IGIHE has learnt that Ndimbati has been arrested on Thursday 10th March 2022.
“RIB has arrested a man identified as Jean Bosco Uwihoreye alias Ndimbati,51, over alleged defilement,” RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE.
He revealed that Ndimbati is detained at Rwezamenyo RIB Post as investigation is underway pending transfer of his file to the Prosecution.
Ndimbati is arrested after publication of a video that went viral on social media where a girl accused him of abandoning parental duties to take care of twins they sired together.
The girl also revealed that Ndimbati drugged her to have sexual intercourses at a time when she was still a minor.
It is said that Ndimbati had started plans to escape after learning about accusations against her through the media.
Ndimbati has become a popular figure in local film industry particularly in Papa Sava film series aired on YouTube.
Trained as an aeronautical engineer, my life changed when I understood, through the work of researchers and journalists, that my country, France, could have been involved in Rwanda in a Genocide. The importance for me of this question comes, even if it took me long to admit it, from the history of my family : my mother, Charlotte, has been, when she was four years old, caught in 1942 with her own Polish mother, Shana, by the Parisian police, both being taken to the Veld’Hiv. My mother will get out of it, otherwise I would not be here today in front of you, thanks to a French nurse, which was not the case of her mother who was murdered by nazis in Auschwitz. For more than fifteen years, it has been impossible for me to give up the Rwandan affair. I have worked on the evolution of post-genocidal Franco-Rwandan relations on which subject I have written a lot. I have also collected, in Rwanda, the testimonies of lots of people, whatever survivors or former genocidaires, gathering them into in a book, all the witnesses speaking with their faces uncovered so that whoever wants hearing them after me has their name to do so. All of this led Mr Richard Gisagara to consider that my point of view on this matter might interest you.
Before starting my testimony, I would like to express the interest I generally have in listening to the various analyses of Ms Polony. I say this so that you know I have personally nothing against her. Thus, even if her words, which create confusion between victims and killers, deeply shocked me in the context of a genocide, I first imagined she did not know the subject enough (Indeed I still wonder how journalists manage to have something to say on every subjects) and that she could have been manipulated.
But it does not fit with the activism of the magazine Marianne to falsify the History of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, not only since 2004 but since Ms. Polony was her director in 2018. And we cannot, in my opinion, properly analyze her words without taking this context into account. So when she says that « we had bastards in front of bastards », this sentence should be analyzed in the light of the article she will let Judi Rever write a bit later in Marianne. In this article, Rever will explain that the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda would have been partly executed by the current Rwandan leaders (in majority Tutsi at the time when the Rwandan identity cards still indicated the ethnic mention). An accusation identical to the one that would have consisted in affirming that the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel, David Ben-Gourion, would have planned and implemented the Shoah in order to become president of a State to be born from the ashes of this genocide ! How to dare such an accusation ! Moreover, when Ms. Polony tells us she had only talked about the leaders, not the population, is she forgetting that Judi Rever is writing that thousands of Tutsi genocidaires would have been directly involved in the genocide of Tutsi ? They are not leaders. Then I wondered what to think of what says Mrs. Polony when she affirms not denying the existence of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, and when at the same time she denies so crudely its mechanism. That is why I started suspecting it could be a strategy.
A strategy that is far from new. Since it was no longer possible to deny the existence of this crime against humanity (once it has been recognized by the ICTR [International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda] and before its denial was punished by the french law of 2017), deniers would not deny explicitly its existence anymore, but would still follow the idea of the former genocide communication plan consisting in preventing us from seeing it clearly. It is the case of Védrine’s attempts to explain that this genocide was not planned but was only the result of the gradual transformation of spontaneous popular anger. It is the case of Villepin’s attempts to explain that the genocide against the Tutsi would have come with another genocide against the Hutu, thus recycling the old thesis of inter-ethnic conflict. This is the case of the attempts of the magazine Marianne, then directed by Ms. Polony when this media tries, through the article of Judi Rever, to explain that this genocide would have been partly executed by the current leaders of Rwanda.
