The decision is among resolutions taken during a meeting between the Minister of Local Government (MINALOC), Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi; the management of the Kigali City and Provincial Governors on 6th February 2022.
The leaders also reviewed other measures to fast track national development and change citizens’ livelihoods.
It was agreed that the community work will resume in all districts across the country towards the end of February 2022 in adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.
The last monthly community work was held before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. It was halted as part of measures to prevent public gatherings that could provide loopholes for the spread of the virus.
The meeting was also attended by other officials including, the Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs at MINALOC, Assumpta Ingabire among other heads of departments in the same ministry. She commended local leaders for fruitful efforts in fighting the pandemic for more than two years.
As Minister Gatabazi said, the meeting also took measures to supervise recently elected local leaders to ensure they are delivering on expectation to address citizens’ needs.
It was agreed to reinforce the capacity of grass root leaders through different trainings and other programs.
The meeting also resolved on resumption of citizens’ forum to hear their concerns and have them addressed in the right time.
School dropouts, street children, poor hygiene and stunting among children are among other issues that are set to be given special attention in collaboration with parents.
According to sources, the truck which carried cassava roots swerved off the main road, overturned and hit a road camera.
Witnesses say that the truck was over speeding that the driver might have experienced brake failure.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) René Irere, the Spokesperson of Rwanda National Police (RNP) Traffic and Road Safety department has told IGIHE that there were three people onboard.
These include the owner of cassava roots, the driver and his assistant who died on spot.
SSP Irere appealed on drivers to avoid over speeding and remain vigilant along the road.
“We would like to remind drivers to drive at a moderate speed and remain vigilant as they cross road bends. Else, they have to read signposts and drive carefully along slippery roads,” he said.
SSP Irere has told IGIHE, by press time, that investigation was underway to establish cause of the accident.
The deceased and the two survivors were taken to Kibogora Hospital.
“We are looking at [cooperation with UAE in] space sector. One of the things we’re looking at is how do we leverage data in general, but very specifically geospatial data, to support some of the programmes and policies that we are implementing in agriculture, education, mining, and infrastructure development,” said Paula Ingabire, Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation.
In an exclusive interview with WAM at Rwandan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, she noted that the geospatial data is globally being leveraged and utilised in policy decisions and programme implementation.
“We know UAE is quite advanced in this area and we would like to learn from the UAE,” affirmed Ingabire who is a known technology enthusiast. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management, in the System Design and Management programme.
{{Satellite launching, geospatial data cooperation}}
Asked whether Rwanda is looking for the UAE’s cooperation for launching its own satellite or sharing geospatial data from the Emirati space assets, the minister said, “It’s actually a mix of both. The starting point is building capacity. You can have access to different geospatial datasets, and you have the capacity and the ability to mine, analyse and translate that into a way that creates value for us. So that’s our starting point,” she explained about the potential cooperation with the UAE.
Being able to have those analytical skills and tools will enable Rwanda to use that data for valuable insights in its policies and programmes being implemented in the country, Ingabire emphasised.
“We also have ambitions, obviously, to partner with countries like UAE to build and be able to launch our own satellite. That may be a mid to long term ambition, even as we already think about the low hanging fruit, which is really around building analytical skills and how we can make the best use of these geospatial data,” she explained.
{{Cooperation in governance, technology, innovation}}
The minister made it clear that Rwanda is keen to cooperate with the UAE in any potential sector.
“The anchor of those kinds of cooperation is around knowledge and skills transfer and building the right capabilities that will allow us to benefit from the experience that UAE has.”
Ingabire pointed out that the UAE has a very good government, and experience in exchange programmes focusing on technology and innovation. “The UAE has deployed various technologies and innovations to really improve efficiencies and drive productivity. So, that’s another framework that we’re looking to engage on with UAE.”
{{Education, agribusiness, e-commerce}}
Education is another potential area of cooperation, the minister added. Human capital development, trade and investment, agribusiness, and e-commerce, along with technology and innovation, are potential areas.
