The Head of State hosted the State Banquet at Kigali Convention Centre on the evening of Thursday 23rd June 2022.
As he addressed participants, Kagame said that the world went through tough moments where he started wondering if the event planned four years ago would ever come.
“We have lived through a lot since 2020. Each of our countries, our regions and the Commonwealth as a whole. The Covid pandemic was a terrible moment in history which sh0pwed us yet again the value of cooperation and community. We can’t prosper without working together,” he said.
Kagame thanked participants of the event for making the trip to Rwanda.
“It is a huge honour to us. Thank you for staying the course with us, despite all the ups and downs during the pandemic. Above all, I thank you for the trust you have placed in Rwanda, to serve as host of the Commonwealth family of nations and as incoming Chair-in-Office,” he stated.
The President also commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for having worked with Rwanda to organize the meeting and leaders gracing the event as well.
“I want to thank all the special guests who have travelled here to enrich our deliberations. Your presence and participation demonstrate that the Commonwealth has a meaningful role to play, in shaping the global agenda,” he noted.
“I would like two of our special guests in particular. One is Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA. He often says, football is the only sport. Do you believe him? He wants you to believe him. Well, we can agree that football has a unique ability to bring people together. So does cricket,” added Kagame.
Through football, Kagame said, people can communicate and understand each other wherever they are from.
The second guest to whom he extended special thanks is the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Head of State described him as a friend of and partner of so many Commonwealth countries.
“His country has deep historical ties to the Commonwealth. Qatar, under his leadership, is at the forefront of finding solutions to some of the most urgent challenges of the day, from energy, security, to humanitarian response in the Middle East, and the global fight against corruption,” stated Kagame.
The Heads of Government are convening in a meeting this Friday expected to admit two new members of Commonwealth including Togo and Gabon and elect the new Secretary-General.
The ground-breaking event of BioNTech Group vaccine manufacturing facility, based on BioNTainer modular system was attended by different dignitaries including the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo; the CEO of BioNTech, Prof Dr Uğur Şahin; the Chairperson of African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat; the Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aïssata Tall Sall among others.
President Kagame has said that the ground-breaking event is a great milestone leading to vaccine equity.
“This groundbreaking is really a historic milestone towards vaccine equity. Rwanda intends to build on this investment by putting in place the conditions to attract other manufacturers and innovators,” he said.
““Rwanda fully supports BioNTech’s commitment to power this factory entirely with green energy, and we will work together closely to achieve that. Vaccine manufacturing requires advanced regulatory capability as well as a highly-skilled human capital. I am happy to announce that the cabinet has approved the establishment of the African Biomanufacturing Institute,” Kagame added.
The Head of State highlighted that the institute ‘will provide training and qualification for this industry’.
“Working together with different universities and training providers as well as private sector partners like BioNTech, this innovative institution will provide solution for workforce development from short courses through to graduate degrees,” he noted.
The President also disclosed that Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has signed a twinning agreement with the European Union.
“Through a consortium led by France, Germany and Belgium; our regulatory capacity will gain expertize and support from these partner agencies,” he said.
The CEO of BioNTech, Prof Uğur Şahin has explained that they want to enter first clinical trial of Malaria and Tuberculosis vaccines by the end of this year and beginning next year.
“It is clear to us that this potential future vaccines among other life-saving medicines must be produced in Africa, for Africa,” he said.
Prof Uğur Şahin further revealed that the company wants to launch state-of-the art mRNA vaccine factory for the production of vaccines in about 18 months.
He underscored that the vaccines to be manufactured will help to be better prepared for possible future pandemics.
Africa seeks to manufacture 60% of needed vaccines in 20 years from the current 1 percent.
Johnson has arrived in Rwanda to attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 taking place in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
“President Kagame received the Rt. Hon Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who is in Kigali for #CHOGM2022. The two leaders held talks on existing partnerships between Rwanda and the UK including the recent Migration and Economic Development Partnership,” Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed via Twitter handle.
Rwanda and UK signed the partnership on 14th April 2022. Under this partnership, the UK will provide an upfront investment of £120 million to fund invaluable opportunities for Rwandans and migrants including secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons and higher education.
These asylum seekers from African countries and others outside the continent will be treated decently like Rwandans upon arrival. It is expected that those willing to return to their mother lands will be helped to do so.
The plane carrying the first batch of migrants deported from UK to Rwanda under the recently signed Migration and Economic Development Partnership was expected to land in Kigali on Wednesday 15th June 2022.
Few hours before scheduled time for the plane to take off, the flight was stopped after a late intervention from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) led to fresh challenges in the UK courts.
