The test, called MethylScan, analyses small pieces of DNA circulating in the bloodstream.
These fragments, known as cell-free DNA, can carry information about the tissues they come from, including changes linked to cancer and other diseases.
Researchers focused on chemical changes in DNA called methylation.
These patterns differ between tissues and can change when cells become diseased or cancerous.
By studying them, MethylScan can look for abnormal signals and potentially identify the tissue where they originated.
The researchers tested the technology using blood samples from 1,061 people, including patients with liver, lung, ovarian and stomach cancers, people with liver diseases, individuals with benign lung nodules and healthy participants.
Using machine learning, the team found that at 98% specificity, MethylScan detected about 63% of cancers across all stages. For cancers at an early stage, it detected around 55% of cases.
The test performed better among people at high risk of liver cancer. Among patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatitis B, it detected nearly 80% of liver cancer cases.
Researchers also found that the test could distinguish between different liver diseases, correctly classifying about 85% of patients with conditions including viral hepatitis and metabolic-associated liver disease.
However, MethylScan is still in the research stage and is not ready to replace existing cancer screening or diagnostic tests.
The researchers say larger studies are needed to determine how accurately the test performs in real-world screening.
If future research confirms the findings, the technology could eventually provide doctors with a simpler and less invasive way to detect cancer and identify where it started.
Scientists have developed a blood test that could help detect multiple types of cancer and identify where the disease began.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, August 11, the City said the building had been reopened following the initial implementation of measures required to address sanitation concerns and improve the safety of people working there.
However, the reopening does not mean all corrective measures have been completed. The management of Inkundamahoro Building has been instructed to continue addressing outstanding requirements, including installing an appropriate wastewater treatment system, ensuring the daily collection and proper disposal of solid waste, carrying out necessary repairs and repainting, among other measures.
The reopening comes just days after the City temporarily closed the building over continued failure to comply with safety, sanitation and environmental requirements.
In a notice issued on August 8, the City said it had issued several directives and notices between May and August requiring the management to address deficiencies. Despite the interventions, key concerns remained unresolved, including the discharge of untreated wastewater from toilets directly into a wetland.
The City said the latest incident involving the discharge of untreated wastewater was confirmed on August 7, prompting the temporary closure. The City had warned that the building would remain closed until the required corrective measures were implemented and compliance verified by the relevant authorities.
Following the initial implementation of those measures, the City has now permitted the building to reopen while requiring management to complete the outstanding work.
The City also reminded people working in Inkundamahoro Building of their responsibility to maintain cleanliness and proper sanitation in their workplace.
At the same time, the warning extends beyond Inkundamahoro. The City reminded all building managers, particularly those managing buildings that accommodate large numbers of people, to comply with applicable sanitation, safety and environmental requirements.
“Those who fail to comply with these requirements or to implement corrective measures recommended following inspections will be held accountable,” the City said in its latest notice.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, August 11, the City of Kigali said Inkundamahoro building had been reopened following the initial implementation of measures required to address sanitation concerns and improve the safety of people working there.
The programme, led by the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), is designed to support a wide range of national development activities across the country.
The partnership follows a pilot project implemented in Zanzibar with support from the Tony Blair Institute and the World Bank. It marks Planet’s first national-scale satellite data partnership in Africa.
At government level, the programme will make high-resolution satellite imagery available to support policymaking and national planning.
The data will be used to monitor agriculture and food security, track forest health and resilience, improve urban planning and zoning, and support land-use management. It will also help strengthen disaster preparedness, prevention and response, including assessing and repairing damage caused by disasters.
The Rwanda Space Agency is working to make satellite imagery one of the key tools used by government institutions to inform decision-making at different levels.
The programme also includes an education component. Public universities in Rwanda will use Planet’s imagery and data for teaching, developing new courses and advancing technology-driven research.
The partnership will also help build local capacity by equipping people with the skills and knowledge needed to analyse and use satellite data effectively.
