He was accompanied by Prof. Nshuti Manasseh, Minister of State in charge of EAC.
The Council of Ministers as the Community policy-making organ, is charged with the responsibility of keeping under constant review, the progress of implementation of the programs and activities of the Community, among other things.
Discussions mainly focused on the report of the activities of the EAC Secretariat and its organs as well as the report of the Council to the upcoming Summit.
The appointment of the next secretary general of the EAC is top on the agenda for the Summit.
Other issues are the appointment of judges to the East African Court of Justice and infrastructure plans for the period 2021-24.
The regional bloc has also prioritised recovery plans for the region’s economy that has been battered by Covid-19 measures and regulations.
Speaking to the East African recently, Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of the EAC and the chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Nshuti Manasseh said that ‘EAC partner states are looking into ways on how to deal with the effects of the virus on the region’s economy’.
“There are things we need to work on together, especially the free movement of goods and people. We are going to look at the entire economy. We need to see that the movement of goods is going on uninterrupted and that the Customs Union is operating,” he noted.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame and South Sudan’s Salva Kiir attended the Consultative Meeting of the EAC Heads of State on Regional Response to Covid-19 and the Free Movement of Goods last May.
It was convened following the recommendations of a joint consultative meeting of partner states’ ministers. Tanzania and Burundi did not attend the meeting.
The Commanding Officer for Fire and Rescue Brigade, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Seminega, said the fire broke out of the boys dormitory at about 2:30am.
“The fire broke out at about 2:30am, unfortunately the school called the Police emergency line 112 about 20 minutes later–2:50am. Our standby fire truck in Gisenyi town was immediately dispatched and succesfully put out the fire before spreading to neighbouring facilities, including the girls dormitory, kitchen and school store. We also managed to rescue some of the students’ equipment from the affected building,” ACP Seminega said.
ACP Seminega called upon the general public to always call for emergency response promptly to prevent much loss and likely loss of lives.
“Every minute you waste the more damage you are causing at the affected property and putting other near by facilities at higher risk without forgetting the lives of people,” the CO said.
He further urged to public to take note of emergency contacts to guide them on calling the nearest fire and rescue team.
The Fire and Rescue Brigade has a fire truck stationed in Rubavu, although the school laboured to report the fire incident to the RNP General Headquarters in Kigali.
Moreover, the fire truck in Rubavu is stationed near the affected school.
The school headmaster, Oswald Kaliwabo thanked the Police’s swiftness.
“Those, who were at the school first attempted to put out the fire but failed and 11 rooms of the boys dormitory were affected in the process,” Kaliwabo said.
He added: “We called the Police a bit late, maybe if we had called quickly a lot could have been saved…. We thank the Police emergency response team that arrived few minutes later, successfully extinguished the fire and save other building from being torched.”
The mixed school has a population of about 300 students.
The deceased include two women aged 50 and 58 as well as two men aged 58 and 66 respectively from Kigali city.
The statement released last night also shows that 15 patients have recovered while nine are critically ill.
As of today, the prevalence of new infections, recoveries and death toll stands at 2.5%, 93.1% and 1.4% respectively.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 18 553 people have been tested positive, 17 279 have recovered, 1016 are active cases while 258 have succumbed to the virus.
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.
The suspects were found mining coltan and wolfram in a concessions located in Tangabo Cell of Manihira Sector, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.
“Some of them were mining while others were filtering and washing minerals in Cyogo stream,” CIP Karekezi said.
He identified the suspects as; Celestin Habumugisha, 43, Innocent Nsengiyumva, 25, Innocent Habiyaremye, 20, Celeman Biziman, 26, Celeman Ngabonziza 31 and Anasthase Nsengimana 25.
Others are; Ntawuhorakize, 24, Jean Claude Habinshuti, 25, Icyamuduha Sehungu,18, and one only identified as Senzoga, 19.
CIP Karekezi said the successful operation followed credible information provided by residents of Haniro village in Tangabo sector about a group of people engaged in illegal mining activities.
“Residents reported a group of illegal miners from Rusebeya sector that crosses to Manihira Sector to mine coltan and wolfram and cleaning their minerals in Cyogo steam. Police officers were immediately deployed in the area and they apprehended 10 members of the group,” CIP Karekezi explained.
