The deceased include two women aged 45 , 73 respectively; a 70-year old man from Kigali and another 86 year old man from Rulindo district.
Among others, 154 new cases have been found out of 1890 sample tests while no recovery recorded.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 88, Gisagara: 11, Gicumbi: 11, Huye: 10, Rwamagana: 9, Karongi: 6, Nyagatare: 4, Musanze: 3, Rubavu: 3, Rusizi: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Bugesera: 2, Muhanga: 1, Rulindo: 1 and Nyabihu: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9784 people have been tested positive out of 769 338 sample tests of whom 6974 have recovered, 2686 are active cases while 124 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.
Upon arrest last year, the officials were suspended for six months as investigations got underway on suspected connivance in misallocation of funds meant for the construction of feeder roads. It was said that suspects had connived to pay out a contractor before and the equipment were never delivered.
After spending four months in detention, Karongi Intermediary Court acquitted the officials on 9th December 2020.
As they were reinstalled to work, some employees at district level were appointed at sector level while existing sector executive secretaries got transferred.
These include the Director of Administration and Finance in Rutsiro district, Alexis Basabose who has been appointed the executive secretary of Mushubati sector.
Rutayisire Déogratias, former executive secretary of Ruhango sector has been transferred to Kigeyo sector while Ikizihiza Alida, the former executive secretary of Rusebeya sector has been transferred to Murunda sector replacing Ntihinyuka Janvier who was also sent to Rusebeya sector.
Bisangwabagabo Sylvestre, the former executive secretary of Kivumu sector has been transferred to Mukura sector.
Among others, Rutsiro district engineer; Kamana Jean Marie and Munyamahoro Cyato Justin, the Accountant returned to previous positions.
Land officers including Nshizirungu Emmanuel in Nyabirasi sector, Sekamana Théophile in Ruhango sector, Kagaba J. Baptiste in Mukura sector, Murari Richard in Murunda sector and Ndagijimana Aloys in Kivumu sector retained their positions.
The mayor of Rutsiro district, Emerance Ayinkamiye has confirmed their reorientation which she said, was done in consideration of legal provisions.
Acquitted officials resumed work on 7th January 2021.
The grenade was found yesterday around 11 am seen by casual workers who were digging around as confirmed by the executive secretary of Nyakabanda sector, Mugambira Etienne.
“The grenade has been found at one’s home as casual workers extracted stones from the ground,” he has told IGIHE.
He explained that relevant security officials came to pick the grenade and appealed on residents to be cautious whenever they found unusual metals.
The decision to repossess the land went into effect on 1st January 2021.
The decision raised mixed reactions despite Government’s repeated reminders to the public on registration deadline.
The Director of Land Administration Unit at RLMUA, Jean Baptiste Mukarage has told IGIHE that the land will be registered to the Government temporarily as they wait for owners to get them registered.
“The Government has taken over a total of 1,499,845 plots of land. These include 31, 997 in Kigali City; 503 274 in Southern Province, 399, 305 in Western Province; 303,383 in Northern Province and 261 886 in Eastern Province,” he said.
Mukarage explained that such lands remain unregistered for various reasons whereby some owners don’t value the activity, try to evade tax while others don’t have identities or lack basic documents to have lands registration.
Other reasons include people exploiting Government’s lands for free fearing to get them registered and others unwilling to expose their wealth.
Mukarage revealed that owners will continue to utilize their unregistered land before the Government communicates further decision.
“People will continue to register their lands presenting ownership documents obtained from cell’s land committees in collaboration with sectors’ officials,” he said.
Mukarage has underscored that deeper analysis will be conducted to understand why each plot of land is not registered before taking further decisions.
He said that the Government might take full ownership of unregistered lands if concerned people continue to keep quiet without claims to complete the registration process.
The Government of Rwanda launched land registration in 2009 completed 2013 but some people have not yet registered their properties.
In January 2020, RLMUA released a statement informing the general public that everyone should have registered his/her land within six months.
The deadline set on 30th June 2020 was extended to 30th December 2020 due to COVID-19. The institution revealed that unregistered land would be considered abandoned properties after the deadline.
Commenting on the deadline that was set towards the end of December 2020, the Director General of RLMUA, Esperance Mukamana explained that Rwanda has no gain in taking over people’s land and encouraged land owners to rush for registration.
