The visit marks the first official visit by a Rwandan president to Oman.
Kagame’s visit began with an official welcoming ceremony before he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
The two leaders were later joined by delegations from both countries for bilateral talks aimed at advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
On the second day of his visit, Kagame is scheduled to tour the Museum of the Frankincense Land, located within the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The museum has two main sections. The Heritage Hall explores Dhofar’s archaeological history, the region’s heritage and the role of the frankincense trade in shaping the area’s social and economic development. The Maritime Hall presents Oman’s history of seafaring and maritime trade.
Kagame will also visit Razat Royal Farm, which covers more than 404 hectares. The facility is among the major agricultural establishments in Dhofar Governorate and is also used for agri-tourism and educational activities.
Sultan Haitham will host Kagame and his delegation at a dinner during the visit.
Rwanda and Oman have longstanding ties. During the visit, the two countries are also expected to sign agreements and memoranda of understanding in various sectors as part of efforts to broaden bilateral cooperation.
Rwanda and Oman are expected to sign agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in various sectors.President Paul Kagame began his first official visit to Oman with a formal welcome ceremony in Salalah.Rwandan and Omani delegations hold bilateral talks during President Kagame’s official visit to Oman.
Shema, 48, is accused of issuing unfunded cheques and obtaining another person’s property through fraud. He denies the charges.
The court ordered his detention on September 2, 2026, citing the ongoing investigation and the fact that the offences he is accused of carry prison sentences of more than two years.
IGIHE has learned that Shema filed his appeal at the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on September 4. A hearing date has not yet been set.
During the August 26 hearing, prosecutors argued that there were strong grounds linking Shema to the alleged offences and that he could flee if released while investigations were ongoing.
The case relates to an agreement worth more than €1 million between Shema’s company, Africa Medical Supplier Plc, and UAE-based ABZL International General Trading LLC. The agreement, signed in January 2024, involved supplying medical equipment under a World Bank-funded contract for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prosecutors said Shema’s company failed to meet its payment obligations and later issued two cheques worth $400,000 and $200,000 in August 2025. They said the bank confirmed the cheques were not backed by sufficient funds, with the company’s account holding only $1,183 during the relevant period.
Shema told the court that the dispute arose from problems with ABZL’s bank account and disagreements among its shareholders. He said his company had previously paid $800,000 under the agreement and maintained that he had acted in good faith.
His lawyer, Sangano Yves, argued that the matter was fundamentally a commercial dispute and questioned the evidence surrounding the cheques.
Shema also told the court that he owns assets worth more than Rwf5 billion that could be used as bail security and pledged not to evade justice if released.
Shema Fabrice has appealed a 30-day provisional detention order.
APR FC head coach Taleb Abderrahim has blamed poor officiating for his side’s 1-0 defeat to Les Aigles du Congo in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, accusing the match officials of making questionable decisions and favouring the hosts.
APR FC travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, September 6, 2026, to face Les Aigles du Congo at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium in Lubumbashi.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Taleb said the encounter was always expected to be difficult, particularly because the two coaches were familiar with each other and had prepared tactical approaches to counter their opponents.
“We came here with the responsibility of getting a good result. We tried to control the midfield and also use long balls because we had watched their friendly matches,” Taleb said.
“However, they are a good team with players who are individually strong.”
The APR FC coach, however, argued that the officiating had played a significant role in the outcome of the match. He accused the officials, led by Beninese referee Idissa Abdul, of making questionable decisions, including denying APR FC two penalty appeals and issuing what he described as unnecessary cards to his players.
“We tried to stop them and create chances whenever we had the ball. What surprised me was not the defeat, but the referee’s performance,” Taleb said.
“Football cannot develop while it still has referees like these. Forgive me for saying that.”
“I have coached many Champions League matches and worked with great players, but I have never seen a team treated as badly as we were today. We were denied two penalties, there were inexplicable foul decisions and unnecessary cards shown to our players.”
Taleb also raised concerns about an incident involving APR FC player Djibril Ouattara, whom he said was subjected to a dangerous challenge by a Les Aigles du Congo player and could require hospital treatment.
