In 2009, Kondewa and eight former war commandants forming Civil Defence Forces including Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon, Alex Tamba Brima, Santigie Borbor Kanu, Ibrahim Bazzy Kamara, Augustine Gboa and Moinina Fofana were sent to serve their sentences in Rwanda.
After serving two-thirds of his sentence and exhibiting change, the Sierra Leone court provisionally released him and RCS repatriated him to his country.
In a statement, RCS Spokesperson, SSP Hillary Sengabo said that Kondewa who had been detained in Nyanza Prison was released Sunday.
Kondewa was accompanied by Sengabo who handed him to Sierra Leone officials.
“He was well-received, and affirms that in Rwanda he received programmes which facilitated him to become a good citizen,” Sengabo said.
Kondewa and eight compatriots arrived in Rwanda on November 31st 2009.
He was convicted on war crimes and use of child soldiers in Sierra Leone; he was sentenced by the Special UN court for Sierra Leone.
Rugera Jeannette who has been serving the club for 3 years was presiding Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali, one of the seven Rotary Clubs in Rwanda.
She was given her new responsibilities during a handover ceremony to the incoming president of Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali, Kabandana Aimé.
The colorful event that took place on this Saturday, 6th July 2018 saw several Rotarians from Rwanda and other countries.
Rugera was approved by Jérémie Mouyokani, the actual Governor of Rotary International District 9150.
The Governor of a certain District appoints his deputies in each country of the district, where he delegates tasks and projects for them to follow-up.
Rotary Club District 9150 was established in 1982, and is composed of Rwanda, Burundi, Cameroun, Congo, Gabon, Guinée Equatoriale, République Démocratique du Congo, République du Centrafrique, Tchad and Sao Tomé-et-Principe.
Speaking after handing over the office to the incoming President, Rugera Jeannette who will be coordinating Rotary activities in Rwanda told IGIHE that she aims to put it on the next level.
“I am humbled by the confidence and I am very glad, although the responsibilities are not very easy. During my tenure, we are going to focus on several projects that will contribute to growth of the standards of living of Rwandans. As the saying goes, there is strength in Unity, so I hope to work with everyone to achieve these goals.” She said
Rugera Jeanette expressed joy that the projects she engaged in while she was presiding Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali had yielded so much for the community. She further tasked Kabandana Aimé, the incoming president to work with other Rotarians so to push it on another level.
Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali sponsored Little Angels Primary School located in Mbyo, Mayange sector, Bugesera District and helped the school in funding it with School materials, food and supporting some children with school fees.
In this year alone, the club partnered with Kigali-Virunga & Gasabo Rotary Clubs to plant over 6000 trees as one of Rotary International’s objectives.
In his acceptance speech, the new president pledged that he was ready to serve the club and take it to another level. He further said that helping the needy will remain among the club’s top priorities.
“Thank you for entrusting me with these responsibilities. I want to commit once again to serve this club, but more importantly to advance projects that transform people’s lives,” he remarked.
“Our foremost priority is to help needy children to continue their studies. We shall partner with Rwanda Children Educational Foundation (RCEF), which will work with their parents and help us work together. We are waiting to sign some papers with Rotary International, but the most important have been dealt with.” he further added
Established in 1966, the Rotary movement in Rwanda has been growing and presently there are 7 Rotary Clubs (RC) in different parts of the country including RC Musanze, RC Butare, RC Kibungo, RC Kigali-Gasabo, RC Kigali-Mont Jali, RC Kigali-Virunga and RC Kigali-Doyen – which is the first Rotary Club in Rwanda.
Rotary consists of individuals with a passion to positively transform the lives and livelihoods of the poor and underprivileged in the society.
Dubbed ‘Global CEO Africa programme’, it was launched on June 28th 2018 and designed for top-tier African Business leaders seeking to globally expand their organisation’s reach.
The launch attracted top CEOs in Rwanda including Betty Sayinzoga, CEO Saham Assurance and Hannington Namara, CEO Equity Bank Rwanda among others.
The programme runs under the theme {{‘Leveraging on Regional Integration for Economic Growth}}.’
The launch took place soon after the signing of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) agreement by 44 African Member States on 21st March 2018. The CFTA brings together an estimated 1.2 billion people with a combined gross domestic product of more than USD$ 2 trillion.
The draft agreement commits countries to removing tariffs on 90% of goods. This momentous milestone illustrates a positive trajectory towards making intra – African trade attractive and affordable.
“It is time we came together for true social transformation. To build partnerships that will build an integrated Africa. At the heart of social capital transformation, is the education system,” said Dr. George Njenga, Dean – Strathmore Business School.
