The remains will be accorded decent burial in different memorial sites of Bugesera district.
Construction activities of Nyamata hospital were on course during the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi. It is said that there were three holes dug during that time as activities were underway.
The Director of Nyamata hospital, Dr William Rutagengwa has told IGIHE that Interahamwe had set a road block on the main road passing in front of the hospital to kill Tutsi in April 1994 and threw their bodies in those holes.
“We were aware of remains dumped in the premises but could not track the exact location. Construction for Nyamata hospital began in 1992. It was an incomplete building during the genocide. There were bushes in which neighboring residents hid themselves. In front of the hospital was a barricade where Interahamwe killed Tutsi. We had information that people hiding in that place and others killed around were thrown in those holes,” he said.
“The holes were not used since the hospital buildings were completed. The area was enclosed with a fence. There were three holes that we were not sure in which one the remains were. The remains of between 80 and 90 victims have been found and will be buried decently in standard memorial sites in the area,” added Rutagengwa.
The decision to exhume remains of victims from these holes for decent burial was taken during the 24th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
Patience Umutesi, The CEO of East Africa Trademark which funded the construction of the market assured that the support to facilitate cross border trade will be sustained.
“Construction of this market built within two years took $ 3 million which also catered for renovation of a road to remove trade barriers,” she said.
The cross border market has 192 trading rooms and 5 freezers.
Trade Mark East Africa plans to build more similar markets in Rusizi and Rutsiro districts.
Rubavu district vice mayor for economic affairs, Janvier Murenzi revealed that the market is among infrastructures reinforcing strategies to meet the district’s goal to become trade and tourism hub within six years.
“The market will facilitate inter-trade with DRC citizens. It will promote exports because it has a particular section designed for improvement of Made in Rwanda products,” he said.
The Director of Private Sector Federation (PSF) in Rubavu District, Jeannette Kayumba Nyota highlighted that the market will ease businesses for women who used to make long walks carrying loads.
“The market comes at the right time because we receive many traders from DRC. There will be no more long walks to get goods. Both Congolese people and Rwandans will be exchanging goods here at the border,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINICOM), Michel Sebera requested residents to maintain the marker infrastructures.
The message was delivered on Wednesday in Musanze district during discussions with students held at INES Ruhengeri as part of ongoing judicial week that run from 18th to end on 22nd March 2019.
The chairperson of the Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC), Aimable Havugiyaremye reminded them that prevention of crimes requires concerted efforts from different actors.
“Fighting and preventing crime is our daily duty. Those directly involved are not enough with the absence of beneficiaries. When they properly understand inconveniences of crime, prevention methods and how to provide early information; our work becomes easy. That is why we organize such discussions countrywide for better understanding of judicial process undertakings,” he said.
Participants pledged to give their contribution increasing awareness among citizens on
crime prevention measures.
“We have been reminded of our role in preventing crime early. Our contribution will be
providing explanations to citizens how to avoid crime and update them on related
punishments. This will undoubtedly reduce criminals,” said Gedeon Rutayisire a student in the department of law.
Discussions during the judicial week are held on different topics including citizens’ involvement in crime prevention, prevention of drugs, defilement, corruption and
cyber crimes among others.
In his visit to Ethiopia on March 14 this year, President Macron said France will be represented in the 25th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
“It is true that Rwanda invited us in commemoration activities. We received the invitation and I am sure that France will be represented,” President Macron said.
Berville is a 29 year-old French Member of Parliament who was elected to the French National Assembly on 18 June 2017, representing En Marche!, the centrist party founded by the current French President Emmanuel Macron. He is also spokesperson of this party.
A survivor of the genocide against Tutsi in 1994, Hervé Berville was born in Rwanda in 1990 and he was adopted by the French couple who took him to France in 1994 after some of his family members were killed during the genocide.
He graduated from the London School of Economics and worked for Stanford University’s Kenya Campus before joining politics in 2016.
The concern was raised on Tuesday as the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana appeared before parliament explain persistent problems in agriculture.
MP Athanasie Nyiragwaneza observed that they have met farmers running short of seedlings despite the annual approval of the budget to support agriculture which also caters for the provision of fruit tree seeds.
“Funds to make fruit seedlings accessible have been provided but we have been finding people having no seedlings. It took a lot of funds but digging deeper into root causes of the problem we find that some people are not informed,” she said.
Nyiragwaneza revealed that the money to provide seedlings was not delivered to farmers in some areas while others who got the money planted few and used the rest for other purposes.
MP Léonard Ndagijimana reiterated that even few planted seedlings are not properly taken care of.
He pointed out some areas where pests destroyed mango trees without interventions.
“Fruit seedlings are planted but there is no follow up. Why are we discussing to plant more yet existing ones are deteriorating? Mangoes in town, Eastern and Southern Province are affected by diseases and no one is following up. They suffer from diseases of small white insects preventing absorption of nutrients,” he said.
