His new position has been announced through a communiqué released by the Office of Prime Minister on Tuesday 11th October 2022.
It also indicates that the appointment takes immediate effect.
Eng. Emile Patrick Baganizi has been serving as the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA).
RURA gets a new boss following the dismissal of three top executives owing to indiscipline and managerial failures, announced on Monday 10th October 2022.
These include the former Acting Director General, Eng. Deo Muvunyi; Pearl Uwera, Senior Manager in Charge of Finance and Fabian Rwabizi, Senior Manager in Charge of Human Resource and Administration.
Bloomberg Television will expand its coverage in Africa in 2023, adding live reporting from Johannesburg, Kigali, Lagos and Nairobi to enhance its breaking-news operations and analysis from the region.
Bloomberg anchor Jennifer Zabasajja will also anchor the team from the region and become a local correspondent across all Bloomberg’s platforms.
Commenting on the development, Stephen Colvin, Chief Commercial Officer, Bloomberg Media said: “We’re excited to be expanding our reach to important business and finance audiences in Africa through investing in programming and operations in the region.”
Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer at the Rwanda Development Board has welcomed Bloomberg TV in the East and Central African region with a studio in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.
This will enhance coverage of the many exciting developments and business stories in this region of interest to African and global audiences.”
{{About Bloomberg Media}}
Bloomberg Media is a leading, global, multi-platform brand that provides decision-makers with timely news, analysis and intelligence on business, finance, technology, climate change, politics and more.
Powered by a newsroom of over 2,700 journalists and analysts, it reaches influential audiences worldwide across every platform including digital, social, TV, radio, print and live events. Bloomberg Media is a division of Bloomberg LP.
{{About the Rwanda Development Board}}
The Rwanda Development Board is a government agency responsible for leading the country’s transformation into a dynamic global hub for business, investment, tourism and innovation. Its mission is to fast-track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth.
As a result some businesses evaded taxes yet paying dues to the national treasury serves as the foundation for many development activities.
It is possible that a person may be wondering how the taxes benefit them, but the truth is that evading taxes would see many activities going awry.
This article will focus on the development of the Musanze District over the past 25 years since Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) took over tax collection duties.
The Government of Rwanda allocates the budget to districts for various development activities. Part of the funds is utilized to address some of citizens’ concerns with a large portion derived from taxes.
Areas of focus include construction of roads, schools, health facilities, hospitals, business centers (workshops), markets, access to water and electricity as well.
Musanze is among districts where such development activities have considerably transformed residents” livelihoods.
{{Kinigi Model Village}}
Built by the Rwandan Army, Kinigi Model Village is located 12 kilometers from Musanze Town. It is consisted of multi-storey buildings built for 144 needy families.
The modern village has all the basic infrastructure such as water, hospitals, schools and recreational areas.
Each family accommodated in these houses is provided with basic furniture including mattresses, beds, chairs and televisions.
The construction of Kinigi Model Village cost Rwf26.6 billion, of which nearly Rwf8 billion was allocated for the construction of residential houses, Rwf1.5 billion for the construction of a health center and Rwf3.3 billion for the construction of schools and childcare center.
Buying 102 cows and 8000 chickens for the families living in this village, building a shed, business center workshop, planting gardens and fruit trees cost Rwf1.8 billion while other works such as roads, electricity, planting trees and expropriation cost more than Rwf11 billion.
Residents settled down in this village told IGIHE that they are glad for the support extended to them where their livelihoods have improved significantly.
The Head Teacher of Kampanga High School built in this village, Jean de Dieu Twagirimana said they are happy that President Paul Kagame walks the talk.
“We thank the President of the Republic because he fulfills promises. Having a school like this with all equipment in the countryside, is beyond one’s imagination and evidences how the country has expended much effort in different areas of development,” he said.
Since 2016, 82 modern villages have been built. Five of them including Rweru, Kazirankara-Nyundo, Horezo-Kanyenyeri, Karama, and Gishuro were inaugurated by President Kagame.
{{Schools’ development and upgrade of IPRC Musanze}}
Education is among areas that received attention in Musanze District where each sector has primary and secondary schools.
It has more than 400 classrooms that cost more than Rwf1.8 billion.
The government and development partners managed to upgrade the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC) in Musanze, which capacitated it to open doors for more children.
{{The topography of Musanze, building block of development}}
Musanze is one of the five regions that make up the Northern Province. It has the uniqueness of being a tourist destination over the presence volcanoes and other touristic attractions.
This region is considered as the hub for tourism in the country Rwanda, and is the district most visited by tourists.
They are mainly attracted by the Volcano Park which is home to mountain gorillas, Buhanga Eco-park as well as the volcanoes of Muhabura, Gahinga, Kalisimbi, Bisoke and Sabyinyo.
