“Today in Kibugabuga, President Kagame received a US Congressional delegation at his farm. The delegation is led by Senator Jim Inhofe accompanied by Senator Mike Rounds and John Boozman.
“The trip to Rwanda is Senator Jim Inhofe’s last CODEL [Congressional Member Delegation] visit before his retirement. The cordial meeting discussed regional and global affairs and the existing bilateral relations between Rwanda and the United States,” reads the tweet.
Born in 1934, Jim Inhofe is a senator in US Congress who has been representing Oklahoma State.
Inhofe, 87, is the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee and its past chairman. He served previously as chairman and ranking Republican of the Environment and Public Works Committee.
Inhofe recently announced that he would retire effective January 3, 2023, after 35 years in Congress and a career in politics spanning over 50 years.
On Thursday 15th September 2022, Rwanda’s Embassy in the United States hosted a breakfast at the US Capitol in appreciation of Senator Jim Inhofe’s career and friendship with Africa and Rwanda, in particular.
In a message he sent at the time, President Kagame commended Senator Jim Inhofe for his dedication to cement relations between Rwanda and the United States throughout his tenure as a senator in US Congress.
“We have watched you invest in learning about and understanding Rwanda and other African countries. We have also watched you educate your peers on the importance of Africa and countries like Rwanda as worthy global allies,” he said.
“You have shown that a productive relationship with the United States is mutually beneficial for our people and contributes to greater security and stronger economies,” added Kagame.
Speaking at the event, Senator Inhofe also appreciated the warm welcome he is always given whenever he travels to Rwanda.
The 6-youth led local SMEs will receive intensive business skills training sessions, communication and advertising platforms, The identified businesses from the 6 finalists are:
{{Roumeza Limited (Misozi brand):}} They manufacture sportswear in Rwanda, they sell sportswear and sporting accessories like gym bags proudly made in Rwanda.
{{The Kandid}} makes decorative candles from natural waxes such as coconut wax, and beauty products including body butter made from shea butter and plant oils.
{{Flove ltd}} is also a Fashion and textile. This is a startup that manufactures eco-friendly and reusable bags with a drive of empowering teenage mothers in Rwanda by providing them with employment opportunities.
{{Kayko }} deals in ICT solutions with an android application that allows micro-businesses to record their sales, expenses, and credits, and accept digital payments.
{{VUGA UKIRE INITIATIVE}} offers online Psychotherapy and psychoeducation while {{Real Brothers LTD }} produces mushrooms and mushroom tubes (seeds).
Speaking at the press conference held at the MTN Headquarters on Wednesday, MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer, Mapula Bodibe said: “We are thrilled to be announcing the finalists of the second season of Level Up Your Biz. SMEs account for 41% percent of all private sector jobs in Rwanda.
By supporting youth-led SMEs, we re-affirm our commitment towards them for they play a critical role in creating jobs for Rwandans and an impetus for a robust economic growth. We believe that such an initiative will go a long way in boosting these businesses and giving them the momentum required for healthy growth.”
Level Up Your Biz was first launched in 2021 and is geared at empowering and providing youth-led businesses with the right entrepreneurial skills and knowledge that will strengthen their innovative capabilities amidst an evolving digital world.
“Level Up Your Biz is a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain business skills from Inkomoko and digital tools from MTN. Inkomoko is more than proud to support Rwandan youth-led businesses in creating opportunities in fast-growth sectors that contribute to the country’s economic development,” said Aretha Mutumwinka Rwagasore, Rwanda Managing Director, Inkomoko.
The announcement and subsequent support of the selected SME’s is part of MTN Rwanda’s commitment to the economic growth of the nation and as an enabler for SMEs to thrive.
{{About MTN Rwandacell }}
MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, it has continuously invested in expanding and modernizing its network and leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress.
The telecom also offer various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalized voice and data offers for individuals and corporates with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to customers.
{{About Inkomoko}}
Inkomoko is an organization that supports micro and small enterprises across East Africa so that they can grow to create jobs, improve livelihoods and create thriving communities.
It began operations in Rwanda ten years ago and has now opened offices in Kenya and Ethiopia. Inkomoko provides entrepreneurs with business development services, including bookkeeping and other financial management training.
It offers them one-on-one consulting, so they can put these lessons into practice.
Through in-house investment fund, Inkomoko offers financing to grow these businesses. Ultimately, its work seeks to help some of these tremendous entrepreneurs throughout Africa improve their lives, create jobs for others in their communities, and most importantly, be strong economic contributors to their communities.
The call was made on Tuesday by different officials at the launch of a workshop organized by the Rwanda Institute of Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance (RICEM) in collaboration with Land O’Lakes Venture, a non-profit organization with headquarters in the United States (US).
