The officers received their training at the Rwanda Military Academy GAKO, in a partnership between RDF and Qatar Armed Forces.
In a statement, the RDF emphasized that the joint initiative highlights the strong bilateral ties between Rwanda and Qatar and their mutual commitment to enhancing security capabilities.
RDF noted that the training was aimed at equipping personnel with advanced skills to effectively handle emerging security challenges, safeguard high-profile individuals, respond to terrorism threats, and manage riots, all to contribute to security and stability within Rwanda, in mission areas, and to strengthen regional security efforts.
The RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. MK Mubarakh, who presided over the pass-out ceremony, congratulated the new trainees for their dedication and discipline, which contributed to their success throughout the course.
The RDF boss urged the officers to use the acquired skills and knowledge to effectively discharge their duties.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you on this milestone. There is no doubt that you will now perform better and fulfill your duties,” he said, further expressing his appreciation to the Qatar Armed Forces for sharing their skills with RDF personnel and for the strong collaboration between the two countries.
Capt Abdulla Al-Marri, the Chief of Training, praised the RDF for strengthening the partnership between Qatar and Rwanda through collaborative efforts like the just completed training program.
The ceremony was also graced by RDF generals, senior and junior officers, along with a delegation from the Qatar Armed Forces.
The Ultra-modern complex will rise between Kigali Convention Centre and the Parliament building, offering an array of shops and amenities tailored to meet the needs of locals and visitors alike.
Inzovu Mall, will feature a four-star hotel, a supermarket, and a wide range of commercial spaces, with over half of the building’s capacity already secured by potential tenants.
Covering an impressive 40,000 square meters, Inzovu Mall will house a 95-room hotel, office spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, banks, clinics, entertainment venues, and more.
The CEO of Duval Great Lakes Ltd, Vicky Murabukirwa, explained that the project was conceived in response to Rwanda’s status as one of Africa’s top tourist destinations and the continuing demand for high-quality accommodations near Kigali Convention Centre.
Among its many features, the mall will include a 3,000-square-meter supermarket and numerous retail shops offering clothing, watches, and other goods.
“You’ll be able to step right from the hotel into the mall without going outside,” Murabukirwa noted, highlighting the convenience the development will offer.
A basement parking area will accommodate over 450 vehicles, ensuring ample space for visitors. Murabukirwa also emphasized their focus on attracting international brands to Inzovu Mall, such as Lacoste, while also promoting locally made products. Currently, nearly 52% of the commercial spaces have attracted interest from tenants, with contract finalizations underway.
The hotel within Inzovu Mall, named Odalys, will be affiliated with Groupe Duval. This French hotel chain, which operates in various European cities, is now expanding into French-speaking African countries. Murabukirwa expressed confidence in the hotel’s success, citing its prime location near the Convention Centre and Rwanda’s growing reputation as a premier tourist destination.
The Inzovu Mall project is set to contribute significantly to the local and national economy, from the construction phase through to the operation of new businesses within the mall.
With around 13,000 shops planned, the development will generate tax revenues, support infrastructure projects, and create jobs for Rwandans.
The project is estimated to cost $70 million. The first customers are expected to move into the mall by December 2025.
Inzovu Mall will incorporate sustainable practices, including solar power, water recycling systems, energy-efficient lighting, and other environmentally friendly measures, aligning with government policies and modern standards.
Murabukirwa also highlighted the advantages of investing in Rwanda, pointing to the country’s security, good governance, and business-friendly laws. He expressed gratitude to the Rwandan leadership for their support in bringing this ambitious project to life.
Celebrated on August 15 every year, the day commemorates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up into Heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life.
In Rwanda, the day is particularly special to the members of the Catholic Church, as thousands of pilgrims often throng the Kibeho Holy Land, renowned for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary.
The ‘Holy Land,’ situated in the Nyaruguru District of Southern Province, rose to prominence four decades ago following reported apparitions of Mary to three high school girls.
Alphonsine Mumureke was the first to claim that she saw a Lady of incomparable beauty, who presented herself as ‘Nyina wa Jambo’ (Mother of the Word), while in the cafeteria of the Catholic boarding school Kibeho College, Rwanda, on November 28, 1981. The 16-year-old girl said that she immediately recognized the Lady as the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mumureke’s claims were initially met with scepticism, with some people dismissing her as crazy or possessed by evil spirits. Others accused her of fabricating the story to gain favour at the school run by the Benebikira Sisters.
