The Commander-in-Chief called on all present to uphold the values of discipline, service to country and hard work on which RDF was founded. He reminded the participants of their role in ensuring the sustainability of Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation and hard-earned security.
The Commander-in-Chief held senior officers accountable for delivering RDF’s mission and stressed the need for unwavering commitment to appropriate management of resources in their respective institutions.
The Commander-in-Chief cited examples of complacency, inefficiency and failures and pledged to the council that he would not waver in taking appropriate actions against those who fail to fulfil their responsibilities.
The High Command Council is a periodic decision-making council and a strategic guidance forum chaired by the Commander-in-Chief.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Division, Brigade and Unit Commanders, Commandants of Military schools and Hospital, Joint General Staff and Heads of Departments from the RDF Headquarters and other junior officers and lower level commanders of RDF units as well as senior officials from RNP and NISS.
The promotions have been announced in RDF statement released on Thursday 9th September 2021 where five senior military officers are promoted from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel.
Promoted officers include Lt Col Regis Francis Gatarayiha, Lt Col Karangwa Caple Mwezi, Lt Col Patrick Nyirishema, Lt Colonel Lambert Sendegeya and Lt Col Aimable Rudahunga.
Following his promotion, Col Gatarayiha has been appointed to Head of Communications, Electronic and Cyber Security Department in the RDF.
Col Gatarayiha previously served as the Director General of Immigration and Emigration since 2018. He was replaced by ACP Lynder Nkuranga on 6th September 2021.
Among others, Col Patrick Nyirishema once served as the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) from July 2014 to December 2020. He was replaced by Dr. Ernest Nsabimana.
As per RDF statement, the promotions and appointment take immediate effect.
Upon arrival on Wednesday 8th September 2021 around 4:30 p.m, the deportees including women, men and children were received by Rwanda’s Immigration and Emigration officials at Cyanika border in Burera district and tested for COVID-19.
Speaking to the media, deportees narrated how they were dispossessed of their belongings were enduring torture at Kisoro Police Station where they spent between 2 and 14 days.
Schadrack Manirakiza,21, spent three years in Uganda where he was working as a miner in Kasanda district. He was arrested in Kanaba and taken into custody in Kisoro prior to his deportation.
“I went to Uganda in 2017 where I have been doing manual excavation works. I was arrested recently in Kanaba area. I was deprived of my identities as well as 250,000 Shillings and taken into custody in Kisoro where I saw many Rwandans. We were subjected to forced labour, carrying huge timbers and chopping woods among others. I am returning with bare hands to Rwanda leaving all properties and my money,” he said.
Manirakiza advised Rwandans not travel to the country considering his arduous experience.
Jeanette Ingabire, 25, hailing from Kinigi sector in Musanze district is among deported Rwandans. She went to Uganda to visit her husband in 2017. Ingabire was recently arrested, detained at Kisoro Police Station where all of her belongings including 180,000 Ugandan Shillings were withheld and never got them back.
Their deportation follows series of circumstances under which Ugandan officials have been dumping Rwandans at borders following days of torture in detention facilities accused of being spies yet they had traveled to Uganda 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 that are posing a 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’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
RIB has revealed via twitter handle that Dr. Kayumba has been arrested following investigations on accusations filed by different people.
The suspect is detained at Kicukiro RIB Post awaiting his file to be transferred to the Prosecution.
News about the alleged sexual assault went viral on social media on 17th March 2021 when a Twitter user identified as Kamaraba Salva narrated a story of attempted sexual assault on behalf of her friend whose names were not mentioned.
Kamaraba wrote that the sexual assault took place some years back in 2017.
Few days later, CNBC journalist Fiona Muthoni Ntarindwa who is a former student of Dr. Kayumba posted a message on Twitter that his university lecturer assaulted her sexually.
In a reply message, the accused Dr. Kayumba said Fiona is a liar who wants to tarnish his reputation.
On 23rd March 2021, RIB said that it summoned Dr. Kayumba for interrogation on the sexual assault case filed early March.
One day before announcing his arrest, Dr. Kayumba was again summoned at the headquarters of Rwanda Investigation Bureau in Kimihurura, Gasabo district on 8th September 2021 at 11.am.
The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira has told IGIHE that the suspect has been arrested after gathering enough evidences pinning him.
“When there are factual evidences, a person suspected of such serious crimes is held in detention awaiting further investigation,” he said.
Launched in 2019 in partnership with MINICT, the #ConnectRwanda initiative challenged organizations in the public and private sector as well as individuals to donate smartphones to those who cannot afford them.
