Among others, 166 new cases have been found out of 1937 sample tests while no recovery recorded.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 108, Huye: 18, Kirehe: 9, Rwamagana: 7, Nyagatare: 7, Rubavu: 6, Muhanga: 6, Nyamasheke: 3, Rusizi: 1 and Bugesera: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9950 people have been tested positive out of 771 275 sample tests of whom 6974 have recovered, 2851 are active cases while 125 have succumbed to the pandemic.
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.
The cooperative comprises of 55 farmers practicing agriculture on over 16 hectares using irrigation technologies under ‘Rwabicuma Project’ launched 2015.
Farmers say that ‘Diversity Venture Ltd’, a Kenyan company contracted to buy their produce did not pay Rwf 24 million worth of supplied produce, leading to the loss of chili in garden worth Rwf 78 million.
The company is locally represented by Mujawayezu Marie Immaculée.
Habimana Gérard, the president of ‘Jyambere Muhinzi Nyanza’ cooperative has told IGIHE that the contractor has only paid Rwf 2 of Rwf 24 million he owed them.
“He only paid us Rwf 2 million. Considering the unpaid balance and Rwf 78 million chili produce wasted in gardens, we count over Rwf 100 million losses,” he said.
Habimana has explained that agreements between the Kenyan company to buy produce were entered in August 2019 that supply started in February 2020.
“The contractor said she would pay in installments within two weeks and pay the rest on 30th August 2020. However, she only paid Rwf 2 million leaving the balance of Rwf 22,249,400 which she promised to pay upon return to take the remaining harvest. We ended up missing her that our produce was wasted in gardens,” he noted.
Habimana says the failed promise was made in May 2020.
Farmers appealed for support to different institutions including Nyanza district, National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and the delegation of parliamentarians visiting the cooperative in November 2020 but efforts remained futile.
One of members called Batamuriza Martha has told IGIHE that he has left the cooperative due to underperformance emanating from the loss.
“I got discouraged and no longer participate in the cooperative’s activities because the contractor didn’t pay us. I can’t afford further investments,” she said.
Other members of ‘Jyambere Muhinzi Nyanza’ cooperative have appealed on leaders to help them recover the debts and find the right market for their produce.
“We would appreciate if we get direct access to the market without supplying to the contractor. We also request for support to process chili produce before selling,” said Habimana.
The mayor of Nyanza district, Ntazinda Erasme, recently promised these farmers to address the problem in collaboration with NAEB.
“People owing debts to farmers were summoned to explain how they will clear payments. We scheduled a meeting next week after Christmas for farmers to get details on how they will get payments,” he said.
Towards the end of December 2020, the contractor wrote a letter promising to visit farmers in January 2021 to discuss how to make payments in installments.
IGIHE has tried to speak to Mujawayezu representing Diversity Venture Ltd in Rwanda for comments on farmers’ accusations but declined to take phone calls.
Mayor Ntazinda said that they are designing a project that will set up a factory adding value to farmers’ produce to avoid similar risks.
With his decision, Francis gives women the right to act as readers and altar servers, assisting the priest during services or in administering Communion.
Although the move is far from the more significant step of admitting women to the priesthood, Francis said it was a way to recognize that they can make a “precious contribution” to the church.
The new law merely formalizes a role that women in many parts of the world, including Rwanda, have already been holding. But until now, they had been serving as acolytes and lectors as the positions are known at the discretion of local bishops or priests. In some cases, conservative bishops have made a point of enforcing male-only altar services, something they will no longer be able to do.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Archbishop of Kigali, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda welcomed the decision of Pope Francis highlighting that it will foster evangelization.
Referring to Coronavirus preventive measures that saw the Government imposing lockdown and ordering churches’ closure, Kambanda explained that laities have proven capability to contribute to church services where they took responsibility to teach children how to pray and led gospel celebration at home or elsewhere during and after lockdown.
“You understand that laities are getting more involved in leading liturgical services. At home, a child recognizes God, learns to pray, how to remain faithful and seek protection from God. These virtues are imparted by parents. In fact, family is the church’s foundation,” he said.
“Pope Francis wants laities to be involved in church’s activities to increasingly decentralize services to Christians. A priest might not be able to reach all patients who need sacraments but laities provide assistance,” added Cardinal Kambanda.
In a new edict, the pope formalized what in practice has been already allowed for years in many communities around the world.