“The Government has nothing to gain from taking over anyone’s property. We want people to do the necessary to register their land. If you fail to do so, the Government will temporarily takeover the land and return it when you have had it registered,” she said.
Mukamana explained that people registering the land temporarily owned by the Government will not be subject to fines and pointed out advantages of land registration.
“Land registration has played a critical role in solving land related disputes. For instance, land dispute cases taken to court have reduced. Moreover, land owners can use their land documents to acquire bank loans,” noted Mukamana.
The article 20 of the Law No 43/2013 of 16/06/2013 determining land use in Rwanda shows that land registration is obligatory.
Figures from RLMUA show that 9,965,648 plots of land have been registered since 2009 when the land registration exercise began that remaining ones without registration equal to 1,561,201 across the country.
The new development has been revealed by NEC Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza during a talk show aired on Rwanda Television.
The budget that was prepared before Coronavirus pandemic might however be increased because there were no considerations for some expenses like hand sanitizers at every polling station, water to wash hands, and others related to the prevention of Covid-19.
“Citizens’ participation during elections increases as years pass by. The higher number of voters should correspond to increased budget but it should not be a burden to the country which has other areas of focus to promote citizens’ progress,” he said.
“The budget was prepared in 2019. We didn’t know that Coronavirus would emerge. Thus, the budget might increase due to measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 given that polling rooms will be increased from 16,000 of 2016 to almost 17,000,” added Munyaneza.
At least 1.3 million contenders are expected to participate in upcoming elections while 600 are set to vote for the first time.
As Munyaneza explained, the budget is estimated at Rwf 3.5 billion down from Rwf 5 billion of parliamentarians’ elections in 2018.
NEC is set to start receive candidatures for aspirants to join districts’ advisory committee.
NEC Chairman, Prof Kalisa Mbanda revealed that applications will be submitted online to contain the spread of COVID-19.
He highlighted that Coronavirus preventive measures will also be observed during local leaders elections scheduled on 20th to 22nd February 2021.
“Our team has recently visited different sites countrywide to assess if polling stations have enough spaces or need more rooms. Usually, people would interact being closer to each other but we have taken measures enabling voters to respect social distancing to contain the spread of Covid-19,” said Mbanda.
NEC timetable shows that villages’ advisory committees will be elected on 20th February 2021 while cell and sectors’ advisory committees will be elected between 20th and 22nd February 2021.
On 5th March 2021, there will be elections for districts’ advisory committees and executive committees (mayor and vice mayors).
Only Rwandans aged 18 years without particular restrictions are eligible to vote.
Those eligible to vote should not have been served more than 6 month-sentence, should not be pinned to murder cases, not involved in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Among others, an individual sacked from public service is not allowed not vote.
NEC figures show that a total of 6, 469, 037 voters participated in 2016 local leaders elections while 2018 parliamentary elections attracted 7, 172,612 voters.
So far, 7,856,406 voters are registered on the provisional list of elections scheduled from 20th to 22nd February 2021.
Capt Rusine who was once enrolled in Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and Col Irombe were arrested on 7th January 2021 through Congolese Special Forces known as ‘Hibou Special Forces’.
Rusine joined FLN in 2018 after dismissal from RDF over conviction for robbery crimes. He was sacked at the rank of Lieutenant.
Col Irombe was heading FLN military court. He was born in 1967 in former Commune Tare currently in Gakenke district. He studied secondary school at Rwesero Junior Seminary.
As RPF soldiers stooped genocide, Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) fled to DRC where Irombe pursued Laws at Lubumbashi University.
He once served as Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) Judiciary Commissioner and personal secretary of Col Bigaruka. The arrest of the two men follows the death of Lt Col Butera Didier, former FLN advisor killed during FARC operations.
The week-long fight between FARDC and CNRD/MRCD rebel groups in Muzimu and Kigoma of Uvila in Southern Kivu saw 36 FLN fighters killed. The rebel group’s headquarters has also been captured by FARDC.
FLN has been on the brink of defeat since top leaders have been arrested. These include the spokesperson, Nsabimana Callixte Sankara and his successor, Herman Nsengimana as well as the Chairman Paul Rusesabagina who are detained in Rwanda.
