The ministry said the victim was a 39 years old man.
Among the new cases are three from Kigali and nine were registered in Karongi from new cases in a refugee camp.
Since the first Coronavirus patient appeared in Rwanda, 530,304 sample tests have been made of which 4965 cases were confirmed. Of these, 4,664 have already recovered while 267 were still active cases.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
Launched in Rwanda in April 2020, ayoba is an easy to use instant messaging platform that includes informative channels as well as gaming available to all networks in Rwanda. The unique proposition for MTN customers is to be able to communicate at no data cost with all their contacts.
Commenting on the launch of the promo, MTN’s Marketing Operations Senior Manager, Desire Ruhinguka said, “Our mission is to lead digital for a brighter Rwanda. As part of our Digital Celebration named Twizamukire, we are rewarding MTN customers for joining us on this digital journey by simply using ayoba for communication and entertainment.”
Ayoba users will win cash prizes of up to Rwf50,000 weekly and airtime. New users simply have to download ayoba via Google Play Store or www.ayoba.me. Upon successfully downloading the app, the customer is required to register and use the ayoba existing features such as messaging and subscribing to channels.
Olivier Prentout, ayoba’s Head of Consumer Marketing said: “We are delighted once again to partner with MTN in Rwanda and we believe this promotion will provide new users on a great chance to join the ayoba family and enjoy the benefit of not using your data to play, share, listen and chat”
Ayoba is more than just a messaging app as it offers free games and music as well as lots of channels of information on sports, fashion, current news to name a few. MTN customers can stay connected to one another regardless of their network, access updated local content from channels like Igihe, listen to music and play games all at no data cost.
Other senators appointed are Kanziza Epiphanie and Twahirwa Andre.
These senators replaced Prof. Karangwa Chrysologue, Kalimba Zephyrin, Uwimana Consolée and Nyagahura Marguerite who had been appointed by the President of the Republic and ended their term.
The conference which has kicked off today October 16, 2020 in a virtual space has been organized by the AgriProFocus Forum, which brings together farmers, investors, government officials, members of the Civil Society, among others.
The theme of the conference is “Agriculture as key to a sustainable food system and business opportunities to the youth.”
The conference will bring together 100 people, including 50 youth and other stakeholders representing agricultural development and entrepreneurship organizations from among Rwanda’s youth and at least 500 people are expected to be connected in different parts of the world.
The four-day Youth and Agroecology National Summit 2020 is an opportunity to bring together young people working in agriculture, share experiences and connect youth and various stakeholders.
Participants will also visit various farms in the Southern and Eastern Provinces, looking at the state of agriculture.
Agriculture is a pillar of the carrier that supports the economies of different countries, often unique to those that practice it.
Although the sector is one of the major economies in the country Rwanda, it is one of the most affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the challenges in agriculture is the lack of a solid line to keep young people motivated to adhere to this sector.
In Africa, agriculture accounts for 32% of the country’s gross domestic product while it accounts for about 70%. A portion of 60% is exclusive to cultivated land in the world.
While the continent has an opportunity to grow agriculture, there is still needs to make improvements especially by helping young people to become more involved in agriculture and the use of technology.
In order to solve these problems, a conference will be held in Rwanda on how to improve agriculture.
The conference was organized by the AgriProFocus Forum, which brings together farmers, investors, government officials, members of the Civil Society and others.
The theme of this conference is” Agriculture as key to a sustainable food system and business opportunities to the youth.”
It is expected to start in Kigali on October 16, 2020 online while it will continue in other parts of the country.
The conference will bring together 100 people, including 50 youth and other stakeholders representing agricultural development and entrepreneurship organizations in Rwanda’s youth.
Due to the fact that it will be online, at least 500 people are expected to be connected in different parts of the world.
AgriProFocus members value the role of youth in food processing and sustainable agricultural investment.
AgriProFocus use modern agriculture as a way to support investment aimed at food security.
The conference, however, points out that the role of young people in this sector is still very low and still needs to be boosted up in the future.
AgriProFocus finds that improving the way agriculture is done is an opportunity for young people and can also provide them with a variety of jobs.
The four-day Youth and Agroecology National Summit 2020 is an opportunity to bring together young people working in agriculture, share experiences and connect youth and various stakeholders.
Participants will also visit various farms in the Southern and Eastern Provinces, looking at the state of agriculture.
To help young people with the goal of joining agriculture, AgriProFocus in collaboration with the IKEA Foundation is implementing a three-year 2020-2022 program called “Youth in Agroecology and Business Learning Track Africa (YALTA)” to support young people investing in agriculture to do it professionally.
There are more than 12,000 youth farmers are registered RYAF in Rwanda with more than 1,300 commercial establishments. They are integrated into sectors including agricultural processing, animal husbandry, productivity processing, agricultural assistance services and agricultural technology. It is integrated in the fields of agricultural processing, animal husbandry, crop processing, agricultural and agricultural technology services.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) estimates that more than 70% of Rwandans are subsistence farmers, accounting for at least 30% of the country’s economy, followed by a specific service sector of 46%.
