Appearing before a federal parliamentary inquiry into AI, OpenAI chief strategy officer Jason Kwon reiterated that the breach of a data portal linked to Australia’s Medicare system by an agent in June should not have happened.
“We are sorry and we know we have work to do to rebuild trust with the Australian people,” he said, acknowledging that OpenAI should have handled its response to the incident better after the federal government said it was not reported until September.
Kwon said that the incident prompted OpenAI to impose additional monitoring to allow immediate intervention by staff to stop training if a model accesses the internet in a way it is not supposed to and that the company would support Australia imposing a mandatory reporting framework for similar incidents.
Asked during the hearing if an OpenAI model could breach Australian critical infrastructure, such as water, gas or oil facilities, Kwon said it would depend on security.
“We don’t know because it’s going to depend on the safeguards and the infrastructure and security controls that particular company and provider has in place,” he said.
OpenAI has imposed new precautions to prevent models from interacting with the internet in unintended ways.
The week-long celebration, running from 5 to 9 October 2026, was officially launched today at ASA International (Rwanda) Plc’s Kimironko Branch by Chief Executive Officer Salifou Christian, together with members of the Management Team and staff.
The launch was marked by the Chief Executive Officer, together with members of the Management Team, engaging directly with customers at the frontline to receive, celebrate and serve them with quality service, highlighting ASA International (Rwanda) Plc’s strong commitment to customer trust and the importance it places on delivering responsive, customer-centred financial services.
“Our customers are the foundation of everything we do. Customer service is not simply about meeting expectations; it is about honouring the trust our customers place in us every day and continuously improving the way we serve them,” said Salifou Christian, CEO of ASA International (Rwanda) Plc.
He added that the institution’s focus on customer service is closely linked to its broader mission of financial inclusion and supporting people to improve their livelihoods.
“When we provide responsible and accessible financial services, we are not only serving individual customers; we are supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening families and contributing to the development of communities and the wider economy,” he said.
Customers at the heart of the celebration
For ASA International (Rwanda) Plc, Customer Service Week is also an opportunity to listen to customers, understand their experiences and recognise the role they play in shaping the institution’s services.
One of the customers participating in the launch at Kimironko Branch welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of being treated with respect and receiving services that respond to customers’ needs.
“We appreciate being recognized and listened to as customers. Good customer service gives us confidence and makes us feel that our relationship with ASA International (Rwanda) Plc goes beyond financial services, and that our voice and experience as customers truly matter,” said Marie Claire Muhawenimana, an ASA International (Rwanda) Plc customer.
The Customer Service Week activities are being implemented across ASA International (Rwanda) Plc’s branches and Head Office, with staff encouraged to strengthen customer engagement and demonstrate the values of professionalism, responsiveness, respect and service excellence.
While the week provides a dedicated opportunity to celebrate customers, ASA International (Rwanda) Plc emphasises that customer-centred service is a daily responsibility.
“Customer service is not just for one week. Putting our customers first is at the heart of how we serve, every single day,” the institution said.
This commitment is reflected in the range of financial products and services offered by ASA International (Rwanda) Plc to meet the diverse needs of its customers.
These include Current Accounts, Savings Accounts, Small Loans, Small Business Loans and Electric Motorcycle Loans, as well as digital access through the USSD platform (*576#) and customer support through the toll-free 5002 line.
Public Deposit services, launched at the Kimironko and Kicukiro Branches, will soon be expanded to additional branches across the country, further increasing customers’ access to secure savings opportunities.
ASA International (Rwanda) Plc is a for-profit, deposit-taking microfinance institution licensed by the National Bank of Rwanda, incorporated in 2014 and operational since 2016.
The institution delivers inclusive, customer-centric financial services to individuals and small businesses, with a particular focus on women, who account for 70% of its clients, and underserved, low-income communities. It currently serves approximately 22,000 clients through 37 branches nationwide.
ASA International (Rwanda) Plc is a subsidiary of ASA International, one of the world’s leading international microfinance institutions, listed on the London Stock Exchange and operating across 13 countries in Africa and Asia.
As of 30 June 2026, the ASA International Group had more than 2,100 branches and approximately 2.7 million clients globally. Its purpose is captured in the motto “Creating Hope. Changing Fortunes.”
Photos marking the launch of Customer Service Week 2026 at ASA International (Rwanda) Plc
ASA International (Rwanda) Plc has marked the start of Customer Service Week 2026, bringing management and staff together to engage with customers and reaffirm the institution’s commitment to accessible and customer-centred financial services.