According to the coach, the referee did not take action over the incident, while attempts to raise concerns about the decision were met with threats of disciplinary action.
Taleb further questioned the red card shown to APR FC midfielder Ronald Ssekiganda, arguing that the decision was unjustified. He said the referee followed the player before eventually showing him the card after the final whistle.
APR FC will now seek to overturn the 1-0 deficit when they host Les Aigles du Congo in the return leg at Amahoro Stadium on September 11.
The Rwandan champions will need to win the match to keep their CAF Champions League campaign alive, while avoiding conceding an away goal that could further complicate their chances of progressing.
The winner between APR FC and Les Aigles du Congo will face either Egypt’s Zamalek SC or Djibouti’s AS Port in the second preliminary round, scheduled for October 2026.
APR FC travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, September 6, 2026, to face Les Aigles du Congo at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium in Lubumbashi.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Taleb said the encounter was always expected to be difficult, particularly because the two coaches were familiar with each other and had prepared tactical approaches to counter their opponents.
“We came here with the responsibility of getting a good result. We tried to control the midfield and also use long balls because we had watched their friendly matches,” Taleb said.
“However, they are a good team with players who are individually strong.”
The APR FC coach, however, argued that the officiating had played a significant role in the outcome of the match. He accused the officials, led by Beninese referee Idissa Abdul, of making questionable decisions, including denying APR FC two penalty appeals and issuing what he described as unnecessary cards to his players.
“We tried to stop them and create chances whenever we had the ball. What surprised me was not the defeat, but the referee’s performance,” Taleb said.
“Football cannot develop while it still has referees like these. Forgive me for saying that.”
“I have coached many Champions League matches and worked with great players, but I have never seen a team treated as badly as we were today. We were denied two penalties, there were inexplicable foul decisions and unnecessary cards shown to our players.”
Taleb also raised concerns about an incident involving APR FC player Djibril Ouattara, whom he said was subjected to a dangerous challenge by a Les Aigles du Congo player and could require hospital treatment.
According to the coach, the referee did not take action over the incident, while attempts to raise concerns about the decision were met with threats of disciplinary action.
Taleb further questioned the red card shown to APR FC midfielder Ronald Ssekiganda, arguing that the decision was unjustified. He said the referee followed the player before eventually showing him the card after the final whistle.
APR FC will now seek to overturn the 1-0 deficit when they host Les Aigles du Congo in the return leg at Amahoro Stadium on September 11.
The Rwandan champions will need to win the match to keep their CAF Champions League campaign alive, while avoiding conceding an away goal that could further complicate their chances of progressing.
The winner between APR FC and Les Aigles du Congo will face either Egypt’s Zamalek SC or Djibouti’s AS Port in the second preliminary round, scheduled for October 2026.
APR FC head coach Taleb Abderrahim has blamed poor officiating for his side’s 1-0 defeat to Les Aigles du Congo in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.The coach accused the officials, led by Beninese referee Idissa Abdul, of making questionable decisions, including denying APR FC two penalty appeals and issuing what he described as unnecessary cards to his players.
The Rwandan champions travelled to Lubumbashi on Sunday, September 6, 2026, for the first-leg match at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium.
The match was played behind closed doors, with no fans allowed into the stadium, as APR FC sought to avoid exposure to the Ebola outbreak reported in the country.
APR FC’s trip ended in disappointment after Sozé Zemanga scored the only goal of the match for Les Aigles du Congo in the 45th minute.
The defeat was compounded by the dismissal of Ssekiganda, who was shown a red card after the final whistle following an altercation with the match officials. The midfielder will therefore miss the return leg in Kigali.
APR FC players and officials were expected to return to Rwanda immediately after the match to begin preparations for the decisive second leg.
The return match will be played at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 3 p.m.
APR FC will need to overturn the one-goal deficit to progress and will also have to avoid conceding at home, which would further complicate their qualification hopes.
The winner of the tie between APR FC and Les Aigles du Congo will face either Egypt’s Zamalek SC or Djibouti’s AS Port in the second preliminary round, scheduled for October 2026.
