In Rwanda, ‘Humura-Iyubake’ is represented by Dr. Patrick Rwagatare, a clinical psychologist who also serves as the Director of Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center.
It was established with a view to provide psychological and psychiatric care to patients with mental disorders through the establishment of an international network to share information and provide training.
The aim is expected to be achieved through collaboration with partners having similar ambitions to create an impact in the society.
In a bid to bring to limelight its activities, on 19th March 2022, Humura-Iyubake Aisbl hosted an event in Namur of Belgium which brought together different partners to discuss consequences of trauma in Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
It has also organized a networking event on 3rd December 2022, bringing together different people to learn more about its activities and mobilize funding to sustain operations.
The event will be held in Namur at Ecolys Business Village Avenue Ecolys, 2 5020 Suarlée (Namur) from 18h: 30 whereafter participants will be entertained by DJ Rojazz starting from 21h: 30.
Interested individuals are required to pay 40 Euros for registration to be hosted at the event. The money can be deposited to provided accounted number: BE22 7320 6398 0847 (BIC : CREGBEBB).
For further clarifications, interested people can send a message on: humura.iyubake@gmail.com or call: +32 477203361.
He had previously served as the Governor of Machakos before his recent appointment when President William Ruto took over from Uhuru Kenyatta.
During his recent visit in Kigali last week, Mutua held talks with Rwanda’s State Minister for the East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Prof Nshuti Manasseh and later interacted with Kenyans living in Rwanda.
Speaking to IGIHE during his stay in Rwanda, Mutua talked about different topics including relations between Rwanda and Kenya and insecurity in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mutua explained that he came to Rwanda, specifically, because it is a very important country to Kenya with growing relations.
“The relationship with Rwanda has been growing, has always been close and we want it to be closer,” he said.
“We have great respect for Rwandans, the Government of Rwanda and we know that with the existing relationship, we can both grow economically,” added Mutua.
He highlighted that Kenya wants to work with Rwanda to share prosperity by taking down any problems that may stop trade and circulation of money among both countries’ people.
Regarding his country’s stand on insecurity in eastern DRC, Mutua said that the Kenyan Government subscribes to what President Paul Kagame said where ‘African problems have to be dealt with by Africans and given African solutions’.
“We are part of that African Union thinking that we need to sort out our own problems. Kenya has been part of the peace building process. Our country has been working very hard to get peace in Tigray, Ethiopia. That is going very well, and now, we are committed fully with peace in the Great Lakes Region especially in the DRC,” he noted.
“DRC has been torn with violence for many years […] People have to know how to agree and disagree without having to fight and kill each other, without having to displace each other. So, it is in the interest of Kenya that we bring together all the groups that have issues on the table and discuss,” he added.
Mutua also expressed optimism that issues with rebel groups in Congo or others can be resolved by sitting down together.
“I think everybody will be happy and that will bring peace and stability in the region,” said.
Scores of people, who cut trees and destroy protected forests have been arrested in Police operations against environmental degradation, in partnership with the public.
On Tuesday, November 15, Police, local leaders and residents of Rulindo District apprehended one Elias Tuyisenge, 28, who was allegedly felling trees in a protected forest located in Gatete Village, Kamushenyi Cell in Kisaro Sector.
At the time of his arrest, Tuyisenge had already cut over 40 trees.
“He had turned this into a business… to cut trees in this protected forest and sell them,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).
Tuyisenge, he added, was reported by residents after they saw him coming out of the forest carrying trees.
SP Ndayisenga warned against these serious acts of destroying biodiversity and called for increased public ownership to fight deforestation.
Article 44 of Law N°48/2018 of 13/08/2018 on environment prohibits the following acts in order to protect biodiversity: burning forests, national parks and reserved areas, burning swamps, grazing land, bushes, grass with the aim of agriculture or organising grazing land, killing, injuring and capturing animals of endangered species, destroying or damaging habitats, larvae, pupae or the young animals of the endangered species, causing death or burning protected plants, harvesting or destroying them, transporting or selling the remains of a whole or part of an animal and plants of endangered species, and cutting trees in forests or protected areas or in national parks.
In article 59; any person, who causes death, destroys protected plants, harvests or damages them, commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf3 million.
According to Demilade Oluwasina, the founder of Learnible Global and host of the summit, this summit is designed to showcase entrepreneurial opportunities existing in the evolving future of work and connect young people and professionals to leverage these opportunities. Additionally, the summit further strengthens innovation exchange and collaboration among stakeholders for more significant value creation and economic thriving of African societies.
Learnible Global is a Learning Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Company based in Kigali, Rwanda, serving clients and impacting professionals across Africa and the globe. Learnible Global has worked with various notable organizations in Rwanda and beyond to develop innovative learning programs for academia and the workplace. The company also hosts the Learning Excellence and Innovation Conference.
Through its Planbpreneur Project, Learnible Global has had a significant impact on several young Africans and connected them to new entrepreneurial opportunities, including freelancing, consulting, portfolio careers, monetizing knowledge, and more entrepreneurial pathways that leverage digital, remote, and distributed work.
