The Governor of Western Province, François Habitegeko has told IGIHE that emergency assistance is being provided as efforts are underway to identify more residents whose houses might have collapsed on them.
“It rained heavily the whole night that Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro and Karongi districts have been seriously affected. We lost a large number of residents and families that we have so far registered 95 deaths not considering injured people, and those whose houses collapsed. We are assessing this situation to identify those who need emergency assistance,” he noted.
As Habitegeko said, 14 detahs have been registered in Karongi, 26 in Rutsiro, 18 in Rubavu, 19 in Nyabihu and 18 in Ngororero.
He urged residents in high risk zones to move to safer places.
The rain poured down across the whole province but Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts have not yet registered major ravages.
In Bwishyura Sector, a cliff collapsed on a house where three of eight occupants died on spot while survivors are in critical condition at a nearby hospital.
In the same sector, another incident happened in Bapfune where two people managed to leave a house that collapsed while a five-year old child was still trapped inside by press time.
Two more children died as a house collapsed in Nyarugenge Village in Rubengera Sector.
The downpour has also destroyed infrastructures including roads.
Father Dr. Ntivuguruzwa who is a priest of the same diocese has been serving as the the Vice Chancellor of the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi (ICK), one of higher learning institutions owned by Catholic Church in Rwanda.
A statement released by the office of Pope’s Apostolic Nuncio to Rwanda reads that Dr. Ntivuguruzwa was named Bishop of Kabgayi on Tuesday 2nd May 2023.
Msgr. Ntivuguruzwa was born on 15th September 1967 in the district of Muhanga.
After his studies at the Major Seminary of Philosophy in Kabgayi, Msgr. Ntivuguruzwa completed the cycle of Theology at the Catholic University of Kinshasa, and was ordained a priest on 18th January 1997 for the diocese of Kabgayi.
After ordination, he first served as Vice Rector and Teacher in the Minor Seminary of Kabgayi (1997-2000) and Secretary to the Bishop of Kabgayi (2000-2003).
Msgr. Ntivuguruzwa was awarded a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.
He went on to serve as deputy parish priest of Saint-Rémy and Sainte-Renelde in the archdiocese of Malines-Bruxelles (2003-2010), and professor and prefect of studies at the major seminary of Nyakibanda (2010-2017).
From 2017 to date, he has been Vice Chancellor of the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi.
According to Clementine Mukeka, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the journey to evacuate Rwandans and foreigners from Sudan began on Tuesday, and the government first took them to Aswan city in Egypt from Khartoum before flying them to Kigali.
The exercise was conducted through partnership between the Rwandan government, the embassy in Cairo, and the embassy in Khartoum.
“We commend Egypt for having welcomed our citizens during these trying times, as well as the Sudanese and the Government of Sudan for their assistance in evacuating these people,” said Mukeka.
The citizens flown to Kigali include five Syrians, one Burundian, one Kenyan, two Ugandans, one Nigerian, and 32 Rwandans.
Mukeka also stated that two Rwandans preferred to stay in Khartoum for personal reasons, but they will receive support where necessary.
Mukeka disclosed that Rwanda is prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at achieving durable peace in Sudan through mechanisms that will be established by the African Union (AU).
Among the evacuees was Kenyan citizen Ogendo Daniel Oganga, who married a Rwandan.
Ogango commended the Government of Rwanda for the support extended to him and his family to leave Sudan.
Rwandan citizen Francis Kihumuro also expressed his relief for being evacuated from an area prone to heavy gunfire.
Since 15th April, Sudan has been mired in military clashes between following days of tension between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The country has been suffering a political crisis since the Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency in October 2021 and dissolved the sovereign council as well as the government.
The two countries have a shared aspiration to improve the lives of their citizens, and President Kagame emphasized the need to create an enabling environment for Africa’s entrepreneurial youth.
As he said, the relationship between Tanzania and Rwanda continues to flourish.
“The seeds of Tanzania and Rwanda relations were planted decades ago, and they continue to bear fruit today,” he noted.
In August 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania visited Rwanda to strengthen ties between the two neighboring countries. During her visit, agreements were signed in various sectors aimed at promoting social and economic growth for both nations.
Trade and investment are among the key sectors of cooperation between the two countries. Tanzania’s exports to Rwanda increased to $277.8 million in 2021, up from $60.1 million, while Rwanda’s exports to Tanzania increased to $2.2 million, up from $1.3 million in the same period. Rwanda primarily uses the port of Dar es Salaam for much of its inbound and outbound cargo through the Central Corridor.
Several popular Tanzanian businesses operate in Rwanda, including Azam Group, Bakhresa, and Matelas Dodoma, while Rwandan companies like Sulfo Rwanda and Pharmalab have set foot in Tanzania. Additionally, some of Rwanda’s submarine sea cables for IT infrastructure go through the port of Dar es Salaam.
