The numbers were announced recently during a staff meeting as REG management and staff reviewed 2019 performance in Kigali, Kamonyi, and Bugesera.
Ron Weiss, REG Chief Executive Officer reminded the staff about REG joint commitment with the Government of Rwanda to achieve 100% of households’ access to electricity by the year 2024.
To achieve the target, REG targets to have 500,000 new connections every year.
One of the objectives REG has for 2020 is to provide electricity to the remaining 10 geographical sectors that have no access to electricity so far.
REG also plans on increasing power supply by replacing single-phase motors to three-phase sharing transformers, with the aim of providing long-distance electricity supply that will be used in power grids, mobile towers, data centers, aircraft, shipboard, unmanned systems, as well as other electronic loads larger than 1000 watts.
REG thanked its staff for the commitment they exhibited in providing impeccable service and urged them to continue with the same spirit throughout the year.
Ingabire Marie Immaculée, Transparency International Chairperson observed that REG has made strides in fighting corruption.
In 2019, Transparency International Rwanda released the Rwanda Bribe Index report that placed REG at the top among institutions dedicated to fighting corruption. The report rated REG corruption cases at 5.3% from 12.93% in 2018.
Robert NYAMVUMBA, Chairperson of the Board at REG urged staff to embrace transparent practices and strive to provide better services to all Rwandans.
“We have a common objective of expanding from 221 Megawatts of grid power in 2018 to 556 Megawatts in 2024. We wish that by that time no Rwandan will be using torchlights or firewood. All that goes with effectively managing the resources we already have and putting them to use to serve Rwandans across the country.”
In a National Dialogue that was held at Lemigo Hotel on December 20th, 2019, and organized by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network) in partnership with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Forest Landscape Restoration (FRL) Hub, the Centre for Geographic Information System (CGIS), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management (CoEB) participants had discussions on Rwanda Wetlands Ecological Integrity under the theme “Rwanda Wetlands: Valuable but Vulnerable Asset”.
Participants maintained that wetland management should be given more than the consideration it is given currently in order to curb threats that damage their ecosystems.
Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, Founder and Executive Director of ARCOS said that measures should be established to monitor activities conducted in wetlands including sustainable agricultural activities.
“Wetland benefits reach a large spectrum and the challenges they face need to be addressed by all sectors. ARCOS Network will continue to support the cause as per its moto of Collaborative Action for Nature and People.”
Participants were informed about the findings from the rapid wetland assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team of Rwandan experts coordinated by ARCOS since May 2019.
Over 1,627 georeferenced records of biodiversity data have been sampled in all 8 major wetland zones of Rwanda and published on ARCOS Biodiversity Information Management System.
The findings show that on average, the ecological integrity of some wetlands in Rwanda is estimated at 50% of its potential, while the ecological integrity of Akanyaru and City of Kigali wetland complexes were ranked low (20%-40%), and between (0%-20%) for Muvumba wetland complex as it is highly converted for agriculture intensification with less than 15% of its size remaining as a natural remnant forest of acacia trees.
Wetlands cover an estimated nine percent of the Earth’s land surface and contribute significantly to the global economy in terms of water supply, fisheries, agriculture, forestry, and tourism, as well as to climate change regulation.
Dr. Kanyamibwa said that more effort should be put in promoting the wise use of all wetlands.
“We need to reflect on wetlands as ecosystems that contribute to both biodiversity conservation and human well-being and base on that to promote their conservation and wise use.”
He urged agencies dedicated on protecting the environment to be vigilant to the threats.
Major threats in wetlands include draining for agricultural and construction activities, the introduction of invasive species that can damage the wetland ecosystem, pollution that kills the flora and fauna of wetlands as well as climate change.
The dialogue came after a research conducted by ARCOS Network on Rwanda Wetland Ecological Integrity Assessment through a two-year project funded by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation.
The results from the rapid assessment phase showed that the overall population status and trends of wetlands taxa is good with various species of special conservation concern, but the level of intensity and frequency of threats is very high.
Apart from Rugezi wetlands gazetted as RAMSAR site and Kamiranzovu wetlands located inside Nyungwe National Park, other different wetlands assessed found that more than 80% of their ecological integrityis threatened by different human activities as well as climate change and there is a desperate need to address the concern.
