Speaking during an orientation meeting with the inspectors on September 16, 2019, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, urged them to critically analyze and make the right reporting of what’s really happening on the ground in a bid to effectively foster the implementation of agricultural policies.
“You’re not implementers; but part of critical evaluators of what’s happening in the field. You’re there to facilitate Rwandan farmers maximize benefits from programs initiated by the government,” the minister told the inspectors, urging them to report on a daily basis.
The newly created positions of the district agriculture inspectors were published in the Official Gazette No. Special of 18/07/2018. Representing the ministry in districts, the inspectors will coordinate the implementation of policies and strategies related to agriculture and animal resources; and disseminate the ministry’s directives, guidelines, and programs to local leaders, agribusinesses, farmers’ organizations, and NGOs.
Among other responsibilities, they will also cooperate and collaborate with all key players in the agricultural sector and work closely with district authorities to enable the smooth running of agricultural activities in the district.
At least 144 drivers were arrested for drunk driving. 80 drunk drivers were arrested Friday night, 37 in the night of Saturday while other 27 were arrested Sunday night.
Over 300 drivers have been arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol since the operation was launched three weeks ago.
The operations came as a deliberate response against human behaviors, which are largely blamed for road carnage.
While appearing on ‘Waramutse Rwanda’ (Good Morning Rwanda), a morning show on Rwanda Television, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, Commissioner for Public Relations and Media and RNP spokesperson, said that although “security remains intact across the country”, reckless drivers continue to cause insecurity on roads, injuring and claiming lives, destroying public infrastructure and people’s property.
“Road safety is still being challenged by unacceptable human behaviors especially drunk driving and drivers who disconnect speed governor devices so as to speed, another cause of fatal accidents,” CP Kabera said.
“The advice is clear; when you drink don’t drive, it is for your own safety and the safety of those you are driving or other people on the road. Everyone has to be safe on the road; we can’t allow someone to be a security threat to other road users.”
Drunk driving is a traffic offense that attracts a fine of Rwf150, 000 and detention under investigation while tampering with speed governor device attracts a fine of Rwf200, 000. If any of the offenses leads to another offense, the traffic offender faces additional fines as the law specifies.
Drunk driving and tampering with speed governor also leads to confiscation of driver’s license and impounding the vehicle.
Announcing the economic performance for the second quarter, Yusuf Murangwa, the NISR Director-General noted that in the second quarter, GDP at market prices was estimated at Rwf 2,255 billion up Rwf 2,001 billion in the second quarter of 2018.
According to the statement released by NISR, the agriculture sector grew by 5% where food crops registered 4% growth. Export crops increased by 6% mainly due to a 21% increase in coffee production. Tea output decreased by 3%.
The industry sector grew by 21%, the construction sector registered 32% growth mainly from quarrying activities that grew by 36% while manufacturing registered 16% growth.
The service sector grew by 12% as a result of 23% increase in wholesale and retail trade activities, 17% increase in transport services, 13% rise in financial services as well as 13% in the hospitality services. Public administration services grew by 12% while professional, scientific and technical activities increased by 13%.
Reacting to whether growth projections are likely to be revised given strong growth in the first two quarters of 2019, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana said that while growth was impressive, there are no intentions of revising the 7.8 % growth forecast.
“GDP growth of 12.2% is impressive and above second-quarter projections but we have no plans to revise our projections as there are two more quarters to monitor,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
The release is among resolutions of first Rwanda-Uganda peace talks discussing the implementation of Memorandum of Understandings to end political turbulence recently signed in Angola.
Rwanda-Uganda delegations came up with a number of issues of mutual interest and concern between both countries.
Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa has said that they will proceed with the judicial process to make it possible.
When asked if Uganda tortures Rwandans detained in Uganda, Kutesa explained that they have come to Rwanda to assess each clause of signed MoUs.
He underscored that there is time to discuss all issues raised by Rwanda following the first meeting.
Commenting on whether Uganda hosts dissidents intending to destabilize Rwanda, Kutesa said that Uganda shall never accommodate people intending to destabilize neighbor’s security.
Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe explained that both countries will meet again in Kampala within 30 days to assess the implementation of today’s resolutions.
“There is a willingness to restore relations between Rwanda and Uganda citizens and be assured of their security,” he said.
Both countries agreed to follow due process in dealing with each other’s citizens; reiterated commitment to refraining from acts of destabilizing each other; finalize the extradition treaty in order to provide a framework for future exchange of criminal fugitives and cease all forms of hostile propaganda in both mainstream and social media.
Both countries also agreed that the issue of free movement of persons, goods, and services across the common border and other outstanding issues shall be discussed in the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held in Kampala, Uganda after 30 days to review the implementation progress of Luanda MoUs.
The first meeting of the Ad Hoc Commission on the implementation of the Luanda Memorandum of Understandings between Rwanda and Uganda took place today in Kigali. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Manuel Domingos Augusto and Gilbert Kankonde Malamba, the Deputy Prime Minister of Interior of DRC.
The Rwandan delegation was led by Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in charge of the East African Community while Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs leads the Ugandan delegation.
