The Head of State gave them cows on Monday 17th October 2022 at his farm located in Kibugabuga, Bugesera District.
Kagame went to the farm with other people including the son of Ugandan President, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is on a private visit to Rwanda along with his delegation.
Footages shared on social media show President Kagame in the farm with Gen Muhoozi and Andrew Mwenda along with other people.
“Alex pick yours, Barnabus picks his and the remaining two are mine,” Mwenda is heard conversing with people in the farm.
Kagame is also heard telling Mwenda that he would pick one only as the remaining of the two cows pointed at goes to Brig Gen Rwivanga.
“Of the remaining two; one goes to you, another goes to Rwivanga,” he said.
Mwenda immediately replied that he will be sharing with people that President Kagame gave him a cow.
IGIHE has learnt that the Head of State presented to the guests, three herds in three groups mainly; Abadaheranwa, Indashyikirwa and Imbabazamahanga.
It is said that other people in the delegation of Gen Muhoozi also received cows at the farm.
Gen Muhoozi who serves as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, has been on a private visit to Rwanda since Saturday 15th October 2022.
He was also gifted cows by President Kagame during his recent visit to Rwanda in March 2022.
Gen Muhoozi has visited Rwanda three times this year. His mediation efforts saw the tensions that existed between Rwanda and Uganda for four years de-escalating.
The five-day Pre-Selection Assistance and Assessment Team (SAAT) course brought together 24 Police officers from six East Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states.
It is conducted in partnership with EASF, Denmark and Norway.
The Commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Robert Niyonshuti, while officially opening the course on behalf of Rwanda National Police (RNP) leadership, said that it signifies the commitment of EASF member states to empower women in maintaining and sustaining a fully operational and multidimensional integrated standby force ready to respond to emerging crisis.
“Rwanda is committed to ensure that women fully participate in the peace and security processes,” CP Niyonshuti said.
Rwanda is among the leading contributors of Police peacekeepers, with at least 30 percent of them females.
To fulfill the EASF commitment, CP Niyonshuti said, there is need to have competent, disciplined, skilled and professional police and this is achieved through training.
He added that prior to Police deployment in any peacekeeping missions, it is mandatory that selected police officers should be trained and assessed to ascertain their competence.
“For Individual Police Officers to be deployed, this assessment is conducted by certified instructors and focuses on the knowledge of United Nations peace operations and policing standards; language skills, driving firearms handling and shooting as well as computer skills. These are tasks that awaits you after completing this course,” the Commandant told the participants.
Col. Ali Mohamed Robleh, the Head of Police Component at EASF, said that the bloc will continue its gender promotion policy in order to increase the visibility of female police officers from member states in the activities of the police component of the EASF.
“Females deserve their place in the spotlight just like their male colleagues,” Col. Robleh said.
Bjarne Askholm, the EASF Police Advisor for International Advisory and Coordination (IACS), said that during the five days, participants will learn from, and share experiences.
“You will be guided on how to act as Female Assessment Mission Service (AMS) Pre-Saat instructor and train each other to enable your competencies,” Askholm said.
The course, the first of its kind, aims to strengthen the capacity of the EASF, enable member states to have Selection Assistance and Assessment Teams that will be responsible for pre-selecting and preparing Individual Police Officers in their respective countries to take part in the mandatory examination called Mission Service Assessment, whether organized by the UN or the AU.
They will also be supporting AU or UN SAATs during their visit to conduct AMS in their respective countries or in other EASF member states.
Gabon became the 55th member of the Commonwealth on 25 June 2022 following approval from Commonwealth leaders during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, and the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, led the flag-raising ceremony formally welcoming the Commonwealth’s newest member.
In her opening remarks, the Commonwealth Secretary-General said: “It is a great day for Gabon and a great day for the Commonwealth. A day which signifies the strengthening of the relationship between the Francophone and Anglophone families across the world.
“Gabon’s entry [into the Commonwealth] has been an incredible journey. We have walked it together, all of us, and that journey to entry is at an end. So today, we stand at a new beginning: a new chapter for Gabon and for the Commonwealth.
“Together, we breathe new life into our commitment to democracy, the rule of law, freedom, and peace. Strengthened by the spirit of the Gabonese and their thirst for a better world, commitment to partnership and determination to join the Commonwealth’s drive to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris agenda.
“Today, we welcome you into our family home, where we work every day to deepen our togetherness and strive for that invincibility. Welcome to a unique and special group of nations which are committed to doing their best to uphold shared values and help one another.
“God bless Gabon and God bless the Commonwealth.”
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, on his part, said: “It is a real pleasure to welcome you all on this important day for my country, the Gabonese Republic, as we symbolically raise the “Vert – Jaune – Bleu”, the Green – Yellow and Blue colours of the Gabonese Nation here at the Commonwealth Secretariat for the first time.
