Bamporiki was suspended from his duties in May this year owing to matters of accountability that were under investigation and placed under house arrest.
Following his suspension, Bamporiki posted a message on his Twitter handle admitting that he received a bribe and apologized to the President of the Republic.
Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) recently confirmed to IGIHE that it submitted Bamporiki’s case file in July 2022.
The Spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Faustin Nkusi has told IGIHE that a lawsuit was filed after receiving the dossier.
“We received the dossier on 8th July 2022 and filed a lawsuit to the court on 24th August 2022. The hearing will begin at Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on 16th September 2022,” he said.
Article 4 of the law N° 54/2018 of 13/08/2018 on fighting against corruption states that any person who offers, solicits, accepts or receives, by any means, an illegal benefit for himself/ herself or another person or accepts a promise in order to render or omit a service under his or her mandate or uses his or her position to render or omit a service, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years with a fine of three (3) to five (5) times the value of the illegal benefit offered, solicited or received.
“Bruce Melodie is held in custody for investigation over swindling,” reads a tweet posted by the ministry.
The statement was released last night after the artiste had spent hours in Police custody for interrogation over the money he allegedly swindled from a company which invited him for a live concert in 2018 but didn’t perform.
Bruce Melodie was arrested around 4:00 p.m. as he arrived in Bujumbura City on 31st August 2022 to perform in different concerts.
As soon as he left the airport, Bruce Melodie was taken into Police custody for interrogation on the accusations filed by a man identified as Toussaint who had invited him in 2018.
The artiste had to perform in Burundi on 25th December 2018 but missed out.
Later on, it was reported that the organizer asked for reimbursement.
The man wants Bruce Melodie to refund the advance of US$2000 he had paid him out of US$6 million contract to stage a concert and provide 30 million Burundian Francs in compensation of incurred losses.
IGIHE has learnt that the artiste agreed to refund the advance of US$2000 but rejected the request of paying 30 million Burundian Francs claiming that he is not aware of related transactions.
The article 301 of Burundian Penal Code stipulates that anyone convicted of swindling is liable to a sentence between two months and five years and a fine ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 Burundian Francs or one of the two penalties.
Around 10:00 p.m, journalists were still waiting for Bruce Melodie in a press conference which has been postponed to 1st September 2022.
Bruce Melodie is expected to stage two concerts in Burundi on 2nd and 3rd September at Zion Beach and Officers’ Mess respectively.
Two of the suspects; Isaac Niyigena, 25, and Benjamin Ntakirutimana, 31, were apprehended on Monday, August 29, in Ngarama Village, Mbabe Cell, Masaka Sector of Kicukiro District with 317 pellets of cannabis.
Etienne Ntegerejimana, 29, and Alphonse Uwineza, 30, were also arrested on Tuesday, August 30, in Rushubi Village, Kabukuba Cell, Juru Sector in Bugesera District with 6kgs of cannabis.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson, said the four people were suspected drug dealers until they were arrested red-handed with the help of the public.
“Ntegerejimana and Uwineza were arrested with the narcotics that they were going to supply to their clients,” said SP Twizeyimana.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson in the City of Kigali, said that Niyigena and Ntakirutimana are suspected retailers of cannabis in Kigali.
“Police had information that Ntakirutimana and Niyigena are dealers in narcotic drugs. On Monday, we received a call from a resident in Ngarama village that Ntakirutimana had pellets in his pockets, which he was selling to abusers while Ntakirutimana had an envelope containing more quantities of cannabis.
An operation was conducted and the suspects were arrested with combined 317 pellets of cannabis,” said CIP Twajamahoro.
“Fighting drug related crimes is a collective responsibility, and the public is playing an important part to identify and report traffickers and retailers, which helps to break chains of supply,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
The Ministerial order No. 001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization 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.
Lt. Gen. Ndeitunga made the remarks on Wednesday August 31, during the change of command ceremony with his successor, Maj. Gen. Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo, held at Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek, Namibia.
IGP Dan Munyuza attended the ceremony at an invitation of now his former counterpart, Lt. Gen. Ndeitunga, who thanked him for honouring the invite and maintaining good relations between the two Police institutions.
Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Namibian Police Force have enjoyed relations mainly in training, since 2015.
Since then, 15 Namibian senior Police officers have graduated from the Police Senior Command and Staff Course (PSCSC) at the National Police College (NPC) in Musanze District. One Senior Police officer is also part of the ongoing 11th intake of the PSCSC.
Two other junior officers completed their Police Cadet training in Rwanda.
The colourful Change of Command ceremony was presided over by Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Dr. Albert Kawana.
It was also attended by other government officials, Members of Parliament and diplomats, including Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Eugene S. Kayihura.