Statistics show that 10% of Rwanda’s area is covered by wetlands, 101 lakes, 861 rivers and up to 860 swamps. All the aforementioned water bodies are essential since humans and animals depend on water to sustain life.
In 2020, ARCOS Network plans on conducting further research especially in City of Kigali wetlands Complex, rweru-mugesera Wetland complex, Akanyaru Wetland complex, Southern and Eastern Kirehe wetland complex.
The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network) is a Regional NGO established in 1995 with the mission “To enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the Albertine Rift region and beyond, through the promotion of collaborative conservation action for nature and people”.
Today, ARCOS has programs extending in the Albertine Rift region, Africa Great Lakes and African Mountains.
The development was announced on January 3, 2020, by the Commissioner of Police for Traffic and Road Safety Department, CP Rafiki Mujiji, in a press conference where he gave an insight of 2019 performance and the agenda for 2020.
The 2019 police report shows that 309,970 drivers violated different traffic laws.
Among the police’s main measures are putting more effort into its Gerayo Amahoro campaign that aims at increasing awareness of traffic laws and using technology to control the violation of traffic laws.
He said, “With technology, we are reaching a level at which we won’t need to stop the driver. We will record his vehicle’s plate number and text him the fines to pay.”
This technology is still in the trial and is set to fight bribes given to police officers and the injustice that might be faced by drivers when being fined.
CP Mujiji said, “No one will be treated unjustly. With the cameras, we will have recorded proof, a video. We are still trying it using tablets, but we will reach a time when we will use a camera that will record everything happening in traffic.”
This technology adds up to some cameras installed on highways to record those who over speed.
The police show that the number of road accidents in 2019 reduced by 17% from 5611 in 2018 to 4661 in 2019, and that since August 2019, the number of people killed in road accidents reduced a lot in comparison to other months as it moved from 72 to 50 in September, to 47 in October, and to 43 in November.
The research was published by Oxfam on Sunday, January 5th, 2020.
On Sunday, January 12th, 2020, one British citizen will have contributed to the release of an amount of CO2 equal to what one citizen from countries like Madagascar, Malawi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Guinea and Burkina Faso will contribute in a year.
The research showed that in a year, Rwandans contribute to the release of CO2 equal to 0.09 tons, 0.19 tons in Malawi, 0.25 tons in Burkina Faso, 0.49 tons in Nigeria and 1.68 tons in India.
On average, one person on earth contributes to the release of 4.7 tons of CO2 per year with one British citizen contributing to 8.3 tons per year.
Despite the high amount of Carbon Dioxide released in Britain, the British government continued to establish measures to fight pollution that can lead to an unhealthy environment and cause noncommunicable diseases like strokes, heart conditions, cancers, and chronic respiratory disease, mostly attributable to air pollution.
Extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases the greenhouse effect causing the planet to be warmer than it naturally should be and other calamities including the melting of ice caps and rising ocean levels, which cause flooding.
In the past 100 years, human activities led to the increase of global warming by 2.5 Celsius degrees and that resulted in climate change, floods, and extinction of several animal species.
In a study by Dr. Curt Stager, a researcher from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, she remarked that the Sahara Desert once had abundant lakes, plants, animals and a moister, semiarid climate. She maintained that human activities altered the region’s precipitation patterns and led to a desert.
Scientific reports show that the snows of Kilimanjaro are rapidly disappearing and will be gone by 2033 and all that is due to global warming and the unnatural increase in temperatures.
Carbon Dioxide causes many health hazards including aggravated respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma and also reduced resistance to infections, fatigue and lung damage to mention a few.
Research shows that climate change will impact Rwanda’s GDP by a 4.5% reduction in its total capacity by 2030.
The research was published by the Vulnerable Twenty (V20), a dedicated cooperation initiative of economies systemically vulnerable to climate change. The research maintained that Rwandans face so many health hazards if nothing is done to tackle global climate change.
In May 2018, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) announced that air pollution was the leading cause of noncommunicable diseases and that major pollutants in Rwanda included smoke from motor vehicles, charcoal, and wood among others. REMA also mentioned that particulate matter in smokes was mostly hazardous. REMA recommended the use of renewable energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions to reduce pollution.
