Kagame made the request following mixed reactions among members of the public complaining about low speed limits with accompanying speeding fines in Kigali city.
The uproar emanated from the recent changes where drivers with the speed above 40km/hr were slapped traffic fines.
As he delivered remarks at the celebration of Tax Payers Appreciation Day 2021, Kagame reminisced on the controversial speed limits which triggered mixed reactions and called on relevant institutions to make adjustments.
“I get updates through the media. I have been following up. The majority of you, got here by vehicles. You might have paid taxes along the road,” he said.
Kagame said, he is aware that people have been complaining about low speed limit that saw many of them fined.
“People have been complaining about excessive traffic penalties for speed limits and paying fines for going beyond 40km/h. That is the same speed as those of us who are used to walking,” he observed.
“I have spoken to National Police. The speed should not be so high that it leads to accidents, nor should it be so low that people never get where they are going,” added Kagame.
Before joining Radisson Hotel Group in 2016, Ndahiro held numerous positions in the hospitality industry, such as Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort in Nairobi Kenya, IHG Hotel, Serena hotels where he worked for three different properties; Kigali Serena Hotel, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, and Nairobi Serena Hotel.
With over ten years of experience, Emmanuel Ndahiro joined the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali as the Venue Manager before his promotion as the Convention Centre’s manager.
His service philosophy is to strive to exceed guest expectations, invest in his team’s growth and create an environment that excites them.
The facility’s management has revealed that Ndahiro makes Every Moment Matter to guests by creating a proactive team that enjoys taking care of all events guests at the Convention Centre.
“It is all about details and attitude is everything” and make sure that all employees have the same attitude and do not accept the status quo and strive every single day to improve our product,” reads part of the statement announcing the appointment.
Rob Kucera, the General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre and District Director East Africa has congratulated Ndahiro on his new position and wished him every success.
“There is always an opportunity for those who set goals and work towards them with passion, commitment, dedication, training, and resilience. And that is what Ndahiro has been doing the past 5 years at the Kigali Convention Centre,” he said.
{{About Radisson Blu}}
Radisson Blu is the largest upper upscale hotel brand in Europe and delivers a positive and personalized service in stylish spaces. By paying close attention to small details that make a big difference, Radisson Blu inspires unforgettable experiences with every stay.
Its hotels and resorts provide a full range of innovative products and services, delivering genuine and relevant guest experiences with a distinctive Yes I Can! attitude.
Radisson Blu hotels can be found in major cities, key airport gateways, and leisure destinations. Guests and professional business partners can enhance their experience with Radisson Blu by participating in Radisson Rewards, a global loyalty program offering exceptional benefits and rewards.
Radisson Blu is part of Radisson Hotel Group, which also includes Radisson Collection, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.
He delivered the message on Thursday 18th November 2021 during interactive session in which he took UoK students through youth empowerment programs in the UAE.
Amb. Alqahtani explained that UAE has put much effort in promoting youth inclusiveness as a segment of the population considered the backbone for national development.
He pointed out an example of Shamma Al Mazrui who joined the cabinet at the age of 22. Among others, the youth account for 75% of the taskforce in UAE’s Ministry of Education and are assigned more decision making positions.
The Ambassador highlighted that his country has also established a fund to support youth-led projects and created platforms bringing together the youth to exchange ideas on areas of interests paving the way for their progress.
After taking them through his country’s efforts in youth empowerment, Amb. Alqahtani said that the Government of Rwanda also has ambitious targets to the same cause and called on UoK students to maximize available opportunities.
“I should not leave without mentioning that the Government of Rwanda also has such opportunities. It is up to the youth to grab them. I would like to encourage students and the university’s management to tap into such opportunities and maximize benefits collaboratively because working together will undoubtedly yield big,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Kigali, Prof. Gustave M. Tombola thanked the UAE Ambassador for sacrificing his time to interact with students.
“We are privileged to have hosted the Ambassador. His visit is of great significance as he comes for the second time. He has reminded us on available opportunities for the youth that need to be fully utilized,” he said.
