Father Twagirayezu has told IGIHE that he got information on his promotion while on duty in Nyundo.
“I have also learnt about the appointment in a while. I welcomed the good news with faith and devotion for the church, thanked Pope and bishops for the trust bestowed upon me. I have a feeling of satisfaction for continuing to serve the church and all people,” he said.
Father Twagirayezu has disclosed that he was excited for the appointment highlighting that it will continue to cement the bond of brotherhood with Christians of this Diocese.
The post has been vacant for four years after the appointment of Cardinal Antoine Kambanda as the Archbishop of Kigali. He however continued to serve as the Apostolic Administrator of Kibungo Diocese.
Father Twagirayezu was born in Crête Congo-Nil Parish in Rutsiro District. He was ordained priest on 8th October 1995.
The race saw riders setting off from Kigali Car Free Zone to cross the finishing line in Gisagara District.
As it happened during the first stage in Rwamagana, Vernon made a break away from the peloton again shortly before arriving at the finishing line nearby Gisagara gymnasium.
He was followed by other riders including Henok Mulueberhan of Green Project Bardiani and Meijers Jeroen of Terengganu Cycling Polygon.
All riders between the 1st and 46th have clocked the same time as they crossed the finish in the same peloton.
Chris Froome, four-time champion of Tour de France emerged the 47th to cross the finishing line. He is 7 seconds behind the peloton.
Eric Muhoza riding for Bike Aid is the best performing Rwandan after becoming the 28th rider to cross the line while Samuel Niyonkuru of Team Rwanda emerged 30th. Eric Manizabayo arrived at the 34th place.
Tour du Rwanda 2023 will continue with the third stage on Tuesday 21st February where riders will cover 199.5 kilometers from Huye to Musanze.
The ceremony to bid farewell to Rwigamba who succumbed to natural cause last week was also held on Sunday before the casket carrying his body was taken to Rusororo cemetery for burial.
It was attended by relatives, friends, parliamentarians, senators and other top government officials.
Senator John Bonds Bideri is among mourners who eulogized late Fidel Rwigamba.
He said that Rwigamba was characterized by dedication and had a strong sense of responsibility which helped him to discharge his duties diligently.
The Minister in the Office of the President, Judith Uwizeye represented President Kagame during the Lying-in-State ceremony and relayed his message.
“The President of the Republic and his family learnt about the sad news that Parliamentarian Fidel Rwigamba passed away. They are saddened by his demise and stand in solidarity with his children as well as the entire family during this time of great sorrow,” reads the message.
Uwizeye also said that President Kagame and his family wish children and the bereaved family to remain strong during this time of grief.
The Speaker of Parliament, Donatille Mukabalisa said that Rwigamba will be remembered for his good legacy of outstanding courage, teamwork as well as the values of humility and integrity.
“He leaves a huge gap but will be cherished for his good legacy. We will always remember him for his good deeds for the nation,” she said.
MP Fidel Rwigamba breathed the last at the age of 73 on 15th February 2023 after days of illness.
Rwigamba served as a parliamentarian since 2013. He was a clerk in the Chamber of Rwanda’s Senate from 2009 prior to the appointment.
He also held other positions as the State Minister in the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) in 2003 and Director in charge of coordination of governmental Actions in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2001.
The Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyagaju, Mayor of City of Kigali, Pudence Rubingisa, RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, FERWACY president, Abdallah Murenzi and Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Michaella Rugwizangoga as well as riders came together to hold Gerayo Amahoro placards, prior to the start of the continental race, to send a message of responsive road usage.
The all-out continuous campaign, which resumed in December last year, seeks to drive change from road safety by law to road safety by choice and ultimately by culture.
The first stage of this year’s edition held for the 15th time saw riders setting off from Kigali Golf Resort & Villas to cross the finishing line in Rwamagana District.
Vernon emerged winner of the first stage held on Sunday 19th February 2023 after making a breakaway from the peloton in few meters before reaching the finishing line.
Emilien Jeannière riding for TotalEnergies emerged second followed by Mulueberhan Henok of Green Project Bardiani cycling team and Fiorelli Filipo from the same team.
This year’s race is the fifth edition since Tour du Rwanda was upgraded to UCI 2.1 category in 2019.
Moïse Mugisha riding for Team Rwanda, was the top performing Rwandan Munyarwanda where he was the 21st to cross the finishing line clocking the same time used by other riders in his peloton.
Other riders in the same peloton include Masengesho (Team Rwanda), Muhoza Eric (Bike Aid) and Bigirimana Jean Nepo (May Stars).
British national Chris Froome from Israel-Premier Tech participating in Tour du Rwanda for the first time emerged 44th.
Tour du Rwanda 2023 will continue on Monday 20th February 2023 with the second stage from Kigali Car Free Zone to Gisagara district covering 132.9 kilometers.
At 93 riders are participating in this year’s race.
They were found in Mashyiga stream where they were mining cassiterite, in Nyakiguma, Birambo cell of Gashari sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) said that the duo was reported by area residents.
“Police had information about a group of people that conduct these illegal mining activities in Mashyiga stream, especially at night, destroying the environment and causing soil erosion.
Police and other members of security organs arrested two of them on Saturday, at about 02a.m, although their accomplices managed to flee in the process,” said CIP Rukundo.
Those arrested were handed over to RIB at Gashari station for further legal process.
CIP Rukundo warned against such a illegal mining activities and acts of environmental degradation, which are also risky to those involved.
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.
The plan seeks US$605 million to support Congolese refugees who have found safety in neighbouring countries across the Southern and Great Lakes regions. It also aims to provide support to their local host communities.
More than one million Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers are hosted across the African continent, the majority in Uganda (479,400), Burundi (87,500), United Republic of Tanzania (80,000), Rwanda (72,200), Zambia (52,100), the Republic of the Congo (28,600) and Angola (23,200).
