According to Boona FM, the incident occurred on Sunday, September 29, 2024, in Kamonyi Village, Northern Division of Kisoro Municipality, Uganda.
Ntirivamunda, in his 40s, had gone to a local bar to purchase meat, which he shared with his visiting daughter.
Witnesses said that, after consuming the meal, a piece of meat became lodged in Elias’ throat, causing him to lose consciousness and tragically die on the spot.
The survey highlights that public transport is more commonly used in urban areas, with 25.9% of employed people in the City of Kigali relying on it for their commute.
In contrast, the usage of public transportation is notably lower in rural areas, where only 2.6% of employed individuals use it.
According to the survey, 8.3 million of Rwanda’s 13.2 million population are of working age, with 4.3 million currently employed.
Among those employed in Kigali, over 61% commute on foot, while 12.7% use personal vehicles.
In March 2023, the Rwandan government introduced 12 new public transport routes in Kigali, increasing the total number to 79.
The recent addition of 200 new buses has helped ease congestion at bus stations, particularly during peak hours when commuters are traveling to and from work.
In other urban areas, 75.3% of workers also walk to work, and 10.2% rely on private means of transportation.
In rural areas, only 5% of workers use private cars, with a mere 2.6% utilizing public transport.
The visit to the country was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe and the office of Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Nduhungirehe described the visit as historic as it marks the first official visit by a Rwandan president to the Baltic States, which comprise Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. It is also the first official visit by an African president to Latvia.
During the visit, President Kagame will meet with Latvia’s highest-ranking officials, including President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Speaker of the Saeima (the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia), Daiga Mieriņa, and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
Additionally, during President Kagame’s visit, a memorial plaque dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda will be unveiled at the Latvian National Library on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
Talks between Presidents Kagame and Rinkēvičs will focus on bilateral relations between Rwanda and Latvia, current security challenges in Africa and Europe, and cooperation within international organizations.
The two heads of state last met at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2023. At that meeting, they discussed Rwanda’s regional engagements in Africa, particularly in peace efforts in Mozambique and the Central African Republic, as well as its involvement in UN peacekeeping missions.
President Rinkēvičs expressed Latvia’s appreciation for Rwanda’s firm stance on protecting international law and voiced interest in educational cooperation.
Latvia, located in northeastern Europe, is one of the smaller countries on the continent, covering an area of 64,589 square kilometers. It shares borders with Lithuania to the south and Estonia to the north and has a population of approximately 1.88 million people.
The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after decades of occupation. Latvia’s landscape features rolling hills, dense forests, and sandy beaches along the Baltic Sea coast.
Riga, the capital and largest city of Latvia, is renowned for its stunning architecture, which includes Art Nouveau buildings and medieval churches. The official language, Latvian, is a Baltic language with ancient roots.
The forum gathered key government representatives and business leaders, including Hazza AlQahtani, UAE Ambassador to Rwanda, and John Mirenge, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the UAE. The event was also attended by several Rwandan business owners operating in the UAE, and UAE investors with interests in Rwanda.
In his keynote address, Amb. AlQahtani emphasized the robust and developing relationship between the UAE and Rwanda.
“It is my privilege to welcome you to this important platform for the business communities of the UAE and Rwanda. This forum reflects our shared ambition to strengthen commercial ties, foster innovation, and create sustainable economic growth for both nations”.
Amb. AlQahtani outlined the strategic opportunities available for Rwandan businesses across various sectors, including real estate, renewable energy, technology and logistics.
“The UAE offers a dynamic and globally recognized business environment. With a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a government committed to economic diversification, we present an attractive destination for international investments,” he said.
Amb. AlQahtani highlighted the UAE’s ongoing efforts to solidify its position as a global economic hub, noting that the country’s non-oil foreign trade reached AED 1.4 trillion in the first half of 2024; a 25% increase in exports.
He also stressed the UAE’s ambitious goal of achieving AED 3 trillion in non-oil trade by the end of 2024.
“This demonstrates our commitment to fostering long-term economic prosperity, and Rwanda can play a significant role by capitalizing on opportunities across sectors such as AI, agri-tech, and renewable energy,” Amb. AlQahtani added. “By identifying synergies between our economies and addressing any challenges that may impact the growth of bilateral trade, we can pave the way for more robust collaboration.”
