Here below is a Joint Communiqué on the Occasion of President Kagame’s Official visit to Uganda
1. At the invitation of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, paid a one-day Official Visit to Uganda on March 25, 2018. His Excellency President Paul Kagame was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community and other Senior Government Officials.
2. The two Heads of State held Official Talks at State House, Entebbe in a cordial and friendly atmosphere on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
3. Their Excellencies noted the existing bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to strengthen them further. In this regard, they reviewed cooperation particularly in the sectors of railway and air transport as well as electricity interconnection.
4. The two Heads of States observed that the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) between the two countries provides a good mechanism for discussing matters of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation. They therefore directed their Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs to convene the next JPC within three months.
5. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni congratulated His Excellency President Paul Kagame, the Government and people of Rwanda on the successful hosting of the historic African Union Extra Ordinary Summit in Kigali on March 21, 2018 during which the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons were signed.
6. The two Heads of State reiterated their commitment to the economic integration of Africa, accelerating industrialization, development of regional and continental infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of the peoples of Africa. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni commended His Excellency President Paul Kagame, in his capacity as current Chair of the African Union, for his leadership.
7. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Paul Kagame for honouring his invitation and for the fruitful discussions they held. His Excellency President Paul Kagame, on his part, expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Government and people of the Republic of Uganda for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during the visit.
8. His Excellency President Paul Kagame extended an invitation to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni to pay a State Visit to the Republic of Rwanda. The invitation was gladly accepted and the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
The talks between the two leaders are expected to ease tension between Rwanda and Uganda; considering the frosty relations between the two neighbors in the recent past.
Some of the dignitaries present in the meeting were Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community, Louise Mushikiwabo; Secretary General at the national intelligence and security services (NISS), Maj. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita; Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage and Principal Private Secretary to the President, Lt. Col. Patrick Karuretwa.
The visit comes a few days after a historic signing of the African Free Trade Area pact in Kigali, an event that President Museveni skipped and was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa.
The two governments have at different times accused each of other of supporting dissidents from the other country and espionage, among others.
Although in a recent press conference, Foreign Affairs Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, said that the problems between Rwanda and Uganda were being addressed in the interest of citizens of both countries.
“We cannot mistreat Ugandans, they are our relatives, we share a lot; we share history, we share blood. Many Ugandans are our relatives. To us that is very important.” she said.
The meeting is a follow up on the Addis Ababa talks of February, whose aim, included to find a solution to the tensions between the two countries.
The event took place at U.S. Embassy and three women were selected from over one thousand nominations submitted by U.S. Embassy Kigali’s Facebook fans.
Awarded at the fourth annual Rwandan Women of Courage award are; Leonne Laura Uwizihiwe, Vanessa Bahati and Esperence Gasore.
Since 2007, the U.S. State Department in Washington, DC has presented International Women of Courage awards to inspiring women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for human rights, social justice, and women’s equality and advancement.
In 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Kigali launched the “Rwanda’s Women of Courage,” to recognize inspiring women of Rwanda.
{{About the Awardees}}
{{Leonne Laura Uwizihiwe}} is a teacher and an advocate for gender equality. She has been a strong advocate for girls’ empowerment through mentoring students at the FAWE school, petitioning the government to provide social services to keep teen mothers in school, and campaigning against female genital mutilation across the region.
{{Vanessa Bahati }} is the founder of the Jordan Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the lives of visually impaired children between the ages of three and eight years old. The Jordan Foundation helps visually impaired children and their families thrive by offering health and educational services, emotional support, and socioeconomic empowerment.
{{Esperence Gasore}} is a nurse and founder of the NGO Rwanda Children and director of Rwanda Children’s Health Center. The Rwanda Children’s Health Center provides health services to poor and vulnerable families in Ntarama. Rwanda Children also provides social support to the community through education and entrepreneurship programs, clean water programs, and incoming generating skills programs.
Since 2015, 13 women of courage have been recognized by the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda.
According to a statement released by the African Union Commission, President Paul Kagame announced the support in Kigali yesterday during a meeting, with President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, the Chairperson of the Commission, and the Executive Secretary of the G5 Sahel, Maman Sidiko.
The meeting took place on sidelines of the Extraordinary Summit on the Continental Free Trade Area which took place on Wednesday.
“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, wishes to commend President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Chairperson of the African Union, for his country’s contribution of one million US dollars in support of the operationalisation of the G5 Sahel joint force,” the statement reads.
Mahamat stressed that the contribution is a strong expression of solidarity with the G5 Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism and organized crime.
Also, Rwanda pledged to provide in-kind support.
The statement says that the financial contribution will be immediately available.
“The Chairperson of the Commission seizes this opportunity to appeal to member states to extend support to the G5 countries,” reads the statement.
