The hearing of opening statements began on Thursday 29th September 2022 but Kabuga boycotted the court as revealed by Iain Bonomy, the presiding judge at the UN tribunal.
Bonomy said that Kabuga is in good health but did neither accept to attend in-person nor virtually.
The MICT recently rejected the request of Lawyer Philippe Larochelle who requested the suspension of Kabuga’s trial awaiting the ruling on suggested replacement of defence lawyer.
On 5th September, Lawyer Larochelle appealed against the ruling dismissing the request to replace Emmanuel Altit as Kabuga’s defence lawyer.
He claimed that Kabuga was denied rights to choose a preferred defence lawyer which ‘would have a negative effect on court’s proceedings’.
On 20th September 2022, MICT validated the relevance for Kabuga’s defence plea but rejected the request to suspend the trial.
According to The New York Times, Kabuga refused to appear in court, saying in a note that it was in protest against a refusal to let him change lawyers, but judges ordered that the proceedings should go ahead and asked the prosecution to read its opening statement.
Kabuga is charged with several counts including five related to genocide; genocide, complicity in genocide, director and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide.
Other charges are persecution and extermination, both as crimes against humanity.
Arrested on 16th May 2020 in France, Kabuga was transferred to a UN tribunal in The Hague for stand trial. He is known as the Chief Financier of Genocide against Tutsi.
Kabuga was a wealthy businessman and core member of the Akazu (a small powerful circle of ideologues that masterminded the Genocide). He was also the founding president of the board of shareholders of hate radio RTLM, which incited killings.
Kabuga was originally scheduled to appear in court in Arusha, where the other arm of the MICT resides, but judges had ruled he would remain in The Hague “until otherwise decided.”
It was hard to sustain his business given that social gatherings were prohibited.
Besides, visits to national parks and other touristic attractions were also suspended.
As the government eased COVID-19 restrictions to resume domestic tourism, Nzabonimpa mulled ways to encourage Rwandans to visit their country’s attractions.
The man owns a company dubbed Beyond the Gorillas Experience Ltd, which focuses on hiking, visits to historical and cultural vestiges among others.
Nzabonimpa had his eyes wide open and realized that Rwanda has a lot of attractions that locals and foreigners need to explore like lakes, hills, parks’ perimeters, cow-based tourism and king’s palace among others.
In collaboration with members of the Private Sector (PSF), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) seeks to promote such attractions beyond the experience of visiting national parks.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Head of Tourism and Conservation Department at RDB, Ariella Kageruka said that the country plans to increase touristic attractions.
“ It is evident and the demand analysis proves it. The latter continues to indicate that people around the world consider new ways of visiting countries where they can spend long time in one country instead of touring different countries for one trip,” she said.
“These are great opportunities for members of the private sector, and other sectors because many of them have a link to tourism, be it agriculture and transport among others,” added Kageruka.
Among the attractions to be given attention, she pointed out hiking, visits to national museums, tourism on Rwandans’ lifestyle among others that can make tourists’ stay a memorable one.
Nzabonimpa has explained that they have explored more attractions since they began exploring other touristic attractions outside national parks and encouraged Rwandans as well as foreigners to take their time to visit such features.
“There are lakes, hills, agritourism, watching how local banana brew is made and cow-based tourism among others. In Rubavu, there is a scenic view of hills along the road to Rusizi and Lake Kivu. In this area, we trek through the hills where we spend ten days from Rubavu to Rusizi. It offers an amazing experience as we camp in different places and experience diverse attractions,” he said.
Rwanda also has plans to promote sports tourism, entertainment events and international conferences among others.
“During COVID-19, Rwanda continued to host international conferences, concerts and sports events. This is an exciting milestone because the country has been expending much effort in infrastructure development. Besides, partners were reinforced to make improvements luring international events organizers to think of Rwanda as their destination,” said Kageruka.
She also hinted at major events the country is set to host including the Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament to be held in Rwanda for the third time, the Veterans World Cup and UCI Road World Championships in 2025 among others noting that it is a positive development proving how more great things are on the way.
{{Speedy recovery from COVID-19 effects }}
On 27th September 2022, Rwanda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the annual World Tourism Day. This time’s celebration focused on rethinking the impact of tourism on sustainable development.
The celebration held on Wednesday 27th September brought together officials from RDB, and partners including MasterCard Foundation, members of the private sector and investors in the tourism sector. The event also coincided with tourism exhibition.
The day was observed at a time when Rwanda continues to make commendable steps towards recovering the tourism sector that had been shaken by COVID-19 over the past two years.
