A statement from the Ministry of Health on Tuesday said that of the new cases, three were detected in Kigali City and one in Bugesera District.
Rwanda has confirmed a total of 4,836 COVID-19 cases out of 492,986 sample tests taken, 3,125 recoveries, 1,682 active cases, and 29 deaths.
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 complying with government regulations, especially with frequent washing of hands and water and soap, wearing masks when leaving home or in public.
It is expected that at the outset, once the first vaccine is approved, Rwanda will be given a few vaccines, which will focus on protecting people working in the health sector and others who are considered to be most critical.
The first phase will protect about 3% of the population, which means that out of 12.5 million people living in Rwanda today, about 375,000 will be vaccinated against Coronavirus.
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) will also monitor the delivery of these vaccines, advising countries to first vaccinate health workers, as they are among the most likely to be infected with Coronavirus; yet it is not a must, therefore, each country will use the vaccine given to it as it pleases.
It is expected that in the middle of next year, Rwanda will be given other special vaccines, especially those in those categories that may be severely affected by Coronavirus, including elderly people and those with other diseases.
This category is likely to leave more than 10% of the population vaccinated against Coronavirus, and will focus on areas with the highest number of Coronavirus infections. As in Rwanda, Kigali will be given priority in light of the current rate of infection.
Rwanda is also likely to be vaccinated for the third time, in case of severe outbreaks of Coronavirus and there is an inability of its clinics to cope with the severity of the pandemic.
The phase is expected to be completed by the end of next year, at which point the WHO predicts that the pandemic could see its end completely.
The Director General of the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, who recently told IGIHE that the Rwandan government plans to vaccinate at least 25% of the country’s population, saying this could significantly reduce the spreading rate.
At the time, he said, “once the vaccine is available, at least 25% of Rwanda’s population will be vaccinated for more effective results.”
The COVAX Forum is made up of a total of 156 countries, of which 92 developing countries which are eligible for funding, and the other 64 have the ability to multiply vaccinate, and are in the network in order to provide assistance.
All of these countries are home to 64% of the world’s population, so if they achieve their goal, it will help the Earth cope with the spread of Coronavirus. Meanwhile, the United States, China, and Russia are not in the forum.
In order for at least two billion people to be vaccinated against Coronavirus next year, the world needs $ 3.4 billion, of which $ 2 billion is needed no later than this year in order for developing countries to be vaccinated before next year.
Currently, there are about six vaccinations that have reached the third phase of the experiment, which is the last before they are approved and given to the public. It is not yet known when the vaccine will be approved, it is said that it might be released between November and December.
Meanwhile, Russia has announced that its vaccine has been approved and that the country will start giving it to their citizens next month, with more than 100 million expected to receive it. The vaccine, however, has not been approved by WHO.
Critics of COVAX say the way this forum will work will not be productive, for the vaccine is set to be given to countries that do not have high levels of Coronavirus, while countries with high levels of infection should be receiving the special attention.
However, WHO says that even if countries have a small number of infections, they could increase unexpectedly, which is why they need to be addressed early.
The former Division Manager in charge of energy in the Ministry of Infrastructure (Mininfra) has been in custody (Mageragere prison) accused of corruption-related crimes since July where his case had been postponed on technical grounds.
The court decision taken this Tuesday rhymes with the earlier solicited sentence of six years jail term, requested by the public prosecution.
Nyamvumba is accused of asking for a bribe worth Rwf7.2 billion from Javier Elizalde, a Spanish investor who had submitted and won a tender to set up street lighting in Rwanda. The tender was won in in 2019 and priced at Rwf72 billion to light up streets on 955.8 Km but later on reduced to Rwf48.4billion after the budget request was revised in the budget statement of 2019/2020.
It is alleged by prosecution that after the tender process was finally approved and submitted for funding in the ministry of finance, and before its execution early this year, Nyamvumba contacted Elizalde (who was not in Rwanda) asking for an urgent meeting over the tender progress.
The duo finally managed to meet in one of the hotels in Kigali, where Elizalde in his testimony stated that Nyamvumba asked for 10% commission to have the tender processed faster.
Elizalde is said to have been shocked over the request and subsequently informed the Rwanda Investigation Bureau for further investigation and arrest over attempted soliciting of a bribe.
During interrogation Nyamvumba told prosecution that he had solicited the money on behalf of Jean Damascene Niyomugabo – the proprietor of Master Steel Rwanda who was to jointly work with Elizalde to speed up the tender process.
Prosecution said that investigators collected evidence from testimonies of some of the ministry officials who confirmed the alleged discourse and intent to solicit a bribe in the name of the infrastructure ministry.
On these allegations Nyamvumba denied involvement in the alleged charges slapped on him citing inconsistences in prosecution evidence of which he said there was no linkage to the alleged crime since he had no authority on the decision made on the tender itself.
