The community work conducted on Saturday in the area was characterized by clearing bushes along roads in the village of survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
After the community work, KBS Ltd donated a cheque to subscribe to Mutuelle de Santé for100 vulnerable residents in the second Ubudehe category.
The Managing Director of KBS Ltd, Emmanuel Habanabakize said the gesture is part of ongoing initiatives to contribute to national development.
“This means Rwandans especially KBS staff have to raise funds internally to vulnerable residents to walk together along the journey towards rebuilding the nation and achieving self-reliance,” he said.
The Director of Good Governance in Bugesera district, Sebatware Magellan thanked KBS Ltd the gesture reflecting the willingness to strive for common progress, dignified life and resilient nation.
“These are brothers who joined us for community work and subscribed 100 residents for Mutuelle de Santé. We warmly welcomed the great support. These are among homegrown solutions inducing self-dignity aligning with the vision of the President of the Republic where Rwandans need to build their nation themselves. We appreciated their kind act traveling from Kigali to bringing the support,” he said.
Figures from the Gashora sector reveal that only 56% of residents including supported locals from the first Ubudehe category have already paid Mutuelle de Santé.
Beneficiaries told IGIHE that KBS Ltd said the support will boost wellbeing as they can afford medical care whenever.
Beatrice Bamurange, a mother of five from Kagasa II village, Ramiro sector of the Gashora sector was hit hard and would not access health care because she had no medical insurance subscription. With the support, she said, no family member critically sick will stay at home over inadequate means.
The peacekeepers included those serving as Formed Police Units (FPUs), Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Rwandan military battalions deployed in Juba.
Umuganda was organized in partnership with Juba Town Council under the theme: “Make Juba clean, safe, healthy and preserve natural ecosystem.”
The communal work was also attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary General to UNMISS, David Shearer and the Mayor of Juba, Shemir Khamis.
Other officials present included UNMISS Sector Commander for Central Equatorial, Brig. Gen Eugene Nkubito and United Nations Police (UNPOL) Chief of Staff, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bartheremy Rugwizangoga.
The exercise involved collecting littered wastes on streets and trenches for proper disposal and slashing bushes.
Mr. Shearer commended the big turn-up for Umuganda and thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for instilling the spirit of volunteerism among the local communities in South Sudan.
He paid tribute to former UNMISS Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, who introduced Umuganda in South Sudan and appealed to the host country to “maintain it to keep this country clean.”
Umuganda, a Rwandan traditional communal exercise conducted every last Saturday of the month, has since become a practice in South Sudan as well.
Rwanda maintains three FPU contingents in South Sudan; two of 160 officers each, deployed in the capital Juba and a hybrid of 240 operating in Malakal, Upper Nile.
Commissioner of Police (CP) Rafiki Mujiji, commissioner for TRS said that the “continuous operations across the country” are part of the year-long national road safety campaign dubbed ‘Gerayo Amahoro’ launched in May this year.
CP Mujiji said that impaired judgment, especially under the influence of alcohol, is one of the major causes of fatal accidents.
He explained that the alcoholic content for all the arrested drivers was way above the recommended 0.8 maximum while their state-defined higher chances of crashing.
“The public should take caution and be responsible even when they are enjoying. A drunk driver is a risk not only to their lives but to other road users and property. Therefore, individual responsibility is very crucial in ensuring personal and road safety,” CP Mujiji emphasized.
He advised members of the public to make sure they have a sober person who will drive them if they intend to drink lest they become a security threat for themselves and other road users.
“Alcohol inhibits a driver’s judgment. A drunk driver is more likely to over-speed or drives on the wrong side of the road. We urge people to share information whenever they see a drunk driver. We call upon bar owners and attendants to also be part of this campaign to advise customers with cars not to go on the wheel when they’re drunk; it’s a collective responsibility,” CP Mujiji said.
He said that operations are continuous against such “intolerable dangerous human behaviors” to prevent accidents caused by drunkenness.
“Drunk driving is an offense punishable with a fine of Rwf150, 000, imprisonment, confiscation of driver’s license and impounding the vehicle; this is something avoidable,” said CP Mujiji.
