During the visit held on Wednesday 6th June 2022; the group was accompanied by the Head of the RDF’s Department of International Military Cooperation (IMC), Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa.
Tag: HomeNews
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Over 200 youth volunteers complete course at Police Training School
The training was officially closed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Munyuza and the Governor of the Northern Province, Dancilla Nyirarugero.
It follows a similar training extended to members of youth volunteers from the Eastern Province in April.
The training harnesses their understanding of national values including patriotism, sacrifice, heroism and love for work.
The youth were also enlightened on their role in addressing issues related to the wellbeing of the people in their villages, community policing, cultural values, job creation and innovations, setting goals, technology and communication.
IGP Munyuza reminded the youth of their community policing duty to fight and prevent crimes. He urged especially those from the borderline districts of Gicumbi, Burera and Musanze to reinforce the efforts against cross-border crimes such as smuggling and drug trafficking.
“You are young, energetic, educated and you have the ability and good ideas that your government will listen to and value,” IGP Munyuza told the youth.
He urged them to use their knowledge and abilities to transform their country, to refrain and fight radicalisation and extremism.
Governor Nyirarugero thanked youth volunteers for their commitment to contribute to community development.
“We urge you to help the Northern Province to execute its performance contract in all aspects of development and security,” Governor Nyirarugero said.
Richard Kubana, the director in charge of youth volunteers in the Ministry of Local Government said that the purpose of the training has been realized.
“What remains is for you (trainees) to share the vast and vital knowledge you have acquired with your colleagues, who did not have such an opportunity and to work with a common understanding towards sustainable security and development,” Kubana said.
There are about 500, 000 members of Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing across the country.
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Inside Ellen DeGeneres Campus expected to boost mountain gorilla conservation efforts
The campus was built by an American television personality and comedian, Ellen DeGeneres renowned for his talk show dubbed ’The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.
DeGeneres was gifted with the campus by her long-time partner Portia de Rossi considering her love for Diana Fossey, a celebrated gorilla conservationist who died in 1985.
Construction of the multimillion-dollar facility was completed at a cost of US$15 million (over Rwf14 billion). It was initially opened to public on 1st February 2022 to foster research and education on gorillas while more than 2400 Rwandans got jobs during construction of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus.
The opened campus will be home to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund which has been operating in Rwanda for more than 50 years through its Karisoke Research Centre, based in Musanze District, Northern Province.
The Dian Fossey Fund is the world’s longest-running and largest organisation dedicated entirely to the conservation of gorillas.
It particularly works in areas of conservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat, scientific research on the gorillas and greater biodiversity of the region, educating the next generation of African scientists through working with Rwandan universities, and engaging local communities to increase their support for conservation.
Ellen and Portia’s lead gift enabled the Fossey Fund to move forward on an ambitious, 20-year dream project to build a permanent home in Rwanda aimed at accelerating their science and conservation work. The Ellen Campus is the vision of the award-winning MASS Design Group and has been named one of Africa’s 10 most anticipated architectural projects.
Founded by the legendary Dian Fossey, whose life and ultimately death were portrayed in the movie “Gorillas in the Mist,” the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is the world’s largest and longest-running organization dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation.
After launching Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in 1966, Dian Fossey was killed in 1985.
Its work combines daily, boots-on-the ground protection and study of individual gorillas with people-centered programs aimed at training the next generation of African conservationists and addressing the basic needs of the people who share the gorillas’ forest home through food and water security, livelihood and education programs.
Feared by Dian Fossey to be extinct by the year 2000, mountain gorillas represent a rare conservation success story, with the population in the region growing from a low of 250 in the 1980s to more than 1000 today.
The Ellen Campus established to foster gorilla conservation efforts is an eco-friendly facility adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park which includes three main buildings—the Sandy and Harold Price Research Center, the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery and the Rob and Melani Walton Education Center—as well as housing for visiting students and researchers.
An extensive ‘living laboratory’ has been created on the former agricultural site through the planting of more than 250,000 native plants and the inclusion of green roofs, water harvesting and a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment.
The Ellen Campus is also designed to support Rwanda’s ecotourism sector. Managed by the Rwandan government, tourism to see the gorillas plays a critical role in providing revenue for the park as well as supporting local communities through employment and revenue sharing.
Visitors to the Ellen Campus can immerse themselves in an interactive, educational exhibit located in the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery.
Designed to tell the story of mountain gorilla research and conservation from Fossey’s time to modern day, it includes original, never before displayed artifacts from Dian Fossey’s almost two decades of living amongst the gorillas, stunning visual effects through a 360 degree immersive experience, as well as augmented and virtual reality and numerous engaging, edutainment opportunities to learn more about the science and, most importantly, people behind the conservation success of mountain gorillas.
The official inauguration of Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund took place on Tuesday 7th June 2022 in Kinigi.
It was graced by Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente and the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB) among others.
Premier Ngirente said that the launch is an important milestone in conservation of our mountain gorillas, which remains at the heart of Rwanda’s priorities.
