Kagame was speaking yesterday in New York, Unites States, while attending the screening of “Rwanda: The Royal Tour” documentary film. The documentary was premiered on Monday in Chicago.
On Tuesday evening, the documentary was screened at the legendary Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The event was attended by President Kagame accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame. Also present was the documentary’s creator, Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor.
Kagame and Greenberg engaged in a question-and-answer session with the audience after film’s screening.
Addressing a packed house at the Guggenheim, Kagame noted that “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be Peter Greenberg’s guide in this film and to show a wider audience what Rwanda has to offer”.
“The goal of tourism and conservation in Rwanda is not only to increase visitor and revenue numbers but also to ensure that the benefits are both sustainable and shared by all our people,” he added.
Greenberg said that it was a special opportunity for him to see Rwanda through the eyes of the president.
“What an amazing transformation Rwanda has had as a country, and what a special opportunity for me and my audience to see Rwanda through the eyes of its President,” he noted.
{{About the documentary}}
The film features Greenberg’s weeklong travels through Rwanda, led by President Kagame showcasing the visual diversity that Rwanda has to offer.
Together, the two went gorilla trekking through Volcanoes National Park, jet-skied in Lake Kivu, explored Nyungwe Forest National Park on an elevated canopy walkway, and saw a variety of wildlife during a safari through Akagera National Park.
In addition to being lauded for its natural attractions and wildlife – Rwanda is one of only three places where travellers can see the world’s 880 remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat – the country is also recognized as one of Africa’s most exciting new luxury travel destinations.
Rwanda is witnessing exponential growth in its tourism revenues from $200million in 2010 to above $400 million in 2016.
The documentary will be broadcasted on National Broadcaster, Rwanda Television on Friday at 7:00pm.
The documentary was presented by Peter Greenberg, an Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and one of America’s most recognized travel news journalists often referred to as “The Travel Detective”
The one hour documentary on a Royal Tour in Rwanda was presented yesterday with the presence of different guests.
Also present was the Rwanda Development Board, Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi.
A multiple Emmy-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter Greenberg is one of America’s most recognized, honored and respected travel experts.
President Kagame became the ultimate guide, showcasing the visual gems that Rwanda has to offer. Together, they went gorilla trekking through Volcanoes National Park, jet-skied in Lake Kivu, explored Nyungwe Forest National Park on an elevated canopy walkway and saw a variety of wildlife during on a safari through Akagera National Park.
The one hour documentary is the latest edition of the Royal Tour series, in which Peter journeys to a select country to offer audiences access to extraordinary locations, historic landmarks and cultural experiences, and gets guided by some of the most dynamic and powerful Heads of State around the World.
According to Bralirwa, after paying the tax of Rwf2.6 billion, the net profit was Rwf5,079 billion which marks an increase of 263.3% compared to the previous year.
This was revealed on Monday when Bralirwa was announcing its financial results for the period ended December 31st 2017.
The brewery’s results from operating activities increased by 21.3% driven by cost saving combined with operational efficiencies.
According to Bralirwa Vice Chairman of the Board and Managing Director, Victor Madiela, the total volume declined 12.4% due to the negative impact of pricing on both soft drinks and beer in what remains a competitive market.
He said that the organic revenue declined 2.8% mainly due to the reduced volume which was partially offset by a favourable mix.
Speaking in a press conference, Madiela said that the overall financial performance improved substantially compared to 2016.
“In 2017, overall financial performance improved substantially compared to 2016, despite the challenging business environment. Revenue management combined with a focus on cost savings as well as operational efficiencies and the benefit of lower finance costs, positively impacted the results. Furthermore, we are committed to returning top-line growth, whilst improving our operating margin and reducing debt,” he said.
He said that in 2017, Bralirwa’s volume and revenue remained under pressure. He explained in 2017, the revenue was 2.8% lower than 2016 due lower volume which declined 12.4%.
“Volume was adversely impacted by price increases in both soft drink and mainstream beer in August 2016 and January 2017 respectively. The market remains very competitive and consumer spending constrained,” he explained.
According to Bralirwa, in 2018, they expect to deliver top line growth.