Uganda remains the largest host country of refugees from the DRC on the African continent. In 2022 alone, attacks by armed groups in eastern DRC led to the exile of some 98,000 refugees to Uganda, where a total of almost half a million Congolese refugees are now hosted.
Settlements and camps have reached or exceeded capacity in many refugee host countries, and available basic services such as healthcare, water and sanitation are either stretched to their limits or too costly. Food insecurity is a growing concern as people struggle to afford necessities due to rising prices linked to the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine.
A statement released today reads that UNHCR and partners are calling on the international community to ensure continued support for these generous host countries, so vulnerable refugee populations can be provided with protection, shelter, food, health, education, and other basic services.
“In addition to emergency assistance, the 2023 RRRP seeks to promote economic self-reliance and resilience for refugees and vulnerable host communities. It will focus on youth- and women-led initiatives to reduce dependence on assistance,” adds the statement.
A fragile socioeconomic and political context – exacerbated by the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – combined with continuous insecurity due to recurring attacks by non-state armed groups, intercommunal violence, and serious human rights violations are limiting opportunities for displaced people to return to their homes and former livelihoods. These drivers are expected to cause continued flows of refugees into neighbouring countries in 2023.
Inside the DRC, more than 5.8 million women, men, girls and boys are internally displaced by conflict. In the eastern provinces, where more than 132 non-state armed groups operate, the majority of the displaced are hosted in warehouses, schools, churches or within host communities. Since March 2022, at least 521,000 people have been forced to flee in North Kivu Province alone.
Amb. Gatete made the disclosure on Thursday as he attended the committee briefing by the Group of Experts on the DRC which released a report towards the end of 2022.
The report was published amidst problems facing the country including the fighting between Congolese Army (FARDC) and M23 rebel group as well as the violence against Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, particularly of Tutsi ethnicity.
Amb. Gatete reminisced on violence in the country that has seen over 80,000 Congolese fleeing to Rwanda.
Since November 2022, Rwanda has been receiving at least more than 100 Congolese refugees every day.
“The narrative by DRC thus far is that Rwanda is the aggressor, and DRC is the perpetual victim. This is in spite of the fact that DRC lacks political commitment to implement the existing agreements and regional mechanisms, including the Luanda Roadmap and the Nairobi Process,” he said.
Considering the situation, Amb. Gatete called on the international community for action.
“It’s now time for the international community to recognize the plight of the Congolese Tutsi and take decisive action to hold accountable all those responsible to save millions of lives currently at stake in Congo,” he noted.
“The international community’s silence means a direct endorsement of atrocity crimes against these people,” he added.
Amb. Gatete reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to regional mechanisms and dialogue towards security in the region and called for decisive action to finally take place.
Figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Rwanda chapter, indicate that 4,176 Congolese sought refuge in Rwanda between November 2022 and 1st February 2023.
They are accommodated in Mahama camp and transit centers of Kijote and Nkamira in the districts of Rubavu and Nyabihu.
The majority of these refugees are from Northern Kivu Province in the regions of Masisi and Rutshuru.
BPR Bank was established in 1975 in Kabarondo as people’s bank and later opened branches in different parts of the country.
The goal was to enhance access to financial services among citizens. Members paid contributions and bought cheque books to help them in cash deposits and withdrawal transactions.
The founding members and those who joined the bank until 2007, became shareholders following the merger of operations across all branches and reforms that saw the former financial institution which operated as savings and credit cooperative becoming a commercial bank.
Apart from the reforms, BPR was sold to various firms namely RaboBank, Atlas Mara and most recently, KCB Bank.
The latest acquisition saw the bank changing its name to BPR Bank Rwanda Plc. KCB owns 87.56% shares in the bank while shareholders have 12.44%.
Some shareholders say that they do not have information on the state of their shares, profit and decisions taken at different times.
Speaking during the presentation of resolutions reached by the Quarterly Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee on Thursday 16th February 2023; the Central Bank Governor, John Rwangombwa said that the issue of BPR shareholders is set to be addressed.
“Some shareholders owning 17% have been identified. […] After acquiring BPR recently, KCB gave interested shareholders the option of buying their shares as the case for Atlas Mara,” he said.
Rwangombwa disclosed that there are many shareholders who could not be traced yet their shares are still valid. Announcements have been placed encouraging owners to declare their shares.
“We have set the deadline to address the issues this year. Shares belonging to those who will not have made declarations, will be kept in government’s coffers for abandoned properties. Meanwhile, others are available and work with new investors,” noted Rwangombwa.
On the recent hindrances that saw BPR clients struggling to withdraw their money, Rwangombwa explained that it resulted from system upgrade to streamline services.
He disclosed that the integration of the banks into one organization and transition from the former core banking system led to service interruptions.
Apart from the delay in cash withdrawals, Rwangombwa assured that clients’ funds are safe noting that the issues have been almost addressed.
The foundation stone for construction of the complex building in Kibungo town was laid on Thursday 16th February 2023 during a ceremony graced by Eastern Province Governor, Emmanuel Gasana.
The first phase of the project will be comprised of one-storey building with 20 rooms to be completed at a tune of over Rwf500 million.
Similar building with the same number of rooms is also expected to cost over Rwf500 million in the second phase.
The Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation in Ngoma District, Oreste Habakurama has disclosed that the building is a joint project by traders grouped in Ngoma Investment Group.
“As members of the private sector, we have realized that it is our responsibility to improve the magnificence of this town. That is why we concerted efforts to build this structure,” he said.
Habakurama said that the first phase will be completed within one year. He explained that the study plan for the second phase is underway.
Governor Gasana thanked members of the private sector in Ngoma and assured government’s support to ensure successful implementation of the project.
