Upon arrival at Nouakchott Oumtounsy Airport on Wednesday 23rd February 2022, Kagame was received by his counterpart of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
The two Heads of State will hold a tête-à-tête followed by a bilateral meeting alongside their respective delegations.
Following the bilateral talks, representatives from both delegations will sign a General Cooperation Agreement, strengthening opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Possible areas of cooperation include defence and security, ICT and digitalisation, mining, agriculture, investment promotion and more.
The Head of State was in Mauritania for the 31st African Union Summit.
In September 2019, both Heads of State met as they attended the United Nations General Assembly.
. Muri Gicurasi 2021, bongeye guhurira i Paris mu musangiro wari wateguwe na Perezida Emmanuel Macron.
In May 2021, they also met in Paris, France during a State Luncheon hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
The majority of these artistes are from French speaking countries.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that Kagame met with these artistes on Wednesday 23rd February 2022, one day after inauguration of the stadium but did not disclose topics of discussions.
In a picture posted by Village Urugwiro, Kagame is seen in a group picture along with his counterpart of Senegal, Macky Sall and different legendary African artistes.
These include Seydou Koné known for his stage name as Alpha Blondy; Youssou Ndour considered the King of Mbalax music, Salif Traoré renowned as A’Salfo in Magic System crew and Congolese Fally Ipupa, popular for Rumba music among others.
Both Senegal and Rwanda seek to become sports hubs.
The stadium inaugurated in Senegal has the capacity to accommodate 50,000 people.It will bear the name of former President Abdoulaye Wade who accepted the decision taken by President Macky Sall.
As the race was flagged off at 9:00 a.m in Kimironko, cyclists rode through Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Kagugu, Gitikinyoni and Base before crossing the finishing line in Gicumbi.
Main Kent was the first to cross the finish clocking 3 hours 17 minutes and 40 seconds and maintained 2 seconds ahead of Anatoli Budiak riding for Terengganu Polygony Cycling while the next rivals including Alan Boileau of B&B Hotels, Eyob Metkel and Muhoza Eric arrived three seconds later.
Axel Laurence of B&B Hotels has taken the yellow jersey after clocking 10 hours, 45 minutes and 7 seconds during the four stages.
He maintained a difference of ten seconds between the next rivals on the general classification. These include Madrazo Angel Ruiz riding for Burgos and Natnael Tesfazion of Drone Hopper.
The top performing Rwanda is Muhoza Eric who took the 13th position.
The tournament will continue on Thursday 24th February 2022 with the fifth stage where riders will set off from Muhanga to cross the finishing line in Musanze after covering 124,7 kilometers.
The stadium was built by a Turkish company dubbed Summa. The latter also extecuted other mega projects including the construction of Kigali Arena, Dakar Arena among other handball courts.
Kagame is among dignitaries invited to attend the inauguration of Senegal Stadium, a 50,000 seater multipurpose Olympic complex.
The stadium will bear the name of former President Abdoulaye Wade who accepted the decision taken by President Macky Sall.
Other Heads of State who attended the ceremony include Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Erdogan’s visit reinforces his country’s willingness to expand investment in Africa.
Erdogan went to Senegal after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo. The next destination on his itinerary is Guinea-Bissau.
George Weah, the President of Liberia, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau and Adama Barrow of Gambia , FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe were also present.
It is reported that he has died in the United States of America (USA).
Joe Ritchie who was granted Rwandan nationality headed RDB from 2007 until 2009.
In 2017, Joe Ritchie was among among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
His death follows the loss of another friend of Rwanda, Dr. Paul Farmer who died on Monday 21st February 2022.
The two friends of Rwanda whose death is announced in 24 hours were decorated with the medals on the same day.
In August last year, he attended the Presidential Advisory Council meeting which discussed various topics including the COVID-19 pandemic and current affairs.
It was chaired by President Paul Kagame. Among others, the meeting brought together Rwandan and International experts who offer strategic advice to the President and the government.
Also present at the meeting were Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa among others.
International experts who attended include Ashish Thakkar, the Founder of Mara Group which established phones manufacturing plant in Rwanda ; Dale Dawson, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bridge2Rwanda.The latter is a foundation formed to help expand Rwanda’s global network of friends, to encourage foreign direct investment and to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study abroad.
The council also hosted Kaia Miller, Mauro De Lorenzo, Joseph Ritchie, Michel Roux, Dave King, Paul Davenport, Rod Reynolds, Pastor Rick Warren, Scott Ford and Christian Angermayer.
Dr. Farmer breathed the last on Monday 21st February 2022. The UGHE announced that the renowned American physician and philanthropist died while sleeping. He has been in Rwanda for almost one month where he lectured at UGHE.
He has been a friend of Rwanda for more than 20 years who significantly contributed to the advancement of the country’s health sector. In 2019, President Paul Kagame decorated Dr. Farmer with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medal.