“We are working to create partnerships around artificial intelligence (AI). Both UAE and Rwanda are hosting the World Economic Forum Centres for 4th Industrial Revolution. The UAE is around building the right policy and business landscape to nurture AI innovations,” she pointed out.
Another potential area of cooperation is cybersecurity and the biggest focus is really on skilling – providing the much-needed skills and nurturing specialists in this sector, she said.
In a letter signed by Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente dated 3rd February 2022 reads that the appointment takes immediate effect.
In a letter signed by Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente dated 3rd February 2022 reads that the appointment takes immediate effect.
The new position earns the gross salary of Rwf2,094,795 excluding other benefits.
Dr. Nsanzimana officially handed over duties to his successor, Prof. Claude Mambo Muvunyi on 3rd February 2022.
He had been appointed to head RBC in July 2019 replacing Dr. Jeannine Condo.
Dr. Nsanzimana has extensive experience in HIV program design, strategic planning, implementation, and operational research with a focus on global care and treatment of people living with HIV.
He holds a Medical Degree and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the National University of Rwanda; a PhD in Epidemiology from Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Dr. Nsanzimana also served as Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and taught Epidemiology and Research Methodology at the University of Rwanda among others.
Guests standing at the luxurious hotel located in seven kilometers from Musanze, town get a better view of volcanoes, Virunga National Park and different parts of Northern Province.
As you enter the hotel’s premises, a drum beat accompanied by songs and performances by traditional dance troupe of Classic Resort Lodge makes you feel at home and lures you to prolong your stay. Besides, the warm hospitality, ornamental trees, beautiful gardens gives a glimpse of what a relaxing setting should be.
The hotel which expands on a large area has 10 conference halls with the capacity to accommodate 1500 people, 32 rooms that can accommodate 50 persons, 13 Eco – Lodge Cottages and a Presidential Palace with a separate piscine.
It also has a bar, facilities for massage and sauna as well as standard Volleyball, Basketball and Handball grounds.
Among others, Classic Resort Lodge has different gardens designated as venues for wedding, bridal shower and cocktails.
Classic Resort Lodge also features a restaurant, Bar, Pool Bar, sports bar and a barbecue.
The hotel has its own pastry where it makes different types of breads, wedding and birthday cakes among other delicious confections.
Else, Classic Resort Lodge offers tourism services like treks to the nature, visiting agricultural activities, handcrafts, traditional dace troupes, traditional cooking and biking among others.
Guests visiting the facility are mainly impressed with its unique design and traditional features comprising 90% of the hotel’s buildings.
The owner of the hotel, Pierre Habyarimana has told IGIHE that he was keen on promoting Made in Rwanda when he started building Classic hotel Kigali and Classic Resort Lodge Musanze.
“I drew lessons from the President of the Republic who advises us to work with banks to invest in our beloved country using locally sourced materials. This helps to create jobs for Rwandans, do great things and serve visitors with great perfection,” he said.
The management of Classic Resort Lodge assured commitment to continue promoting tourism through top notch services for the delight of customers and helping guests to feel the beauty of the Country of Thousand Hills and explore attractive features of Musanze district at affordable cost.
The hospitality establishment in Musanze is a subsidiary of Classic Hotel located in Kicukiro district of Kigali City.
Potential customers can reach out to the hotel’s staff via phone: +250788352476/7 /8 or email e-mail: info@classicresortlodge.com or visit the website www.classicresortlodge.com for more details.
Following the visit, Kagame revealed that his visit to Kenya was productive.
“I had a brief but very productive working visit with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi today morning. Now back home! I like it this way- 1hr to N’bi 1hr back to Kgl. 1hr+ discussion 1hr from airport to S/H and back to a/port. A lot was covered !!!:)” he tweeted.
