Those trained include traders at Musanze modern market and their customers, staff at Gatonde hospital in Gakenke district, including medical workers, management, casual workers and security guards.
Participants were given knowledge and skills to prevent fire emergencies.
They were explained on the causes, classes and components of fire; fire prevention measures, evacuation procedures and fire drills. They were also demonstrated on how to fight fire by using different types of fire extinguishers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Gatambira said that the training aims at equipping many people especially those working in public places, with knowledge and skills that will enable them to prevent any practices that can lead to fire disasters.
“Markets, hospitals and commercial facilities receive many people everyday and it is important for them to know how safe to use electricity to prevent causing fire outbreak, but also to know what to do when fire breaks out to put it out using basic different firefighting gadgets,” ACP Gatambira said.
Habibu Mpoyi, one of the participants, commended RNP for the training which he said it has helped him to acquire vast knowledge and skills in fire safety.
The outreach was also combined with inspection of facilities on fire safety and the management was advised on precautionary measures.
The race started on Thursday 10th March 2022 where riders set off at 9:15 .a.m. at Fazenda Sengha (Mont Kigali) for an Individual Time Trial covering 11.5 kilometers.
The finishing line was set at Fazenda Sengha.
Rwanda Epic is an annual tournament organized by Rwanda Alternative Riding Events (RAR Events).
The race attracted 27 riders from 13 teams while Seth HakiImana who participated individually due to the absence of his colleague, Didier Munyaneza, did not finish the race.
Karl Platt who won the first stage teamed up with Rwandan Jean Eric Habimana who had been crowned champion in 2020. The duo was the first to cross the finishing line clocking 29 minutes 34 seconds followed by Daniel Gathof and Renay Groustra who clocked 32 minutes and one second.
Souleyman Kangangi and Mael Desrieux took the third place in the category of men clocking 33 seconds and 26 seconds.
Samuel Mugisha and South African Mitch Elliot riding for ProTouch team took the 7th position while Eric Nduwayo and Yves Nkurinziza emerged the ninth.
Nshutiraguma Kevin and Ishimwe Jean Claude did not finish the race.
Catherine Colyn and Leone Verster won the race in the category of women clocking 46 minutes and 32 seconds while Jazilla Umwamikazi and Nirere Xaverine came second clocking 1 hour 8 minutes and 25 seconds.
In the mixed category, Daniel Klemmer and Jenniffer Wagouman arrived first using 1 hour and 45 seconds.
After winning the first stage, Karl Platt expressed delight for participating in the race and thanked his colleague Habimana Jean Eric for teamwork spirit.
“I am having wonderful moments here. I have been also excited to team up with Jean Eric. He is strong on hiking routes. I asked him to support each other in our respective capacities. We had not played together but we have made a great team today,” he said.
Habimana Jean Eric also attributed the victory to team work.
“I am very delighted that my team won the stage. Karl Platt is a legendary player with competencies exceeding mine. Before setting off, I told him my strength and weaknesses. I informed him that I am strong in climbing routes. He is also good at riding through routes slopping downwards. So, we combined these skills,” he said.
“I am optimistic that we will retain the yellow jersey despite the fierce competition of rivals,” Habimana added.
Simon De Schutter from the management of Rwanda Alternative Riding Events (RAR Events) which organizes Rwandan Epic, commended the participation and expressed optimism for the tournament to be successful.
“We are excited for this participation. We have held Individual Time Trial today and hope the race will be more successful throughout the remaining stages. We will set off from Kinigi for the second stage heading to places nearby Lake Burera and Ruhondo. It is a long route with stiff climbs but not challenging like today’s race,” he said.
The average speed for men is 23.3 km, 14.8 km for women and 11,35 km/h for riders in the mixed category.
Rwanda Epic 2022 is comprised of four stages. It will continue on Friday 11th March with the second stage dubbed ‘Twin Lakes stage’. Riders will begin the race from a starting line at Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC) in Musanze at 9:00 a.m. Riders will follow the track through roads located in the vicinity of Lake Burera and Ruhondo before crossing the finishing line at Ubworoherane Stadium in Musanze town.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that the refinery is no longer operational because Alain Goetz, an investor owning 50% shares withdrew his interest. Goetz runs other refineries including Aldabra.
Aldango Ltd started operations in 2017 following agreements signed in February 2017. Each of the shareholders including Alain Goetz and Ngali Holdings owned 50 percent shares.
Aldango was initially running as a business dealing in gold and later set up a Gold refinery on the request of the Government of Rwanda.
The refinery opened in June 2019 to melt and process Gold to get 99.99% of quality before exporting to the international market.
However, the plant did not deliver on expectations after inconsistencies in payments of taxes to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).
It is said that the plant had the capacity to process at least 480 kgs of Gold within 30 hours.