Gerayo Amahoro campaign is designed to use different approaches to reach all categories of road users through road safety education, enforcement of road traffic rules and regulations to ensure safer roads for all.
With support from UNICEF and Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Development Board, tea plantations like this one have begun investing in daycare centres, so children have a safe and stimulating place to learn and play while their parents work to earn an income.
But amidst the excitement this morning, one child sits conspicuously still, a bit quieter than the rest as he sips his milk.
David is five years old, but when he arrived at the daycare centre two months ago, he was not able to walk.
“When his mother told me his age, I could not believe it,” says Betty Mukazitoni, a lead caregiver at the centre. “He always chose to sit away from the other children, always with his arms crossed.”
Almost as if defying Betty’s recollections, David stands up and totters over to the playground. He is unsteady, but clearly able to walk on his own. As a gentle rain begins to fall, a little girl runs to David, adjusting the hood of his sweater gently and snugly on his head.
Betty smiles. It is impossible not to.
“You would never believe it now, but he could not even hold his own food. But look at him now,” she says warmly.
David slides down the slide, backward, but on purpose. He walks calmly back towards the other children, sits among them and begins to peel a banana.
David’s mother Josiane harvests tea on the plantation to support herself and three children. Before the centre was built, Josiane was forced to leave David home alone when she worked, in a closed room with no cognitive stimulation or proper nutrition.
With David at home and concerned for his safety, Josiane was not able to work a full day, missing out on valuable wages.
“David was very malnourished because I could not always afford a variety of food,” she says. “I felt like I had so few options… I had to choose between spending time with my son or earning money to buy the things he needs.”
“At one point, the doctors told me he might not survive. But when this centre was built, I felt like my prayers had been answered. David is much healthier and happier now, and I can work the full day.”Josiane, David’s mother
Children between ages 3 and 6 also participate in play and learning sessions in the centre’s pre-school. Sitting at colorful tables and surrounded by blocks, puzzles, crayons and other toys, they spend the day learning through songs, games, and fun activities, led by Betty and other caregivers.
“Even though David is five, when he first arrived I placed him in the daycare with the children under three. He was so afraid. Actually, he had trouble sitting up by himself.”
But when David heard the clapping, singing and shouting in the pre-school, for the first time in his life, he stood up.
“I saw him peeking around the corner one day,” recalls Betty. “He had taught himself to walk. Then one day, he sat with the other children in the pre-school. He is still too shy to answer questions, but the other day I saw him clapping when we were singing.”
Maybe he understands because as Betty describes his progress, David claps along to a private game he is sharing with his friend. Break time is nearly over, and Betty begins to usher the children back into the classroom.
It is nearly impossible to discern that David arrived with a few more setbacks than others. He sits among his friends in the pre-school, quiet but attentive, and if you watch closely, you might even see a smile.
Inaugurated on Thursday, the plant is an addition to 17 existing tea factories in Rwanda and targets to process 4000 tons per year within ten years.
Luxmi Group from India, the mother company of Rugabano Tea Factory committed to investing between the US $28 to $30 million in tea farming.
The plant was given 438 hectares on which it runs operations and farms tea on 4000 hectares.
The Governor of Western Province, Alphonse Munyantwari said that apart from 1000 residents who have got jobs at the plant, the project also built houses for residents each at a cost of Rwf 12 million.
Minister Mukeshimana said that the factory will increase Rwanda’s exports.
“This will be among the first factories processing large quantities of tea inside the country. It will process 4000 tons per year and contribute to increased tea exports by 3% within two years,” she explained.
Luxmi and The Wood Foundation are biggest shareholders in Pfunda and Gisovu tea factories with 50% shares and 90% in Pfunda and Gisovu respectively.
The Director-General of Luxmi Group, Rudra Chatterjee said that they plan to expand investment in tea planation so that the plant can produce the finest tea in Rwanda.
Figures from Rwanda Agriculture Export Board (NAEB) indicate that 25,128 tons of tea were exported in 2016-2017 and earned US$74.5 million while 27 824 tons were exported in 2017-2018 netting US $88 million.
The fire broke out yesterday evening around 6 pm. Mattresses, beds are among other equipment that were burnt.