After the judgement from the ECtHR, passengers were removed from the plane which had to take off on Tuesday at 11:30 p.m. of Kigali Time.
The human rights court said that it had suspended the deportation of one migrant from Iraq who was onboard the plane.
It also maintained that UK must wait for the final judgement next month before further action.
Following the last minute cancellation; the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has said that Rwanda remains committed to welcome the migrants when they arrive.
“We are not deterred by these developments. Rwanda remains fully committed to making this partnership work. The current situation of people making dangerous journeys cannot continue as it is causing untold suffering to so many,” she said.
“Rwanda stands ready to receive the migrants when they do arrive and offer them safety and opportunity in our country,” added Makolo.
The second day of his visit to Rwanda, on Wednesday 22nd June 2022, was marked by different activities including a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial, holding talks with President Paul Kagame among others.
Prince Charles who was accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla is in Rwanda the first time to represent Queen Elizabeth II.
Below are activities that marked the second-day visit of Prince Charles to Rwanda.
{{Kigali Genocide Memorial}}
Prince Charles started his visits to Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he received a tour of the Memorial’s exhibits, including personal effects and photographs of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Outside, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were shown the mass graves beside the Wall of Names and paid tribute to victims laid there.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and was officially opened in 2004, to mark the tenth commemoration of the Genocide.
The centre serves as a place where survivors can grieve for and remember their lost loved ones. It also serves as a museum where both local and international visitors can learn about the history and consequences of the Genocide.
{{Meeting with President Kagame and First Lady}}
Prince Charles and Camilla then travelled to the Office of the President, where they were welcomed by a Guard of Honour from the Republic Guard, before being received on the steps by the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and the First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame.
{{Nyamata Genocide Memorial}}
Following meetings at the Office of the President, The Prince of Wales visited the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, one of Rwanda’s six National Genocide Memorials.
Having looked inside the church to observe the clothing and personal effects of the victims, The Prince of Wales moved outside to lay a wreath on the mass grave, before pausing for a moment of reflection and signing the visitors book.
{{Mbyo Reconciliation Village}}
After visiting the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, The Prince travelled to the Mbyo Reconciliation Village, where he was welcomed by local leaders, and traditional singing and dancing by the villagers.
He then met with six Genocide survivors and perpetrators, who now live together in the village and listened to a testimony from both a survivor and perpetrator.
The Mbyo Reconciliation Village is one of eight similar reconciliation villages in Rwanda, where survivors and perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi live alongside each other. The Perpetrators re-integrate into society by publicly apologizing for their crimes and the survivors profess their forgiveness.
{{Albertine Rift Conservation Society agroforestry site}}
Concluding day two, The Prince of Wales visited the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) agroforestry site. Here, he walked through the tree nursery and learnt more about the work ARCOS is doing to enhance biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources.
The Prince of Wales then continued towards the bank of the wetland, where he witnessed a solar-powered irrigation system and heard about efforts to conserve the wetland through changes to cultivation practices.
{{Meeting with President Kagame at Urugwiro Village}}
{{Visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial}}
{{Visit to Nyamata Genocide Memorial}}
{{Visit to Mbyo Reconciliation Village}}
{{Albertine Rift Conservation Society agroforestry site visit}}
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed that the leaders’ discussions held at Urugwiro Village focused on existing partnerships and areas of mutual interest.
Clarence House, the Royal Residence of Prince Charles has via Twitter handle posted a photo and message commending Rwandan President and First Lady Jeannette Kagame for a warm welcome to Rwanda.
Prince Charles arrived in Kigali in the evening of Tuesday 21st June 2022 accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles.
They arrived at Kigali International Airport around 9:00 p.m. onboard Royal Air Force’s plane.
Prince Charles is visiting Rwanda for the first time where he will represent Queen Elizabeth II at CHOGM 2022.
On Wednesday morning, Prince Charles visited Kigali Genocide Memorial where he paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi laid there.
He was speaking at the the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Women’s Forum in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda on 21st June 2022.
With over 600 delegates registered and almost 60 speakers, delegates from all over the Commonwealth discussed issues as diverse as women’s leadership, economic empowerment, preventing violence against women and girls, climate change, cervical cancer, peace and security as well as how to hold governments accountable on their gender commitments.
Speaking at the closing, the Deputy Secretary-General said: “We’ve heard many examples of inspiring and transformative solutions and actions on advancing gender equality in the Commonwealth and beyond. This gathering of inspiring women and men, tirelessly working towards achieving gender equality, has once again shown us that when we join together to improve the lives of millions of women and girls in our member countries, communities can be transformed for the better.”