The fact that Ms Polony chose to publish such an article clarifies, at least in my eyes, the words she pronounced a bit earlier on France Inter radio. Because publishing this article makes her pursuing the strategy of Marianne which will have, for fifteen years, vainly tried to falsify the History of this genocide. I insist on this « vainly » and will explain it because this is the heart of my point. I take this opportunity to say I do not understand why we are still listening, on this subject, to the theories of the journalists of this media after their intention to distort history has been publicly proved, what I am about to remind us. And if I consider of course that Mrs Polony is not responsible for Marianne’s communication on this subject before she became her director, her decisions, now that she is at the head of this media, make her, in my eyes, endorse this past. Consequently, her words pronounced on France Inter cannot be considered as having for a moment exceeded her thought, but as totally assumed in that they are perfectly coherent with a constant communication strategy for fifteen years.
Yes, fifteen years is the time separating Judi Rever’s article from another one also published by Marianne, both following exactly the same line of communication according to which the Genocide against the Tutsi would have been planned and executed by the RPF [Rwandan Patriotic Front, a rebellion movement mostly composed of Tutsi who returned to Rwanda through a guerrilla war launched on October 1, 1990]. On April 12, 2004, Marianne prepared us to read the testimony of a man named Ruzibiza by writing that « Paul Kagame believed that only an apocalyptic solution could lead him to take power. » By evoking « damning documents », Marianne therefore prepared the public to adopt the thesis of the one who would soon become french Judge Bruguière’s « key witness » in the investigation relating to the attack against Rwandan President Habyarimana plane, attack which was part of the genocidal plan in that it was the first event of a sequence of events triggered one after the other : according to this thesis, Kagame would have been the organizer of this plane attack. In the testimony that Marianne made available as an exclusive on her website, Ruzibiza claimed that « the bodies buried in the mass graves were not only those of Tutsi », made us appear the genocidal Interahamwe militias as militias of self-defense, mentioned « an authorization (to massacre) coming from a single man: Kagame » that he compared to Hitler. Among others.
Four years later, in November 2008, Ruzibiza withdrawn from his testimony by publicly admitting that everything he had written and said so far about the plane attack was false. Therefore the whole structure of Judge Bruguière’s investigation collapsed, making collapse all those who had participated in promoting this thesis : Marianne, Pierre Péan, Claudine Vidal and André Guichaoua, who respectively signed the preface and the postscript of Ruzibiza’s book in which he wrote the lies he had already written in his first report published by Marianne, a book which they presented to Science-po thank’s with the help of Philip Reynjtens and Rony Brauman.
Two years later, Ruzibiza died and, the day after his death, on September 23, 2010, Marianne published a new document : the minutes of a hearing held three months earlier by Ruzibiza, and in which he was suddenly returned to his first accusations against the RPF. But in this document, he denied that he had eyewitnessed the plane attack, what he had affirmed both in his report and in his book : this time, he said to have been some one hundred kilometers from the place of the attack ! The title of Marianne’s article in which the content of this document was published stated that « before dying, he explained that he had been threatened by Kagame’s men. » Why the magazine Marianne waited three months until he died to publish this document ? And why Marianne published it the day after his death ?
Reminding this affair allows us to make appear the intentions of those who spread these lies. Because if this kind of accusations can create some illusion when they are launched, which is the case during each commemoration of this genocide when these accusations aimed at diverting us from the accusations against French leaders, they can not resist at the patina of time. And I do not see how Mrs. Polony, at the time when she expressed herself on France Inter radio, could ignore that the intention of Marianne to lie on this subject had been publicly proved. And let’s not forget she was working for Marianne from 2002 to 2009. So we have to consider her words pronounced on France Inter in the light of her determination to keep on promoting a thesis that I consider to be the worst way to deny this genocide.
