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Rwanda’s Presidency has via Twitter handle revealed that Kagame also met with Teklay Teame, CEO of Simba Supermarket.

Kuok Khoon Hong was accompanied by Santosh Pillai, Wilmar International Head for Africa.

Before meeting with Kagame, Kuok Khoon Hong held talks with the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi.

Even though areas of discussions with the Head of State were not mentioned, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) revealed via Twitter account that Wilmar International wants to open doors to Rwanda.

RDB explained that the group intends to invest in manufacturing and agro-processing sectors, among others.

Wilmar International Limited, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Singapore, is today Asia’s leading agribusiness group. Wilmar is ranked amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalisation on the Singapore Exchange.

Wilmar’s business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oils refining, sugar milling and refining, manufacturing of consumer products, specialty fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel and fertilisers as well as flour and rice milling.

World Refugee Day is an international day organised every year on 20th June by the United Nations to celebrate and honour refugees from around the world.

Following the pledge; Inkomoko is working with MTN Rwanda, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management, and UNHCR to distribute the majority of the 500 phones to refugee and host community entrepreneurs, increasing their access to Government services, financial products, and overall digital connectivity for their small businesses.

Initiated by MTN Rwanda, in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Connect Rwanda campaign was launched in December 2019, with the objective of providing smartphones to unconnected households across Rwanda to leverage the digital economy. Since then, private companies, Government institutions and individuals have come together to connect all Rwandans through technology.

Inkomoko’s phone donation, as part of World Refugee Day, aligned with its larger strategy to digitize services and provide increased access to finance for refugee and host community entrepreneurs. These pivots have emerged as Inkomoko adapted to helping entrepreneurs adjust to new ways of working during COVID-19. Phone distribution will launch in the Gihembe Refugee Camp where Inkomoko has been working since 2016.

Commenting on the development; Olive Ashimwe, Inkomoko’s Regional Director of Refugee Affairs said: “During COVID-19, movement restrictions limited how we could provide services in refugee communities. Like most businesses, it forced us to quickly develop digital offerings that would work for our clients. Because we were able to make expedient digital implementations and because 39% of our Inkomoko staff are refugees themselves, we were able to continuously serve our entrepreneurs despite movement restrictions.”

The 500 donated smartphones fortify Inkomoko’s track record of financial inclusion, as Inkomoko is also rolling out a new digital loan app that will increase access to business financing for refugee and host communities. This mobile loan app for smartphones is available in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili, and will help Inkomoko to diversify access points for financing across the country, a key request from entrepreneurs. All of the phones donated by Inkomoko will come preloaded with their app.

Last year for World Refugee Day, Inkomoko partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to release US$2.6million in COVID-19 relief grants to more than 3,500 refugee and host community entrepreneurs. One year later they have released data showing that as a result of their grants, businesses were able to generate more than US$10 million in new revenue and they employ more than 20,000 people throughout Rwanda. In addition, 98% of closed businesses have re-opened.

Julienne Oyler, the CEO of Inkomoko has explained that working with entrepreneurs has consistently shown that investing in refugee businesses is catalytic for economic development at-large.

“We are able to provide new growth opportunities for our clients in refugee communities by bringing new investments and digital solutions,” she noted.

Looking ahead, Inkomoko has pledged to support more refugee and host community entrepreneurs, including providing 25,000 refugee households with access to affordable capital in the coming years, all facilitated by more digital solutions.

{{About Inkomoko}}

Inkomoko has supported more than 25,000 businesses in Rwanda to run their operations in a more efficient and strategic way, providing training, consulting, and affordable loans. Inkomoko has more than 120 staff serving entrepreneurs nationwide in Rwanda through offices in Kigali, Musanze, and all 6 refugee camps and hosting communities. Inkomoko is the Rwandan affiliate of African Entrepreneur Collective.

For more information on Inkomoko please visit www.Inkomoko.com

These activities align with Rwanda’s vision to create new off-farm jobs and reduce migration to Kigali city.

As enshrined in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), Rwanda set ambitious targets to accelerate sustainable urbanization from 18.4 to 35 percent by 2024.

In line with the country’s blueprint, six secondary cities have been undergoing infrastructure development including the construction of new roads expected to facilitate movements and connectivity and paving the way for economic growth.

The six secondary cities include Muhanga, Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu, Musanze and Nyagatare where US$100 million have been allocated to build roads and water drainage channels.

The first phase of this project spanning from June 2016 to November 2018 saw 28.3 kilometer-roads and 13.3 kilometer water drainage channels completed at a cost of US$28 million.