The summit follows previous meetings held in Sochi in 2019 and Saint Petersburg in 2023. It will bring together African leaders, representatives of the African Union, regional organisations and major financial and economic institutions for political and economic discussions with Russian counterparts.
The programme will include plenary sessions, an official Kremlin reception and a major Economic and Humanitarian Forum featuring panel discussions, thematic sessions and exhibitions. Numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings are also expected, with several agreements and memoranda between Russia and African countries being prepared for signing.
Economic cooperation is expected to be at the centre of discussions, particularly trade, industrial cooperation, investment and innovation. Other priority areas will include the peaceful use of nuclear energy, independent payment systems, food security, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence.
The summit is also expected to adopt a political declaration and a new three-year Action Plan for the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum covering 2027-2029. A draft declaration on cooperation in the civilian use of artificial intelligence has also been shared with participating countries for coordination.
Russia says the partnership with Africa is based on respect for national sovereignty and each country’s right to determine its own development path and partnerships, while rejecting interference in internal affairs and what it describes as neocolonial practices.
Rwanda is expected to be represented at the Moscow summit, with the meeting presenting an opportunity for the country to showcase its experience and solutions in areas including technological development and socio-economic transformation, while strengthening its role in African integration.
The Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was established as a platform for strengthening political, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and African countries.
The previous Russia-Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg brought together delegations from 48 African countries, including 27 represented by heads of state or senior officials, for discussions on trade, investment, technology, security and development.
The delegation includes former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde.
Kenyatta, Masisi and Sahle-Work are part of the African Union mediation team seeking to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chairs the panel, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza did not attend the talks.
The talks with AFC/M23 leaders are expected to focus on progress in the peace process and prospects for finding a political resolution to the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The delegation is also expected to discuss the security situation in the region and measures taken so far to restore peace.
Manzi Willy, the vice governor of North Kivu Province appointed by AFC/M23, welcomed the delegation in a post on X.
“Welcome to the land of peace. Welcome to clean and secured Goma. Welcome to the land with vision and purpose,” he wrote.
The visit is part of efforts by the African Union facilitators to assess progress in the search for peace in eastern DR Congo.
Kenyatta is familiar with the conflict, having previously led the Nairobi talks aimed at bringing together the Congolese government and armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo.
The Nairobi process, however, failed to produce a lasting agreement amid disagreements between Kinshasa and the armed groups involved.
The delegation includes former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde.
The event brought members of the Rwandan community together for fellowship and reflection on patriotism and the values that underpin Rwandan society.
It also featured sports and recreational activities, including a football tournament, basketball competitions and the traditional Rwandan game of Agati.
Teams that performed well in the various competitions received awards at the end of the activities.
Patriotism Day is officially commemorated every year on October 1.
Addressing the participants, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Lt Gen (Rtd) Charles Kayonga, called on young Rwandans to uphold national values and play an active role in shaping the country’s future.
He explained that the October 1 commemoration provides an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by those who placed the interests of the country above their personal interests.
The Ambassador highlighted October 1, 1990, when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), through its armed wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), launched its struggle for the liberation of Rwanda.
He recalled that many young people at the time chose to leave behind their personal activities and comfort to join a struggle in which they knew they faced serious risks, including the possibility of losing their lives.
He urged young people today to draw lessons from the commitment and sacrifice demonstrated by members of the RPA and, more broadly, the RPF, from the beginning of the struggle in 1990 through the end of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
Youth urged to safeguard Rwanda’s achievements
Ambassador Kayonga also highlighted some of the challenges that young people may face.
He particularly warned against the continued spread of genocide ideology and attempts to mislead young people through technology and social media.
He also identified drug use and excessive alcohol consumption as behaviours that can undermine young people’s future and weaken their ability to fulfill their responsibilities to their country.
Against these challenges, he called on young Rwandans living in Türkiye to remain committed to national values and to play their part in protecting the achievements Rwanda has made.
He encouraged them to build on these achievements and contribute to taking Rwanda towards an even better future.
A responsibility shared by all Rwandans
The Ambassador stressed that patriotism should not be viewed as the responsibility of a particular group or category of citizens.
Rather, it is a shared responsibility that concerns every Rwandan, wherever they may be.
He therefore encouraged young people to understand, preserve and put Rwanda’s core values into practice in their daily lives, while also passing them on to future generations.
