The suspects are identified as Samuel Nkundineza, 37 Janvier Mukunzi, 38, Charles Bariyanga, 29, Emmanuel Tuyishime, Rosine Umubyeyi, Emmanuel Muyirama, 19, and Elias Kamanzi, 20. They were all arrested separately in Nyarwamba Village, Muyogoro Cell in Huye Sector with the stolen bags of cement.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that Police officers on night patrol first arrested the duo of Nkundineza and Tuyishime transporting seven bags on cement on bicycles.
“Nkundineza and Tuyishime were stopped at about 3am transporting four bags and three bags of cement, respectively. Nkundineza disclosed that he has been buying bags of cement from employees working with the company constructing Huye-Kibeho road and that he was also selling them to traders in Muyogoro cell,” said SP Kanamugire.
The suspects, he added, led Police officers to traders, who were buying the cement.
“36 bags were recovered from Umubyeyi, 13 from Bayingana and six others from Mukunzi. Muyirama and Kamanzi are the employees of the road construction company, who were stealing and selling the cement, who were also located and arrested later,” SP Kanamugire said.
Nkundineza disclosed that he was buying each bag of cement for Frw6, 000 and selling it at Rwf8, 000.
SP Kanamugire said the road construction firm has been reporting theft of their materials including cement, from their stores
Marcel Hodari, head of security for the construction firm, thanked RNP for recovering the cement.
SP Kanamugire said that investigations are still underway to ascertain if there are other materials that were stolen and other people involved.
The suspects were handed over to RIB at Huye station for further legal process.
Article 166 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person convicted for theft 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 Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
The penalty doubles, if the theft was carried out at night or by more than one person.
The statement released last night shows that 570 people have caught the virus out of 12 357 sample tests, 12 recovered while 33 are critically ill.
A total of 687,111 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,553,189 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
The decision is part of resolution of the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 1st August 2021 chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.
“Other events and gatherings [concerts, festivals, exhibitions, etc.] shall resume gradually for vaccinated and tested participants. Rwanda Development Board [RDB] will provide detailed guidelines,” reads part of cabinet resolutions.
It has been also resolved that gaming activities shall resume gradually in adherence with guidelines provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Among others, curfew hours have been set to 10p.m in Kigali City from the previous 8p.m.
In other parts of the country, movements are prohibited between 9p.m and 4a.m with businesses closing by 8p.m.
The cabinet has however set an exception for selected districts of Burera, Gicumbi, Kirehe, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyamasheke, Nyaruguru and Rwamagana with high COVID-19 incidence where curfew will apply between 8p.m and 4a.m with businesses closing by 7p.m.
The new measures take effect nationwide, starting September 2nd through September 22nd, 2021.
Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, properly wearing face masks and hands hygiene.
One day before meeting with Pahor, Amb. Rwakazina presented a copy of credentials to Amb. Ms Nataša Prah, the Head of Diplomatic Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Amb. Rwakazina also represents Rwanda to Switzerland and non-governmental organizations operating in the country.
In 2019, she was appointed to represent Rwanda to World Trade organization.
Rwanda named the first envoy accredited to Slovenia in 2011.
It was the seventh graduation ceremony hosted by UR since it was created through a merger of seven public higher learning institutions.
A total of 8,908 students including 3,345 females graduated from the university’s six colleges. The university awarded five graduates with Ph.D. degrees while 385 graduates were awarded Masters’ degrees in different disciplines.
The ceremony held at Kigali Cultural Exhibition Village was hosted in hybrid format to adhere to ongoing COVID-19 preventive measures.
As she addressed her remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya congratulated graduates for achieved milestone and urged the university to maintain excellence to depict Rwanda’s real image.
{{Full speech}}
Ms Patricia Campbell, Chancellor University of Rwanda
Mr. Paul Davenport, Founding Chair of the UR Board, and Members
Professor Lyambabaje Alexandre, UR Vice Chancellor, and Deputy Vice Chancellors
Esteemed and Distinguished Dignitaries in Your Respective Senior Positions
The UR Academic Senate and Other High Organs of UR
Faculty and Staff of UR
Graduating Students and your Beloved Families
All Protocols Observed, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my utmost pleasure and honor to be here with you representing the Head of State and Government of Rwanda, in the celebration by the University of Rwanda at its Seventh Graduation Ceremony. Please accept my heartfelt and warm congratulations to you dear students together with your beloved families, for reaching a successful conclusion of the academic goals you have been relentlessly pursuing.
