The event, presided over by Kenyan President William Ruto, will mark the official launch of Odinga’s campaign for the seat.
The East African Community (EAC) chairperson and President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, arrived in the Kenyan capital for the event on Monday evening.
President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania arrived this morning and is expected to be joined by two other heads of state, including Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of Regional Cooperation, James Kabarebe, will represent President Paul Kagame at the event, while Burundi’s Head of State, Évariste Ndayishimiye, will be represented by Prime Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca.
IGIHE understands that all eight heads of state from the region, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were invited to attend the event.
Also expected to grace the occasion is former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who endorsed Odinga’s AUC bid earlier this year.
Odinga is seeking to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki in elections slated for February 2025.
The former Kenyan Prime Minister and opposition leader received a major boost in March after the African Union Executive Council unanimously resolved that candidates for the position of the next chairperson of the AU Commission would be nominated by the Eastern African regional States.
Early this month, Odinga also received another boost after former Somalia Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Yusuf Adam withdrew from the race to back the former Kenyan premier.
Odinga will now battle it out with Djibouti candidate Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan and his former Madagascar counterpart Richard James Randrianmandrato.
The two Police Chiefs held a bilateral meeting and discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in various policing disciplines.
IGP Namuhoranye thanked his counterpart for visiting Rwanda and noted that this adds value to cooperation and fighting transnational organized crimes.
“Most of what we do, we have cooperation with different Police services and law enforcement organizations. We don’t take your visit for granted; Rwanda National Police is always open to work with other law enforcement institutions to share best practices in capacity development and security,” IGP Namuhoranye said.
He noted that the RNP is also investing more in community policing to fight and prevent crimes through human security schemes and anti-crime awareness to influence especially the young people from engaging in unlawful activities.
“Rwanda has become that beacon of hope for Africa, it has sent out a clear message that we can lift ourselves high up than we can imagine, it has exhibited a unique and rich African civilization,” IGP Coleman said.
He added: “We see sustainability and service in what Rwanda police is doing for the Rwandan people. So, my visit here today is to strengthen our bilateral cooperation to build a world police class service that will sustain the peace and prevent future reoccurrence of conflicts on our continent.”
He added: “I have come to listen, learn and share homegrown solutions. Rwanda and Liberia have something in common as countries from violent conflicts, yet we have a task ahead to ensure the safety of our people; standing together is key to achieve our mandates. We are the graphic representation of the state authority, and we are the first line to move from just enforcing the law to engaging the community in policing and development.”
Earlier on, IGP Coleman visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he laid a wreath to pay tribute to more than one million people killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During his four-day visit, he will also tour various RNP departments and units, including training facilities, Command and Coordination Centre, and the Automated Driving Testing Centre in Busanza, Kicukiro District.
KABISA, a company that sells electric vehicles and related equipment, also provides services for the repair and inspection of electric vehicles. It operates a garage in Gasanze, Gasabo District. The company began its operations in 2022 and officially launched in 2023.
In its second year of operation in Rwanda, KABISA has already sold over 50 electric vehicles (including their chargers) and established more than 23 public charging stations across the country.
Among these are four ‘Fast Chargers’ located in Rubavu, Musanze, Rugunga, and Nyarutarama. The company’s services are divided into three main categories: selling electric vehicles, installing public chargers throughout the country and in private homes, and providing inspection services for electric vehicles through their well-equipped garage.
KABISA currently sells electric vehicles from China’s BYD and another Chinese manufacturer, Farizon. The company’s third service involves the inspection and maintenance of electric vehicles, using modern equipment to address issues faced by these vehicles.
The program to install additional ‘Fast Chargers’ has already begun in the districts of Bugesera, Rwamagana, Muhanga, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Nyamagabe, Huye, Burera, Rulindo, and Nyagatare. Some districts will have two chargers installed.
These new ‘Fast Chargers’ will have the capacity to deliver 240 kilowatts of power, compared to the existing chargers with capacities of 40 and 120 kilowatts. This means the new chargers can fully charge a vehicle in 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the battery level.
