According to a statement from Rwanda National Police, the assailants were armed with traditional arms and guns.
” During the night of 4th to 5th October 2019, armed gangs of whom the majority were equipped with traditional arms raided Kinigi sector in Musanze district where they killed and injured residents,” reads part of the statement signed by Police Spokesperson, John Bosco Kabera.
” These assailants killed eight people including six, with traditional weapons and two-shot dead. They also injured 18 others who were taken to hospital,” adds the statement.
Security officials rushed for intervention and comforting residents affected by the attack.
The development was confirmed by Minister of State in charge of primary and secondary education, Dr. Isaac Munyakazi yesterday as he visited ‘Centre de la Fraternite’ where the students will be tutored as they prepare to resume normal studies next academic year.
He also explained that Congolese living in Rwanda wishing to further education in Rwanda are welcome for the program.
“We stopped them from studying in DRC because the country has what it takes to advance their knowledge. Indeed, there are Congolese who appreciated our education and find no need to return to DRC yet they can afford courses of their choice in where they run businesses,” said Munyakazi.
According to Munyakazi, Rwandans were stopped from studying in DRC over the Ebola outbreak recurrently reported in DRC.
Every student will resume from the previous level of education without repeating courses so long as they are familiar with the English language.
During her previous visit to Rubavu district, the Minister of Health Dr Gashumba Diane advised residents against unnecessary travels to DRC over the Ebola outbreak reported in Goma.
Rwandan students were stopped from crossing the border from Gisenyi town to DRC on 2nd September 2019 as they were crossing to start the academic year 2019-2020 in Goma.
Participants will discuss Rwanda’s socio-economic progress and propose solutions to current and future challenges.
Over the last editions, Rwanda Day has brought together more than 35,000 Rwandans and Friends of Rwanda living in Europe, the US and other parts of the World. This year’s Rwanda Day will focus on three key topics; Ndi Umunyarwanda and Our Identity Journey, Rwanda Works! The Land of a million possibilities and opportunities, and Positioning Rwanda in today’s globalized world.
This edition has a special feature called the “Career Corner”; a career speed-dating event that offers activities to young professionals within the Rwanda Community Abroad. They will have the opportunity to hear from different professionals and Rwandans who recently returned home. They will also benefit from a demonstration of how the Kora Job Portal works and matchups with representatives from companies searching for talents.
These companies include the Bank of Kigali, I&M Bank, Carnegie Mellon University-Africa, Babyl, Cogebanque, Rwandair, the Business Development Fund, Bridge 2 Rwanda, Study in Rwanda, Westerwell, Garden Fresh, BBOX, Andela, Mara Phones, Irembo and Davis College Rwanda Akilah Campus and more.
Rwanda Day is the country’s biggest event held outside its borders, and one of the major factors that have kept Rwandans living abroad connected to the country and brought investors from various sectors. Rwanda Day has been held in the following cities: Brussels, Chicago, Paris, Boston, London, Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Ghent, and now Bonn in Germany.
This has involved Rwanda’s commitment to inch out of the shadows and emerging from the isolated isle that it was prior to 1994 liberation. Rwanda has joined regional and international blocs that have since contributed to the transformation of her geopolitics.
Since Rwanda joined the Commonwealth group in November 2009, the country has been committed to the core values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. This has seen her gaining much trust, that she has been entrusted with hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2020.
For Rwanda to play host for the 26th CHOGM is a vote of confidence from the 54 member states and the Commonwealth Secretariat which presents us with a rare opportunity of bringing the world to Rwanda, tell and show the world our story, our journey and opportunities Rwanda has for the world.
We need to tell our story that bespeaks of a people that have decided to define themselves with something beautiful; where there were destruction and poignant hurt, you now discover peaceful, built-up spaces with a vibrant undercurrent, economic activity, and social cohesion. Reaching this stage has been a journey.
The Rwanda Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat are already working together to share the experience of hosting a CHOGM. Rwandan Ministers and officials are enthusiastic and already have preparations well underway, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring a successful CHOGM in June 2020.
We have the opportunity of telling our thrilling story in more ways than one. As we do prepare for between 8,000 and 10,000 delegates who will attend the different segments of the CHOGM, (the Summit where the Queen and other leaders will converge, Business Forum, People’s Forum, Youth Forum, and Women’s Forum), we need to refine our services and protocol, right from the time they begin making online inquiries on visa requirements and other travel arrangements, to giving them an enriched experience, a good impression of whatever they’re exposed to in the country up to the time of seeing them off.