Musanze is one of the six secondary cities and has been equipped with various infrastructures luring tourists to prolong their stay. These include hotels and other leisure activities.
In addition to the main commercial buildings upgraded day-to-day, Musanze town has high-end hotels that welcome tourists from all walks of life.
Among the largest hotels in the city there is Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House built at a cost of $25 million; The One & Only Gorilla’s Nest is built in Kinigi in a tropical forest, a volcanic area, and Bisate Lodge.
Among other large-scale projects, an industrial zone has been set up. The latter accommodates Prime Cement Factory while plans are underway to set up an assembling facility for Volkswagen cars.
Musanze’s development is mainly rooted on tourism related investment.
Figures released in 2019 show that the area is home to more than 30 hotels, while other major economic activities include potato farming and animal husbandry among others.
The Mayor of Musanze District, Janvier Ramuli, said that safety, decent roads, electricity and magnificent buildings are among other factors that attract visitors as they add up to many reasons to stay comfortably in a particular place.
Over the past 25 years, Musanze has developed infrastructure including roads – given that the district is has over 80 kilometers of tarmac roads, hotels and commercial buildings such as modern markets and residential houses.
The statistics show that Musanze District had a few development activities in the last 25 years but have increased at large scale.
Through taxes, the district has become a tourist destination and models rapid development.
The taxes collected in Musanze District have been increasing as years go by.
Statistics from Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) show that Musanze District collected Rwf6.7 billion in taxes in 2014/2015 which increased to Rwf14.5 billion in 2021/2022.
Among the works carried out include the construction of 76 kilometers of tarmac roads and other feeder roads.
90% of the population has access to water, while 51,117 households have access to the main-grid while others use renewable sources of energy.
25 years ago, the district had no decent market but has got a five-storey modern market, as well as business center workshops that have been constructed to promote jobs’ creation.
Currently, Musanze has 23 factories including Prime Cement. It has also built a modern bus terminal.
With the majority of the population forcing their meal upon agriculture, Musanze registers 38,000 hectares of arable land.
More than 350 cooperatives bringing together residents involved in different activities including agriculture, handicrafts, tourism and others have bene established and contribute in no small part to members’ livelihoods transformation.
25 years ago, the district had 33 nursery schools but have increased to 113.
Primary schools have also increased from 87 to 109, the number of secondary schools went up from 11 to 71 while universities increased from four to seven.
Some of these schools are owned by the government, partners or members of the private sector.
As for the health sector, the district has Ruhengeri Hospital which has undergone major facelift, 16 health centers and 32 health posts.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport in the night of 10th October 2022, Gatete revealed that he was impressed by the country’s magnificence.
“I am overwhelmed with joy. I can see the country and Kigali City have undergone a lot of transformations. It is my pleasure to be back to my motherland where I will have an opportunity to interact with Rwandans whom I have been missing so much,” he said.
Gatete played for different teams in Rwanda including Mukura VS, Rayon Sports and APR FC.
He scored goals as Rwanda faced off Uganda and Ghana that helped the country to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2004.
Gatete, Khalilou Fadiga and Patrick Mboma arrived before other veteran players including Roger Milla, Lilian Thuram and Laura Georges awaited in Rwanda to attend the official launch of The ‘Legends in Rwanda’ between 12th and 14th October 2022.
The ‘Legends in Rwanda’ tour seeks to promote the 2024 Veteran Clubs World Championship to attract global participation, mobilize the Rwandan and African to be part of the event, promote Visit Rwanda campaign and recruit business, institutional, operational and media partners as well.
The promotional tour was organized by the International Federation of Football Veterans.
Throughout the two-day tour, the veteran footballers will meet with the Minister of Sports, president of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA).
They will also participate in talks on different topics in the areas of education, economy, tourism and interact with aspiring young footballers.
The Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC) is due in Rwanda for the first time in May 2024.
It will bring together 150 football veterans from 40 countries (eight teams) facing off in 20 games.
The two UN agencies, in a joint statement issued in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to mark World Mental Health Day confirmed commitment to joint action to make mental health a priority.
Mohamed M. Fall, UNICEF regional director for eastern and southern Africa, said the impact of violence or humanitarian crises is not limited to economic impact, noting that the invisible wounds suffered by communities must also be at the heart of the interventions. “The psychological distress in which hundreds of thousands of children and parents live across the continent has a dramatic impact on individuals and by extension on the well-being and development of societies,” Fall said.
The UN agencies said children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, adding that Africa has one of the highest numbers of children and adolescents globally. They said the last 12 months have seen families and communities under growing strain as a result of the impact of climate shocks, global inflation and economic hardship.
Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are facing extreme droughts, while in the Sahel area, armed groups have stepped up exactions on communities, leading to massive displacement, the UN agencies said.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said mental health is integral to wholesome health and well-being. “The greatest challenge to adequate mental health service provision in Africa is the chronically low investments by governments. It’s time for a radical change,” Moeti said.