So far, more 43.9 kilometer-roads and 12.15 kilometer-water drainage channels have been constructed in the second phase that began in December 2018 expected to be completed in July 2021.

These infrastructures are an addition to the upgrade of informal settlements in Kigali city including 12.46 hectares in Boryogo, 20.1 hectares in Kiyovu and 26.42 hectares in Rwampara.

The project saw settlements equipped with decent basic infrastructures including tarmac roads which facilitated people’s daily businesses and easy access to other services.

The two phases implemented under Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP) will be followed by two more phases to upgrade more slums in secondary cities and different parts of Kigali.

Under the new phases, new roads will be built in four slums of Kigali city staring with 2021-2022 fiscal year.

It will focus on building new roads, pedestrian ways, drainages, street lights, electricity and others.

In Kigali city, the project will construct a road in Gitega sector and set up more infrastructures reducing slums in Gatenga , Kicukiro; Nyabisindu in Remera sector; and Nyagatovu in Kimironko sector, Gasabo district.

Of the Rwf 160 billion, US$ 40.2 million have been allocated for preservation of Gikondo wetland in the former industrial park and containing floods in most parts of Kigali prone to disasters including Kinamba, Rugunga, Rwandex-Majerwa, Mulindi, Masaka and Gacuriro.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Amb. Claver Gatete has told the media that containing floods is of crucial relevance to maintain other infrastructures including roads.

“Preserving environment also needs special attention. For instance, floods might cause serious damages to roads in case no action is taken to build proper drainages to contain water flowing from Mont Kigali, Jali, Rebero and Magerwa,” he said.

“That is why this phase will cater for the conservation of Gikondo Industrial Park. We need to build proper drainages for water coming from uphill to contain damages to infrastructures when it rains,” added Gatete.

He explained that building roads in slums doesn’t intend to relocate residents but rather expand basic infrastructures.

The second phase of RUDP II will be implemented from 2021 to 2025.

These include Lieutenant Colonel Jean Paul Nyirubutama promoted to Colonel and appointed Deputy Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Other officers promoted to the rank of Colonel include RDF Spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Rwivanga, Lt Col Callixte Kalisa and Lt Col Francis Ngabo Sebicundanyi.

Col Nyirubutama who has been appointed Deputy Secretary General of NISS is among 47 officers who recently graduated at RDF Command and Staff College in Nyakinama where he emerged the overall best student.

Col Nyirubutama held different positions including Deputy CEO of RwandAir and and first advisor in Rwanda’s Embassy to South Africa.

Col Kalisa is currently serving as the Director General in the Ministry of Defense of Rwanda (MOD) in charge of coordinating all Ministries’ Agencies including ZIGAMA CSS. He was appointed to this position in July 2016, after working as the Director of Finance in the same Ministry for 8 Years (July 2009-2016).

As experienced banker, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of ZIGAMA CSS in November 2011 where he served as Non-Executive Director and cumulated the functions of Head of Management, Asset and Liability Committee, Head of Credit Sub-Committee and Member of Executive Committee and serves as the Vice Chairman of ZIGAMA CSS Board among others.

Col Kalisa is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of MOD Complementary Pension Scheme (12 January 2017) and Board Member of Armed Forces Shop since 19 January 2018.

Col Rwivanga is the spokesperson of RDF since December 2020. He replaced Lt Col Innocent Munyengango who had served in the same capacity since 2017.

Prior to his appointment, Col Rwivanga was Course Coordinator at the RDF Senior Command and Staff College based in Musanze District.

He was also chief editor of the Warrior Magazine, a publication of the Command and Staff College.

Among others, Col Rwivanga served as an exchange military lecturer with the East African Community where he worked as directing staff at the Tanzania People’s Defence College Command and Staff College based in Arusha, Tanzania.

He once served in the Republican Guard Unit of the RDF where he headed the operations and training department.

Col Ngabo is also among officers who recently graduated at RDF Command and Staff College in Nyakinama where he emerged the second overall best student and awarded for his best college research paper.

According to a statement released on Friday 18th June 2021 by RDF, the promotions and appointment take immediate effect.

“My heartfelt condolences to the family of President Kenneth Kaunda and the people of Zambia. His commitment to Africa’s liberation will never be forgotten. His leadership on the continent and legacy of Pan-Africanism will live on for generations to come,” he tweeted.

The Zambia’s founding president and liberation hero, died on Thursday 17th June at a military hospital in the capital, Lusaka, where he was being treated for pneumonia. He was 97.

Kaunda ruled Zambia from 1964, when the country obtained independence from Britain, until 1991, and afterwards became one of the most committed activists against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Following his demise, Zambia declared 21 days of mourning.