In an interview with IGIHE, KABISA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Remy Ruberambuga, emphasized that their broader goal is to strengthen their three existing services and expand them to more parts of the country.
He explained, “Especially for chargers, to alleviate concerns people have about traveling to the provinces and not finding a place to charge their vehicles, we aim to focus on placing these chargers primarily in industrial areas across Rwanda.”
Ruberambuga added, “We received support from Ireme Invest, and we want to install chargers across the country, ensuring that by the end of the year, there will be more ‘Fast Chargers’ in many districts of Rwanda.”
Currently, KABISA has one garage dedicated to electric vehicles, but there are plans to expand with additional garages and to launch a training program for vehicle inspection. They are also looking to collaborate with other companies involved with electric vehicles.
Many people often say that owning an electric vehicle is cheaper compared to gasoline-powered cars. Ruberambuga mentioned that someone who used to spend Rwf 300,000 per month on gasoline can spend only about Rwf 20,000 with an electric vehicle.
“Beyond fuel savings, there are other cost savings such as not needing engine oil changes, which is unnecessary for electric vehicles,” he said.
“For example, someone who used to spend Rwf 300,000 per month on a gasoline car [like a RAV4] can spend less than Rwf 20,000 on an electric vehicle, especially with the government’s efforts to reduce electricity costs, which means their expenses may not exceed Rwf5,000.”
He noted that for trucks, which typically spend between Rwf 1,200,000 and Rwf 2,000,000 per month on gasoline and oil changes, electric trucks could cost between Rwf 50,000 and Rwf 70,000.
Ruberambuga believes that the market for electric vehicles in Rwanda will grow significantly in the coming years.
“Based on our operations, the inquiries we receive, and the questions people ask, there is a clear demand. People are starting to understand how they can reduce their expenses while also protecting the environment, as these vehicles do not emit harmful gases,” he noted.
He added that there is a need for more extensive awareness campaigns to ensure people have sufficient knowledge about electric vehicles.
Recently, the government decided to extend the tax exemption period for importing electric vehicles and motorcycles, allowing them to continue benefiting from zero import duties.
This decision was made to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and reduce pollution from conventional vehicles. The policy is reviewed annually.
Manzi, who has been in detention since his arrest on July 30, first appeared before the court on August 19, when his trial was postponed after the defence said they were not ready for trial.
The prosecution presented three charges against him: obtaining something of value by deception, illegal currency exchange, and money laundering. It is alleged that Manzi, together with his wife, founded Billion Traders FX and encouraged people to invest their money with a promise to return their capital along with the profits.
Preliminary information from Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) indicated that at least 500 people had invested up to $10 million in the company.
The prosecution explained that Manzi received large sums of money, some directly to him and others through his wife, but failed to fulfil the promises he made to investors. Frustrated investors eventually turned to the justice system for help.
Under the law, anyone engaged in currency trading must obtain authorization from the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), which Manzi did not have. It is also alleged that when Manzi registered his company with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), he claimed he would trade currency but instead conducted illegal online currency exchanges not permitted in Rwanda.
The prosecution presented evidence that Manzi promised investors lucrative returns, such as a “double profit package” where a $10,000 investment could yield $20,000 in just five months. Another scheme promised 0.8% monthly returns on a $30,000 investment, with the principal returned after five months.
It is understood that the invested funds are still unaccounted for because the suspect claims that the money was frozen abroad.
In November 2022, the Capital Markets Authority alerted RIB that Manzi was operating without a license, posing a risk to investors. The prosecution further explained that inspections conducted on January 2, 2024, and December 28, 2023, found that neither Manzi’s nor his wife’s accounts had any funds, suggesting money laundering by transferring the money elsewhere.
Given these serious submissions, the prosecution requested the court to order his detention while the case is under preparation for trial arguing that his detention would prevent him from evading justice fleeing.
In response, the suspect denied all charges, stating that the prosecution’s claims differed from the operations of his company, which he launched in 2020. He explained that before starting the company, he sought authorization from BNR and was told there was no existing law permitting such a business but was allowed to operate as regulations were being developed.
