In its weather outlook issued on October 5, 2026, Meteo Rwanda forecast rainfall ranging between 90 and 300 millimetres during the month, which is above the normal average for October.
Daytime temperatures are expected to range between 20°C and 31°C, while nighttime temperatures will range from 9°C to 19°C.
The country is also expected to experience moderate winds that could occasionally become strong, with speeds ranging between four and 14 metres per second.
The expected heavy rainfall will increase soil moisture in many parts of the country. Meteo Rwanda said this is expected to benefit agricultural activities during the 2027 Season A planting period and contribute to increased water availability.
The agency noted that soil moisture had declined in some parts of the country in September 2026 due to below-average rainfall, but is expected to improve in October as more rain falls.
September recorded below-average rainfall
Meteo Rwanda reported that most parts of the country received below-average rainfall in September 2026.
Of the 44 stations used to analyse rainfall during the month, 40 recorded below-average rainfall, while only four recorded above-average rainfall.
Rainfall totals in September ranged from 1.2mm to 124.6mm. The highest amount was recorded at Ntendezi in Nyamasheke District, with 124.6mm, while the lowest was recorded in Nyamata, Bugesera District, with 1.2mm.
In Kigali, Kigali International Airport recorded 38.1mm of rainfall, while the Gitega station in Nyarugenge District recorded 47.1mm.
Meteo Rwanda said the low rainfall in September affected land preparation and crop planting activities for the 2027 Season A, as well as livestock farming due to reduced pasture and water availability.
The rainfall expected in October is expected to improve soil moisture and water availability, supporting agriculture and livestock farming, particularly crop planting activities.
Meteo Rwanda urged residents to continue following weather updates issued at different intervals, including six-hourly, daily, five-day, seven-day and 10-day forecasts.
The Rwanda Meteorology Agency (Meteo Rwanda) has forecasted above-average rainfall in October
Rutabana served as RNC Commissioner in charge of training. He left Europe on September 4, 2019, and arrived in Uganda the following day, but disappeared shortly after arriving in the country.
Rutabana’s wife, Diane Rutabana, said that after her husband went missing, she contacted RNC members, who gave her conflicting accounts. Some reportedly told her that they knew where he was and that he was safe.
RNC Secretary General Gervais Condo said there had been information that someone had seen Rutabana on October 2, apparently suggesting that he was still alive after the date when he was initially reported missing.
Diane said she was also told by RNC members that the group had discussed the possibility that her husband would be arrested once he reached Uganda. She also said Rutabana had told her before leaving that he was having problems with Frank Ntwari, the brother-in-law of RNC leader Kayumba Nyamwasa.
These accounts led Diane to argue that RNC knew what had happened to her husband, although Kayumba Nyamwasa reportedly sent someone to contact her and reassure her.
Rutabana’s disappearance also contributed to divisions within RNC, with some former members arguing that the group has been reduced to a name, following what they described as internal disputes stemming from the case.
On September 20, 2026, Jean Paul Turayishimye and other Rwandans living abroad who oppose the government held an event dedicated to Ben Rutabana, seven years after his disappearance.
Rutabana’s sister, Adeline Rwigara, was invited to speak about her brother’s life. Her remarks triggered a strong reaction from the RNC.
In a prayer during the event, Adeline recalled how Rutabana had introduced her to RNC and Kayumba Nyamwasa, saying she was later shocked by what she described as their betrayal of her brother and his subsequent disappearance.
She accused RNC of being built on lies and misleading people, saying some had defended the organisation and Kayumba without knowing its true nature.
Adeline also accused Kayumba and Ntwari of playing a leading role in what she described as the betrayal of her brother. She said she was grateful that the RNC had collapsed because, in her view, it had been built on lies, cruelty and betrayal.
Her remarks angered RNC spokesperson Ignace Rusagara, who argued that Adeline should not have used a prayer to insult the organisation.
Turayishimye, who previously served as RNC spokesperson before breaking away from the group following Rutabana’s disappearance, later criticised Rusagara, saying he appeared confused and did not understand the case.
After coming under criticism from Adeline, RNC published a statement on social media on October 4 saying that, seven years on, Rutabana’s whereabouts remain unknown.
“Seven years have passed, but what happened to Ben Rutabana remains unknown. His family needs answers, his relatives need the truth. Witnesses should be heard and Ben deserves justice,” RNC said.
The group also said a song had been produced to ensure that Rutabana’s name would not be forgotten, while calling for a credible investigation into all circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
One person responding to RNC’s statement reminded the group that Rutabana’s family had called for an investigation years ago, but that RNC had rejected the request and stripped him of his membership before the circumstances surrounding his disappearance were clarified.