Both countries have also committed to cooperate closely on border control and crime prevention, information and intelligence sharing on terrorism, and other transnational crimes. In 2018, they agreed on joint construction of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Isaka in northwestern Tanzania to Kigali, which will facilitate movement of goods between the two countries.
President Kagame’s visit to Tanzania further strengthens the existing ties of friendship and cooperation between Rwanda and Tanzania.
As the two nations continue to collaborate on various fronts, they are well positioned to achieve their shared aspirations of improving the lives of their citizens and promoting economic growth.
Upon his arrival in the country, Kagame was received by Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.
Kagame then proceeded to State House Dar es Salaam, where he was received by President Suluhu for a tête-à-tête meeting to be followed by a bilateral discussion with members of both delegations.
The two Heads of State are expected to address members of the press. Kagame will also attend a dinner hosted in his honor. Suluhu last visited Rwanda in August 2021.
Kagame will conclude his visit to Tanzania on Friday, April 28th, 2023.
Rwanda and Tanzania renewed their commitment to cooperation, through bilateral agreements signed in various sectors for the social and economic growth of both nations.
The Head of State made the call at the opening ceremony of Transform Africa Summit 2023 held in Zimbabwe from 26th to 28th April 2023.
At the summit, Kagame was also joined by several Heads of State including host President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, among other dignitaries.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
Many countries around the world have already started to embrace AI technology.
The report released by leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm, Goldman indicated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could disrupt the global labour market and replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.
It further indicates that the technology can lead to the creation of new jobs as it has the potential to enhance productivity and services by 7%.
Speaking to participants of the 6th Transform Africa Summit (TAS2023) in Victoria Falls, Kagame said that it is still unclear how the AI will affect existing jobs and what ‘safety concerns there will be’.
He stressed the need for Africa to assess benefits it can get from the technology and move fast with it.
“But it is already possible to see that Africa actually has the most to gain because of how these applications can narrow productivity gaps between African firms and our competitors on the other continents. We should therefore move quickly to embrace Artificial Intelligence and make it work for us,” he stated.
The president also said that transforming Africa means digitizing the continent’s economies.
“Already many of the new quality jobs being created in Africa are powered by technology and connectivity. That applies even to traditional sectors like Agriculture, mining and retail,” he noted.
Kagame stressed the need to address existing barriers to make technology the key driver for economic growth and development on the African continent.
He said that everyone has to be connected to affordable broadband and also be able to have a smart device.
As Kagame said, Mobile broadband penetration has been spreading rapidly, but more than 60 percent of Africans who have access don’t use it.
“We need to also keep reducing costs,” Kagame urged participants.
Equally troubling, he noted, is that a big piece of the puzzle is digital skill and literacy.
“One reason many Africans are not taking full advantage of the internet is that they are not yet comfortable with the interface or sometimes the language barrier factor.”
According to Kagame other bottlenecks include digital identity and cyber security as well as continental integration such as the African Continental Free Trade Area or the One Africa network.
“We need to make digital identities of individuals and businesses portable across borders while using technology to reduce barriers to trade. All of this is within our power to achieve. We just need to move faster with a sense of urgency,” he said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kagame chaired the Smart Africa Board Meeting attended by Heads of State and their representatives from the Alliance’s 36 member countries, international organisations and global private sector players to discuss Africa’s digital agenda.
Gen Muhoozi visited Rwanda in March 2022 where he met with President Kagame whom he calls uncle. At the time, they held discussions aimed at reinforcing bilateral relations.
During the visit, the head of state took Gen Muhoozi to his farm and gifted him ten cows locally known as Inyambo cows as a gesture of friendship pact.
In the evening of Monday 24th April 2023, President Kagame hosted Muhoozi to a ceremony in honour of his 49th birthday and commended him for his efforts to restore both countries’ relations to normal.
Both countries turned a new page for relations following visits of Gen Muhoozi at the beginning of 2022.
Relations had deteriorated since 2017 as Rwanda accused the neighbouring country of illegal detention of Rwandans and working with subversive groups intending to threaten its security while Uganda accused Rwanda of sending spies to the country.
Following the mediation of Gen Muhoozi, Rwandans illegally incarcerated in Uganda were released followed by the reopening of borders.
“We are seeing peace between our two countries. Well, you can have peace but at the same time you may not be friends. We are friends and we are at peace,” said Kagame at the birthday celebration for Gen Muhoozi.
He extolled Gen Muhoozi for his role along the journey to restore ties to normal.
“Thank you for being that bridge we used to cross from one side to another,” he noted.
Gen Muhoozi said that their interactions with Kagame went from being a president and army officer to ‘a personal friend’.
“The mark of this friendship was the cows that he gave me and I take this very seriously. Your Excellency, I would like to report that the cows are doing well and have reproduced. You gave me ten cows, now I have 17 from the ones you gave me. From that point on, really we became friends,” he disclosed.
