{On Tuesday, 8th December 2015, an extraordinary Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Paul KAGAME, convened in Village URUGWIRO.}
1. Pursuant to the powers conferred upon Him by the Constitution and other laws, His Excellency The President of the Republic approved that a Referendum on the 2015 Revised Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 04 June 2003 be called.
2. The Cabinet Meeting approved the Presidential Order determining the date and purpose of the Referendum.
The Referendum will be held on 17/12/2015 for Rwandans casting their votes outside Rwanda and on 18/12/2015 for Rwandans casting their votes in Rwanda.
3. The Cabinet Meeting approved its earlier decisions of 03 November 2015, after minor adjustments;
4. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed about the preparations for the 13th National Dialogue Council. The 13th National Dialogue Council is scheduled to take place from 21st– 22nd December 2015. This year’s theme is: “Rwandans’ Choices – Foundation of National Development and Dignity”.
5. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed about the Electricity sub- sector financial sustainability.
6. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed about the mineral and quarry licenses issued before the new mining law n°13/2014 of 20/05/2014;
7. The Cabinet Meeting approved the National Urbanization Policy for Rwanda.
8. The Cabinet Meeting approved the payment modality of pension contributions transferred to RSSB from the Government of Burundi for Rwandan returnees who worked in Burundi.
9. The Cabinet Meeting approved the Rwanda’s 2015 Report on implementation of four ILO Conventions ratified by Rwanda.
10. The Cabinet Meeting approved the Agreements for Mining Licenses in the former Bisesero mining concession.
11. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed about the outcome of negotiations on the agreement between the Government of Rwanda and the Dubai Port World on the Logistics and distribution services strategy implementation, the Cabinet Meeting provided adjustments to be included in the agreement before its signature.
12. The Cabinet Meeting approved the establishment of Rwanda Convention Bureau as a Private Company.
13. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:
Draft Law authorizing the ratification of the financing agreement Nº5721 signed in Kigali on 26 October 2015, between Rwanda and IDA, relating to the credit of SDR 18,700,000 for the Great Lakes Trade Facilitation Project;
Draft Law Authorizing the ratification of the financing agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 02 December 2015, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), relating to the credit of sixty seven million, seven hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 67,700,000) for the Social Protection System – Phase II;
Draft Law authorizing the ratification of the agreement signed in London, UK on 26/06/2015, between the Republic of Rwanda and Jersey, for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income;
Draft Law establishing Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) and determining its responsibilities, organization and functioning;
Draft Law establishing the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and determining its mission, organization and functioning;
14. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:
Presidential Order appointing Col. GASHAIJA Emmanuel to be Defence Attaché in the Rwandan Embassy to Russia;
Presidential Order Fixing the Rate of Contribution for the Mandatory Pension Scheme;
Presidential Order regulating official missions abroad;
Prime Minister’s Order withdrawing land and immovable assets in plot No 1131 located in Kiyovu Cell, Nyarugenge Sector from the State’s public property to its Private Assets.
Prime Minister’s Order granting a leave of absence for non-specific period to Mr. MUGISHA Emmanuel, who was Director of Regulation and Standards Unit in Rwandan Housing Authority (RHA);
Ministerial Order determining the modalities of registration under mandatory pension scheme;
Ministerial Order determining the modalities of application and benefits payment under mandatory pension scheme;
Ministerial Order determining compensatory benefits and cash value of benefits in-kind;
Ministerial Order determining the modalities of forced recovery of contributions debt under mandatory pension scheme;
Ministerial Order determining the timeline provided for granting of unilateral license, mandatory licence and opposition to registration of intellectual property;
Ministerial Order determining the fees payable for registration services of an Intellectual property;
Ministerial Order determining the form and content of power of attorney for the industrial property agent.
15. The Cabinet Meeting requested agrément for proposed Ambassador NKURUNZIZA William to represent Rwanda as Ambassador to Ankara, Turkey.
16. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following persons to represent their respective countries to Rwanda as Ambassadors:
Ms. MARIA EUGENIA CORREA OLARTE, of the Republic of Columbia to Rwanda, with residence in Nairobi;
Mr. RAZA BASHIR TARAR, of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Rwanda, with residence in Nairobi.
17. The Cabinet Meeting made the following appointments:
– In Rwanda Development Board/RDB
Mr. KAMUHINDA Serge: Chief Operating Officer/COO
– In the PARLIAMENT /Chamber of Deputies
Mr. HABIMANA Augustin: Director General of Parliament Affairs.
– In the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning /MINECOFIN
Mrs. MUKAMUNANA Jacqueline: Director of Finance and Logistics Unit.
– In Rwanda Standards Board/RSB
Mrs. MUJAWIMANA Annonciata: Director of Administration and Human Resources Unit.
– In Rwanda Cooperative Agency /RCA
Mr. HABYARIMANA Gilbert: Cooperatives Inspection Division Manager.
18. AOB
a) The Minister of Internal Security informed the Cabinet Meeting that the Rwanda National Police in partnership with MINISANTE established in HUYE District “Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center”. The Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center began operating temporarily since October 2015. Its official launch is in the process of preparation.
b) The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion informed the Cabinet Meeting that:
The election of new Children’s Forum Committees took place from 1st to 4th December 2015 from village to National level. The Children’s Forum Committees are elected every three years for a three-year term of office.
The celebrations of the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women and Girls started on 16th October 2015 and scheduled to end on 10th December 2015. The theme for the celebration for the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women and Girls is “Stop violence against Women and Girls – Act Now”.
c) The Minister of Justice/Attorney General informed the Cabinet Meeting that:
The International Human Rights Day will be celebrated on 10th December 2015 under the theme: “Turusheho kugaragaza, gukumira no kwirinda ihungabana ry’uburenganzira bwa muntu mu ngo”. In Rwanda, celebrations will be held in Gicumbi District/Kageyo Sector.
The National Human Rights Commission was elected Vice – President of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions for a period of two years (2015-2017).
d) The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education in charge of Primary and Secondary Education informed the Cabinet Meeting that the 2016 school calendar year will cover 36 weeks divided into three terms as follows:
The first term will cover 9 weeks, beginning on 02/02/2016 and ending on 01/04/2016;
The second term will cover 14 weeks, beginning on 18/04/2016 and ending on 22/07/2016;
The third term will cover 13 weeks, beginning on 08/08/2016 and ending on 04/11/2016.
This Statement was signed by
Stella Ford MUGABO
The Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs
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