Figures show that revenues from Rwanda’s tourism sector have been increasing steadily following the drop by 70% owing to effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, Rwanda registered an increase by 25% in tourism revenues reaching US$164 million up from US$131 million of 2020.
In 2019, the country generated US$498 million from tourism.
Kageruka has expressed optimism for Rwanda’s tourism to recover quickly from effects of COVID-19 and hailed Rwandans’ increased interest in exploring touristic attractions.
“As you know, tourism is rebounding, slightly over 80%. This evidences how people continue to promote tourism. RDB has also been introducing programs helping tourists to explore the country’s attractions. For instance, we have reduced gorilla trekking permit from US$1500 to US$200 for Rwandans and East African nationals and US$500 for foreign residents,” she noted.
The Director General of the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism at the Private Sector Federation, Frank Gisha Mugisha said that the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have played a pivotal role for the sector’s speedy recovery and expressed optimism that it will remain a major contributor to national development.
Sources indicate that the accident involved a truck with Tanzania’s number plate which hit and severely damaged a public transport vehicle.
The driver identified as Silamu Majyambere died on spot. The accident also injured 15 people of whom four survived with serious wounds.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) René Irere, the spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety department told IGIHE, by press time, that investigation was underway to establish the cause of the accident.
“Police officers arrived on the ground and gathered information as part of ongoing investigation pending transfer of the dossier to the Prosecution,” he said.
These include Lt Col Emmanuel Ruzindana, the Director of Operations promoted to Colonel and appointed Defence Attaché in Uganda.
Lt Col Frank Bakunzi, the Directing Staff of Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) in Nyakinama has been also promoted to Colonel and appointed Defence Attaché in Egypt.
Among others; the Head of State has appointed Brig Gen John Baptist Ngiruwonsanga as the Head Peace Support Operations (PSO) in RDF, Lt Col Claudien Bizimungu has been named Deputy Commander of Engineer Command; Lt Col Innocent Kayisire is named the Managing Director of Horizon Logistics; Lt Col Jean Paul Munana has been appointed as the Commander of Combat Engineer Brigade while Lt Col Faustin Mafura is appointed the Deputy Commander of Combat Engineer Brigade.
The statement released by RDF reads that the promotions and appointments take immediate effect.
Rulindo is one of the districts in Rwanda that are rich in minerals and where related illegal practices are conducted.
Through partnership with the local communities in Rulindo, Police has continued to make headways against these unlawful activities and illegal have been dealers arrested.
In an operation conducted on Tuesday, September 27, four people were arrested in Masoro Sector, Kivugiza Cell in Musega Village where they were destroying people’s gardens searching for minerals.
Those arrested are Asuman Musitafa, 19, Jules Nsengimana, 32, Jean Claude Tuyisenge, 44, and Innocent Hategekimana, 19. They were handed over to RIB for Murambi station.
Police also seized from the suspects, tools including hoes, spades and pick mattock which they were using.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Alex Ndayisenga, the Northern Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO) reiterated the role of the public in fighting illegal mining activities.
“These illegal mining practices were reported by the affected residents, whose farms were being destroyed. Mining is done in authorized areas by licensed people or companies, and so is mineral trade.
Those conducting mineral exploration illegal will be arrested, and we urge the public to continue reporting such people,” SP Ndayisenga warned.
He further warned residents against entering in closed concessions, which is dangerous and life-threatening.
Article 54 of the law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, states that; any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.
The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.
Affected residents are from Cyuve, Musanze and Muhoza sectors.
The disasters which occurred on 26th September 2022 left some houses’ roofing blown away while others collapsed.
Tharcise Uwimana is among affected residents whose houses collapsed. He has appealed for support to find a shelter and food throughout the challenging times he is going through.
His wife also revealed that they used to force meal upon sales of banana beer locally known as ‘urwagwa’ but the incident left containers destroyed.
Other affected families have disclosed that they currently desperate wondering how they will get along and requested Good Samaritans to intervene.
Musanze District Vice Mayor for Social Affairs, Axelle Kamanzi has said that they are still assessing damages to mobilize support.
“Affected residents with no alternative shelters are accommodated by neighbours. We are assessing damages to make a report and provide assistance within our means,” she said by press time.
The incident is said to have destroyed 56 houses and injured two children.
His body was found inside the bar in Bugina Village, Migina Cell in Muyira Sector of Nyanza District in the morning of Tuesday 27th September 2022.
As witnesses who alerted local leaders revealed, Nsengimana’s death might have resulted from wrangles that erupted at the bar because his body was found with wounds on the head and throat.