Rwanda was also represented by Gen Maj Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda; the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye; the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Shyaka Anastase; Gen Maj Joseph Nzabamwita, the Secretary-General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and Col Anaclet Kalibata, the head of External Intelligence at NISS.
Uganda’s delegation also included the Minister of Defense, Gen. J.J Odongo Abu; Amb. Joseph Ocwet; the Director-General External Security Organisation (ESO), the State’s Attorney General, Byaruhanga and Uganda’s ambassador to Rwanda, Oliver Wonekha.
Facilitators included Angolan Ambassador to Rwanda, Horacio Uliengue; Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister and DRC Deputy Prime Minister and head of Intelligence Inzun Justin Kakiak.
The Rwandan delegation is led by Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the Minister of State in charge of the East African Community while Sam Kutesa, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs leads the Ugandan delegation.
Rwanda is also represented by Gen Maj Frank Mugambage, Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda; the Minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye; the Minister of Local Government, Prof. Shyaka Anastase; Gen Maj Joseph Nzabamwita, the Secretary-General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and Col Anaclet Kalibata, the head of External Intelligence at NISS.
Uganda’s delegation also includes the Minister of Defense, Gen. J.J Odongo Abu; Amb. Joseph Ocwet; the Director-General External Security Organisation (ESO), the State’s Attorney General, Byaruhanga and Uganda’s ambassador to Rwanda, Oliver Wonekha.
Facilitators include Angolan Ambassador to Rwanda, Horacio Uliengue; Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister and DRC Deputy Prime Minister and head of Intelligence Inzun Justin Kakiak.
Rwanda’s Ste Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa will hold a press conference on outcomes of discussions later.
Rwanda, Uganda MoUs were signed on 21st August 2019. The pact was signed in Luanda, Angola, during a quadripartite summit bringing together the host President of Angola João Lourenço; the President of Uganda, Museveni, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.
The signing was also witnessed by President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville.
It was the second quadripartite summit hosted by Angolan President; João Lourenço aimed at strengthening regional security and cooperation.
The agreement, among other things, calls for the two parties to refrain from engaging in actions that destabilize the other party (or actions perceived to) such as financing, training, and infiltration of destabilizing forces.
The agreement also calls on both countries to protect and respect the rights and freedoms of nationals of the other party residing or transiting in their national territory.
The campaign is taking place at different universities, through Non-Governmental Organizations, religious leaders, and local leaders encouraging them to join initiatives aimed at promoting a peaceful world.
Founded by Man Hee Lee from South Korea, HWPL seeks to promote peace and stop war across the world.
In 2015, HWPL launched first campaigns advocating for the establishment of international law for peace and to raise the awareness of the importance of peace culture.
In 2018, this organization was recognized by the UN and carried on mobilizations for the establishment of international law for peace to be implemented by the UN.
Jean Bosco Nshimiyimana, member of the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) in Rwanda; affiliated to the HWPL, said that for peace to be achieved all the world citizens will have to pitch in.
“There is a proverb that goes ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’. The anticipated solution is against this saying. If we join the strength as the youth, parents, religious leaders, and local leaders with the same purpose, peace will undoubtedly be achievable,” he said
IPYG has been working for the support for the legally binding international norm for a sustainable peace based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
Sheikh Ismail Maniriho, the head of Islamic predication at Rwanda Muslims Community (RMC) said that peace should start from religious places, and religious people should be first to bear fruits of peace.
“As religious people, we should fight against racism, sexual abuse, and discrimination. That is why our deeds must be characterized by love and unity,” he said
Azar arrived in Rwanda on Sunday following a visit to DRC where he and accompanying delegation of twenty-nine people including delegates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and local U.S. government officials assessed the situation on the ground of Ebola prevention measures and visited Ebola treatment center in Butembo.
Upon arrival in Rwanda, the delegation also met with Rwanda Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba, and Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center representatives to celebrate achievements in health system strengthening through a partnership between the two countries.
Secretary Azar reaffirmed the U.S. support in combating the Ebola crisis across borders and commended the Rwanda Health Sector for building strong capacity in prevention and preparedness efforts.
Among key prevention measures are frequent washing of hands with clean water and soap, avoiding contact with blood and body fluids, as well as items that would have come in contact with an infected person’s blood and body fluids.
Ebola is transmitted through blood and body fluids, including vomit, urine, saliva, sweat. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint pain, headache, diarrhea, skin rash, vomiting, red eyes, stomach-ache and bleeding through different body parts.
Rwanda has a detailed National Preparedness Plan in place and has trained health workers in early detection and response, educated communities about Ebola, vaccinated health workers in high-risk areas, equipped health facilities, and continues to conduct simulation exercises to maintain a high level of readiness.
Screening for Ebola symptoms at points of entry has been ongoing since the beginning of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been reinforced since the confirmation of a case in Goma.
An Ebola Treatment Centre was put in place and 23 isolation units are being prepared in hospitals in 15 priority districts.
Ebola response simulation exercises are on a regular basis within the community, borders, airport and treatment Centre to test Rwanda’s preparedness in response to a case, which includes emergency Operations Centre activation, active surveillance, case management, and laboratory testing.
