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Last week, Police intercepted two people in Rusizi District with 13 bales of second-hand clothes and 410 pieces of traditional garment commonly known as kitenge.

Earlier on August 4, the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) recovered 1574kgs of second-hand clothes in a house located in Busasamana Sector, Nyanza District, after they were smuggled into Rwanda from the neighboring Burundi through a porous border.

In the same operation conducted on July 27, RPU also impounded a vehicle in Muhanga District, Kanyinya cell in Mataba village loaded with 42 sacks of used clothes weighing 988kgs.

Similarly, five people were arrested on July 13, in Karongi District with 13 bales of second-hand clothes after they sneaked them into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Now, in the latest two separate operations conducted on Monday, August 15, and Tuesday, August 16, RPU and the department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crimes (ASOC) arrested six people in Nyabihu and Rubavu districts with assorted goods, including clothes, shoes, prohibited skin bleaching cosmetics and energy drinks,

The goods were sneaked into Rwanda from DRC, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).

In Nyabihu, CIP Rukundo said, Police impounded 10 bales of smuggled used clothes and arrested four people in connection with the acts.

“Residents had earlier shared information with the Police about a group of suspected smugglers, who had sneaked quantities of used clothes into Rwanda from DRC through a porous border in Bugeshi (Rubavu District), and were headed to Bigogwe in Nyabihu District,” CIP Rukundo said.

“The suspected smugglers were cut-off in Kora Cell en route to Sashwara market. Those, who were hired to transport the goods dropped them and run away after they saw the Police but the rightful owners were arrested and handed over to RIB at Kanama station while the goods were handed over to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in Rubavu,” he added.

In the Tuesday operation conducted in Rubavu District, Anti- smuggling unit arrested the duo of Elie Tuyisenge, 29, and Immaculee Mukamana in Akarundo village, Mbugangali cell, Gisenyi Sector with assorted smuggled goods, including 1534 pieces of prohibited skin bleaching cosmetics, 69kgs of second-hand clothes, 35 pairs of used shoes, 3000 pieces of shopping bags, 11 pieces of kitenge, a traditional fabric, and 11 pieces of Exo, an energy drink.

“Tuyisenge and Mukamana are part of a big group that was transporting the goods, which they had smuggled into Rwanda from DRC through Karundo. Police has since established that the goods belong to one Issa Ndungutse of Rubavu, yet to be arrested, who had hired the group to transport them from DRC to unknown location in Rubavu,” CIP Rukundo said.

He reiterated the RNP increased operations against smuggling and fraud, and the role of the public through information sharing.

Smuggling is punishable under the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, which provides that seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.

A vehicle intercepted transporting smuggled goods is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.

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.

Those arrested include one Eddie Bertin Munyaneza, the prime suspect, who allegedly stole the two laptops after he masqueraded as a participant at the Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) last month held at Radisson Blu hotel, and on August 12, during the Kigali Global Dialogue at Marriott Hotel.

RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that other accomplices include one Ndutiye Maurien Theophile, an employee of a local events management company, which was working at the conferences, who facilitated Munyaneza to secure a badge to access the conference venues.

Two others suspects are dealers in used electronics, who bought the stolen laptops from Munyaneza.

“The first laptop was stolen on July 18, at Radisson Blu Hotel while the second laptop was stolen on August 12, from a delegate who was attending the Kigali Global Dialogue at Marriott Hotel.

Munyaneza was the first to be arrested on Sunday, August 14, in Kicukiro District, Nyarugunga Sector, Kamashashi Village after Police thoroughly reviewed CCTV footages at both hotels,” CP Kabera said.

He added that Munyaneza disclosed his accomplices, including Ndutiye, who secured a badge for him, one Gihozo Jules, who bought the two laptops from Munyaneza for Rwf340,000, and Niyigena Jean de la Paix, who bought one of the laptops from Gihozo.

“One laptop was recovered from Niyigena while the other was recovered from Gihozo,” CP Kabera explained.

Munyaneza and Ndutiye are friends, who were last year taken to Nyamagabe rehabilitation centre after they were found to be addicted to heroin.

“The suspects have been handed over to RIB for further investigations. Apart from Munyaneza, these three others were working or had income generating businesses.

The young people should seize the available opportunities and engage in productive activities instead of wasting their lives in criminal acts and spending years in prison,” CP Kabera advised.

Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) 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.

CP Kabera further advised those who trade in used electrical and electronic equipment to comply with the regulations governing their business to fight such criminal acts and to avoid falling prey.

The development is part of initiatives meant to promote inclusive access to employment where Kepler seeks to increase the number of female employees from the current 34% to 50%.

The plan was announced recently on Friday 12th August 2022 as Kepler organized ‘Women Networking Event’ which brought together women from public institutions, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Participants of the event held in Kinyinya of Kigali City were taken through the organizational structure of Kepler, enlightened on its activities and available opportunities particularly for women.

Jane Kayihunga, the Human Resource Manager at Kepler said that the College employs people from different countries and announced plan to increase the number of women.

“Considering to our projections, we identified a gender gap at our college. Even though we don’t have job offers currently, we have organized this event to remind women from different corners to be standby to tap into future opportunities after learning about Kepler and its activities,” she said.

Olive Mulinda, a participant of the event from a telecommunication company revealed that she was excited to learn from Kepler’s activities.

“I already knew the institution but had no idea about partners and support extended to different people. I am now well informed and ready to link up with the college for future opportunities,” she said.

Gaelle Ishimwe, another participant from a mining company expressed delight for linking up and exchanging ideas with experts with different backgrounds.

“The major purpose was to learn about Kepler’s activities but we also learnt from other women’s experiences. It is a big institution with interesting activities. The women’s networking event is of critical significance,” she noted.

As the event draw to a close, a platform for participants was created to easily access information regarding available opportunities at Kepler.

Kepler began operations in Rwanda in 2004 as Orphans of Rwanda and later changed its name to Generation Rwanda in 2008. It used to help brilliant children from vulnerable families to attend higher education at institutions operating inside the country.

In 2013, it launched partnership with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) from the United States of America (USA) where students have been attending online classes.

In 2015, Kepler inaugurated a branch in Kiziba refugee camp in Western province with a view to help Congolese refugees access higher education.

In 2021, Kepler unveiled partnership with Rwanda Polytechnic for a program meant to equip graduates with soft skills polishing their competences at the labour market. The program was also launched at Kepler’s campus in Ethiopia.

In April 2022, Kepler College was accredited as a fully-fledged higher education institution in Rwanda to offer project management degree.

30% of 662 graduates from Kepler come from vulnerable families. The college targets to have enrolled 25,000 students by 2025.

The school is registering interested learners to attend classes from nursery to upper secondary.

The school strives to educate students, train them to live by good moral conduct, and equip them with relevant skills to deal with some of problems facing the society.

The Dean of Studies at Wisdom School, Evariste Bizimana has disclosed that they closely monitor students’ conduct and facilitate them to practice acquired knowledge to exhibit excellent performance.

“Rwanda’s curriculum recommends the combination of Theoretical courses and Practice sessions. We go an extra mile to explore applicability of acquired skills through different activities. This capacitates them to become future entrepreneurs,” he said.

“We educate students and equip them with skills helping them to become future entrepreneurs and contribute to national development in their respective capacities. A parent bringing a child to this school rests assured of her/his better future. It is shocking to see a secondary school graduate working as a mason-helper, spending almost all the times watching television or wandering yet he/she should have pursued vocational courses to create jobs,” added Bizimana.

The Director of Wisdom School, Elie Nduwayesu commended parents who got their children registered at the school and urged others not to miss the opportunity of educating children at a school credited for excellence.

“First of all, we thank parents who brought their children to this school. I am convinced that they have witnessed Wisdom School’s pursuit for excellence. We encourage others to get their children registered. Our ultimate aim is to educate a student who can adapt to different societies across the world and be part of desired transformations,” he noted.

The management of Wisdom School has also disclosed that it received positive feedback from parents who appreciated its quality education and requested for expansion.

It is against this backdrop Wisdom School plans to launch new branches in Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo and Nyagatare District in Eastern Province as well as Ngororero, Karongi, Nyamasheke and Rusizi in Western Province.

Wisdom School is a private school located in Musanze District with more branches in Rubavu, Nyabihu and Burera districts.

The school’s graduates have been exhibiting excellent performance since 2012 where it has released 1416 students who continued studies in public schools while others were sent to pursue education overseas.