Selected startups operating in key sectors of national development will also have access to Planet’s near-daily data. They will use the information to develop new solutions and services, with the broader goal of promoting inclusive economic growth.
Planet Labs PBC is a U.S.-based Earth observation company founded in 2010 by three former NASA scientists. The company designs, builds and operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and provides satellite imagery, geospatial data and analytics to governments, businesses and research institutions.
Planet says its fleet of approximately 200 Earth-imaging satellites can capture imagery covering the world’s landmass daily, making it possible to monitor changes on the ground at a much higher frequency than traditional satellite imagery.
Rwandan institutions are set to start using near-daily satellite imagery and data to support evidence-based decision-making, thanks to a new partnership with Planet.
The annual event, one of Rwanda’s flagship conservation celebrations, will honour gorillas born over the past year while highlighting the country’s long-standing commitment to wildlife conservation and community development.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kigali on Tuesday, August 11, Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), the agency that now manages Volcanoes National Park, said the ceremony comes as mountain gorilla conservation continues to deliver encouraging results across the Virunga Massif.
“There are about 1,100 mountain gorillas in the Virunga Massif. They remain the only great ape whose population continues to grow. This is an extraordinary conservation achievement, but it is not one that Rwanda has accomplished alone,” Mutangana said.
He attributed the growth in the endangered species’ population to decades of collaboration involving governments, conservation organisations, researchers, veterinarians, park rangers, regional partners and communities.
Since the launch of Kwita Izina in 2005, a total of 438 gorillas have received names. This year’s 22 newborns will raise that figure to 460.
Mutangana said each newborn gorilla symbolises the continued success of conservation initiatives, reflecting the sustained work being carried out to protect habitats, monitor animal health and ensure the species continues to thrive.
He added that Kwita Izina has evolved beyond a naming ceremony into a broader platform that promotes conservation, tourism and community development.
The announcement comes as Rwanda’s tourism industry continues to record strong growth. The sector generated more than $685 million in revenue in 2025, up from $647 million in 2024, driven by more than 1.49 million international visitors.
This year’s programme will feature several activities leading up to the main ceremony, including the launch of a community development project, familiarisation tours for international travel media and tourism trade representatives, a conservation exhibition and guided gorilla trekking experiences.
The event also underscores the link between conservation and socio-economic development. Through Rwanda’s tourism revenue-sharing programme, more than Rwf 23 billion (about $16 million) has been invested in nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health facilities, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives in areas surrounding national parks.
Kwita Izina continues to play a key role in promoting Rwanda as a leading ecotourism destination while reinforcing the country’s conservation model, which seeks to ensure that protecting wildlife also delivers tangible benefits to neighbouring communities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kigali on Tuesday, August 11, Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), the agency that now manages Volcanoes National Park, said the ceremony comes as mountain gorilla conservation continues to deliver encouraging results across the Virunga Massif.
The 31-year-old Amavubi left-back arrives in India after two seasons with Cypriot top-flight club AEL Limassol, where he made 33 league appearances across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. His experience and ability to operate in multiple defensive positions are expected to add further depth to Chennaiyin’s backline.
Primarily a left-back, Imanishimwe can also play as a left-sided centre-back or wing-back. That versatility could give Chennaiyin head coach Clifford Miranda greater tactical flexibility, particularly when switching between defensive systems during matches.
Imanishimwe, or ‘Mangwende’ as he is popularly known, began his senior career with Rayon Sports during the 2014-15 season before moving to APR FC in 2016. He went on to spend five seasons with APR, establishing himself as one of Rwanda’s prominent defenders while winning four Rwandan Premier League titles and a Peace Cup.
His performances also earned him opportunities in African continental competitions, including the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. In 2021, he took the next step in his career by joining Moroccan club AS FAR Rabat.
The move proved successful, with Imanishimwe making more than 70 appearances across competitions during his three-season spell. He featured 24 times in the league during the 2022-23 campaign as AS FAR won the Botola Pro title with 67 points, ending a 15-year wait for the Moroccan championship. He also contributed three assists that season.
