The agreement was signed on Monday 10th January 2022 following a joint security and defence meeting held at RDF Headquarters, Kimihurura, Kigali.
It concludes series of discussions that were held since Sunday 9th January 2022 between Mozambique and Rwanda defence and security delegations to review the security situation in the fight against insurgency in Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
While speaking to Media after the meeting held at RDF Headquarters, Brigadier Chongo Vidigal, the Army Chief of Staff of Mozambique Defence Forces said the main issue discussed was how to strengthen the cooperation between the two nations security forces as well as to review joint operations against insurgents in Cabo Delgado.
This includes adopting new strategies to deal with challenges met in the last six months.
Col Ronald Rwivanga, the RDF Spokesperson, said among the decisions that were made include expanding the spheres of cooperation in terms of capacity building of the Mozambique Security Forces as well as improving the modus operandi of the joint forces in the theatre.
He made the revelation on Saturday 8th January 2022 during a mass to commemorate the death of Father Ubald Rugirangonga held at Agasozi k’Ibanga ry’Amahoro (Hill of Secrete to Peace) located in Kamatita cell, Gihundwe sector, Rusizi district of Western Province.
The hill of 25 hectares is located in Nkanka Parish, Cyangugu Diocese. It was conceived by Father Rugirangoga who sought to establish a center where people will gather for to pray for a peaceful world and forgive each other.
Cardinal Kambanda said that Rugirangoga endured suffering from which the values of forgiveness stemmed.
“Father Ubald endured suffering. Forgiveness has linkages to suffering. Forgiveness is the fruit from the tree of suffering which is the cross. To be able to forgive, empathy with the person who is suffering is needed,” Cardinal Kambanda said.
Throughout his suffering, Cardinal Kambanda said, Rugirangoga took care of the needy and empathized with them which he considered a great legacy.
He explained that the fruit of forgiveness has been helpful to tough problems Rwanda went through emanating from the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Father Rugirangoga died in the United States in January 2021 from respiratory complications stemming from Covid-19.
He is renowned for divine healing prayers, psychiatric as well as unity and reconciliation initiatives.
Sister Valerie Mukandeze from the congregation founded by Rugirangoga said that he always advised them to love one another and strive to live in harmony.
The commemoration of Father Rugirangoga was held from 2nd to 8th January 2022.
Throughout the weeklong event, he was praised for his contribution to rebuild Rwandan society after the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Father Ubald Rugiranoga was born in February 1955 in former Rwabidege sector, Mwezi parish in Commune Karengera, Prefecture Cyangugu currently in Rusizi district. He was ordained priest in 1984 at the age of 29. Rugirangoga used to organize different gospel crusades in which many people healed from different diseases.
In 2015, Father Rugirangoga was selected Protector of Friendship Pact ‘Umurinzi w’Igihango’ for outstanding contribution to unity and reconciliation initiatives that started in Mushaka Parish and extended countrywide.
Among others, Father Rugirangoga encouraged Genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness and survivors to forgive offenders as a healing process from the wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In 2019, Father Rugirangoga wrote a book dubbed “Forgiveness Makes You Free” aimed at consolidating Rwandans unity and reconciliation efforts.
Prior to his death early January 2021, Ubald was the head priest at Mushaka Parish and had requested his Bishop to be assigned in a parish where he could easily pray for mass public and help them along unity and reconciliation journey.
He served as a priest for over 32 years and died at the age of 62.
Primary and secondary schools are expected to open respectively on 10th and 13th January 2021.
The second term is opening few weeks after Rwanda confirmed the new Coronavirus variant dubbed ‘omicron’ which prompted the country to tighten preventive measures.
Appearing in RBA talk show, Dr. Uwamariya has said that the situation is controllable because many head teachers are aware of recommended health guidelines to contain the spread of the virus at schools.
She however stressed the need to take more strict measures to ensure enhanced protection against the new variant which spreads faster.
“We are lucky that head teachers know how to react when a new case is confirmed at their schools but we still need to be more vigilant and design new strategies to contain the spread of the virus in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center,” Dr. Uwamariya said.
The Minister reminded teachers that they must have received the booster dose before returning to school as it was recommended by the Ministry of Education recently.
“We have recently urged eligible teachers to have received the third dose before the opening of the second school term. We are hopeful that no teacher will return to school without doing the necessary,” she affirmed.
MINEDUC shows that over 90% of eligible students have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Kigali City.
Among others, students from 14 districts received the first dose in the first school term expected to receive the second dose as they return to school before the program is rolled out to students in the remaining 16 district countrywide.