According to CIP Karekezi, the group is composed of 25 people and that the search for other members of the group is still underway.
Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that; “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
According to Azerbaijan’s Government, in the night of 26 February 1992 alone, 613 Azerbaijani civilians including 169 women and children were brutally murdered by the invading Armenian military forces.
Some of them reportedly were also frozen to death as they tried to flee Khojaly in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to international right groups, 487 people including 76 children were wounded while 1275 people were taken hostages and 150 people went missing
The event was recorded as the largest massacre in the course of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
For the Azerbaijanis, the Armenians attack was not only a mass murder but rather a Genocide
It was an ethnical cleansing and its purpose was to systematically create fears and horror among the Azerbaijanis thereby to force the civilians flee from their home towns.
They have been murdered by Armenians while they were in the process of fleeing their homes through the promised safety corridor, which turned out into the bloodbath for them.
Moreover different photo and video evidences show that the bodies of the victims of the massacre have been butchered even after the death.
The responsibility of Armenia, its political and military leadership for the crimes committed in Khojaly is confirmed by numerous facts, including investigative records, testimonies of the eyewitnesses, evidences from international media sources, and reports of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
As reported by the British scholar and writer, Thomas de Waal in his acclaimed book Black Garden on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the ex Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who was at the time one of the commanders of the ethnic Armenian forces, said: “ Before Khojaly, the Azerbaijanis thought that they were joking with us, they thought that the Armenians were people who could not raise their hand against the civilian population. We were able to break that [stereotype]. And that’s what happened.
The US journalist Thomas Goltz described the scene, saying, “The battered cars with wheels but without tires, piled high with rugs, pots and pans, rattled … choking with exhaust gases and bending under the weight of the mattresses and the iron beds.
People were trying to overtake a tractor trailer used for transportation of cotton, where grubby kids and quacking ducks sat among the dumped in a pile of clothes.
Usually there were men at the end of the column, who either rode the donkeys, or led the mules pulling carts.
Barefoot shepherds were driving frightened sheep, cows and calves, who tried to get under the wheels of a passing truck, to the other side of the road. ”
On 8 May 2008 in order to raise international awareness of the Khojaly Genocide at the initiative of Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Ms. Leyla Aliyeva’s “Justice for Khojaly” International Awareness Campaign was launched.
The campaign aims to raise international public awareness of the Khojaly Genocide, root causes and consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Khojaly Genocide is recognized and commemorated by parliamentary acts adopted in numerous countries.
So far, the legislative bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Honduras, Jordan, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Romania, Sudan, Djibouti, Guatemala, Scotland as well as many states of the United States of America have adopted relevant parliamentary resolutions.
Last week, US state, Minnesota has declared February 26 as “Azerbaijani Day” in recognition to Khojaly genocide.
“The majority of Azerbaijani Minnesotan community are descendants of survivors of the Khojaly genocide” reads part of the relevant declaration signed on February 12, 2021 by Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz.
It is also stated in the declaration that “the Azerbaijanis living in Minnesota, preserving their native language, rich cultural and spiritual values and traditions, contribute to the local culture by promoting them”
The signing of the declaration was taken as the success of Azerbaijanis living in Minnesota in promoting the truth about their country.
Another US state – Florida – has previously declared February 26, as the day of remembrance of the Khojaly genocide.
It should be noted that over 24 US states, have recognized and condemned the Khojaly genocide.
The act of genocide committed in Khojaly was one of the worst tragedies of the 20th century.
“Unfortunately, the perpetrators of the Khojaly Genocide are still left unpunished” said Dmitri Panin, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Ethiopia.
After over 30 years of injustice, Azerbaijan has liberated its land from occupation and restored territorial integrity.
Nagorno-Karabakh which is recognized as Azerbaijan’s territory falls into Azerbaijani’s hands, the Azerbaijanis hope justice might be served against actors behind the genocide.
“However we hope that after Azerbaijani territories have been liberated from the Armenian occupation the justice will prevail in this case as well” Mr. Dmitri added.