He claimed that in 2022, BNR and Capital Markets staff visited his company and praised its operations, but shortly after, they issued a public notice on television, warning people against investing in it.
Manzi stated that in November 2022, RIB froze the company’s bank accounts, blocking over $990,000 and causing significant losses. He asked the public to file complaints to address emerging issues related to the frozen funds.
He later communicated with RIB to return the frozen funds to the rightful owners, which he said was done. Manzi insisted that his business was neither fraudulent nor deceptive, as it had been running for ten years, and asked for justice so that he could return the money owed to Rwandans.
He mentioned that he worked with a company called Ice Markets in Australia, which also froze over $2.5 million of his funds after the investigation began.
“The Rwandans’ money is available, and we know where it is. I ask for a chance to recover and return it to the rightful owners,” he said.
Manzi argued that if released, he could continue to recover his frozen funds and pay back those he owes. He indicated that by December 2023, he had already repaid over 70% of the capital received from the public.
Manzi explained that promising seemingly exaggerated profits was based on what he believed was possible. “This business is not widely understood; people often misinterpret it. I saw it as feasible, and I still believe it is. I made a profit, and so did the Rwandans. If this is properly understood in Rwanda, it could benefit the country,” he said.
He revealed that he had 559 clients at the time. Manzi argued that continued detention would not benefit anyone, as the Australian company holding his funds would only release them once his legal issues in Rwanda were resolved.
His lawyer, Me Zawadi Sylvere, emphasized that Manzi would not flee justice and requested the court to allow him to be followed up while out of detention.
The court’s decision will be announced on August 28, 2024.
This follows a meeting between Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of Regional Cooperation, and his Japanese counterpart, Tsuji Kiyoto, on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Kabarebe is in Japan to attend the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting, ahead of TICAD 9, which will be held in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025. TICAD was launched in 1993 to promote Africa’s development, peace and security, through the strengthening of relations in multilateral cooperation and partnership.
During the meeting, State Minister Tsuji congratulated President Paul Kagame on his re-election and paid tribute to Rwanda’s efforts toward national reconciliation, reconstruction, and stability over the 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi.
In turn, Kabarebe expressed his appreciation for Japan’s assistance and his hope to further strengthen the already strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
State Minister Tsuji, while referring to his recent visit to Rwanda in May this year, welcomed the momentum of Japanese companies developing new business in Rwanda. The two parties agreed to work together to increase investment from Japan to Rwanda by improving the business environment for Japanese companies.
“They confirmed the further development of Japan-Rwanda relations towards TICAD 9 next year,” Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “They also exchanged views regarding cooperation in the international arena, including regional situations.”
Japan’s development cooperation in Rwanda currently includes loans, grants, and technical assistance, with a focus on enhancing infrastructure, agricultural development and education among others.
In March, the Government of Rwanda and Japan signed a long-term financing agreement worth 14 billion Japanese Yen (approximately Rwf118 billion to support transformation of the education sector.
Rwanda said the agreement in form of a concessional loan marked a pivotal step towards driving digital transformation within education, enhancing operational efficiency across primary and secondary levels, and fostering an enriched learning environment within technical colleges. The overarching objective is to ensure equitable access to quality education for all.
Rae Hamoonga, the police spokesperson, said the accident occurred around on Sunday morning after the workers finished loading the gravel, burying the truck and the victims.
He said the driver, who was rescued after being partially buried, informed the police that there were no less than nine people at the scene.
The rescue team has managed to retrieve eight bodies while the search for the other victims is still underway, the spokesperson added.
“Our rescue teams have been working tirelessly to recover those affected by this incident. However, due to the challenging conditions at the site, the rescue operation has been temporarily suspended for the day,” he said in a statement.
He said this during an exclusive interview with IGIHE where he highlighted Rwanda’s rapid progress under the leadership of President Paul Kagame.
“Rwanda’s transformation in the real estate sector is nothing short of remarkable,” Dr. Moses said.