In a way, we are presented an opportunity to create a huge breed of goodwill ambassadors that will speak well of Rwanda when they get back to their respective countries, in effect inviting the entire world to experience our country’s fascinating beauty.
Besides, hosting CHOGM is a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s commitment to democracy, freedom of expression and human rights as spelled out in the Commonwealth Charter 2012 in addition to the country’s impressive economic growth and recovery from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi; real gross domestic product (GDP) growth has been around 8% between 2001 and 2017, falling poverty and inequality and most Millennium Development Goals were achieved by 2015.
We are hosting CHOGM at a time when our development blueprint ‘Vision 2020’, is also coming to fruition, a time that should be used to reflect and correct.
This should as well be a time to override the lurking anxieties from self-appointed pundits on issues Rwandan and human rights purists. The decision to offer Rwanda play host to CHOGM was, of course, reached after interrogating Charter commitments to democracy (Chapter 1), human rights (Chapter 2) and freedom of expression (Chapter 5) which Rwanda passed and thus seizing the opportunity.
In terms of strengthening international relations, Rwanda straddles Anglophone and Francophone Africa—the Commonwealth and La Francophonie. Some commentators have suggested that CHOGM should be used as a good opportunity to bring the two organizations more closely together, urging the Government of Rwanda to use their best endeavors to encourage the organizers to do just that.
In Rwanda, we are known for leaving indelible marks whenever and wherever we get involved in defining and refining international and regional geopolitics; peacekeeping, La Francophonie, Africa Union reforms, among others. We should be getting to work now, getting ready to, yet again, impact international thinking through CHOGM. We can. And we should.
The Minister gave the advice yesterday as he administered oaths of 50 professional court bailiffs, 78 non-professional bailiffs, 20 public notaries, and 30 public notaries.
“Your duty as court bailiffs is key to equitable justice delivery. We cannot presume justice was rendered when court cases were not handled effectively without delays,” he said.
“You have the ultimate duty of delivering justice in all situations. Doing it effectively shall reflect your role towards building a country respecting laws,” added Busingye.
Busingye advised them on professionalism respecting legal provisions.
He specifically emphasized that Rwandans expect improved notary services delivery, hence pushing for the need to put citizens at the center of national development.
“I take this opportunity to remind you that we shall not tolerate whoever tends to deviate from the oath taken today leadership is keen on promoting common interest leading them into positive social-economic transformations,” advised Busingye.
Rwanda has 500 professional court bailiffs. Non-professional court bailiffs include local leaders from cell levels, sectors and others from public institutions.
His body was discovered yesterday around 7 am after his wife who had gone to take care of her elder sister in hospital returned home the evening before and found the house locked, spending the night neighbors.
The woman broke the doorknob next morning and found her husband hung dead.
The executive secretary of the Rubona sector, Byaruhanga John Bosco has told IGIHE that the man might have drunk excessive alcoholic drinks leading him to suicide.
“We found him hung dead in the morning. We immediately took him to hospital for postmortem,” he said.
“Neighbors told us that he had no reported wrangles with members of the community but we have learned that he used to abuse alcoholic which is a thought to have driven him to take his life. Investigations are underway,” he added.
Lody Hakizimana, 44, allegedly offered the bribe in an attempt to rescue his vehicle, which was impounded with smuggled goods, and his driver, who had been taken into custody over the same crime.
The vehicle; RAB 471X Fuso type was intercepted at about 3:30 am in Kibuye along Karongi-Nyamasheke highway.
The District Police Commander for Karongi, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Julien Nkurikiyinka, said that the vehicle was intercepted at a check-point mounted in Bwishyura Sector.
“Police officers stopped the Fuso, searched and found it was loaded with smuggled bales of secondhand clothes; they first arrested its driver identified as Lorien Nteziryimana,” CIP Nkurikiyinka said.
He added: “The driver called his boss [Hakizimana], who was in another vehicle ahead; Hakizimana came back and tried to seduce the officers with a bribe of Rwf1 million in order to release his vehicle, goods and the driver; he was immediately taken into custody.”
The DPC warned against smuggling and bribery, and appealed to the general public to “respect and follow the law.”
“It is one crime to engage in smuggling activities but worse when you try to offer bribes, which is a serious crime,” he warned.