Land O’Lakes Venture37 helps people around the world to grow financially by increasing the quantity and quality of agricultural produce as well as connecting them to markets.
As an institution that has the responsibility of increasing the skills of cooperatives’ managers through training, RICEM organized the training under theme “Promoting Rwandan cooperatives through innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The CEO of RICEM, Dr. Olivier Mukulira has explained the main reason behind the organization of the workshop and anticipated outcomes.
“It is a training that we organize every year in collaboration with the American company-Land O’lakes in order to increase managerial skills for cooperative leaders based on what is needed. This year’s focus centered on fostering the cooperation between cooperatives and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Mukulira went on to say that there are some cooperatives that work alone without sharing or seeking information from others about market prices, how they can work with entrepreneurs and where to find partners. He explained that these are among reasons why cooperatives are encouraged to work together.
The workshop was officially opened by the Director General of Rwanda Cooperatives Agency, Prof. Jean Bosco Harelimana who emphasized that participants will gain an insight into the advantages of collaboration between farmers’ and buyers’ cooperatives.
“This training is held in the right time because we had a problem where we would find that the cooperative of farmers and the factory processing the produce do not coordinate. That is what we aim to completely eliminate and instill the culture of cooperation,” he noted.
This training program is an annual event that RICEM organizes based on identified needs of the cooperatives. Held for the third time, this year’s edition will last four days.
It has attracted over 100 representatives from different cooperatives across the country.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) said that the duo of Theoneste Ndayambaje, 46, and Samson Irankunda, 24, was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. in Giramata Village, by the Rwanda National Police Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime department.
“Ndayambaje a taxi-moto operator, admitted to be working with drug traffickers to transport them and their narcotics; while Irankunda is the alleged rightful owner of the seized bundle of cannabis. They were intercepted in Giramata Village, Kanyirabigogo Cell in Kanzenze Sector,” CIP Rukundo said.
The motorcycle registration number RE 859X, which they were traveling on, was also impounded.
CIP Rukundo added that Ndayambaje is the main contact of drug dealers, who helps them in transportation and distribution.
He noted that this was a “targeted operations” based on credible information about the duo, who were traveling on the same motorcycle from Kabuhanga Sector, also in Rubavu.
Meanwhile, Irankunda disclosed that he gets the narcotics from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Kabuhanga porous border.
He further told law enforcement officers that he works with another man and neighbor, in this narcotics business, whom he only identified as Hashakimana.
“The two arrested cannabis dealers with their exhibits, were handed over to RIB at Kanama station while the search for Hashakimana is still underway,” CIP Rukundo said.
Last week, Rwanda National Police (RNP) arrested two drug traffickers in Nyamasheke District with 247kgs of cannabis.
Cannabis is classified as a “very severe narcotic drug” in Rwanda with a sentence of between 20 years and life in prison, upon conviction; and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The Head of delegation, Colonel Edmond Mbilika says that the student officers who are on one week education expedition will visit several key Government organisations with the aim to cover all aspects on “Expanding roles of the military in the global security environment” as their theme states for this year.
Members of the delegation has so far visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Campaign against Genocide Museum and RDF Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze.
They also visited RDF headquarters for a brief on RDF transformation journey since the end of the liberation struggle in 1994.
They will also visit Zigama CSS, Military Medical Insurance, Horizon Ltd and Rwanda Military Hospital before departing back.
The Ministry of Defence has revealed that Gen Kazura met with Maj Gen Mercier on Wednesday but did not mention topics of discussions.
The military inspectorate is affiliated to the Ministry of Defence in France. It has, among other things, the duties of helping the military to build professionalism, equip troops with skills to confront future threats, and reinforce foreign cooperation.
It was established in 1961 by Gen Charles de Gaulle.
Vajiralongkorn has been the monarch of Thailand since May 2019. He is the only son born to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit.
Following the death of his father on 13th October 2016, he requested time to mourn his parent before ascending to the throne. He accepted to rule the country in the night of 1st May 2019.
Amb. Rwamucyo has expressed delight for presenting letters of credence to the King of Thailand and pledged to further strengthen the bond of friendship between both countries.
He also oversees Rwanda’s interests in other countries including Japan, Malaysia and Philippines with residence in Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
The journalists include Jean Damascène Mutuyimana, Jean Baptiste Nshimiyimana and Schadrack Niyonsenga who were arrested in October 2018.
The High Court has said that the Prosecution did not present tangible evidences pinning them and ordered their immediate release.
“It was revealed that the Prosecution did not present tangible evidences on inciting public insurrection, and of spreading false information with intention to create hostile international opinion against Rwanda. None of them happened,” Jean Paul Ibambe, the defense lawyer of the three journalists has told IGIHE.
The Prosecution’s allegations are based on stories published on the journalists’ YouTube channel on attacks of FLN to Rwanda in 2018.