He had wished to stay in during his advanced ages, sources reveal.
As the bad news dominated the media coverage on Monday, health officials headed to Butaro where Dr. Farmer was staying to get first-hand information on circumstances of his death.
Following his demise, President Paul Kagame is among high profile personalities expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
He said that is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer, a philanthropist who ‘combined many things hard to find in one person’.
The Head of State went on to explain that ‘the weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself’.
Ange Kagame, the daughter of President Kagame has said that it hard to meet a human being as special, kind and impactful as Paul Farmer was.
Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States of America (USA) has said that he, his wife and their daughter Chelsea are devastated by the sudden passing of Dr. Paul Farmer whom they described as one of the most extraordinary people ever known.
The family has through a statement revealed that it is an honour to have worked closely with him in Haiti, Rwanda and beyond; to serve alongside him on the board of the Clinton Health Access Initiative; and to be counted among his multitude of friends around the globe.
“Paul Farmer changed the way health care is delivered in the most impoverished places on Earth. He saw every day as a new opportunity to teach, learn, give, and serve—and it was impossible to spend any time with him and not feel the same,” Bill Clinton tweeted.
Bill Gates has also shared his feelings via Twitter noting that the demise of Dr. Farmer is a huge loss.
“What a devastating loss. Paul is a hero, and I was fortunate to call him a friend. I have never known anyone who was more passionate about reducing the world’s worst inequities in health—or who did more to live by his values,” he said.
“Paul was never happier than when he was caring for patients in one of the clinics he helped create. My heart goes out to his family and friends, his colleagues, and all the people whose lives he touched, “Bill Gates added.
Bill Gates expressed optimism that his work will continue through Partners In Health, the organization he co-founded which he described as ‘a phenomenal legacy’.
Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Bill Gates also expressed sentiments of sorrow for the passing of Dr. Farmer, her teacher whom she considered a friend and role model.
“I’m heartbroken that my teacher, mentor, & friend Paul Farmer is gone. He taught me what it means to listen—to really listen—instead of charging in with my own solution. He showed me how to channel my anger about the barriers that hold people back into relentlessness & optimism,” she tweeted.
Melinda Gates highlighted that she will miss her dear friend and ‘continue to be inspired by him, every day’.
Samantha Power who once served as US ambassador to UN has mourned Dr. Paul Farmer and eulogized him as a person who shared everything with others.
“He saw the worst, and yet did all he could to bring out the best in everyone he encountered. Indefatigable, mischievous, generous, brilliant, soulful, skeptical, idealistic, beloved. A giant,” she tweeted.
The Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also revealed via Twitter handle that he was deeply saddened and heartbroken by the death of a friend and global health champion.
“He led so many efforts for health equity and against root causes of injustices. We must never stop continuing his legacy. You will be so greatly missed my friend,” he said.
Dr. Farmer was renowned for his efforts to provide health care to low-income nations. Born in North Adams, Mass., he graduated from Duke University in 1982 and went to Harvard University, where he earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in anthropology.
He served as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 1987, Farmer founded Partners in Health in Haiti with the mission to provide high-quality care to patients from impoverished backgrounds and those living far from health-care facilities. Over the next three decades, PIH expanded to countries across Africa and Latin America, to Russia and to the Navajo Nation in the U.S.
In 2020, he won the million-d0llar Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an honor that goes to an individual who has made major contributions to advancing ideas that shape the world.
As per existing law, income not exceeding Rwf30,000 per month is taxed zero percent, while that ranging from Rwf30,001 and Rwf100,000 has to pay 20 percent tax rate, and above that is taxed 30 percent.
The adopted draft law proposes Rwf60,000 as the minimum taxable income instead of Rwf30,000 and the reduction of tax after two years since the law was enacted.
Once enacted, income ranging from Rwf60,001 and Rwf100,000 will be taxed 20% initially to be reduced to 10% after two years. Workers earning from Rwf100,001 and Rwf200,000 will be taxed 30% to be reduced to 20% after two years.
The proposal was tabled to reduce the tax burden on low-income formal workers and promote employment.
IGIHE has learnt that the draft law was not immediately presented to the parliamentary Standing Committee on National Budget and Patrimony but rather was returned to the Government for further review.
Even though the draft law is still under review, there is optimism that the clause meant to reduce tax burden on low income earners won’t be annulled.
Parliamentarian Théogene Munyangeyo has told IGIHE that approving the proposal would hugely contribute to citizens’ progress.
“Raising the taxable income would be a great relief to citizens. This should be more optional than increasing salary because it would cause price hikes. By doing so, citizens’ kill two birds with one stone with possible avenues to run income generating activities,” he said.