Clause 2 of article 2 of Law N° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting corruption, defines corruption as “any act performed or caused to be performed in public organs, private institutions, civil society and international organizations operating or wishing to operate in Rwanda, which is aimed at soliciting, receiving or offering an illicit benefit in order to unlawfully obtain illicit enrichment or a given favor of sexual nature to unlawfully render a service or carry out an activity whether carried on by himself or herself or through another person.”
Article 4 of the same article provides a term of imprisonment of between five and seven years, and three to five times the value of the offered bribe, upon conviction.
Under the East African Community Management Act, especially in its article 199, anyone caught driving a vehicle with smuggled goods is slapped a fine of US$5000 while the vehicle and the goods are auctioned.
Murangwa replaces Uwamurera Salama elected previously and denied a senate seat by the Supreme Court attributing her disqualification to inadequate experience.
Elections to replace Uwamurera took place today at the headquarters of NFPO in Kacyiru.
Murangwa Hadidja from PDI won out of three contestants with 32 votes. Other contestants include Athanase Nahimana from PS Imberakuri who obtained four votes while Jacky Masozera Icyizanye from Democratic Green Party of Rwanda got 7 supporting votes.
The Chairman of PDI, Fazil Harerimana thanked representatives of the political forum for trusting the party he heads.
He said that Hadidja has experience qualifying her for good cooperation with other members of the Senate.
“We have greatly welcomed the trust bestowed to our party and promise them, good candidates, whenever necessary,” he said.
The Chairperson of the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations, Christine Mukabunani expressed optimism that the newly elected representative will be approved by the Supreme Court.
MURANGWA Ndangiza Hadija (LLM), is a Senior Tax Expert and Legal Practioner, with massive experience in tax advisory work.
She is a member of Kigali International Arbitration Center (KIAC) with a Certificate of Associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitration (London).
{{Career achievements }}
She was engaged in tax and legal advice in the Rwandan Public and Private sector; · Conducted and participated in influential reviews of various Tax and Trade projects supported by the Government of Rwanda, the GIZ, IFC – World Bank Group, ATAF and · Instrumental in delivery of East African Community Tax harmonization programs.
Notable Advisory Positions: International Finance Corporation (IFC – World Bank group) EAC Tax Harmonisation project; · GIZ, Senior Advisor, Tax advisory project; TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) EAC Regional Integration Specialist – Legal Reform; · African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF): Consultant; and ·
She currently works as a Consultant in charge of Strategy and Institutional Sustainability at the Institute of Certified Public Account of Rwanda (ICPAR).
Hadija has served on various Boards, including; The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD); The Military Medical Insurance (MMI) and Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)
Murangwa joins Nkusi Juvenal from PSD elected previously to represent NFPO.
Of all the genres that have sauntered on the market and conquered, the R&B music has had a more profound appeal and reign.
This explains why the artistic endeavor has, to its clan, six of the eight Primus Guma Guma Super Star contests.
R & B stands for rhythm and blues, a form of music that originated from the 1930s, among African Americans who combined Blues and Jazz.
Its journey in Rwanda starts in the 2000s when a majority of its pioneers came on the scene. Among its pioneers in Rwanda are Maniraruta Martin, known as Mani Martin, who recorded his first single “Urukumbuzi” in 2005.
The song was backed by drum rhythms, and, in it, Mani Martin used smooth, lush style of vocal arrangements, elements that make it R & B. Dr Claude, family name, Jean Claude Iyamuremye, who according to The New Times, released his first album in late 2006, can be undoubtedly credited to be among its forerunners.
His songs too incorporated a variety of instrumental melodies accompanied by drum beats.
His voice was softer than that of Mani Martin. In 2006, Tom Close, real name: Muyombo Thomas, in a group named Afro Saints, recorded his first songs.
His songs were more on romantic subjects than Mani Martin who started with gospel songs and Dr. Claude who sung about more of autobiographical messages, songs in which his name recurred most often such as “Contre Success”.
Miss Jojo; birth name: Josiane Uwineza, the singer and actress Ruth Nirere, also known as Miss Shanel, and Liza Kamikazi are the pioneers of R & B among women.
Ngabo Medar, known as Meddy, started with songs like “Ungirira Ubuntu”, a gospel song that included moderation of tones, sometimes taking high pitched sounds as those by Michael Jackson who one cannot hesitate to say was the inspiration behind his moonwalk dances in the song’s video.