Imanishimwe moved to Europe in July 2024, joining AEL Limassol. During the 2025-26 season, he made 20 league appearances and played 1,622 minutes, maintaining a regular role in the Cypriot side’s defensive setup.
His move to India now represents another chapter in a career spanning three different footballing environments.
For Chennaiyin, the Rwandan international offers more than defensive cover. His experience of playing in four-man and three-man defensive systems could allow Miranda to deploy him according to the demands of different opponents.
With foreign-player slots an important consideration in ISL squad building, Imanishimwe’s ability to cover multiple positions could make his addition particularly valuable as Chennaiyin prepare for the new campaign.
The 31-year-old Amavubi left-back arrives in India after two seasons with Cypriot top-flight club AEL Limassol, where he made 33 league appearances across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns.
The refugees made the allegations on August 10, 2026, during a commemoration marking the 22nd anniversary of the massacre of Congolese Tutsi at 14 different locations, including the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi.
The commemoration was preceded by a memorial walk and a candle-lighting ceremony. The refugees, some of whom have spent more than 30 years in Rwanda, said they remain hopeful that they will eventually return to the DRC and obtain justice.
The commemoration comes as the DRC advances plans to revise its Constitution, a process critics say could pave the way for Tshisekedi to seek a third presidential term.
Joseph Mpumuro, coordinator of Congolese refugee camps in Rwanda, alleged that the proposed constitutional changes are also intended to deprive Congolese Tutsi of their citizenship.
“Apart from seeking to run for a third term, Tshisekedi wants to strip us of our citizenship so that he can eliminate us,” Mpumuro said.
He said discrimination against Congolese Tutsi dates back 141 years, linking its origins to the 1885 Berlin Conference, which established colonial boundaries in Africa and resulted in territories that had previously been linked to Rwanda being incorporated into what is now the DRC.
“Congolese refugees want justice. We want to return home to Congo,” Mpumuro said. “Young Congolese refugees should work towards returning home rather than focusing on going abroad, because you cannot live in a foreign land without a homeland.”
Benjamin Ndarishize, a survivor of the Gatumba massacre, recalled how they fled Uvira and sought refuge in Burundi, where they were placed in a camp near the border. In 2004, attackers reportedly stormed the camp, setting it on fire, hacking survivors who escaped the flames and shooting others.
“Burundian soldiers were nearby but never came to our rescue. It was a conspiracy against us,” Ndarishize said. “We are seeking justice because those who killed us have never been punished. Agathon Rwasa went to the media and claimed responsibility.”
Albert Bisore Ngemanyi, who represents the Congolese Tutsi Survivors Voice, an organisation involved in organising commemorations for Congolese Tutsi victims, told IGIHE that more than 15,000 people have been killed in what he described as atrocities against Congolese Tutsi since 1992.
“We are calling for justice from the governments of Burundi and Congo. They should pursue Gen. Ekenge and Bitakwira over their use of hate speech,” he said.
Bisore alleged that attacks against Congolese Tutsi are still taking place, claiming that aircraft from Kinshasa have been used to attack Tutsi communities in Minembwe.
Karongi District Mayor Gerald Muzunguthanked the refugees for maintaining a spirit of resilience despite the challenges they have faced.
“Everything has an end. This is how the world is; people must seek solutions to their challenges,” he said. “We urge you to continue building unity, cooperation and mutual respect, and to send your children to school so that they can have a better future.”
As of March 2026, Rwanda was hosting more than 79,000 Congolese refugees.
In addition to Kiziba, the 22nd commemoration of Congolese Tutsi victims was held in other refugee camps hosting Congolese refugees, including Mahama, Nyabiheke, Kigeme and Mugombwa.
A memorial walk preceded the 22nd commemoration of Congolese Tutsi killed because of their identity.The commemoration event took place on August 10, 2026Congolese refugees have lived in Rwanda for more than 30 years.Kiziba Refugee Camp is currently home to more than 12,000 Congolese refugees.