IGIHE has learnt that the company owed tax arrears worth Rwf113 billion to RRA as at the end of 2019.
RRA approached the company’s management for negotiations, but Goetz refused to pay explaining that he was exempted from taxes when he was granted license to operate in Rwanda.
The investor failed to provide related documents until the case was filed to court.
It is also reported that the investor might have dragged himself in Gold trafficking, hence tarnishing Rwanda’s image.
On 27th January 2021, the Government of Rwanda suspended Aldango’s license to export Gold processed from Rwanda.
IGIHE could not access copies of detailed rulings but learnt that the court ordered the sale of Aldango’s properties to pay the tax arrears.
Following the ruling, the investor expressed dissatisfaction through a statement published on Aldango’s website.
Goetz explained that he was deceived when asked to pay taxes yet ‘Aldango was exempted from taxes in consideration of its major purpose to add value to the gold supply chain and promote Made in Rwanda’.
Goetz underscored that he will not stop complaining to have the assets handed back to ‘the rightful owner’ claiming that he has enough evidences.
One of individuals familiar with the issue has told IGIHE, on condition of anonymity, that Goetz had totally refused to pay taxes.
“The company had accumulated huge tax arrears until RRA exempted fines but it bore no fruits,” he said.
It is said that Goetz might have filed his case to French courts with international competencies to get justice.
We tried to speak to RRA officials but could not get comments by press time.
A week after Cyprus lifted all travel restrictions for the fully jabbed, authorities have reclassified countries according to their COVID risk with rules applicable to passengers without a vaccination or recovery record.
The new measures went into effect on Wednesday 9th March 2022.
Rwanda has emerged among four countries removed from travel bans red list. The three others include UAE, China and Saudi Arabia.
Unvaccinated people from Rwanda and other concerned countries are required to present negative COVID-19 PCR test results taken not later than 72 hours and Rapid Test taken not later than 24 hours before departure.
IGIHE has learnt that Ndimbati has been arrested on Thursday 10th March 2022.
“RIB has arrested a man identified as Jean Bosco Uwihoreye alias Ndimbati,51, over alleged defilement,” RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE.
He revealed that Ndimbati is detained at Rwezamenyo RIB Post as investigation is underway pending transfer of his file to the Prosecution.
Ndimbati is arrested after publication of a video that went viral on social media where a girl accused him of abandoning parental duties to take care of twins they sired together.
The girl also revealed that Ndimbati drugged her to have sexual intercourses at a time when she was still a minor.
It is said that Ndimbati had started plans to escape after learning about accusations against her through the media.
Ndimbati has become a popular figure in local film industry particularly in Papa Sava film series aired on YouTube.
A critically endangered species of bats not sighted in 40 years has been found in Rwanda, with the “incredible” discovery delighting conservationists who had feared it was already extinct.
But the Hill’s horseshoe bat was in fact still clinging to life in Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest – a dense rainforest – the consortium behind the discovery said.
There had been no information on the population of the mammals and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021 listed them as critically endangered.
Rediscovering the lost species “was incredible”, Jon Flanders, director for Bat Conservation International (BCI), said in a statement late on Tuesday.
“It’s astonishing to think that we’re the first people to see this bat in so long.”
The Texas-based non-profit had partnered with the Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association to conduct surveys in the jungle starting in 2013.
In 2019, after a 10-day expedition scouring the caves in the forest, the scientists found the bat.
“We knew immediately that the bat we had captured was unusual and remarkable,” BCI’s chief scientist, Winifred Frick, said.
“The facial features were exaggerated to the point of comical.”
But it took them another three years to verify its species.
The creatures of the night have long been infamous as fanged monsters or vectors of disease, with the coronavirus pandemic doing little to improve that image after scientists said Covid-19 probably originated in the animals.
From the tiny two-gram “bumblebee bat” to the giant Philippine flying fox with its 1.5m (5ft) wingspan, bats make up a fifth of all terrestrial mammals.
Some 40% of the 1,321 species assessed on the IUCN’s red list are now classified as endangered.
Human actions – including deforestation and habitat loss – are to blame.
For the researchers in Rwanda, the elusive discovery marks the beginning of a new race to save the once lost species from disappearing again.
“Now our real work begins to figure out how to protect this species long into the future,” said Flanders.
The executive secretary of Bwishyura sector, Faustin Ayabagabo has said that the remaining six students who were also taken to hospital suffered from trauma.
He revealed that the incident will not affect studies because there are storage rooms to be used as alternatives.
However, Ayabagabo explained, students will study in shifts to avoid overcrowding.
The heavy rain also destroyed three classrooms and administrative bloc at Zion Secondary School in Rubengera sector, Karongi district.