Prof. Tombola revealed that the university is ready to work with the embassy to advance youth empowerment.
Amb. Alqahtani last visited the university in November 2020.
The Dean of Students at UoK, Julius Twahirwa said the discussions were very insightful noting that they are ready to tap into the huge opportunities.
“It is a great honour to receive the Ambassador from a developed country. We have leant a lot from his tips. We have pledged to follow his advice to achieve our aspirations and contribute to national development,” he noted.
UAE has been partnering with Rwanda to advance quality education over the years.
Since 2002, the UAE through the Al Maktoum Foundation has supported Rwanda’s education by funding two secondary schools, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Girls Secondary School for Sciences in Muhanga and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Kimisange Secondary School. Students from these schools have been performing well in national examinations.
For the last at least 10 years, the UAE through the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation has also been 100% supporting the Islamic Secondary School for Sciences whose students have also been performing well in national examinations.
Within the framework of joint action in order to support the education sector in Rwanda, the UAE Government provided scholarships to outstanding students in different UAE universities, through the UAE Technical Assistance Program.
Since 2018, 20 male and female students from Rwanda received UAE Government scholarships at the UAE University in the disciplines of Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, and Computer Science.
Among others, 10 Rwandan students were given full scholarships to pursue bachelor’s degree programs at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University in 2019.
The UAE has established an excellent and diversified system of higher education in a very short period.
Founded in 1976, the UAE University led higher education in the country. Since then, the UAE currently has 76 public and private institutions of higher education and they include universities, colleges and vocational & technical institutes, both local and international campuses, such as the Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University, New York University and American University of Sharjah.
SSP Irere was previously assuming duties in Community Policing Unit.
Recent figures from RNP show that road accidents have gradually reduced compared to the past three years where they claimed 548 lives in 2021, 687 in 2020 and 739 in 2019.
SSP Irere has explained that most accidents result from irresponsible driving.
“There are several causes of road accidents including reckless driving, impaired driving, and ignorance of road sign posts,” he noted.
SSP Irere has urged road users to remain vigilant particularly during rainy seasons and respect traffic rules.
This year’s event has partnered with the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism in its maiden Rwanda Tourism week in the form of an exhibition, speed marketing sessions and business-to-business networking sessions.
ATLF is a flagship event on the Africa tourism calendar that has played a substantial role in advancing intra-Africa travel growth, youth and women empowerment, intra-Africa travel facilitation and business-to-business networking.
It is the only Pan-African public-private tourism leadership annual gathering convened and hosted in Africa, by Africans, and for Africans. Since its inception and hosted by Ghana in 2018, ATLF has become the premium platform for public and private sector tourism leaders to meet and offer solutions in shaping the continent’s tourism sector.
Having successfully hosted the hybrid event last year (2020) in the extraordinary time of COVID-19, Kigali, the Rwandan capital is once again looking to receive delegates from around the world for this year’s ATLF.
The 2021 event is running under the theme “Harnessing intra-Africa travel for innovative recovery in Africa’s travel and tourism sector”
The Regional Director for Africa at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Elcia Grandcourt has highlighted that the pandemic has offered the African tourism sector an opportunity to reset and maximize the benefits of Intra-Africa travels.
“The pandemic despite its lethal effects on the tourism sector has created an opportunity for Africa to reset tourism by placing innovation, sustainability and inclusion at the heart of recovery. Building back better with tourism in Africa also means working close amongst ourselves to stimulate demand for Intra Africa travels,” she said.
According to Ms. Grandcourt, it is about zeroing in on the opportunities the pandemic presents to Africa to help regroup, reflect, and build back Tourism better.
Speakers include Desire Loumou, Senior Expert, Trade in Services, AfCTA Secretariat, Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA, Elcia Grandcourt, UNWTO Director for Africa, Dr. Geoffrey Manyara, UNECA’s Economic Officer responsible for tourism, Zephanie Niyonkuru, Deputy CEO, Rwanda Development Board, Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO and Ghana Tourism Authority, Frank Mugisha, Director General of Rwanda Chamber of Tourism and Managing Director of East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP), Austin Nyawara, Africa and Middle East, Regional Head for Africa and Middle East, SAA, Christelle Grohmann, Director, BDO South Africa, Frank Mustaff, CEO and Howarth HTL Interconsult and Dianne Dusaidi, Program Partner, Mastercard Foundation.