The Sahel region is facing political instability involving a combination of rebellions, jihadist insurgencies, coups d’état, protest movements and illegal trafficking.
Nyirasafari was speaking yesterday to the Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights and Petitions in the Senate.
In August 2016, Catholic Church banned all artificial contraceptives in affiliated health facilities saying that they negatively impact lives of users. However they urged for natural family planning control measures.
Nyirasafari said that Churches should understand that family planning is in the benefit of the country, and, whoever sees it to the contrary is not building the nation.
Senator Jean Damascène Ntawukuriryayo said the government has the power to change mindsets of the Catholic Church.
“These are partners who should change mindsets, the government should discuss with them so that they will understand the problem,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Nyirasafari urged Catholic Church community to choose ways which are better for them as the government encourages citizens to have children they are able to take care of.
Dubbed ‘Young Africa Works’, the project has two initiatives which are ‘Hanga Ahazaza’ with $50 million to promote economic opportunities, businesses and tourism, and ‘Leaders in Teaching’ which aims at teachers’ capacity building.
Speaking at the launch of the five-year project, MasterCard Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Reeta Roy said that the initiatives are the beginning of organization’s new strategy focused on youth employment.
“There has never been a more consequential time to come of age in Africa. Young people today are growing up with better access to education, health, technology and opportunities undreamed of by their grandparents and parents. It’s amazing to behold,” she said.
“A job is about so much more than money. It’s about dignity. When people have the dignity of work, they are invested in the future,” she added.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Prime Minister, Dr. Eduard Ngirente said that the new Pan-African strategy marks a new partnership between the Government of Rwanda and MasterCard Foundation.
“I am honored privileged to witness the launch of this new MasterCard Foundation Strategy. As it has been explained, this strategy has two significant initiatives: {To develop tourism and hospitality industry, and to improve quality of secondary education.} The initiatives are in line with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation which was launched last year,” he said.
“In this National Strategy that aims at taking Rwanda beyond high income to high living standards by 2050, tourism and improved quality of education are among key priorities,” he added.
He said Rwandan Government appreciated the new initiative which is also aligned with the Africa’s broader transformation agenda as planned in the Africa Agenda 2063.
He promised Rwanda’s support to ensure the new partnership will remain strong and fruitful.
With $50 million Hanga Ahazaza Initiative, 30,000 people in tourism will be trained in ICT, good services delivery and access to finance services by small businesses.
The Leaders in Teaching Initiative will help to train teachers and school head teachers and over 250 students from secondary school will benefit from the initiative through Smart Classroom Programme.
Ms. Kyte was in Kigali for the three-day Sustainable Energy Forum for East Africa 2018 that kicked off on Monday.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Tuesday, Kyte hailed the East African (EA) countries’ efforts towards providing universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy to their populations as set out in goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that must be achieved by the year 2030.
She, however, noted that EA’s 25% energy access is still among the lowest in the world because it started from a low base and urged the EA countries to set aggressive targets and to move at the highest speed to ensure that energy access goal is achieved earlier because it is a precondition for other goals to be achieved by 2030.
Kyte said there isn’t any reason the region cannot achieve the goal considering its energy resources and technical potentials, calling for contribution of all stakeholders including governments, development partners, private sector, civil society and every citizen.
{ {{Below are interview’s excerpts:
}} }
{{IGIHE: How do you perceive the state of renewable energy in the East African region and Rwanda in particular compared to other parts of the world?}}
{{Kyte:}} There is good news and bad news for East Africa. The good news is that there is abundant renewable energy in the region: hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, everything. There has been incredible innovation in East Africa particularly in helping low income people participate in economy. So the advance of using business models with renewable energy started in East Africa to inspire the world. The other part of the good news is that the East African countries are making incredible progress including in renewable energy sector in closing energy access gaps.
The bad news is that there is still a very long way to go. East Africa started the journey from a low base. It is still one of the parts of the world where energy access gap is the largest. We are not yet where we need to be, we need to move at big speed and scale to achieve the sustainable development goal 7. By energy access gap, I’m talking about one billion people in the world who do not have access to electricity, three billion people worldwide who don’t have access to the technology and fuels to cook cleanly.
The goal is to achieve universal energy access by 2030. In East Africa, the access is at 25%; so we have got a long way to go. It is however important to note that having energy access is important, but it is more important of what you can do with it.
{{What are the issues impeding effective development and use of renewable energy in this region and Rwanda in particular?
}}
When we think of sustainable energy, we think of three things happening at the same time. Energy system must be more efficient; so we have to use less power to do things. Secondly, we have universal access, everybody should have access. Thirdly, the energy mix should be cleaner; so there is need for more renewable energy.