Amid the scepticism, two other students at the school, Marie Claire Mukangango and Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, also reported the phenomenon, further deepening the mystery.
From May 1982, the phenomenon was reported outside the college of Kibeho with some visionaries claiming to have seen Mary and others Jesus.
The growing number of visionaries prompted an inquiry by the Catholic Church, led by Mgr. Jean Baptiste Gahamanyi, former Bishop of the Diocese of Butare, to which Kibeho belonged at the time.
As part of the investigations into the reported apparitions, two separate commissions were established by the local Catholic Church. A medical commission began its inquiry on March 20, 1982, while a theological commission was installed on May 14, 1982.
The main mandate of the two committees was to investigate the events with all objectivity, patience, serenity and without taking into account their personal emotions.
While conducting their probe, it’s documented at the Kibeho Sanctuary that the two commissions were guided by instructions given by the Holy See: The “Norms for Judging Alleged Apparitions and Revelations”, published by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith on February 24, 1978 in Rome. The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church worldwide.
Given the large number of supposed visionaries, the commissions had to prioritize the first eight cases—those from the first year of the apparitions at Kibeho, which occurred between November 28, 1981, and November 28, 1982.
“This choice, however, was a working hypothesis, not a presumption of authenticity for such a large number of visionaries,” Kibeho Sanctuary explains on its website.
In the months and years that followed, the commissions released reports about the apparitions, and on August 15, 1988, Augustin Misago, the Bishop of Gikongoro, approved public devotion linked to the apparitions at Kibeho.
To promote the already authorized public worship, Mgr. Misago presided over the laying of the foundation stone for the future chapel of the apparitions on the esplanade of the shrine during the first anniversary of the apparitions on November 28, 1992.
On May 31, 1993, the very first official Diocesan pilgrimage to Kibeho took place with the intention of praying for peace in Rwanda. This was at the height of the liberation war between the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and government forces.
On November 20, 1993, about one year after the laying of the first stone for the Shrine of Kibeho, the Bishop blessed and inaugurated a provisional Chapel in one of the dormitories of Kibeho Secondary School, nicknamed the “dormitory of the apparitions”.
Sadly, in April 1994, during the Genocide against the Tutsi, Kibeho Parish Church became a site of massacre. Many victims, who sought refuge there, were killed in what should have been a safe haven for them.
After the country’s liberation and the beginning of the nation’s healing journey, pilgrimages started at Kibeho on Christmas Eve of 1995.
Nearly six years later, on June 29, 2001, Bishop Misago declared the authenticity of the Kibeho apparitions, paving the way for even more pilgrimages to the site.
“Yes, the Virgin Mary appeared at Kibeho on November 28, 1981, and in the months that followed. There are more reasons to believe in the Apparitions than to deny them… The Apparitions of Kibeho are now officially recognized… The name given to the Marian sanctuary at Kibeho is Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows,” the late bishop declared in his judgment.
He added, “That Kibeho become a place of pilgrimage and of encounter for all who seek Christ and who come there to pray, a fundamental centre of conversion, of reparation for the sins of the world and of reconciliation, a point of meeting for ‘all who were dispersed’, as for those who aspire to the values of compassion and fraternity without borders, a fundamental centre that recalls the Gospel of the Cross.”
Today, tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world visit the site each year to seek blessings.
The Assumption Day celebrations are marked by a Mass and prayers led by devotees. Water from the fountain near the church is said to have miraculous properties. Pilgrims collect it in jerry cans, have it blessed by the priest, and take it with them when they depart.
In a landmark ruling delivered on Monday, August 5, 2024, Federal Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated antitrust law in the US by illegally suppressing competition and stifling innovation.
The judge concurred with the Justice Department’s argument that Google relied on anticompetitive payments to companies such as Apple, Samsung and AT&T to ensure its search engine is enabled by default on most smartphones. The company was reported to have spent $26.3 billion on this campaign in 2021 alone.
Google’s practices were found to have violated Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act in the markets for general search services and general text advertising. The judge noted that the default search engine deals ‘are exclusive and have anticompetitive effects.
Following the recent judgement, Bloomberg reports that the Department of Justice attorneys could ask the presiding judge to order Google to sell portions of its business. This could lead to Google selling off parts of its business, including its Android operating system, Chrome web browser, and advertising platform AdWords, to restore competitive balance in the market.