Since 2010, the government has set a target of creating 200,000 jobs annually based on agriculture. In the fourth census of households conducted in 2015, the number of jobs created each year reached 146,000.
This comes following the Cabinet resolution of 12th October 2020 that Public transport buses with only seated passengers are allowed to operate at full capacity (100%).
Buses in the City of Kigali will operate at 100 % of the capacity for seated passengers and 50% of the capacity for standing passengers.
In an announcement, RURA stated that Inter-city transport fares have been reduced from 30.8 – 25.9 Frw/km per passenger, while transport in the City of Kigali have reduced from 31.9 -28.9 Frw/km per passenger.
“Passengers are encouraged to pay using the available digital payment options; Public transport buses should always operate with windows open for good ventilation, except when it is raining;”
“Passengers are required to continue observing measures and guidelines to contain the spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic, especially hand washing with clean water and soap or use hand sanitizer before getting on or off the bus;
Passengers are required to always wear face masks properly, avoid hugs and/or shaking hands and must comply with other measures and guidelines as issued by the Ministry of Health from time to time;” reads part of the announcement.
Public transport service providers were also reminded to monitor and ensure that passengers observe measures and guidelines to contain the spread of COVID- 19 pandemic; adding to that failure to comply with COVID 19 preventive measures and guidelines will attract administrative sanctions and penalties.
The statement says that the country also recorded 32 new cases emerging out of 1,753 tests, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 4,940, of which 509 are still active cases.
The new cases emerged from Kirehe district where a cluster of new cases was detected in a refugee camp that had the highest number of cases with 26, Gatsibo:3, Rubavu:2 and Gicumbi:1.
The outbreak is said to be in Mahama refugee camp which hosts over 50, 000 Burundian refugees.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
The five suspects were shown to the media on Tuesday, October 13, at Police Metropolitan Headquarters in Remera.
The quintet is suspected to have threatened and defrauded one Olivier Mayira, an entrepreneur and owner of Multi-Engineering and Construction Company (MECC) with offices in Kicukiro District, of over Rwf1 million.
They are Jean Marie Vianney Mugambage, who was masquerading as an investigator from RIB and head of the group; Jacques Uwimpuhwe (alias Pacific Habarurema), who was guising as an employee in the Office of the Auditor General; Deus Sengabo, who was dismissed from Rwanda National Police; Sgt Davis Mwesigye, an active Police officer and one Jean Bosco Dufitumukiza, Mayira’s childhood friend.
Mayira narrated that on September 29, he received a phone call from a man, who claimed that he wanted a surveyor, one of the services offered by Mayira.
“We linked up in Niboye where I found this caller with four other people in a car with tinted windows. One, who was wearing a Police uniform (Mwesigye) immediately handcuffed me, they put me in the car, introduced themselves as officials from RIB, Police and Auditor General, who were investigating my allegedly use of fake documents to bid for tenders, of which I had no idea” Mayira said.
He added: “After hours of serious threats and psychological torture, Mugambage, who was being addressed by all members of the group as ‘team leader’ asked me; how do you see this situation? I replied that the ‘situation is not easy’ and that’s when they demanded Rwf 3 million so as to bury the case.”
According to Mayira, when they started soliciting money, a lot of things came to his mind.
“When they asked for money, I started to think that these are conmen but again another thought came to my mind; Jean Bosco Dufitumukiza, who was with them, was helping me to submit in my tender requests and could have done something wrong in the process. However, the greatest fear was that these people could be conmen and since I know their identities, they could kill me to prevent me from revealing their identities to law enforcement organs.”
Nonetheless, Mayira and the group settled for Rwf1.5 million, which he was supposed to give them within 30 minutes after his release.
“They threatened me that if I don’t give them the money within the next 30 minutes, they would hunt me down since they know where I work and live. I first sent Rwf606, 000 on Mobile Money to a SIM-Card registered in the names of Pacific Habarurema and later handed cash Rwf400, 000 to Jacques Uwimuhwe and Mugambage.”
The group continued to press Mayira for the remaining balance, which prompted him to bring the matter to law enforcement organs and the five suspects, were arrested on Monday, October 12, as they received other Rwf500, 000.
It has since been established that Dufitumukiza had joined and sold Mayira to the ring since he knew all his moves.
It is alleged that when Mayira sent Dufitumukiza to bid for a tender for street lighting in Bugesera, the latter worked with the ring to forge some papers, which they would later use to threaten Mayira of impending serious legal actions, if he doesn’t bow to their demands.
RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said that the quintet’s actions amount to “fraud, impersonation, abduction and unlawful arrest.”