The UN agencies said the serious gaps that exist in mental health care in the region are a result of historic under-investment in mental health promotion, prevention and care.
The two agencies in 2020 agreed on a ten-year partnership on mental health, which seeks to address some of the main challenges to mental health and limitations in access to support.
Joint initiatives are underway in Nigeria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, with both agencies working with governments to scale up mental health and psychosocial support services across sectors, according to the UN agencies.
According to the UN, responses to mental health need to encompass support beyond the area of specialized mental health services, including child and family services, education, protection, violence prevention, community support, housing and social protection.
Scheduled to run from 11th October to 10th November, the training seeks to equip entrepreneurs and business leaders across different sectors with tangible and actionable steps they can take to advance in the digital economy.
Its launch comes after the success of the first and second classes, which graduated a total of 33 Rwandan participants in 2019 and 2021.
Following a rigorous selection process, the final candidates will embark on a series of online classes where they will delve into approaches to harnessing technology to grow their businesses within the local economy. All participants are founders of their respective start-ups from industries such as agriculture, education, information & communication technology (ICT), and trading.
“We are delighted to be able to continue advancing our vision of sharing the positive impact of the digital economy with entrepreneurs and enrolling our third cohort of Rwandan participants. With companies taking to online channels to keep their business afloat during the pandemic, digitalization is no longer a foreign concept to consumers and entrepreneurs.
We hope this edition of our Alibaba Netpreneur Training will help entrepreneurs in Rwanda develop long-term, savvy digital strategies that will open up more opportunities for them,” said Dan Liu, Senior Advisor at Alibaba Global Initiatives.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Training program is conducted online in English by certified Alibaba trainers and business leaders who have had experience leading their own digital businesses to success.
Participants can deepen their knowledge and understanding of: the digital economy in China and the latest trends and practices shaping its development; the journey of select traditional businesses that have successfully gone through digital transformation, the evolution of Alibaba’s business, including the role of digital technology in supporting the growth of companies in its ecosystem.
They will also be taken through frameworks and approaches for building a successful and innovative business in today’s digital world.
Participants who complete the program will receive an e-certificate and will be eligible to join the AGI entrepreneur community. The community comprises a diverse mix of passionate and successful like-minded entrepreneurs, and provides unmatched opportunities to network, collaborate and learn.
Outstanding participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a one-week offline immersion program at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, subject to fulfilling the online course criteria.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program is part of Alibaba’s initiatives to help promote economic development in Rwanda. In 2018, the first eWTP (electronic world trade platform) hub in Africa was launched in Rwanda following the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the Rwandan Government and Alibaba Group.
Key initiatives under the collaboration include helping Rwandan small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) sell their products to Chinese consumers and providing capacity building to support Rwanda’s digital economy.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Training Program was first introduced in 2019 and has successfully trained close to 1,500 entrepreneurs in Africa, Europe, Latin America as well as South and Southeast Asia since its inception.
{{About Alibaba Group}}
Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a good company that lasts at least 102 years.
{{About Alibaba Global Initiatives}}
Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI) inspires and supports entrepreneurs, youth and women globally by sharing the positive impact of the digital economy in promoting inclusive development.
Its programs encourage entrepreneurs to share and use digital economy tools to create a positive social impact and to collaborate with each other as well as the public sector to make a larger impact.
To date, there are close to 1,900 digital entrepreneurs and business leaders from more than 60 countries and regions trained directly by AGI, who have subsequently shared their learnings with other members of their own communities.
{{About the Rwanda Development Board}}
Rwanda Development Board (RDB)’s mission is to fast track economic development in Rwanda by enabling private sector growth with a vision of transforming Rwanda into a dynamic global hub for business, investment and innovation.
The Center provides advanced training on Peace Support Operations.
IGP Munyuza and his delegation were received by the Deputy General Commander of the Italian Carabinieri, Lt. Gen. Maurizio Detalamo Mezzavilla and the Director of CoESPU, Brig Gen Giovanni Pietro Barbano.
At the CoESPU, IGP Munyuza was given presentations on the Center’s mission to train peacekeepers.
The week-long visit to Italy at the invitation of the General Commander of the Italian Carabinieri, is guided by the cooperation agreement signed between Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Carabiniere in 2017.
IGP Munyuza thanked CoESPU for working with RNP to train Rwandan Police officers, including Training of Trainers and UN pre-deployment courses.
The CoESPU has so far trained more than 400 RNP officers in peace support operation courses, conducted in Rwanda and Vicenza, Italy.
Brig. Gen. Barbano commended RNP leadership for “good cooperation with CoESPU.”
RNP and CoESPU are exploring ways to introduce peace support operation courses at the Peace Support Operations Training Centre in Gishari, Rwamagana District.