Though, the distribution of smartphones was stalled over the last few months due to the need to adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures and imposed lockdowns, the activity has resumed.
This initiative is in line with the country’s overall strategy to drive connectivity across the country, closing the digital divide.
Commenting on the donation; Mitwa Ng’ambi MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer said: “We thank Rwanda Mountain Tea for honouring their pledge of 566 smartphones.”
“We are also pleased to see Connect Rwanda taking effect, with 44,570 pledges registered, 20,257 honoured and 7,670 smartphones distributed so far, demonstrating just how our objective of connecting Rwanda is bearing fruit and closing the existing digital divide. We believe with these smartphones; the beneficiaries will have access to a myriad of information, digital services and smart solutions, contributing to the growth of the agricultural sector and economy at large,” she added.
The beneficiaries of this initiative will be trained by MTN on handset usage, in addition to registering them to the network and setting up Mobile Money (MoMo) accounts, allowing them to use various MoMo services. Furthermore, the tea farmers will receive free 1 GB data bundle for three (3) consecutive months,connecting them to the digital world.
Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation has highlighted that Connect Rwanda initiative brings the country closer to the goal of ensuring every Rwandan household owns and uses a smartphone to access services and information.
“Particularly for farmers, smartphones have become a tool that strengthens market linkages, minimizes post-harvest losses through improved farmer-trader coordination and better delivery of extension and advisory services to farmers,” she said.
“We are grateful to Rwanda Mountain Tea for joining us on this journey. The 566 tea farmers receiving smartphones will now have quick and easy access to essential information such as daily updates on tea prices, available market and digital financial services while improving their digital literacy,” added Ingabire.
Speaking at the event to distribute smartphones to farmers in Gatare tea plantation; Alain Kabeja, Rwanda Mountain Tea Ltd Managing Director said that the institution is very glad to donate smartphones to tea pluckers which reflects how their effort in contributing ‘to our quality and quantity of tea is valued’.
“We purchased 700 Mara phones and wanted to join the Connect Rwanda challenge alongside our President and other companies. Out of the 700 purchased, 74 smartphones were distributed before the pandemic in early 2020 and distribution of 566 is currently ongoing, which leaves 60 smartphones to be distributed at a later date,” he said.
“With these phones distributed in all our 7 tea factories, our tea pluckers will benefit from using Momo Pay to receive payments, access to the internet and Irembo services. We are excited to see our tea pluckers transition to modern technology that will facilitate their day-to-day activities,” added kabeja.
The smartphones are to be distributed to tea farmers in various tea plantations, which include Gatare, Gisakura, Kitabi, Mata, Rubaya, Nyabihu and Rutsiro tea plantations covering both the Western and Southern Provinces.
{{About Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT)}}
MINICT’s mission is to address national priorities relating to economic growth and poverty reduction through development and coordination of national policies and programs related to information, technology, communication and innovation as well as citizen’s empowerment.
{{About Rwanda Mountain Tea}}
Rwanda Mountain Tea (RMT) is a privately owned company that invested in three business lines; tea growing and processing, Hydropower generation and fabrication of concrete material. RMT tea estates are located in Congo Nile Divide Region. The good quality of green leaf is defined by a regular fresh hills drizzle and naturally cultivated fields making it (green leaf) have an original and pure taste. RMT owns five Tea Factories, namely Rubaya, Kitabi, Nyabihu, Rutsiro and Gatare, all spread across Rwanda’s countryside.
{{About MTN Rwanda}}
MTN Rwandacell PLC (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our footprint and are the country’s No 1 network. MTN Rwanda offers various innovative services to consumers and enterprises, including personalised voice, data, home and fixed connectivity solutions. The company is also the front runner in Mobile Financial Services in Rwanda delivered through its FinTech subsidiary, Mobile Money Rwanda Ltd.
Despite the progress, the Club of Mozambique media house reported, Nyusi warned of the need for vigilance because ‘the enemy was dangerous’.
Nyusi made the revelation on Tuesday, speaking in the northern city of Nampula during a speech alluding to the celebrations of Victory Day, which marks the signing of the Lusaka Accords, initialled on 7 September 1974 between the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and the Portuguese government, paving the way for the proclamation of the country’s independence.
“At this moment, we have recovered almost all the ground that the terrorists had occupied, and combative clearing and clarification operations are underway. The enemy-hunting offensives we have carried out in recent weeks with the Defence and Security Forces at the forefront (…) are suffocating the enemy,” said Nyusi.