Kenya State House has revealed that, during the meeting, President Kenyatta and President Kagame discussed a wide range of areas of cooperation between the two countries including trade and transport.
The two leaders also discussed emerging issues concerning the region and the continent.
On trade, President Kenyatta said Rwanda’s strategic position in the region makes it an important trading partner to Kenya especially as a gateway to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the wider Great Lakes Region market.
He welcomed Rwanda’s move to re-open its Gatuna border with Uganda, saying it will ease the movement of goods and people between the two neighbouring countries.
To enhance the bilateral trade between the two countries, President Kenyatta called on Rwanda to diversify its imports from Kenya and continue taking advantage of the improved services at the Port of Mombasa to facilitate the movement of goods.
Kagame was last in Kenya in February 2020 attending the burial of Daniel Toroitich arap Moi who served as Kenya’s President for 24 years from 22nd August 1978 to 2002 when he handed over to Mwai Kibaki.
Kenyatta’s latest visit to Rwanda was in March 2019.
Rwanda and Kenya enjoy cooperation in the areas of justice, trade, agriculture, education, technology and telecommunication as well as security among others.
Before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of Rwanda’s imports were transited through Kenya.
Akamanzi is part of Rwanda’s delegation comprised of Government officials and members of the Private Sector Federation that attended Rwanda’s National Day celebrated on February 1st 2022 as part of the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking to IGIHE, she has revealed that Rwanda participated in the international exhibition to market the country in terms of trade, investment, an addition to existing cordial relations between Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“First of all, we enjoy cordial relations with UAE and want to extend cooperation in many areas. We have come here to market the visibility of our country, trade, tourism and investment to many countries from across the world present here. That is why we are here,” Akamanzi said.
All the participating 192 countries are allowed to rent a pavilion or set up their own with unique features.
Akamanzi has explained that people visiting Rwanda’s pavilion receive explanation on investment opportunities available in Rwanda, the country’s digital advancement efforts and Visit Rwanda campaign among others.
“That is why we have come to showcase Rwanda’s attractions and available opportunities for investors willing to come to our country,” she said.
Each of the countries participating in Dubai Expo 2020 is given a day to showcase its uniqueness. On the visit to Dubai, Rwanda’s delegation is also expected to meet with investors from across the world participating in the exhibition.
The CEO of Bank of Kigali, Dr. Diane Karusisi has told IGIHE that the exhibition does not only provide a platform to showcase opportunities available in Rwanda but also an occasion to learn from others’ best practices to improve performance.
She revealed that Rwanda’s delegation interacted with different investors, which gives optimism that they might bring their investments to Rwanda in the future.
As she explained, there are many participants where some of them without information on Rwanda are desirous to know about the country.
“These discussions will lure some of them for touristic purposes as others bring their investment to help us develop our nation,” she said.
{{Capacity to host international events}}
Dubai Expo 2020 will run for six months from 1st October until 31st March 2022.
It one of biggest events that was expected to host more than 25 million participants.
Preparations of the exhibition expected to generate US$40 billion in profit took US$18 billion.
Akamanzi also underscored that Rwanda might be able to host similar events in consideration of set up infrastructures.
“We have built capacity to host mega conferences in Rwanda. We often hosted conferences at the African continental level but it is also possible for international events. The most important thing is to set up infrastructures reinforcing our capacity to host meetings. As far as I am concerned, we might be able to host similar events in coming days. We have capacity,” he noted.
The report of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2019, ranked Kigali City, the capital of Rwanda, the second most popular destination for Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) events in Africa.
The campus was built by an American television personality and comedian, Ellen DeGeneres renowned for his talk show dubbed ’The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.
DeGeneres was gifted with the campus by her long-time partner Portia de Rossi considering her love for Diana Fossey, a celebrated gorilla conservationists who died in 1985.
The campus opened on 1st February 2022 is expected to foster research and education on gorillas.