Citing sources within the DOJ, Bloomberg reports that U.S. authorities are also considering ‘less severe’ options that would require the company to share data with rival search engines like Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo.
Other options on the table include pushing for restrictions on Google’s artificial intelligence products to prevent the company from gaining an unfair advantage over its rivals.
Meanwhile, as the feds ponder on the next move Googe has already announced plans to appeal the recent judgment.
Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, enjoys a massive user base worldwide, with billions of daily active users across its platforms, including the Google Search Engine, Gmail, Android OS, and YouTube.
The company has in the past defended itself against the accusations, stating that its market dominance is primarily due to its superior products.
“People don’t use Google because they have to — they use it because they want to,” Kent Walker, one of Google’s top lawyers and its president of global affairs, said last year.
He added, “It’s easy to switch your default search engine — we’re long past the era of dial-up internet and CD-ROMs.”
If the DOJ moves forward with the proposal to break up Google, it would be the first time in over two decades that federal authorities have pursued such an action. The last major instance occurred when the DOJ secured a victory in an antitrust case against Microsoft, though the bid to split the company was abandoned in 2001.
In a stirring and impassioned speech while addressing the newly sworn in parliament on August 14, 2024, Kagame castigated efforts in place to confront a conflict that has cast long shadows over the region for decades.
With reason and conviction, The Head of State dismantled the falsehoods that have long painted Rwanda as the villain in this tragic saga, asserting with unwavering clarity that the DRC’s problems must not, and cannot be blamed on Rwanda.
“Let me speak plainly about these issues of regional insecurity, the war that has gripped the eastern part of DRC, the simmering tensions that have pitted neighbors against each other, these are not new problems,” Kagame said.
“I addressed them the other day at the inauguration, and I address them again now: the true root of these conflicts lies not in Rwanda, but in the mire of interests and hypocrisies that refuse to confront the real causes,” he asserted.
Kagame peeled back the layers of distortion that have clouded the truth for so long describing a narrative that has been twisted and turned to serve the interests of a few, while the many suffer.
“It is a story that was told not to illuminate the truth, but to obscure it by shifting the blame away from those who must be held accountable,” he observed.
The president questioned those that allege Rwanda’s exploitation of the DRC’s resources through the supposed support of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebels.
“They say the FDLR returned to Rwanda only to be sent back to the DRC, to exploit their riches. But I ask, what riches? What resources are they speaking of, when the people they claim to defend live in conditions worse than my own citizens?” he wondered
He acknowledged that many of these fighters came back to Rwanda and everyone knows who they are and also addressed the concerning misrepresentation of the refugee situation in the region.
“You acknowledge that there are people who need to be resettled, yet you refuse to engage with the very refugees who are at the heart of the insecurity in this region and then you turn around and blame Rwanda? This is not just wrong, it is unacceptable!” Kagame said.
“It is clear that they have no real interest in resolving this conflict. They do not seek peace, but rather, they seek to maintain the chaos from which they benefit,”
Reflecting on discussions held with some delegates at his inauguration, Kagame questioned why Rwanda is continually asked to clean up the mess that others have created.
But let me remind you, Rwanda’s liberation and progress was not handed to us as a gift. We fought for it, we bled for it, and we earned it,” he said
He emphasized that security is a matter of survival for Rwanda and good neighborliness cannot come at the country’s expense, or anyone else’s. He said that the problems in the DRC is not Rwanda’s to solve, and this constant narrative should not be used as a scapegoat.
“We will continue to protect our people, our interests, without fear, and without hesitation,” he stressed
Speaking after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Members of Parliament on August 14, 2024, President Kagame challenged the public to consider the legitimacy of these establishments before questioning their closure.
“What is this issue with churches? People immediately start making noise, saying, ‘They are closing churches.’ But did you first ask yourself, ‘How were these churches even established?’ What is the purpose of having thousands of churches? What is wrong with Rwandans? But I think it’s a problem with being African. We Africans really have issues,” he remarked.
President Kagame emphasized that the energy Rwandans should use to address their challenges is being misdirected toward activities that drain their economic resources, leading to poverty and hunger.
“The energy we should be using to solve our daily problems that ensure our security, improve our economy, and prevent hunger among Rwandans is being wasted on such things…”
He reminded the MPs and Rwandans in general that past discussions had underscored the importance of investing efforts in activities that contribute to national development.