The new Inspector General, Maj. Gen. Shikongo, who received the symbol of authority from his predecessor, previously served as the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Operations.
IGP Munyuza and Ambassador Kayihura later joined other dignitaries to lay wreaths at a memorial shrine located at the Police College, to pay respects to over 145 fallen Police officers and civilians, who worked for Namibian Police Force.
The UNCOPS 2022 brings together ministers, Chiefs of Police and senior representatives of policing organizations at the United Nations Headquarters from August 31 to September 1. The main objective of the meeting is strategize on how to strengthen international peace, security and development for all; through the unifying power of national and United Nations policing.
On Wednesday, August 31, DCG Namuhoranye participated in a panel of discussion on “Enhancing Police effectiveness through training: Delivering as One UN” held on the sidelines of the UN Chiefs of Police Summit.
The sideline discussions were co-hosted by Rwanda, Germany, Finland, Kiribati and Fiji in partnership with UN Police Division and Integrated Training Services.
DCG Namuhoranye later joined other dignitaries at a luncheon hosted by the US-Head of Delegation to the UNCOPs, held in the framework of capacity building in Police peacekeeping.
The humanitarian assistance consisting of 3,000 tents was handed over to Pakistan at a ceremony held at the Karachi airport.
Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said that the Chinese government has expressed concern and sympathy to the people of Pakistan who have suffered from the disastrous floods.
“China and Pakistan are true friends and good brothers by sharing weal and woe. We have a fine tradition of helping each other and jointly coping with major natural disasters,” he said.
Addressing the ceremony, Pakistan’s Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan said that China provided a very timely and much-needed relief aid for the flood-affected people in Pakistan.
“On behalf of the government of Pakistan, we want to thank and appreciate our iron-brother China for coming to our aid in this hour of difficulty and trial as millions of Pakistanis have been displaced, their homes have been washed out and their livelihoods have been destroyed,” he added.
In addition, Chinese enterprises in Pakistan last Thursday donated a humanitarian aid of over 15.5 million Pakistani rupees (about 71,340 U.S. dollars) for the country’s flood victims at a ceremony held by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Islamabad.
The total death toll in Pakistan from this season’s monsoon rains since mid-June has risen to at least 1,136 along with 1,634 others injured, the NDMA said Tuesday.
The list has been released by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) via social media platforms where Mushikiwabo is among 15 namers that have been announced.
Other namers on this year’s list include Rwandan international referee, Salima Mukansanga; fashion designer and founder of Moshions, Moses Turahirwa and others from across the world including celebrities in football, music, film industry and renowned conservationists among others.
Mushikiwabo was elected as the head of the world community of French-speaking countries during the 17th Summit of Heads of State from Francophonie held in Erevan, Armenia in October 2018.
Following her election, Mushikiwabo took office in January 2019.
She recently confirmed that she is a candidate for the second term where she might lead the organization for four more years, once re-elected.
The organization comprises 88 member states and governments; of these, 54 states and governments are full members, 7 are associate members and 27 are observers.
Born on 22nd May 1961, Mushikiwabo is the fourth Secretary-General of OIF.
Prior to the post, Mushikiwabo held different duties in the Government of Rwanda where she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009-2018), government spokesperson and Minister of Information.
She holds a master’s degree in Languages and Interpretation from the University of Delaware in the United States of America (USA).
The nationals including five women and four children were arrested on 22nd August 2022 after illegally crossing into DRC as they collected firewood in the plain separating both countries.
The nine Rwandans arrived in Rwanda through the main border in Rubavu District known as ‘La Corniche’ on Tuesday 30th August 2022.
The Mayor of Rubavu District, Ildephonse Kambogo has said that these Rwandans were released through cordial relations between leaders of Goma and Rubavu towns. He also advised residents against illegal crossing of borders.
“We liaised with leaders of Goma town to locate them. They brought them back home yesterday. As neighbouring towns, we signed cooperation agreements in different areas. This is a fruit of our visit to the town,” he said.
“We have requested residents nearby the plain to avoid illegal crossings. They have drawn a lesson from this situation because it has necessitated the country’s intervention to bring them back. They could even face serious problems,” added Kambogo.
The group’s total assets also increased by 16.8% to Rwf1.6 trillion (US$ 1,602.2 million) compared to the same period last year.
Net interest income grew to Rwf67.3 billion; with net interest margin decreasing to 9.5% from 10.9% in 2021. As at June 30th, 2022, BK Group Plc was adequately capitalized with Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets at 22.8%.
Among others, shareholders’ equity increased to Rwf 296.5 billion, up 9.4% while liquid Assets by Total Deposits stood at 45.4% as at June 30th, 2022 an increase from 41.6% in the same period last year.