Others are private sector apex bodies across Africa, Directors of leading hotel brands, academics as well as experts and renowned industry experts from across the world.
The event is being organized by the Africa Tourism Partners in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Convention Bureau, Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, Mastercard Foundation, and BDO South Africa.
{{About Africa Tourism Partners }}
Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) is an UNWTO Distinction Award winner and Pan-African tourism development and strategic destination marketing advisory firm. We specialise in strategy formulation, master planning and strategic marketing development in the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation and golf sub-industries. The firm leverages the expertise it has established, global strategic partners and global networks to execute impactful and uniquely designed programs with measurable outcomes.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) has country offices and key partners in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Singapore, Scotland, Tanzania, USA and Zimbabwe. With demonstrated expertise of our leadership team, experienced global partners, representatives, and networks we execute uniquely designed with impactful results for all our clients.
The development to host the conference due in Kigali, Rwanda and virtually from 17-20 July 2023 was announced on Thursday 18th November 2021 during an event that brought together over 2,000 gender equality advocates gathered virtually.
Women Deliver convenings catalyze conversations with stakeholders from around the world, breaking barriers, addressing challenges, and identifying opportunities to advance gender equality, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), to improve the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women, in all their intersecting identities.
In July 2023, WD2023 will convene thousands of decision-makers from diverse fields, including civil society, government, the private sector, and international agencies, alongside women’s rights organizations and movements, youth-led and LGBTQIA+ organizations, and advocates representing the intersectional identities of girls, women, and underrepresented populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), to identify solutions and drive progress for gender equality.
Commenting on the development, Rwanda’s Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Minister Jeanette Bayisenge, who is also Chair of the WD2023 Host Country Committee said: “For the very first time, the Women Deliver Conference will be held on the African continent. It is an honor for Rwanda to be the next host of this convening as it affirms that the ongoing efforts in-country around gender equality by the Government of Rwanda are gaining the desired traction.”
She expressed optimism that gender equality will be achieved once all people have equal access to power, dignity, justice, rights, health, and opportunities that will enable them to network, develop skills, share knowledge, access funding opportunities, and participate in conversations that contribute to the global agenda setting on gender equality.
At the event, Joshua Tabah, Director General, Global Health & Nutrition, Global Affairs Canada, symbolically passed the baton – the Women Deliver arrow – to Bayisenge and said: “With more than 8,000 advocates from over 165 countries on-site and more than 200,000 people joining around the world through satellite events and the virtual program, the Women Deliver 2019 Conference (WD2019) was one of the most impactful and influential convenings for gender equality in the world.
The last Women Deliver Conference connected grassroots advocates and decision-makers, fueled over USD one billion in global and country-level investments, and shined a global spotlight on the importance of gender equality. The Women Deliver 2023 Conference will once again promote a robust civic space for feminist action, organizing, and mobilization. The work that started in 2019 must continue and we are honored to pass the arrow to Rwanda.”
As a part of a US$ four million programming investment around gender equality, WD2023 will serve as a critical policy moment and an opportunity for stock-taking and accountability at the midpoint of the United Nations’ Generation Equality Forum’s five-year process for global gender equality action, to achieve irreversible progress towards gender equality by 2026, founded on a series of ambitious actions. In effect, WD2023 can provide advocates and Action Coalition Leaders alike the necessary platform to re-convene, evaluate progress, and reconfigure actions, as needed, to ensure these transformative gender equality commitments will be realized by 2026.
“The Women Deliver 2023 Conference comes at a time when support for the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women is more critical than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately burdened girls and women, threatens to roll back hard-earned gains in gender equality progress, and has disrupted global convenings. Yet, on the heels of this year’s landmark Generation Equality Forum, we know sustained advocacy and investment in gender equality, plus opportunities to evaluate progress, over the next five years will be vital to realize the many commitments made for girls and women at the Forum.