An additional 104 personnel, including senior non-commissioned officers, completed four months of career training under the same programme.
The pass-out ceremony was held on August 10 at Camp Kassaï military barracks in Bangui and was presided over by Central African Republic President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Faustin-Archange Touadéra.
The ceremony was attended by RDF Army Chief of Staff Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Central African Republic, Kayumba Olivier, senior government officials and defence attachés accredited to the Central African Republic.
The training was conducted as part of bilateral military cooperation between Rwanda and the Central African Republic, which includes efforts to strengthen the capabilities of the FACA and joint peacekeeping initiatives.
FACA Chief of General Staff Gen Zéphirin Mamadou welcomed the newly trained personnel, saying they would join other soldiers in protecting the country’s territorial integrity.
He thanked Rwandan President Paul Kagame for Rwanda’s military cooperation with the Central African Republic, which he said had yielded positive results.
“This graduation marks the completion of the fifth intake by military instructors from the Rwanda Defence Force, with the ultimate objective of preventing the activities of the enemies of peace,” Mamadou said. “I have no doubt that the skills acquired during this course will contribute to protecting the country and its people.”
Maj Gen Nyakarundi said the ceremony reflected the dedication, discipline and commitment demonstrated by the trainees throughout their training.
He said the graduates had demonstrated their readiness to serve professionally and uphold the values and responsibilities entrusted to them as soldiers, having acquired skills needed to perform their duties effectively.
Rwanda has maintained troops in the Central African Republic since 2020 under bilateral arrangements aimed at supporting efforts to counter armed groups threatening civilian security.
The two countries have since expanded their military cooperation, with Rwanda also supporting efforts to build the capacity of the Central African armed forces.
In November 2025, Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence said the RDF had trained 2,409 junior soldiers from the Central African Republic, along with 300 non-commissioned officers.
The latest graduation marks the fifth intake of FACA personnel trained by RDF instructors.
The new recruits join more than 2,400 others trained by the RDF.RDF Army Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi and Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Central African Republic, Olivier Kayumba, attended the ceremony.
The Kenyan creator had been experimenting with the language she was learning after moving to Rwanda. When the video drew attention, she decided to keep going, and Kinyarwanda gradually became part of her creative identity.
Today, Njoki combines Kinyarwanda, humour and storytelling in her videos while working as a communications strategist at Blue Oceans Rwanda.
Through Unscripted with Njoki, her interview series on Instagram and TikTok, she features personalities from Rwanda’s sports and entertainment scene, alongside content about everyday life and her experiences in the country.
But the journey that brought her to Rwanda was not exactly planned.
Njoki combines Kinyarwanda, humour and storytelling in her videos while working as a communications strategist at Blue Oceans Rwanda.
Njoki came to Rwanda in November 2021 to visit her cousin during her gap year. What began as a short visit eventually led to university and a career.
She enrolled at East African University Rwanda, where she studied journalism and mass communication and graduated at the top of her class. Nearly five years later, she has established herself professionally while growing her online presence.
“I love Rwanda. Rwanda is nice. It’s been nice. It’s been a good ride so far. I’m enjoying myself. I’m putting out content, you know, I’m living life every day, one day at a time,” Njoki remarked during an exclusive interview with IGIHE.
For Njoki, her Rwanda experience has been about more than work and social media. It has involved learning a new language, navigating a different culture, being away from family and adapting to a different pace of life.
And somewhere along the way, Kinyarwanda, once one of her biggest challenges, became one of the ways she connected with Rwanda.
From struggling with Kinyarwanda to going viral
Learning Kinyarwanda was initially one of Njoki’s biggest challenges after moving to Rwanda.
“Kinyarwanda is not easy. It is not easy. At first, the language was like, ‘Yo, I’m so lost. I can’t get anything.’ But with time, I learned it,” she recalled.