In this forum, we are talking about what the East African governments can do to set more aggressive targets for energy efficiency and to improve the regulations and standards across the region. If East Africa has the same standards, that creates a bigger market for the private sector. Secondly, we are talking about what works for attracting investors in renewable energy for both the grid and off-grid. Thirdly, there is a lot of conversation about off-grid energy systems providing cheaper access to those people who do not have access. People in isolated areas, it is more likely that they will get affordable and reliable power from off-grid solutions like mini-grid or solar home systems.
Underpinning those three things is finance. Is finance available? Are the local banks lending enough into energy sector in particular to off-grid? Are the financial institutions supporting this sector enough? What can governments do? All this is being discussed.
{{What do you think of Rwanda’s higher focus on off-grid to achieve energy access by 2024?
}}
First of all, Rwanda has made incredible progress. When I first came to Rwanda (in 2008), people were talking aspirationally about Methane Gas from Kivu, about hydros on paper, about extending the grid, solar was an aspiration. Rwanda has now come a long way in a very short time. About grid or off grid, the leading countries in the world think about energy systems in an integrated way. So, there is no either or. There must be the grid, it must be as smart as possible, has to be efficient with no transmission losses, it has to be clean. And there must be mini-grids, solar, etc. So the consumer will choose what is better for them, but all must be made efficient and affordable. If the price is coming down, people can choose either grid or off-grid.
{{What do you think can make energy affordable to the most vulnerable people in East Africa?
}}
We are lucky that the energy technology has dropped in prices, at least by 75% in the last seven years. Prices of batteries for solar home systems have also dropped by 75%. There are many projects spreading solar home systems to rural communities here in Rwanda and government can step in with development partners to help set the prices affordable to the most vulnerable. We are even now looking at how we can provide renewable energy to displaced people, to refugee camps in countries like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania because they host very large numbers of displaced people, the most vulnerable people in society.
The advance of technology makes it possible for the most vulnerable people to have access to power for, first, lighting and charging phones, then, to add appliances like television, refrigerators, etc; all this is thought about as a step towards economic prosperity and how to cook cleanly in a sustainable way. Here in Rwanda, you have got people who are innovating business models the rest of the world is looking at. For example, pellets for cooking. So, here in Rwanda, some of the things the world thinks can be solutions are happening, so it makes East Africa quite special.
About prices, it is good to understand what people can pay, to understand the market, understand what people will use energy for. Traditionally elsewhere in Africa, the focus was on subsidising the utility to make it very cheap perhaps cheaper than what can make the energy sustainable, only going for grid but without any support to off-grid. It is up to governments to balance grid and off-grid to give people access, not just rolling out the grid. It is about how the government approaches the problem because if energy is not affordable, people will not use it.
There is another issue; this is not an issue in Rwanda but it is an issue in other countries in East Africa: the social cost of dirty energy. Countries may not count the cost to their health systems, costs on people with respiratory diseases because of dirty energy. The good thing with renewable energy is that it does not pose those risks; it does not affect the way people breathe. So, by cutting off those costs, renewable energy becomes much cheaper.
{{What do you find as available potentials and opportunities that regional countries can exploit to develop their energy sector?
}}
EAC as a bloc can create a big market if members come together and will make it easier to achieve their goals. Governments should educate local financial institutions on supporting energy sector. The region has great solar capacity, great wind capacity, great geothermal capacity, hydro capacity and potential bio-fuels, the region has everything.
{{What should the regional governments do to provide affordable and sustainable energy to their populations?}}
For the families in the lowest income boundaries, it is the state’s responsibility to make sure the access to energy is established because that access will help with the family’s health, in the children’s education, etc; it is in the state’s interests. The poorest segment in the society can receive some assistance in paying electricity bills to maintain access; they can get subsidised on healthcare, meals, clean cook stoves and fuels.
{{Which role can private sector, civil society and each citizen play in the process?
}}
First of all, this region is ahead of many regions in the world in creativity and innovation, in private sector and civil society organisations (CSO) activities. So, you have got plenty of innovations providing energy services. The role of CSO is to keep government honest, to demand clean, affordable and reliable energy; to demand that the area is clean. Private sector needs a regulatory environment that allows investment to flow domestically from foreigners; good regulatory regime without changing tariffs; good subsidies, procurement regimes, etc. Private sector has to sell good products and government must ensure that the consumer is protected. When the three are together, there is no reason this region cannot meet its targets.
We believe that governments should set the targets for themselves to achieve universal energy access goal before 2030 because if you don’t meet the target, that means you don’t have healthcare, your education systems are not working well. So, we think countries should set targets to achieve energy access early because it is a precondition for the other goals to be achieved.
{{As the UN SG’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All, what’s your message to the region?
}}
My message is that there a lot of good things happening in the region, a lot of things that are working but we are not there yet; we need speed, we don’t need anyone behind. This region has the resource, has technical capacity to ensure that it doesn’t leave anyone behind. I now encourage everybody to check their ambition, to ensure that their ambition is high enough because I don’t think there is any reason this region cannot catch up and overtake the rest of the world.