He encouraged Rwandan entrepreneurs to explore emerging industries, particularly in the fields of green technology, advanced manufacturing, and smart agriculture.
On behalf of Rwanda, Amb. John Mirenge reiterated the country’s enthusiasm for welcoming UAE investments.
“Rwanda is committed to supporting UAE businesses that are looking to establish or expand their presence in our country. While we have seen positive developments, there is room for much more, and I strongly encourage more UAE businesses to consider Rwanda as a prime destination for growth,” Mirenge said, calling for a concerted effort to elevate bilateral trade to new heights. He encouraged Rwandan entrepreneurs to explore emerging industries, particularly in green technology, advanced manufacturing, and smart agriculture.
Leading the physical delegation in Kigali was Juliana Muganza, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), alongside representatives from the Private Sector Federation (PSF), the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In her remarks, Muganza emphasized the growing importance of UAE-Rwanda partnerships and the critical role these partnerships play in driving Rwanda’s Vision 2050 agenda.
“We have laid a solid foundation for foreign investment, and we are confident that collaborations like these will continue to unlock new opportunities for growth and development in both nations,” she said.
The forum also featured participation from key UAE institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, with officials sharing insights into the UAE’s strategic sectors, including AI, food security, and logistics.
Both Rwandan and UAE officials expressed optimism for the future of trade and investment between the two nations. This platform has once again demonstrated that the partnership between Rwanda and the UAE is not only resilient but has considerable also filled with boundless potential to develop further.
“We look forward to seeing more initiatives that will strengthen our economic ties and contribute to the prosperity of our people,” Muganza concluded.
With both countries already seeing tangible benefits from their cooperation, the meeting solidified the foundation for deeper collaboration, offering Rwandan businesses a gateway to one of the world’s most vibrant economies while presenting UAE investors with new opportunities in Rwanda’s rapidly expanding market.
The 21-year-old software engineers’ AI project, dubbed Bwenge, was ranked first among 18 projects reviewed by judges in the 48-hour competition on Sunday, September 29, 2024, securing them Frw 5 million in cash prizes and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025.
Bwenge is an AI-powered chatbot that allows any citizen with a phone, even without internet access, to make a call and access digital government services. The bot has been integrated with IremboPay, a payment solution for Rwanda’s one-stop shop for government services, to ensure seamless payments.
“You can ask the bot how to do things, for example, how to start a business in Rwanda, and it will provide you with a detailed guide,” Izabayo explained.
“You can also request an SMS on how to pay for an application, and it will send you a direct text. You can then call, and the system will prompt you to make a payment through mobile money (MOMO).”
Another interesting feature of the chatbot is its telephone agent, which allows two people who speak different languages to have a conversation on a call, with the bot translating for each of them.
Izabayo and Clarence are graduates of the Rwanda Coding Academy and work at Pivot Access and Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), respectively. The two young software developers could not contain their excitement after winning the top prize on their very first attempt at such a competition.
“This journey was really interesting; it showed us what we can accomplish in less than 48 hours. We were thinking about what we could do to provide value to the whole Rwandan society, especially for those who don’t have access to the internet,” Clarence beamed, adding that ironically they were among the last groups to apply for the hackathon, just a few hours before the application deadline.
The duo is open to collaborating with other partners to implement and explore other ideas leveraging artificial intelligence.
“We have the ability to do more things. Now we are using a phone, but one can use WhatsApp to send requests. The possibilities are endless,” Izabayo concluded.
Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the project has the potential to revolutionize access to information, especially for persons with limited internet access.
“The project can have a huge impact in Rwanda because the way it’s deployed allows people without internet to access information by just calling a phone number. It can have a huge impact in urban and rural areas,” Djomga stated, emphasizing that the pioneering event was organised to create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in Rwanda.
The second place went to a team of four developers with a technology titled Immersive AI. It’s a platform that enables businesses and individuals to create their own AI workflow agents to automate processes and improve productivity. The project developers included Dirac Murairi, Landelin Gihozo, Julien Barezi and Kevin Nkusi.
Somatek AI clinched the third place. The project was also undertaken by group of four young software developers, who built an AI-powered browser extension that simplifies complex technical documentation. The team, comprising Janvier Ntwali, Laura Celine Ishimwe, Dean Daryl Murenzi, and Leny Pascal Ihirwe, developed the extension to assist the government in its recently rolled-out scheme to train one million coders under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) by 2029.