APR FC’s starting lineup.APR FC lost 1-0 to Les Aigles du Congo in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.The match was played behind closed doors, with no fans allowed into the stadium, as APR FC sought to avoid exposure to the Ebola outbreak reported in the country.
Covering nearly 10,000 kilometres from Kigali through Addis Ababa to Beijing, the trip was made possible by my media house, IGIHE, which gave me the opportunity to travel, learn and share the experience with readers. Journalism lets us report from a distance, but some realities only make sense firsthand.
Leaving Kigali for the unknown
At Kigali International Airport, everything felt unfamiliar but exciting. Boarding the Ethiopian Airlines flight, I watched the safety demonstration and felt the aircraft accelerate down the runway, small routines to frequent flyers, but unforgettable to me.
As we climbed, Rwanda shrank beneath the clouds. During the roughly four-hour flight to Addis Ababa, meals were served while I sat thousands of metres above the ground, watching the flight map to track our progress across the continent. Around 9:00 PM, the pilot announced our descent into Addis Ababa.
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport revealed the scale of international travel, with passengers from many countries, staff assisting travellers and screens listing destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond.
Addis Ababa International Airport is always bustling with people.
Finding my connecting flight was difficult in an airport far larger than anything I’d experienced, but I followed signs and asked for help until I found my way. It struck me that airports aren’t just transit points, they’re where cultures and journeys intersect. Everyone around me was headed somewhere different. Mine was Beijing.
Eleven hours to the other world
The Addis Ababa–Beijing leg, roughly 11 hours on an Airbus A350, a long-haul aircraft that can carry more than 300 passengers, was a different kind of experience altogether. Seeing hundreds of people travelling together inside one machine reminded me how far human innovation has come.
Around me, passengers slept, watched movies or tracked our progress on the map; for me, it was a moment of reflection, leaving Africa by air toward a country of more than 1.4 billion people and one of the world’s largest economies. As we approached Beijing, the city slowly revealed itself through the window, with vast roads and buildings stretching further than I had imagined.
Entering China’s scale
Beijing Capital International Airport felt like a city in itself. My first challenge wasn’t its size but finding my way through it. Immigration involved electronic forms, new to me, and demanded patience; guidance beforehand from my friend Liu Qingxia at the Chinese Embassy in Rwanda helped me prepare.
As soon as you arrive at Beijing International Airport, you immediately get a sense of China’s sheer scale and grandeur.
Even collecting luggage, on a continuously moving conveyor system, became a small adventure in its own right, one new experience after another.
Discovering China through CIPCC and Renmin University
My journey continued to Renmin University of China, where I joined the 2026 China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) program, bringing together 98 journalists from 90 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Organised by the China Public Diplomacy Association under China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the program let journalists learn about China’s development and global engagement through direct experience. I’m grateful to CIPCC’s leaders and the Chinese government for creating this platform, and to Renmin University, founded in 1937 and renowned in economics, law, social sciences and humanities, for hosting us.
Beijing: A city built around technology
Moving through Beijing’s streets gave me my first direct impression of China’s development. Beyond being China’s political centre, it is a global hub where technology, education and business converge.
The city is home to one of the world’s largest subway networks, stretching more than 800 kilometres, while China also has the world’s largest high-speed railway network.
Vehicles are constantly moving through the streets, reflecting the city’s fast-paced rhythm.
What struck me most was the balance: despite its huge population, Beijing has parks, green spaces and carefully planned neighbourhoods. Electric buses and vehicles are common, signalling a shift toward cleaner transport.
Technology was the biggest difference I noticed. Digital systems are woven into daily life, from buying food and paying for services to communicating through platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.
The idea of a cashless society became real to me. Finding food during my first days required help from colleagues who understood the system better, teaching me that preparation is essential when visiting China. Tools such as WeChat, Alipay, navigation apps and reliable internet access can make the experience much easier.
Travelling by subway to Dingfuzhuang in Chaoyang District, about 40 kilometres from Haidian District, showed me how millions of people move efficiently through a massive city. My colleague Mugisha, more experienced in China, helped me adapt faster.