“In a world full of uncertainties, mostly created by humanity’s excesses and greed, we believe strongly that the Commonwealth family of nations is a unique and varied community of countries that share common values and whose diversity represents a formidable melting pot of ideas and solutions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Baroness Patricia Scotland and your entire team for your enthusiastic engagement and hard work throughout our candidacy. It would not be an exaggeration to say that from the very first day we felt that we were already members.”
The flag of Gabon was then ceremoniously hoisted on the roof of Marlborough House to the tune of Gabon’s national anthem with guests, including high commissioners, senior government officials, and the media, looking on.
By joining the Commonwealth, Gabon’s Embassy in London now officially becomes a High Commission, with H.E. Aicha Sanni serving as High Commissioner.
Gabon will also now have the opportunity to be part of big discussions and a mutually supportive community of 56 independent and sovereign states, aided by more than 80 accredited organisations and more than 50 strategic partnerships with organisations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the World Health Organization.
The prize was bestowed to Botoh during a ceremony held in Kigali in September 2022.
“Classic Optic” is an eyewear dispensary, specializing in the sale of ophthalmic lenses, lenses, frames and eyeglass accessories.
The shop is based in Kigali where it has two branches: one in Remera, on the ground floor of the “Umuyenzi Plaza”, and the other in the city center, on the ground floor of MIC building.
Samson Botoh B. is a married man and a father of two children. He holds a Master’s degree in business management from HEC Abidjan. Botoh B is alsoa graduate from the school of optics, (ISFOP-Abidjan) LOKO.
Speaking with IGIHE, he revealed that he left his country in 2009 to pursue his passion. At every turn of the conversation, Botoh would bring up his enthusiasm for these glasses, saying, “Sight is life!”
Botoh plans to expand his business countrywide, and possibly across the African continent.
He took this opportunity to express his gratitude for the organizers of the Pandev 2022 prize, for choosing him among the rest of the skilled Africans that were equally deserving. He also gave credit to the zeal and professionalism of his employees.
Their dedication is centered on top notch services to clients and the zeal for the pursuit of excellence.
The favourable environment, incentives offered to foreign investors and the strong demand for quality products and professionalism are among other reasons that lured Botoh to set up business in Rwanda.
Padev Prize is organized every year. It is bestowed to individuals from various sectors with outstanding contribution to the development of their countries and the African continent as well.
Under the name “Rwanda Notify,” QT Global Software Ltd. will establish this system locally, making Rwanda the second country in Africa to adopt this contact tracing technology.
Commenting on the development; Minister Paula Ingabire said: “While traditional contact tracing efforts are effective, technologies like Exposure Notifications augment these efforts and make the job simpler.”
“Our job within the technology community is to find ways of collaboration to solve societies most pressing problems, this is an example of people joining forces to combat a virus that affects us all,” said Robert Kainamura, CEO of QT Global Software.
Upon activating Rwanda Notify on iOS or downloading the app on Android, users can receive or send exposure notifications when they or their contacts have tested positive for COVID-19.
The phone exchanges random, anonymous codes through Bluetooth with the phones of nearby people who also have enabled Rwanda Notify on their smartphones.
Whenever a Rwanda Notify user tests positive for COVID-19 and adds their verification code to the app, Rwanda Notify sends anonymous notifications to any other users who have been near the infected person in the past two weeks.
This lets the user get the care they need quickly and helps prevent them from spreading COVID-19 to other people.
Rwanda Notify is entirely voluntary and prioritizes every user’s privacy and confidentiality. The Exposure Notification framework is designed to safeguard and avoid connecting any personal data with an individual’s device.
For example, the identity and location of the users are not known or kept by the app. Rwanda Notify gives the power to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Rwanda by keeping everyone, their loved ones, and the community at large safe.
On Android, the Rwanda Notify app can be downloaded on Google Play; if you have an iPhone, opt-in to Exposure Notifications in your device settings.
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The donation is part of the club’s initiatives to continue supporting vulnerable people to access healthcare.
The donation was handed over to local leaders on 14th October 2022 during an event in which Rotary Club interacted with the youth and urged them to strive for a better future.
Rotary Club Kalisimbi also donated books to different schools in Muhima Sector.
The President of Rotary Club Kalisimbi, Kelechi Anyanwu Reginald said that the donation was meant to contribute to improved wellbeing of beneficiaries.
Pascal Niyonsaba, Muhima Sector official in charge of social affairs commended the club for the support provided to needy residents.
“We commend Rotary Club for the acts of generosity to support the needy. Subscribing residents for Mutuelle de Santé will help them access healthcare. Besides, the donation of books holds a great significance because our children will read them and get updated on what happens across the world,” he said.
Rotary Club Kalisimbi is among ten local clubs involved in different activities geared towards community development.
These include Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali, Musanze-Murera, Rotary Club Kigali Virunga, Rotary Club Kigali Doyen, Rotary Club Gasabo, Rotary Club Seniors, Rotary club Kivu Lake and Rotary Club Butare.