“Given that most Rwandan youth are low-proficient English speakers, we decided to create a solution for them to transcribe technical documentation to their level for better understanding and learning experiences,” the team explained.
The two teams won Frw 2 million and Frw 1 million, respectively.
In developing practical AI solutions, the participants leveraged large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies. Teams had the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, also provided access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI models for voice-enabled applications.
Twenty teams comprising 63 individuals were initially selected to participate in the competition from a pool of more than 130 teams, but only 18 teams made it to the final stage and had their projects reviewed by a panel of eminent judges from Irembo, C4IR, and RSSB, among other partners.
Esther Kunda, the Director General of Innovation & Emerging Technologies at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda and Alain Ndayishimiye, Project Lead for AI/ML at C4IR Rwanda, were among the judges.
Ndayishimiye commended the dedication of all the teams in the competition, highlighting the creativity in their projects.
“Over the past 48 hours, we have witnessed remarkable technical ingenuity, creativity, and collaboration, turning many ideas into real MVPs that address some of the country’s most pressing challenges,” he remarked.
He emphasized that every participant, irrespective of the contest’s outcome, should take pride in their accomplishments and push themselves to achieve even more.
“Regardless of the results, you should be proud of your achievements. We look forward to more initiatives like this, aligned with the AI policy, to support local talent and foster meaningful change,” he added.
Rwanda confirmed its first-ever Marburg outbreak five days ago with 26 cases and eight deaths registered as of Sunday September 29, 2024.
To control the further spread of Marburg, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday night that only one caregiver would be allowed per patient at a time.
All healthcare facilities have been directed to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg disease through the strict application of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
Other new measures introduced include the banning of wakes and home vigils, locally known as ‘Ikiriyo’, in cases of death caused by Marburg.
Additionally, funeral services for those who have died from Marburg will be limited to no more than 50 attendees.
The government also stated that in the wake of the MVD outbreak, open-casket viewings will not be permitted in homes, churches, or mosques. These will only be held in designated areas within health facility premises, and with a limited number of people.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health emphasized that normal business and activities will continue, with a strong focus on reinforcing personal hygiene measures.
The ministry urged the public to avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals. The main symptoms of the virulent disease are high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
“By diligently following these guidelines, each one of us is making an invaluable contribution to protecting ourselves and each other,” the Ministry stated, adding that additional measures will be announced in the coming days.
Earlier on Sunday, Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said the government had identified approximately 300 people who had contact with infected individuals, all of whom are being tested to determine whether they are infected.
“We have many contacts, and the number continues to grow as we trace them. Nearly 300 people have been identified so far, and that number may increase because the interactions vary. They might have had casual contact, such as greeting each other, or closer contact, like caring for or being a patient,” Minister Nsanzimana added.
The contacts include both those who live with the infected and others from different areas.
The minister urged the public to stay calm and continue their daily activities as usual, reassuring them that the measures being taken to combat the MVD outbreak are promising.
The Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement on Sunday night that two more deaths had been recorded since the last update on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in the country remains at 26. The number of patients in isolation and receiving treatment is 18.
Rwanda confirmed its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak on Friday, September 27, 2024, stating that cases had been identified among patients in health facilities across the country.
The government has since announced enhanced measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including contact tracing and testing.
Earlier on Sunday, Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said the government had identified approximately 300 people who had contact with infected individuals, all of whom are being tested to determine whether they are infected.
“We have many contacts, and the number continues to grow as we trace them. Nearly 300 people have been identified so far, and that number may increase because the interactions vary. They might have had casual contact, such as greeting each other, or closer contact, like caring for or being a patient,” Minister Nsanzimana added.
The contacts include both those who live with the infected and others from different areas.
The minister urged the [public to stay calm and continue their daily activities as usual->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-health-ministry-reassures-public-amidst-marburg-outbreak?var_mode=calcul], reassuring them that the measures being taken to combat the MVD outbreak are promising.
Addressing the media on Sunday, September 29, 2024, Minister Nsanzimana said the Marburg virus is not as alarming as COVID-19 and stressed that there is no need for panic. Instead, he emphasized the importance of maintaining good hygiene, avoiding physical contact, and refraining from touching bodily fluids of those suspected of having the virus.