Therefore, Women Deliver is proud to launch WD2023 with an Advisory Group of over 60 expert global stakeholders who will co-create the most inclusive and accessible Women Deliver Conference with us and build momentum to the main stage in July 2023,” said Kathleen Sherwin, Interim President and CEO of Women Deliver.
Consisting of over 30 organizations based in all major geographic regions in the world and representing all six GEF Action Coalition leaders, civil society, philanthropic organizations, governments, media, UN Agencies, the private sector, and youth, including the Women Deliver Young Leaders, the WD2023 Advisory will provide strategic advice and input on the development and implementation of the Conference and Global Dialogue by co-leading and co-creating the Conference’s theme, design, and programming. For the first time, one-third of the Advisory Group members were selected via an open application process, and 60 percent of WD2023’s Advisory Group members belong to organizations based in LMICs.
In the coming months, the Advisory Group will come together to begin designing the details of WD2023. New Conference program elements will be previewed to the public this spring and registration will open during the official WD2023 one-year-out launch event, hosted by and held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2022.
Ultimately, WD2023 will create a space for gender equality advocates and decision-makers to come together to engage in critical dialogue, knowledge sharing, and networking. By engaging in the next Women Deliver Conference, Women Deliver hopes that advocates will be inspired to take action and harness new knowledge, skills, and connections to achieve their advocacy goals. It is only in partnerships – and as a result of the contributions of many – that gender equality will be realized.
{{A new global dialogue led by regional convening partners }}
Six months prior to WD2023, a Global Dialogue will be launched to equip advocates around the world with the knowledge and skills they need to address the most pressing challenges around gender equality and SRHR in their own communities, countries, and regions. The Global Dialogue will include webinars and workshops and will be carried out locally while remaining globally accessible. Satellite events will also be held in local communities around the world, hosted by a wide range of partners, including civil society, the private sector, governments, and youth advocates.
Additionally, WD2023’s Regional Convening Partners , which already include the Governments of Colombia and South Africa, will lead the mobilizing and convening of advocates within their geographic regions to advance the conversation around gender equality before, during, and after the Conference as part of WD2023’s expanded Global Dialogue.
Claudia López, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia and WD2023’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Convening Partner, shared, “WD2023 and the Global Dialogue are opportunities for the Latin America and the Caribbean region to showcase the work, the solutions, the innovations, and the policies that are making a difference in the lives of girls and women here. More than half of women in Latin America work in informal jobs or in jobs that were affected during the pandemic in higher frequencies than men. We are looking forward to working with stakeholders in the region and identifying and reaching out to partners across sectors and issue areas, including those who may be unlikely allies. It will take us all working together to achieve gender equality and the city of Bogotá pledges to be a leader in that work.”
“We are excited that WD2023 will be hosted in Africa and look forward to working with our colleagues in Rwanda to highlight the solutions and the progress made on gender equality and the SRHR of girls and women across the continent,” said Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in South Africa and WD2023’s African Regional Partner. “We understand that transformative change, specifically economic empowerment, can only happen when we collaborate to back our girls and women through entrepreneurship and by activating cross-border trade across the continent. By providing a platform at WD2023, we will be able to have conversations that will help us reach the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Regional Convening Partners, as part of the Global Dialogue, aim to present new evidence and knowledge, promote solutions, and engage a broader spectrum of voices than ever before to catalyze action for all girls and women in the lead-up to WD2023, and connect diverse communities and sectors by linking previously disparate organizations and movements to drive collective action on gender equality and SRHR. Through the addition of regionally-led convenings, WD2023 will have greater global impact.
{{About Women Deliver 2023 }}
WD2023 will leverage innovative ways to host both 6,000 participants on-site in Kigali and an estimated 200,000 participants virtually through a hybrid convening model. This model aims to enable communities often underrepresented at global convenings to be able to participate meaningfully. Women Deliver will continue to closely monitor the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the next Conference is safe and accessible, both for those attending in-person and those attending virtually.