Rwanda has identified and curved a niche in developing an economic comparative advantage. On average, formal intra-African trade accounts for about 14% of total African trade. 46% of which is linked to manufactured products.
Speaking at the launch, Equity Bank’s Hannington Namara explained that intra-African trade is an illustration that the country has great potential in the development of supply chains across the continent.
He said, supplemented with increase in productivity and competitiveness, the continent can create enough jobs for its young and urbanized population.
“The journey must begin now, to think big and to create initiatives from Rwanda that go beyond Rwanda. If there is a Rwanda Agaciro (sovereign fund), why can’t we spread it to be an African Agaciro,” said Mr. Namara.
The Global CEO program serves as a platform for African CEOs to strategically step back from the rapid pace of daily business to reflect on issues facing their companies, while engaging with seasoned executives from distinct backgrounds, industries, and cultures.
The program is delivered in collaboration with IESE Business School and Lagos Business School.
Saham’s Betty Sayinzoga encouraged the CEOs to actively engage in unearthing the prospects the continent has.
‘’African challenges can only be addressed from an African perspective, and it is through this that we raise awareness on the opportunities that lie in Africa for Africans,” she said.
The discussions at the launch highlighted the recent and future opportunities for the Rwandan business landscape, through innovative strategic thinking.
Rwanda’s steady economic growth continues to rank the country as a key frontier in the continents economic growth. In line with Strathmore Business School’s vision of building a premier business School across Africa that responds to the Leadership and Management needs of the continent, SBS seeks to support Rwanda’s efforts by building local skills and competencies.
Through the Rwanda Leadership Development Academy, Strathmore Business School focusses on building transformational leadership aimed at developing businesses and promoting individual skillsets. The business school provides executive education through corporate and individual training.
{{About Strathmore Business School }}
Strathmore Business School provides training programs on business, agribusiness, public policy, healthcare and education.
The center for agribusiness currently has 8 executive training targeting investors in various value chains as well as the master of management in agribusiness. Strathmore Business School seeks to enable investors to develop practical business applications in agribusiness and provides a platform for the investors to generate a return on their investments while addressing the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
SBS captures these themes in one business concept: Developing Great Business Leaders. This is in perfect harmony with the founding principle of Strathmore University: that of leading society to greater development through service to all people without discrimination.
Speaking to IGIHE yesterday, the party Secretary General, Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze said that the list was prepared and approved following primaries that were conducted in March across the country.
In April, he said an independent commission was established to assess the list which was finally approved by the political bureau on Sunday.
“The list had been prepared by an independent commission as it is stipulated by the party’s laws, then after, the list was submitted to the executive committee and finally approved by the political bureau, an exercise that has been conducted today (Sunday),” Ngabitsinze told IGIHE yesterday.
In the bureau, the party approved their political programme which will be presented to the public during the electoral campaigns.
The list of political party which has had seven seats in parliament is comprised new individuals. Only three names of current members of parliament who appeared on the list.
Organized under the partnership of Rwanda Triathlon Federation (RTF) and Coca-Cola, the competition took place this Sunday, 08th July 2018, in Kigali’s Central Business District (CBD).
The competitors started their course from Makuza Peace Plaza, heading down towards Ecole Belge – Belgium Embassy – Kigali Marriott Hotel- SORAS – I&M Bank – CoK Pension Plaza and raced back to Makuza Peace Plaza.
Every participant started by running a course of 5.7km before undertaking a 19km bicycle ride before finishing on another 1.9km run.
In the male category, Ngurinzira Jean Bosco clocked one hour and 05 minutes (1h05’) beating Kevin by 10 seconds. In the Female category, Hanani Uwineza won with one hour, 06 minutes and 48 seconds (1h: 06’:48”). She was followed by Karushara Theonestine clocking One hour, 12 minutes and 29 seconds (1h12’29”).
Speaking to the Press, Rwanda Triathlon Federation (RTF) Vice President, Alexis Mbaraga, said that he was pleased of the way the multisport event had unfolded, especially as participants that had turned up in great numbers. He further encouraged others to come up in the coming editions.
“This was a successful competition that pleased us. It was organized in sidelines of the 24th liberation anniversary. We further wish this to be an annual event here in Kigali, but it shall require talks with other institutions […] We were also pleased by the way female participants turned up in great numbers, we also hope that others will come in big numbers.” Mbaraga told IGIHE
Mbaraga further revealed that preparations for the Lake Kivu ATU Sprint Triathlon African Cup that will take place on 4th August 2018 in Rubavu were going well.
The Lake Kivu ATU Sprint Triathlon African Cup will see several athletes from different clubs from all over the world competing on a swim-bike-run format.