As a conclusion, I would like to say that accusing the victims of a genocide to have somehow participated in their own extermination is inflicting them much worse than the denial of the genocide they have been the target of. Considering that the french law against genocide denial would be a « yes or no game » is not only playing with this law but is also insulting the intelligence of the judges. Making the victims of a genocide guilty of the genocide they suffered from is the worst way to deny a genocide. Because what is a crime but suicide when the killer is the victim ?And don’t tell it’s not the same. According to the Polony/Rever tandem, a Tutsi from the RPF would have killed his Tutsi blood brother who remained in the country? A nephew killed his uncle? But from what sick mind have such a theory come from ? And how can we spread it?
What I fear above all is that, without any sanction, other media will be offered a precedent enabling them to establish a bit more, in public opinion, these thesis of inversion of victims and killers. That would even reinforce the slogan which was the leitmotif of the Genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda in 1994. We remember that RTLM called on the Hutu population to kill the Tutsi before they kill them themselves, according to an alleged plan of Tutsi to do so. Have we already forgotten the Protocols of the Elders of Zion ? And what about remembering of its use within the exhibition « The Jew and France » in 1941 which aimed at making Parisians believe that the Jews had a plan to dominate the world ? This exhibition lasted until January 1942, only a few months before the Veld’Hiv roundup, in a Paris whose inhabitants had been previously brainwashed in order to facilitate it. What we are judging today is the use of this type of inversion for deadly purposes. I dream that this trial will help put a stop to these mirror accusations which, one day or another, will lead us to new exterminations.
{{Serge Farnel
Web site of Serge Farnel’s inquiry : [www.bisesero.net/en->https://www.bisesero.net/en/]
Serge Farnel is an aeronautical engineer, professor, journalist and writer. His writings explore novel, poetry, theater, investigative journalism as well as scientific pedagogy.}}
President Kagame has via his Twitter handle sent best wishes to women in Rwanda and beyond as they celebrated the IWD 2022 on 8th March.
“Today, we celebrate the resilience of Rwandan women who have been at the center of Rwanda’s transformation journey,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
From the beginning, the Head of State said, RPF has walked the talk by creating an environment that enabled women to take their rightful place.
“Gender equality has always been central to the politics of RPF. The progress we see in Rwanda today is the result of this commitment to inclusivity,” he noted.
Equality is a right not a favour. We must challenge ourselves to do even more and better to ensure that the next generations of our daughters and granddaughters inherit a nation where their aspirations have no limits,” Kagame added.
Rwanda has earned international reputation for its efforts to empower women and promote gender equality.
The success was a result of the country’s commitment to inclusivity, which among other things, saw the country giving women the floor in decision making positions.
For instance, women have 61 % and 50% representation respectively in Rwanda’s parliament and cabinet.
Umaro arrived in Rwanda in the morning of Monday 7th March for three-day working visit. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, he was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta before his reception at Urugwiro Village.
After hosting Umaru, the two Heads of State sat down for a tête-â-tête before holding bilateral talks with officials from both delegations. They also witnessed the signing of agreements focused on strengthening key areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The memoranda of understanding were signed in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, education, tourism, business events and conservation.
As he toured the Kigali Special Economic Zone on Tuesday 8th March 2022, Umaro visited Carnegie Mellon University, African Improved Foods and Volkswagen, a Germany firm assembling cars in Rwanda.
Stephanie Nyombayire, the Press Secretary at the Office of the President has said that the zone was set up to facilitate commerce and trading between Rwanda and other countries where Guinea Bissau ‘could be one of them’.
“All of these are companies that were able to set up in Rwanda are looking to have partnerships with (Guinea) whether it is in exporting the cars that are locally manufactured, whether it is in bringing students from Guinea Bissau to study on the campus here, or in exporting some of the foods that Africa Improved Foods produces here,” Nyombayire told the media.
She explained that there are ongoing talks that might lead to the signing of a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Rwanda and Guinea Bissau.