To the Chancellor, Board of Governors, Faculty and Staff of UR, I say bravo for this wonderful achievement of adding over nine thousand more intellectually empowered and capable people to the Rwandan, African and the world job markets. These graduands you are sending out today to form an additional part of the better skilled labor force in the in various industries are going to be the reason for more efficient world systems.
The 2021 Graduation is a ceremony like no other before, at least in the last 27 years of renewed Rwanda. Never before had we skipped a whole year without graduation, but owing to the global effect by the COVID-19 pandemic, that happened. We are here today when we should have been here a year earlier. Some will call it a time lost, while others will call it a time passed. Rwanda prefers to call it a time of learning and acquiring resilience necessary for living in an unpredictable world.
And what about at the University of Rwanda in particular – what have these rare times of great challenge been like to you? I know you have your pin point answers to this question, and there will always be enough time to reflect on what has been.
Nevertheless in my own observation from a far, I have seen you learn and do new things, to this day, thanks to COVID-19. I have seen the University of Rwanda fast track the implementation of plans and policies you always had, such as the consolidation of eLearning mechanisms.
The machinery acquired to facilitate and enhance eLearning and Teaching programs, the systems put in place, the trainings delivered, skills imparted, and the improvisations learnt are all going to stay and serve you better, those who will be at UR after you, and the country at large for posterity.
COVID-19 may have disrupted our revenue flows as a country for example, but it has also taught us the useful virtue of frugality. While it has delayed most of our plans, it has also taught us to be patient. Not forgetting that in a competitive world, the fast and more innovative have moved on and surpassed some, unfortunately at the expense of the slow.
This is who you should be. Rwanda wants you graduands, the younger and the older, to grow into no-excuse performers and leaders, no matter the circumstances. We would like to put on the armour of resilience and consolidate the spirit of no-retreat in the face of unusual circumstances.
In a setting where there many scenarios beyond our control, we must remain standing. Rwanda likes to be a country which punches above its weight, all in the spirit of doing the best to be the best we can. It is a call on Africa to emulate and to join hands. The world is fast teaching us unkind lessons that we had better build capacities to fend for ourselves. Whether in Afghanistan, or the southern and central parts of Africa, lessons are all over to learn from. Our country is always at the forefront and ready to lend a hand where we should and can.
We learnt from 1994 that neglecting those in need is an unforgivable sin. Rwanda was a victim of neglect, and would never want to watch idly as the world suffers neglect. These are noble values the President of the Republic never tires to impress up on us as a nation. They are the human values I urge you on his and the country’s behalf now to wear on your sleeves and make them part of your daily lives.
The Rwanda and Africa we want will only be built by people ready to stand with others in well calculated solidarity, through hard work and sacrifice, always willing to put in an extra hour of service, going the extra mile and doing all this while observing the highest levels of integrity.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, let us always remember that UR is the only Public University of Rwanda. This beautiful name is rich with the meaning of attachment and representation. There is no other academic institution in the country which should look more like Rwanda than UR. And if we see sense in this notion, and if we agree that Rwanda always sees itself as capable of doing more within the available means, then UR should adapt an exactly similar spirit of believing in doing exactly that and willing to do exactly that. The Government of Rwanda which is more than willing to render necessary support.
We have great confidence in as well as expectation from the UR leadership. Government will continue to empower the University of Rwanda in all meaningful and relevant ways. The deal is that as we give you more, you return even much more, in the spirit of doing more with less, and punching above our weight. We want and should see more of the image of real Rwanda in the University of Rwanda, because the University of Rwanda by far raises more children of Rwanda than any other academic institution in Rwanda.
UR is Rwanda’s pride, and so may it bear Rwanda’s perfect similarity. Government will always do best to find resources for doing the right things in accordance with the noble vision to be a leading university nationally and globally. Commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence for lives of service, leadership and solutions is the yardstick UR will be constantly measured against. God bless the leadership and everybody involved as we together as Team Rwanda sail on. The strong belief we all should share is that we can.
Congratulations once more to the Chancellor, Board of Governors, Faculty and Staff and most importantly to you beloved, our graduating students, together with your families. Go have memorable celebrations while observing the COVID-19 health guidelines.
Thank you for your kind attention.
{{Remarks by members of UR management}}
{{Message from the Chancellor – University of Rwanda }}
Finally you completed your academic journey despite the huddles. Now it will not matter anymore that the COVID-19 put on hold our study plans for a year. Because despite the delay in our schedule, we have managed to make it through to the rewarding end always envisaged, degrees in hand, all we worked for. With utmost pleasure, I say congratulations to you all esteemed University of Rwanda 2021 graduands.