“Success in the war against armed groups in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, is supported by the government forces of Rwanda, the military mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and veterans of the national liberation struggle,” he added.
Nyusi revealed that the next course of action is the re-establishment of energy, water, mobile phone, banking, roads, bridges and health centres infrastructures, among others.
The Mozambican head of state said that the people displaced by the armed violence in Cabo Delgado feel encouraged to return to their homes due to the expulsion of the armed groups.
“The situation improves every day, which leads to some people returning; however, we advise them to observe the recommendations concerning the security measures to be observed,” he noted.
Nyusi pointed out that among the “ringleaders” of the armed groups are citizens of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Rwanda and Kenya, who “recruit” Mozambicans for their actions.
“The ringleaders of this criminal group have never shown their faces, and therefore the Mozambican people still do not know them,” he said.
Nyusi said that the actions of the armed groups resulted in the death of more than 2,000 people, the flight of more than 850,000 and the destruction of hundreds of social and economic infrastructures.
According to the Club of Mozambique, the Victory Day celebrations were marked by the awarding of decorations to 1,547 veterans of the national liberation struggle across the country to recognise their achievements in the war against Portuguese colonialism.
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Kagame made the call on Wednesday 8th September 2021 at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2021) held in Kenya from 7th to 10th September 2021.
The summit brought together leaders from around Africa including heads of state, experts, members of the private sector, civil society organizations and farmers.
The AGRF2021 summit seeks to leverage the UN Food System Summit (UNFSS) momentum to elevate the single coordinated African voice in identifying immediate actions for accelerating progress, partnerships, and recovery towards an inclusive agricultural transformation.
As he participated in a high-level panel discussion, Kagame highlighted that improving agriculture systems takes center stage to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Food systems are key to achieving the SDGs. 70% of the African adults work in agriculture and agribusiness. If they are not doing well, then Africa is not doing well,” he said.
“More than 35% of the world’s hungry, are in Africa. Clearly, we need transformation in how our food systems are organized. We must also ensure that everyone has access to the food they need, on an equitable and affordable basis,” added Kagame.
The President said that African continent is capable of growing more than what it consumes and stressed the need to tap into advantages of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ‘to trade the produce with one another’.
A World Bank report released in December 2019 on the AfCFTA showed that the common market would benefit the African continent in different ways.
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement which was signed by 44 African countries on March 21st, 2018 in Kigali shows that a single market for goods and services across Africa will lead to poverty reduction. At least 30 million Africans (1.5% of Africans) will rise above the poverty line.
The report shows that 12 million people in West Africa, 9.3 million in Central Africa and 4.8 million in East Africa will rise above the poverty line. The AfCFTA has the potential of lifting 67.9 million Africans (3.6% of Africans) to middle income status by 2035. That is a $5.50 income per day.
The AfCFTA will connect 1.3 billion African citizens from 54 countries and is expected to generate $3.4 trillion annually. This trade bloc will improve Intra-African trade and definitely solve the problem of food import in Africa.
Held for the 11th time, the forum was also attended by the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta; Dr. Agnes Kalibata, the president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Hailemariam Desalegn, the Chairman of AGRF.
AOG is a Rwanda-based Social enterprise co-founded by 13 young social entrepreneurs in 2011. It is registered with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) as a National Non-governmental Organization (NGO) since 2014. Starting in 2015, AOG has been focusing its programs on social enterprise development in Rwanda which helps to tackle youth unemployment and contribute to solving key social challenges in local communities.
AOG also puts emphasis on women empowerment to make them real drivers of positive change.
As he visited the organization’s incubation hub on Tuesday 7th September 2021, Amb. Omar interacted with some of beneficiaries who spoke with a voice of satisfaction considering the great support received to implement their projects.
Nina Nyirampeta is a Chili farmer who exports her produce through her company dubbed Ineza Chilli.
She had had no innovative business idea until she received training from AOG which sharpened her entrepreneurial skills.
Following the training in 2019, Nyirampera developed a vivid business idea which she implemented and has since then provided jobs to 84.
“I graduated from university in 2015 and did not get employed. I submitted my application soon as I learnt that AOG is training startups. I was qualified to join the training dubbed Ingenzi Social Enterprise Program. Before joining, I was aware that we would receive training and seed capital. However, I was worried of possible losses over ineffective management. Fortunately, I was acquainted with all necessary skills within 12 weeks which I capitalized to start a promising business. It has started yielding big that I am among thankful chili exporters,” she said.