The project is the first phase of 120-kilometer Ngoma-Nyanza road. Another phase of 66-kilometers Kibugabuga- Gasoro road was funded by World Bank at a cost of Rwf70 billion.
While signing the loan agreement this Thursday in Kigali, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete said that the government has earmarked all the required money to construct the whole Ngoma-Nyanza road (From Ngoma District in Eastern Province to Nyanza District of Southern Province).
“Today, the budget is available. Thee next activity is the construction works and I hope that the project will be completed within two years,” he said.
The Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Guy Kalisa said that they are well prepared to start construction works as the expropriation process also gets underway. He said there are 68 households yet to be relocated.
He said that construction works will start by next fiscal year.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Rwanda Chief Representative, Takada Hiroyuki said that the project has many benefits for people of Eastern and Southern Provinces and will link Rwanda with regional countries.
“The Ramiro-Ngoma road is expected to ease transportation of goods from different parts of the country to Kigali City and elsewhere. It will also help with integration in Africa as Heads of States have signed the Continental Free Trade Area agreements,” he said.
Japan has also financed other country’s projects like 92km Kayonza-Rusumo road which is under rehabilitation and expansion and Rusumo Bridge linking Rwanda and Tanzania and the construction of One Stop Boarder Post offices.
The agreement has been signed Wednesday in Kigali during the 10th African Union Extraordinary Summit.
At the summit the Heads of State signed the legal instruments of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Kigali Protocol and Free Movement Protocol.
All the 44 countries signed the AfCFTA, among them 43 signed Kigali Declaration while 27 only signed Protocol on Free Movement of People.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat urged African countries to sign the protocols saying that there is no time for hesitation among member States.
“I therefore call on all Member States to sign and ratify the Free Trade Area Agreement without delay. Our ambition must be to ensure its implementation before the end of this year,” he said.
In his address while opening the summit, President Paul Kagame and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) said that creating African market will benefit partners around the World and will better position the continent to leverage strengths and unity to secure rightful interests in the international arena.
“The advantages we gain by creating one African market will also benefit our trading partners around the world, and that is a good thing. At the same time, we will be in a better position to leverage our growing strength and unity to secure Africa’s rightful interests in the international arena,” Kagame told different Heads of States in the summit.
Kagame said that the promise of free trade and free movement is prosperity for all Africans as they are prioritising the production of value-added goods and services that are “Made in Africa”.
He noted that the act is not just a signing ceremony as deliberations are critically important along charting the next steps on continent’s journey towards the Africa we want.
{{Objectives of the CFTA}}
CFTA aims at creating a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union.
Also the market aims at expanding intra African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade liberalization and facilitation regimes and instruments across RECs and across Africa in general.
The move is expected also to resolve the challenges of multiple and overlapping memberships and expedite the regional and continental integration processes.
According to the AU, the market also enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploiting opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
Kagame who is also the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) was speaking this Wednesday while opening the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union.
The Summit aimed at signing the agreement establishing Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Today’s agenda is to adopt the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, and the Kigali Declaration, which expresses our unity in moving our continent forward,” Kagame said.
Taken together, these are surely to be counted among the most consequential actions that this Assembly has ever taken, he said.
The Continental Free Trade Area process was led by Niger President, Mahamadou Issoufou.
Kagame reminded that the Continental Free Trade Area is the culmination of a vision set forth nearly 40 years ago in the Lagos Plan of Action, adopted by Heads of State in 1980.
The undertaking, he said led directly to the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community in 1991.
“We continue to be guided by the foundational principles and detailed implementation roadmap that were laid down in those instruments,” he said.
Kagame said that among the most important guidelines is the pre-eminent role of Regional Economic Communities. He said they have been the model and the engine for Africa’s economic integration and they will continue to be.
He reminded that trade agreements cover many complex details. Behind the scenes, Commission staff, ministers, and technical experts put in countless days and nights of hard work. “This effort has paid off and we thank you,”
“What is at stake is the dignity and well-being of Africa’s farmers, workers, and entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth,” he noted.
Kagame said that the promise of free trade and free movement is prosperity for all Africans as they are prioritising the production of value-added goods and services that are “Made in Africa”.
“The advantages we gain by creating one African market will also benefit our trading partners around the world, and that is a good thing. At the same time, we will be in a better position to leverage our growing strength and unity to secure Africa’s rightful interests in the international arena,” Kagame told different Heads of States in the summit.
He noted that the act is not just a signing ceremony as deliberations are critically important along charting the next steps on continent’s journey towards the Africa we want.
At the summit different Heads of States and Governments signed and ratified the agreement.