You are already part of a special history of resilience. When the pandemic struck the world almost two years ago, Rwanda almost one and a half years ago – when in March 2020 all schools in the country, and indeed almost the world over, closed and you went home to academic stagnation, nobody knew the time it would take to get back. While the optimistic thought it would last only a few months, the pessimistic feared it could go on for years. The God given compromise now looks to have been one year. And we can thankfully take it in and move on as children of special times.
Let this be a moment of reflection for you. I would like to draw your attention to the good things you might never have had the chance to learn this early in your academic and professional lives were it not to be for corona virus. The intensive online classes experience for students and faculty, the improvisation of technology, learning and teaching equipment, the patience with school administration, government, families and with each other, are all good.
Difficult times will always yield resilient products. Meaning that in case any of you was viewing self as unfortunate to have been the lot affected by the unusual times, let me make the reminder that you are the lucky ones instead. This world as we know it offers better opportunities to those who make the best out of seemingly bad situations, than those who are quick to have self pity, consumed in lamentations over situations they could do little or nothing about. There is no doubting that you are better prepared to take on the world than you would have been if you finished school during normal times.
I have been keenly following Rwanda the country, paying close attention to the various decisions government has made over time. There is a tremendous lesson to learn, of doing so much from seemingly so little, including for example the outstanding involvement in peace keeping missions in Africa. If you can go from here and emulate that spirit, only the sky would be the limit of what you can achieve with your degrees.
God bless you with abundant courage as you dare to go, and accompany you all the way to different fulfilling life destinies. The world has been waiting for your arrival on the stage of service, so go and give it your all now that you are fully equipped with relevant knowledge. Congratulations again beloved.
{{Message from the Vice Chancellor – University of Rwanda}}
This is a memorable day for many reasons, to several people. To every graduating student, it is a day of invaluable milestone in young academic lives that can only continue to grow from here. To your families, it is a moment of celebrating with their loved ones who just made it to the club of degree holders. To the university of Rwanda, this a time like no other as it symbolizes delivery of yet another huge contingent of employable minds to national and global markets which need your skills. And finally to Rwanda and government, it is a proud moment when the return on a noble investment into higher education is to be savored.
Esteemed graduands, while this marks the conclusion of an important phase, we are to be quickly reminded that it doubles as the beginning of another. Over the last few years you have been undergoing transformation that is not to be an end in itself. It is for enabling you to play enhanced roles individually and collectively in social, economic and political transformation of our countries, continent and the world.
A few years ago you arrived at the University of Rwanda with one goal: to study and complete, then return to the open world and be reabsorbed into different slots with boosted capacities to build in a better way. So go and be that which you have been trained to become: mature people, more responsible, grown and capable citizens ready to and capable of adding value to society. Be determined to take something valuable back to your communities and governments, as well as bringing back something to this University of Rwanda for continuity and furtherance of institutional excellence after here.
On your mind, ladies and gentlemen, from today onwards, should always be the question: what and how am I to contribute towards the betterment of my world? Let the resilience gained from the hard times be of benefit to you as you answer that question in a tangible and meaningful way. Go and contribute towards a more secure, prosperous Africa and a fair world.
As Vice Chancellor I am honored to have you as my first graduating students. I have enjoyed working hard with a valuable team towards this day of accomplishment. I look forward to leading them well in the future with genuine effort to raising higher the bar of our University’s academic and administrative aspects, vying for a place in the higher echelons of world ranking.
As you immediately become alumni, the University of Rwanda would like to maintain a friendly and active relationship with you for mutual gain. Giving back in one way or another is something you will find quite rewarding. I promise, the administration shall stay very enthusiastic and ready to engage as a way to provide you with the opportunity to give back, be it intellectually, or financially. But first you will need to go put your newly acquired skills and networks to the best use possible. Africa is waiting. Congratulations once more. (END)
{{Graduation message from Chair of the Board of Governors}}
Today as we confer on you the academic honors you have worked so hard for over a long and challenging period, dear graduating students, it is my privilege to join in your celebration of the outstanding achievement and congratulate you warmly. I and the other members of the Board of Governors certainly share in your joy. This once in a lifetime milestone which puts smiles on your faces as you reflect on attainment of your degrees is highest among the moments we always look forward to.