The acceptable amount of particulate matter is 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air but in summer, the amount reaches between 100 and 150 micrograms due to pollution. To curb pollution, Rwanda has established measures including planting trees where currently trees occupy 30% of Rwanda’s total surface.
Recently Rwanda has also launched vehicles that use electricity in a bid to reduce pollution including Volkswagen ‘e-Golf’ as well as Ampersand motorcycles electric taxi motorcycles
He sounded the caution during his remarks as he launched Itorero training for teachers with a focus on the History of Rwanda in Nyanza district.
He said that some historians distort historical records and re-interpret facts in a negationist fashion and that teachers should be careful about how they convey historical facts to students as some books are misleading.
“We organized this training to remind teachers about the right way to convey knowledge to students in history not necessarily according to what is written in books but mostly based on the historical facts we are aware of as Rwandans.”
Lt Col Migambi explained that a lot of history books about African countries were written by colonial masters who introduced narratives based on new evidence and biased sources.
“Historical revisionism in books leads teachers in Rwanda to convey biased facts written to counter the known and accepted narrative and that may mislead students about the values to champion based on their history.”
Dr. Ndayambaje Irené, the Director-General of Rwanda Education Board (REB) reminded teachers to use history books prepared by REB in order to avoid entirely fabricated historical facts.
He quoted Marcus Garvey saying that “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Mukakimenyi Mathilde, a history teacher from Ruhango district said that the training was helpful as it taught them to mind about forged history documents that are presented as genuine.
They were also reminded that it is up to history teachers to use their professional discretion to establish the truth.
Teachers requested REB to plan for more training and study trips for them to learn about the history of Rwanda from its roots.
Itorero training for teachers was organized by the Ministry of Education in partnership with REB and NIC. It brought together more than 1600 high school teachers at Mater Dei, College du Christ Roi and College Louis de Montfort schools in Nyanza district.
On December 31st, 2019, Mbonabaheka who resided within Kisoro, Uganda was killed by unidentified individuals after running to the rescue of his neighbor who was being attacked by assailants who have not been identified as well.
Mbonabaheka had Ugandan citizenship and owned a decoration business. He was also involved in agriculture and worked on other jobs when business was not going well.
Nsabimana said that after he learned about the death of Mbonabaheka, he immediately went to look for his corpse but realized that the Ugandan Police had already buried it.
“He was killed on December 31st, 2019. On January 1st, I received a call informing me of his death and I immediately run to his place to see it for myself. It was a gruesome scene and the whole compound was covered in blood. I tried to learn about the whereabouts of his corpse but the Ugandan Police warned me to drop the case or risk being chased from Uganda and charged several million of Shillings.”
“Mbonabaheka was killed as he was running to the rescue of his neighbor, Bayavuge Denys who was being attacked by unidentified assailants. Bayavuge screamed for help but nobody came to his rescue because Ugandans despise Rwandans and cannot help in any case. Mbonabaheka was the only Rwandan in the neighborhood and he had to be the one to help but as soon as he crossed his doorstep, the assailants met him, mutilated him and left his lifeless body in his compound.”
He said that Mbonabaheka was buried in secrecy at Kisoro cemetery and no one including his family was informed about his whereabouts.
His family overwhelmed with sorrow said they were saddened by the fact that no one wanted to inform them about where Mbonabaheka was buried.
Mukamazera Beatrice, Mbonabaheka’s wife said she will never forget the unfortunate incident. “If only they had allowed us to bury him. Ugandan authorities must respond to this vile act. I wonder if I’ll be able to raise our 4 children by myself.”
Mbonabaheka had been residing in Uganda for 8 years and leaves a wife and four children. His family moved back to Rwanda and currently reside in Burera district, Kinoni sector.
Nsabimana says he will never return to Uganda and urged fellow Rwandans to avoid traveling to Uganda at all costs since Rwandans are not safe there.
Ngaboyisonga was arrested on Friday in Murambi village, Buhaza cell of Rubavu Sector, with over 1600 pellets of cannabis, Police said.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police Spokesperson for the Western region said reliable information about Ngaboyisonga’s “criminal business” was provided by local residents.
“The suspect was arrested red-handed after illegally crossing into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 1600 pellets of cannabis. He was heading to Rubavu town,” CIP Kayigi explained.
