10:30 a.m, the death of another Rwandan man in Karujanga area of Kabale District.
Dusabimana has been running business along with three colleagues in the area located in one kilometer from Rwanda’s border with Uganda on the side of Gicumbi district, Northern Province.
It is said that murderers stabbed him to death after stealing his money estimated at Rwf1 million.
Dusabimana was born in 1969.
The number of Rwandans murdered in Uganda has been increasing since 2017 when both countries’ relations deteriorated.
At the time, Uganda had started hunting Rwandans accusing them of espionage.
In June this year, another Rwandan identified as Bazambanza was killed in Uganda where his body was dumped at the country’s border with Rwanda in Burera district.
They are an addition to other Rwandans deported from Uganda at different times after enduring torture in Uganda’s detention facilities accused of being spies.
As COVID-19 pandemic emerged in March last year, Rwandans living in Uganda were overwhelmingly harassed accused of spreading the virus to the country.
In March last year, Uganda evicted over 342 Rwandans in connection with similar accusations. At the time, they were dumped at porous borders in the districts of Burera and Gicumbi in Northern Province.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Uganda has deported over 70 Rwandans under similar circumstances since the beginning of the year 2021.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents that are posing a threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
The CEO of Bank of Kigali, Dr. Diane Karusisi has said that the revamped services allow Rwandans living abroad to acquire loans, buy shares onRwanda Stock Exchange and deposit in dollar currency.
Commenting on motives to redesign the offering for Rwandans in the diaspora to meet their banking needs, Dr. Diane Karusisi said: “We wanted to provide improved banking solutions helping them to transact as they send money to and invest in Rwanda. We are aware that they are keen on investing in Rwanda and sought to provide ground for them to be part of national economic development.”
Bank of Kigali has also assigned a team that is in charge of communicating, managing diaspora account holders and providing advisory on financials services and investment as well.
Dr. Karusisi has said that a new member of Rwandan diaspora with an existing account can be helped to convert it into a diaspora account and to get all the incentives that come with it so long as there is proof showing that that they are diaspora clients.
These include opening free opening of an account without monthly maintenance charges for new clients, depositing in different currencies including Rwandan Francs, US Dollars, Canada, CHF used in Switzerland, Euros, Pounds and making money transfers to Rwanda or withdrawing up to US$5000 without transaction charges.
According to the CEO of BK, clients should rest assured of their security considering the fact that the bank has deployed a team to manage their accounts.
Among others, the Diaspora Banking Offering allows clients a multi-tenor (1 month to 5 years) fixed term deposit account in Rwf starting from Rwf300,000 and remunerated up to 12 % as well as fixed term deposit Accounts in USD starting from USD 50,000 and remunerated up to 1.5% per annum.
A diaspora client can also get fixed term deposit accounts in US$ starting from US$ 50,000 and remunerated up to 1.5% while saving accounts in Rwf are remunerated up to 8% per year.
Mortgage loans are also provided in Rwf and US$ currencies whereby new BK clients can apply for mortgage loans immediately after opening an account.
Rwandans living abroad can apply such loans with up to 20 years tenor.
{{Requirements to open the account}}
Rwandans living abroad can visit the BK website, www.bk.rw/Diaspora , download a designated document, fill the account opening form, get it notarized by the Rwandan Embassy and send it along with their National ID Copy and passport photo to www.diasporabanking@bk.rw .
Mbundu takes over from Mrs. Evelyn Rutagwenda who retired after serving the board for the past four years as chairperson.
Mbundu joins MTN Rwanda Board of Directors with experience as the owner of MFK Group, a company with diverse investment portfolio.
As she welcomed the new Board Director and Chairperson; the CEO of MTN Rwanda, Mitwa Ng’Ambi said: “We are extremely pleased with the appointment of Mr. Mbundu to our board and his election as chairperson. He comes with a wealth of experience and we look forward to receiving his guidance and tapping into his expertise. His entrepreneurial background will play a vital role in executing our ambition 2025 strategy, as we lead digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress.”
Mbundu has served on various Boards, including being the Chairperson of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) as well as East African Business Council (EABC), Chairman of MBEA Financial Services Rwanda, Chairman of Cotraco Rwanda and the Vice Chairman of the Rwanda Fine Coffee Association among others.