Special thanks I would like to extend to the Vice Chancellor and his entire team, both the academic and administrative, for a job done tremendously well. It is because of an impressive level of commitment on their part to help students succeed against all odds that this cohort is proudly graduating. In spite of the setbacks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, University of Rwanda was only delayed in holding this graduation, but was never going to be deterred completely. It is all thanks to team UR under the good leadership of Professor Lyambabaje Alexandre. Congratulations.
President Paul Kagame once said that it is his “purpose to develop a country, to empower its population. It’s from that same population that will emerge the man or woman who will succeed me. And they will be chosen based on the consensus that they have the capacity to lead the country.”
You can and should take this message to make it literally yours, esteemed graduands. Now that you have been empowered with the knowledge necessary to impact the social transformation we all crave and are involved in its process, what remains is your inner determination to put to good use that knowledge. Let each one of you always act like a leader in your field of operation. Indeed it is from among you that Africa’s and world leaders will emerge.
To the Government that unreservedly supports University of Rwanda, much appreciation. Without solid Government support it would have been impossible for UR to remain standing as an institution of academic excellence during these difficult times. Through thick and thin the University made it to this auspicious occasion and august convocation. We look forward to consolidating the spirit of always offering value for money from the invaluable investment into our noble institution.
On the Board of Governors behalf, I sincerely say well done to the students, staff and government of Rwanda. Together we made it. Congratulations once again.
Located in Kacyiru, LICA opened doors in Rwanda in 2014 offering a school structured curriculum that has been tried and proven globally to be very effective in providing all the basic academic disciplines as well as instilling Godly character into the lives of students.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held on 29th August 2021, Mrs Birungi Ram Abooki the co-founder of LICA said: “We are proud to graduate the first cohort of students and look forward to educating many more and setting them on the path to success.”
Accelerated Christian Education is an American education provider of a Christian education school curriculum that is structured around the individual student, building a skill upon skill, a method that enables a student to move progressively beginning with the first skill to be mastered before moving on to the next skill.
“The students today received an accredited high school diploma as well as their official transcripts and will be joining universities. We invite other students seeking a foundational excellence that will enable them to acquire the skills needed to pursue education and excel at a global stage,” Mrs Birungi added.
Life International Christian Academy is an educator that espouses Biblical Values combined with a relentless pursuit of excellence, Character Building, and the use of standardized Packet of Accelerated Christian Education (PACES) that enable the individual student to progress and eventually graduate with ICCE and LCA qualifications.
{{About Life International Christian Academy}}
Life International Christian Academy was co-founded by Birungi Ronald and Mrs.Birungi Ram and their 4 Children who moved to Rwanda in 2014, pursuing a dream to start and operate a learning center that integrates Biblical Principles (Scripture memory, wisdom principles), Godly Character Training (A.C.E. characters, 90 character traits of Christ), Mastery-Based Learning that has a Built-In Reinforced System of Learning at its core.
The school focuses on Individualized Learning that ensures that all learners, regardless of age or grade develop Critical Thinking Skills that set them on the path to success in the field of their choosing.
The bales of second-hand clothes were seized from two smugglers, who were also arrested.
They are Elie Bategejo, 34, who was arrested in Rubavu District on Tuesday, August, 31, at about 5am, with five bales.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, the five bales were recovered from Bategejo’s house located in Rambo Village, Kiraga Cell in Nyamyumba Sector.
Another suspected smuggler; Andre Ngerageza, 49, was arrested with seven bales in Gabiro Village, Kagarama Cell, Mahembe Sector in Nyamasheke District.
While explaining circumstances under which Bategejo was arrested, CIP Karekezi said: “Police got information from a resident, at about 4am, that a commercial motorcyclist was transporting clothes from the shore of Lake Kivu to the home of Bategejo in Rambo Village, Kiraga Cell about 50 metres from Lake Kivu.
An operation was swiftly conducted and during the search, Police officers recovered 5 bales in the same house, and Bategejo was taken into custody,” CIP Karekezi said.
The bales had been smuggled into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Lake Kivu.
Bategejo claimed that he was called by a woman residing in Rubavu town, whom he only identified as Vestine and requested him to keep the bales for her
He further said that he was to be paid Rwf10, 000 for hiding the bales.
“Ngerageze was also reported by residents in Mahembe sector at about 7am, after they saw a commercial motorcyclists delivering seven bales to his store in Gabiro village. Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) officers were deployed, searched and recovered the bales in the said house before taking him into custody,” said CIP Karekezi.