Court ordered Nyamvumba to also pay a court fine of Rwf21billion. He can appeal the ruling in the next five working days.
The ceremony, which took place at the Royal Palace of Belgium on September 29, 2020, was held in compliance with the COVID-19 measures.
Ambassador Dr. Sebashongore and the Belgian King Philippe Léopold Louis Marie held a conversation mainly centered on relations between the two countries, and also about Rwanda’s relations with its neighboring countries.
After leaving the Kingdom, the Ambassador immediately received Rwandans and their friends in Belgium in an evening of celebration.
Ambassador Dr. Sebashongore, thanked President Kagame for his entrusting him with the task of representing Rwanda in Belgium.
The minerals were recovered on Sunday, September 27, in the house of one Charles Twizeyimana, 43, the suspected thief.
They include 66.5kgs of cassiterite and 49kgs of Wolfram, which were allegedly stolen in the concession owned by Bugambira Mining Company Limited.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson of the Eastern region, said that the alleged theft was unearthed by local residents.
“Our community policing partners in the area called law enforcement organs reporting that Twizeyimana Charles is an illegal mineral dealer and had brought new consignments of minerals,” CIP Twizeyimana said.
He added: “Police and investigators responded to the call, searched Twizeyimana Charles' house and recovered two sacks of minerals; 66.5kgs of cassiterite and 49kgs of Wolfram. The minerals were traced back to a concession owned by Bugambira Mining Company Limited, where they had been stolen.”
The spokesperson commended the residents for the spirit of community policing and neighbourhood watch in particular.
This came less than a week after three other mineral thieves were also arrested in Kayonza District, Rwinkwavu Sector.
On September 20, 377kgs of coltan were seized from four illegal dealers in Rutsiro District while 15 tonnes of coltan and cassiterite were impounded from illegal dealers in Kamonyi District.
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.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a licence.
A statement from the FDA said, “There are pills that have changed color, so full investigation must take place to know its cause so that it will not harm the users.”
“We found these medicines with an issue of changing color for some tablets of the same blister; some tablets have yellow color while others have white color. It is in that regard that the following batches are called for quarantine while the Authority is conducting further investigation,” reads the announcement.
The drugs are Unibrol / Aminosidine Sulphate USP 250mg, number 5806898, manufactured in September 2019, will expire in August 2022. Another is Unibrol/Aminosidine Sulphate USP 250mg with number 5806675, made in June 2019, and will expire on May 2022.
Both drugs were manufactured by UNIVERSAL Corporation Ltd, based in Kenya. The FDA has asked everyone affected by the decision, as well as Rwandans in general, to stop using the above-mentioned drugs.
“Rwanda FDA instructs all importers, central medical stores, wholesalers, district pharmacies, retailers, public and private health facilities in possession of the mentioned drugs to stop distributing and giving the patients until the investigation is concluded,” the announcement adds.
He said this on September 27, 2020 while in Huye District to visit various infrastructures, looking at the existing achievements and the needs that are yet to be met.
As the minister was exploring the streets of Huye, he said that the construction of the road has changed the appearance of the city.
“In this World Bank project, especially on roads and other necessary infrastructure, we can see many good transformations and we have reached a very good stage; by next January all road infrastructures should have been completed,” he said, adding that it is very gratifying that the City of Huye is looking so different from what it was two years ago.
Gatete said that the City of Huye is clean and that the Huye District Administration has a positive vision for its improvement.
Huye District Mayor Sebutege Ange said they were currently constructing six-kilometer-long and 300-meter-long murrum roads in Huye City that would cost about Rwf6 billion.
Sebutege pointed out that other major projects will make Huye City the second largest city after Kigali including a school for the training and operation of small drones; industrial area; football academy and top-notch hospitality facilities.
House parties, visits and other social gatherings are prohibited under the government directives meant to fight further spread of COVID-19.
At about 3 am on Sunday, Police found the five people in the house of Marie Claire Kibukayire, who was holding a party in celebration of her newly built house.
Police was called in the night by neighbors, who were affected by noise pollution caused by loud music.
At the time, Police also found them drinking.
Kibukayire regretted holding “unlawful gathering and breaching the government safety guidelines.”
“I admit that what i did to organise a house-warming party and inviting friends… I violated the government safety directives, which prevents such social gatherings as a way of preventing people from infecting others with COVID-19.
Beyond that, we also caused noise pollution, and the truth is that I know this is prohibited and punishable by law. I have no excuse but to ask for liniency,” Kibukayire said.
Dollar Karumugabo is one of the people caught in the night house warming party.
He also regretted the “inappropriate action” for the social visit and not being in their respective homes by 10pm as directed by the recent Cabinet meeting.
“We were drinking and the music sound was really high. We violated the instructions and ask for forgiveness,” Karumugabo reckons
Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera said the violators breached varied safety instructions because they were “complacent.”