Commenting on his appointment, Mbundu said: ” I am honoured to be joining MTN Rwanda Board of Directors , considering the 23-year journey of MTN in Rwanda and especially at a time when MTN Rwanda is rolling out the new Ambition 2015 strategy ,which is already resulting in impressive results. I look forward to continuing the remarkable work Mrs. Evelyn Rutagwenda and the outgoing Board of Board of Directors accomplished and being part of MTN’s mission to ensure everyone enjoys the benefits of a modern connected world.”
As she concluded, Ng’Ambi expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson Rutagwenda saying: ” Mrs. Evelyn Rutagwenda played an instrumental part in our success for the past four years, and it goes without saying that her active participation, dedication and continued support resulted in our year in year growth across the entire business.”
Rwanda National Police (RNP), on Sunday, August 29, also took four people into custody in connection with the theft.
Three of the suspected thieves were employees at the school construction site. They are Enias Hafashwimana, 32, Erneste Mukiza, 30, and Justin Hitayezu, 29, who were arrested on August 28, in Rushubi Village, Gihorwe Cell, Kabatwa Sector.
The fourth suspect, only identified as Niyomugabo, is a local welder who had bought the metal door and window frames from the trio.
The Western region Police spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, said that the arrest followed investigations on the theft and information exchange between the Police, the school administration and the public.
“Police received information from the school administration that the metal door and window frames meant for the new classrooms that are under construction, were stolen by unknown people at night. During related investigations, Police identified and took into custody the three prime suspects working at the construction site (Hafashwimana, Mukiza, and Hitayezu). Following their arrest, they disclosed that they sold the metal door and window frames to Niyomugabo, who was also arrested with all the stolen frames,” CIP Karekezi said.
Niyomugabo said that he bought the five frames from the trio for Rwf30,000. The school management thanked the RNP for their quick response to recover the frames.
CIP Karekezi also thanked the local residents, who shared information that led to the recovery of the stolen construction materials and arrest of the suspected thieves.
He reminded the public that theft of such materials affects the education system and denies children from getting classrooms. He urged residents to guide such construction materials jealously and report anyone that attempts to embezzle or steal them.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Kabatwa station for further legal process.
Article 166 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person convicted for theft 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 Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
The penalty doubles, if the theft was carried out at night or by more than one person.
The drivers were shown to the media this Monday, August 30, at Nyarugenge District Police Unit in Rwezamenyo Sector.
Paul Mutangana Nsengiyumva, one of the drivers said that he had taken a bottle of beer before he was arrested at about 9pm, in Kicukiro District for impaired driving.
“I took one bottle of beer when I was having my meals at a restaurant in Kabuga, I thought that one beer could not be detected but I was surprised when the Police tested the blood alcohol content with a breathalyzer and showed me that it was 2 millilitres,” Nsengiyumva said.
One is considered a drunk driver when the blood alcohol content goes beyond 0.8 milliliters.
“I have been in custody for five days now, and this might even result in dismissal from my job. I have learnt my lesson and I wish no one goes through the same situation, which is to do the right thing; not to drink and drive,” Nsengiyumva said.
Michel Shyirakera also claimed that he had taken one bottle of beer at home and that he tested 2.3 when Police stopped him as he was going back to work.
The Deputy RNP spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Africa Sendahangarwa Apollo warned that these are part of the daily Police operations to fight impaired driving and to prevent road fatalities caused by drunk driving.
“We always remind people that driving under the influence is a serious road safety violation and suicide. It is one of the avoidable behaviors causing fatal accidents. Police will continue to sensitize and educate the public on safer road usage but also ensure that such errant individuals putting lives of people at high risk, are penalized accordingly,” CSP Africa said.
He further warned drivers that the rules and regulations determining penalties to traffic offenders are currently under review, particularly on the serious issue of drunk driving with proposed cancellation of the driver’s permit for anyone caught for the offense.
The statement released last night shows that 518 people have succumbed to COVID-19 out of 8766 sample tests while nine recovered.
A total of 631,522 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,502,249 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program.
Rwanda is among African countries that have started administering vaccines since March this year starting with people whose line of duty puts them at risk of catching the virus.