“Consumer spending power is expected to remain constrained. However we expect to deliver top line growth in 2018, supported by our new products introduced in the market. Whilst cost pressures will continue to be challenging, further focus on cost management and reducing debt should enable margin improvement in 2018,” Madiela added.
As a family that depends on casual labour for a living, the situation changed from bad to worse because they had to spend more time with children, giving them special care.
It is in this situation that the husband decided to abandon the family and went to a neighboring country.
“My husband failed to cope up with the conditions of the children and abandoned us. He went to Uganda,” she tells this writer.
Currently, Mukayiranga has a family of four children which she fends for.
“Of course I try my best to raise them much as I am alone. Life is a rough journey which I must walk without the kids’ father,” she says.
“I consulted different hospitals, but ended up without getting them the services I needed. My child has mobility problems, he needs physiotherapy. I was using health insurance (Mutuelle de Sante) which the last hospital, Rilima in Bugesera , we were referred to rejected,” she said.
She said that for providing physiotherapy services to the elder child, Mukayiranga was requested to pay over Rwf2 million. As she could not afford such amount of money, Mukayiranga decided to take the child back home and wait for God’s miracles.
{{Cursed?}}
Pacifique Nibarere is another woman in Bumbogo Sector of Gasabo District who gave birth to a disabled child with a man whom they were yet to get married.
After discovering that the child had a disability, the man did not give her any support, rather he mistreated her.
“Not only did the man abuse me, but also both my family and his and the whole village rejected me saying that they can’t receive a disabled child. They were describing the child as a curse,” she said.
“Later, I got married to a different man. But his family also abused and insulted the man for marrying a woman who has a disabled child. There is a time when they said that the child could better die,” she added.
{{ Local leaders speak}}
The Bumbogo Sector Executive Secretary in Charge of Social Affairs, Marie Chantal Uwimana said that people with disabilities is a special category that the government takes care of.
She admits that some men abandon their wives who give birth to disabled children, yet they need all the physical and emotional support as their daily lives are intertwined in the not so ordinary activities.
“A family which has a disabled child does not get enough time to work as they always spend most of their time taking care of these children. They don’t go to work far from their homes, because they can’t leave the children alone,” she says.
“Most of the time when a family is vulnerable, the man abandons them and blames the woman to be responsible for the disability,” she says.
{{Efforts to curb the problem}}
A local non-government organization, Love With Actions, that works in Bumbogo Sector to help children from vulnerable families with disabilities, has started to advocate for children and help create opportunities for families with conflicts that arise as a result of bearing disabled children.
The Love With Actions Executive Director, Gilbert Kubwimana says that the organisation supports 17 children from 16 families in the sector.
He says that the organisation brings together parents who have disabled children and train them in making handicrafts.
“We brought together women who have disabled children and others from the community and train them in making handicrafts so that they get empowered to develop themselves and wean them off dependence on donations,” he explains.
He says that the NGO brings together family members with conflicts and trains them in ways of living peacefully and how they should treat children with disabilities.
“Three families which had erupting conflicts have been reconciled and today are living peacefully. This is a process that continues with regular visits and advising them so that they continue to understand shared responsibilities on a disabled child,” he explains.
The organisation also advocates for children’s medication and assistive tools like wheelchairs. Families are also supported into initiating economic activities, helping them graduate from poverty.
{{Efforts paying-off }}
After being supported by the organisation, one of Mukayiranga’s disabled children was taken in a Centre in Gahanga, Kicukiro District which cares for children with disabilities. She said that Love With Actions continues to advocate and seeking funds for the child’s medication.
She says that after taking the elder child from home, she was relieved both physically and emotionally as she manages to fend for the whole family.
Another mother, Nibarere, says her child who has bowed legs was taken to Ririma Hospital in Bugesera where he is awaiting operation.
“After being operated, he will go back home and go to school like other children. He has value as other children,” she said.
After being linked to the organisation, her family has also realized that the child is a human being.
“The NGO restored the hope of mothers with disabled children. We got together and formed a savings group and do different projects that support our families’ livelihoods. We are thankful,” she appreciates.