Kaunda will also be remembered for his role as an anti-colonial fighter who stood up to white minority rule in Southern African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

In 2017, President Kagame held talks with Kaunda when he visited Zambia.

During Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award held in Kigali 2019, Kaunda was bestowed the anti-corruption lifetime/outstanding award for his efforts in promoting transparency and fighting corruption.

He wrote eight books including ‘Letter to My Children’, ‘The Political Philosophy of President Kenneth D. Kaunda of Zambia’ and ‘Zambia will be Free’ among others.

Kenneth Kaunda was born on April 28, 1924.

The four-year policy involves different activities to promote inclusive technology, increase the participation of persons with disabilities in employment and other sectors, establish various special needs of PwDs for full participation in all agricultural programs and initiatives, subsidise the provision of assistive devices and disability related health care services to PwDs and promote social and cultural activities as well.

The Executive Secretary of the National Council of PwDs, Emmanuel Ndayisaba has explained that the policy is expected to bridge gaps in different aspects of life impeding welfare and development of persons with disabilities.

“It sets a framework for needed actions, identifies all stakeholders and needed interventions,” he said.

For the last ten years, Successive Education Sector strategic plans (ESSP) have continued to note high school dropout rates for vulnerable children (28.3% in Primary 5 and 10.2% in Primary 1) since 2005. For example, the Rwanda Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) of 2013-2018 confirmed that more Children with Disabilities (CwDs) have never attended school than those without any (27% versus 14%) and more CwDs dropped out of school than those without (9% versus 6%).

The Ministry of Education (2017)19 report indicates that out of 185,666 children enrolled in pre-primary education, 1,545 children are CwDs, representing less than 1% of enrolled students. The number of CwDs enrolled at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels are similarly very low and well below the expected proportion of PwDs (approximately 15% of the population using WHO’s definition of disability or 5% using Rwanda’s definition).

Ndayisaba highlighted that the policy will also address barriers hindering persons with disabilities from attending schools or occasioning school drop outs yet education is considered the backbone for development.

Other barriers are reported in healthcare, employment and accessibility.

Accessing healthcare in all its forms is also said to be challenging for PwDs because of associated costs, distance from service providers, and systemic and institutional healthcare practices and barriers.

Health service access data does not disaggregate by disability which undermines planning and decision making.

Eleven of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require disaggregation by disability. Disaggregated disability data is important if achievements in health care recorded by Rwanda are to be extended to all citizens. In addition, there is little documented evidence about the physical and social barriers that PwDs may face in accessing health services.

The present policy is particularly concerned about access to rehabilitation and therapeutic services, assistive aids, and other key health provisions that enable PwD equal access participation to socio-economic activities.

Being unable to detect road signs, waterways along the road among others also presents difficulties depending on the nature of disabilities.

Ndayisaba has expressed optimism that many of these challenges will be addressed in the new policy.

“A blind person should not wait for green to cross red lights. He/she should have a switch to detect red lights or zebra crossing. The new policy incorporates these concerns. We are optimistic that a lot of things will be addressed within the four years,” he affirmed.

With allocated budget of Rwf 41,458, 014, 440, the new policy for persons will be implemented through different ministries to bridge loopholes in the sectors of education, health, social protection (impact the welfare and wellbeing of children and adults with disabilities), agriculture, infrastructure, employment, justice, child protection, sports and leisure among others.

The Rwandan law No 01/2007 of 20/01/2007 aligns with the medical model and defines disability as the condition of a person’s impairment of health ability which consequently leads to deficiency compared to others.

Suspended health facilities include Isangano Clinic, Santé Clinic and Polyclinique Le Bon Berger following an improvised inspection by the Ministry of Health at different private clinics in Kigali.

The inspection aimed assessing management efficiency, employees’ welfare, capacity, available equipment, standards of drugs and the status of hygiene.

Dr. Corneille Ntihabose, the Head of Clinical and Public Health Services at Ministry of Health has told IGIHE that these clinics are suspended for various reasons.

“We have noticed poor hygiene inside and outside buildings of Polyclinique Le Bon Berger to the extent that it cannot be tolerated. The way they disinfect medical equipment to be reused are against established guidelines in the health sector,” he said.

“The clinic had two health workers without renewed licenses allowing them to operate. The clinic’s building is very old. It is neither well maintained nor sprayed with new paints as a facility suitable to receive patients,” added Dr. Ntihabose.

As he explained, Isangano Clinic had issues including lack of water and washing facility, expired drugs, workers without employment contracts and poor hygiene particularly in the laboratory.

