Mugambage said that they asked for the explanations about the armed group operating in Uganda with ambition to oust the government of Rwanda.
The call for clarifications followed different abduction acts against Rwandans doing businesses in Uganda.
Among them include, René Rutagungira who was kidnapped in Kampala in August.
A fortnight ago, another Rwandan Fidèle Gatsinzi was reported arrested by people clad in military fatigues suspected to be working for Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI) and Rwanda knows nothing of his whereabouts until now.
Speaking to IGIHE this week, Amb. Mugambage confirmed the crisis in diplomatic relations between both countries adding that they are seeking the solution. He said that Rwanda has started acting on the problem.
“Our desire in Rwandan politics is for tighten relations with other countries, be our neighbors, the region and Africa. Rwanda does all the best to tie good relations. Sure, crisis is there resulting from arrests and other activities against the development of our country but we are working on it,” he explained.
In September, different media houses from the region wrote that three Rwandans identified as James Bayingana, Lando Ali Nsekanabo, Vianney Byaruhanga Nduwamungu were arrested by CMI from Bukasa region and were held incommunicado at Mbuya prison during the period of three months.
Mugambage said, following different acts of provocation, the government of Rwanda has written to the Government of Uganda asking them clarification about arrests of Rwandans and the armed group operating from there.
“We always look for good relations but people continue to hamper its development. We have to ask them the reason behind as there is no clear reason we know till now. We want this problem to be clarified. We have written asking clarifications, we are waiting to hear from them,” he said.
Rwandans working from Uganda continue to raise anxiety about their security over the rising relations crisis between both countries.
The suspension follows the outbreak of Kaba (Listriosis) disease in South Africa.
According to medicalnewstoday.com, Listeriosis is a food-borne infection caused by Listeria bacteria. The majority of people who become infected might barely notice the illness. However, those at risk can be severely affected and mortality rates are relatively high.
In a statement released on Tuesday, MINAGRI referred to the decision by the South African health ministry’s notice issued on December 12 confirming that they have the disease in the country. The statement also followed one of their neighboring country, Botswana, which was cautioning South Africa on the disease.
Studies have revealed that 36 out of 557 infected people died in South Africa. The disease is most appearing in Gauteng at 62% and Western Cape at 17%.
Listeriosis, also called Listeria, can be a serious infection; it strikes pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
The initial symptoms of listeriosis might not become apparent for some time; the incubation period is variable and can be anything from 11-70 days after consuming Listeria contaminated food.
These symptoms include muscle aches, fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhea and for many people the infection spreads to the nervous system and the symptom will be headache, confusion, stiff neck, tremors and convulsions, and loss of balance among others.
For animals with listeriosis, they lose foetus and lead to abortion or give birth to a stillborn. They also suffer from paralysis of one side of the face like eyes, nostrils, mouth and ear dropping.
“Based on these reasons, Minister of agriculture and animal resources informs the general public, government institutions, security agencies in the country, from borders, at the airport and people going outside the country that meat, milk and related products, vegetables and fruits dealership from South Africa are suspended till further notice,” reads MINAGRI statement in part.
MINAGRI calls herders and veterinaries to take animals with such symptoms to the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) to put them under their care.
The Ministry assures that they will continue to monitor the developments on the disease from South Africa, Africa and around the world.
According to the local media in Uganda Dr Ruvuma who teaches at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and studied from Rwanda’s Butare University (Medicine Faculty) was asked by the church warden that some people outside wanted to have a chart with him.
Media reports further revealed that when he went out the men who were waiting for him swiftly forced him into a vehicle which drove off to an unknown destination.
The move left the crowd in shock as the doctor left his personal belongings in the church.
According to highly placed sources, Dr Ruvuma is likely to be charged with “human trafficking” following the arrest over 40 Rwandan refugees as they travelled from Uganda to Burundi via Tanzania.
It’s alleged some members of the church participated in the trip which was blocked by Police.
The Rwandan refugees, who said they were heading for a Christian Crusade in Burundi, had crossed into Tanzania before being pursued by Ugandan police and returned to Isingiro, Uganda.
Officials say the arrest has shocked many in security as Dr Ruvuma is a brother of Lt Col Gideon Katinda, the Judge Advocate of the Army Court Martial which is currently prosecuting police officers and Rwandan nationals accused of kidnap and harassment of Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
However other sources said the refugees where headed to RNC training camps via Burundi
The two-day dialogue, locally known as Umushyikirano, opened on Monday bringing together over 200 Rwandans, including central and local government officials, business actors, civil society, other members of the Rwandan community and diplomats.