The Head Teacher of Groupe Scolaire Muganza, Innocent Kimenyi has told RBA that the cause of the fire has not yet been established.
“We are waiting for investigations to establish the cause of the fire. Following the fire, we have temporarily relocated students to the multipurpose hall,” he said.
Kimenyi thanked the police, the military and the CIMERWA staff who rushed to extinguish the fire.
The dormitory that caught fire accommodated 120 male students from different classes.
The victim was not legally married to Mahangayiko with whom they shared five children.
The spouses were ensnared in wrangles and divided properties assisted by local government officials.
The sugar cane garden was given to the wife but the husband stopped from harvesting the canes and as she went to plantation yesterday as she prepared for buyers of the sugar canes, the husband followed stabbed her with a machete, killing her instantly.
Police spokesperson for Western Province, CIP Emmanuel Kayigi has confirmed that the man was shot dead attempting to escape from security officials taking him to correction services facility.
“They brought the culprit to the detention center but he jumped over the vehicle along with the Rugerero sector. Police shot at and was then taken for treatment but died before reaching the hospital,” he said.
The men identified as Gerald Munyangabe, 46, Patient Shukran Ramadhan, 23, and Mustafa Tuyizere, 19, were all arrested in the Muhima Sector, Nyarugenge district with over 18,000 pellets of cannabis.
The trio was paraded to the media later in the day as Rwanda National Police (RNP) continued to send a strong message in breaking the chain of supply.
The seized narcotics were trafficked in a transit truck from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was also carrying other goods.
Munyangabe, the truck driver and his two co-drivers were trailed to Kigali following information from their accomplices, who were arrested in the Rubavu district.
One of the suspects, Tuyizere admitted to the crime but said that he knew only 1000 pellets.
“I had a deal with someone in DRC to transport only 1000 to Rwanda for Rwf30, 000, to my surprise I saw many others when Police arrested us,” Tuyizere narrated.
He added: “This deal is really bad, I accepted because I needed more money but now I am going to lose more than what I originally had. I advise young to be satisfied with what they have if they need more money they should work hard but not dealing in narcotic drugs,” the teenager advised.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Central region Police spokesperson said that efforts against narcotic drugs continue to gain momentum, a reason as to why more drug dealers continue to be arrested and substances seized.
“Police had reliable information on their criminal dealings. When you see where that cannabis was hidden, there’s no way you can know it if you don’t have a credible source and strong partnership with the public,” he said.
“We are happy that the public has owned it and they are the main source of information on suppliers in their communities, which is a big step forward,” added CIP Umutesi.
The spokesperson observed that although drug-related crimes are on the decline, partly due to vigorous community policing measures adopted, there are people who are still involved in drug dealings, who must be brought to justice.
“This is a criminal act that goes further to cause insecurity in communities, destroys families and young people, no one should tolerate it. We urge people to always share information so as to break such chains to ensure a drug-free society,” she emphasized.
Article 263 of the new penal code partly states that, any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, with a sentence ranging from seven years to life in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between twenty (20) million Rwandan Francs (Frw) and thirty (30) million Rwandan Francs (Frw). The men identified as Gerald Munyangabe, 46, Patient Shukran Ramadhan, 23, and Mustafa Tuyizere, 19, were all arrested in the Muhima Sector, Nyarugenge district with over 18,000 pellets of cannabis.
The trio was paraded to the media later in the day as Rwanda National Police (RNP) continued to send a strong message in breaking the chain of supply.
The seized narcotics were trafficked in a transit truck from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was also carrying other goods.
Munyangabe, the truck driver and his two co-drivers were trailed to Kigali following information from their accomplices, who were arrested in the Rubavu district.
One of the suspects, Tuyizere admitted to the crime but said that he knew only 1000 pellets.
“I had a deal with someone in DRC to transport only 1000 to Rwanda for Rwf30, 000, to my surprise I saw many others when Police arrested us,” Tuyizere narrated.
He added: “This deal is really bad, I accepted because I needed more money but now I am going to lose more than what I originally had. I advise young to be satisfied with what they have if they need more money they should work hard but not dealing in narcotic drugs,” the teenager advised.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Central region Police spokesperson said that efforts against narcotic drugs continue to gain momentum, a reason as to why more drug dealers continue to be arrested and substances seized.