Following the visit, Amb. Omar said that he was impressed with activities of incubated youth.
“I was very impressed. This is one productive meetings ever attended because this place accommodates amazing people with outstanding projects creating new jobs. Most importantly, they are honing beneficiaries’ skills which will subsequently contribute to Rwanda’s development,” he said.
He assured to uphold existing collaboration between UK and the organization to implement programs meant to empower startups.
“The partnership will be upheld. In 2015, the CEO of AOG Rwanda received an award from Queen Elizabeth for outstanding activities which are ongoing. We shall particularly partner in the areas of education, agriculture and economy. I hope the benefits will also be extended to this organization,” noted Amb. Omar.
The CEO of AOG Rwanda, Jean d’Amour Mutoni revealed that the visit is of great significance and gives them courage to keep working hard.
“The ambassador’s visit signifies how our activities are valued. Having our activities recognized, induces pride and encourages us to keep up the momentum,” she said.
In 2015, CEO of the organization, which has different partners from the UK, was presented with Queen’s Young Leaders Award.
Since establishment in 2011, AOG Rwanda has trained 183 entrepreneurs who created 1500 jobs while their activities impacted over 150,000 people.
It currently runs operations in Kigali City and Bugesera District with plans to expand footprints to all districts across the country.
Based in Rutsiro district, the firm owns a factory processing honey sourced from cooperatives practicing beekeeping in Gishwati forest.
It is a joint venture between Rutsiro district, NIRDA and beekeepers’ cooperatives practicing beekeeping in the surroundings of Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
With Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) S-Mark, the firm’s honey products are well packaged to be traded in Rwanda and exported.
Speaking at the event held on 3rd September 2021, some of beekeepers attested transformed livelihoods, thanks to Rutsiro Honey Ltd which provided market and helped them to shift from traditional to modern beekeeping practices.
Jean Damascene Hakizimana is the President of Union des Cooperative des Apiculuteurs de Gishwati, a union of five beekeepers’ cooperatives who revealed how beekeepers have started yielding big. As he explained, beekeepers have increased income that they want to buy more shares.
“Before working with Rutsiro Honey Ltd, we would keep our produce in clay pots which we used to sell at giveaway prices. The situation has changed for good since we started working with the factory which buys all the produce. It has changed beekeepers lives; we have received modern beehives that the produce increased significantly,” he said.
“Beekeepers are leading decent life, subscribe for Mutuelle de Santé and cater for their children’s school fees among other needs. We are currently seeking how to acquire shares previously owned by the Government as part of plans to continue expanding activities,” added Hakizimana.
Marie Chantal Nyirakamineza, the Managing Director of Rutsiro Honey Ltd has said that produced honey products have attracted clientele at the local and international market.
“Credited for quality and natural taste, our honey is traded in different shops across Rwanda. It has been also certified on European markets particularly in Germany following sample tests proving that our honey is of high quality standard without additional ingredients,” she explained.
The mayor of Rutsiro district, Emerance Ayinkamiye said that beekeeping has been modernized and contributes to economic growth in no smaller part.
“Beekeeping has evolved and is no longer considered a primitive business. Residents are reaping big; supply to the factory which also contributes to national development through taxes and provides jobs. This reflects how this business has a significant impact to the district’s economy,” she noted.
The Director General of NIRDA, Dr. Christian Sekomo Birame commended the firm’s activities and promised support to introduce more products in the near future.
“The factory’s smooth operations and stern management are commendable. We are working together to help them introduce four types of wines in the near future as enshrined in the firm’s plans since inception. Beekeepers also expressed interest to buy more than 50% of shares owned by the Government. We are convinced that shares should not be given to third parties yet local farmers expressed interest with means to do so,” he said.
Established in 2018, Rutsiro Honey factory has the capacity to process 160 tonnes per annum. It currently operates at 17% capacity. It is planning to upgrade to start producing four brands of wine including Honey wine, Honey-Ginger wine, Honey and Pineapple as well as Honey and Passion wines by the end of 2021.
The summons which circulated on social media is dated 7th September 2021 and reads: “You are summoned at the headquarters of Rwanda Investigation Bureau in Kimihurura, Gasabo district on 8th September 2021 at 11.am.”
RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira has told IGIHE that reasons of the summons will only be communicated to Dr. Kayumba.
In March 2021, Dr. Kayumba was summoned for interrogation on a case filed early this year where his former student accused him of sexual assault.