Bumbogo Sector Executive Secretary in Charge of Social Affairs, Uwimana says that the government does not have enough resources to support all disabled people. She hails partners for programmes that change lives of families for the better.
“The government supports persons with disabilities, but we can’t afford all; what they need, when we get partners, they facilitate us in the betterment of their lives, “she said.
The problem of men abandoning their families is not limited to Gasabo District alone as another local organization; Shalom Community Organisation working in Rubavu District has a group of seven women who were abandoned by their husbands after giving birth to disabled children.
The head of the organization, Jean Paul Mukunzi says that children with disabilities and their mothers face discrimination.
“As a way to help these women and children, we advocate for them and be given wheelchairs among other necessities. We also organize healing and social cohesion training which facilitate them to understand how they treat children with disabilities,” he said.
In general, Mukunzi says that there are different children with disabilities hidden in families. He said that poverty also contribute in parting the families.
{{Council of Persons with disabilities speak}}
Speaking to IGIHE, the President of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Romalis Niyomugabo says that the root cause of men abandoning women should not be linked to disabled children.
He says that families may have conflicts and women take the disabled child as the root cause for separation.
“We ask local government authorities and the council’s officials at local level, to investigate the cause of the problem. In any case we ensure that the right of the child is ensured as any other child,” he said.
He says that when they establish that family conflicts affect the rights of the disabled child, the council intervenes.
{{MIGEPROF aware of the problem}}
In a telephone interview with IGIHE, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Esperance Nyirasafari said that they are aware of the problem.
She said that when she visited a centre providing medical services to children with disabilities in Rusizi District, women told her about the problem.
“When I visited Centre des Handicapes Saint Francois d’Assise in Rusizi, women told me about the problem. Most of the time when a new born has disabilities, they become a woman’s child, no man can take them to the centre for medical care and abandon them,” she explained.
“We encourage men to take children as their responsibilities. Abandoning children is bad behavior. Problems should be addressed in partnership by the whole family,” she explained.
{{New programme to support families with persons with disabilities in offing}}
According to Nyirasafari, the government, through the Ministry of Local Governance (MINALOC) is planning to help vulnerable families through social protection programmes.
“There is a project in MINALOC where we plan to provide jobs to people whose families have persons with disabilities. In this project, they will be given jobs close to their homes and earn money to support their livelihoods,” she said.
She encourages women who have such cases to report them to officials and help them track their husbands.
Sendahangarwa was speaking yesterday in a meeting on the role of Islam in Fostering Peace.
The meeting was organized by ‘Fondation Mohamed VI des Ouléma Africains’, an organization that was founded by Morocco King, Mohamed VI.
The organization aims at fighting radicalism and bad image, tarnishing Islam.
Speaking in the meeting, Sendahangarwa said that radicalism is not a new thing in Rwanda’s territory as the genocide against the Tutsi was caused by radicalism.
“In the past 25 years, Rwanda underwent extreme radicalism which resulted into genocide. The post genocide government invested many efforts to teach, so that they end radicalism among Rwandans,” he said.
He said that they encountered other radicalism cases in 2014, which was totally different from the previous.
He said that they were stunned by radicalism which was arising especially in the churches.
“We saw people from different churches which denied to register for National Identity Card, others milking cows down saying that their beliefs don’t allow them to drink milk or others cutting down crops from their farms,… it was quiet unbelievable. In 2015, many people had developed such behaviors until some of them started going to organize from neighboring countries,” he said.
Security forces intervened to counter terrorism and arrested people who were involved and shot others dead who were trying to fight back them.
He said that invested efforts paid-off and discouraged radicalism to the extent that some people who were planning to involve changed their mindsets.
“Currently, the situation returned in normal. There is no more threat. The group that had such beliefs was arrested and others stopped,” he said.
The head of Fondation Mohamed VI des Ouléma Africains Rwanda, Sheikh Moussa Sindayigaya said that the organization wants to encourage youth teach youth in how to analyse content they acquire from internet.
He said that the majority of youth which had radicalism behaviors had acquired them from internet and assumed them without critical analysis.