Recently arrested leaders are additional to other members of the terror groups extradited to Rwanda including Major Habibu Mudathiru along with rebels who had joined the coalition of armed groups allied to RNC that intended to destabilize Rwanda’s security and FDLR tope leaders like Ignace Nkaka, alias LaForge Fils Bazeye, Lt Col Jean-Pierre Nsekanabo FDLR arrested and facing justice in Rwanda.
Rwanda’s embassy in UAE has announced that the first batch of fruits from Rwanda were delivered on Saturday 9th January 2021. Rwanda signed agreements to export to Carrefour Hypermarkets last week.
Horticultural products to be exported to the market include passion fruits, avocado, bananas and pineapples.
After launching the market, Rwanda’s ambassador to UAE, Emmanuel Hategeka used his Twitter handle to thank the management of Carrefur for opening doors for Rwanda’s fruits and assured clients of high quality fruits from Rwanda.
“A big thank you to vice president Mr. Arnaud Bouf and the leadership Carrefour for opening the gates to Rwanda’s fresh products and thank you to the Rwanda community in Dubai for your presence and support today,” he said.
Carrefour hypermarkets are established across the Middle East and North Africa region. With shop floor space varying between 2,400 and 23,000 sq.m. per store, Carrefour’s Hypermarkets offer a wide selection of 20,000 to 80,000 food and non-food products.
Rwanda’s fruits will be traded at over 320 retail stores of Carrefour which records over 750,000 clients on daily basis.
Amb. Hategeka Emmanuel who also represents Rwanda to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia presented credentials to represent Rwanda in Bahrain in a virtual ceremony held yesterday on 10th January 2021.
After presenting credentials, he reiterated commitment to promote bilateral relations.
“Such a great honor for me to present my Credentials to H.E Dr. Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain as Rwanda’s Ambassador designate (non-resident).Our bilateral relations can only grow stronger. I am committed for stronger cooperation to promote interests of both countries’ people and ready to visit Bahrain when flights stabilize,” he said.
Amb. Hategeka is also expected to present credentials to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Before appointment to represent Rwanda to UAE, Amb. Hategeka was the Deputy CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Rwanda, Bahrain relations is gradually getting boost highlighted by bilateral discussions between both countries’ officials.
In September 2020, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Vincent Biruta held talks with his counterpart of Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani that revolved around improving bilateral relations and cooperation to promote citizens’ interests.
Bahrain is among Arab countries recently allowed to invest in Rwanda’s tourism sector. Others include Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Among others, 169 people have been tested positive out of 2361 sample tests while 18 have recovered.
New cases were found in Kigali: 125, Musanze: 15, Rubavu: 11, Nyagatare: 6, Huye: 4, Rusizi: 3, Rulindo: 2, Nyanza: 1, Nyamasheke: 1 and Bugesera: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 9630 people have been tested positive out of 767,448 sample tests of whom 6974 have recovered, 2536 are active cases while 120 have succumbed to the pandemic.
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.
Their actions are contrary to the government directives, which among others, prohibit social gatherings as one of the measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
The violators, all youth, came from different parts of Kigali.
The District Executive Administrator for Kicukiro, Solange Umutesi said that the the violations were reported by neighbours.
“Neighbouring residents, who understand the current situation and the directives called local authorities and Police reporting noise pollution. We went there and found the young boys and girls in the house drinking and dancing. Some of them were drunk,” Umutesi said.
She added that such young people should be guided against disregarding the health guidelines at the time when other youth are actively engaged in supporting national efforts against the spread of the pandemic through awareness and enforcement in markets, trading centres, bus stations and terminals.
The District Executive Administrator commended residents that reported the violations.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that the house had been turned into a bar.
“Bars are still closed; turning your home into a bar or holding house parties is equally prohibited as one of the ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Police cannot be everywhere and in every home to enforce the directives but remember that whatever you are doing violating the directives, there are people who will report such inappropriate behaviours and actions, and you will be arrested,” CP Kabera warned.
When Police officers arrived at the house, it is said that they were abused by the violators.
CP Kabera said: “There are reports that these violators abused Police officers, who had come to enforce the directives. Abusing the authority is punishable by law and this will be investigated to authenticate the truth. If investigations prove that Police officers were actually abused, the accused will also be prosecuted as the law provides.”
He observed that such gatherings bringing people from different places are risky and can be source of COVID-19 spread.
The spokesperson warned the public against such risky practices and advised against unnecesary movement.
The violators will be educated on the health guidelines and other directives, but also fined for the violations.