“The pontiff, therefore, has established that women can accede to these ministries and they are attributed by a liturgical function that institutionalizes them,” the Vatican said.
It also stressed, that these roles were “essentially distinct from the ordained ministry,” explaining that this new step towards women’s equality within the church should not be seen as a precursor to women being ordained as priests – something feared by many conservative Catholics.
The new decree, called “Spiritus Domini,” modifies the Code of Canon Law to establish that women can have access to these ministries and that they are recognized through a liturgical act formally instituting them as such.
The pope said many bishops from around the world had said that the change was necessary to respond to the “needs of the times.”
In recent years the church has struggled in some regions to recruit new members of the all-male priesthood.
Francis specified that he wanted to welcome recommendations which have emerged from various synodal assemblies, writing that “a doctrinal development has been arrived at in these last years that has brought to light how certain ministries instituted by the Church have as their basis the common condition of being baptized and the royal priesthood received in the Sacrament of Baptism.”
The Motu proprio edict was accompanied by a letter addressed to the prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, in which Francis explained the theological motivations behind his decision.
The pontiff wrote that “within the spectrum of renewal traced out by the [the 1960s’] Second Vatican Council, the urgency is being ever more felt today to rediscover the co-responsibility of all of the baptized in the Church and the mission of the laity in a particular way.”
Pope Paul VI was the pioneer of reforms placing women in liturgical services since 1963. Later on, his successors gradually appointed women in Catholic Church’s decision making positions.
An under-18 adolescent is considered by the law as a minor and is limited to accessing sexual reproductive health services without parents’ or guardians’ consent.
Rwanda’s 2020 report on human rights shows that 11.6% teenagers were provided with contraceptives while 15,656 unexpected pregnancies among teenagers were recorded last year between January and August.
The Government of Rwanda has been assessing the issue of unexpected pregnancies among teenagers depriving them some of basic rights like education.
As he appeared to the parliamentary chamber of senate in November 2018, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente said that the study was underway to seek how teenagers can be allowed to use contraceptives as one of solutions to reduce unexpected pregnancies.
Health Development Initiative (HDI), a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Kigali that empowers communities to lead healthier lives by providing access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services reveals that the requirement for adolescents to access contraceptives in presence of parents impedes the reduction of unexpected pregnancies.
Dr. Aflodis Kagaba, the Executive Director of HDI says that requiring parents to escort teenagers seeking contraceptives is still a challenge to the youth.
“The fact that under 18 teen is required to go with the parent at health facilities can be destructive because the society rests on differences that some parents might lose trust to children. If laws are revised, and extend awareness among the public that contraceptives doesn’t necessarily concern spouses would reduce such worries,” he said.
Dr Kagaba explains that people thinking contraceptives would trigger increased sexual relations and cause side effects to teens have inadequate information.
“People consider the negative aspects because they don’t have enough information. Health care professionals assist teenagers differently considering their age brackets,” he said.
Dr Kagaba says establishing centers with trained health care professionals assisting adolescents in reproductive health would be a great contribution.
Yvette Nyinawumuntu, the executive director of Save Generation Organization, a local non-government organisation dedicated to promoting and advocating for children and women’s rights has also told IGIHE that the current law poses difficulties to people seeking reproductive health services.
“Escorting teenagers for contraception services is a hindrance. Sometimes, adolescents have secrets that they fear to reveal to parents. The culture of educating children on reproductive health within families is also getting decimated. Primitive mindset is still a barrier for teenagers to access improved reproductive services. The situation will get boost, if a parents understand that helping daughters access such services is among consider primary responsibilities,” she says.
Nyinawumuntu explains that every parent should interact with children and develop the habit of educating them on reproductive health, thus creating the bond of friendship that children will be free to tell the truth.
She underscores that revising the law on human reproductive health and training stakeholders would be a step further to improved reproductive health services.
“We want the law to be revised and organize trainings to all stakeholders. We are advocating because parents need to interact and take care of children so that they grow with full knowledge on reproductive health. Parents will also understand that escorting children for such services is a responsibility,” says Nyinawumuntu.
Some adolescents told IGIHE that contraception is a good service for them but expressed concerns that girls fear to involve parents into private life.
“Providing teenagers with contraception services is a good program. It was implemented to help us but it is very difficult to engage the family for such support. Allowing adolescents to access such services without parents’ permission would be commendable,” says Ishimwe Clémentine aged 16.
