Both officials told the media that they also discussed about preparations of the Commonwealth Heads of States Meeting that will take place in Kigali in 2020.
Mukabalisa said that Rwanda will benefit from the meeting in terms of attracting new investors.
“We are pleased to host the Commonwealth meeting, we discussed how both parliaments can cooperate along its preparations,” she said.
“People who will attend the meeting and those who will be around facilitating the preparations will explore Rwanda’s Investment Opportunities, so, this will help to market Rwanda,” she added.
Ambassador Lomas said that they discussed about Rwanda’s Members of Parliaments elections slated in September.
She said that they discussed ways to explain the Commonwealth to people so that they understand its role.
Both officials hailed the relations between both countries which are founded on cooperation in different sectors like agriculture, education, trade and investment among others.
The trio are the Mayor, Eugene Muzuka, Cyprien Mutwarasibo and Christine Niwemugeni vice-mayor for economic development and vice-mayor for social affairs respectively.
The Chairperson of Huye District Council, Dr. Jean Chrisostome Ngabitsinze told IGIHE that on Thursday morning, they convened a council meeting aimed at evaluating problems in the district where members of the Executive Committee failed to explain the non-performing projects which led to their dismissal.
“We asked them to defend themselves about the implementation of council decisions, the Office of the Auditor General’s report and other projects implemented in Huye District. Sometime you think that they are forced to resign, but, we dismissed them,” he explained.
He said that the trio did not perform well on council decisions but instead, worked individually.
“They also prepared and sent a report to Parliament’s Public Account Committee (PAC) which was not communicated to the council. That is a mistake, they should have communicated to us,” he added.
He said that the district had separately appeared in Auditor General’s reports with same queries.
“We requested them to end non-performing projects issues, they failed and weren’t capable of explaining,” he added.
He said that the District reports falsified numbers and has no good plan to help people graduate from poverty.
Huye District Executive Dismissal follows separate resignations and dismissals in districts of Ruhango, Nyabihu, Rusizi, Gicumbi, Bugesera and Nyagatare.
The new law amends that of 2003 about punishing corrupt behaviours and related crimes which had loopholes and hampered punishment.
The Chairperson of Public Account Committee (PAC), Juvenal Nkusi explained that some of the unique attributes in the new law is that the convicts , especially leaders and judges will face stringent punishments.
“When they are leaders, they will be given stringent punishment, and when they are judges they will be handed more years,” he noted.
He said that the person who will be found guilty of corruption, will face over five-year sentence and no Primary Courts will try such cases, only triable in Intermediate Courts.
Article one of the draft law on fighting against corruption stipulates that this Law aims at preventing and punishing corruption in public organs, private institutions, civil society and international organizations operating or wishing to operate in Rwanda.
{{About punishments}}
The article four of the Punishment of corruption says that any person who solicits or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his/her mandate or uses his/her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five (5) years and not more seven (7) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value in Rwandan francs of the illegal benefit received.
Penalties provided under Paragraph 2 of this Article apply to a person who offers or promises to offer a benefit, by any means, an illegal benefit for him/ herself or another person to have a service rendered or omitted.
If acts referred to in Paragraph One and 3 of this Article are committed in order to perform an act contrary to law, the penalty is imprisonment for a term of more than seven (7) years and not more than ten (10) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value in Rwandan francs of the illegal benefit received or offered.
The article five of the law says that Any judge or arbitrator who receives or solicits an illegal benefit, commits an offence.
When convicted, he/she is liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than ten (10) years but not exceeding twelve (12) years and a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value in Rwandan francs of the illegal benefit solicited.
Any court registrar, prosecutor, assistant to prosecutor, advocate, State attorney in court, professional bailiff, a court judgement review officer, judicial police officer or person summoned as expert in court , an officer from Access to Justice Bureau who solicits or receives or accepts to receive a bribe or promise thereof as a condition for accomplishing his/her responsibilities or in order to refrain from carrying out any usual duty or exert an influence resulting in a decision contrary to the law, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than seven (7) years and not more than ten (10) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value in Rwandan francs of the illegal benefit received, accepted or was promised.