On Monday 23rd August 2021, Rwanda started COVID-19 mass vaccination targeting all people aged 18 and above.
The mass vaccination campaign started with Kigali City expected to be extended countrywide later depending on available vaccine doses.
Rwanda plans to vaccinate 30 per cent of the population by the end of 2021 and continues efforts to acquire sufficient doses through direct purchases and other arrangements, to ensure as many Rwandans as possible are protected from COVID-19.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Habineza breathed the last on 20th August 2021 succumbing to natural cause in Kenya where he had been taken for medical attention.
The ceremony to bid last farewell took place at his home where different mourners gave testimonies reflecting on late Habineza’s kindness, compassion and self-less love which characterized him throughout his life.
The Senate President, Dr. Augustin Iyamuremye was also among mourners.
After prayers led by pastors from Presbyterian Church in Rwanda, ceremonies continued at Rusororo graveyard in Gasabo district where Habineza has been laid to rest.
Speaking at the funeral, Habineza’s father said that God has recalled his servant.
“I am grateful to God because he gave him life and has recalled him. I have nothing else to do except thanking God because Job said ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there’. I am convinced that Habineza is in the hands of God,” he said.
The son of Habineza, Jean Michel Habineza has also reflected on indelible memories with his father who always taught them to lead humble life and live in harmony with members of the society.
“I visited grandmothers two weeks ago. I heard him criticizing my father that he trusted everyone as if they all wished him well. It gave me inspiration to lead humble life and leave a good legacy by the time of my advanced ages,” he said.
Joseph Habineza was born in Kamonyi district in Southern Province on 3rd October 1964.
He served in various positions where he worked with Heineken in Kinshasa between1994-1998 and headed the digital power arm of Heineken in Nigeria between1998-2000.
Habineza started his political career in 2004 after returning from Nigeria. At the time, he was appointed the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.
In 2008, the Ministry was split into the separate institutions where Habineza continued to assume duties as the Minister of Sports and Culture until 2011.
He was later appointed Rwanda’s ambassador to Nigeria and Ghana.
Habineza rejoined the cabinet in 2014 following his new appointment as the Minister of Sports and Culture. He held the position for 183 days and replaced on 24th February 2015.
In November 2016, Habineza started own businesses where he was involved in the wholesale of noodles produced from Egypt based firm known as Antoniou.
He was appointed the CEO of Radiant Yacu Ltd in 2019 and left the position in August 2020.
Karema made the pledge on 22nd August 2021 as she took over from the outgoing president, Sarah Doukouré hailing from Ivory Coast.
Rotary Club Kigali-Doyen was established 55 years ago.
Karema has previously served as the head of funds mobilization department at the club.
Speaking to IGIHE, Karema revealed that she will draw attention to promoting charitable activities funded by the organization.
“Normally, members of Rotary International are experts with different backgrounds. Some of them are entrepreneurs or work with different institutions. It is therefore our responsibility to bring them together and consolidate efforts towards common goals to conceptualize and implement projects beneficial to the community,” she said.
Karema explained that the organization seeks to raise approximately Rwf30 million from members and other donors to execute different projects aimed at impacting the community within which they operate.
“We have several projects to in the pipeline. For instance, we started building hand washing facility for students last year complementing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We also have a project to plant trees to contribute to environment preservation efforts, prevent erosion and plan to subscribe vulnerable residents for community based health insurance, support teen mothers and hospitals to acquire medical supplies during times of COVID-19 among others,” she noted.
Karema pledged to work with other clubs to execute a number of mega projects and increase Rotaract clubs.
The outgoing president, Sarah Doukouré revealed that last year’s activities prioritized interventions to people affected by COVID-19.
“I would like to call upon members to maintain acts of benevolence to members of the community and remain committed to changing the world into a better place to live in,” she advised.
Rotary Club Kigali-Doyen plans to increase members from 36 to 46 this year.
Rotary club is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes and fighting disease.
Rotary Club International was established 116 years ago. It is currently comprised of 1.2 million members from 200 countries.
In Rwanda, the organization has 157 members from seven clubs including Rotary Club Kigali Doyen, Mont Jali, Musanze Murera, Butare, Gasabo, Kigali-Virunga and Bugoyi Ibirunga.
These clubs get new leaders every year on rotational basis.