Munyangeyo explained that it was long ago since the establishment of existing tax on income stressing the need to have it revised and aligned with financial stability.
“The law has existed for long. If it was established at a time when a dollar was exchanging for Rwf300 or Rwf400, but apparent that the amount has doubled, the revision will ease citizens’ burdens,” he noted.
The existing tax on salary would see some private companies employing a large number of people limiting their salary to Rwf30, 000 to cut expenses.
Once the proposal is approved, Munyangeyo said, it would see some workers’ salary increased without incurring losses to the Government.
He explained that some employees seemed to be limited to that amount of money while others kept working without employment contracts.
Munyangeyo observed that raising the taxable income will facilitate investment while enabling people to diversify sources of income.
IGIHE has learnt that the entire proposal was returned to the Government after it emerged that many clauses needed to be revised.
As the proposal was being reviewed, some parliamentarians suggested that the minimum taxable income should increase to Rwf100, 000.
Following his demise, President Kagame paid tribute to Dr. Farmer, expressed condolences to the bereaved family noting that he will be cherished for his contribution to national development.
“It is hard to find the words to express the sad news of the passing of Paul Farmer – the person, the Doctor, the philanthropist. He combined many things hard to find in one person. The weight of his loss is in many ways personal, to the country of Rwanda [which he loved and to which he contributed so much during its reconstruction], to my family and to myself. I know there are many who feel this way in Africa and beyond,” Kagame tweeted.
“My deepest condolences to Didi, his wife, their children, family and friends,” he added.
Dr. Farmer, the co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH) and UGHE was among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in 2017, in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
He will be remembered for his great contribution to the progress of health sector in many countries including Rwanda.
The management of the university has also extended condolences to his family, his colleagues at Partners in health and the UGHE Family.
Partners In Health is a Boston-based nonprofit health care organization founded in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack and Jim Yong Kim.
Known locally as Inshuti Mu Buzima, PIH has worked in Rwanda since 2005, helping the government fight HIV, improve maternal and child health, and bring integrated, high-quality health care to more than 860,000 people across Burera, Kayonza, and Kirehe districts.
{{[Related story: Dr. Paul Farmer, founder UGHE passes on->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/dr-paul-farmer-the-founder-ughe-passes-on]}}
News about his death started circulating today around 3p.m.
His death was communicated by the management of UGHE which also expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Chancellor, Professor Paul Farmer who was the co-founder of Partners in Health [PIH] and the University of Global Health Equity, which occured today. He has been an inspiration for most of us at UGHE,” reads part of the statement.
“This is so sudden, an unimaginable catastrophe to all of us and the global health community as a whole. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Please, join us to mourn the passing of our beloved role model, our leader, our dearest friend and our Muganga Mwiza [good doctor]. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues at Partners in health and the UGHE Family. We request for your prayers as we go through this difficult time,” adds the statement.
It is said that Dr. Farmer has been suffering from high blood pressure which might be related to his death.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Dr. Farmer has been in Rwanda for one month where he lectured at UGHE and attending to patients at Butaro Hospital.
Dr. Farmer is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Margaret Mead Award from the American Anthropological Association, the Outstanding International Physician (Nathan Davis) Award from the American Medical Association, a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and, with his PIH colleagues, the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
Dr. Farmer was among nine individuals decorated with the Igihango National Order of Outstanding Friendship medals in recognition of their exemplary service to the nation in various capacities.
He has also served as a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Farmer was known for his efforts to provide health care to low-income nations. Born in North Adams, Mass., he graduated from Duke University in 1982 and went to Harvard University, where he earned an M.D. and a Ph.D. in anthropology.
In 1987, Farmer founded Partners in Health in Haiti with the mission to provide high-quality care to patients from impoverished backgrounds and those living far from health-care facilities. Over the next three decades, PIH expanded to countries across Africa and Latin America, to Russia and to the Navajo Nation in the U.S.
In 2020, he won the million-d0llar Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture, an honor that goes to an individual who has made major contributions to advancing ideas that shape the world.
He was the first cross the finishing line clocking 3 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
Dujardin registered the same time with other riders in his peloton including Rwandan Uhiriwe Byiza Renus who emerged the fifth.
Following today’s race, Alexandre Geniez who also rides for TotalEnergies maintained the yellow Jersey with 3 hours, 33 minutes and 6 seconds setting the difference of six seconds ahead of Restrepo Jhonatan, the second rider on the general classification while Dujardin took the third place.
Uhiriwe Byiza Renus is the best performing Rwandan emerging 22nd on the general classification.
Tour du Rwanda will continue on Tuesday 22nd February 2022 with the third stage from Kigali to Rubavu covering 155.9 kilometers.
The 14th edition of Tour du Rwanda will cover a total distance of 937.1 kilometers.
The race has attracted 19 teams competing in eight stages across Rwanda.