The Ben, Knowless, Urban Boys, King James, Kamichi, and Dream Boys, all of whom got exposure mainly from 2008 to 2009, are other main pioneers whose tremendous contributions to the popularization of the R & B in Rwanda one can never overlook.
On the rise of those musicians, Rwanda saw a boom in other modern forms of music such as Afrobeat, Hip Hop, and gospel.
There are those who did not remain active in the music industry. Among them are Dr. Claude and Liza Kamikazi.
However, those who remained on the scene even exported Rwanda’s music to the furthest reach.
In 2010, Meddy and The Ben left the country for the USA, and, ever since, have based their music there.
They have become one of the major music artists on the continent. In 2016, Meddy was nominated for an MTV Africa Music Award, in the Listener’s Choice category.
Their followership too has increased, Meddy receiving, early 2019, a Silver Play Button, a recognition from Youtube to a channel that reached one million subscribers.
Those pioneers inspired a great pool of more talent. Among those who began their music, early 2010s are Elion Victory, Queen Cha, Christopher and Bruce Melody. In the late 2010s, too, came a huge pool of talent among which one cannot forget to mention that of Yvan Buravan who even went beyond to win the Prix Decouverte RFI 2018.
To speak of R&B music in Rwanda is to speak of Primus Guma Guma Super Star contest. The first of its kind, in 2011, was won by Tom Close, marking R&B music as the most popular form of music in that early stage of the contest.
The very next too was won by an R&B musician, King James. In both the years 2013 and 2014, Hip-hop music dominated the music industry of Rwanda and enabled two of its artists to win over R&B musicians the two Primus Guma Guma Super Star awards of those years.
However, from 2015 up to today, R&B musicians have remained the only princes of the throne; Butera Knowless, Urban Boys, Dream Boys, and Bruce Melody winning it successively like queens and kings acquiring the throne from one royal family of R & B.
It is no doubt that R&B music in Rwanda has come to rule; getting the first Rwandan musician among nominees of the MTV Africa Music Awards; raising the first Rwandan musician to win the Prix Decouverte RFI 2018; honouring for the first time in Rwanda a Silver Play Button, and to win six of eight Primus Guma Guma Super Star contests.
But, does it portray enough of the culture of Rwanda in a way that would make it differentiable on a global scene? We shall discuss that in our next issue.
He made the observation yesterday in Seattle, Washington during discussions held with employees from Gates Foundation after interacting with founders including magnate Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates.
Kagame was with First Lady Jeannette Kagame for the discussions on Achieving Impact at Scale in Africa.
He highlighted that the growth of the economy should be about the wellbeing of people and what can be done to improve their living standards and for most of them to achieve their aspirations.
Kagame explained that Rwanda’s progress rooted in putting citizens’ welfare at the center.
He pointed out an example of community-based health insurance where the country had to cultivate in people’s minds even for the category of poor people at the bottom that if they contribute even the smallest amount they can afford, ‘they own it and they feel it is theirs’.
“We have to do more with less. We have been thrust into this position because of history and geography: the tragic history we have gone through and being a small country and landlocked. There is no way you can survive if you do not innovate,” Kagame said.
The President said that it had a positive impact on reducing maternal and child mortality rates significantly as well as have hugely increased life expectancy by 20 and 21 years.
“Prioritizing is a problem for people in our situation, everything is a priority, putting priorities in order is difficult. We prioritized healthcare, we looked at ordinary people, that is where we started from,” stated Kagame.
“How do you save children and mothers and make sure that they take the next day, week and year for granted. Especially when the history has been different and people have not been sure their babies will last until five. We have reversed that,” added the President.
Kagame observed that in the next 25 years, Africa should be in a much better place than now.
He underscored that the latter will emanate from deep integration into different areas.
“In the next 25 years, Africa should be in a much better place than we are now. This will be based on how deeply we integrate, on trade, investment, sharing best practices and how we leverage the resources the continent has. The continent has a huge capacity. We have been let down by the quality of governance,” Kagame observed.
He stated that the good thing is that every leader, every country, every African is talking about what needs to be done to make this improvement which he believes is good and starting point that must be translated into action.
The World Bank figures indicate that in 2015, 41 % of the Sub-Sahara African population lived in poverty while 27 of 28 of the world poorest countries are from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa has developed the Agenda 2063 which encapsulates not only Africa’s Aspirations for the Future but also identifies key Flagship Programmes which can boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.