MPs also decried concentration of much effort in exported fruits while there are others in Rwanda that can contribute to eradicate malnutrition.
Minister Mukeshimana explained that a lot was achieved over the past three years increasing the quantity of edible fruits especially avocado, mangoes and Macadamia.
She said that 79, 900 mango trees, 158 512 avocado trees were planted in 2016/2017 adding that 45 488 avocado trees, 124 100 mango trees and 14 000 macadamia trees were planted in 2017/2018.
Dr Mukeshimana attributed the scarcity of fruit trees to high cost of grafted plants.
“Grafted plants are still expensive because it takes time to reach maturity. For instance, an avocado requires at least between 9-12 months while macadamia takes 18 months to have the seedling ready for planting,” she said.
Dr Mukeshimana has however revealed a plan to follow up seedlings for edible fruits and establishing rules for standard nurseries.
She said each family will be mobilized to plant at least three varieties of edible fruits to combat malnutrition. A total of 8 million fruits trees are expected to be planted under this countrywide program within two years.
Figures from MINAGRI indicate that 150,000 avocado trees and 150,000 macadamia trees are expected to be planted in 2019/2020.
According to the statement signed by the Director General of Rwanda Meteorological Agency, Aimable Gahigi, the strong winds are predicted to blow mostly in the Eastern Province, Western Province, Northern Province and a large part of the Southern Province.
Strong winds are expected to gust on a speed between 8m/s and 12m/s equal to 29Km/h and 43Km/h as per the statement.
“The predicted wind could cause disasters to people and properties and infrastructure. Hence, we call on the population to take measures in a bid to avoid and stop disasters,” the statement reads.
Recently, the Ministry of Emergency Management has cautioned the public of potential disasters that could come with the rainy season.
“About schools, church houses and other places that attract gatherings of people, we ask the public to check if roofs are well tightened and install lightning rods in public buildings,” the Minister in Charge of Emergency, Germaine Kamayirese said.
Statistics by the Ministry of Emergency Management indicate that between January and June last year, disasters killed a total of 234 people and injured 268 others, destroying 15,264 houses and 9412 hectares leaving 797 livestock dead.
An assessment conducted in 15 districts most affected by disasters showed that disasters caused more than Rwf204 billion in economic losses between January and October last year.
This follows the signing of agreements to open airspace enabling RwandAir flights to Kinshasa and vice versa for Congo Airways.
Rwanda’s delegation was in DRC at the beginning of this week in talks with their Congolese counterparts and DRC president, Félix Tshisekedi.
Part of Rwanda’s delegation were Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir and Silas Udahemuka, Director General, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority.
Makolo has told IGIHE that ‘Kigali-Kinshasa flights will start mid-March 2019 while flights to Guangzhou are expected to begin on 18th June this year.’
Following recent talks, the senior advisor to president Thsisekedi, Nicole Ntumba Bwatshia who was part of the delegation explained that the talks aimed at seeking together with the head of state how Rwanda and DRC may reach consensus in opening airspace for air transport.
Bwatshia explained that RwandaAir aircraft will soon use DRC airspace and vice versa that both countries will be able to maximize benefits from bilateral relations.
With 12 airplanes, RwandAir conducts flights to 26 destinations in East, Central, West and Southern Africa; Europe and Asia.
Information from the prosecution indicates that the duo is being interrogated for alleged complicity in the misuse of funds worth Rwf 249 million in One Laptop Per Child Project that is under REB.
John Rutayisire was the first director of REB when the institution was created in 2011 out of merger of different institutions under the education sector including Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC), Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC),The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR).
He served until 2015 when he handed over to Gasana who served until 2017.
Gasana was replaced in February 2017 by Dr. Irenée Ndayambaje who is still in service.
One Laptop Per Child was initiated in June 2008 with the aim of making Rwanda a technology hub.
So far, over 270,000 laptops of XO brand have been given to over 1500 primary schools.
The project had numerous problems jeopardizing its implementation. Some of them were reported stolen while others were kept idle at schools with no access to electricity among other inconsistencies.
The 2016 Auditor General report indicated that 583 laptops worth Rwf 101,607,187
under the project were kept in school stores across the country instead of giving them
to beneficiaries.
The “Girls Take Over” Initiative aimed at providing a shadowing experience to young women in Rwanda by offering them role models in the field of their career choice, helping them realize their potential, build their capacities and strive to make their dreams true.
Girls who benefited from the initiative were selected among students from Gashora Girls Academy, Akilah Institute for Women, FAWE Girls School and the Rwandan Organization of Women with Disabilities (UNABU). The young women acquired insightful career advice and first-hand experience from leaders in different Rwandan and international organizations.