Rwandans living in Türkiye have gathered in Ankara to celebrate Patriotism Day through sports, fellowship and reflection on national values. Young Rwandans in Türkiye have been encouraged to protect Rwanda’s achievements and remain committed to the values that underpin the country’s progress. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Lt Gen (Rtd) Charles Kayonga, has urged young Rwandans to uphold national values and contribute to the country’s future. Participants in Ankara have received awards after competing in football, basketball and other games as part of Patriotism Day celebrations. Rwandan students and other community members in Ankara have marked Patriotism Day with sports and recreational activities. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Lt Gen (Rtd) Charles Kayonga, has urged young Rwandans to uphold national values and contribute to the country’s future.
Juuko took up the position on October 2, following a decision by the EADB Governing Council, which also approved reforms aimed at improving the bank’s performance and governance.
She joins EADB with more than 20 years of experience in banking, financial markets and executive leadership across East and Southern Africa.
Juuko was previously Regional Head of Global Markets for Eastern Africa at Standard Bank Group. She also served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank Uganda, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Namibia, and held senior positions at Citibank Kenya and Citibank Uganda.
She joins EADB with more than 20 years of experience in banking, financial markets and executive leadership across East and Southern Africa.
The appointment comes after a strong performance by EADB in 2025. The bank’s profit before tax increased by 51%, while loan disbursements rose by 140%, according to the Governing Council.
EADB also maintained investment-grade credit ratings of A from S&P Global and Baa3 from Moody’s, both with stable outlooks.
Yusuf Murangwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and chairperson of the EADB Governing Council, said Juuko’s experience in regional economies, capital markets and development finance would be important as the bank enters its next phase.
“Anne Juuko is a distinguished financial sector leader with a strong record of delivering growth across multiple African markets,” Murangwa said.
He said the reforms adopted by the Governing Council would build on the bank’s existing foundation and improve the results it delivers to member states and the wider region.
“Strong governance is the foundation of a credible development bank,” Murangwa said.
Juuko said her priorities would include strengthening EADB’s development finance role, accessing new sources of long-term capital and building strategic partnerships to expand the bank’s reach.
“It is a privilege to join an institution that has been in existence for almost sixty years,” she said, adding that she would work with stakeholders across the region to build on the bank’s achievements and increase its socio-economic impact.
Acting Director General Benard Paul Mono hands over to Anne Juuko.
EADB is owned by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, alongside other development and commercial financial institutions.
Established in 1967, the bank provides development finance and other financial services across its member states, with a mandate focused on socio-economic development and regional integration.
The latest leadership changes come as EADB seeks to deepen its role in financing economic activity and supporting long-term development across East Africa.
Juuko took up the position on October 2, following a decision by the EADB Governing Council, which also approved reforms aimed at improving the bank’s performance and governance.
Flora Limukii, Spiro’s Head of Corporate Communications for Africa, said the company had taken complaints about delays seriously as riders switched from petrol motorcycles to electric alternatives.
“Someone changing from a petrol motorcycle to an electric motorcycle wants the convenience of walking into a station and swapping within two minutes, like putting petrol,” Limukii told IGIHE in an exclusive interview.
She explained that the feedback had prompted Spiro to focus on mega swap stations capable of holding significantly more batteries than conventional stations.
The company currently has nine mega stations in Rwanda, with each designed to charge and hold between 300 and 1,300 batteries.
The larger facilities are intended to increase the availability of charged batteries and reduce waiting times for riders, particularly in busy parts of Kigali.
“We took that feedback seriously, and that is where you’ve seen the massive investments into the infrastructure, because that’s the backbone of the business,” she explained.
Flora Limukii, Spiro’s Head of Corporate Communications for Africa, said the company had taken complaints about delays seriously as riders switched from petrol motorcycles to electric alternatives.
Spiro has more than 300 battery-swapping stations across Rwanda, but Limukii said the company was now prioritising larger facilities as it scales its electric motorcycle network.
The company plans to expand the mega-station model beyond Kigali to districts including Rubavu, Nyagatare and Musanze.
The expansion comes as Rwanda continues to promote electric mobility through policies including incentives for electric vehicles and a special electricity tariff for electric mobility.
Limukii noted that the company’s experience in Rwanda had also reinforced the importance of building infrastructure alongside the deployment of electric motorcycles.
“If you’re deploying the bikes, you have to grow the infrastructure at the same pace,” she said.
Spiro has more than 300 battery-swapping stations across Rwanda, but Limukii said the company was now prioritising larger facilities as it scales its electric motorcycle network.