“People should continue with their lives and work as usual. So far, in the initial three days of contact tracing, we’ve made good progress, and it doesn’t warrant halting daily activities,” Minister Nsanzimana stated.
Dr. Nsanzimana affirmed that Rwanda is well-prepared for the outbreak, given the country’s experience in handling various past epidemics.
“We are always prepared. It is extremely difficult to prevent an outbreak before it happens. Globally, no one can guarantee stopping every outbreak, but the way we prepare ensures that when it occurs, we quickly identify and respond to it before it spreads further. That is what we are doing now,” he added.
“We are confident that within a short period, we will have made significant progress in controlling this outbreak. That’s our goal, as similar outbreaks in other regions didn’t last long, typically two or three months at most. Such outbreaks tend to be fatal, but the challenge is detecting and identifying them early, after which the key is to act swiftly to contain them.”
The Ministry confirmed the Marburg outbreak in Rwanda on Friday, September 27, 2024. So far, 26 cases, including six fatalities, have been confirmed.
Addressing the media on Sunday, September 29, 2024, Minister Nsanzimana said the Marburg virus is not as alarming as COVID-19 and stressed that there is no need for panic. Instead, he emphasized the importance of maintaining good hygiene, avoiding physical contact, and refraining from touching bodily fluids of those suspected of having the virus.
“People should continue with their lives and work as usual. So far, in the initial three days of contact tracing, we’ve made good progress, and it doesn’t warrant halting daily activities,” Minister Nsanzimana stated.
Dr. Nsanzimana affirmed that Rwanda is well-prepared for the outbreak, given the country’s experience in handling various past epidemics.
“We are always prepared. It is extremely difficult to prevent an outbreak before it happens. Globally, no one can guarantee stopping every outbreak, but the way we prepare ensures that when it occurs, we quickly identify and respond to it before it spreads further. That is what we are doing now,” he added.
“We are confident that within a short period, we will have made significant progress in controlling this outbreak. That’s our goal, as similar outbreaks in other regions didn’t last long, typically two or three months at most. Such outbreaks tend to be fatal, but the challenge is detecting and identifying them early, after which the key is to act swiftly to contain them.”
The Ministry of Health has identified approximately 300 people who had contact with infected individuals, all of whom are being tested to determine whether they are infected.
“We have many contacts, and the number continues to grow as we trace them. Nearly 300 people have been identified so far, and that number may increase because the interactions vary. They might have had casual contact, such as greeting each other, or closer contact, like caring for or being a patient,” Minister Nsanzimana added.
The contacts include both those who live with the infected and others from different areas. The cost of treating and caring for all those affected is being covered by the government.
The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Rwanda announced that it would be sending supplies to support Rwanda’s efforts to combat the Marburg virus and ensure that responses reach as many people as possible swiftly.
Additionally, seven international experts specializing in contagious diseases, including Marburg, are being dispatched to Rwanda to join the larger team fighting the outbreak.
Symptoms of Marburg include high fever, severe headaches, often accompanied by body weakness and muscle pain. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea are also common.
Preventive measures include avoiding contact with infected individuals and enhancing hygiene practices.
Gachagua was elected to office on a joint ticket with President William Ruto in August 2022, but differences with the Head of State and Members of Parliament allied to the ruling party are threatening his premature exit from government.
The Deputy President faces accusations of undermining Ruto’s leadership and causing divisions within the ruling administration. Some of the President’s allies accuse Gachagua of being behind the youth-led [anti-tax protests witnessed in the country in June->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/protesters-storm-kenyan-parliament-as-controversial-finance-bill-is-passed]. Already, three members of his staff and two MPs close to him are facing prosecution following the conclusion of a probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Ruto’s allies in the National Assembly confirmed to local media that more than 300 MPs had signed a motion to impeach Kenya’s second in command as of Saturday, September 28, 2024.
The signatures, which had largely remained secret over the past few weeks, were reportedly collected by regional caucus whips, who have been holding night meetings to reach a common position.
“There is a stampede; members are moving to sign the motion…It is a matter of when, not if, the motion will be tabled,” Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro told Kenya’s Citizen TV.
The motion is expected to be tabled in the House on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, for consideration.