The meeting was attended by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, Chief of General Staff (CGS) for Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM), Admiral Joacquim Rivas Mangrasse, Inspector General of RNP, Dan Munyuza, his visiting counterpart, General Commander Bernardino Rafael and the Secretary General of Rwanda’s NISS, Maj. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita.
The Mozambican defence and security officials are in Rwanda for a three-day official visit.
During the meeting, Defence and security chiefs reviewed the security situation in Cabo Delgado province and devised measures to succeed in ongoing operations in the province.
Exactly six months ago, on July 9,Rwandan troops were deployed to support the Mozambican security organs in counterterrorism operations in Cabo Delgado province. The operations have so far been able to restore state authority in the province, flush out the Ansar Al Sunna terrorists, and forces are now engaged in stabilisation and security reforms including repatriating the affected civilians from internally displaced camps to their respective homes.
The complete recovery of Cabo Delgado has also seen the resumption of economic activities in the region as Rwanda and Mozambique remain committed to reform the security sector through training and capacity development of Mozambican security forces.
While speaking during the meeting, Gen. Admiral Joacquim Rivas Mangrasse said that the visit is aimed at thanking the Government of Rwanda in general and its security organs in particular, for helping to fight Islamic State linked terrorits and restoring security in Cabo Delgado Province.
He recognized the impact of the RDF and RNP in supporting Mozambican security forces.
“We came here to thank the Government of Rwanda but also to discuss further security arrangements to support Mozambican forces in their journey to improve their capacity through training, on one hand and fighting the insurgents wherever they may be,” Admiral said.
The insurgents, he added, were significantly weakened and that these joint efforts will continue to build from these results.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to establish joint security teams to design new strategies to improve the stabilisation and security sector reform process, a critical stage in realizing sustainable peace and progress in the Cabo Delgado province and beyond.
Mayaka breathed the last on Friday 7th January 2022 succumbing to natural cause.
The Manager of Cine Elmay, Rabbini Hamin Karambizi has told IGIHE that Mayaka died in Kigali.
“He has been sick for some days. We heard such sad news around 9:30p.m. He recently returned to Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo for medical attention,” he said.
Many sports and film enthusiasts in Kigali used to watch movies and live matches from Europe at his movie house known as ‘Kwa Mayaka’ in Biryogo.
Established in 1980, Cine Elmay was the first cycling team in Rwanda.
The program’s interventions draw emphasis on mass tests and helping HIV positive patients to prevent further transmission of new infections among others.
Speaking to IGIHE, the coordinator of PEPFAR in Rwanda, Alexandra Hoagland has reflected on the program’s achievements and commended Rwanda’s efforts to implement policies aimed at fighting against HIV/AIDS.
“More recently, PEPFAR has been investing in a lot of systems in Rwanda, specifically in all countries of intervention. When I say systems, I mean data collection systems, laboratory systems and how we purchase drugs that are used to treat HIV/AIDS,” she said.
“There has been a lot of successes but I will just highlight a couple. First, HIV positive patients were helped to access medication. For many people who were diagnosed in the 1999 and 2000, it was a stressful time because they didn’t know how they were going to survive. People were getting sick quickly but with the introduction, patients got relief. When they take medication as prescribed, they live long and lead healthy life,” added Hoagland.
She explained that PEPFAR has supported that through the clinical services provision and other interventions including the prevention of mother to child transmission for HIV positive pregnant mothers.
Considering Rwanda’s remarkable progress towards HIV/AIDS response, Hoagland expressed optimism that with proper diagnosis and treatment, the risk of transmission can be minimized.
“Now, Rwanda has a huge success story. 98.4% of HIV positive pregnant mothers do not pass on HIV to their children. It is a tremendous success which other countries should learn from,” added Hoagland.
Before 2016, a patient tested positive for HIV had to wait for some time to start receiving treatment but the situation has changed as patients start receiving medication soon after testing positive to strengthen his/her body’s immunity.
Hoagland who has been working in the health sector for the past 12 years has told IGIHE that men circumcision was among other programs that helped Rwanda to fight against HIV/AIDS.
Health experts show that circumcising men reduces HIV transmission by 60%.
Figures from PEPFAR Rwanda indicate that a total of 1,227,295 men had undergone voluntary circumcision in Rwanda by September 2021.
“It is a great investment because it is a one-time procedure that gives lifetime protection. Circumcision does not mean you can go freely but one sure thing is that it offers certain level of protection,” Hoagland observed.
{{Rwanda’s promising efforts}}
As of today, Rwanda registers 220,000 HIV positive patients equivalent to 3% of the population while the African continent has about 23.8 million.
Overall, the research carried out by Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) in November 2020 indicated that new HIV positive cases reduced by half between 2015 and 2019 while transmission of the virus from mother to child was cut to less than 2 percent in the past four years.