Dr. Ntihabose revealed that Santé Clinic was also spotted with poor hygiene inside and outside buildings. Among others, the clinic was found with expired drugs and the building operates without appropriate place for waste disposal.

“If we are to promote medical tourism and maintain Rwandans’ health, such facilities should be in the right position to complement these initiatives. That is why we are inspecting clinics through ongoing intensified scrutiny to be rolled out upcountry,” he said.

It is expected that suspended clinics will apply for authorization to resume operations after adjusting to required standards.

According to a joint statement signed yesterday by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Health, the Government has established new health and safety measures to mitigate the pandemic following the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

As of newly established measures, all staff in selected hotels and restaurants and all clients visiting these establishments are required to present a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen rapid test).

Tests must be taken within 7 days for visiting clients and 14 days for staff while testing can be done at designated sites at own cost.

As per new guidelines, accredited private clinics with partner hotels may arrange on-site testing in an appropriate room available at the hotel.

Only trained medical personnel staff from accredited clinics will be allowed to conduct the tests and results that must be uploaded into the national health management information system.

All clients are required to present the results at the hotel, restaurant entrance to a designated staff who must scan the QR code on the clients’ certificate and access the RBC app to confirm authenticity. Clients may also be requested to present their identity cards for verification of test results.

Hotels concerned with new guidelines include Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu & Kigali Convention Center Hotel, Kigali Serena Hotel and The Retreat Hotel.

Selected restaurants are; The Retreat Restaurant, Choose Kigali Restaurant, Meza Malonga Restaurant, Brachetto Restaurant, Soy Restaurant, Nyurah Restaurant, Inka Steak House, The Hut Restaurant, Epicurien Restaurant, Poivre Noir Restaurant, Repub Lounge and Kury Kingdom Restaurant.

Issued guidelines indicate that these hotels and restaurants will report status on staff testing to RDB and RBC every two weeks. They are also required to give notice of the exact number of people that can be hosted in various outlets and meeting rooms equivalent to 30% occupancy while clients who do not have a valid test result will be denied access to the hotel or restaurant.

The statement also reads that outdoor dining and events are encouraged where feasible as they present less risk for the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are however encouraged to continue adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures.

Other hotels and restaurants not mentioned on the list will be subject to randomized sample testing undertaken by RBC for both their clients and staff.

The Ministry of Local Government, RDB, RBC, and Rwanda National Police will ensure enforcement of these new measures to take effect from Friday 18th June 2021.

Speaking to RBA; the Deputy CEO of RDB Zephanie Niyonkuru explained that the decision was reached after consultations with other relevant institutions.

He said that the list might be updated depending on further assessments.

“The list will be revised every two weeks. We have started with frequently visited hospitality establishments but RBC will also conduct random testing to other hotels and restaurants to assess status of the pandemic,” he revealed.

The country has been recording surge in new COVID-19 cases for the past few days confirming over 200 positive test results every day.

This prompted the Government to revise existing measures countrywide and placed Rubavu district under lockdown yesterday. Other sectors considered major hotspots for new cases in Rutsiro, Gicumbi and Nyagatare were subjected to revised curfew hours from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice.

Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 29 175 people have been tested positive of whom 26 383 recovered, 2416 are active cases, 11 are critically ill while 376 have succumbed to the virus.

A total of 389,832 people have been vaccinated since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program.

Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.

Dr. Nsanzimana was speaking to the media yesterday on status of the pandemic and ways forward to contain increasing COVID-19 cases across the country.

He urged the general public to draw a lesson from newly confirmed cases among vaccine recipients to heighten vigilance and comply with preventive directives.

“The fact that we have 400 positive cases among recipients of COVID-19 vaccine jabs conveys two messages. Firstly, it means that being vaccinated doesn’t prevent you from being infected. Secondly, a vaccine recipient should be responsible to avoid transmission of COVID-19,” he said.

Towards the end of last week, the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije said that the country confirmed new COVID-19 cases among vaccine recipients but highlighted that they are not critically ill because the vaccine boosts their immunity to fight the virus.

Minister Ngamije has reminded the general public that it should be everyone’s concern to fight COVID-19.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (American CDC) recently recommended vaccinated people to get tested for COVID.

The center explained that cases of fully vaccinated individuals contracting coronavirus are rare, but possible.

Of the 5.2 million people vaccinated in Illinois State, 243 people have been hospitalized with coronavirus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health while 81 died of complications related to the virus.

Rwanda has so far vaccinated over 380,000 since the countrywide inoculation program began on 5th March 2021.