“Now, you as Rwandans, you Members of Parliament sitting here, besides being MPs, do you feel justified in having a church in your backyard? You are an MP, a pastor, and you have a church, and then people are paying. How come that even those deprived of income-generating activities have to find money to bring to you!”
President Kagame expressed concern that some churches in Rwanda were established with the primary intent of siphoning off the limited wealth of Rwandans for the benefit of their founders, which he strongly opposed.
He illustrated his point by highlighting the absurd claims made by some pastors, such as receiving divine apparitions or making prophecies.
“First of all, if you tell me such things, I would first ask if you are insane. That’s where I would start—you must be insane. Secondly, I would demand proof; show me evidence of your encounter with God and what He told you. But Rwandans, how have you reached a point where a deviated person comes to mislead you, and you follow them, not just in one place but across hundreds, thousands of locations?”
President Kagame cautioned that when Rwandans follow such “insane” individuals, the country’s progress is jeopardized. While he acknowledged the long-standing practices of churches, he made it clear that he would not tolerate disorder.
“But other nonsense, when it finds grown, mature people, and someone comes to mislead the whole country and hold it hostage, and you follow them? […] How come that educated people, VVIPs, get deceived by a madman, and you follow, without asking, ‘Where are you taking me?’”
The President referenced recent incidents in other countries, such as the tragic case in Kenya where pastors prohibited their followers from eating, resulting in deaths. He questioned whether this was the path Rwandans wanted to take.
“Is that what you want to live in? You are here, representing the people who elected you. Is this what you are involved in? If you want to be pastors, leave Parliament and become pastors. But before becoming pastors, with all that involves deceiving people with prophecies, why not first prophesize for yourself and know your own future? This even extends into politics—it’s like misleading people, infiltrating their minds, and changing how they think and act.”
President Kagame reaffirmed that churches must comply with legal requirements, warning that any non-compliant entities, especially those exploiting people under the guise of religion, would be shut down.
“Those that do not comply with the law should not exist. I heard some say, ‘The President probably doesn’t know. Closing churches is a sin.’ I know. I don’t want this disorder, even if it’s in religions, I won’t tolerate it. I will fight it.”
He urged Members of Parliament to collaborate with other institutions in guiding Rwandans toward the right path, insisting that pastors who seek to exploit the limited resources of the people should be stopped unequivocally.
The ceremony took place at the Parliamentary Building in Kimihurura on Wednesday, August 14, in the presence of various dignitaries.
Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente, reappointed by President Kagame on Tuesday after serving seven years in the position, took his oath during the event. The Head of State is expected to appoint a new Cabinet within the next 15 days, in consultation with Dr. Ngirente.
The newly sworn-in Members of Parliament were recently elected in the general elections held in July. They include 37 deputies from the RPF-Inkotanyi and its allied political parties, five from the Liberal Party (PL), five from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), two from the Ideal Democratic Party (PDI), two from the Green Party, two from PS Imberakuri, and 27 from special categories.
Among the deputies, there are 29 men and 51 women. The Prime Minister last took his oath on July 30, 2017, while the previous Members of the Chamber of Deputies were sworn in on September 19, 2018.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Gertrude Kazarwa from PL, aged 60, was elected as the Speaker of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies with 73% of the votes, defeating Deputy Pie Nizeyimana, who garnered 5% of the votes.
Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana was elected as Deputy Speaker in charge of Administration and Finance with 77 votes, while Uwineza Beline, who received 79 votes, was elected as Deputy Speaker in charge of Legislative Affairs and Oversight.
Uwineza, who has a background in law, has been a Member of Parliament since 2018 and previously served as the Vice Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Chamber of Deputies.
In his remarks at the event, President Kagame reminded the leaders of their responsibility to work in the interest of Rwandans, urging them to serve the people with dedication.
He emphasized that while perfection might be elusive, continuous improvement and a commitment to excellence should be a priority.
The President also cautioned against corruption and favoritism, urging leaders to serve all Rwandans equally.
“This (corruption and favoritism) is the first war in our politics that we have been fighting for the past thirty years, and we are adding five more years under the mandate that some of us have just been sworn in for,” he said.
The grant, offered by the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) will benefit agripreneurs from dozens of other states on the African continent.