“Not all internet content are genuine, people should use internet when they are capable to analyse what to acquire from there,” he said.
He said that radicalism and terrorism should not be regarded as the case of Muslims, but as a problem of concern Worldwide.
“Every Church can be used in the interest of the founder of the terror group. When the group is formed in a country where the majority is Muslims, the group will say that they are fighting for the interests of Muslims, immediately they will get supporters because people love their religions,” he explained.
The President of National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Bishop John Rucyahana urged religious organization heads to found their beliefs on the culture than the church.
“Churches should not be the root cause of parting ourselves, but they should be facilitating us in nurturing humanity,” he said.
Without revealing the numbers, Sendahangarwa said that there are Rwandans who joined terror groups like Al Shabab and ISIS through neighbor countries. In 2017, Police revealed that the courts had 46 cases of radicalism.
Speaking to National Broadcaster, RBA, Mutimura said that some university lecturers use English as a medium of instruction in which they are not fluent.
“We want to show lecturers that they are the basis of students’ education. Students say that they don’t know English because of their lecturers; they don’t have speaking skills and use it inadequately. That is why we are discussing with university officials so that in the future, for a lecturer to start teaching in University they should first pass English test,” he said.
He said that the test will be done at National level to enable lecturers acquire English writing and speaking skills.
According to Mutimura, the move will help address the challenge of students who graduate without English usage skills needed on the job market.
The new move follows a resolution from February 2018 National Leaders Retreat which recommended promotion of quality education including the teaching of English language in all university courses.
Commenting on the resolution, Mutimura said for the quality of education to be enhanced; students and teachers should well understand the basics of English language.
In Nyamagabe, former Gikongoro Commune, over 50,000 Tutsi from different regions were brutally killed.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of National Commission for the Fight Against the Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana explained that the killing of Tusti in Gikongoro had been planned before, the attacks of 1963 which were referred as Inyenzi attacks.
By explaining the plan, Bizimana referred to the letter by former Prefect Andre Nkeramugaba. The letter dated December 17th 1963 was urging the bourgoumestre in Gikongoro to kill the Tutsi.
He said that they will preserve Murambi Genocide memorial forever.
The mass killing in Gikongoro took place on April 21st in 1994.
“To pay respect to the Tutsi killed here at Murambi, we will preserve this memorial site forever. Let us remember them and others who were massacred on this day in neighboring areas like Karama where over 30,000 Tutsi were slain,” he said.
In her testimony, Claudette Uwimana, a Genocide Survivor who was in S4 when the Genocide against the Tutsi begun, recalled the persecutions she endured before the 1994.
“We were always asked to stand up in classes on ethnic lines; and tortured by our Hutu colleagues,” she said.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of Parliament, Donatilla Mukabalisa said that they should not always remember bad history only but also remember the history of people who contributed in saving Tutsi who were being killed during the genocide.
“This country was led by bad leaders who had no humanity at heart but characterized by cultivating hatred among people and calling them to kill their Tutsi neighbors,” she said.
Murambi Genocide memorial was formerly a Technical School where French Soldiers disguising under Operation Turquoise were based and contributed in the execution of the genocide.
Kabarebe was speaking Friday while launching the RDF Citizen Outreach Programme in Nyabihu.
In the district, Kabarebe joined residents in planting Irish potatoes on the surface of eight hectares of consolidated land and 20 hectares for seeds multiplication in Muringa Sector of Nyabihu Ditrict.
The president of COIBAMU Cooperative hailed the programme saying that they expect Rwf150 million of profit from the partnership with army-led activities.
“We are happy to welcome these activities in Muringa Sector. This is a big opportunity from which we expect to harvest 500 metric tonnes valued at Rwf150 million,” he said.
Defence Minister Kabarebe said that the army and the government in general strive for welfare of people through food security.
“Rwandan army has the responsibilities of people’s development and ensuring national security. When people are starving and are unable to pay for health insurance (Mutuelle de sante), it means they do not have security; when people are wallowing in poverty, it means they don’t have security. Security goes beyond fighting the enemy,” he explained.