CP Kabera said: “People should know that due to this pandemic, some events were prohibited. For Kibukayire to celebrate her achievement, there was no need to invite other people for the house-warming party.
These people came from different places, gathered under one roof, started drinking, they violated the movement hours because in any case, they were supposed to be in their homes by 10 pm, and as if that was not enough they disturbed the wellbeing of other people with their music.”
He reminded the general public that the pandemic is real, deadly, and still in our midst adding that there is no room to be complacent.
“Although life is slowly being restored with some services allowed to resume, this does not mean that we should relax and lean back; these services are allowed to resume under strict guidelines which should be followed as well as all other general directives still in place.”
The City of Kigali council resolutions taken on August 31, 2020, prohibit and penalize anyone, who organises, invites or attends social events such as home parties, religious services in homes, birthday parties, bridal or baby showers, among others.
Organising or inviting people for such prohibited events attracts a fine of Rwf200,000.
Everyone, who attends these prohibited gatherings faces a penalty of Rwf25,000.
Violators are also subjected to 24 hours in centres where they are enlightened on COVID-19 prevention directives and safety guidelines.
The law No. 48/2018 of 13/08/2018 on environment in its article 53, states that; “Without prejudice to the provisions of the law determining offences and penalties in general, any person who causes noise pollution is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf500, 000.”
Noise pollution, according to National Noise Pollution Guidelines, is determined when sound goes beyond 80 decibels (db). Decibel is the unit through which noise is measured and sound becomes “physically painful” when it goes beyond 80db.
The establishments include restaurants, motels and bars, which were found selling alcohol or operating their bar sections, which are supposed to be closed in this period as per the government directive.
These are among the violations that were observed during the two-week assessment and operations organized by Rwanda National Police (RNP) and conducted jointly with local authorities and other charged institutions.
At least 270 people were caught in the fined and closed hospitality facilities in prohibited social gatherings and drinking alcohol, according to the assessment report.
Over 130 businesses were also not using the recommended cashless payment systems while more than 30 others had neither hand washing apparatuses nor hand sanitizers available.
According to RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, the inspection was part of the “Rwanda National Police’s ongoing awareness on the government directives, safety behaviors and practices as well as maximum compliance.”
“It is the usual RNP proactive practice of implementing the law and other directives mainly through education and awareness,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “This specific inspection was, therefore, meant to assess the level of compliance, ensure that those caught in serious violations are penalized but more importantly remind and educate different groups of people on their responsive roles to exhibit behaviors and actions that not only make them safe from the pandemic but also prevent them from spreading the virus where they work, live, walk, in their businesses where they serve clients and anywhere someone runs personal errands.”
The inspection targeted hospitality establishments, markets and trading centers.
It also assessed key COVID-19 prevention guidelines like washing or sanitizing hands, social distancing, cashless payment, wearing facemask as well as respect for movement hours.
“It is commendable that the level of compliance is largely high, although one error or one person can lead to further spread of the pandemic; no one wants that and that calls for individual responsibility to make right and safety choices in whatever you do,” CP Kabera said.
He commended the role played by the public in sharing information on violators, and called for the continued spirit of community policing.
The Air Pollution Control Treaty, signed on September 16, 1987 in Montreal, Canada, came into force in January 1989, and was amended in 2016 in Kigali. The revised agreement, which came into force in 2019, is an international one aimed at eliminating air pollution by 80% over the next 30 years.
Martine Uwera, the National Focal Point of Montreal Protocol said that Rwanda has reduced the importation of chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) from 4.1 tonnes in 2010 to 1.89 tonnes currently.
“We have reduced ozone depleting substances by 54 per cent and there is still a gap of 2.21 tonnes which we seek to phase out by 2030,” she said.
Uwera said the effects of sunlight damage include skin cancer, DNA damage and more.
Rwanda has also taken steps to control modern equipment such as refrigerators and air conditioners that can release air pollutants.
“Currently new appliances such as fridges that use ozone depleting substances are not allowed to be imported. Those caught are arrested and are ordered to return such equipment to their country of origin or take them for recycling. We are only coping with imported gases that are not environmentally friendly,” she said adding
there are mechanisms to control illicit trade in ozone depleting substances.
Patrick Karera, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment said that Rwanda has also adopted a National Cooling Strategy, which is one of the results of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to help phase out the gases.
Rwanda needs at least Rwf20 billion to encourage uptake of energy efficiency and climate friendly cooling solutions in the country as part of its obligation under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
“It is admirable that the Kigali Amendment has exceeded 100 ratifications. Without decisive and global action, emissions from the cooling sector are set to grow 90 per cent by 2050,” he said.
He said that the National Cooling Strategy approved by the cabinet in 2019 will help to roll out standards for cooling technologies.
“We are working with Rwanda Green Fund, Rwanda Business Development Fund, and UN Environment’ united for Efficiency initiative and Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy to ensure the success of financial mechanisms for climate-friendly cooling solutions,” he added.