Established 118 years ago, Rotary International is an organization purposed to bring together businesses and professionals to provide humanitarian services and providing support in addressing problems facing the world by combating illiteracy and poverty, contributing to the provision of safe water, handling disputes, environmental and prevention fighting diseases and do lots of projects geared towards community development.
The five-yearly meeting is the first national congress of the CPC after its centenary in 2021, when the Party led the Chinese people to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
“From this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization,” Xi Jinping said in a report at the opening session of the congress.
He urged all CPC members to never forget the original aspiration and founding mission and to have the courage and ability to carry on the fight.
Gen Muhoozi, the first born son of Uganda’s President who also serves as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations is in Rwanda for the third time since the beginning of this year.
Gen Muhoozi was last in Rwanda in March 2022.
Also present at the mass sporting event were the Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju; the Mayor of Kigali City, Pudence Rubingisa and Ugandan journalist, Andrew Mwenda.
The sporting event serves to make Kigali a green city while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The bi-monthly Car Free Day usually takes place between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. every first and third Sunday of the month, bringing together city dwellers for physical fitness exercises.
The exercise started in 2016, aimed promoting healthy lifestyle among Rwandans and help them benefit from other health activities like screening for non-communicable diseases.
The Car Free Day provides a platform to educate people on healthy lifestyle choices in general and creates awareness that roads are not only built for vehicles but also for pedestrians.
Among others, the mass sporting event helps to reduce air pollution.
The sporting event held on Sunday saw participants setting off from BK Arena and ran through Gishushu to the premises of Prime Minister’s Office and Kigali Heights in Kimihurura.
They also received messages encouraging them to intensify efforts in the fight against Breast Cancer.
Participants were also urged to go for regular diagnosis because the type of cancer can be cured when detected early.
The stockpile includes hundreds of weapons ranging from small arms and rockets as well as ammunition and shells.
The weapons and ammunition were hidden by the terrorists during the time when the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) pursued and dislodged them from their strongholds in areas in Siri 1 and 2 in the general area of Mbau.
The operation to discover the weapons is a pre-emptive action which denies the enemy the opportunity of returning and re-equipping themselves for further insurgent actions.
He comes to Rwanda few days after he was promoted from the rank of Lieutenant General to General in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Gen Muhoozi was last in Rwanda in March 2022 for a three-day visit that was concluded with a donation of Inyambo cows from President Kagame.
The visit aimed at mending bilateral ties between the two neighbouring countries that had deteriorated since 2017.
Muhoozi later revealed that Kagame gifted him ten cows.
On the first day of his visit to Rwanda on Monday 14th March 2022, Gen Muhoozi was received by Chargé d’Affaires at Uganda’s Embassy in Kigali, Anne Katusiime along with senior officers from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) upon arrival at Kigali International Airport.
He was received by President Paul Kagame on the same day. On the second day, Gen Muhoozi visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid homage to victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi laid there and other facilities including Kigali Arena.
In Rwandan culture, cows represent a very significant symbol of friendship and are considered part of the best wealth a person can ever possess.
Cows were the only token that would be given for dowry or as a present to a friend in Rwanda. Even today, a cow is still considered the best present one can ever give a beloved one. Be it a wedding, graduation or a birthday party, cow giving makes the occasion more colourful and real.
It was not the first time Kagame was giving cows to the family of Museveni.
On 31st July 2011, President Kagame gave cows to his counterpart of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was on a visit to Rwanda.
At the time, Museveni was joining Rwanda for a community work to build a school for Nine Year Basic Education in Kanombe. Museveni pledged a contribution worth US$300,000 for completion of the school.
Towards the end of the same year, President Paul Kagame who was in Uganda was given 20 cows by Museveni.
This year’s donation of cows to Gen Muhoozi was considered as a great symbol evidencing that efforts to restore bilateral ties to normal are yielding good results.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017 where Rwanda expressed concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but were abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
Rwanda also accused Uganda of hosting dissidents posing threat to national security.
In 2019, the Government of Rwanda closed Gatuna border and officially advised citizens against travelling to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed a memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Negotiations did not yield expected results until efforts to mend Rwanda and Uganda relations took shape in February this year following the visits of Gen Muhoozi.
Since he was involved in the process to restore relations to normal, Gen Muhoozi has been warning Rwanda’s dissidents that they have no place in Uganda. He revealed that no official fighting Rwanda would retain job in Uganda.
Gen Muhoozi also echoed similar message in February this year where he warned Rwanda’s dissident Kayumba Nyamwasa against using his country to threaten the neighbouring country’s security.
His first visit to Rwanda was on 22nd January 2022, a move that was followed by the reopening of Gatuna border.
Later on, Rwanda reopened all land borders on 7th March 2022.
Gen Muhoozi visited Rwanda for the second time on 14th March 2022 where he held talks with President Kagame on pending issues affecting bilateral relations.
On the occasion of his birthday celebration in April this year, Gen Muhoozi said that both countries currently have good relations with optimism that the situation would improve further in the future.