In December 2020, the Ministry of Health revealed that discussions were underway to seek together how adolescents between the age of 15 and 18 can be allowed to access contraceptives without consulting parents or guardians.
Thirdly, the foundation seeks to conduct research on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in collaboration with relevant organizations through organizing conferences and seminars on the Genocide against Tutsi, archiving the history of the genocide and promoting the culture of reading and writing about the Genocide against Tutsi.
Speaking on the objective of this foundation, Yolande Mukagasana President and founding member said: “The ideology and the denial of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi is still topical, especially in journalistic and academic sectors influenced by the perpetrators of the genocide and their friends. With the evolution of the media that gave birth to social media which give an easy audience to the most weird statements in the name of freedom of expression. As keepers of memory, we cannot accept the distortion of the history of Rwanda and of the genocide in particular”.
The Foundation was founded by different people; Rwandans and foreigners of all categories in age, education, skills and experiences with different backgrounds, majority being young people who want to rebuild Rwanda, and build on differences. The Foundation will also denounce genocide denial and revisionism.
“We must know that our differences do not make us enemies, but the riches on which we must all rebuild. The genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi is the history of Rwandans, it is the history of humanity. To fight against the ideology and denial of genocide is to fight against hate. Hence, it’s everyone’s duty to get involved in this fight “added Yolande Mukagasana.
Yolande Mukagasana Foundation is open to anyone, to any institution, both national and international, sharing the same vision.
{{About Yolande Mukagasana}}
The genocide against the Tutsi has left Yolande Mukagasana widowed and childless. Since 1995, she has been confronted with the Denial and Revisionism of this genocide in the West. Her struggle began in 1995 in Europe where she spent 16 years talking and testifying about the Genocide against Tutsi, justice, peace and living together despite her wounds.
She has travelled around the world to bear witness to what happened in Rwanda in 1994. She has received various awards including the Honorable Mention of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, recognition by the American Jewish Community and many others.
Yolande Mukagasana is also the author of seven books translated into different languages and such are the reasons why Yolande Mukagasana’s commitment to promote the culture of reading and writing about the genocide against the Tutsi, hence keeping the memory alive.
Yolande Mukagasana believes that “There will be no humanity without forgiveness, there will be no forgiveness without justice, and there will be no justice without humanity.”
The duo of Emmanuel Semagori, 51, and Callixte Twizerimana, 36, was arrested separately in the evening of January 9, in Kabindi Village, Mahoko Cell in Kanama Sector with combined 1,002 rolls of cannabis.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that ANU had information that the two men were dealing in narcotic drugs.
“On January 9, ANU got information that Twizerimana had brought a new consignment of cannabis. At about 8pm that day, ANU officers went to his home, searched his house and recovered 502 pellets of cannabis, Twizerimana was immediately taken into custody,” CIP Karekezi said.
“Following the arrest of Twizerimana, he disclosed Semagori as his supplier. Police officers continued to Semagori’s house where they also recovered other 500 rolls of cannabis and took him into custody,” he added.
The spokesperson said that Semagori was suspected as one of the big drug suppliers and had escaped arrest during the previous Police operation conducted on October 11, last year, when he was also found with over 100 pellets of cannabis.
CIP Karekezi reminded anyone dealing in narcotics that one successful day will not guarantee that they won’t be arrested tomorrow.
“Although the Police cannot be everywhere, community policing and information sharing with the people is playing a big role in identifying and arresting drug dealers as well as breaking chains of supply.”
The two suspected drug dealers have been handed over to Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) at Kanama station.
The Ministerial Order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis among the “very severe drug.”
The law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, especially in its article 263, provides an imprisonment of between 20 years and life, for anyone convicted for very severe narcotic drugs and a fine of up to Rwf30 million.
The deceased include two women aged 45 , 73 respectively; a 70-year old man from Kigali and another 86 year old man from Rulindo district.
Among others, 154 new cases have been found out of 1890 sample tests while no recovery recorded.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 88, Gisagara: 11, Gicumbi: 11, Huye: 10, Rwamagana: 9, Karongi: 6, Nyagatare: 4, Musanze: 3, Rubavu: 3, Rusizi: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Bugesera: 2, Muhanga: 1, Rulindo: 1 and Nyabihu: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9784 people have been tested positive out of 769 338 sample tests of whom 6974 have recovered, 2686 are active cases while 124 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
Upon arrest last year, the officials were suspended for six months as investigations got underway on suspected connivance in misallocation of funds meant for the construction of feeder roads. It was said that suspects had connived to pay out a contractor before and the equipment were never delivered.