CIP Karekezi commended residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects were taken to RIB for further investigation while the search of anyone connected to smuggled goods is still ongoing.
Under article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is also applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods are auctioned.
{{Tax fraud}}
A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subject to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax.
With exception to that penalty, the Tax Administration refers the case to the Prosecution service if the taxpayer voluntarily evaded such tax, like through the use of false accounts, falsified documents or any other act punishable by law.
In case of conviction, the taxpayer can be imprisoned for a period between six months and two years.
The statement released last night shows that 496 people have caught the virus out of 14 241 sample tests, four recovered while 32 are critically ill.
A total of 660,402 people have been fully vaccinated while 1,513,881 received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Patrick Nsengumukiza, 42, and Benoit Karangwa, 46, arrested on Monday in Nyarugenge Sector, Nyarugenge District were paraded to the media on Tuesday, August 31, at Kigali Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Remera, Gasabo District. Through the created ghost business companies, the duo allegedly evaded taxes worth over Rwf40 million.
Nsengumukiza said that he met Karangwa in March this year and that they have since created three ghost companies dealing in construction materials.
“I was helping people to register or open businesses online, but sometimes using fake Electronic Billing Machine (EBM) to register fictitious companies. I helped this man (Karangwa) to open three fake companies. We did it well knowing that it was illegal because they were not registered anywhere as legal business companies,” said Nsengumukiza.
According to Nsengumukiza, Karangwa was only using the ghost companies to engage in other businesses without paying taxes since they are not registered and unknown. He added that Karangwa would use one company for only three months, close it and open another to avoid being detected or arrested.
According to Karangwa, he met Nsengumukiza as they were both businesspeople and that it is the latter that brought the whole idea.
“He first came as a client but later brought the idea of creating ghost companies and issuing fake receipts. In the last three quarters, were had evaded over Rwf40 million,” said Karangwa.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that Nsengumukiza is suspected of facilitating traders to evade taxes.
“Nsengumukiza was facilitating traders to create fake business companies with intention to evade taxes but also helping other people with registered companies to evade taxes. He was basically being paid for facilitating traders to evade taxes.”
He added: “Businesses operate under specific laws, which must be respected including paying taxes where applicable. If you are not well versed with the laws and processes, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is there to help you.”
Anyone, who acts contrary to the law, CP Kabera warned, will be arrested to face the law. “Don’t fall prey to people, who want you to pay them to help you evade taxes. There are ways and means to detect such criminal practices for you to be prosecuted for breaking the law.”
Article 87 of Law N° 026/2019 of 18/09/2019 on tax procedures states that a person who, while intending tax evasion, use of forged documents in his or her accounts; counterfeit and use of documents or materials of the tax administration used for taxation; hide taxable goods or assets related to business; make a declaration indicating that the taxpayer has not made sales; change the trade name by a person prosecuted in relation to tax; make fraudulent registration of trade under the name of another person; hide accounting documents from the tax administration or damaging them; or use of forged accounting records; commits an offence of tax evasion.
Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years.
The incident took place in Mukura cell, Kagano sector, Rutsiro district of Western Province.
The two young men suspected of theft are identified as Azalias Niyomukiza and Gratien Ngendahimana.
The video which went viral on social media yesterday has triggered mixed reactions among members of the public criticizing such self-administered justice.
As seen in the video, the Chinese man inflicted corporal punishment on one of the young men using a rope.
It is said that the Chinese works with a company called Ali Group Holdings Ltd.
Following the incident, Chinese Embassy in Rwanda has issued a statement condemning such weird behaviors, reminded all Chinese to abide by Rwanda’s laws and report crimes to competent authorities instead of self-administered justice.
“The Chinese Embassy in Rwanda has taken note of a recent case concerning a Chinese private company and a citizen. The case is associated with suspected theft. The Chinese Embassy supports Rwanda’s law enforcement agencies to investigate and handle the case transparently and fairly in accordance with the law of Rwanda. Meanwhile, we request the lawful rights of the Chinese enterprises and citizens be properly protected,” reads the statement in part.
“The Chinese Embassy requires Chinese enterprises and citizens in Rwanda to abide by the local laws and regulations. Any suspected illegal behaviors found should be reported to the police timely, rather than being dealt with unlawfully on one’s own. The Chinese Embassy will continue to promote China-Rwanda relations and the friendship between the two countries,” adds the statement.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) have also revealed that suspects seen in the video inflicting corporal punishment have been arrested as investigation is underway.
It is said that assault victims are receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital.
