According to RIB, ‘this group was arrested while in the process of hacking into the bank system to steal money from clients’ accounts’.
“The suspects have been arrested today. Investigations are underway to track more members of the ring,” RIB spokesperson, Marie Michelle Umuhoza has told IGIHE.
She said that the case file has been submitted to the Prosecution for further management.
RIB explained that the group came to Rwanda after failure to defraud Equity Bank in Kenya and Uganda.
RIB commended all those who shared information that led to the arrest of suspects and urged the public to remain vigilant and always share information that can be used to prevent crime.
Established on 31st October 1924 during the international conference in Milan Italy, in 1989, the United Nations officially declared the day to be devoted to promotion of savings around the world.
As part of the World Savings Day celebrations, the Ministry of Finance and Economic planning in collaboration with stakeholders has commenced a Savings Week awareness campaign under the theme “Save for a better future”, which is aimed at sensitizing Rwandans on the importance of saving and how to exercise money management decisions that best fit the circumstances of one’s life.
Key activities planned over the week include media talk-shows where experts in the field of finance, insurance as well as capital markets will impart wisdom on the importance of saving, the available saving opportunities and platforms and how it can be done.
Since 2009, the government adopted savings mobilization strategy with a target of increasing the level of savings in the country to a rate of 20% of GDP by 2020.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana pointed out that embracing the culture of savings is the only sure way Rwandans can safeguard their financial future, that of their families and also contribute to sustainable economic growth the country needs to attain.
“There has been improvements in terms of savings however, it is not enough. We need to save more. We need to understand that it is through increased savings required to spur investments, have access to low credit interest rates, reduce poverty and contribute to our dignity as a self-sufficient nation,” Minister Uzziel said.
According to the 2016 FinScope survey, about 86% of adults in Rwanda (roughly 5.1 million individuals) save. The rise in number of savers is due to increase in formal savings which rose to 49% from 26% in 2012. However, the banking institutions showed a slight decline from 14% in 2012 to 13% 2016.
The uptake in formal savings is driven by savings at Umurenge SACCOs (27%) and mobile money savings at 17%.
To augment this progress, the government adopted different initiatives aimed at promoting saving culture, these include:
The establishment of Ejo Heza, a long term saving scheme that targets salaried and non-salaried workers; Umurenge SACCOs, Iterambere fund, integration of financial education into school curriculum as well as several savings initiatives offered by banks, Microfinance institutions and insurance companies, among others. These initiatives are expected to improve the savings culture in Rwanda.
According to statistics, total savings are still below 15% of GDP compared to the target of 20% of GDP by 2020. The latest Finscope survey also indicated that lack of sufficient financial institution contributes to poor savings culture. Its latest report points out that 35% of adults still save at home due to inconvenience and or inaccessibility to formal financial institutions.
There are concerted efforts from all stakeholders including government, private sector and civil society to entrench saving culture in Rwanda. We need to pull informal savers into financial institutions and ensure that they do not save to pay for living expenses but move on to invest and create wealth,” Minister Ndagijimana noted.
Vision 2020 seeks to transform Rwanda into a middle-income country by 2020 and recently adopted National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050 with aim of turning Rwanda into upper middle income country by 2035 and high-income country by 2050. For this to be achieved, it requires that saving ratio to GDP increases significantly.
Amb. Rwakazina presented letters of credence to the head of WTO, Roberto Azevêdo, on 29th October 2019 at headquarters of the organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
She assured Azevêdo of Rwanda’s commitment to smooth trade talks characterized by mutual respect among participating members.
Azevêdo greatly commended Rwanda’s role in the establishment of international trade agreements.
They also discussed how WTO can support Rwanda to fats track the implementation of development goals.
They also discussed on mechanisms aimed at expanding existing good cooperation between WTO and Rwanda.
The institution also says, it is committed to reduce the quantity of non-revenue water-rated at 38% yet international standards require 20.5 percent as the maximum of wastewater.
The latter brings loss of between over Rwf 11 and 13 billion annually.
The figures were revealed on Wednesday during a press conference with WASAC management on the current water distribution and sanitation policy to Rwandans.
The wasted water hinders the Government’s target to achieve universal access to safe water among Rwandans by 2024 walking less than 30 minutes distance to and from public water taps.
The Government, however, plans to cut down wastewater by 25% within five years.