The young women were received in by the Heads of the following Institutions; UN Women, the Embassies of Kenya, Congo, Netherlands and Germany to Rwanda, The Swiss Development Cooperation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, the UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), Bank of Kigali and BK Capital, Ecobank, the Commercial Bank of Africa, SONARWA Life, Volkswagen Rwanda, AC GROUP, Rwandair, Engen Ltd, the Kanombe Military Hospital and the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSR).
They were taken through the operations of the institutions, daily work challenges and how they are addressed and discussed with their mentors their journeys to success and lessons they learnt from them.
Brigitte Musabwasoni is a young woman, living with disabilities and a player at Rubavu Sitting Volleyball Club. She was received by the Vice President of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSR), Ms. Felicite Rwemarika.
“I talked with her (Rwemarika) a lot about women sport development and Paralympic sports in particular. I told her about my projects and dreams to play for the national team. She advised me to never give up because she also faced obstacles as she was pursuing her dream career but she kept up with her journey until she reached her goals,” Brigitte Musabwasoni said, “I am going back home a new person and with a new friend, Felicite”.
The various leaders who received these young women said this was a golden opportunity to share their experiences, a chance they hoped they would have gotten when they were starting their career. They were also impressed by the challenging questions they were asked by the young women and indicated it had been an eye-opener for them as well.
Dr. Claire Karekezi, the first Rwandan female neurosurgeon, received Blandine Ineza at Kanombe Military Hospital. Ineza finished her secondary studies at Groupe Scolaire de Butare in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) Option last year and wants to become a cardio-thoracic surgeon.
“The young woman I received dreams of becoming a surgeon. It is a great dream and as a female neurosurgeon, I made that she knows that it is possible. The way ahead of her is not quite easy but it is possible if we work together,” Dr. Claire Karekezi said.
The UN Women Representative in Rwanda, Fatou A. Lo said that the ‘Girls Take Over’ Initiative created a platform of intergenerational dialogue for young women to be mentored but also to share key insights on how they view the field and what could be improved because as she stated “these young women are not only the future, they are actually the present.”
“Hearing messages from these girls has been tremendously inspiring. The girls were not only very well prepared and they asked very relevant and tough questions but they also inspired us. They brought energy, great insights and they reminded us that we have all been there in their shoes.”
Going forward, through the initiative, UN Women Rwanda intends to reach those who are left farthest behind including the school dropouts, young women who do not have access to existing opportunities and those who may not be in leading educational institutions.
The “Girls Take Over” Initiative is a continuation of the various mentorship and career guidance activities such as the “Speed Mentoring” organized as part of the 2018 edition of Youth Connekt Africa Summit, where UN Women held mentoring sessions with 150 youth and leaders from various sectors, as well as the Mentoring Moments launched by the Career Women’s Network in Kigali.
This is the {Tugane Ishuri } volunteer initiative.
{Tugane Ishuri } – or “let’s go to school” in the local language Kinyarwanda – builds on Rwanda’s strong culture of solidarity and community cooperation to engage young activists to accomplish social change. Volunteers with Tugane Ishuri work with children in their own communities who have dropped out of school and encourage them to re-enroll and complete their studies.
At just 21 years old, {Denise Murekatete } became a UNICEF volunteer with Tugane Ishuri to advocate for the importance of education among families in her community. Denise sees herself as a public spokeswoman, helping families face their challenges.
“Volunteering builds a positive reputation for an individual in society, and it can help the country to achieve its goals since the work we do is for the public benefit,” says Denise. “I plan to speak out for every child to be sent to school. I hope to see the number of school dropouts in my community reduce to zero.”
{Jacques Muvandimwe} is 25 and lives in Rwanda’s Ngororero District. He chose to become a volunteer with Tugane Ishuri to help families who were suffering.
“There are families where the children have dropped out of school, and as a volunteer, I can approach these families and maybe make a difference in their lives,” he says. “If I can do this, the work will have been a great privilege to me.”
23-year-old {Vestine Uwimanirinze } became a volunteer to help a large number of street children living in her neighbourhood. As a volunteer, she believes it is her responsibility to teach these children and their parents about the importance of education.
“It really helps the community, even if I do not see direct benefit myself,” says Vestine.
At 24 years old, {Theophile Masengesho } believes that volunteering is important because it gives him an opportunity to transfer his knowledge and skills to another person. In this case, the children he encouraged to re-enrol in school.
As a volunteer in his community, Theophile plans to work hand-in-hand with local leaders on how to approach the dropout issue.
24-year-old {Therese Musengimana } believes that all parents need to understand how crucial it is for their children to complete school. She knows that school opens opportunities for a child’s future and keeps them away from harmful activities such as drug abuse.
“I have met children who have lost hope, thinking they cannot achieve anything because their families are poor,” says Therese. “But when I approach them, listen to their stories and use information from my volunteer training to speak with them, we see that deep down, they all have goals and dreams, and we can help them accomplish those goals by going back to school.”