“Women Deliver Conferences have traditionally gathered advocates from around the world with the aim of galvanizing momentum towards collective action with and for all girls and women. These Conferences have resulted in diverse stakeholders making political and financial commitments and improving policies and programs which advance gender equality and SRHR. It gives me great pride to be part of the Women Deliver 2023 Conference announcement and to support the preparations for what promises to be Women Deliver’s most inclusive, accessible, diverse, and consultative Conference to-date,” Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Women Deliver Board Member, said.
“Young people have and will continue to play a critical role in advancing gender equality. Since the very first Women Deliver Conference in London in 2007, Women Deliver Conferences have recognized that a gender-equal future relies on the meaningful engagement of young people in the policies and programs that impact their lives and communities. As an alum of the Women Deliver Young Leader Program, I’m honored to continue working with Women Deliver as they embark on a journey to Rwanda. I look forward to seeing young advocates like me represented in pre-Conference planning activities and all aspects of Conference programming — from plenary sessions to side events. And, I look forward to WD2023 being one of the most diverse and inclusive gender equality conferences yet, as Women Deliver addresses the intersectionality which exists in our communities,” said Zanda Desir, Saint Lucian activist and Women Deliver Young Leader Alum.
Women Deliver and partners have worked to ensure that the next Women Deliver Conference is inclusive, diverse, accessible, and consultative — from day one. In 2020, Women Deliver conducted an online survey with nearly 4,500 advocates to better understand impact and outcomes from the WD2019 Conference.
In the lastest operations conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, Police arrested two dealers in the skin whitening products commonly known as mukorogo, in Nyarugenge District.
They are Damascene Nizeyimana and Jackson Twiyongere.
Nizeyimana admitted that he started dealing in the outlawed cosmetics in July and supplied by people, who sneak them into Rwanda from DRC and Uganda, through porous borders.
“I was arrested on Wednesday, November 17, at my shop in Nyakabanda after Police found quantities of skin bleaching products. At the time, I had 10 different types of the banned cosmetics,” said Nizeyimana.
To Jackson Twiyongere, he said that he started selling the banned cosmetics more than a year ago and supplied by street vendors.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera warned traders against selling outlawed products.
“Rwanda National Police will continue to enforce policies and laws to fight such cosmetics, which are dangerous to the people. Such operations are meant to protect people’s health,” CP Kabera said.
He thanked residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
He further advised users of such creams and lotions to stop buying them because of the identified side effects.
The suspects were handed over to RIB for further investigation.
There are 1,342 listed cream and oil brands with hydroquinone and mercury, which are prohibited in Rwanda.
Article 266 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general, states that any person, who produces, sells, or prescribes harmful products; cosmetics or body hygiene substance or any other products derived from plants, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or one of these penalties.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonavanture Twizere Karekezi, the Western region Police spokesperson has said that Nyiramatama was intercepted on Wednesday 17th November 2021 in Rugera Village, Nyamitanzi Cell in Jomba sector enroute to Muhanga District to supply one of her clients.
“Nyiramatama was identified and arrested by Police officers at a checkpoint after they found pellets of cannabis stashed in her luggage and covered with fruits,” said CIP Karekezi.
Meanwhile, Nyiramatama disclosed that was also supplied by another drug dealer in Rubavu District whom she could only identify as Kazungu.
Although she also confirmed that she was headed to Muhanga to supply her customer, she could not disclose the identities of her client she was going to supply.
“We are seeing increased arrest of suppliers of narcotic drugs and most of them are reported by the people in communities where they operate or pass. This spirit of community policing and ownership is creating impact in breaking supply chains,” CIP Karekezi said.
Nyiramatama was handed over to RIB at Jomba station as law enforcement organs are still search for other member of the drug trafficking ring.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.’’
Article 263 of law No 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for “very severe narcotics,” the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The ceremony took place on Wednesday 17th November 2021.
Dr. Diane Gashumba who previously served as the Minister of Health was named Rwanda’s ambassador to Sweden in June 2021 replacing Christine Nkulikiyinka who had held the position for five years.
Gashumba will also oversee Rwanda’s interests in Nordic countries including Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.