“The strategic vision that has guided this nation’s development, particularly in infrastructure and urban planning, has not only attracted global attention but has also established Rwanda as a model for sustainable growth in Africa,” he emphasized.
Dr. Moses, originally from Edo State, Nigeria, and now based in London, has built a successful career in property investment and wealth creation. His recent focus on Rwanda signals his recognition of the country’s success in creating a stable and attractive environment for real estate development.
This follows his recent appearance on Rwanda’s National Broadcasting Network (RBA), where he first expressed his admiration for the country’s progress. However, his engagement with Rwanda extends beyond this.
On August 4, 2024, Dr. Moses was honoured as a keynote speaker at the 100 Most Notable Icons event held in Kigali, where he received the International Business and Property Developer of the Year award.
This recognition highlights his growing involvement in the African real estate market and his interest in contributing to Rwanda’s continued success.
Moses elaborated on his future plans in Rwanda, including a sensitization workshop scheduled for December 2024 in Kigali. The workshop aims to empower local real estate professionals and investors with insights and strategies for success in the sector.
“I see tremendous potential in Rwanda, and I am committed to contributing to the growth of its real estate market,” Moses stated. “This workshop is just one step in what I hope will be a long-term partnership with the country.”
Moses also expressed his admiration for Rwanda’s consistent policies that foster growth while ensuring that development benefits the broader population.
“Rwanda’s success in the real estate sector is a testament to what can be achieved with visionary leadership and strategic planning,” he noted.
Underscoring Moses’s deepening connection to Rwanda and his belief in the country’s potential, his plans for future investments and initiatives are seen as a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s economic stability and its prospects for continued development in the real estate sector.
As Rwanda continues to position itself as a leading destination for real estate investment in Africa, Moses’s involvement is an indication of a critical role in shaping the market’s future.
His upcoming workshop and potential investments are anticipated to not only enhance the local real estate industry but also contribute to the broader economic landscape.
This highlights the importance of Rwanda’s achievements in real estate and the growing interest from international experts who are eager to be part of the country’s success story.
The DRC is the epicenter of the current resurgence of Mpox, with South Kivu and Equateur provinces being the hardest hit by the outbreak.
Out of more than 16,000 Mpox cases reported in the DRC in 2024, South Kivu leads with approximately 4,600 suspected and confirmed cases. According to local authorities, the province is currently seeing 350 new cases per week.
Dr. Vincent Sanvura, who coordinates the One Health zoonoses prevention project for VSF in the Kahuzi-Biega park region, describes the situation as “increasingly worrying.”
Dr. Sanvura noted that due to the challenges faced by the health system, hospitals do not provide food or “caretakers”; it is the patient’s family that handles this, raising the risk of contamination and infection even within hospitals.
“When children are ill, they are accompanied by their parents, who all spend the night in the same room, making it easy for the child to infect the mother or relatives who bring food,” Sanvura said.
The doctor revealed that this lack of food in hospitals has even led some patients in quarantine at health centers in Kamituga to escape in search of food.
“This has contributed to spreading the disease elsewhere,” Dr. Sanvura observed.
Mpox is a viral disease that spreads from animals to humans but can also be transmitted through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscle pain, and skin lesions. The clade 1 strain responsible for the current outbreak in Africa has a fatality rate of 3.6% and is particularly dangerous for children, according to the Word Health Organisation.
Denis Ripoche, who visited in July to assess the Mpox crisis and the actions of his NGO, VSF, noted that the severe impact on South Kivu is not accidental, given the insecurity in the area, which has resulted in a lot of movement.
“It is a complex crisis zone with multiple constraints,” Ripoche observed.
VSF is combating the spread of zoonotic epidemics among both animal and human populations in the region. This area experiences significant movement: commercial, natural, and currently driven by security constraints, particularly in Greater North Kivu, where M23 rebel groups have been advancing.
Limited diagnostic capacities in the region have also complicated the situation in South Kivu.