Designing around riders
Spiro says rider feedback also plays a role in the design of its motorcycles.
Limukii revealed that the company conducted market research before launching its latest M1 V3 model, with riders highlighting features they wanted improved, including the seat height, shock system, suspension and braking system.
The Spiro EKON 450 M1 V3 electric motorcycle was unveiled in Kigali in August.
The feedback is collected through direct engagement with riders, customer service channels, social media and the company’s call centre before being passed to the product team.
“We’ve created a bike that is inspired by the rider,” Limukii said.
She described Rwanda as an important market for testing and refining electric motorcycles because of its hilly terrain and the scale of its electric mobility transition.
Spiro has more than 40,000 electric motorcycles in Rwanda, while the company has deployed more than 146,000 motorcycles across its African markets.
Tackling range anxiety
Beyond waiting times, Limukii identified range anxiety as one of the biggest challenges facing electric two-wheelers as riders move away from petrol motorcycles.
The concern is whether a motorcycle can complete a journey on a single battery or whether a rider can find a nearby station with a charged replacement.
Spiro is seeking to address this through its swapping network and the Spiro Connect app, which allows riders to identify nearby stations and check battery availability.
The app also displays a motorcycle’s battery level, while the company uses its hotline, SMS and WhatsApp channels to communicate with riders.
Limukii added that the company was exploring hybrid solutions, including solar power and energy storage systems, to reduce the impact of electricity outages on swapping operations.
She explained that the objective was to ensure that riders could find charged batteries even when there were disruptions to the power grid.
The company currently has nine mega stations in Rwanda, with each designed to charge and hold between 300 and 1,300 batteries.
Rwanda as a model
Limukii described Rwanda as a leading market for Spiro across its nine African markets, citing government policies that have supported the growth of electric mobility.
She pointed to the ban on petrol motorcycles in early 2025, fiscal and tax incentives for electric mobility and the special electricity tariff as factors that have helped create an environment for the sector to scale.
“Rwanda is one of a kind,” she said, describing the country as a model for other African markets seeking to expand electric mobility.
Batteries charging at a Spiro battery-swap station.
For Spiro, the experience has highlighted the need to combine supportive policy with infrastructure and continuous engagement with riders.
Limukii said the company’s long-term focus was on ensuring that electric motorcycles remained economically attractive to riders while expanding its charging and battery-swapping infrastructure.
“If the customer is happy, we are happy,” she added.
Spiro says it has created more than 6,000 direct and indirect jobs across its markets and completed more than 50 million battery swaps.
Watch the full video below for more on how rider feedback is shaping Spiro’s expansion of mega swap stations and its electric mobility strategy.
The initiative is intended to reduce the amount of electricity the stations draw from the national grid while promoting the use of renewable energy.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, KABISA Managing Director Poshia Muhoza said the pilot is being conducted at the company’s charging stations as well as its offices.
“We are implementing this programme at our stations. Even here at our offices, we try our best to embrace solar energy,” she said.
KABISA currently operates eight electric vehicle charging stations in Kigali. The company plans to establish more stations in secondary cities, including Musanze, Rubavu, Huye and Rusizi.
The pilot comes as electric mobility continues to gain ground in Rwanda, alongside efforts to expand charging infrastructure for electric vehicle users.
Muhoza said government policies continue to facilitate investment in the sector, particularly by making it easier for investors to obtain permits and the equipment required to establish charging stations.
“National policy continues to support the use of electric vehicles. The government is currently making it easier for investors building charging stations to obtain permits quickly and access the transformers they need,” she said.
She added that tax exemptions on imported electric vehicles and a government plan to have electric vehicles account for 30% of vehicles used by public institutions are also encouraging investment in the sector.
Muhoza said discussions with government officials and electricity distributors have given KABISA assurances that projects are underway to increase domestic power generation and meet growing demand, including from electric vehicle users.
KABISA says some of the electric vehicles it sells can travel up to 500 kilometres on a full battery, while charging costs can be up to 70% lower than the cost of petrol or diesel.
The government has also announced plans to build electric vehicle charging stations in areas where limited commercial returns may not attract private investors, ensuring wider access to charging services.
KABISA Managing Director Poshia Muhoza has said the company has started testing solar power at its electric vehicle charging stations.KABISA has begun piloting solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations in Rwanda
The list, titled the ‘100 Most Influential Global Leaders’, brings together entrepreneurs, business executives, innovators and other leaders whose work has contributed to positive change in society.
