The sporting event serves to make Kigali a green city while promoting a healthy lifestyle.
On Sunday 21st August 2022, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame participated along with the Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju; the Mayor of Kigali City, Pudence Rubingisa and Dr. Senait Fisseha, a specialist doctor.
The bi-monthly Car Free Day usually takes place between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. every first and third Sunday of the month, bringing together city dwellers for physical fitness exercises.
The exercise started in 2016, aimed promoting healthy lifestyle among Rwandans and help them benefit from other health activities like screening for non-communicable diseases.
Car Free Day provides a platform to educate people on healthy lifestyle choices in general and creates awareness that roads are not only built for vehicles but also for pedestrians.
Among others, the mass sports helps to reduce air pollution.
The facilities include Ruhengeri, Rwamagana, Kabgayi, Butaro, Kibogora, Kibagabaga, Nyamata and Byumba hospitals. They are an addition to existing teaching hospitals namely; Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK), Butare University Teaching Hospital (CHUB), Ndera and Kanombe hospitals.
Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) has explained that the development aligns with the government’s 10-year plan to increase doctors, nurses, midwives and specialists.
“We want to increase the number of healthcare workers and services offered in Rwanda,” he said.
Dr. Ndimubanzi has explained that the country targets to hit the number of 6513 healthcare workers who will graduate in ten years between 2020 and 2030.
Among others, Dr. Ndimubanzi disclosed that the country seeks to increase the number of students enrolled in general nursing every year from 80 or 100 to 200.
As he said, an assessment in terms of equipment, personnel and quality of services is conducted before giving such facilities the status of teaching hospitals.
“Firstly, we consider the number of workers. If we want to give particular facilities the status of teaching hospitals, we make placements of a large number of specialists. Secondly, we provide equipment to offer new services. Thirdly, we upgrade buildings where necessary,” he noted.
For instance, new buildings are being erected at Kabgayi Hospital. These include maternity wards with 120 beds and rooms for surgery. Such upgrades enable teaching hospitals to offer improved services.
The projects are part of the country’s initiative to give back to communities in the outskirts of national parks and encourage them to contribute to conservation efforts.
These community-based projects have provided clean drinking water, milk, health centres, classrooms and housing to communities living around the four national parks; Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Rwanda’s newest Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the roadmap for this year’s baby gorilla naming (Kwiza Izina) activities, the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Ariella Kageruka revealed that environment conservation is given much attention under Rwanda’s development programs and policy.
These programs include the sharing of tourism revenues where 10% goes back to support communities the surroundings of parks.
“So far, we have injected nearly Rwf8billion in socio-economic development projects to uplift citizens’ wellbeing. Supported projects include the construction of schools and health facilities among other infrastructures,” said Kageruka.
These projects have helped citizens to understand the relevance of protecting biodiversity and conservation of parks.
This year’s Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony will be held on 2nd September 2022 in Kinigi, Musanze District, two years after the last in-person event.
As a result of the Covid pandemic, the flagship annual ceremony was held virtually over the last two years.
This year’s 18th edition will ensure a safe return to the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, joining the communities living around the home of the endangered mountain gorillas in the ultimate celebration of nature and conservation.
The event will feature a naming ceremony of 20 baby mountain gorillas born in the park over the last 12 months. 354 baby gorillas have been named since the start of the naming ceremony in 2005.
This year’s namers will include notable partners, conservationists, international celebrities, dignitaries and friends of Rwanda.
Among others, this year’s celebration will showcase Rwanda’s conservation efforts, including the need to expand the habitat of the mountain gorillas. The day also presents an opportunity to bring to the fore efforts by the Government of Rwanda to improve the livelihoods of park communities while enabling wildlife conservation through the Tourism Revenue Share Program.
Initiated in 2005, the Tourism Revenue Share Programme aims to guide investment in the areas surrounding the various national parks in Rwanda by ensuring that 10% of all park revenues is given back to the communities.
This year, RDB will launch the Cyarubare Industrial Workshop in Kayonza District, a community project that was developed and funded by the Rwanda Development Board as part of the programme.
Additionally, this year, RDB, in partnership with African Leadership University, will organise the 2022 Business of Conversation Conference, a virtual session that brings together scholars, researchers, conservationists, policymakers and the private sector to discuss, debate and find solutions to today’s conservation challenges. The conference will take place on 31 August 2022.
Nyamvumba was last promoted in 2018. At the time, he was promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel and appointed as the head of Defence Intelligence Department.
Prior to the appointment, he had served as the Head of Strategy and Policy in the Office of the President.
In 2019, he was named the Head of Defence Research and Development. From 2021 prior to date, he has been serving as the Head of Training and Operations in RDF.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that the delegation of three Senators and three Congress Representatives are in Rwanda for a 3-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations between Rwanda and the United States.
As he hosted the delegation, Kagame was along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta; CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi and the Secretary General of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Maj Gen Joseph Nzabamwita.