Participants had different discussions that revolved around three topics which are; the National Strategy for Transformation, Values for Prosperity and the Youth at the Centre of Transformation.
Presenting the State of the Nation at the opening of Umushyikirano, Kagame said the general development has been registered in different sectors of the country’s life.
The meeting came up with eight resolutions under four areas which are education, health, economy and culture.
Kagame was speaking at the 15th National Dialogue Council, locally known as Umushyikirano, which was ended on Tuesday.
The Head of State said that the two-day dialogue had been a productive, thanking participants s for their time and ideas.
“I hope you agree with me that this Umushyikirano has been productive. I thank you for contributing your time and ideas,” he said.
Kagame said that they discussed about values for prosperity which are worthwhile.
“Let me emphasize a few important points which have more value. All we do, we work for Rwandans. These values cover some elements like serving, respecting and listening to citizens, fighting corruption and abuse of office,” he said.
“These values also include using public resources effectively by avoiding their use in personal interests. We should also treat every Rwandan equally and give women and girls the respect they deserve in particular,” he said.
Kagame stressed the alarming drug abuse, saying that it is an epidemic that the world should fight seriously.
“This is an issue of concern. We are too late to fight it, we should have started to think about it before and understand its prevalence. We should terminate them in our country,” he said.
He said that it is an issue that has also affected elderly population but added that they should not allow Rwandan youth to ruin themselves with drugs.
“It is a very tough issue because the demand is high, the supply is equally high, the amount of money involved is in billions and billions of dollars. It is commerce in some economies of countries, just to understand how serious it has become,” he observed.
He said that as a global issue that also affects Rwanda, they should give it a particular attention to prevent them from destroying attained development.
“Rwanda is not an island, drugs are scattered around the world. We should fight them in two ways; to prevent them from entering the country as well as fighting those that have already entered. This is a problem that we should fight as we continue to teach,” he urged.
During this year’s Umushyikirano, participants discussed the National Strategy for Transformation, Values for Prosperity and the Youth at the Centre of Transformation.
It brought together about 2,000 Rwandans including central and local government officials, business community, civil society, other members of the Rwandan community and diplomats.
The meeting came up with eight resolutions under four categories which are education, health, economy and culture.
The Head of State was speaking at the 15th National Dialogue Council, locally known as Umushyikirano, that kicked off in Kigali yesterday.
The call followed a discussion that revolved around ‘Values for Prosperity’.
However, the issue was raised by Bishop of Byumba Catholic Church Diocese, Servilien Nzakamwita, saying efforts that have been invested in science and ICT courses should be extended in teaching languages and Kinyarwanda in particular.
Kagame responded by insisting on the need to teach mother language and Rwandan culture especially among the youth, saying that it is a tool to help in the development journey.
He said that teaching Kinyarwanda should not be limited to schools as students would think that it is there for examinations and marks purposes.
Citing churches as an example, Kagame said that besides teaching Kinyarwanda in affiliated schools, institutions should contribute by offering lectures aimed at teaching Kinyarwanda in services.
“I don’t understand why it is not broadcasted on Radios and TVs. You should introduce some shows that bring experts to teach Kinyarwanda based on ordinary things,” he told institutions in charge.
Kagame urged children and youth to develop the spirit of learning, adding that it is less important to teach uncommitted people.
“If this issue is not given serious attention, we will see Kinyarwanda changing to the extent that people will get lost while speaking one language,” he cautioned.
Using some examples of false pronunciation of some words, Kagame said that some words tend to change the meaning when are improperly pronounced.
He called on members of the community to invest many efforts in learning Kinyarwanda, saying that there is not a shame for those unable to speak it properly as a result of their backgrounds.
At the 13th Umushyikirano in 2015, the issue of mother tongue was also raise and the thirteenth resolution recommended that Kinyarwanda language and Rwandan values be taught in all schools starting from primary to university.
Located in Masaka Sector of Kicukiro District, ‘Afriprecast’, the first of its kind in the country is owned by Rwandan investor, Alexis Bayigamba.
Worth $25,000,000 the factory will provide jobs to 1,000 people.
Kagame commended Bayigamba for investing in Rwanda saying that it is a valuable boost to Rwanda’s industrial sector.
Bayigamba has similar investment in Angola.
“Bayigamba had been investing in Angola, I would also wish to request people from Angola to also invest in Rwanda, it is not mandatory to invest in construction, you can also invest in other sectors, we shall be glad to help you, you will also find partners in Rwanda along the execution,” Kagame said.
The President said that the factory will employ a significant number of people and impart new skills to the workers.
