The Fuso vehicle, registration number RAF 260W, was intercepted on Monday September 3, at about 5am, in Musongati Cell of Nyarusange Sector.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that the driver identified as Jean D’Amour Ndagijimana, 44, was also arrested.
Two other people, who were on board, fled during the operation.
Among the goods seized include 140 bales of second-hand clothes, five bales of used shoes; seven bales of traditional fabrics commonly known as kitenge, 220 rolls of substandard electric cables, 176 pieces of salsa and 25 tins of powdered milk.
The goods were smuggled into Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through Lake Kivu.
“There was credible information that quantities of goods were smuggled into Rwanda from DRC, through Lake Kivu in Nyamasheke District, and an operation was commenced to trace the whereabouts of the goods until the vehicle transporting the goods was intercepted in Muhanga District en-route to Kigali,” SP Kanamugire said.
The goods were handed over to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).
Last week, Police in Muhanga District also impounded a bus, which was transporting 1074kgs of smuggled second-hand clothes.
Meanwhile, the arrested driver claimed that the goods belong to one Jean Claude Hakizimana, who is yet to be arrested.
He added that the owner of the goods was to pay him Frw200,000 upon delivering the goods to the final destination in Kimisagara, Nyarugenge District.
In May this year, Ndagijimana was also arrested in Nyamasheke District transporting smuggled goods to Kigali.
Article 199 of the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, provides that seized smuggled goods be auctioned.
A vehicle intercepted transporting smuggled goods is also auctioned and the driver slapped a fine of US$5000.
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A taxpayer, who commits fraud, is subjected to an administrative fine of one hundred percent (100%) of the evaded tax and a likely imprisonment of between six months and two years.
Vincent Mfashijwenimana, 24, and Diane Niyonsenga, 25, were arrested red-handed with the narcotics in Kamashashi Village, Kabuga II Cell in Rusororo Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the duo was suspected to be drug dealers for a while, supplying different cannabis retailers in Kigali.
“There was information that Mfashijwenimana was trafficking cannabis into Rwanda from Tanzania, and was working with Niyonsenga to supply their clients in Kigali and Bugesera District,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
He added: “On Sunday October 2, at about 1pm, a resident of Kamashashi Village called the Police to report Niyonsenga, who he suspected to be transporting cannabis in a bag.
Niyonsenga was immediately taken into custody after she was found in possession of 3kgs of cannabis. Niyonsenga led Police officers to her supplier, Mfashijwenimana, who was also found with other 3kgs of cannabis.”
They were handed over to RIB at Rusororo station for further investigations.
CIP Twajamahoro commended the resident, who facilitated the arrest of the two suppliers of cannabis.
The Ministerial order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation classifies cannabis in the category of “very severe narcotics.’’
Article 263 of law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offenses and penalties in general states that any person, who unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, commits an offence.
Upon conviction for very severe narcotics, the offender faces between 20 years and life imprisonment, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The incident occurred in Bunyereri Village, Kiziho Cell in the morning of Monday 3rd October 2022.
The Executive Secretary of Nyakabuye Sector, Innocent Kimonyo has told IGIHE that they learnt about the accident around 5:45 a.m upon information provided by a resident.
The ambulance was moving from Mibilizi Hospital to Nyakibingo Health Center in Butare Sector.
People onboard the ambulance include three medical doctors, a three-year old child born to one of them, a domestic worker who looked after the child and the driver who survived with serious injuries.
“Five people have died. Only the driver survived the accident with serious injuries and is admitted at Mibilizi Hospital,” said Kimonyo.
Sources reveal that the ambulance swerved off the road and overturned until it reached a marshland at the hill’s base.
The Mass read on Sunday 2nd October 2022 coincided with the celebration of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus whose life was characterized by love and innocence.
It was attended by the Deputy Commissioner General of Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS), DCGP Rose Muhisoni; RCS Spokesperson, SSP Pelly Uwera Gakwaya and the Director of Nyarugenge Prison, SP Augustin Uwayezu.
Cardinal Kambanda was accompanied by Bishop André Havugimana, the chaplain of Mageragere Prison which is part of the Centrale Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Butamwa Parish.
Cardinal Kambanda told gathered congregants that God loves human beings but detest their sins. He asked them to allow the Holy Spirit to guide their steps and shun evil acts.
Using an example of an inspiring quote of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Cardinal Kambanda said that those willing to join the Kingdom of God should be willing to become like little children.
“We are little in front of God and need to respect what God teaches us,” he said.
Cardinal Kambanda requested inmates to look back to their past when they were little and innocent kids to restore that image and strive to build the nation instead of committing crimes.
During the Mass, inmates were taken through the parable of the Lost Sheep in the Bible included in the Gospels of Luke 15:1-7.
The parable of the Lost Sheep is about a shepherd who had 100 sheep but 1 of them wandered off and got lost. The shepherd left the 99 and went in search of the lost sheep until he finds it and celebrates its return.
The parable reflects how Jesus came to the world to save his sheep sinking into evil acts to return them to the ‘Father in Heaven’.
Speaking to IGIHE after the Mass, Cardinal Kambanda said that inmates are also stuck in crimes and need someone to help them get rid of them.
DCGP Muhisoni thanked the Catholic Church for its contribution to inmates’ rehabilitation programs to convert them into good citizens working with others to fast track national development.
The 2022 Singapore Grand Prix officially known as the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022, was a Formula One motor race held on 2 October 2022 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Marina Bay, Singapore.
The sporting event takes place over three days (usually Friday to Sunday), with a series of practice and qualifying sessions prior to the race on Sunday.
The Head of State has been in Singapore for a three-day visit since 30th September 2022.