He thanked Ellen and Portia for their dedication to Rwanda and long-term passion for the conservation of the mountain gorillas and for continuing the remarkable work of Dian Fossey.
“I am confident that the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund will play a critical role in carrying on Dian’s legacy. It will ensure a bright future for the mountain gorillas and build a thriving community of scientists and conservations right here in Kinigi,” said Premier Ngirente.
Speaking at the event; Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of RDB, said that the campus is a perfect example of sharing knowledge and support for ecotourism policy.
“We commit to see this campus prosper. You took Rwanda to the world and now this campus is bringing the world to Rwanda,” she told DeGeneres.
DeGeneres also expressed delight for seeing her dreams becoming a reality.
“I have looked up to Dian Fossey since I was 12 years old, and this past week in Rwanda, I was able to tour the Ellen DeGeneres Campus. It has been so emotional and so incredible to see the impact it has already had,” said DeGeneres at the event.
“I can’t say enough about Rwanda, there is so much to do and I will keep talking about Rwanda. I have always dreamt of being here. Dian Fossey taught us that we should look at different things differently rather than fighting them. She’s been my hero,” she stated.
DeGeneres said that the campus was named the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to recognize the legacy of the late Dian Fossey in service of mountain gorillas.
“We want to produce the next generation of conservationists here in Rwanda. This campus also contributes to Rwanda ecosystem development,” said Tara Stoinski, president of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
She said that the campus will focus on creating a space to engage the many stakeholders in conservation –students, scientists, tourists, conservation partners, and community members — to advance a collective goal of saving gorillas and, more broadly, the planet.
There are more than 1,000 mountain gorillas living in the world, more than half of which live in the Virunga Mountains, and the remainder can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
{{All photos: Mugwiza Olivier }}
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Maj Nsanzimana of FDLR killed in FARDC fight with M23
FDLR is a rebel outfit comprised of remnant masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
Maj Yefuta who was gunned down in the night of Monday 6th June 2022, has been the commander of FDLR Battalion which stayed in forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for 25 years.
Since last month, it has been reported that FDLR is collaborating with FARDC in clashes with M23.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that the fighting in which Maj Nsanzimana was shot dead happened in area of Bugusa, Jomba in Rutsuru Territory of Northern Kivu.
M23 has said that the fighting left 50 opponents killed.
The Spokesperson of M23, Major Willy Ngoma has announced that FARDC and FDLR have lost many soldiers during the fight which resumed on Monday.
On Monday, FARDC also confirmed the death of its two soldiers killed in the fighting with M23.
Maj Nsanzimana joined the army through a military training school known as School of Non-Commissioned Officers in Butare (ESO) in 1990.
Following the defeat of the then Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) towards the end of July 1994, Nsanzimana fled to DRC where he joined FDLR.
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President Kagame receives Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Rwanda’s Presidency has via Twitter handle revealed that their discussions held on Tuesday 7th June 2022 focused on ways to enhance the existing bilateral relations between Rwanda and Luxembourg in key areas such as the digital and FinTech sectors.
In October last year, Rwanda and Luxembourg signed bilateral agreement to support Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).
The agreement provides ground for signatories to work together with the aim to support Rwanda in further developing the KIF.
Strategic areas of cooperation defined within the agreement include; capacity building and talent development development of sustainable finance in Rwanda, enabling a fintech ecosystem in Rwanda, and setting up a marketplace for impact investing in Rwanda.
Luxembourg, Rwanda also signed double taxation avoidance agreement in the same year.
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Over 60 accountants, financial analysts complete professional courses
Individuals who wish to become qualified professionals in the field of accountancy, finance, credit management, corporate governance and related disciplines; register at KASNEB, where they do examinations and obtain qualifications allowing them to perform at the international level.
These include; Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Investment and Financial Analyst (CIFA), Certified Credit Professional (CCP), Certified Secretaries (CS) and many others.
Recent graduates include Certified Public Accountants and Certified Investment and Financial Analysts.
The certificates of Certified Public Accountants help professionals to become members of a professional regulating body that is affiliated with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
Being a member of such a professional body requires individuals to have successfully completed the professional course and to spend at least 40 hours of continuous professional development (CPD) updating themselves on new trends.
Graduates have revealed that it was a long journey requiring dedication to complete the courses.
Julienne Nyiratwagirimfura enrolled in the certified public accountant (CPA) course in 2011 and graduated in 2012. Nyiratwagirimfura later registered for certified Investment and financial analyst course in 2019 which she completed in 2021 qualifying as a certified investment and financial analyst (CIFA).
“It is difficult but nothing is impossible. Everything is possible whenever you have set goals. I had to secure time for work and courses within the past two years and I am proud that I made it,” she said.
Nyiratwagirimfura has been working as an internal auditor at the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) since 2013.
She explained that the courses have helped her to become more productive at work.
Déo Bakinga, an Internal Auditor at Business Development Fund (BDF) has also revealed that completing such courses requires hard work. He expressed optimism that they will be very helpful to improve performance at work given that they are taken through packages designed to enhance their competencies at the international level.
Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB) has been operating in Rwanda since 2010. It has so far offered over 500 certificates to professional accountants and others in related disciplines.
Jeanne Abayo, KASNEB Rwanda Country Director, has said that the journey is ongoing to increase the number of competent professional accountants in Rwanda.
“We must open our eyes because we are members of East African Community, Commonwealth and others. We no longer see our interests limited in Rwanda. That is why people need professional certifications equipping them with international competences.
Today’s graduates induce pride to us. They worked hard with great zeal to make this achievement. We can confidently assure employers including public and private institutions that these graduates have relevant skills helpful to achieve envisaged goals,” she noted.
Abayo revealed that the 500 graduates are currently employed at different institutions including the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, BNR while others work as heads of different financial institutions in Rwanda.
The Chief Executive Officer of KASNEB, Dr. Nicholas Kibiwot Letting said that the tuition center was introduced to enhance professionalism in the fields of accounting and finance.
He also underscored that the world is going digital where accountants’ skills need to be updated and urged the general public to enroll in such professional courses.
Having existed for over 50 years, KASNEB operates in different countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, South Sudan, Cameroon and Burundi..
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Head of MINUSCA inaugurates conference hall constructed by Rwandan Peacekeepers in CAR
The conference hall inaugurated on 7th June 2022, accommodates up to 250 people and will help the leadership of Haute-Kotto Prefecture to host different meeting and events. It is divided into two main parts including the Conference Hall and a Multimedia room.
RDF has reported that Rugwabiza appreciated the various achievements of MINUSCA Forces countrywide and thanked Rwanda Battle Group IV for its contribution in Socio-economic development of the communities that they protect.
She also urged the peacekeepers to maintain these positive achievements.
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MTN Rwanda and Bank of Kigali sign partnership to Connect the Unconnected, through device financing
The device financing program aims to contribute to the acceleration of smartphone penetration in the country, building on the gains made during the #ConnectRwanda campaign that has ran for 2 years, since its kick off in 2020.
During the signing ceremony, Mitwa Ng’ambi, MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer, stated : “We see a Rwanda where everyone is connected to the digital world, and would actively like to contribute to this. Affordability of devices is one of the top reasons cited for why people do not own a smartphone and therefore remain unconnected. Partnering with Bank of Kigali to connect the unconnected, especially on the side-lines of the World Telecommunication Development Conference, hosted in Africa for the very first time is a real honour.”
When launched in market, this program will enable customers to purchase smartphones of their choice on credit, paying back small amounts over time. Credit eligibility will be based on a customer’s usage patterns on voice calls, data, and mobile money. With offers as low as Rwf200 per day, payments will be made in three flexible settlements: either daily, weekly, or monthly via mobile money. Furthermore, each device purchased under this scheme will be bundled with free data to ease customers into the digital world.
Commenting on the development; Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali PLC Chief Executive Officer said: “We are pleased to partner with MTN Rwanda to ease access to smartphones and empower communities through the device financing program. At Bank of Kigali, we are constantly devising new ways to transform lives through financial inclusion across all customer segments and through this initiative, we believe more people will be able to access our digital financial services and transact seamlessly.”
The program which is set to launch in a few weeks will open the door for Rwandans to easily access a myriad of digital services and information, everywhere they go, making life that much brighter.
{{About MTN Rwandacell}}
MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda) is the market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda. Since 1998, we have continuously invested in expanding and modernising our network and leading digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress.
As the country’s No 1 network, we offer various services to subscribers, including innovative propositions such as personalised voice and data offers for individuals and corporates with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to our customers because we believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life.
{{About Bank of Kigali PLC}}
Bank of Kigali Plc. is the largest commercial bank in Rwanda, by total assets. In 2017, Global Credit Ratings affirmed Bank of Kigali’s long-term and short-term national scale ratings of AA-(RW) and A1+(RW) respectively with a stable outlook.
The Bank has won several back-to-back international and regional banking awards from Euromoney, The Banker, Global Finance Magazine, and EMEA Finance. Bank of Kigali has been recently awarded “Best Bank in Rwanda 2022” by Global Finance.
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Amb. Yasmin presents credentials to represent Rwanda in Cambodia
The event took place on Monday 6th June 2022 at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the capital of Combodia.
Amb. Yasmin will have residence in Seoul, South Korea. King Norodom thanked President Paul Kagame for his visionary leadership and the country’s development pace.
He also reiterated commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and wished peace and sustainable development for Rwandans.
Rwanda and Cambodia enjoy diplomatic relations since 2005.
Amb. Yasmin is also expected to meet with different officials including Senate President, Samdech Say Chhum and Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Chema Widhya as well as members of the private sector and Rwandans living in the country among others.
Situated on the Indochinese peninsula, Cambodia is bordered by Thailand and Laos on the north and Vietnam on the east and south.
Cambodia covers the land area of 181,035 square kilometers, bordering Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