Ngaboyisonga is said to be part of a group that traffics cannabis into the country and distributes to other dealers in Rubavu and Kigali.
CIP Kayigi thanked the residents, who played part in the arrest of Ngaboyisonga and all other drug dealers arrested in the past.
“This partnership and responsive spirit to report drug traffickers and dealers in communities is crucial in order to ultimately break such chains of supply.”
“Combatting the vice of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances requires individual and collective ownership. From where we work or live, we have to work together and deny them any space to operate by identifying and reporting those involved so they can be arrested to face justice,” Kayigi emphasized.
According to Article 263 of the Penal Code, any person convicted for “severe drugs” faces between 20 years and life in prison.
Olivier Ndacyayisenga attempted to give a bribe of Rwf30, 000 to the officer in charge so he could bail his motorcycle, which had been impounded over traffic related offences.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police Spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Ndacyayisenga was earlier ‘found riding without a permit and his motorcycle in a dire state.’
“A traffic Police officer on duty, stopped Ndacyayisenga and required him to produce his driver’s license, which he didn’t have. When the officer conducted visual check, he found that the motorcycle had no functioning lights, so it was impounded,” said CIP Twajamahoro.
“Instead of following the legal process, he called the officer and requested to meet but the officer suspected something illegal and informed his superiors. Indeed Ndacyayisenga was caught red-handed giving the Rwf30, 000 to the officer.”
He advised motorists to respect traffic rules and regulations, as well as go through the legal process when they are penalized. Taking criminal shortcuts, like giving bribes, may lead to an arrest and eventually having to face the law.
According to Article 4 of the Law on Fighting Against Corruption, any person who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/herself or another person in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five years but not more than seven years, with a fine of three to five times the value of the illegal benefit solicited or received.
The warning follows 22 children who were recently rescued from rice plantations while others were found carrying crates of beer.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, 14 children were being used to distribute beer to different bars and customers in Muganza sector of Nyaruguru District, during the festive season.
They were being paid between Rwf100 and Rwf200, depending on the distance, per crate delivered.
Eight others were rescued on Thursday in a rice plantation in Ntyazo Sector in Nyaruguru District where they were working as casual labourers.
All the children are aged between 13 and 15.
“Some parents, who are contracted to cultivate, harvest or carry rice in Kanyamugenda marshland use their children, who almost spend the whole day in this hectic work. Other minors are directly contracted by rice farmers,” said CIP Twajamahoro.
“Parents and the community in general should take the primary responsibility to protect children from such hectic activities, which are harmful to their health,” he added.
“Several campaigns are being conducted to sensitize the public against child abuse and other child rights violations. Child protection is a collective responsibility; everyone should understand that whoever exploits or deprives a child of their rights will face the wrath of the laws,” he warned.
Article 6 of law No. 71/2018 of 31/08/2018 relating to the protection of the child defines a child as “any person under 18 years of age.”
Article 6 of the law regulating labor in Rwanda, prohibits subjecting a child below the age of 18 to any form of works, which are physically harmful to the child; work underground, underwater, at dangerous heights or in confined space; work with dangerous machinery, equipment, and tools or which involves manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an environment, which exposes the child to temperatures, noise levels or vibrations damaging his/her health; work for longer hours or during the night or performed in confined spaces.
On Thursday, petroleum products ignited fire which destroyed part of a house in Mukura Sector, Huye District.
The house belongs to one Francois Hakizimana, 27, who was using it to store petroleum products which he was selling on black market, Police said.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Vedaste Ruzigana, the acting District Police Commander (DPC) for Huye, the inflammable products were torched by a lit stove, which was placed nearby.
“The fire burnt all equipment that were inside the house and money. Diesel and petrol and dangerous inflammables… it’s suicide to keep them in the house. These are products that should be nowhere near a fire, that’s why they are controlled and only sold at petrol stations,” said CIP Ruzigana.
He thanked residents who intervened to put out the fire before destroying the entire house and spreading to other neighboring houses.
“Hakizimana had turned his house into a store for petroleum products selling to motorists, which everyone should understand that it’s unlawful and punishable by law,” the DPC warned.
The general public are reminded to always report anyone they suspect to be engaged in such illegal and risky businesses, fire or any disaster on; 111 fire and rescue, 112 emergency, 0788380853, 0788311224 and 0788311155.