“That is why in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, we came to partner with this cooperative to increase production so that they will serve the market. They will be able to pay children’s school fees and health insurance as well as doing other income generating activities. That is the real security and peace of the country which Rwandan army wants people to enjoy,” he said.
This year’s RDF Citizen Outreach Programme which will last until July will provide free medical services to 113,000 patients, construct 1,961 houses, 121 classrooms and 108 school pit latrines for the vulnerable in selected areas, improve health and sanitation and conducting agricultural activities on 4,511 hectares of land.
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame attended the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.
A Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Communiqué says that Heads of States welcomed and accepted Rwanda’s offer to host the next meeting.
“The Heads of state and Government welcomed and accepted the offer of the President of Rwanda to host the next meeting in 2020. They also welcomed the offer of Samoa to host the 2022 CHOGM,” reads the communiqué.
The Rwanda gathering will be the 26th CHOGM.
In a tweet, the UK news agency, BBC, has said that Rwanda beat Fiji.
{{Rwanda welcomes the meeting}}
Commenting on the decision, the State Minister in in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe said that Rwanda is humbled to host the meeting.
“Rwanda is humbled by the confidence and trust that Commonwealth Heads of State and Government have placed in us to host the 2020 CHOGM, nine years after our admission in this Commonwealth,” he told IGIHE.
Rwanda was admitted as a member of Commonwealth in 2009 in the meeting that was held in Trinidad and Tobago.
“It’s a honour for Rwanda, especially as we are the youngest member of this community. This shows the trust in our ability to host this summit. But it is also a testimony of our quick integration in the Commonwealth. Moreover, this can be an opportunity for Rwandans to better know this organisation, its shared values and activities,” he added.
Based on different summits like the recent AU extraordinary summit Rwanda hosted, Nduhungirehe is optimistic that the CHOGM will be successfully hosted.
“Are you doubting it? Didn’t we just successfully host an extraordinary AU Summit of 55 member states? What would be different in hosting a CHOGM of 53 member states?” he mused.
CHOGM is a biennial meeting of heads of government from all Commonwealth nations.
Every two years, the meeting is held in a different member state chaired by nation’s respective Prime Minister or President who becomes the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office until the next meeting.
Twenty four years after the genocide, Kigali city is recognized by many as a monument to modernity. Where there was destruction and poignant hurt, you now discover peaceful areas with a vibrant undercurrent.
Even in the previous years, no one could deny the pristine and reserved beauty of Kigali City. Several parts like Kacyiru, or Kabuga charmed many with its uniform architecture, where they would leave Kigali, telling the story of a “luminous, musical city, as optimistic and welcoming as any in Africa”.
At present, new skyscrapers and office blocks have been built, many roads have been widened and adorned with tarmac, and public spaces are meticulously maintained by professional gardeners.
A lot of emphasis has been on boosting business. From 20 business people in 1909 to more than 6000 in 1962, Kigali went overboard in the business sector in a very short span of time.
The City of Kigali has huge potential in terms of its growth trend, tourist arrivals, infrastructure development, growing financial sector and other aspects that strengthen investor confidence.
Besides, Rwanda is safe, secure, and one of the most investor-friendly economies in the region, which facilitated Kigali in marketing itself as a top meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination. This in turn, landed some of the biggest conferences in the region, including the World Economic Forum, African Union Summits, Global Africa Investment Summit, and others.
By hosting these big events, Kigali brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, global leaders and other high calibre people who are key-persons in the future growth of the nation.
The government’s efforts succeeded in making Kigali the go-to city for regional conferences and a high tech hub in the Continent.
Also, grand Hotels like Sky Hotel, Mabara Umubano, in Kacyiru, Hôtel des Milles Collines, Hôtel des Diplomates and Rebero Horizon, adorn the city like gems. Moreover, recent ones like Marriott Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre gave the city its authentic essence of an optimistic and welcoming nation.
Although Rwandans still remember the 1994 genocide against Tutsis, with tears in their eyes and tell of terrible suffering and loss. No one wants to forget, and no one will. The desire to construct a more positive and united future forged the city to the fabulous home of modernity it now is.