Ibambe has said that the journalists told the court that the attacks occurred where there are individuals convicted of involvement.
They have been detained for four years. Ibambe said that the trio has rights to appeal for compensation noting that their acquittal is what matters the most.
According to the World Bank’s latest Africa’s Pulse, a biannual analysis of the near-term regional macroeconomic outlook, economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is set to decelerate from 4.1% in 2021 to 3.3% in 2022, a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points since April’s Pulse forecast, mainly as a result of a slowdown in global growth, including flagging demand from China for commodities produced in Africa.
The war in Ukraine is exacerbating already high inflation and weighing on economic activity by depressing both business investments and household consumption. As of July 2022, 29 of 33 countries in SSA with available information had inflation rates over 5% while 17 countries had double-digit inflation.
“These trends compromise poverty reduction efforts that were already set back by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “What is most worrisome is the impact of high food prices on people struggling to feed their families, threatening long-term human development. This calls for urgent action from policymakers to restore macro-economic stability and support the poorest households while reorienting their food and agriculture spending to achieve future resilience.”
Elevated food prices are causing hardships with severe consequences in one of the world’s most food-insecure regions. Hunger has sharply increased in SSA in recent years driven by economic shocks, violence and conflict, and extreme weather. More than one in five people in Africa suffer from hunger and an estimated 140 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022, up from 120 million people in 2021, according to the Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update.
The interconnected crises come at a time when the fiscal space required to mount effective government responses is all but gone. In many countries, public savings have been depleted by earlier programs to counter the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, though resource-rich countries in some cases have benefited from high commodity prices and managed to improve their balance sheet.
Debt is projected to stay elevated at 58.6% of GDP in 2022 in SSA. African governments spent 16.5% of their revenues servicing external debt in 2021, up from less than 5% in 2010. Eight out of 38 IDA-eligible countries in the region are in debt distress, and 14 are at high risk of joining them. At the same time, high commercial borrowing costs make it difficult for countries to borrow on national and international markets, while tightening global financial conditions are weakening currencies and increasing African countries’ external borrowing costs.
This challenging environment makes it essential to improve the efficiency of existing resources and to optimize taxes. In the agriculture and food sector, for example, governments have the opportunity to protect human capital and climate-proof food production by re-orienting their public spending away from poorly targeted subsidies toward nutrition-sensitive social protection programs, irrigation works, and research and development known to have high returns.
For example, one dollar invested in agricultural research yields, on average, benefits equivalent to $10, while gains from investments in irrigation are also potentially high in SSA. Such reprioritization maintains the level of spending in a critical sector, while raising productivity, building resilience to climate change, and achieving food security for all. Creating a better environment for agribusiness and facilitating intra-regional food trade could also increase long-term food security in a region that is highly dependent on food imports.
The IAWPA is a global leader in the pursuit of world Peace and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals SDG programme all over the world.
Dr. Habumugisha was recently awarded for his outstanding work to promote peace during a ceremony held on 19th August 2022 in Lagos City, Nigeria.
It was bestowed to him for helping people in Rwanda and beyond access health information and therapy through television and different conferences.
Speaking to IGIHE, Dr. Habumugisha said that it is a great honor to receive this award.
He revealed that it induced pride and encouraged him to keep running his activities within the country and abroad with the aim of changing people’s lives by educating them to prevent diseases and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
“I have been very excited with the award because I have been already promoting such initiatives,” Dr. Habumugisha said.
He explained that the duties given to him to establish IAWPA in the country will lead to many projects helping people to uplift livelihoods.
“Restoring peace does not only refer to ending wars but fighting against hunger and poverty. Every country that works with this organization benefits from different projects aligning with the good cause,” he noted.
Dr. Habumugisha has been involved in many activities promoting healthcare.
He maintains that the number of smartphone owners are gradually increasing in Africa where health institutions should take advantage of this opportunity to develop digital platforms to help people access information they need.
Dr. Habumugisha says that initiatives like his digital platform dubbed ’Muganga Online’ which helps people access health information would be more meaningful for people to access some services without necessity for regular visits to health centers.
He explained that the appointment is a great opportunity because he will represent Rwanda in different parts of the world and share this experience with others, hence improving the country’s visibility.
“There are people who have not yet learnt about the beauty and resilience of Rwanda. This is an opportune moment to do that,” Dr. Habumugisha asserted.
He pledged to continue rising the Rwanda’s flag high given that it has a far-sighted leadership promoting good governance.
Currently, Dr Habumugisha is an entrepreneur and founder of Goodrich Life Care, a company that provides nutritional therapy, reflexology and hydrotherapy.
He founded Goodrich TV which provides health advice and information. It is an addition to ‘Muganga Online’ platform which helps people access health information.