IGIHE has learnt that the three people found inside the bar with the body include two men and a woman who were immediately arrested for investigation.
They are identified as Maurice Ruzindana (the bar’s owner), Augustin Nsengiyumva and Gloriose Uwimana.
Nyanza District Vice Mayor for Social Affairs, Nadine Kayitesi has told IGIHE that Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has launched investigation into the case.
“Suspects have been apprehended as investigation is underway,” she said.
The suspects are detained at Kibilizi RIB Station while the body was taken to Nyanza Hospital for postmortem.
Nsengimana,38, is survived by a woman and three children.
Professor Maringe is a Professor in Higher Education and Leadership. He brings a wealth of Knowledge and experience having been Head of the School of Education – Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences and Assistant Dean for Internationalisation and Partnerships in the Faculty of Humanities at the highly rated University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa.
With over 30 years’ experience as an educator in secondary schools, teachers’ colleges and universities, Prof. Maringe brings to his new role an in-depth and valuable international experience working in South Africa, the UK and Zimbabwe.
He has an excellent research profile with specialisation in Internationalisation in Higher Education, Leadership and Management, with research concentrations around issues such as the changing global environment and its impact on organisational decision-making, choice in education, marketing in higher education, the internationalisation of higher education and leading schools in disadvantaged communities.
In South Africa, he has made valuable research contributions in the areas of educational transitions, structural transformation in the post-school sector and in the skills debate, leadership in schools and issues in Higher Education.
Prof. Maringe is a member of globally-acclaimed professional bodies such as the British Educational Research Association (BERA), British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS) among others and possesses an enviable record of successful research bids, research and editorial publications as well as graduate and doctoral research supervisory roles.
The University of Kigali’s Board of Promoters, Executive Organ, Staff and students have through a released statement welcomed Prof. Maringe to his new role.
“We all undoubtedly commit to supporting Professor Maringe in the execution of his new UoK duties,” reads the statement.
The University of Kigali is still welcoming new students for the ongoing September 2022 Intake. Interested students are encouraged to apply now and get the UoK advantage.
The details emerged on Tuesday 27th September 2022 as the ministry announced results for primary school and ordinary level national examinations for the year 2021/2022.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya has said that a total of 227,472 candidates sat for primary leaving national examinations of whom 125,169 are girls while the number of boys stood at 102,303.
“A total of 206,286 candidates obtained a pass mark, representing 90.69%. This means, the remaining 21,186 equivalent to 9.31% failed. Last year, pupils passed exams at 82.8%. This shows the improvement registered this year,” she said.
As for ordinary level, only 126,735 sat for exams out of 127,589 registered candidates.
“A total of 108,566 students passed the national exam representing 85.66% while 18,469 representing 14.34% failed exams. Unlike primary national exams, the ordinary level’s performance is below compared to 86.3% registered last year,” said Dr. Uwamariya.
Of those who passed primary leaving exams, 26,922 received boarding schools while 179,364 were sent to day schools.
Dr. Uwamariya has revealed that all students who failed to secure a pass mark will repeat classes.
Last year, a total of 60,000 who failed primary leaving and ordinary level national examinations also repeated the school year.
The narcotics packed in 10 sacks, were recovered on Monday, September 26, in a house located in Kanjongo Sector, Kigoya Cell in Kabaga Village, where two members of the racket were arrested.
Those arrested are Laurent Fatisuka, 39, and Jean Claude Hakuzimana 34. They were handed over to RIB at Kanjongo station along with their exhibits.
Three other members of the same ring fled during the operation, according to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Mucyo Rukundo, the Western Region Political and Civic Education Officer (RPCEO).
At the time of the operation, the traffickers were loading the sacks of narcotics into the vehicle transporting charcoal, in an attempt to beat security,
The narcotics would be transported to another destination in Kabgayi, Muhanga District, he added.
“This was a successful operation facilitated by information provided by responsive residents. It is said that the narcotics were trafficked into Rwanda three days ago.
There are other three suspected members of the same racket, who escaped during the operation. Available information indicates that the three men still at large are the ones that trafficked the sacks of cannabis from Rusizi to the same house in Nyamasheke, which they rented three days ago,” CIP Rukundo explained.
“Drug dealers should not interpret the absence of Police in an area as a window to engage in such high impact crimes. The residents are the eyes and ears against lawlessness. Law enforcement organs are working together to bring to book all those connected to this criminal ring,” he reiterated.
Cannabis is classified as a very severe narcotic drug under the Ministerial Order nº 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation.
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.