International human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch, has named the tragedy as the largest massacre in the region.
As in Khojaly Armenia targeted civilians again in the recent war in 2020 killing over 100 Azerbaijani civilians and wounding over 400.
Perpetrators of both Khojaly and the latest war crimes are still at large. If the perpetrators of Khojaly Genocide would have been properly punished in 1992 we might not have seen many bloody tragedies happening.
Father Rugirangoga died on 7th January 2021 in the United States of America (USA) succumbing to COVID-19 related complications.
On 27th January, Christians and friends of Rwanda in USA organized a farewell Mass prayer held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
The Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese, Hakizimana Célestin has told IGIHE that a farewell Mass will be held at Regina Pacis Parish shortly after Father Rugirangoga’s body arrives in Rwanda.
The farewell Mass is scheduled on 1st March 2021, a day before his burial to take place at Agasozi k’Ibanga ry’Amahoro (Hill of Secrete to Peace) located in Kamatita cell, Gihundwe sector, Rusizi district of Western Province.
The hill of 25 hectares is located in Nkanka Parish, Cyangugu Diocese.
Father Rugirangoga is renowned for delivering healing prayers, unity and reconciliation initiatives.
Father Rugirangoga was also renowned for psychiatric initiatives and healing prayers launched in Mushaka Parish that encouraged Genocide perpetrators to seek forgiveness and survivors to forgive offenders as a healing process from the wounds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
In 2015, Father Rugirangoga was selected as Protector of Friendship Pact ‘Umurinzi w’Igihango’ for outstanding contribution promoting unity and reconciliation among Rwandans across the country.
In 2019, Father Rugirangoga wrote a book dubbed “Forgiveness Makes You Free” aimed at consolidating Rwandans unity and reconciliation efforts.
Father Ubald Rugiranoga was born on 26th April 1955 in former Rwabidege sector, Mwezi parish in Commune Karengera, Prefecture Cyangugu currently in Rusizi district.
He was ordained priest in 1984 at the age of 29. He used to organize different gospel crusades in which many people healed from different diseases.
It is under this context that Terrassa Wines, a subsidiary of Terrassa Holdings joined the market in 2019 to bring spice to enthusiasts, bringing a wide range of brands to Rwanda.
As one of the biggest Holdings in Rwanda, Terrassa imports prestigious brands with uncompromised quality from internationally accredited producers.
Apart from selling Wines, Liquor, scotch and energy drinks, Terrassa has an assortment of soft drinks to serve to varied customers.
At Terrassa Holdings, customers can pick wines, liquors of choice imported from renowned manufacturers in Spain, France, Italy, South Africa, Portugal, Australia, Sweden, Mexico, Ukraine, and the United States of America among others.
Terrassa Management has told IGIHE that the store was introduced to bring quality & premium drinks closer to customers in Rwanda.
“The major reason for our start-up was to avail varieties of wines, scotch, whisky, vodka, energy drinks and other soft drinks all under one roof, and also an impeccable customer care experience.”
Located at Sonatubes and Nyarutarama, the store has the ability to serve Kigali through a swift delivery service.
{{For further inquiries, please contact 0788331050}}
The EastAfrican has learnt the officers, including 18 senior sergeants, 104 sergeants, corporals, and constables were sacked through a ministerial order published on February 16.
The number is more than six times the total number of police officers the force dismissed between January and October last year, signaling the ongoing quiet cleaning-up of the force.
While details of the dismissal are yet to be made public, the ministerial order refers to Articles 69 and 70 of the specific statute for police officers pertaining to dismissal without notice and definitive dismissal from the service, respectively.
As per the clauses, 146 officers under the definitive dismissal are likely to have been sacked over serious disciplinary faults, while more than 240 who were discharged without notice could have abandoned duty, made false declarations during recruitment, restricted by the penal laws to resume service or had not been promoted for two consecutive times.
RNP has had a “zero tolerance to corruption” stance over the years in attempts to tackle graft.
The dismissals come in the wake of growing reports of police officers’ exploitation of lockdown and travel restriction measures put in place to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic since March last year.
“Some people were forced to pay bribes in order to escape arrest and penalties imposed by police and local leaders,” the corruption watchdog Transparency International indicated in its 2020 Rwanda Bribery Index report.