The executive secretary of Rubengera sector, Medard Nkusi disclosed that the incident will not halt studies but rather student will share remaining rooms waiting for renovation of destroyed ones.
One Chantal Uwimana was intercepted in Gasiza Village, Kamanyana Cell, Cyanika Sector with 300 cartons of polythene bags.
Another smuggler, Jean Niyigaba was arrested with 250 cartons of plastic bags in Ryabiyeyi Village, Kamanyana Cell also in Cyanika Sector.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO), said that Police was tipped off by the residents.
“Residents tipped off the Police about a group of smugglers that was attempting to sneak assorted goods including the outlawed polythene bags into Rwanda from Uganda. During the operation in Ryabiyeyi Village, Police managed to apprehend Niyigaba with 250 cartons of Plastic bags although other members of the group fled back,” said SP Ndayisenga.
Later on, at about 9pm, he added, Chantal Uwimana was also caught red-handed in Gasiza Village, Kamanyana Cell with 300 cartons of polythene bags after crossing into Rwanda from Uganda.
SP Ndayisenga commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects and seizure of the plastic bags.
He further warned against selling plastic bags, which were banned in Rwanda due to their ill-effects on the environment and people’s health.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Cyanika station for further legal process.
Manufacturing, use, importation or sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items are prohibited under article 3 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use, and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items in Rwanda.
In article 10, any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of three hundred thousand Rwandan francs (Rwf300,000) and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items
The ceremony of handing over the wheelchairs on Tuesday 8th March 2022, was attended by the Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Dr. Ron Adam, the Mayor of Nyanza District, Erasme Ntazinda and Eugene Mussolini, a Member of Parliament representing persons with disabilities, among others.
Also present were students of HVP Gatagara and their teachers.
Donatienne Umutesi, a senior three student at the school who was among the beneficiaries expressed delight after receiving a new wheelchair.
“On behalf of fellow handicapped students receiving these wheelchairs today, we are very grateful for this support. There is no doubt that moving will be much easier,” she said.
This was also highlighted by MP Mussolini who appreciated the donation, saying that it shows the value that the Embassy gives persons with disabilities.
“This is a very good gesture and comes to address one of the challenges persons with disabilities are facing, which is lack of quality mobility equipment. But we are doing everything possible, mainly advocacy, to ensure that this problem is addressed,” he explained.
In his remarks, Ambassador Adam said that Israel, same as Rwanda, values persons with disabilities and believes that, being among the most vulnerable, they should be given every necessary support.
“I am glad that the Embassy was able to fulfil the pledge made last year when we visited this school. We hope that these wheelchairs will help students to move easier while here at the school and outside. This is just another portion of the support. I will be back,” he said.
The support follows mattresses that the Embassy had donated to HVP Gatagara orthopedic hospital in October last year, to improve service delivery.
The Embassy also recently donated about 100 fruit trees from Rwanda-Israel Horticulture Center of Excellence to HVP Gatagara school.
HVP Gatagara in Nyanza District is an inclusive school with nursery, primary and secondary levels. Of the total 776 students at the school, 300 live with disabilities.
The Director General of the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), Dr. Christian Sekomo Birame has commended the efforts of Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited to set up herbal medicines manufacturing plant in Rwanda.
He made the appreciation on Tuesday 8th March 2022 as he visited offices of Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited which currently retails nutraceuticals produced by Life Care Phyto Labs-India. The latter belongs to Indian herbalist, Dr. Rajendran Aanaimuthu.
The visit was meant to assess preparations to launch the plant expected to produce herbal medicines locally.
Recently on 2nd March 2022, NIRDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited aimed at expediting preparations to set up the plant in Rwanda.
The MoU incorporates clauses that NIRDA shall provide more than 150 hectares suitable for growth of medicinal plants to ensure smooth supply chain of raw products with uncompromised quality.
Among others, Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited will receive some of NIRDA’S equipment that were previously used at its medicinal plants’ laboratory in Huye district.
The Director General of NIRDA, Dr. Birame revealed that the visit was aimed at getting firsthand information on preparations.
“Today, we have come to reinforce the partnership signed with Bold Regain in terms of fast tracking the implementation of signed agreement under this project to produce herbal medicines in Rwanda,” he said.
Dr. Birame hailed the company’s activities and reassured support to ongoing preparations to set up the plant in the near future.
“This project was appreciated very much because it aligns with Government’s ambitions to create new jobs. Apart from creation of jobs and imparting technical skills, it is our responsibility to support industrial development,” he noted.
The CEO of Bold Regains International, Dr. Francis Habumugisha has said that the visit is a great encouragement to ongoing efforts. He disclosed the company is fast tracking preparations as much as possible to have the plant operational in the near future.
Once the plant is operational, Bold Regains Life Care Industry Limited targets local and foreign clientele.