During his stay in Singapore, Kagame delivered the ‘Majulah Lecture’ at NTU to close to 1000 participants in a session moderated by Prof. Subra Suresh, President of the academic institution.
He also witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between the Government of Rwanda represented by the Ministry of Education and NTU allowing Rwandan students to get opportunities to study at university starting next year.
Rwanda and Singapore enjoy cordial relations. Both countries have partnership in the areas of investment, trade, education, rule of law, technology and air transport service among others.
The country’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong recently visited Rwanda during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June.
It was his maiden official visit in Rwanda and Africa. At the time, Loong was also hosted at Urugwiro Village by President Kagame.
The motorcycle, TVS registration number RF 436H, was recovered from the suspected thief identified as Frederick Rusanganwa, 38, who was arrested red-handed in Gakoni Village, Kamabuye, Cell in Shyara Sector.
The Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, said that the motorcycle was stolen at about 6pm, in Ngarama Sector.
“The owner of the motorcycle had parked it in Kanzenze, Ntarama Sector, where it was stolen at about 6pm. Fortune enough, the motorcycle had a GPS. It was tracked and recovered in the house of Rusanganwa at about 8:30pm, located in Gakoni Village, Shyira Sector, where the suspect was also arrested. He was handed over to RIB at Ruhuha station,” SP Twizeyimana said.
The spokesperson reiterated the importance of installing GPS in motorcycles for easy tracking, when stolen.
In September and August, Police recovered two stolen motorcycles in Gatsibo District, where suspected thieves were also arrested.
Another motorcycle was recovered in July in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District.
Two other stolen motorcycles were recovered in January in Nyagatare and Bugesera districts, where suspected thieves were also arrested.
During dinner hosted on Saturday, the Rwanda bilateral force demonstrated cultural dance and martial arts as part of the event’s entertainment.
In his remarks, President Touadéra thanked Rwanda and President Paul Kagame for the support and collaboration with Central African Republic in maintaining security in CAR.
Rwandan Contingent commander, Col Egide Ndayizeye thanked Touadéra for the warm reception and also commended the good cooperation with CAR Armed Forces in ensuring the security of Central African Republic.
On the other hand, this has become an investment opportunity where investors continue to build more and more modern housing estates, which can be afforded by middle-income earners.
One of them is Village Umutuzo. Inaugurated on Thursday 29th September 2022, Village Umutuzo is a real estate that seeks to help people get rid of rental fees.
The first phase of this project has seen a total of 67 houses built in Gahanga Sector in Kicukiro District. The estate comprises modern buildings built under an innovative concept to settle a large population on a small plot of land.
The project is run by GiRiNZU, a French-Rwandan real estate developer founded by a French national, Stéphane Monceaux in collaboration with a female Rwandan, Jacqueline Wibabara to help individuals wishing to own modern homes in Kigali city.
This estate seats on two hectares and has three sections with different structures for people to buy houses of their choice.
The company has offers that range from Rwf35 million to Rwf120 million for houses and apartments from 2 to 6 bedrooms.
There are multi-storey houses comprising two bedrooms, a modern bathroom, a kitchen and a well maintained garden, built as bungalows. One of them costs Rwf35 million.
The second category consists of one-storey houses, with three bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a landscaped garden. A house under this category costs over Rwf74 million.
The third category, which is more costly, consists of houses with four bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms, a modern kitchen and a large garden. Each costs Rwf120 million.
Village Umutuzo is built of bricks. Construction activities were executed by quite a large number of employees, majority of whom being Rwandans.
These houses are equipped with household furniture such as beds, chairs, tables and more.
Those who want to own these houses are encouraged to link up with the company for direct payments or seek loans from respective financial institutions to own houses.
One of the founders and president of GiRiNZU, Stéphane Monceaux, said that he once came to Rwanda and saw a government with good plans to settle the people which inspired him to build modern estates.
“We are a company which is unique and highly innovative at a global level. We build urban villages which are very sustainable where we would be happy to see our children live. We worked with the City of Kigali to be able to build houses like these that will house a large number of people and on a smaller land,” he said.
“With our team made of local architects and engineers, we reinterpret the living atmosphere to create a Rwandan solution that brings Umutuzo [comfort],” added Monceaux.
Jacqueline Wibabara, a co-founder and vice president emphasized that they are committed to building affordable houses, and to support the government’s plan to settle the population decently.
She also said that the company has prioritized women empowerment where it seeks to reach 50% of women representation in hiring process at all levels in the years to come.
Wibabara disclosed that they consider lowering prices to help people with various economic backgrounds own a decent house easily.
The Mayor of Kigali City, Pudence Rubingisa, praised the initiators of this project, saying that this program will support the national policy of settling people on small land.
“The fact that the city has gained the houses in this village and the others being built under GiRiNZU project is a great achievement. These houses are offered at a moderate price encouraging many people to buy them,” he said.
“We have a national policy to improve housing in order to resettle a large number of people on small land to ensure efficient use of land in accordance with the master plan and environmental preservation measures. So, this project came in handy,” added Rubingisa.
The Ambassador of France in Rwanda, Anfré Antoine, praised the collaboration between the French national and the Rwandan woman, which led to the project beneficial to many people.
GiRiNZU has another project to build two urban villages in Gahanga, on two and more than three hectares respectively.
So far 85% of the houses in ‘Umutuzo Village’ have been purchased.
This September 2022, SKOL walked its talk and paid the full school year for Grave who has grown up and been enrolled in a nursery school starting from this year’s school calendar.
Christine is thankful to the Mr. Ivan, SKOL’s CEO for having kept his word and allowed her son to attend school.
This is allowing her to reduce her financial burden and have time to focus on working while her son is at school.