About 3000 health workers in high-risk areas have been vaccinated as a preventative measure, including more than 1100 in Rubavu district.
To date, Rwanda has trained over 23,957 people including Doctors, Nurses, hospital staff, Community Health Workers, religious leaders, Red Cross Volunteers and security organs. Meanwhile, special ambulances are in place to handle any Ebola suspected case on time.
Rwanda has in recent past stepped up efforts to prevent Ebola from spreading to the country, including scaling up screenings at all points of entry, surveillance, vaccinating frontline workers including health and immigration officers, public sensitization, among other measures.
Following his visit to Rwanda, Azar will resume the trip to Uganda. At least 2000 people have died of Ebola in DRC.
To assess the situation on the ground, Secretary Azar was accompanied by twenty-nine people including delegates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and local U.S. government officials.
Delegates met with Rwanda Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba, and Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center representatives to celebrate achievements in health system strengthening through a partnership between the two countries.
Secretary Azar reaffirmed the U.S. support in combating the Ebola crisis across borders and commended the Rwanda Health Sector for building strong capacity in prevention and preparedness efforts.
“The U.S. government has supported us for the last twenty years in building a strong health system from the community level up to the central level. It is very meaningful to us and has contributed to the high level of preparedness regarding Ebola”, said Dr. Gashumba.
The United States has been a key partner in supporting Rwanda, through the CDC and USAID. Secretary Azar also touched on Rwanda’s advancements in the prevention and treatment of disease.
“I want to commend Rwanda for its overall public health accomplishments by achieving tremendous progress on important goals. Rwanda has achieved MDG 4 and 5 pertaining to infant and maternal health and there has also great progress on MDG 6 regarding HIV and Malaria.
The US Health Department through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention can now count more than 16 years of direct partnership with the Rwandan Ministry of Health through PEPFAR”, said Secretary Azar.
Secretary Azar and Dr. Gashumba spoke of continued opportunities for growth including the importance of coordination between the governments to keep Rwandans safe and healthy.
To close out the day, delegates paid tribute to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. In his message in the visitor’s book at the memorial, Secretary Azar wrote “What happened in Rwanda should have never taken place. We will never forget.”
Goals from Nigerian import Nwosu Samuel Chukwudi and Ndizeye Innocent earned the Yellow and Black a crucial victory in the second half against Rayon Sports who had won the previous two editions. Rayon Sport got a consolation goal from Michael Sarpong.
As both sides pressed for more goals, the pressure from the players also increased, leading to two red cards issued to Rayon Sports skipper Eric Rutanga and Ndizeye Innocent over unprofessional misconduct.
In an earlier match, Police FC defeated APR FC 1-0 to win the bronze medal spot thanks to a second-half goal from Iyabivuze Osee.
Mukura VS were crowned champions and pocketed Rwf. 3 million, Rayon Sport settled for Rwf. 1.5 million with silver medals while Police FC took home Rwf. 500,000 on top of bronze medals.
This year’s top scorer accolade went to Nigerian Nwosu Samuel Chukwudi who managed to score two goals in two matches while Police Fc midfielder Munyakazi Yussuf emerged as the tournament’s best player.
Initiated in 2015, the Agaciro Development Fund football tournament is staged annually as part of the effort to raise funds for the Agaciro Development Fund, the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
AgaciroCup2019
Sunday, Sept.15
Final
Rayon Sports FC vs Mukura VS
Police said Jean Pierre Niyonsaba, 45, was arrested as he smuggled assorted medical drugs into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through a porous border post.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said the suspect was primarily selling pharmaceuticals to local residents.
“Local residents reported Niyonsaba, after suspecting that what he was doing is unlawful. He had turned his house into a pharmacy,” CIP Kayigi said.
“There was also information that on that day, Niyonsaba would bring another consignment of pharmaceuticals. Following a tip-off, Police trailed and arrested him red-handed with assorted drugs, after crossing from DRC,” he explained.
The spokesperson added that Niyonsaba was at the time of his arrest found in possession of over 30 different types of medicines.
They include endoxide, Omiprosole, Coartem, Vitamines, paracetamol, Amoxciline, Ibuprophene, Ampesceline, Calcium, Decaris, Vermox, Coloraxaciline, and Flagile, among others.
Niyonsaba said that he has been selling pharmaceutical drugs for the last eight months and that he works with Congolese, who deliver the medicines to him.
CIP Kayigi emphasized that pharmaceuticals are prescribed by medical practitioners and sold by licensed pharmacists.
“Medications are prescribed by practicing medical personnel and bought at a licensed pharmacy but not in someone’s home like Niyonsaba was doing,” he warned.
“Illegal pharmaceuticals may cost less, but they may not be effective, and in fact, they may have very negative consequences for people’s health because they are prescribed by a layperson, who is likely to give you an overdose, expired or wrong drugs,” CIP Kayigi said.
He thanked those, who provided information that led to the arrest of Niyonsaba, and advised Rwandans to buy drugs from known and licensed pharmacies and subscribe to public health insurance (mutuelle de sante) for cost effective healthcare.