The subway provides another modern and efficient way to travel between different parts of Beijing.
This first journey from Kigali to Beijing changed how I understand the world, teaching me about adaptation, preparation and the value of seeing development firsthand rather than from afar. China is a place where ancient history sits alongside advanced technology, while Beijing is a city where infrastructure reflects long-term planning.
It was not simply a journey from Kigali to Beijing. It was a journey into a different vision of what the future can become.
China has built an extensive and modern infrastructure network. These buildings may look familiar to many people, having appeared in various films.Many see China as a model of what the future may hold.
The discussions were held on Thursday during a meeting between Chea Vuthy, Secretary-General of the Cambodian Investment Committee of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Rwanda’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi, and his delegation.
According to Cambodian media, the meeting focused on ways to deepen economic and investment relations between the two countries, with Vuthy highlighting the importance of stronger cooperation to support sustainable economic growth, enhance resilience, and attract quality investment.
Vuthy also commended Rwanda’s progress in economic diversification and transformation, investment promotion and private-sector development.
He said the two countries could benefit from sharing experiences and best practices in these areas as they seek to expand economic cooperation.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cambodian Investment Committee of the CDC and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The proposed agreement would provide a framework for cooperation in investment promotion and business facilitation while helping establish stronger links between the private sectors of Cambodia and Rwanda.
The two sides expressed their commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and turning the proposed initiatives into concrete actions that could generate mutual benefits.
The discussions come as Rwanda continues to seek greater foreign investment and expand economic partnerships with countries beyond its traditional markets.
For Cambodia, closer engagement with Rwanda could provide an opportunity to strengthen its economic presence in Africa while opening avenues for businesses from both countries to explore new markets and partnerships.
Secretary-General of the Cambodian Investment Committee of the Council for the Development of Cambodia Chea Vuthy (L) meets with Rwanda’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi at CDC on Thursday.
Gen Muganga visited the APR FC squad on Saturday night, September 5, 2026, as the team prepared to travel to the DRC for the first leg of the CAF Champions League first-round qualifier.
Addressing the players, Gen Muganga described the match as one that would require maximum effort, urging them to represent the club and its supporters with pride.
“Fight hard and achieve the mission across the border. You have a game tomorrow, and for us, it is like the final. Victory must be secured there in Lubumbashi. After that, we will meet you at the airport and warmly welcome you for bringing pride to the team and our supporters,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of taking control of the tie in the first leg so that APR FC can approach the return match from a strong position.
“Hopefully, you will perform well in the first leg because that is the key to everything. We should play the second leg having already done our job,” Gen Muganga added.
APR FC departed for Lubumbashi early Sunday, September 6, aboard a chartered aircraft. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium.
The Rwandan champions will not spend the night at a hotel in the DRC. Instead, they are expected to travel directly to the stadium before returning to Kigali immediately after the match.
The players travelled to Kinshasa after CAF rejected the club’s request to move the first leg from the DRC over security concerns and the Ebola outbreak.
The match will be played behind closed doors, with no spectators allowed inside the stadium due to Ebola concerns.
Players will not be allowed to exchange jerseys after the match, according to the arrangements put in place for the fixture.
Gen Muganga visited the APR FC squad on Saturday night, September 5, 2026, as the team prepared to travel to the DRC for the first leg of the CAF Champions League first-round qualifier.APR FC departed for Lubumbashi early Sunday, September 6, aboard a chartered aircraft. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium.
The concert, held on September 5, 2026, was part of the celebrations surrounding Rwanda’s 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony, which took place a day earlier in Kinigi, Musanze District.
Rema, one of the biggest names in contemporary Afrobeats, headlined the concert and performed for about an hour and 20 minutes, taking fans through some of his biggest hits, including “Calm Down”, “Dumebi”, “Charm”, “Azaman”, “Bounce”, “Holiday”, “Soweto”, “Fun” and “Ozeba”.
The concert was part of the celebrations surrounding Rwanda’s 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony.
From his opening performance, the atmosphere inside BK Arena was electric, with fans singing along to his songs and showing their excitement through banners and messages displayed on their phones.