In written answers to MPs’ questions, Sigrid said “The choice for Arsenal is up to Rwanda itself. The Premier League obviously has a global reach and is followed by hundreds of millions of people every week. Arsenal itself has official supporters’ associations all over the world, 23 of which are in Africa and one in Rwanda.”
Dutch MPs had written to Sigrid last week asking her to look into the recent sponsorship deal signed between Rwanda and English football club Arsenal, tasking her on explaining why a country which receives so much aid from the Netherlands is able to invest in sponsoring the Arsenal’s shirts.
On this question, Minister Sigrid has answered, “The Netherlands understands that Rwanda, as part of a broader development strategy, wants to further develop its tourism industry and that promotion and marketing are part of this.”
She added that The Netherlands continues to enter into a dialogue with Rwanda about the development of the country in order to support Rwanda in its own objective of becoming independent of aid.
{Below are full excerpts of Sigrid’s answers to MPs’ questions:}
{{Are you familiar with the message “Rwanda becomes new shirt sponsor of Arsenal”? }}
On 24 May last week, I heard about the Rwandan decision via media reports and tweets from a few questioners.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the government agency responsible for attracting investments and promoting tourism, has signed a three-year partnership with the British football club Arsenal. In a press statement on 29 May, the RDB explained that the partnership is part of a broader strategy to double income from tourism in 2024 to USD 800 million. In addition to shirt sponsorship, players from various Arsenal teams will visit Rwanda within this partnership. Arsenal coaches will also develop various football activities for Rwandan youths.
{{Is it true that the Rwandan government is going to pay about $ 40 million to Arsenal football club in exchange for marketing for the country?}}
The Rwanda Development Board has not made any statements about the costs associated with this partnership.
{{Are you still of the opinion that, as you describe it on your website, countries like Rwanda “cannot effectively combat poverty without help”? }}
On 19 September 2016, your House was informed about the decision to add Rwanda to the so-called category of transitional countries (Parliamentary Papers 33635, no. 226).
In countries with a transition relationship, the aim is to gradually phase out bilateral aid, from the perspective of a relationship based more on mutual interests in trade, investment and political cooperation. The aid will be phased out in the coming years.
Rwanda is still a Least Developed Country with a limited economic base and socio-economic development, but it has the desire to become more aid-independent. This commitment is in line with the greater role for trade and investments that the Netherlands is striving for in the relationship with Rwanda. The idea to broaden the relationship with the Netherlands was emphatically welcomed by Rwanda. Our commitment is in line with a broader international development. In the report of the World Bank “Doing Business 2018” Rwanda rose 15 places on the world ranking list of best countries to do business, putting the country in the second place of the African continent.
{{Is it also correct that, according to your new memorandum “Investing in Perspective – Good for the World, Good for the Netherlands”, you intend to continue the development relationship with Rwanda, which includes central humanitarian aid and poverty reduction? Can you indicate how much the Ministry intends to invest in Rwanda in 2018? How big was this amount in 2017?}}
The government wants to continue the above-described transition relationship with Rwanda. In Rwanda, the Netherlands focuses on the food security, water and safety and legal order sectors. In addition, the Netherlands invests in private sector development. In 2017, the Netherlands invested € 42.5 million in Rwanda through the Dutch embassy. In 2018, the Netherlands intends to continue this commitment for the time being.
At the same time, the Netherlands intends to optimize the trade links with the country. For example, the government sees opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs in the horticulture sector, a rapidly growing sector in Rwanda.
{{How do you rhyme this news with your analysis of the aid dependency of Rwanda? Do you see a reason to approach Rwanda at this step, or do you think that an aid relationship should simply be able to go hand in hand with country marketing at this level?}}
The Netherlands understands that Rwanda, as part of a broader development strategy, wants to further develop its tourism industry and that promotion and marketing are part of this. The choice for Arsenal is up to Rwanda itself. The Premier League obviously has a global reach and is followed by hundreds of millions of people every week. Arsenal itself has official supporters’ associations all over the world, 23 of which are in Africa (and one in Rwanda).