The child is none else than Sandra Umuhoza Isimbi. Unlike other passengers, the 15-year old primary school pupil was recently going to school when she saw a baby abandoned in a bush. With her deep affection for humans, Umuhoza did not wait for others’ intervention but made possible efforts on her own to save the baby. She picked the baby, wrapped him in her pullover and took him to school. Unfortunately, the baby died few days later.
Umuhoza studies at Groupe Scolaire Karembure in Gahanga sector of Kicukiro district. She was raised by one biological parent (her mother) but did not discourage her from virtues of generosity.
As Umuhoza headed to school, three days before the celebration of International women’s Day, she met with a colleague who informed her that ‘there is a small animal that might be alive or dead in the surroundings’.
Umuhoza rushed to the place and saw what seemed to be baby’s legs. She removed the sack covering the upper part of the body and found an abandoned baby who weeped soon as Umuhoza touched him.
She wrapped him in her pullover and took the baby to school where he alerted the management.
That is when her picture was taken and attracted public attention particularly among social media users. Umuhoza was deservingly commended for her bravery to save the baby’s life.
Following the revelations, Claudette Irere, the Minister of State in charge of ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training used her Twitter handle to praise Umuhoza as ‘a hero’.
The picture also touched many more social media users who described Umuhoza as a human with ‘fresh soul’, wished her blessing from God and blamed women that abandon babies.
IGIHE has visited Isimbi at her school. As a first year pupil, Umuhoza has a great zeal for outstanding performance.
She explained that taking the baby to school was her first option for emergency assistance.
As Umuhoza narrates, she was disappointed to see a woman passing by the abandoned baby without halting.
“Before locating the baby, a woman passed by saying that a child was dumped nearby. She however, continued her journey,” she said.
Arriving at school, she provided information to the school’s management which also alerted Police.
“The Sister who also serves as the head teacher gave me a seat awaiting Police and emergency assistance. The baby was taken to Masaka Hospital but I kept following up on his situation. I was initially told that the baby is healthy except shortness of breath. Unfortunately, I later heard that the baby was no longer alive,” she revealed.
Umuhoza says that she was shocked by the demise of the baby she had tried to save.
Umuhoza’s parents are alive but live separately. The young daughter is not fully aware of reasons for estranged relations but suspects that the father might have given up on parenting duties.
She lives with her cousin to reduce long walks it would take her to reach the school. Umuhoza requested support from kind people to help her mother (who is in the first Ubudehe social-economic category) find a shelter.
She also demanded support to pursue education up to the university because her family is hard up.
Umuhoza has urged mothers against abandoning babies reminding them to always think of the value of human being before committing such a crime.
She advised age mates to uphold the virtue of kindness and stay strong as they confront challenging situations.
Hassine Ingabire, the foster mother has said that Umuhoza is a courageous child with great ambitions who never gives up without making possible efforts.
Sister Edith Uwimbabazi, the head teacher of Groupe Scolaire Karembure has told IGIHE that the baby was male and thanked Umuhoza for daring to pick a bleeding baby.
“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement,” he has posted on Twitter.
“Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda every day,” he added.
Lt Gen Muhoozi announces the decision few days after his implication in political affairs rising suspicion that he might be preparing to replace his father.
His recent activities include talks with President Paul Kagame aimed at mending bilateral ties, talks with the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and the ambassador of France to Uganda.
Lt Gen Muhoozi, 47, is a father of three. He was born on 24th April 1974 in Tanzania where his father lived.
He is the first born and only son of President Museveni.
Ltd Gen Muhoozi attended primary and secondary school in countries including Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden and joined UPDF in 1999.
{{Who is Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba?}}
Born in 1974 to President Yoweri Museveni and Janet Museveni, Muhoozi is the first born. He attended schools in Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden.
After his father became President of Uganda in 1986, he attended Kampala Parents School, King’s College Budo and St Mary’s College Kisubi.
Muhoozi joined UPDF in the early 1990s, attracting outrage in the media after he was reportedly engaged in military operations without enlisting as a service man.
His father, President Yoweri Museveni, later explained that Muhoozi was only a member of the vigilante force locally known as the Local Defence Unit.