“AfiPrecast will reduce our country’s import bill and we expect that these products will be exported to the region as well. It means a lot that this is a Rwandan investment. We continue to welcome investors from all over the world, starting from home,” he said.
He said the government will continue to do its best to support the private sector in getting the most from creative investments.
Bayigamba commended Kagame’s leadership that provides conducive investment environment in the country.
“We appreciate your leadership that makes such investment possible. You have supported us and we got all the necessary during the construction,” he said.
The factory occupies 15 hectares of land. The firm’s construction works started in May 2015 and started production in March 2016.
Mushikiwabo was speaking at the National Dialogue, commonly known as Umushyikirano, on Monday.
During a discussion about the National Strategy for Transformation, Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda is a transformational-led country which values human being.
“Recently, Rwandan government announced that the country is ready to receive Africans who were turned into slaves in Libya. This is an act of valuing human being,” she said.
“In partnership with other African States, African Union (AU) Commission and Europe, we are organizing to receive some of these migrants in the beginning of 2018. Such act of humanity and respecting human being is part of main strategies for transformation,” she explained.
Based on Rwandan history, Mushikiwabo said that Rwandans could acquire positive values from foreigners, but leave away bad ones as they continue to value human being.
The Government of Rwanda admitted to receive a total of 30,000 migrants from Libya.
The two-day conference brought together about 2,000 Rwandans, including central government and local government officials, businesses, civil society, other members of the Rwandan community and diplomats.
Kagame said that there is no doubt that the country has grown stronger and more united, urging to continue to do better.
In agriculture he said, after a period of slow growth last year, agricultural production grew by 8 per cent this year. He said the production came despite challenges, such as army worm and drought in some parts of the country
“The hard work of citizens has really paid off and I wish to thank you for this and ask you to keep it up,” he said on the growth of Agriculture.
He said the cooperation among government institutions has made delivery of inputs to farmers more timely and reduced corruption in the system. He said that increased access to irrigation has also helped raise productivity.
“We have decided to invest in domestic seed production, to improve quality and also reduce our dependence on unreliable supplies from abroad,” he said.
“It is encouraging to note that graduates are also finding entrepreneurial success in agribusiness. I call on more young people, to consider the opportunities in this sector,” he said.
On the economic front, he said, $1.5 billion in new investment and infrastructure deals were registered in 2017, which includes the new international airport, which is under construction in Bugesera.
The head of state said the conference tourism strategy is bearing fruit as Rwanda hosted 169 international meetings this year, which brought tens of thousands of customers to hotels, restaurants and national airline, RwandAir.
On Made in Rwanda, he said, strategy has already boosted production compared to the same period last year.
“Our exports have increased by 50%, while our imports have declined by 3%. As a result, our trade deficit fell by more than 20%,” he explained.
He said more than 8,000 new manufacturing jobs were registered this year, adding that they will continue to build on such achievement.
Kagame said that mineral exports now exceed the value of all other exports, combined, which is attributable, in part, to more effort in value addition and new exploration.
He went on to say that Rwanda’s electricity supply continues to grow. He said to stimulate demand for that power; government will work with industrial investors to ensure a competitive tariff.
“The State of our Nation is something we should evaluate constantly. Is the pace of development as fast as we would like? Are we looking after the well-being of all Rwandans without leaving anyone behind? The responsibility to ask and provide answers is ours,” Kagame noted.
Kagame said he believes that a revolution in the quality of education, at all levels, must be among the country’s highest priorities.
“Human capital is the most important feature of a high-income economy,” he said.
“We have had to deal with so many challenges, even impossible ones. But we rebuilt, stronger and more resilient than ever before,” he added.
Kagame assured that they will continue to document and preserve the history of the country, and to pursue own accountability, and others, where necessary.
“We cannot take our gains, or our future prosperity, for granted. Peace, security, and national cohesion are not irreversible,” Kagame noted.
Kagame said the expectations of Rwandans are growing fast, adding that it is not a problem as it pulls the ambitions higher and fuels a culture of always striving to do more, and better.
“We have opportunities and we have each other. Hard work and the commitment to serve all Rwandans is what will lead to our country’s transformation,” he assured.
He thanked citizens for playing an active role in the country’s development, for preserving the gains that have been made and the security; he said adding that they are the foundation of progress.
He urged Rwandans to continue to work together, within the country as well as with the neighbours and with the continent as a whole.
During this year’s Umushyikirano, participants are discussing about the National Strategy for Transformation, Values for Prosperity and the Youth at the Centre of Transformation.