One of the programs includes the Digital Skills Employability Accelerator program, which has helped many young Rwandans get jobs. Through the Planbpreneur brand and innovation academy, aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals who desire to create new income and drive impact to undergo mentoring workshops and sessions to help them achieve those goals.
At the Africa Future of Work and Entrepreneurship Summit, Learnible Global is not only creating a platform to connect entrepreneurial opportunities to young people and professionals but also further expanding the work done with the Planbpreneur Brand. During the event, The Planbpreneur book and Planbpreneur platform will be launched as tools to help individuals become entrepreneurial professionals and learn ways to create income and impact in the future of work. More importantly, the event will reinforce the significance of entrepreneurial thinking and action, as well as emphasize intrapreneurship within organizations to generate value in the economy and create resilient organizations that can innovate and thrive in our perpetually changing world.
The summit will feature panel sessions, masterclasses/workshops, business exhibitions, showcases, networking, and more. Some of the areas of focus include: developing skills to thrive in the future of work, creativity, and innovation, building digital businesses and startups, leveraging Africa, Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the future of work, building professional brands, and much more.
Speakers at the event include Rica Rwigamba, Country Head of the Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda as Keynote Speaker; Alex Ntale, Chairman of the Rwanda ICT Chamber; Gbemi Disu, Executive Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Africa; Malik Shaffy, Country Manager, African management Institute; Dr. Gaidi Faraj, Pan-African Solutionist and Fmr Head of College at the African Leadership University; Demilade Oluwasina, the Founder of Learnible Global, among others to be announced. Additional speakers include Elvis Melia from MeliaCRED and a Consultant to GIZ; Amanda Akaliza, Founder of Humeka Organization and 1st Runner up, Miss Rwanda, who will moderate the event.
Partners include Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre, IGIHE, Waka Global, and more to be announced.
The main event will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre on Saturday, 26th November 2022, at 11:30 am. You can participate in the event through affordable ticket packages. The standard ticket costs RWF10,000, and the VIP ticket costs RWF50,000 for early-bird registration. Both tickets hold several benefits.
Ramsar Independent Advisory Committee on Wetland City Accreditation selected the City of Kigali, among the 25 accredited cities for the second edition of the Wetland City Accreditation.
The Wetland City Accreditation scheme encourages cities in close proximity to and dependent on wetlands – especially designated Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance – to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local people.
This initiative also represents a direct link between Sustainable Development Goal 11 – “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” – and SDG6 – “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.
“As cities grow and demand land increases, the tendency is to encroach on wetlands, which are often viewed as wasteland,” said Martha Rojas Urrego, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention. “But urban wetlands are prize land, not wasteland and therefore they should be integrated into the development and management plans of cities.”
To date, out of 43 wetlands Accredited Cities in the World, only 4 are in Africa namely; Ghar el Melh (Tunisia), Mitsinjo (Madagascar), Kigali (Rwanda); Ifrane (Morocco), and Cape Town (South Africa).
Kigali Wetlands have been threatened by human activities mainly conversion to agriculture, human settlements, and commercial and industrial activities decreasing the flood and pollution abatement capacity of wetlands.
Strategic ecological rehabilitation solutions that will help to reverse these impacts were put in place, and so far, the following have been achieved:
• All illegal business activities inside wetlands were evacuated;
• The Kigali wetland masterplan was approved to support Kigali in efficiently managing and utilizing its wetland system sustainably;
• Nyandungu wetland has been restored into a healthy urban wetland eco-tourism park that covers 121.7 hectares in size, including 70 hectares of wetlands and 50 hectares of forests, home to more than 62 local plant species and is home to more than 100 bird species and 17,000 trees made up of 55 indigenous species.
It has a network of paths, bicycle tracks, a service road, bird habitats, a medicinal plant garden, and picnic areas to provide the facilities required by tourists and visitors. Included in the project is a concession for a restaurant in a central location on the site.
{{Rehabilitation of Nyandungu Wetland has restored the following services:}}
{{1. Environmental Services: }} They have demonstrated how Nature Based Solutions can be used to attenuate floodwater, control flooding and water pollution (Wetland restoration through the spreading of channels and creation of attenuation ponds and use of gabions to allow slow and natural water movement to remove pollutants and manage floods). – They have restored flora (A forest ring around the site made up of native and indigenous plant species) and fauna (The creation of a bird habitat, and attraction of beneficial species of butterflies). In fact, we have restored ecosystems and biodiversity
{{2. Social services:}} They created spaces for the community to meet, mingle and socialize within a safe and secure environment (Eco-tourism opportunities including Bird watching).
3. Recreational services: They served the recreational need of the community and the City of Kigali as a whole through walking and jogging facilities, biking, and picnicking.
4. Economical services: – Land values have increased in the surrounding areas. – Employment created after completion during its operation and management (A restaurant, Ablution facilities, Iconic Entrance, and Maintenance House). – Revenue from various activities and services provided in the park as well as local and international tourism.