In a statement announcing the campus’s opening, DeGeneres who is in USA expressed delight to have achieved her dreams.
““Dian Fossey has always been a hero of mine, and so it’s been the honor of a lifetime to support this project,” says Ellen DeGeneres. “To see my name alongside hers on the walls of this beautiful campus, and to know I’m doing my part to protect endangered gorillas and continue Dian’s legacy, is simply amazing.”
When DeGeneres and her partner, Portia de Rossi, announced the creation of The Ellen Fund, a nonprofit that works to protect endangered animals, they also named the first recipient—the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
The opened campus will be home to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund which has been operating in Rwanda for more than 50 years through its Karisoke Research Centre, based in Musanze District, Northern Province.
The Fossey Fund is the world’s longest-running and largest organisation dedicated entirely to the conservation of gorillas.
It particularly works in areas of conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat, scientific research on the gorillas and greater biodiversity of the region, educating the next generation of African scientists through working with Rwandan universities, and engaging local communities to increase their support for conservation.
Ellen and Portia’s lead gift enabled the Fossey Fund to move forward on an ambitious, 20-year dream project to build a permanent home in Rwanda aimed at accelerating their science and conservation work. The Ellen Campus, which is now open to the public, is the vision of the award-winning MASS Design Group and has been named one of Africa’s 10 most anticipated architectural projects.
Founded by the legendary Dian Fossey, whose life and ultimately death were portrayed in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist,” the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is the world’s largest and longest-running organization dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation.
Their work combines daily, boots-on-the ground protection and study of individual gorillas with people-centered programs aimed at training the next generation of African conservationists and addressing the basic needs of the people who share the gorillas’ forest home through food and water security, livelihood and education programs.
Feared by Dian Fossey to be extinct by the year 2000, mountain gorillas represent a rare conservation success story, with the population in the region growing from a low of 250 in the 1980s to more than 600 today.
“From the outset, the mission of this project has focused on creating a space to engage the many stakeholders in conservation—students, scientists, tourists, conservation partners, community members—to advance our collective goal of saving gorillas and, more broadly, the planet,” says Dr. Tara Stoinski, the Fossey Fund’s president and chief scientific officer. “It is our hope that people who visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus will leave inspired to make a difference, just as Dian Fossey did.”
The multi-acre, eco-friendly facility adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park includes three main buildings—the Sandy and Harold Price Research Center, the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery and the Rob and Melani Walton Education Center—as well as housing for visiting students and researchers. An extensive ‘living laboratory’ has been created on the former agricultural site through the planting of more than 250,000 native plants and the inclusion of green roofs, water harvesting and a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment.
“The Ellen Campus represents a huge expansion of our teaching and laboratory spaces, enabling us to not just increase but transform our programs to study gorillas and their critical forest habitat and bring educational opportunities to early career African scientists and members of the local community,” says Felix Ndagijimana, the Fossey Fund’s director of Rwanda programs.
The Ellen Campus is also designed to support Rwanda’s ecotourism sector. Managed by the Rwandan government, tourism to see the gorillas plays a critical role in providing revenue for the park as well as supporting local communities through employment and revenue sharing.
Visitors to the Ellen Campus can immerse themselves in an interactive, educational exhibit located in the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery.
Designed to tell the story of mountain gorilla research and conservation from Fossey’s time to modern day, it includes original, never before displayed artifacts from Dian Fossey’s almost two decades of living amongst the gorillas, stunning visual effects through a 360 degree immersive experience, as well as augmented and virtual reality and numerous engaging, edutainment opportunities to learn more about the science and, most importantly, people behind the conservation success of mountain gorillas.
Support from numerous generous donors contributed to the project, including actor and conservationist, Leonardo DiCaprio, who named the 360 degree theater for his mother, Irmelin DiCaprio, and a computer lab for his father, George DiCaprio.