“Police had reliable information on their criminal dealings. When you see where that cannabis was hidden, there’s no way you can know it if you don’t have a credible source and strong partnership with the public,” he said.
“We are happy that the public has owned it and they are the main source of information on suppliers in their communities, which is a big step forward,” added CIP Umutesi.
The spokesperson observed that although drug-related crimes are on the decline, partly due to vigorous community policing measures adopted, there are people who are still involved in drug dealings, who must be brought to justice.
“This is a criminal act that goes further to cause insecurity in communities, destroys families and young people, no one should tolerate it. We urge people to always share information so as to break such chains to ensure a drug-free society,” she emphasized.
Article 263 of the new penal code partly states that, any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, with a sentence ranging from seven years to life in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between twenty (20) million Rwandan Francs (Frw) and thirty (30) million Rwandan Francs (Frw).
“The family of late Louis Baziga(spouse and children) is on their way to Kigali and they will arrive at 24h45,” reads an announcement that was shared by organizers of the funeral arrangements late Friday.
According to the same announcement, the body will arrive on a different flight on Saturday at 23h45.
The chairman of the Rwandan diaspora community in Mozambique, Baziga was shot dead in Matola, a suburb of Maputo around 11 am by assailants while heading to the garage. They blocked him and sprayed his Toyota Prado with bullets.
The family and friends of late Baziga met at Hospital Provincial da Matola in Maputo yesterday at 8h00 to take the body from the mortuary and to bid farewell to the deceased.
Testimonies about the life of Baziga were also scheduled to be shared by close relatives and people who know him.
On September 2, 2019, the funerals will include a requiem mass at Kabuga Pentecostal church in Gasabo district – Kigali city at 10h00 while the burial will take place at Rusororo cemetery at 2:00 pm.
Social media users can vote for their preferred name from two options on the National Geographic Facebook page and Twitter account.
The baby gorilla to be named through this exciting conservation campaign is an adventurous female infant from the Kwitonda family.
A daughter to Icyamamare, the baby gorilla was born on July 1, 2018, in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The Kwitonda family is made of 34 gorillas including three silverbacks, nine adult females, three blackbacks, five sub-adults, four juveniles, and 10 infants.
The two options voters can choose from are Intego and Imyato – names suggested by the rangers, vets, and trackers who interact with the gorillas on a daily basis. Intego means ‘Purpose’ because her life holds purpose in Rwanda’s effort to save endangered species. Imyato means ‘Achievement’ and pays tribute to those who have helped Rwanda thrive through conservation initiatives.
The name with the most votes from across the National Geographic platforms will be announced by the renowned National Geographic wildlife photographer Ronan Donovan on September 6, 2019, at the 15th annual Kwita Izina naming ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park.
{{About Kwita Izina}}
Kwita Izina is a time-honored tradition in which Rwandan families hold a ceremony to name a newborn baby. For three decades prior to the first official gorilla naming ceremony, park rangers and researchers named Rwanda’s mountain gorilla babies as part of monitoring each gorilla in their family and habitat.
The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Development Board and in collaboration with conservation partners, the private sector and local communities, has achieved remarkable success in protecting and growing the endangered mountain gorilla population and conserving its habitat. Rwanda’s traditional naming ceremony was adapted to celebrate this success as a national flagship event now known as Kwita Izina.
Kwita Izina was introduced in 2005 to raise awareness of conservation efforts and to thank communities for their on-going and invaluable participation and support of these initiatives. It is now the most important event on Rwanda’s conservation calendar and is attended by national, regional and international participants.
281 baby mountain gorillas have been named since Kwita Izina began. Alongside the naming ceremony, a weeklong celebration of activities is hosted to share the importance of conservation and the role of tourism in protecting rare and iconic species. Today, Kwita Izina is fast becoming Africa’s leading dialogue on conservation and sustainable tourism.
As a result of conservation efforts such as Kwita Izina, the population of the endangered mountain gorilla increased to 604 in 2016 in the Virunga Massif compared to 480 in 2010. The Virunga Massif is comprised of the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. Mountain gorilla numbers in the entire region had fallen as low as 242 in 1981.