According to Appollinaire Mupiganyi, TI-Rwanda Executive Director, the traffic department and local leaders were found to the most corrupt due to the lack of standarsided fines for violations of Covid-19 containment measures.
The government enacted penalties by law, including fines for violating Covid-19 protocols in September.
Those found without masks, not respecting required physical distance, or violating the curfew rules pay a fine of Rwf10,000.
Business owners including bars pay between Rwf150,000 and Rwf300,000 for violations.
These is in addition to being forced to attend lengthy public lectures held at public arenas like stadiums.
“While the lack of clear guidelines on fines initially constituted a problem, the public is still made to pay less in bribes instead of paying the prescribed fine. So, while we urge the public to respect the guidelines, they should be brave to report the law enforcement officers when they see this happening,” Mr Mupiganyi told The EastAfrican.
In the 2020 Corruption Perception Index, Rwanda was ranked as the least corrupt country in East Africa with 54 points and the only nation in the region to score above the global average rate of 43 points.
TI uses a scale of 0 to 100, zero being the score for the most corrupt. A score below 50 indicates serious levels of corruption in the public sector.
Tanzania was second at 38 points, Kenya with 31, Uganda 27, and Burundi 19.
South Sudan was ranked the second most corrupt across the globe, followed by Somalia.
You are set to meet someone for the first time, and all of a sudden, your palms turn into a mobile fountain. Like how do you even give out that handshake? It’s an embarrassing situation to face, I agree, and so is the condition itself.
Sweaty palms are also called hyperhidrosis. It is another (medical) name for sweating on the palm.
What causes it? Several factors, chief among which you have stress and anxiety. It’s been proven that undergoing high levels of stress or involving oneself in stressful activities can cause sweaty palm.
Also facing anxiety and fear can do the same, but that’s not all. There have been research results that suggest that it is also genetic. If it runs in the family, then there’s a high chance you will suffer it, even if you don’t, your kids may.
{{So how can one stop or at least, manage the condition?}}
1. Use specialised hand antiperspirant.
2. Keep alcohol hand wipes handy for a quick fix.
3. Use baby powder or cornstarch to absorb palm sweat.
4. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep your body cool.
5. Avoid sweat-inducing foods like caffeine, alcohol, red meat and spicy snacks.
6. Eat vitamin-rich foods that promote balance and healthy digestion.
7. Try home remedies such as sage tea soaks, rose water, or coconut oil.
8. Exercise to reduce stress.
9. See your doctor. If all of the above fail, you may need to see a doctor for a special treatment which varies depending on your body type or seriousness of the condition. Specialised treatment can include Botox, prescription drugs, etc.
Responsibilities of MHC have been shifted to the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
Since last year, the Government of Rwanda has been restructuring some institutions.
These reforms saw some institutions reducing or increasing staff members depending on areas of priority in a way that maintains improved institutional performance and avoid unnecessary expenses.
The Media High Council which has been operational for 19 years is among institutions that have been phased out.
It was established in 2002 with the mandate of monitoring media content. It was later in 2013 assigned more duties of building capacity for media managers, editors and practicing journalists.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service and Labor (MIFOTRA), Musonera Gaspard has told IGIHE that similar reforms were made within other institutions that were merged to improve efficiency.
“There have been instances where assistants would outnumber staff members with major duties within particular institution. It is with this regard that the Government decided to stop unnecessary expenses,” he said.
Musonera pointed out an example whereby some institutions had almost similar duties and independent financial departments yet there was possibility to merge them.
“This is about self-assessment to identify areas of priorities in which money should be utilized. It goes with identifying institutions with gaps to be reinforced or others with excessive staff members to be transferred. Government institutions are meant to foster citizens’ progress. It is not reasonable to spend the entire budget on staff and equipment which might end up reducing the budget for development projects gradually,” he explained.
Musonera revealed that responsibilities of Media High Council have been shifted to MINALOC which has been overseeing the functioning of the institution while capacity building for media managers and journalists has been transferred to RGB.
It is expected that the placement of employees will have been completed by the end of February 2021.