BK Group Plc is the mother company of four subsidiaries including Bank of Kigali, BK General Insurance, BK TechHouse and BK Capital Ltd.
{{Subsidiaries’ performance}}
{{Bank of Kigali Plc}}
On the side of Bank of Kigali, net loans and advances increased by 10.6% to Rwf1.0 trillion (US$ 988.9 million), client balances and deposits increased by 19.6% to Rwf1.0 trillion (US$ 1,000.2 million)
The bank also served 422,513 retail customers and 46,648 corporate clients; expanded the Agency Banking Network to 3,853 agents and processed over 1.8 million transactions worth Rwf314.4 million.
As at 30th June 2022, the lender had 68 branches, 98 ATMs and 3,099 Point of Sales (POS) terminals that accepted most international cards including VISA and MasterCard.
Among others; retail clients’ balances and deposits reached Rwf288.1 billion, corporate banking clients’ balances and deposits were Rwf 743.4 billion as June 30th, 2022.
BK Quick now has over 20,066 new registered customers as at June 30th, 2022; and has disbursed over Rwf1.2 billion.
BK’s IKOFI wallet has also registered over 1,852 agro-dealers/agents and over 264,066 registered farmers as at 30th June 2022.
Commenting on the performance; Dr. Diane Karusisi, the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Kigali Plc said: “Bank of Kigali Plc recorded good performance in Q2 & 1H 2022; our loan book has not grown in line with expectations but we are seeing improvement in asset quality reflecting post-COVID recovery which allows us to record a solid 1st half performance. We look forward to a greater second half of 2022.”
{{BK General Insurance}}
BK Insurance registered a profit of Rwf1.5 billion as at the first half of 2022 compared to Rwf1.2 billion registered in the same period last year, representing 28% growth in profitability.
Gross premium increased to Rwf4.9 billion in the first half of 2022 from Rwf4.1 billion in same period last year; reflecting a 21% growth year-on-year.
Total assets decreased by 28% y-o-y to Rwf21.4 billion in the first half of 2022.
{{BK TecHouse}}
BK TecHouse registered a sales revenue of Rwf574.4 million in the first half of 2022 compared to Rwf486.9 million in the same period last year; representing a 18% growth y-o-y.
As at 30th June 2022, BK TecHouse registered over 2.8 million digital consumers where 2.5 million are from Agri-Tech; 301 thousand from Edu-Tech and 13 thousand from civil society and religious organizations.
{{BK Capital Ltd}}
BK Capital’s net operating income rose to 383 million in the first half of 2022; a 54% growth from the same period last year due to increased trading on the Rwanda Stock Exchange and sustainable growth in the fund management assets under management.
The Assets under management (AUM) for the Fund management business have grown to Rwf26 billion in the first half of 2022; representing a 49.7% y-o-y growth mainly driven by net inflow in Aguka Unit Trust Fund, which continues to attract new investments based on its value proposition.
Within the Brokerage Business, BK Capital increased bond and equity trading due to an overall RSE turnover growth of 157% and 250% y-o-y in bond and equity, respectively.
Béata Habyarimana, the Chief Executive Officer of BK Group Plc has commended the four subsidiaries’ performance and expressed optimism for further improvements in the second half of this year.
“Great results from all our subsidiaries; I am happy with what the Group’s management team has done in the first half of 2022. Our shareholders and investors will be happy with the sustainability of the Group’s results and financial position. Our Net income increased by a significant 24.5% y-o-y, while our total assets increased by 16.8% y-o-y. We remain focused on delivering higher value for our shareholders and plan to report even better numbers the second half of 2022,” she said.
{{About BK Group Plc}}
Established in 1966, BK Group Plc is a group company registered with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and licensed under Law No. 08/99. Bank of Kigali is the largest bank in Rwanda by Total Assets, with 32.2% market share as at March 31st, 2022.
The Group has a short-term credit rating of A1+ and a long-term rating of AA-, with a stable outlook, from Global Credit Rating (GCR). BK Group Plc is listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange as well as the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Bamporiki previously served as the State Minister in the Ministry of Youth and Culture.
He was suspended from his duties in May this year owing to matters of accountability that were under investigation.
The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE that Bamporiki is facing corruption related charges.
“From 5th May, Bamporiki Edouard was under investigation over the crime of soliciting, receiving or offering a bribe. As of now, his case file has been transferred to the Prosecution,” he said.
Bamporiki’s dossier was handed over to the Prosecution on 7th July 2022.
Following his suspension, Bamporiki posted a message on his social media accounts admitting that he received a bribe and apologized to the President of the Republic.
Rwanda’s penal code stipulates that soliciting, receiving or offering a bribe attracts a sentence between five and seven years and a fine between three to five times of received or offered bribe.