“Through our Matching Grant Fund (MGF), you can secure funding to realize your project idea. For all MGF projects, the maximum contribution provided through Agri-Business Facility (ABF) can cover up to 50% of the total project budget, with contributions reaching up to €100,000,” the organization said in a statement.
OACPS noted that while all its 79 member states are eligible to apply, priority will be given to projects from countries with no or few previously selected projects to ensure regional balance.
Agripreneurs from Rwanda stand a better chance of receiving the grant, as no project has been selected from the country before.
Seventy-one projects have been awarded the fund previously. Some of the countries that have benefited from the funding before include Tanzania (9 projects), Democratic Republic of Congo (6), Kenya (5), Côte d’Ivoire (5), Zambia (5), Uganda (4), and Nigeria (2).
To qualify for the grant, the submitted idea should aim to make the sector more inclusive, particularly for women and youth.
{{Who Can Apply?
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OACPS encourages group applications, as single-applicant submissions will only be considered in exceptional cases.
According to the organization, lead applicants must be legally registered private sector entities, such as processing companies, agricultural producers/farmers’ organizations, or national and international retailer companies.
Additionally, consortium partners may include private sector foundations, qualified NGOs, training or research institutions, or extension agencies.
Interested agripreneues are required to submit their applications, comprising a concept note, letter of intent and proof of legal registration of the lead applicant by 12:00 pm on August, 18, 2024. The application documents should be submitted via email using the address abf-fund@giz.de.
The appointment was made following the resolution of BK Group Plc Board of Directors on August 13, 2024, and is pending all regulatory approvals.
Speaking on the new appointment, Mr. Jean Philippe Prosper Chairman of the Board of Directors of BK Group said: “We are delighted to have appointed Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana as Chief Executive Officer of BK Group PIc. His leadership and vast experience in the economic and financial sectors will be instrumental in driving BK Group’s strategy and future growth ambitions.”
Dr Ndagijimana will work closely with the CEOs of our 5 subsidiaries: CEO of Bank of Kigali PIc; CEO of BK General Insurance; CEO of BK Capital, CEO of BK TecHouse, and Executive Secretary of BK Foundation.
Dr Ndagijimana is an economist and has a recognized financial professional background. He brings a good and deep understanding of the financial sector. Previously, he served as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
The Board of Directors expresses its deepest gratitude for Beata’s dedication and invaluable contribution to the business and Rwanda’s financial sector over the past 2 years.
{{About BK Group Plc
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BK Group Plc is a home-grown, award-winning Rwandan institution with deep roots in the African financial space since its inception in 1966. Over the years, BK Group Plc has gradually transformed into a premier one-stop shop, with a full range of financial services offered under a single roof.
The Group’s activities range from retail and corporate banking to asset management and investment banking. Additionally, BK Group provides non-life insurance products as well as innovative enterprise solutions designed to stimulate growth in the Rwandan digital space.
BK Group Plc is currently listed on both the Rwandan Stock Exchange (RSE), having floated its shares in 2011, and the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2018.
The Group operates through five subsidiaries: Bank of Kigali, BK Insurance, BK TecHouse, BK Capital and BK Foundation.
Mega Global Link has announced plans to establish a branch of its ‘Mega Global Market’ in New York, USA. The new branch will include both an office and a store, designed to make it easier for customers to access a wide range of products and services.
Mega Global Market operates as both an online market and a physical store, offering a variety of products sourced from factories in China, the United States, and India.
Dr. Francis Habumugisha, CEO of Mega Global Link says the company’s ongoing expansion efforts are aimed at ensuring faster service delivery and creating new business opportunities.
“We are excited to bring Mega Global Market to the United States, offering our top seven products just as we have in Canada, Rwanda, and soon in Europe,” Dr. Habumugisha stated. “This expansion includes seven premium services and state-of-the-art body workout machines.”
The company’s offers range from leisure travel and study abroad programs in the US, Canada, and Europe to work-related travel and medical tourism. Mega Global Market also provides opportunities for individuals to engage in business ventures, including the chance to represent the brand and sell its products in different cities or countries.
Dr. Habumugisha further explained that individuals have the option to create their own branded products through a notarized agreement with the company. The African headquarters for Mega Global Market is located in Rwanda, where the company offers seven original nutritional supplements certified by global standards organizations.
Additionally, Mega Global Market provides advanced equipment designed to improve health and well-being, including foot and full-body massage machines, chairs that align the spine, equipment to support muscles, bones, and joints, and other modern implements.