Fraud, under article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, attracts a term of imprisonment of between two and three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million but not more than Rwf5 million, upon conviction.
Abduction and unlawful detention is punishable under article 151, with an imprisonment, upon conviction, ranging between five and seven years.
“This group includes someone, who was dismissed from Rwanda National Police, and a serving police officer. Their actions define them individually but not the entire Police institution and such people have no place in Rwanda National Police,” CP Kabera said.
He appealed to the general public to always report such people, who call themselves employees of certain institutions and soliciting money.
“If someone tells you that he or she works for a certain institution and asks for money so as to prevent any legal actions, to get a service that should be given for free; or overcharges you for a service otherwise offered at an official standard price comparatively low; this person is committing a criminal act and should be reported immediately to fight such fraud and bribery,” CP Kabera said.
The suspects, who were paraded to the media at the Police Metropolitan Headquarters in Remera, on Tuesday, October 13, include those who had erected aerial objects on plate numbers; those who erased the red coat on plates as well as those, who bent the plates; all with intention to obscure visibility, especially when a traffic offence is committed or when the motorcycle is used in unlawful acts.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that four of the impounded motorcycles were implicated in traffic and criminal offences more than a year ago.
“We have received cases where motorcycles have been used in committing crimes, but recognizing their number plates becomes difficult because they removed the red coat meant for easy visibility, while others put objects on plates or curve them in a way that no one can recognize the number. Such actions, it has been observed, are done intentionally and facilitate criminality, obscures people and cameras from reading the plates, and makes it hard to trace such motos used in unlawful acts as well as suspects,” CP Kabera said.
He warned that the “operations are continuous” and will also be extended to vehicles with stealth registration numbers.
“It’s a security concern; registration numbers should be as clear as they were issued and should be easy to recognize. When you place any object, bend them, smear mud on them or any actions that prevents recognition… you will be committing an offence and you will be arrested,” the spokesperson warned.
He observed that most of the motorcycles used in illegal acts have stained or objects that block recognition of number plates, and advised those with faded plate numbers to acquire new ones.
Daniel Ngarambe, the president of FERWACOTAMO, a federation of motorcycle cooperatives in Rwanda, observed that such individuals tarnish the image of taxi-moto profession.
“Such operations help us as the federation to build a professional moto transport system as it sends a strong message to anyone hiding behind it to commit or facilitate crimes like in some cases where they have been caught in smuggling, drug trafficking as well as transporting stolen items especially at night,” Ngarambe said.
He added that the federation built a database, which helps to trace anyone or a motorcycle that was implicated in any unlawful acts.
“We work with the Police and RURA (Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority) to ensure that such people are arrested, which ensures that the taxi-moto profession becomes the best option as a means of transport,” Ngarambe explained.
Currently, he said, there are over 46,000 registered taxi-moto operators across the country, with 26000 of them operating in Kigali. At least 19,000 of the motorcycles operating in Kigali have been fitted with GPS.
The development comes weeks after the Government resolved to reopen schools gradually with adherence to Covid-19 preventive measures.
Schools were closed in March, when students in primary and secondary were remaining with less than a month to complete the first academic term.
According to a statement by the ministry under the new calendar, all students will begin from the second term.
The ministry also noted that students allowed to resume studies are those in upper primary, all levels of secondary, TTC and TVET.
Students in primary 5 and 6, those in senior 3, 5 and 6, those in TVET and students in TTC will resume second term studies on November 2 and end on April 2, 2021.
During the period, the students in the above classes will have four weeks for revision, assessment and remedial learning activities, before learning content of the second term.
For primary four pupils and students in senior one, two and four, they will kick-off their second term on November 23 and end on April 2.
All students will have a two-week holiday on April 3 through April 15.
The third term will last for 12 weeks, starting on April 19 and end on July 9, next year.
Mineduc explained that primary national examinations are scheduled to take place on July 12, 2021 and end on July 14.
Meanwhile, national examinations for secondary schools, TTC and TVET students are scheduled on July 20 and end on July 30, next year.
The ministry noted that lower primary and pre-primary will resume studies later, adding that the details of their calendar will be communicated in due time.
In the meantime, the online learning will continue to support learning for those levels.
So far, higher learning institutions in Rwanda have already resumed their studies.
Among the new patients Kigali City registered one while Nyagatare and Rubavu Districts registered one each.
A statement from the ministry said that the number of confirmed cases in Rwanda has reached to 4908 with the latest tests taken Rwanda has executed 523,021sample tests so far; while with the new recoveries the total number of recoveries has now reached 4130. The number of active case is 746 while about 32 people have succumbed to the pandemic.
Rwanda Biomedical Center warned, this week, that despite the declining numbers and some treatment centers closing up, the virus is likely to rebound, thus a need to have citizen vigilance and adherence to government measures against the spread of the New Coronavirus.
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 required to continue to comply with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