Gisele Umuhumuza, the deputy chief executive of WASAC explained that the 38% non-revenue water incurs the loss of Rwf 11 billion to the Government.
“It sometimes incurs the loss between Rwf 11 and 13 billion. There are always susceptible losses in water distribution activities but we strive to meet 20.5% as international standards. Measuring the loss on these standards, it would be between Rfw 7 and 8 billion,” she said.
Umuhumuza said some water supply systems get ravaged due to old structures, human activities or setting up infrastructures.
“We count over 390 water supply systems that need to be repaired. The 2017 study revealed that we need Rwf 13 billion,” she explained.
WASAC called on everyone to make it their own responsibility to protect infrastructure and shun activities destroying water supply systems like illegal mining and provide information to repair a ravaged system before the situation worsens.
WASAC reports that Rwanda has the capacity to treat over 180,000 cubic meters every day.
It has over 216 000 customers.
The Fifth Integrated Household Living Survey (EICV5) in 2016/2017 indicates that 87.4 percent of Rwandans have access to clean water has increased from 26.3 percent in 1994 and before.
Those who have clean water access in their own homes have increased from 2.6 percent to 9.4 percent
She is suspected to have killed the old woman on Tuesday night.
Following the death, Nyamiyaga sector officials and security officers went to the crime scene and arrested the girl whom they lived together for further investigations on the step mother’s death.
The executive secretary of Nyamiyaga sector, Bayingana Jean Marie Vianney has confirmed the arrest to IGIHE.
“It is true that the woman is suspected to have killed her stepmother. She was arrested and handed to Police for investigations. The woman’s body was taken to Byumba Hospital for postmortem,” he said.
The arrested suspect was the only person living with the deceased woman in the same house.
The local leaders who submitted resignation letters on Wednesday evening include the executive secretary of Karenge sector in Rwamagana district, Bizumuremyi Pierre Celestin who explained that his age doesn’t allow him to keep pace with the job demands.
Others from Ngoma district include the executive secretary of Rukumberi sector, Muragijemungu Arcade who cited personal reasons.
The executive secretary of Musya cell in Rurenge cell as well as Ngoma district Director of Education, Murekatete Judith also cited personal reasons.
Jean d’Amour Rubwiriza, who was the district Director of Business Development and Employment (BDE); Jean Bosco Sibomana, Public Relations, Media and Communications Officer and Uyiringiye Phenias, the advisor to the executive committee of the district are among other resigned leaders.
Ngoma district vice mayor for economic affairs, Mapambano Nyiridandi Cyriaque, has told IGIHE they have received the aforementioned leaders’ resignations.
Rwamagana district vice mayor for economic affairs, Mudaheranwa Regis also confirmed that they have received the resignation letter from the sector’s leader.
IGIHE has learnt that some of leaders who cited personal reasons for their resignations were warned several times for inefficiency.
This Coaching was a high level training given to different people that work in different sectors with the purpose of bringing about efficiency in their work place.
The latest batch and the second of KCA training comprised of six while the first batch last year comprised of 12 trainees.
Mami Said, the Head of Human Resources at Bank of Kigali Plc said that the knowledge acquired from the training is useful to her, colleagues and the company she works for.
From November 2019, KCA will launch courses online. Trainees will get similar certificates like those Kigali trained physically.
Mireille Ineza Karera, the KORA Group Chief Executive Officer has told IGIHE that trainees from Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and other countries have already registered for the online courses.
“We will start online courses on the 5th of November; we have directors from different African companies that have started registration. They are from Malawi, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. These courses are prepared and offered by Rwandans,” she said.
Based in Rwanda, KCA has the potential of growing to an international level.
The CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi said that the KCA program is part of government programs capacitating trainees to improve performance at work.
“Offering online services supports the ‘Smart Africa’ program. This is important for the country because it is supporting Africa’s growth in technology. This means that you are supporting Africa to be a great continent,” she said.
Courses offered are related to Health, leadership, and business among others.
KCA is planning to raise about US$400,000 to build school infrastructures and equipment.
KCA started in August 2018. Today, it has trained heads of companies from different countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Nigeria, and Ghana.
Rtd Capt Ndahiro was among soldiers who fought during the Liberation Struggle and author of a book on history of the struggle. He was sixty eight.
IGIHE has learned that Ndahiro succumbed to blood cancer during the night of Wednesday at King Faisal Hospital where he was getting treatment.