Rema last performed in Kigali in October 2023, and his return was met with an enthusiastic reception from fans who had waited nearly three years to see him perform in the city again.
Rema brings his biggest hits to Kigali
Rema entered the stage a few minutes before 10 p.m., accompanied by a group of dancers, opening his performance with “Azaman”.
He went on to perform a string of popular songs, keeping the crowd on its feet throughout the night.
“Calm Down”, arguably his most recognisable hit, was among the performances that drew one of the strongest responses from the audience. The song, released in February 2022, has become one of the defining records of Rema’s career.
From his opening performance to the closing of the concert, the atmosphere inside BK Arena was electric
His performance of “Soweto”, a collaboration with Victony, Tempoe and Don Toliver, also sparked a major singalong as fans joined him word for word.
Later, Rema performed “Fun”, a song centred on love, good times and socialising. He encouraged fans to enjoy themselves and share a drink as they celebrated the night together.
A fan gifted Rema a painting.
The singer also received a special gift from a Rwandan fan midway through his performance. The gift featured Rema’s photograph, a gesture that visibly pleased the Nigerian star.
After around an hour and a half on stage, Rema brought the concert to a close with “Ozeba”, encouraging fans to dance along before ending his performance.
Rwandan stars set the stage
Rema was supported by some of Rwanda’s leading performers, who helped build the excitement ahead of the headline act.
Kenny Sol was the first major performer of the evening, taking the stage at 7:41 p.m. He opened with “Haso”, his 2021 hit, before performing songs including “Haje Gushya”, “Ikinyafu” and “Phenomena” during his 20-minute set.
Kivumbi King followed, opening his performance with “Hanze”, which became popular after its release in September 2024.
He later brought Burundian artist Kirikou Akili onto the stage to perform “Yampayinka”, their recent collaboration.
Kivumbi also welcomed rapper Juno Kizigenza during “Kirigute”, giving fans another surprise collaboration.
Rwandan singer Saràh Phenom, who recently performed alongside Rema at his concert in Paris, also took the stage before the Nigerian superstar.
DJs keep the crowd moving
The entertainment continued between performances, with DJs helping maintain the energy inside BK Arena.
DJ Marnaud took over after Kenny Sol and Kivumbi King, later being joined by Intore Massamba and Ruti Joel.
Before Rema’s appearance, DJ Jumbee, who regularly works as Rema’s DJ, was also behind the decks, warming up the crowd for the highly anticipated performance.
Patrice Evra among notable guests
The concert attracted a mix of government officials, musicians, young people, social media personalities and other public figures.
Among those in attendance was former France international Patrice Evra, who played for clubs including Manchester United and Juventus.
Evra was also one of the distinguished Namers at the 21st Kwita Izina ceremony, where he named Muganura, a baby gorilla from the Izuba family.
Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth and Arts Development Umutoni Sandrine, and Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer Jean Guy K. Afrika were also among the officials who attended.
A night of music and celebration
By 6 p.m., crowds had already begun gathering at BK Arena, with young Rwandans making up a large portion of the audience.
The concert provided a musical finale to a week of activities surrounding Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony that brings together conservationists, public figures, artists, business leaders and visitors from around the world.
With Rema delivering a packed set of his biggest hits and Rwandan artists bringing their own energy to the stage, the concert ended the celebrations on a high note.
Rema, one of the biggest names in contemporary Afrobeats, headlined the concert and performed for about an hour and 20 minutes.He took fans through some of his biggest hits, including “Calm Down”, “Dumebi”, “Charm”, “Azaman”, “Bounce”, “Holiday”, “Soweto”, “Fun” and “Ozeba”.
The visitors included Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, and his wife, Anita Dravec; Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético Madrid; Francesco Calvo, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa; and Olivier Granet, Managing Partner and co-CEO of Kasada Capital, and his wife, Quitterie Granet.
Calvo’s visit comes less than two months after Visit Rwanda signed a landmark partnership with Aston Villa, making the Rwandan tourism brand the English club’s Official Front-of-Shirt Partner, Official Tourism Partner and Official Coffee Provider.