Rwanda sees the partnership with Arsenal as an investment that will contribute to the awareness of Rwanda as a tourist destination and thus to the further development of the country. Among other things, Rwanda thinks that the income from the tourism sector, an important source of foreign currency, will double in 2024. The Rwandan strategy is not without success. According to the IMF, the number of international visitors reaching Rwanda doubled to 1.3 million between 2010 and 2015. Income from tourism increased annually from USD 202 million in 2010 to more than USD 400 million in 2016. This does not detract from the fact that inequality remains high in the country. (IMF Country Report no. 17/214, June 2017). Other countries with which the Netherlands has a relationship also try to generate more income through tourism. For example, Kenya recently developed and launched a new strategy for tourism.
The Netherlands continues to enter into a dialogue with Rwanda about the development of the country in order to support Rwanda in its own objective of becoming independent of aid. This also includes a broad dialogue with actors such as the Rwanda Development Board about the effectiveness of such investments and how these relate to Dutch efforts in other sectors
Its full-year 2017 figures show 16,000 business and leisure travellers from the UK, a fifth more than in 2016.
Visit Rwanda says travellers are making their way to the country for wildlife, new premium lodges and its scenery.
Visit Rwanda, which became the official tourism partner of Arsenal Football Club last week, has been focusing on promoting the new ‘tourism circuit’ including all three of the East African country’s national parks at Akagera, Nyungwe and Volcanoes, as well as Lake Kivu and the Capital Kigali.
Visitors are also choosing more experiences, such as kayaking, cycling and trekking, Visit Rwanda said.
RwandAir launched services from London Gatwick to Kigali on board new Airbus A330 last year.
Upcoming hotel openings include One & Only’s Nyungwe House in Nyungwe Park in October 2018 and Gorilla’s Nest in Volcanoes National Park in summer 2019.
Wilderness Safaris will unveil Magashi Camp in Akagera Park in December 2018 and Singita will open Kwitonda lodge in Volcanoes National Park in August 2019.
Renovations have been carried out at Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Volcanoes National Park.
Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, said: “We’re humbled to see so many more UK visitors head to Rwanda. We are a clean, green country with the friendliest people in Africa and some of the most beautiful scenery you can find on the continent.
“Rwanda has opened up in recent years, enabling visitors to explore our country safely and in comfort. We look forward to welcoming even more UK tourists as we unveil more attractions and accommodation in the coming months.”
{{Source:Travel Weekly}}
The trio handed their resignation letters to the District Council on Wednesday citing ‘personal reasons’.
The Chairperson of Nyagatare District Council, Chantal Atukunda Rukeba confirmed to IGIHE that they received the letters Wednesday mid-day.
“They cited personal reasons,” she said.
Asked whether there is no problem that pushed them to resign at once, Atukunde said that they consider what is in the letters and evaluate their resignations after.
“For us, as District council, we have to evaluate their resignations. There are no problems we can identify now. Tomorrow we will convene council members’ general meeting to examine the resignation,” she said.
She said that she will comment about the appointment of interim mayor after tomorrow’s council general meeting.
Eastern Province Governor, Fred Mufulukye told IGIHE that he also received the copies of the trio’s letters.
A source told IGIHE that Wednesday morning, the trio had reported to the Provincial Office.
The resignation in Nyagatare came four days after the same scenario in Bugesera District where all members of the Executive Committee resigned citing personal reasons.
According to {Newzimbabwe}, Chamisa made the statement on Saturday while addressing supporters at a campaign rally.
Chamisa was ICT minister in former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s government.
“Look what my brother Paul Kagame is doing for his country. I helped him on his ICT policy, on how to turn around the country when we met in Geneva, Switzerland and he was happy with my presentation,” he told supporters.
He told supporters that Kagame is doing a wonderful job for his country because he started his planning from a local level and, because of that, Rwanda has never been the same; it has changed completely.
Chamisa claimed that he knew Kagame through former Zimbabwe President Mugabe, who (Mugabe) told Kagame that the man belonged to Zanu PF, but later on Chamisa himself told Kagame that he belongs to MDC Party which was led by late Morgan Tsvangirai.