Under this partnership framework between RNP and CoESPU, some peace support operation courses conducted in Italy will be conducted in Rwanda, drawing participants from across the globe.
Last Thursday, October 6, IGP Munyuza and the General Commander of the Italian Arma dei Carabinieri, Lt Gen Teo Luzi, held a bilateral meeting in Rome and discussed matters related to strengthening the existing cooperation in various policing areas.
The course conducted by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security, was officially opened by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Felix Namuhoranye, at the RNP General Headquarters Kacyiru.
It was also attended by the Germany ambassador to Rwanda, Dr. Thomas Kurz.
DIGP Namuhoranye said that the course is very important to gain knowledge and skills to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers in armed conflicts.
He added that the Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security is one of the RNP major stakeholders in capacity building programmes especially in pre-deployment training for peace support operations units.
“In line with the implemention of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Kigali Principles on the protection of civilians in peace operations, and the Vancouver principles mostly on the role of female police officers in prevention of recruitment and use of children as soldiers in armed conflicts; Rwanda National Police has significantly increased its numbers, especially of female police officers, in peacekeeping operations,” DIGP Namuhoranye said.
The UNSCR Resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and incorporate gender balance perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts.
The RNP and Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2019.
Since then, DIGP Namuhoranye said, one of the major achievements has been a steady increase of capacity of female officers ready for deployment in peacekeeping missions.
He reiterated the protective service rendered by Rwanda Formed Police Units to the the vulnerable groups in host nations, mostly in IDP camps where children face risk of all sorts of violence and abuse, including forced recruitment into armed forces.
Rwanda is one of the leading contributors of female Police officers to peace support operations, and currently maintains a female-dominated Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent under the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“This TOT will enable participants to transfer the knowledge and skills gained to other officers of the force… to ensure sustainability of the training,” DIGP Namuhoranye said.
“The knowledge and skills will certainly increase the capacity of trainees and subsequently impact positively on the vulnerable communities in conflict areas where children face the risk of by being forcibly used in armed conflicts,” he added.
Amb. Kurz noted that despite the efforts realized, the African child remains threatened by conflict and the risk to be recruited and used as soldiers among other possible grave violations.
“This training reminds us that women police officers, when empowered, have an important voice in the protection of children and have the power to create sustainable peace in communities,” Amb. Kurz said.
He commended the Government of Rwanda and RNP in particular, for supporting the peace and security agenda both domestically and regionally.
This, he added, has created a significant platform where female police officers are empowered to fit into their daily duties and giving them space to share experiences and design new localized strategies to respond to the needs of children.
Maj. Gen (rtd) Ferdinand Safari, the Director of Dallaire Institute for Children Peace and Security, said that the training is based on the fundamental techniques of preventing recruitment and the use of children as soldiers in armed conflicts.
He added that the ToT will provide an interactive forum for the trainees to share, explore and discuss concepts and issues related to the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.
This pool of trainers, he explained, can be deployed to support training in other Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Security sector actors are often the first point of contact with children in the context of armed violence. We can create a more comprehensive international response that allows us to take a preventive approach to contribute to a peaceful and more sustainable security,” Safari said.
The Dallaire Institute, whose African Centre of Excellence is based in Rwanda, has since its establishment in 2007, trained more than 15,000 people from more than 100 countries across the globe.
Gen (rtd) Romeo Dallaire is a Canadian, who commanded the UN peacekeeping force that was deployed in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Their dismissal has been announced through a communiqué released by the Office of Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente on Monday 10th October 2022.
The sacked executives include the Acting Director General, Eng. Deo Muvunyi; Pearl Uwera, Senior Manager in Charge of Finance and Fabian Rwabizi, Senior Manager in Charge of Human Resource and Administration.
Eng. Muvunyi was named the Acting Director General of RURA replacing Dr. Nsabimana who had been appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure.
Eng. Muvunyi was appointed to the position on 16th February this year.
Prior to that, he had been serving as the Senior Manager in charge of Transport Planning and Industry Development at RURA since 2004.
Eng. Muvunyi studied Civil Engineering at the former Kigali Institution of Science and Technology (KIST), now University of Rwanda (UR) – College of Science and Technology and obtained a Masters from the University of Technology, Malaysia
According to the state-owned media, the militants were planning to block the road between Beledweyne and Bulaburde district and stage an attack but the forces received intelligence in time and foiled the attack.
“Their intention was to block the road between Bula-burde and Beledweyne towns. But they made a miscalculation, and ended up in fire,” the Somali news agency reported.
The Somali forces backed by pro-government militia have liberated more than 40 villages and killed over 500 al-Shabab militants in the past three weeks in operations in central Somalia.
The militant group has lost ground to the Somali government and African Union troops in recent months but still controls some territory in southern and central Somalia.