The senators come to Rwanda following the visit of US State Secretary, Antony Blinken aimed at enhancing bilateral relations, discuss the security situation in eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the arrest of Paul Rusesabagina who was handed 25-year sentence last year over terrorism charges.
Kagama last received a US Congretional delegation in 2019.
Speaking at the unveiling of the roadmap for activities aligning with preparations of the annual baby gorilla naming ceremony known as ‘Kwita Izina’; the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Ariella Kageruka has said that the increase in conferences hosted in Rwanda goes hand in hand with higher number of participants.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken tourism where revenues dropped by more than 70%. However, current figures give us optimism for recovery. Last year’s revenues increased by 25% compared to the previous year from us$131 million to US$164 million,” she stated.
Kageruka explained that Rwanda continued to host several events and conferences including Basketball Africa League (BAL), the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and Ironman competition held recently in Rubavu.
“These aforementioned events and others attracted a large number of participants and generated millions to national economy. Particularly, CHOGM generated US$17 million to our economy,” she said.
The meeting which took place between 20th and 26th June 2022, brought together over 4000 participants.
The baby gorillas were born between August 2021 and July 2022 in Kinigi Sector of Musanze District in Northern Province.
The ceremony known as ‘Kwita Izina’ will coincide with the inauguration of different development projects for residents in the outskirts of Virunga National Park where the species dwell.
The annual baby gorilla naming ceremony attracts various participants including Rwandans, sports personalities, members of the diplomatic corps, foreign dignitaries, philanthropists and conservation enthusiasts from across the world among others.
The Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, Ariella Kageruka has said that Kwita Izina is a fruit of Rwanda’s efforts to promote conservation and tourism whose revenues have increased steadily.
This follows 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.
Kwita Izina will be held at a time when the world continues to recover from effects of COVID-19.
The ceremony will bring together high profile personalities whose names will be announced effective from next week.
The Governor of Northern Province, Dancille Nyirarugero has disclosed that residents in the foothills of Virunga National Park appreciate fruitful conservation efforts of gorillas and biodiversity.
Since 2005, Nyirarugero said, the residents have benefitted from Rwf3 billion allocated for different infrastructures including schools and health facilities among others.
“Organizing the Kwita Izina annual ceremony in Northern Province induces pride to residents. It is also an opportunity to receive visitors from different walks of life,” she noted.
Nyirarugero also highlighted that the event to be held next month evidences economic recovery following the ease of COVID-19 related restrictions.
A total of 354 baby mountain gorillas have been named since the ceremony was launched in 2005.
It is set to be held in-person for the first time after the emergence of COVID-19.
Individuals who participated in similar ceremony virtually are expected to visit the baby gorillas named over the past two years.
Of these, Kenya is among the most visited where where he traveled six times. The visits are obvious given that Kenya is a neighbouring country while both countries belong to the East African Community (EAC). Besides, Kenya has been acting as a mediator on tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
President Kagame arrived in Kenya for the first time on 28th November 2017 to attend the inauguration of President Uhuru Kenyatta for the second term.
The Head of State also visited Germany five times among which he attended Rwanda Day held in Bonn in 2019.
Among others, Kagame held four visits to Angola, majority of which linked to dialogues to mend relations between Rwanda and Uganda. The Head of State also travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) four times.
France is among other countries where Kagame held four visits since 2017. The first was held on 23rd May 2018 when he held a two-day visit to Paris, the capital of France.
At the time, he met with French President, Emmanuel Macron at Palais de l’Élysée where both leaders discussed various bilateral relations topics.
After inauguration, Kagame held the first visit in the United States of America (USA) on 17th September 2017.
At the time, the Head of State delivered a talk at the Nantucket Project, an annual conference held in Massachusetts. On the next day, he met with members of his Advisory Council in New York. All these activities were held on the sidelines of the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations which was attending.
Kagame later visited the United Kingdom on 18th October 2017 where he attended an international conference bringing together young leaders who received lecturers on governance.
He held the first African visit to Congo Brazaville on 19th October 2017. At the time, he was attending the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Heads of State Summit.
President Kagame arrived in UAE for the first time on 1st November 2017 to attend Africa Global Business Forum held in Dubai.
In 2022, Kagame held 17 visits in countries including Kenya, Germany, Belgium, Senegal, Mauritania, Jordan, Egypt, Zambia, Congo, Jamaica, Barbados, Uganda, Switzerland and Angola.
As efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 started yielding fruits in 2021, President Kagame visited countries including Angola, France, DRC, Germany, Mozambique, UAE, Qatar, Japan and Tanzania.
Meanwhile, the Head of State held visits in six countries in 2020. These include UAE, Mozambique, the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Kenya.
In 2019, Kagame made 21 visits to different countries across the world namely; Japan, Qatar, Angola, Ethiopia, Switzerland, USA, Tanzania, Kenya, Dubai, Germany, Egypt, France, South Africa, Niger, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Mozambique, Namibia, Central African Republic, Morocco and Russia.