The research also highlighted that 5400 people catch HIV every year in Rwanda where the majority are from urban areas.
Through PEPFAR; a total of 125,789 HIV/AIDS patients receive antiretroviral therapy while 246,716 HIV/AIDS orphans and underprivileged children also receive different kinds of support.
PEPFAR helps them through provision of screening for sexually transmitted infections and training helping to reach other segments of the population in need of support.
Hoagland has also attributed Rwanda’s success to collaboration with different institutions.
“What is interesting to see in Rwanda, is that the Ministry of Health makes decisions that are in the best interests of the people of Rwanda,” she said.
Rwanda has ambitious targets to achieve zero new HIV infections by 2030.
The milestone will complement the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal to achieve universal access to HIV treatment by 2020.
The goal (90-90-90) read that 90% of all people living with HIV would know their HIV status, 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection would receive sustained antiretroviral therapy while 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy would have had the viral suppression by 2020.
“Rwanda has achieved the target. We are now working towards 95-95-95 goal. To achieve an AIDS free generation, we have to work in parallel working with people who don’t know their HIV status ensuring that they are tested and those who tested positive to receive treatment,” Hoagland said.
In Rwanda, at least 98% of the population was tested for HIV. PEPFAR continues to work with relevant institutions to test groups of people vulnerable to new infections including sex workers to be tested.
“I am confident that Rwanda will be one of the first countries to achieve these targets. The country has been expending much effort to achieve envisaged goals and ensure citizens receive needed services,” Hoagland underscored.
{{Dr. Nkengasong’s anticipated contribution}}
In September 2021, the United States President Joe Biden made official his intent to nominate Dr. John Nkengasong as the head of PEPFAR.
His nomination is good news for Rwanda and African continent in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Hailing from Cameroun, Dr John Nkengasong currently serves as the first Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). He is a leading virologist with nearly 30 years of work experience in public health.
Prior to his appointment with Africa CDC, he was the Deputy Principal Director (acting) of the Centre for Global Health at the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and Associate Director of Laboratory Science and Chief of the International Laboratory Branch at the Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB.
Hoagland said that Dr. Nkengasong has a lot to offer along the journey to combat HIV.
“We look forward to working with him as someone coming with a very interesting background. He worked in different African countries and now as the head of CDC that he has great experience. Besides, being from Cameroun helps giving him some context. As PEPFAR Rwanda, we are excited to work with him and see how he wants to put the program forward,” she noted.
Figures released by WHO in November 2021 show that HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 36.3 million lives so far.
There is no cure for HIV infection. However, with increasing access to effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, including for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a manageable chronic health condition, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.
PEPFAR is regarded as one of the most effective and efficient U.S. foreign assistance programs. By focusing its efforts on where the AIDS epidemic is the largest and the need is the highest, PEPFAR hastens progress towards ending the epidemic, and reduces the future costs required to sustain the HIV/AIDS response.
Through PEPFAR, the U.S. government has invested nearly $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history, saving 21 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and accelerating progress toward controlling the global HIV/AIDS epidemic in more than 50 countries.
The Rwandans who arrived on Friday around 2p.m were evicted after spending days in the country’s detention facilities.
Upon arrival, the deportees were tested for COVID-19 and received emergency assistance.
Rwanda has received over 50 nationals deported from Uganda since December 2021.
Uganda accuses them of spying for Rwanda yet sources reveal that they are often detained and tortured after refusing to join RNC terror group intending to destabilize Rwanda’s security.
The recent deportation follows series of circumstances under which Uganda has been expelling Rwandans after enduring torture in its detention facilities accusing them of being spies yet they had traveled to the country to run businesses or visit relatives among other reasons.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents posing threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
The revised measures feature no adjustments on curfew hours and requirements for incoming and departing passengers who must present negative COVID-19 PCR test results taken in 72 hours.
Among others, all arriving passengers must quarantine for 24 hours at a designated hotel at their own cost.
The statement also reads that schools will resume in line with the current school calendar. Public offices will continue with essential staff at no more than 15% capacity while private offices must not exceed 30% capacity.
Business owners have been also ordered to ensure that employees are fully vaccinated.
“The Ministry of Health may temporarily close private or public premises with identified clusters of people infected with COVID-19,” reads part of the communiqué.
Public bus operators have been urged to ensure that all passengers onboard are vaccinated. The same directive applies to motorcyclists and cyclists.
“Motorbike and bicycle taxis are permitted to carry passengers and must comply with COVID-19 preventive measures. Operators and passengers must be vaccinated. Penalties will be applied for non-compliance.”