She picked up much of the language from friends at university and colleagues at work. Her Kikuyu background also helped her recognise similarities between some words in the two Bantu languages.
Even after years in Rwanda, Njoki says learning Kinyarwanda remains an ongoing process.
“Sometimes I forget some words. It’s a learning process. It never ends,” she explained.
Her experience with the language eventually became an unexpected source of inspiration.
After seeing Kenyan content creator Debby Rono do an impression of how Kinyarwanda sounded to her, Njoki decided to try her own version, drawing on the words she had learned.
“I did that, and the first video got a lot of attention, and I was like, ‘Oh, this works. Let me do more,’” she recalled.
The response encouraged her to keep experimenting, and Kinyarwanda soon became a recurring feature of her videos.
For Njoki, the language is not simply a way to entertain. It has also become a
way of engaging with Rwandan culture and sharing her experience as a Kenyan living in the country.
Njoki came to Rwanda in November 2021 to visit her cousin during her gap year. What began as a short visit eventually led to university and a career.
Finding a different pace of life
One of the biggest ways Rwanda has influenced Njoki, she says, is by changing how she approaches everyday life.
Coming from Kenya, she describes life there as fast-paced and energetic. In Rwanda, she learned to slow down, be more approachable and take things as they come.
“Rwanda has taught me that you can actually become. You don’t have to always be in a rush every time, in like defensive mode every time,” she noted.
“I feel like since I came to Rwanda, I’ve learned how to be a bit calmer, and just chill, and take a minute to take in life as it comes.”
She says the experience has also broadened her perspective and exposed her to different cultures.
“Rwanda has also taught me to open up my mind and embrace different cultures, the Rwandan culture. And because we have so many foreigners here, you’re exposed to a lot,” she added, noting that adjusting to life away from home came with challenges, including learning Kinyarwanda, being separated from her family and adapting to Rwanda’s food culture.
Kenya and Rwanda: Different cultures, familiar people
Njoki sees clear cultural differences between Kenya and Rwanda.
She describes Kenyans as generally more outspoken and energetic, while she sees Rwandans as quieter and more reserved.
“Kenyans are rowdy. There is a lot of chaos, there’s a lot of loudness,” she observed.
Despite those differences, she says the two countries share similarities in areas such as religion, food and aspects of everyday life.
Ultimately, Njoki says Rwanda gives her a strong feeling of home.
“When I’m in Rwanda, I feel like I’m at home. People are the same,” she reflected.
Even after years in Rwanda, Njoki says learning Kinyarwanda remains an ongoing process.
What makes Rwanda stand out
Among the things Njoki admires most about Rwanda is what she sees as the country’s deliberate efforts to promote women’s participation and empowerment.
“I love the fact that you guys actually are very intentional when it comes to uplifting women, and the fact that we have so many women in parliament,” she said.
She praised efforts to ensure women are not left behind, including discussions around workplace equality and pay gaps.
“They talk about it and they actually do it,” she added.
Njoki also highlighted Rwanda’s security and cleanliness, saying the country’s reputation for being clean is reflected in everyday life.
“I like the fact that people here don’t litter. You’ll see someone walking with a bottle up to home or up to where you’ll see a dustbin,” she noted.
Bigger ambitions for her career
Looking ahead, Njoki hopes to take her work to a much bigger stage.
Over the next five years, she wants to work with brands, secure partnerships, MC events, travel and develop new skills.
“I want to be doing content on a full scale. I want to work with brands. I want brand deals, to advertise for people, MC for people. I want to travel more,” she stressed.
She also hopes to use her growing platform to give back to others.
“Just pick up as many skills as I can, and just be able to give back more to people than I’m taking,” she added.
“Don’t let anyone shame you for trying”
For young people who are afraid of being judged when pursuing their ideas, Njoki urged them not to let criticism or embarrassment hold them back.
“Don’t let anyone shame you for trying,” she urged.
She encouraged young people not to abandon their ideas simply because others consider them embarrassing or “cringe.”