Through his Twitter Account, Kagame refuted Chamisa’s statements saying that he doesn’t know the man and added that Rwanda’s ICT transformation started before the existence of his political party.
“First my name is Kagame not kagama, Second, I don’t know this man and no discussion ever happened with him anywhere …Third, Rwanda’s ICT policy, projects and program started before MDC formation and politics! I wish the people of Zimbabwe well!” Kagame said.
Zimbabwe presidential and parliamentary elections are due in July 2018.
The move, according to Busingye, aims at efficiently providing good justice delivery.
Busingye announced this yesterday in Kigali while briefing the media about the ongoing reforms that are being carried out in the Judiciary.
Currently in Rwanda, there are Primary Courts, Intermediate Court, High Court and Supreme Court.
Busingye said that since 2004, they have been doing reforms as a way of combining resources and activities for better performance of the judiciary system.
“In the near future, we will establish a Court of Appeal which will stand between the High Court and Supreme Court to facilitate the judiciary in performing two major functions; handling many appeal cases. The Supreme Court will handle special cases like political, economic cases which have impact on the life of country and also handle other few appeal cases which might need expertise and thorough explanations in terms of laws and provide guidance to other courts and individuals,” he explained.
Busingye said that the merger of Primary Courts aims at combining resources without compromising the quality of service delivery.
He said that they also plan to introduce the Integrated Case Management System (IECMS) which is currently being used in courts into all Police Stations.
Busingye revealed this on Tuesday in a press conference following hot debates that followed Monday discussions on the draft law regulating firearms in Rwanda.
The law with 74 articles defines requirements for an individual person to do firearms business and how they can apply for license to possess a gun.
Different people questioned the law wondering whether it is necessary for Rwandans to possess firearms.
Busingye explained that the law had also been in place since 1979. He said that in the ongoing reforms being introduced in penal code to harmonise the laws with the Constitution of Rwanda as revised in 2015, the law regulating firearms has been also considered.
He said that the Law relating to Arms has been in place since 1979 and was revised in 1982, 2009 and is now under revision.
Busingye explained that the law is not popular because few people only use arms.
“These private security companies using arms are regulated by this law,” he said.
According to Busingye, under the law, for an individual person to possess guns, the process has been complicated to the extent that possibility is ‘about impossible’.
“In Rwanda, possessing, manufacturing, selling, proliferation of firearms and related substances in the law that was revised in 2009, despite security companies which have trained personnel, it is far more complicated for individuals to go through legal processes and fill all the requirements to possess a gun,” he explained.
He said that through the law, the process to acquisition of firearms has been tightened to the extent that Police Inspector General is the prime level to provide license of owning the arms and the highest level is cabinet.
“I would like to tell you that the process is getting tougher than before. People should not think that firearms will be sold in shops like sugar and salt,” he added.
The proposed law allows civilians to possess firearms for hunting, sports, or for self-defence purposes if they meet the conditions described in the law.
The law defines arms as firearms and their ammunition, grenade and other explosives used as arms as well as nuclear, biological, chemical or toxic weapons.
The financial results that were revealed on Tuesday indicate that institutions forming BK Group Plc which are Bank of Kigali, BK TecHouse and BK General Insurance earned Rwf9.7 billion profit before tax which marks a growth of 22.9% compared to the previous year.
BK Plc Executive officer, Dr Diane Karusisi said that Rwf6 billion of profit is interesting and matches their targets which had been promised to shareholders.
“Beside the Rwf6 billion of profit in the first quarter, we are expanding activities, loans were increased by 12%, meaning we are issuing increased loans compared to last year. The money goes to develop clients’ businesses and job creation among others, we are proud of that,” she said.
As at March 31st 2018, the bank served over 254,500 retail customers and over 24,000 corporate clients.
“We remain focused on sustainability and innovation to maintain our leadership position in the market. We recently launched our ‘SingombwaKashi’, an initiative to help the country achieve its goal of being a cashless economy by 2024,” she explained.
BK Chief Operations, Désiré Rumanyika said that through embracing technology, the bank will be able to raise loans.
Bank of Kigali Group Plc Board of Directors recently revealed that they intend to cross list the company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