He was born in Nyagatare sector of Nyagatare district in 1951.
He studied in Uganda and further advanced his education in the United States of America where he obtained Masters in Public Health.
He was sent to retirement at the rank of Captain.
Rtd Capt Ndahiro wrote a book on the liberation struggle in Kinyarwanda titled “Inzira y’inzitane yo kwibohora kw’abanyarwanda” translated as ‘The gruesome journey of Rwandans liberation’
He joined the liberation struggle aged 39. Ndahiro was among parliamentarians whose term will end in 2023. He represented RPF Inkotanyi and was the eldest MP.
From 1994 until 2001, he worked at the Ministry of Health in mental health department, worked for the International Rescue Committee between 2002 – 2003 as the head of national anti-HIV-AIDS campaigns.
Rtd Capt Ndahiro also assumed numerous functions at Global Fund among others.
The suspects were at the time of their arrest found in possession of varying quantities of cannabis.
One of the suspects identified as Akimpaye Delphine, 39, was arrested red-handed in Kagano Cell of Kitabi sector in Nyamagabe District with 10kgs of cannabis.
Chief Inspector Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that Akimpaye was traveling on a public bus when it was stopped and identified at a checkpoint mounted in Kitabi.
“There was information from residents and local leaders in Rusizi about a drug trafficker, who had boarded a public bus with a consignment of narcotics, headed to Kigali,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
“Indeed, when the bus was stopped and the suspect identified, Police officers found 10kgs stashed in Akimpaye’s luggage. She first denied ownership of the luggage but passengers pinned her,” he added.
Two other traffickers; Emmanuel Dushimimana, 32, and Enock Uwihoreye, 34, were intercepted by Police and DASSO personnel in Ruyonza Village, Nonko Cell of Nyarugunga Sector in Kicukiro District transporting cannabis on a motorcycle.
Uwihoreye is a commercial motorcyclist, who transports drug dealers or their narcotics. The motorcycle RE 640P, which they were traveling on, was also impounded to Nyarugunga Police station where the suspects are also detained.
The other two suspects were intercepted at Rusizi border II from DR Congo with cannabis, while Diane Itangishaka was arrested in Musanze District delivering narcotics to a retailer identified as Valence Hagumimana, in Cyabagarura Cell. Hagumimana was also arrested.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) has taken stringent measures in combating drugs, including special operations and strengthened partnerships with the public through awareness and information sharing on the dealers as part of community policing.
The response also involves mapping major transit routes and breaking chains of supply.
The event included the distribution of educational materials on the spread and prevention of the Ebola virus. It focused on increasing EVD community mobilization and mass media communication and the cooperation from the people of Japan with the aim to strengthen partnership, promote cooperation and coordination for preparedness and readiness for EVD and other Public Health concerns. Communities and school children of the Sector were present and participated also in a quiz on Ebola Virus Disease. The winners received awards.
This event is a part of a WHO project of USD 1million which was founded by the Government of Japan to strengthen the capacity of Rwanda at national and district level to prevent, timely detect and effectively respond to possible spread of the 2018 Ebola virus disease(EVD) outbreak from DRC, as well as to ensure capabilities for detection and response to the other priority public health emergencies outlined in the National Action Plan on Health Security.
“The Government of Japan focuses on development cooperation to protect and empower individuals, and realize human security. We understand how important it is to prevent EVD outbreak before it happens in Rwanda and it is a great honour for us to contribute to EVD prevention,” said the Japanese Ambassador.
“We express gratitude to the Ministry of Health and the WHO Rwanda for carrying out this important project.” He added.
State Minster for Health, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi said community engagement in Ebola preparedness is was so important and the sure way to overcome the epidemic in case an outbreak happens. He called on Rwandans to be keen on Ebola symptoms while practicing a hygienic lifestyle.
“Wash your hands with clean water and soap at all times, report any suspected ebola victim to the nearest health centre, don’t touch a person with Ebola symptoms,” advised Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi.
Since 1 August 2018, when the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo notified WHO of a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu Province, in the eastern part of the country, the Ebola virus has killed thousands of people in the DRC.Rwanda is bordering the DRC with some districts being near to the Ebola affected areas.
The Government of Rwanda initiated preparedness mechanisms to minimize the risk of importation/cross border transmission of EVD as well as ensure an effective response. Risk Communication and Community Engagement is one of the pillars of preparedness and outbreak response.