“You see that thing people are calling cringe? Nah, do it,” she remarked.
Her advice is to keep trying, take things one day at a time and remember that no one has everything figured out.
“No one has everything figured out. So, just try and don’t let anyone shame you for trying.”
The event was also aimed at raising awareness about cancer prevention and encouraging people to seek early screening for the disease, which remains a major health concern globally.
According to GLOBOCAN, an international cancer statistics database, about 7,000 people in Rwanda are diagnosed with cancer every year, with more than half of them dying from the disease.
Between 2019 and 2023, Rwanda recorded 26,092 new cancer cases, while 8,578 people died from the disease, representing a mortality rate of 32.9%.
Concerned by the impact of cancer, Rotary Clubs across Rwanda have launched a fundraising campaign to purchase a SPECT scanner, a medical imaging machine used to detect and monitor cancer as well as other serious conditions affecting organs such as the brain and bones.
The machine is estimated to cost $5 million, equivalent to more than Rwf7 billion.
The fundraising campaign was launched as part of the Car Free Day activities, with Rotary Clubs and the Ministry of Health using the event to encourage Kigali residents to learn more about cancer, its prevention and the importance of early diagnosis.
Alex Ndibwami, President of Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga, said the initiative was prompted by the number of people who die from cancer because the disease is often detected late or its spread in the body cannot be properly assessed.
“Statistics show that many people in Rwanda die from cancer because they do not have the opportunity to get screened early. Some of them could have been treated successfully if the disease had been detected earlier. Even when cancer is diagnosed, it can be difficult to determine whether it has spread to other parts of the body,” Ndibwami said.
He added that Rwandans who can afford to seek specialised cancer services abroad spend at least $3,000 travelling to countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, where the equipment is available.
Rotary Clubs plan to increase the funds raised more than tenfold through partnerships with various institutions, particularly financial institutions, with a target of raising $500,000 by the end of 2026.
“We are exploring ways to increase the funds by more than tenfold so that, by the end of 2026, we will have raised at least $500,000 through partnerships with financial institutions, including banks, and other organisations,” Ndibwami said.
He said the Rotary Clubs also plan to approach Rotary International to seek its support in acquiring the SPECT scanner for Rwanda.
Members of various Rotary Clubs in Rwanda joined Kigali residents for the public exercise.Kigali residents take part in physical exercise during the Car Free Day activities.Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga President Alex Ndibwami said the SPECT scanner fundraising campaign was launched as part of efforts to contribute to the fight against cancer.Members of various Rotary Clubs in Rwanda joined Kigali residents for the public exercise.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Ndayizigiye Jean Marie Vianney also attended the eventYoung participants were also among those who turned up for the public exercise.Non-communicable diseases were screened for during the public exercise that brought Kigali residents together.
The accident occurred on Sunday, August 9, 2026, in Kigarama Village, Rwariro Cell, Gitesi Sector, at around 11:30 p.m.
Sources indicate that the vehicle veered off the road and came to a stop about 20 metres away.
Speaking to IGIHE, Gitesi Sector Executive Secretary Jean Damascène Ngendahimana,said local authorities and security organs quickly responded to the scene and evacuated the injured to Kibuye Referral Hospital.
“They are people from Ruganda Sector who were returning from a wedding in Kigali. The vehicle veered off the road, killing six people on the spot. Five sustained serious injuries, while eight others suffered minor injuries,” he said.
The Rwanda National Police spokesperson for the Western Province, SP Twajamahoro Sylvestre, said preliminary investigations indicate that fatigue and drowsiness may have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
He urged drivers to avoid driving when tired, maintain appropriate speeds and regularly inspect their vehicles.
“Drivers should avoid continuing to drive when they feel tired, maintain a safe speed and ensure their vehicles are regularly inspected,” he said.
Among those killed in the crash was the father of the bride. The driver was among those injured in the accident.
The accident happened in Karongi District on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