It was compiled by the Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation, an African organisation focused on youth leadership development. The initiative recognises Africans living on the continent and abroad for their contributions across the public and private sectors.
This is the third edition of the list. Nkundimana’s inclusion is based on his work in technology and innovation. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 28, 2026.
Speaking to IGIHE, Nkundimana said the recognition would encourage him to continue developing innovative technology solutions, particularly EazyLink’s digital business card.
“It is an honour for us to be on this list. It will motivate us to continue adding innovations because the card is still in its early stage, and there are more features we plan to introduce in the next phases,” he said.
Nkundimana founded EazyLink in 2022. The company develops NFC-enabled digital business cards that allow users to share their contact details and social media profiles by simply tapping the card against a smartphone.
About 80% of EazyLink’s users are based outside Rwanda. They include business leaders, investors and professionals seeking an easier way to exchange contact information.
EazyLink has also been showcased at international technology events including GITEX Africa and GITEX Global.
Nkundimana also chairs Elysee Brand Inc., a digital marketing agency that has worked with brands in Rwanda, including Exo Energy Drink and Moreup Cosmetics.
He was also recently recognised for his contribution to technology and innovation at an international conference focused on advancing human development.
Nkundimana Elysée has been recognised among 100 influential African leaders for his work in technology and innovation.
On September 21, the prosecution said witness Gaston Munyabugingo, who previously worked with Ingabire, testified about alleged cooperation between FDU-Inkingi and other groups in a plan to overthrow the Rwandan government.
According to Munyabugingo’s testimony, P5, a coalition led by Kayumba Nyamwasa, had planned to stage a coup during a government leadership retreat held in Gabiro on February 15-16, 2020. Ingabire allegedly planned to organise demonstrations in support of the coup.
The prosecution said Ingabire was allegedly expected to mobilise about 5,000 people to take to the streets and support those who would have overthrown the government.
“In support of that operation, Ingabire Umuhoza Victoire allegedly had the responsibility of mobilising about 5,000 people who would take to the streets to demonstrate and support those who had already overthrown the government,” the prosecution said.
The prosecution further said that Ingabire asked Munyabugingo to accommodate her because she feared for her safety during the planned coup, while Munyabugingo also expressed concerns.
It said Ingabire had planned to move to Gicumbi but abandoned the plan following the arrest of singer Kizito Mihigo in February 2020 as he attempted to flee to Burundi.
After the plan to go to Gicumbi was abandoned, Munyabugingo allegedly hid Ingabire, who was disguised in Muslim clothing and was not wearing her glasses. She was reportedly accompanied by Leonille Gasengayire, a woman she lived with who served as a treasurer.
The prosecution said Munyabugingo also testified that Ingabire was in communication with Charlotte Mukankusi, who was responsible for diplomatic affairs within the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a group founded by Nyamwasa.
Prosecutors further told the court that a document prepared by the RNC outlining how Rwanda would be governed after the alleged coup was found on Ingabire’s phone.
They said the document was accompanied by a chart containing the names of 79 people, including government and military officials, and allegedly proposed a system of appointments based on ethnic considerations, with Ingabire serving as president. Ingabire calls allegations ‘rumours’
During a hearing on October 1, 2026, Ingabire challenged the allegations, saying the prosecution had failed to demonstrate that the alleged coup ever took place.
She questioned the basis for accusing her of planning a coup based on Munyabugingo’s testimony.
“Did that coup happen? The prosecution has not demonstrated that it happened. If it did not happen, has it shown why it did not happen? People cannot discuss things in WhatsApp groups where people say that the RNC planned a coup, and then the prosecution says it planned a coup,” Ingabire said.
Regarding the allegation that she planned to mobilise 5,000 people to demonstrate in support of the coup, Ingabire questioned whether prosecutors had produced evidence of an agreement between her and the RNC to carry out the alleged operation.
“Have they demonstrated any agreement between me and the RNC to carry out a coup? The prosecution must move away from rumours and things circulating on social media and bring evidence,” she said.
Munyabugingo also testified that Ingabire later changed the purpose of the planned demonstrations to disrupting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was scheduled to take place in Kigali.
Ingabire, however, said her involvement during preparations for CHOGM was limited to hosting a group of foreign participants at her home.
The judge asked whether the visit was simply a social one.
Ingabire said they discussed politics, the Commonwealth and Rwanda’s membership of the organisation. She added that the visitors had helped her politically by contributing to her increased visibility.
Ingabire Victoire has challenged coup allegations, calling them ‘WhatsApp rumours’