5. Educational and Research services: – The project has contributed to the implementation of Rwanda’s Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy. – Education through demonstration of how wetlands work and their benefits (Information Center). – Research sites on wetland ecosystems and species by students, institutions, and universities
As part of our Vision 2050 of developing a Green City, we are completing the study to rehabilitate 5 wetlands namely Rwampara, Gikondo, Rugenge-Rwintare, Kibumba, and Nyabugogo lower urban wetlands as key priorities for wetland rehabilitation based on their critical contribution to effective management of wetlands in Kigali, that cover 491 ha in total. The main objectives of wetland rehabilitation in the City of Kigali are as follows:
a. Flood mitigation acknowledging climate changes.
b. Improvement of wetlands’ biodiversity.
c. Water quality improvement.
d. Enhancement of the city’s landscape and development of recreational activities
Sustainable utilization of rehabilitated urban wetlands will be achieved by acknowledging the multiple demands on the urban space that include public amenities and socio-economic potential.
This may include the establishment of recreation parks with low-impact infrastructure for leisure and environmental education purposes that would promote public awareness of biodiversity, water provision and quality, and other functions.
It may also include community agricultural activities, eco-tourism parks, or other economic initiatives where these may enhance synergy with local communities and may even support wider water security and climate adaptation objectives of the city.
The City of Kigali aims to promote the sustainable management of wetlands by re-establishing wetland habitats, introducing heterogeneous indigenous habitats in the buffer zone, and supporting, flood attenuation in the city as well as livelihood diversification to enhance incomes for local communities through enhancement of recreational and tourism opportunities.
The decision has been reached after the accused and defence lawyers claimed that they can’t continue to stand trial without knowing whereabouts of witnesses.
Prince Kid and defence lawyers put forward the objection after observing that witnesses were to attend the court session virtually.
His defence lawyer Nyembo disclosed that they want witnesses to provide testimonies physically in a selected place instead of doing it virtually via Skype.
Prince Kid was arrested on 8th May 2022 over alleged sexual abuse against some of participants of Miss Rwanda beauty pageant which he organized for long through his company, Rwanda Inspiration Backup.
He faces charges including soliciting or offering sexual favours, and harassment connected to sexual relations.
Apart from these people washed away, six houses were also destroyed.
It poured down few days after the weatherman forecasted heavy rain in different parts of the country between 10th and 20th November 2022.
The Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) continues to remind people to take into consideration all measures instituted to prevent rain related disasters by tightening roofs among others.
They are called upon to collect rain water by applying appropriate techniques, digging waterways, building terraces, and remain vigilant as they cross rivers and bridges.
As the final days of negotiations approach for the annual summit, attended by more than 35,000 delegates from almost 200 nations, the Secretary-General called for actions that will close the gaps on emissions, finance and justice, while taking into account the needs of vulnerable countries.
In her statement to the conference plenary, the Secretary-General Scotland emphasised: “As climate change advances, we have lost momentum. The gap on emissions, finance and justice has widened, while the window for action continues to narrow.
“It is our duty to close that gap – and this process is our only chance. Because we cannot compromise with catastrophe, so we must compromise with each other.”
She highlighted the series of climate disasters that have affected millions of people across the Commonwealth in recent months. In Pakistan, devastating floods have claimed more than 1,700 lives and affected 33 million people since June. Similarly in Nigeria, more than 600 people have died and 1.3 million displaced, due to the worst floods seen in the country in more than a decade.
The Secretary-General continued: “Vulnerable states face being consumed by the waves or drowned by debt. The unthinkable has become typical…
“We must reject the violence of inaction against those who need us to succeed, now and for generations to come, and commit ourselves to action on land, ocean, energy, finance and resilience.”
The Commonwealth comprises 56 member countries brought together by shared values and principles, including 33 small states, 25 of which are small island developing states.
In 1989, Commonwealth Heads of Government met in Langkawi, Malaysia, and raised the alarm on the “permanent and irreversible damage” to the environment, demanding a “co-ordinated global effort” to address the challenge.
Since then, the Commonwealth has championed global advocacy around climate change and ocean action. This year, Secretary-General Scotland is heading a delegation from the Commonwealth Secretariat to COP27, with the aim of amplifying the concerns of member countries, advocating for small and other vulnerable states, supporting partnerships and raising awareness about the various Commonwealth programmes offered to support members.
This includes initiatives such as the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter, the Commonwealth Blue Charter, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Agenda.
The money was recovered on Tuesday, November 15, from the prime suspect identified as Tuyishimire Jean Pierre, 33, who was the victim’s house-help.
Tuyishimire was intercepted in Maswa I Village, Rubona Cell in Rukumberi Sector following swift collaboration between the District Police Units of Gasabo and Ngoma.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that the victims suspected Tuyishimire to be the thief, after the money went missing and their house-help nowhere to be seen.
“The victims reported on Tuesday morning that money amounting to Frw1.3 million had been stolen from their home, and suspected their house-help, who was not at home, to be the thief,” SP Twizeyimana said.
It was suspected that Tuyishimire had escaped to Ngoma with the money.
“Tuyishimire was tracked to Rubona in Rukumberi Sector where he was arrested at about 9p.m. He was at the time traveling on a motorcycle. He was searched and recovered Frw1,096,000 on him,” SP Twizeyimana explained.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that; any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