All services held at places of worship must not exceed 30% of maximum occupancy in the City of Kigali and 50% in other parts of the country. All attendees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
These measures take effect from 10th January 2022.
Kalimba who breathed the last on 2nd January 2022 succumbing to natural cause at King Faysal Hospital was laid to rest on Thursday 6th January.
The ceremony to bid last farewell took place at his home in Gikondo, Kicukiro district followed by a requiem mass at Gikondo Parish before laying him to rest.
It was attended by relatives, friends and Government officials who reflected on virtues that characterized Kalimba and wished him Eternal Rest In Peace.
Eugenie Kantore, the wife of late Kalimba said that her husband will always be remembered as a brave man who always lived in harmony with relatives and neighbors.
She also revealed that Kalimba was a humble man who loved God and warmly welcomed all guests including children and the elderly.
Kalimba’s son also disclosed that his father was social interactive and would make possible efforts to live with everyone in peace.
“ I am convinced that he leaves a good legacy which we pledged to uphold. He did not only do good things for our family but also changed many people’s lives. My father’s legacy will continue to live on,” he said.
Kantore revealed that her husband fell sick when he was still serving the Senate.
“He was hospitalized for a long time but we are thankful that God extended his lifespan until the day he breathed the last,” she said.
Kalimba will also be membered as an activist who advocated for human rights, particularly, the rights of historically marginalized people.
The President of Senate, Dr. Augustin Iyamuremye said that Kalimba was a zealous man with outstanding contribution to national development.
“Here, I stand as one of officials who worked with him. I was lucky to meet him before working together at the Senate. I remember how truthful he was,” he noted.
“I would like to tell everyone gathered here that Kalimba used to share strong ideas at the Senate. We have made it a routine to note down individual’s ideas at the Senate. His speech will be remembered,” added Dr. Iyamuremye.
He revealed that the senate will make possible efforts to follow up his advocacy for people with vulnerable backgrounds.
{{Brief history}}
Zéphyrin Kalimbawas born on 26th May 1959.
He held different positions before and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Kalimba worked for gendarmerie, para-military policing unit during the pre-Genocide period and led the Rwandese Community of Potters.
Kalimba is among activists who advocated for the rights of historically marginalized people.
He headed the International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests in 1997.
Kalimba was among eight senators appointed by President of the Republic in 2012 and held the position until his tenure ended in 2020.
He was born in Ruhango district in Southern Province where he studied and pursued secondary education at Karubanda Junior Seminary.
In 1978, he became a gendarme (paramilitary police officer) at the regime of President Juvenal Habyarima for four years and eight months and later worked in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Kalimba later founded associations that advocated for human rights, particularly, the historically marginalized people.
He also established different schools and organizations supporting people with vulnerable backgrounds particularly historically marginalized ones.
Zéphyrin Kalimba died at the age of 63. He leaves a woman, 10 children and 10 grand children.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge is a first-of-its-kind initiative to support Rwandan start-ups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives to scale up their solutions, contributing to the economy while addressing different gaps in the food system. The call for applications opened on 5th January 2022 and will close on 4th February 2022.
The programme seeks innovative solutions that contribute to food security in areas such as resilience to shocks and stress, access to safe and nutritious food, improved food supply chains, the empowerment of smallholder farmers, and the advancement of food security for all. Selected ventures will have the opportunity to receive grant funding of up to US$50,000 as well as 6 months acceleration support, including connections to experts, mentors and partners, and other tailored support to address business gaps.
The IGNITE Food Systems Challenge will be simultaneously running in Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda, and is being made possible with the support of US$2 million from USAID. The initiative comes at a time of worsening food insecurity in the region due to the effects of climate change, natural disasters like droughts, floods, locusts, and the COVID-19 pandemic among others.
Commenting on the development, Mr Jeremie Pigé, the head of the WFP IGNITE Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa said that the biggest challenge for many entrepreneurs in Eastern Africa is not only access to funding, but also technical support that furthers their concepts.
“Through this generous support by USAID, we are confident that we will be able to reach many bright and talented entrepreneurs in the region who might have been left behind,” he noted.
Piloting, implementing and scaling innovative ideas lies at the heart of WFP and Impact Hub Kigali’s work. This programme is expected to have an impact on promoting innovation in the food systems and advancing efforts towards achieving zero hunger in the world.
Mafer Betancourt, the Managing Director of Impact Hub Kigali also underscored that the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge will help to provide tailored support for local entrepreneurs to scale their impact in the Rwandan food system.
“Ventures will undergo diagnostics at the start of the programme and will be able to co-design their own acceleration journey, indicating the support they require, from coaching to peer and expert support such as legal or accounting services, among others,” he said.