To impeach a Deputy President in Kenya, an impeachment motion must be signed by at least 117 MPs before being introduced in the National Assembly. Once tabled in the House, the motion must garner the support of 233 MPs, representing two-thirds of the total 349 MPs, before being transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
The Constitution of Kenya (2010) stipulates that to impeach a Deputy President, the proponents must present watertight grounds, including gross violations of the Constitution or any other law, crimes under national or international law, and gross misconduct.
Gachagua, who brought in significant votes for Ruto from Kenya’s central region, also known as Mt. Kenya—which has produced three of Kenya’s five Presidents—insists that he is clean. He has been traversing the region, cautioning President Ruto against allowing the impeachment plot, saying that doing so would betray the electorate.
“Let us not reintroduce the politics of betrayal,” Gachagua stated recently. “Ruto is a beneficiary of Mt. Kenya’s disdain for betrayal. Our people hate it and are unforgiving.”
President Ruto is yet to publicly comment on the matter. He is currently attending the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
It is impossible to discuss tourism without mentioning hotels, as after visiting the natural attractions of a given country, tourists need an adorable place to rest and receive excellent services.
In Rwanda, this has been a key focus, as in the last five years, the country had only 10,000 rooms, which means that in less than 60 months, 15,000 additional rooms have been established.
Yves Ngenzi, the Director of the Tourism Department at PSF, stated that this is a significant step forward in increasing the number of hotels that accommodate tourists visiting Rwanda.
“These are just rooms for sleeping. There are many others which provide other services such as dining facilities. The growth is impressive and we count hotel rooms to assess our progress,” he said.
Ngenzi also revealed that they are working hard to ensure that within the next five years, Rwanda will have 35,000 hotel rooms. Last year, tourism brought in $620 million for Rwanda.
As part of the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), it is projected that by 2029, tourism will generate $1.1 billion for the country.
“This clearly shows that we need to expand our infrastructure, increase the number of hotels, improve our services, and attract more conferences, among other things. That is why we are committed to adding 10,000 more hotel rooms in the next five years,” he said.
Currently, the Tourism Department has registered 1,360 businesses and seven different tourism associations. This is a substantial number compared to five years ago when there were only about 450 businesses.
Ngenzi also highlighted that many others have not yet registered with PSF’s tourism department.
“This is a growing sector. Tourism used to be underestimated, but if you look at the revenue it generates, it’s significant. Currently, tourism has created 165,000 jobs when we consider those directly involved,” he said.
According to him, this is a considerable number of jobs, accounting for 10% of all new jobs created in the country, excluding agriculture and livestock.
Besides adding 10,000 more hotel rooms, Ngenzi explained that within the next five years, they will make efforts to boost local production to achieve the country’s goal of increasing tourism revenues by 13% annually and raising private sector investment to $4.6 billion by 2029, up from $2.2 billion in 2024.
Ngenzi said that this will go hand in hand with promoting conference tourism, religious tourism, and increasing the number of tourist attractions, so that the money tourists spend in Rwanda continues to grow.
When asked about domestic tourism, which helps the sector remain stable even when the number of international tourists decreases, Ngenzi said that it is doing well, but it is not yet at the required level.
“For example, visiting the gorillas costs $1,500 for foreigners. Few Rwandans can afford that. There are lower prices for Rwandans, but the revenue we want to generate won’t be achievable without foreign tourists. That’s why we are looking to attract more Africans to visit Rwanda,” he explained.
“These initiatives will also include building capacity for those in the sector, particularly in terms of knowledge, with students gaining internships, as we have seen that 30% of those who receive internships secure jobs,” he added.
These initiatives will also focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play a significant role in the sector’s growth. For example, 80% of businesses offering tourism services in Rwanda are SMEs, showing the importance of closely monitoring this category.
On her part, Michaella Rugwizangoga, the Director of the Tourism Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), mentioned that as Rwanda’s tourism industry grows, so does the well-being of Rwandans, especially those living near tourist sites.
“We have a plan to share tourism revenues with the local communities, where 10% of the ticket value for visiting parks goes to projects like road construction, hospitals, schools, and others. This 10% is not tax but a portion of the revenue generated from visits to natural attractions.”
She mentioned that so far, 1,000 projects have been supported, and over Rwf 12 billion has been given to local communities, stressing that this will continue as the sector develops.
Statistics show that over 1.4 million people visited Rwanda in 2023, and this number is expected to double by 2029, with more destinations being added by RwandAir.