He later attended the University of Nottingham from 1996 until 1998.
Muhoozi formally joined the UPDF 1999 before being admitted at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he graduated in 2000, after which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant.
He also attended Egyptian Military Academy where he took both the company and battalion commanders’ courses as well as Kalama Armoured Warfare Training School.
He later took a one-year course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in June 2008.
Muhoozi has seen a meteoric rise through the ranks of the army to Lieutenant-General.
The Office of the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda has told IGIHE that the majority of 85 Rwandans that lived in Ukraine were students and others employed partially to pursue studies.
These include 19 students pursuing Medicine courses, 16 studied Aerospace Engineering while others pursued studies in technology and economics among others.
The war continues to escalate in Sámi, Kharkiv, Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.
At the onset of the war, Rwanda is among countries that rushed to support 85 nationals stuck in Ukraine through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rwanda’s embassies in Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Poland, Prof. Anastase Shyaka has revealed that some embassy’s officials spent a week waiting for Rwandans crossing from Ukraine to support them.
Prof. Shyaka went on to explain that there has been collaboration between different authorities and Rwandans living in Ukraine and others living in those countries including Poland.
“We made possible efforts to work together to support students living here and Rwandans in Ukraine, get updates on their situation and speak to parents in Rwanda. We kept in touch with them for successful collaboration. Rwandans in Ukraine also helped each other and exchanged information,” he told One Nation Radio.
The President of Rwandan Diaspora in Ukraine, Fred Mupenzi , (who fled to Belgium), said that they were mainly helped to cross the border.
“The other support was the discount on RwandAir tickets. We are thankful that they helped us a lot even though our desires cannot be satisfied at once,” he noted.
Prof. Shyaka also commended Rwandans for their perseverance amidst experienced hurdles while trying to cross Ukraine’s border.
“They told us how they survived bullets as they left Kharkiv, how they boarded trains and how they kept soldiering on despite experienced struggles […] no one walked alone,” he said.
“The way they endured difficult situations is commendable. They used to foot tens of kilometers, but remained strong despite the fact that they were not accustomed to doing it. They teamed up and helped each other along the way,” Prof. Shyaka added.
He revealed that more than 70 Rwandans have fled Ukraine to countries including Poland and Hungary.
“Current figures show that more than 70 Rwandans managed to cross the border. But it is apparent that the children were hit hard despite some individuals who seem to be strong,” he said.
“One of them is sick and admitted at a hospital. I saw the person who is still strong. Doctors told me that they will continue to take care of the patient but he will not be discharged before a number of weeks or months,” he said.
Prof. Shyaka said that there are Rwandans and other foreigners living in Sámi, in the north-east of Ukraine near the border with Russia where the fighting is intense. He explained that the area is far distant in 1000 kilometers away from the European Union border.
“Discussions are ongoing to seek how they can be evacuated from the war zone. We would like to assure parents that we are here for them. We are also parents concerned about their children’s situation. We continue to seek how to evacuate them,” he noted.
The Government of Poland recently announced that it will host refugees from Ukraine temporary for two weeks before moving to their motherlands or third countries.
Prof. Shyaka said that it is a challenging situation because people will no longer have rights to stay in Poland after 15 days.
Speaking to IGIHE recently, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Alain Mukuralinda said that collaboration with parents is ongoing so that the children can be helped to return home or move to third countries after 15 days.
“Parents and relatives should be aware that people reaching Poland will not stay there. They need to start thinking how they will leave the country and seek assistance in case they fail,” he said.
[{{Related story: Rwanda sheds light on support extended to nationals stuck in Ukraine}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-sheds-light-on-support-extended-to-rwandans-stuck-in-ukraine]
Members of the general public have expressed concerns that Burundi has not yet permitted Rwandans to cross while passengers crossing through Gatuna, Cyanika and the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are required to present passports or Laissez-Passez yet they would only present a simplified travel document known as ‘jetton’ valid for a day, before borders closure.