“The Ellen Campus demonstrates how new infrastructure can be a boon for conservation and species protection,” said Michael Murphy, founder and executive director of MASS Design Group. “With prioritization of local labor for construction, furniture created by Rwandan artisans, and environmental stewardship, the campus will inspire a generation of conservation activists in Rwanda. It also signals to global conservationists new ways to bind ecosystems and communities to one another.”
After launching Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in 1966, Dian Fossey was killed in Rwanda in 1985.
Construction of the campus cost more than US$14 million (over Rwf14 billion). More than 2300 Rwandans got jobs during construction of the campus.
The Head of State paid homage to national heroes on 1st February 2022 during the 28th National Heroes Day ceremony.
This year’s ceremony is held under the theme ‘ Our Heroism, Our Dignity’.
This year’s ceremony is held under the theme ‘Our Heroism, Our Dignity’.
Kagame and First Lady were accompanied by senior government officials and diplomats accredited to Rwanda among others as they paid homage to national heroes.
In a message shared via Twitter handle, President Kagame said that the day is an occasion to honour heroes lives and their sacrifice that helped Rwandans to build a dignified nation.
“Happy Heroes Day! We honor the lives of the heroes -men and women- of Rwanda, and the sacrifices they made to enable us to build the dignified and united nation we live in today. That puts a heavy responsibility on each of us who are working to transform our country,” he tweeted.
The Head of State also reminded the youth to uphold the Rwandan spirit.
“To our Rwandan youth: we count on you to keep the unbreakable Rwandan spirit alive for generations to come,” he noted.
According to the law establishing the Chancellery for Heroes, National Orders and Decorations of Honor “a hero is any person who pursues objectives he/she undertakes to obtain a special achievement for the public interest and with high proven integrity, sacrifice and noble courage in his/her acts and who avoids being a coward in his/her actions in very trying situations.”
{{Rwandan heroes are classified into three categories namely:}}
{{Imanzi:}} The unknown soldier and Major General Fred Gisa Rwigema.
{{Imena:}} Mutara III Rudahigwa, Rwagasana Michel, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, Niyitegeka Félicité and Nyange students.
{{Ingenzi:}} No hero was classified in this category.
Dr. Nsabimana has been serving as the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) prior to his new appointment.
He had also served as Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanization and Infrastructure at the City of Kigali before moving to RURA.
Meanwhile; Amb. Gatete who held the position for four years has been appointed Rwanda’s Ambassador to the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Another appointee is Eng. Patricia Uwase who has been serving as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure. She has been named Minister of State in the same Ministry.
{{Who is Dr. Nsabimana?}}
Dr. Ernest Nsabimana received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (2005) from the University of Rwanda (former National University of Rwanda).
In March, 2010, He obtained a Master’s and Ph.D. combined scholarship (in Civil Engineering) at Kyung Hee University in South Korea. In June, 2015, he obtained a Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering. During his PhD course, dr. Nsabimana published various scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. He has research interests and expertise in Transportation infrastructure such as Highway Engineering, Airport Engineering, Railway Engineering, Urban Infrastructure and Utilities planning.
Since September 2015 to November 2018, he served as Senior Lecturer of Civil Engineering at IPRC-Kigali and Coordinator of Rwanda TVET Trainer Institute (RTTI) at RP. He also served as part time lecturer of Geotechnical Engineering and Transportation Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT-Kigali Campus), Airport and Railway Engineering at INES Ruhengeri, Transportation and Traffic Engineering, and Urban Utilities Planning at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya (DeKUT).
Dr. Nsabimana has also a very strong industrial exposure. He has been working as Structural, Geotechnical, Transport, Pavement and Materials Engineer on various road and building construction projects across the country.
Since November 2018 to August 2019, Nsabimana served as Principal of IPRC Karongi under Rwanda Polytechnic (RP). Since August 2019 up to December 2020, he served as the Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanization and Infrastructure of the City of Kigali (CoK) until prior to his appointment as the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA).