He testified the benefits of using complete roofing services, offered exclusively by Safintra Rwanda Ltd in the country.
Eng. Malonko says his company has used the Safintra’s complete roofing services for a number of projects in the last four years and their overall effectiveness compels him to keep turning to Safintra for reliable solutions, quality and timely execution.
“We worked with Safintra on many projects including the National Police Headquarters and hostels in Kacyiru. Safintra took up the entire roofs work and timely delivered them to us. They used “Ultraspan” as quality roof sheets and trained manpower to execute it,” he says.
He adds that complete roofing services saves time for the owner or contractor who would, otherwise, go around buying every material and hiring manpower.
“These services help us concentrate on other activities with assurance that we will see the roof done on time. This also gives a guarantee as we only have to contact one person in case there is a fault with the roof instead of looking for every contributor to the roof in other instances,” says Eng. Malonko.
He says Safintra roofs are at least 50% lighter than other available in Rwanda, something good for avoiding the walls’ cracks or fall which often comes as a result of heavy roofs.
He adds the truss that Safintra uses for the complete roofing services are nowhere else on the local market. He, however, asked Safintra to extend these services so that it reaches to a big number of people in the country.
Sandeep Phadnis, Business Head at Safintra Rwanda Ltd, told IGIHE last week that the company has been introducing new services to meet the demand of the customers for faster construction of roof and savings on overall costs with offering complete roofing services as a new and innovative service.
“We have technical capability and experience to execute the work in stipulated time. Our Engineers do roof designing, suggest the right material and do the installation. In fact, you can now build the houses and leave the roofs to Safintra engineering team; they will show you the complete roof, smart and durable,” he said.
Safintra which is serving Rwandan construction industry since 2008 has been introducing technically superior products from time to time. Its products are a result of vast experience and technical expertise which has made it a One Stop Shop centre for roofing solutions.
Safintra uses its Light Gauge Steel Truss system under the brand Ultraspan as well as Simbachuma for the Structure.
Some of the bigger projects, Safintra has so far completed as complete roofing solutions include Large University in Burato, Burera District, Professional Training centre in Remera, Headquarters & Key buildings in Government offices, 4 Star Hotels in Nyagatare & Musanze districts, just to mention but a few. Safintra has also completed many schools, individual houses and apartments.
Safintra Rwanda Limited is a part of the Safal Group, Africa’s largest producer of steel roofing and allied products and is the first producer of Aluminium Zinc coated steel on the continent. With over 50 years of experience, the Safal Group has 36 manufacturing operations in 12 countries across Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, and has remained at the forefront in developing and providing products that lead the industry on the continent.
The Liberation celebration was attended by the Permanent Representative of Rwanda at the UN, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, the former Ambassador of the U.S. to Rwanda, Ambassador Erica Ruggles , and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, among others.
Speaking during the event, the Department of State representative and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Matthew Harrington commended Rwanda on its remarkable transformation over the last 24 years. He also reiterated the support that the U.S. will continue to provide to Rwanda in its development agenda.
“Remembering, educating, and preserving the memory of the genocide is key to Rwanda’s development, and ensuring that the genocide will never happen again. Hard work, drive and dedication can help a country bounce back, as Rwanda has demonstrated,” said Mr. Harrington.
In her brief remarks, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana expressed her gratitude for those who attended the celebrations of the 24th Liberation anniversary. She further highlighted that the struggle to liberate Rwanda continues, albeit not as an armed struggle, but one against social stagnation.
“Complete Liberation is to be able to defend our dignity as Rwandans, as Africans. The potential strength we have together is greater than the sum of our riches divided. We are not doing it alone,” said Ambassador Mukantabana,
She echoed the words of President Paul Kagame “The liberation struggle on the battlefield succeeded because those who were fighting worked with citizens. It is this spirit of unity that we want to maintain as we transform this country.”
Ambassador Mukantabana called upon Rwandans in the Diaspora to also shoulder this responsibility and to do what they can in the transformation journey of Rwanda.
Among other attendees were members of the Diplomatic Corp, members of the Rwanda Permanent Mission at the UN, friends of Rwanda, and members of the Rwandan community in the DMV area (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia).
A statement that was released this week by the US Department of State says that US recognizes AU self-financing efforts.
A statement was released following the AU Heads of States and Government summit that was held in Nouakchott, Mauritania on July 1st to 2nd.
The US commended the AU on the Summit saying that it reinforced important efforts to reform the AU, a process the United States supports and believes will ensure the AU is better positioned to solve regional issues in the coming years.
“As the Summit underscored, peace and security remain a priority. The United States applauds African efforts to take a more robust role in securing peace on the Continent,” reads a statement.