In 2018, President Kagame made 23 visits to countries including Tanzania, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Germany, India, UK, USA, Congo Brazaville, Switzerland, France, Russia, Ghana, Kenya, Djibouti, South Africa, Mauritania, China, Armenia, Qatar, Egypt, Uganda, Argentina, Canada, Jordan, Austria and Ivory Coast.
From September 2017, the Head of State held 11 visits to countries including Sudan, Ghana, Egyot, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal, UK, Congo Brazzaville, USA and Dubai.
Regarding citizen outreach programs inside the country, President Kagame visited 13 districts including Rubavu, Musanze, Muhanga, Kicukiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke, Rutsiro, Burera, Huye, Nyamagabe, Nyarugenge, Nyabihu and Nyagatare.
The first was on 28th October 2017 as he attended a monthly community work and officiated the inauguration of cricket Stadium.
For the past two years, President Kagame attended different meetings virtually due to COVID-19 related restrictions.
They arrived at Kigali International Airport in the evening of Thursday 18th August 2022 from where they were taken to Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism located in Bugesera District.
Upon arrival at the airport around 8:48 p.m, the refugees and asylum seekers were received by officials from the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR.
The 10th batch is composed of 68 Eritreans, 33 Sudanese, 1 South Sudanese and 1 Ethiopian.
According to MINEMA, Gashora Emergency Transit Mechanism has been accommodating 421 refugees and asylum seekers evacuated before.
Rwanda signed agreements to host refugees stranded in Libya on 10th September 2019 with the African Union (AU) and UNHCR.
The country made the commitment to host refugees from Libya in 2017 following revelations that thousands of people from across Africa were stranded in the country after their failure to reach Europe and subjected to slavery.
Rwanda committed to receiving 500 refugees at the head first of whom a group of 66 African refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya arrived in Rwanda at the end of September 2019 in the first batch aboard the airplane of Buraq Air.
on 14th October 2021; Rwanda, the African Union and UNHCR and the UN Refugee Agency signed the First Addendum and extension to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated 10th September 2019 between Rwanda, the AU, and UNHCR establishing an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) from the State of Libya to the Republic of Rwanda.
This addendum which took immediate effect will ensure that the established ETM in Gashora, Rwanda continues until 31st December 2023, and increases its capacity from the initial 500 to 700 persons at anyone time.
Under this agreement, the Government of Rwanda will continue to receive and provide protection to refugees and asylum-seekers, as well as others identified as particularly vulnerable and at-risk, who are currently being held in detention centres in Libya.
They will be transferred to safety in Rwanda on a voluntary basis. While some may benefit from resettlement to third countries, others will be helped to return to countries where asylum had previously been granted, or to return to their home countries if it is safe to do so. Some may be given permission to remain in Rwanda subject to agreement by the competent authorities.
This comes to support Girinka Program also known as ‘One Cow Per Poor Family’.
The program initiated in 2016 by the Government of Rwanda, seeks to among other things, tackle poverty and malnutrition by giving cows to the poorest families in the community.
While handing-over the cows, Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, Dr. Ron Adam applauded the good and special relations between Israel and Rwanda, and went on to say that the initiative of donating cows aims at improving the welfare of the most vulnerable.
“The State of Israel is happy to support this good program of Girinka, initiated by the Government of Rwanda. Burera is the fourth District where we have donated 20 cows respectively, and we are glad that these cows are helping beneficiaries to improve their standards of living,” he said.
He added: “This is a good and sustainable way of eradicating poverty among the less privileged, because the benefits of these cows are cross-cutting. Moreover, many other families end up benefitting as well.”
According to Girinka Program, a poor family receives a heifer, raises it and when she gives birth, the first female calf is given to another poor family and the process continues.
So far, the Embassy of Israel in Rwanda has donated a total of 80 cows in four districts, namely Nyamasheke, Gisagara, Rulindo and Burera districts.
Meanwhile, according to Marie Chantal Uwanyirigira, the Mayor of Burera District, the 20 cows come to complement to existing government efforts to improve citizens’ social welfare.
“We appreciate this support from Israel. This complements different initiatives we have put in place to eradicate poverty and fight malnutrition among children. We shall make sure that the beneficiaries take good care of the cows, and give first female calves to their neighbors who are also in need of them,” she explained.
Burera District is one of the districts whose economy mainly relies on agriculture. So far, under the Girinka Program, around 18,000 families in Burera district received cows.
{{Beneficiaries hail the support}}
Yvonne Dukuzumuremyi, a mother of two children who is among the 20 families that benefitted from the donation, appreciated the support.
“I am very grateful for this cow. Going forward, my two children will get milk whenever they want, and I will also have manure and therefore increase my harvest,” she said.
This was also emphasized by one Emmanuel Mfukuye, a father of five.
He said: “I was struggling to pay health insurance and school fees for my children, but with this cow I will get milk for my family and sell part of it to get money that will help me and my family to make a better living.”