The critic also questioned RNC’s decision to comment on Rutabana’s disappearance, pointing to allegations that senior figures within the group, including Kayumba Nyamwasa and his brother-in-law, had played a significant role in the matter amid disputes involving Rutabana.
Ben Rutabana disappeared in early September 2019 after travelling to Uganda for RNC-related activities.Kayumba Nyamwasa and his brother-in-law, Frank Ntwari, have been accused of playing a significant role in Ben Rutabana’s disappearance.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that the number of lecturers with PhDs increased from 1,091 in 2023/2024 to 1,360 in 2024/2025, representing a 24.6% increase in one year.
Of the 1,360 lecturers with PhDs, 1,144 were men and only 216 were women. Women therefore accounted for 15.9% of lecturers with PhDs, compared with 84.1% for men. Despite the wide gender gap, the number of women with PhDs has generally increased over the past five years.
There were 141 women with PhDs in 2020/2021, rising to 162 in 2021/2022 and 179 in 2022/2023, before falling slightly to 169 in 2023/2024. The number then rose to 216 in 2024/2025.
This represents an increase of 47 women, or nearly 28%, in one year. Among men, the number of PhD holders increased from 922 in 2023/2024 to 1,144 in 2024/2025.
Overall, the number of lecturers with PhDs increased from 976 in 2020/2021 to 1,360 in 2024/2025. However, women’s share of lecturers with PhDs grew only modestly, from 14% to 15.9% over the same period.
The gender gap is not limited to lecturers with PhDs. In 2024/2025, universities and higher learning institutions in Rwanda had 5,463 lecturers, including 4,283 men and 1,180 women. Women accounted for 21.6% of all lecturers, while men represented 78.4%.
There has nevertheless been progress compared with previous years. In 2020/2021, women accounted for 809 of the 4,301 lecturers, or 18.8%. Their number had increased to 1,180 by 2024/2025, raising their share to 21.6%.
Public higher learning institutions had 2,517 lecturers, including 539 women, representing 21.4%. Private institutions had 2,946 lecturers, of whom 641, or 21.8%, were women.
Most lecturers hold Master’s degrees
The report shows that while the number of PhD holders is increasing, Master’s degree holders make up the largest group of university lecturers.
In 2024/2025, 2,935 lecturers, or 53.7% of the total, held Master’s degrees. They included 2,265 men and 670 women.
PhD holders numbered 1,360, accounting for nearly a quarter of all lecturers. Another 936 lecturers held Bachelor’s degrees, including 683 men and 253 women, while 232 had qualifications below Bachelor’s degree level.
The Ministry of Education says the rise in the number of lecturers with PhDs reflects continued efforts by academics to advance their educational qualifications.
However, the low number of women reaching PhD level remains an area requiring greater support to enable more women to pursue advanced studies.
The increase in PhD holders came as the overall number of lecturers at universities and higher learning institutions also grew.
The number of lecturers rose from 4,577 in 2023/2024 to 5,463 in 2024/2025, an increase of 886 lecturers, or 19.3% in one year.
The number of lecturers with PhDs in Rwanda increased from 976 in 2020/2021 to 1,360 in 2024/2025.
A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment on “foreign nations’ military operations,” but said the base was safe. The spokesperson cited Defence Secretary Wes Streeting as saying last week that Britain had “tried and tested approaches to defend our bases around the country and throughout the world.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that he would not directly link an incident near the base last week to the decision to withdraw the bombers, describing movements at that time as routine exercises and redeployments.
Rubio said that the United States continued to have full confidence in the security of its bases, adding that British authorities had been cooperative following the incident.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the United States.
About a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the base before their departure.
The withdrawal came after six suspects were arrested in connection with a suspected attack on the base, which U.S. and British officials said had been foiled.
On Sept. 27, British police evacuated homes near RAF Fairford after several men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act. Army bomb-disposal experts were also called in to examine a number of vehicles.
About a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base before their departure.
The decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca alliance in the Saudi capital Riyadh to address security threats facing Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement posted on the Saudi Ministry of Defense’s official account on social media platform X.
The statement said the three countries condemned in the strongest terms the attempted targeting of Mecca and Madinah, as well as continuing attacks targeting cities and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia.
The countries affirmed that the security of each party is an integral part of the collective security of the three, noting that translating the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement into practical measures would strengthen deterrence, military readiness and integration, the statement added.
The Houthi group announced a maritime ban on Saudi shipping in July and has since launched strikes on Saudi tankers and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on Aug. 7 in the Saudi city of Mecca, which stipulates that an attack on any signatory will be considered an attack on all.
Photo taken on Oct. 5, 2026 shows an emergency meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Mecca alliance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Saudi Ministry of Defense/Handout via Xinhua)Houthi supporters shout slogans during a night rally, showing support for control of the Mocha port region, at Al-Saben Square in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sep. 11, 2026. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)
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.