In Rwandan culture, cows represent a very significant symbol of friendship and are considered part of the best wealth a person can ever possess.
In Rwanda, cows were the only token that would be given for dowry or as a present to a friend. Even today, a cow is still considered the best present one can ever give a beloved one. Be it a wedding, graduation or a birthday party, cow giving makes the occasion more colourful and real.
As he attended Gen Muhoozi’s birthday in Kampala last year, President Kagame thanked the general for his contribution and commitment to restore relations between Rwanda and Uganda.
President Kagame has said that Lt Gen Muhoozi asked for his phone number to discuss issues between both countries’ relations.
“Muhoozi went through friends, and asked for my phone number. And so, I provided the direct line,” he said.
“He asked me in a message if I could accept talking to him in that direct way. Even before, I knew what he wanted to tell me. I accepted. He came. All this happened in a very short time of about two weeks,” Kagame added.
The commitment led to first talks with Lt Gen Muhoozi in January 2022 paving the way for normalized relations.
At the time, P Kagame went on to say that he did not only trust Muhoozi for his intentions to mediate the two countries but also was convinced that his father, Ugandan President Museveni was behind the good cause.
[{{Related article: President Kagame, First Lady host Gen Muhoozi on his birthday}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/president-kagame-first-lady-host-gen-muhoozi-on-his-birthday]
“Last night, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame hosted General Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his delegation to celebrate the General’s birthday,” Rwanda’s Presidency has tweeted.
Gen Muhoozi, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations arrived in Rwanda for a private visit on April 23, 2023.
He arrived one day before his 49th birthday celebration, which he announced would be celebrated in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
The delegation that came with Gen Muhoozi includes Norbert Mao, the Ugandan Minister of Justice, Maj Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, the Interior Minister, and Andrew Mwenda, the Spokesperson of MK Movement among others.
Photographs posted on Twitter show President Kagame, First lady Jeannette Kagame and other attendees of the event clapping hands for Gen Muhoozi with a birthday cake in front of him.
The general’s last year’s birthday held in Kampala was attended by President Paul Kagame. He had last visited the country three years ago.
Gen Muhoozi is commended for his mediation efforts to mend Rwanda-Uganda relations that had deteriorated since 2017.
Efforts to normalize bilateral ties began to take formal shape following his two visits to Rwanda last year, a move that was followed by the reopening of borders.
According to MINEMA, carelessness is responsible for 55% of disasters, while 20% is attributed to topography. Disasters also ravaged crops on over 2000 hectares.
Disasters in Rwanda are related to the country’s topography, climate change, and human activities as indicated by the Permanent Secretary in MINEMA, Philippe Habinshuti during a talk show aired on RBA.
As he said, these disasters caused significant losses in various aspects of life, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure.
Over the past four months, disasters have left 158 people injured, destroyed 44 schools, and ravaged 12 roads.
According to Fabrice Barisanga, the Director General in Charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA); roads and bridges were the most affected infrastructures, with rain destroying 91 bridges across the country.
MINEMA urges the general public to adhere to disaster prevention measures, build structures in compliance with designated master plans, and avoid staying in places that put their lives at risk.
Statistics indicate that disasters incur Rwf200 million loss in Rwanda every year. Over the past two months, disasters have destroyed 273 houses and ravaged crops on 790 hectares in the Northern Province, while the Western Province has seen the destruction of 224 houses, with Rusizi District being the most affected.
The province also experienced floods from volcanoes that affected 276 families, with 256 in Rubavu District alone, while 14 people died of different types of disasters.
In the past three years, the Northern Province has experienced disasters 1500 times, causing the loss of 201 lives and destroying over 5000 houses and over 3000 hectares that were swept away by floods.
Disasters have also killed more than 100 cows and around 4000 small livestock.
The shooting commenced on 15 April 2023, after days of tension arising from the redeployment of members of the RSF across the country, which the army perceived as a threat.
While there were initial expectations of talks to resolve the conflict, they never materialized.
The party responsible for the first shot remains uncertain, but the violence quickly escalated in various regions of the nation.
On Sunday 22rd April 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that citizens from European and other countries were being evacuated from Sudan to Djibouti.
“Sudan is in the grip of violent clashes. The first plane repatriating our compatriots, European nationals, and nationals from other countries has just landed in Djibouti. I commend the mobilization of our armed forces and the agents of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs,” he tweeted.
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that 388 citizens have been evacuated under this operation that continued in the morning of Monday 24th April 2023.
French Ambassador to Rwanda, Antoine Anfré has via Twitter handle confirmed that the evacuees include a few Rwandans.
“Among the non-European citizens evacuated from Khartoum by the French operation there are a few Rwandan citizens [this embassy doesn’t know yet the precise number].This is what’s called solidarity!” he tweeted.
On Sunday, the United States of America and the United Kingdom also revealed that they were evacuating their citizens from Khartoum.