“Laboratory diagnostic capacities to detect Mpox cases are severely lacking,” Sanvura said, adding, “Yet this is the most essential component in controlling diseases, especially zoonoses (animal-origin diseases like Mpox). We are therefore unable to conduct analyses even of contact individuals to isolate the pathogen. Asymptomatic individuals circulate, so the virus also spreads within the population.”
So far, 13 countries on the African continent have confirmed cases of Mpox, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Data from the public health agency indicate that from the beginning of 2024 to August 23, a total of 21,466 potential cases of Mpox and 591 deaths have been reported from 13 African Union (AU) member states.
The AU members that have reported Mpox cases so far include Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.
Some of the interventions Africa CDC has rolled out to address the outbreak include vaccination, which the agency stated earlier this week could begin “in the coming days.”
Additionally, Africa CDC announced the deployment of around 200 epidemiologists and logisticians to all Mpox-affected African countries to support preparedness and response activities.
The upcoming session in Gulu district, scheduled for August 28, 2024, has sparked mixed reactions from both the public and political leaders, highlighting a growing divide in how these sessions are perceived.
Some view them as a vital opportunity for direct engagement with legislators, while others, like the Parliament’s Leader of Opposition in the Museveni Government Joel Ssenyonyi, criticize the initiative as an ineffective and costly endeavour.
Ssenyonyi has been particularly outspoken, labeling the regional sittings as a misuse of public funds and calling on MPs to boycott the events. He argues that the sessions will not address the country’s most urgent issues and accuses the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, of orchestrating a wasteful exercise.
“These sessions are nothing more than a facade, an excuse to squander taxpayers’ money,” Ssenyonyi stated, urging his fellow parliamentarians to reconsider their participation.
In contrast, Bugiri Municipality MP and Justice Forum (JEMA) Party President Asuman Basalirwa has taken a firm stance in support of the sessions.
Dismissing Ssenyonyi’s concerns as mere noise, Basalirwa emphasized that the expenses have been carefully managed by Parliament, with provisions made for transportation and logistics. “This is not about cost; it’s about connecting with the people we serve,” Basalirwa explained, expressing his commitment to attending the Gulu session despite the growing controversy.
As the date approaches, the mixed reactions to the regional parliamentary sessions reflect broader uncertainties in Uganda’s political climate, leaving the public divided on whether these initiatives will bring meaningful change or deepen existing divides.
Data from the public health agency indicate that from the beginning of 2024 to August 23, a total of 21,466 potential cases of mpox and 591 deaths have been reported from 13 African Union (AU) member states.
The AU members that have reported mpox cases so far include Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, in a letter to African health ministers on Friday, warned that the reported mpox cases and deaths are just the tip of the iceberg, given that mpox is mostly a mild condition. He added that limited surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and reporting have also hindered the continent’s response efforts against mpox.
Kaseya also highlighted the high case fatality rate of mpox, which he noted typically ranges from 3 to 4 percent. Additionally, he expressed concern about the disease’s association with HIV, which poses an extra challenge for Africa.
Kaseya noted that several previously unaffected African countries have recently reported their first imported cases of mpox, and there is a high risk that the virus could spread beyond Africa.
“Even as I wrote this letter, Gabon has confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi are now testing their suspected cases,” Kaseya said.
He insisted that a negative test result in the laboratory does not necessarily indicate the absence of a mpox epidemic. He called for a holistic approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessments and epidemiological data.
“Relying solely on laboratory test results for diagnosing mpox is not advisable. We need a comprehensive approach that includes laboratory testing, clinical assessment, and epidemiological data to accurately diagnose and manage mpox,” he said.
Africa CDC declared mpox a public health emergency of continental security on August 13, 2024. The following day, the World Health Organization (WHO) also declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
Some of the interventions Africa CDC has rolled out to address the outbreak include vaccination, which the agency stated earlier this week could begin “in the coming days.”
Additionally, Africa CDC announced the deployment of around 200 epidemiologists and logisticians to all mpox-affected African countries to support preparedness and response activities. This follows the recent deployment of 24 experts to support the response in the DRC—the epicenter of the outbreak—and other highly affected countries.