The AU deploys peacekeepers into some of the world’s most dangerous environments.
“Adopting high performance standards is critical to the AU’s conflict resolution efforts and the safety of African peacekeepers and the populations they protect,”
“We recognize fully implementing standards for financial transparency, conduct and discipline, and human rights will take time, and we look forward to continued collaboration in pursuit of these objectives,” a statement says.
US said that they will look to the AU’s implementation of these standards across its peace support operations before considering additional financial support through the UN.
The United States also acknowledged that establishing sustainable funding mechanisms for AU stabilization operations is important to their success.
“As such, the United States recognizes the importance of increased AU self-financing efforts and contributions to the AU Peace Fund. The United States looks forward to welcoming AU High Representative for the AU Peace Fund Dr. Donald Kaberuka and AU Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui to the United States for a fruitful discussion on AU financing and reform,” US announced.
Ukwizagira says that before being trained by the organization, he knew nothing about good practices of coffee growing like pruning, among others.
“Previously, we knew nothing about coffee growing practices; we used to cultivate it inappropriately, with no information about the quantity of fertilizers to use among other practice, which resulted in low production,” she says.
After receiving training from the organization since 2014, Ukwizagira embraced modern cultivation practices and currently the production has improved threefold.
“After being trained in coffee plantation handling, production was improved to the extent that we have constructed family house and bought hybrid cow. I have personal 150 coffee trees and I plan to plant 300 more trees,” Ukwizagira testifies.
Ukwizagira shares the testimony with 200 women from Rusizi District of Western Province who were trained by Sustainable Harvest Rwanda.
All 200 women are from six coffee farming cooperatives.
All trained women say that they have various development projects following good production from coffee plantation.
Western Province Sustainable Harvest Rwanda representative, Martin Ngendo says that the project focus on women by encouraging and empowering them to cultivate coffee.
He says that previously, coffee cultivation was considered as men’s job.
“Women need to change their mindsets towards cultivating coffee and make it a family source of income. They should be supported more in coffee growing practices, right from handling coffee seedlings in nursery beds to processing coffee beans for drinkable coffee. Farmers should also drink coffee,” he says.
Sustainable Harvest Executive Director, Ruth Coleman said that when a woman is trained, it impacts the whole family.
“We did our best to train women so that they can, too, practice coffee growing. Before, coffee growing was mostly dominated by men. We want coffee to be come a household source of income, because when you train a woman, it means that you have trained the entire family,” Coleman said.
Sustainable Harvest Rwanda operates in 13 Districts. In Rusizi District they operate from six sectors.
Through the service, MTN Mobile Money users in Rwanda are able to send money to Airtel Tanzania subscribers seamlessly and affordably through the MFS Africa Hub.
The Hub connects mobile wallet customers across networks and countries in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling convenient and affordable mobile-to-mobile international money transfers.
Speaking about the new addition to the existing corridors, namely Uganda, Kenya and Zambia, MTN’s Chief Business and Corporate Affairs Officer, Chantal Kagame said they are pleased to easy cross-border money transfers.
“Mobile Money has increasingly become a norm in Rwanda as MTN continues to extend financial inclusivity to Rwandans and enrich their individual wellbeing. We are delighted to bring the convenience of instant cross-border money transfers directly to our customers’ mobile wallets,” she said.
To send money to Airtel Tanzania, MTN Rwanda customers will be required to dial *830# from their handsets and follow the prompts, where they will also view the equivalent amount to send based on prevailing foreign exchange rates.
They will then be prompted to approve the transaction with their MoMo PIN. Upon sending they will receive a confirmation message that the transaction has gone through.
The Mobile Money ecosystem requires innovative solutions to increase financial inclusion and drive economic growth. The rise of Mobile Money transactions is the most visible evidence of this.
“The MTN Mobile Money ecosystem has expanded extensively with additions such as the payment of Moto fares in partnership with Yegomoto, paying of parking fees in partnership with KVCS as well as partnering with local banks to facilitate Push and Pull services. We are now registering about Rwf130 billion in monthly transactions and we continue to lead Mobile Money in Rwanda with 1.7 million active subscribers,” added Mrs. Kagame.
The launch of regional remittance with Airtel Tanzania follows the recent reduction of MTN’s MoMo tariffs of up to 80%. Customers can send small amounts of money, even below Rwf100, with transfer fees that start from as low as Rwf3.
“MTN Mobile Money services have brightened the lives of our customers, as well as aided in developing Rwanda’s financial infrastructure. The efficiency of regional remittance will see customers transfer money easier, faster and more conveniently across borders at a fraction of current costs,” Kagame said.