After spending four months in detention, Karongi Intermediary Court acquitted the officials on 9th December 2020.
As they were reinstalled to work, some employees at district level were appointed at sector level while existing sector executive secretaries got transferred.
These include the Director of Administration and Finance in Rutsiro district, Alexis Basabose who has been appointed the executive secretary of Mushubati sector.
Rutayisire Déogratias, former executive secretary of Ruhango sector has been transferred to Kigeyo sector while Ikizihiza Alida, the former executive secretary of Rusebeya sector has been transferred to Murunda sector replacing Ntihinyuka Janvier who was also sent to Rusebeya sector.
Bisangwabagabo Sylvestre, the former executive secretary of Kivumu sector has been transferred to Mukura sector.
Among others, Rutsiro district engineer; Kamana Jean Marie and Munyamahoro Cyato Justin, the Accountant returned to previous positions.
Land officers including Nshizirungu Emmanuel in Nyabirasi sector, Sekamana Théophile in Ruhango sector, Kagaba J. Baptiste in Mukura sector, Murari Richard in Murunda sector and Ndagijimana Aloys in Kivumu sector retained their positions.
The mayor of Rutsiro district, Emerance Ayinkamiye has confirmed their reorientation which she said, was done in consideration of legal provisions.
Acquitted officials resumed work on 7th January 2021.
The grenade was found yesterday around 11 am seen by casual workers who were digging around as confirmed by the executive secretary of Nyakabanda sector, Mugambira Etienne.
“The grenade has been found at one’s home as casual workers extracted stones from the ground,” he has told IGIHE.
He explained that relevant security officials came to pick the grenade and appealed on residents to be cautious whenever they found unusual metals.
The decision to repossess the land went into effect on 1st January 2021.
The decision raised mixed reactions despite Government’s repeated reminders to the public on registration deadline.
The Director of Land Administration Unit at RLMUA, Jean Baptiste Mukarage has told IGIHE that the land will be registered to the Government temporarily as they wait for owners to get them registered.
“The Government has taken over a total of 1,499,845 plots of land. These include 31, 997 in Kigali City; 503 274 in Southern Province, 399, 305 in Western Province; 303,383 in Northern Province and 261 886 in Eastern Province,” he said.
Mukarage explained that such lands remain unregistered for various reasons whereby some owners don’t value the activity, try to evade tax while others don’t have identities or lack basic documents to have lands registration.
Other reasons include people exploiting Government’s lands for free fearing to get them registered and others unwilling to expose their wealth.
Mukarage revealed that owners will continue to utilize their unregistered land before the Government communicates further decision.
“People will continue to register their lands presenting ownership documents obtained from cell’s land committees in collaboration with sectors’ officials,” he said.
Mukarage has underscored that deeper analysis will be conducted to understand why each plot of land is not registered before taking further decisions.
He said that the Government might take full ownership of unregistered lands if concerned people continue to keep quiet without claims to complete the registration process.
The Government of Rwanda launched land registration in 2009 completed 2013 but some people have not yet registered their properties.
In January 2020, RLMUA released a statement informing the general public that everyone should have registered his/her land within six months.
The deadline set on 30th June 2020 was extended to 30th December 2020 due to COVID-19. The institution revealed that unregistered land would be considered abandoned properties after the deadline.
Commenting on the deadline that was set towards the end of December 2020, the Director General of RLMUA, Esperance Mukamana explained that Rwanda has no gain in taking over people’s land and encouraged land owners to rush for registration.
“The Government has nothing to gain from taking over anyone’s property. We want people to do the necessary to register their land. If you fail to do so, the Government will temporarily takeover the land and return it when you have had it registered,” she said.
Mukamana explained that people registering the land temporarily owned by the Government will not be subject to fines and pointed out advantages of land registration.
“Land registration has played a critical role in solving land related disputes. For instance, land dispute cases taken to court have reduced. Moreover, land owners can use their land documents to acquire bank loans,” noted Mukamana.
The article 20 of the Law No 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 determining land use in Rwanda shows that land registration is obligatory.
Figures from RLMUA show that 9,965,648 plots of land have been registered since 2009 when the land registration exercise began that remaining ones without registration equal to 1,561,201 across the country.