Under the agreement, announced on July 14, 2026, Visit Rwanda branding appears on the shirts of Aston Villa’s men’s, women’s and youth teams, while the partnership also covers tourism promotion, football development, coach education and other exchanges between Rwanda and the club.
Calvo and the other visitors were among the distinguished personalities who named baby mountain gorillas during this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony, held in Kinigi, Musanze District, on Friday, September 4.
The meeting followed a similar engagement on Friday, when President Kagame received several other personalities who participated in the naming ceremony.
Those who met the President included Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments; Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism; Paul Danforth, President of CAA Sports; and former Manchester United and France captain Patrice Evra.
The football and business leaders received by President Kagame over the two days were among 22 distinguished namers drawn from the worlds of conservation, tourism, business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy and public service.
Other personalities who took part in the ceremony included Olympic high-jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, UCI President David Lappartient, Rwandan gospel singer Israel Mbonyi, filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and former French international Mamadou Sakho.
The 21st Kwita Izina ceremony brought together communities, conservationists, government officials, international partners and visitors to celebrate Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and the country’s conservation achievements.
Held under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” this year’s ceremony saw 22 baby mountain gorillas given names, bringing the number of gorillas named through Kwita Izina since 2005 to 460.
Kwita Izina, which means “to give a name” in Kinyarwanda, is inspired by Rwanda’s centuries-old tradition of naming newborn children in the presence of family and community.
The ceremony became an official annual event in 2005 and has since grown into an international platform for celebrating mountain gorilla conservation and recognising the role of communities and partners in protecting their habitat.
The meetings were held at Urugwiro Village, a day after they took part in the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony.President Kagame poses with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético Madrid, holding a jersey bearing the Visit Rwanda emblem.President Kagame poses with Francesco Calvo, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, holding a jersey bearing the Visit Rwanda branding.The visitors were among the distinguished personalities who named baby mountain gorillas during this year’s Kwita Izina ceremony, held in Kinigi, Musanze District, on Friday, September 4.
The suspects were paraded at RIB headquarters in Kigali on September 5, 2026, among 81 people arrested in connection with the alleged cheating scheme. The remaining 42 suspects are still under investigation.
The two vice mayors are Mukanyandwi Janvière, Vice Mayor of Kirehe District in charge of Social Affairs, and Muhayeyezu Joseph Désiré, Vice Mayor of Nyamasheke District in charge of Economic Development.
The 39 suspects include 27 men and 12 women and are drawn from six categories, including district vice mayors, district education officials, school headteachers, teachers, examination supervisors and other people allegedly involved in facilitating the cheating.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry said some suspects disguised the practice as “helping children” while actually providing them with answers during examinations.
Investigators found cases where pupils from the same school had remarkably similar answers.
In Nyamasheke, a teacher allegedly photographed examination papers before they were distributed and sent them to a librarian, who reportedly used artificial intelligence to generate answers that were then printed and distributed to pupils.
RIB said testimonies from pupils also helped uncover the scheme.
RIB said the suspects are being investigated for three offences: abuse of authority for personal gain, forgery and disclosure of professional secrets.
Abuse of authority for personal gain falls under Rwanda’s anti-corruption law and, upon conviction, can carry seven to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rwf5 million to Rwf10 million.
Forgery carries a possible five to seven-year prison sentence and a fine of Rwf3 million to Rwf5 million, or one of those penalties.
Those convicted of disclosing professional secrets can face one to two years in prison.
The Ministry of Education recently announced that 7,188 pupils who sat the Primary Leaving Examinations were found to have cheated and will be required to retake the exams.
RIB said the scheme was allegedly intended to boost district performance rankings by producing higher examination scores, even where pupils had not acquired the expected knowledge.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry explained that suspects allegedly disguised examination cheating as ‘helping children’.Two vice mayors are among 39 suspects paraded by RIB over alleged cheating in the national examinations.The suspects include district officials, school leaders, teachers, invigilators and others allegedly involved in facilitating cheating.RIB has paraded 39 suspects accused of helping pupils cheat in the national Primary Leaving Examinations.