The reopening of land borders is part of resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on Friday 4th March 2022, chaired by President Paul Kagame.
The resolution read that the land borders would be opened effective from Monday 7th March 2022. However, there have been some issues at different border points that irked passengers on the first day.
The border with Burundi seemed not opened while passengers crossing on the side of DRC have been asked to present Visa instead of the usual ‘jetton’.
On the side of Uganda, passengers are being asked to present negative COVID-19 PCR test results yet they had opted for Rapid Test.
Speaking to RBA, the Minister of Local Government, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi explained that the majority of reasons behind these issues do not concern Rwanda.
“Even though Rwanda decided to reopen borders, the implementation is done in consideration of other measures taken by other countries concerned with the development,” he said.
“We allow Rwandans to cross into other countries for various reasons, be it businesses or visits among others. A passenger crossing Rwanda’s land border, is requested to be fully vaccinated having received three doses or two for those who have not reached time to get the booster shot. Besides, he/she must possess travel documents. Some passengers are required to present passport, national identification card or jetton,” Minister Gatabazi added.
He explained that the decision to allow passengers to cross borders with a jetton at borders between Rwanda and DRC needs to be discussed between both countries.
Minister Gatabazi has however revealed that Rwanda has already expressed its views in favour of passengers with a jetton.
He disclosed that the COVID-19 PCR test results are compulsory on Ugandan side that Rwanda is only requesting Rapid Test.
Minister Gatabazi said that Uganda is requesting passengers crossing through Gatuna and Cyanika borders to present PCR test results for those living far from the border while citizens living nearby these borders are required to be at least two vaccine dose recipients and present Rapid Test results.
IGIHE journalist visited the border with Burundi on Monday morning but passengers had not yet started crossing awaiting clearance on the side of Burundi.
On the side of Rwanda, there have been enough preparations to serve passengers in adherence to ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures.
Citizens found at the border awaiting travel clearance have told IGIHE that it the reopening was long overdue.
Juvénal Nzabukana said that he used to cross to Burundi for various reasons before the onset of COVID-19.
“I had a business of selling bed sheets in Bujumbura before COVID-19. The pandemic emerged by the time I had come to Rwanda to visit relatives. I stayed in Rwanda because borders were later closed. I have come here so that I can cross to Burundi among first passengers because the country accommodates relatives. I am currently hard up because my business halted but I intend to cross immediately and resume my business soon as we are given go ahead,” he said.
As IGIHE visited the border with Burundi on Monday, citizens from Ngoma sector neighbouring with Burundi had been cleared on Rwandan side and received a jetton but Burundian immigration officials asked them to keep waiting.
“I received a jetton on Rwandan side. Arriving on the side of Burundi, Policemen asked me to come back that they have not yet received an order to allow incoming passengers. We are still waiting for the reopening of the border,” Nsengimana Yussuf said.
Minister Gatabazi has explained that Burundian side is waiting for Government’s decision on the matter.
Umaro arrived in Rwanda in the morning of Monday 7th March for three-day working visit. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, he was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta before his reception at Urugwiro Village.
After hosting Umaru, the two Heads of State sat down for a tête-â-tête before holding bilateral talks with officials from both delegations. They also witnessed the signing of agreements focused on strengthening key areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The memoranda of understanding were signed in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, education, tourism, business events and conservation.
The agreements have been signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and his counterpart of Guinea-Bissau, Suzi Barbosa.
President Kagame has said that the African Free Continental Trade Area (AfCTA) offers huge opportunities for countries to engage with one another constructively even though there are transnational threats that affect ‘us all’.
“Joining forces and learning from one another can only make us much stronger,” he observed.
Kagame thanked his counterpart of Guinea-Bissau for coming to Rwanda and promised a reciprocal visit soon.
President Umaro said that both countries are close to one another where he only traveled six hours to reach Kigali.
He said that both countries can exchange experience in various aspects where Guinea-Bissau can learn from Rwanda’s best practices in the education sector.
Umaro also invited President Kagame to visit his country.