Suddhoo went on to outline the main outcomes of the Women’s Forums which will be formalised and provided to Foreign Affairs Ministers ahead of the meeting of the Heads of Government at the end of this week.
{{Commonwealth Business Forum’s outcomes}}
-* A repeated theme was the need for increased resources to strengthen gender equality and women’s empowerment in all spheres.
-* Similarly, the importance of collecting accurate and regular disaggregated data was a repeated theme – without sufficient data, we do not know where gaps and progress are. This is applicable again to all spheres, from ending violence against women and girls, to leadership, to economic empowerment, to the digital economy.
-* The need to link economic empowerment with access to quality education for all was also raised. This includes financial education and literacy, and education for older women.
-* Trade and women’s economic empowerment are deeply interlinked, and the barriers women face are high, including stigma, violence and harassment. The transactional costs are also high, and there is a need for clear and accessible information on taxes and customs for example. It is an opportunity to bring women in the informal sector into the formal sector, and to provide access to finance.
-* The economic empowerment of women is not possible without addressing violence against women and girls first. Listening to survivors’ voices and needs, including in designing and implementing initiatives which engage men and boys, is of fundamental importance in our efforts to end violence. To be effective, this work also requires high-level political commitment and leadership, active participation of us all, as well as allocation of sufficient, sustainable funding.
-* Dignity and respect for older people should not only be promoted but ensured through provision of quality healthcare and palliative care for older people and support careers of the aged; and tackling poverty in old age.
-* Work with governments, businesses and traditional leaders should focus on addressing discrimination against older women, and provision of platforms for intergenerational dialogue not only to recognise the role older people play in our societies, but also to enable transfer of skills between younger and older women.
-* Accountability mechanisms need to take into account the intersectionality of women: disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and age. If these mechanisms are not inclusive, we will undoubtedly leave people behind.
-* Human Capital Development is a key priority for the whole of the Commonwealth. It is increasingly important that skills and literacy are a focus area across sectors so that girls and women are able to fully participate in the digital economy.
-* Lastly while the Commonwealth represents over 30% of the world’s population, it accounts for 40% of the global cervical cancer incidence and 43% of global mortality due to cervical cancer.
-* Cervical cancer is one of the only cancers with proven elimination strategies, namely the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and yet only 13 percent of girls aged 9–14 years globally were vaccinated as of 2020.
-* Cervical cancer elimination is a health equity and social justice concern that transcends gender. Clearing the path to cervical cancer elimination requires combined joint efforts by many actors, including addressing inequity of access to HPV vaccines and screening.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. Its combined population is 2.5 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.
The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of members are small states, many of which are island nations.
The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights.
Its work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.
Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.
They arrived at Kigali International Airport around 9:00 p.m. onboard Royal Air Force’s plane.
Upon arrival in Rwanda, they were welcomed by different officials including Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Johnston Busingye and British High Commissioner to Rwanda, Omar Daair and UK Minister of State for South and Central Asia, UN and the Commonwealth, Tariq Ahmad.
Prince Charles is visiting Rwanda for the first time. During his stay in Rwanda, he is expected to visit Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi.
He will also visit a school at district level to witness how students enrolled in vocational courses acquire skills paving the way for creation of jobs and contribute to national economy.
Prince Charles will be representing Queen Elizabeth II at the meeting which was postponed two times in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 related restrictions.
The first born of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, was designated as her successor in 2018.
Prince Charles has attended similar meetings five times since 1997.
CHOGM is usually held in a different country every two years.
The last country to host CHOGM in 2018 was the UK and the host country for CHOGM 2024 will be announced at this week’s summit.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 takes place from 20-25 June in Kigali, Rwanda under the theme “Delivering a Common Future : Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”.
The official opening of CHOGM takes place on Friday 24th June and is followed by the main high-level meetings of Heads on Friday 24th to Saturday 25th June. These events are preceded by four forums, ministerial meetings, side events and other activities.
The Head of State delivered the message as he participated in a Fireside Chat the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum in Kigali.
Kagame was the guest honour at the event that was also attended by the Prime Minister of Bahamas, Philip Davis; Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland and Jonathan Marland, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.
The CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi has said that participants of the forum will in the next three days discuss on the future of work and economic recovery from effects of COVID-19 among others.
She highlighted that they will also seek together how technology can be leveraged to create innovations and solve problems facing Commonwealth and the world at large.
The Commonwealth comprises of 1.2 million people. Akamanzi has said that leaders attending the forum have responsibilities to create job opportunities.
Jonathan Marland thanked Rwanda for earmarked efforts for the event to happen.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland revealed that the bloc presents huge opportunities noting that investment between countries has increased by 27% since 2015.
Meanwhile, the combined GDP of Commonwealth countries in 2021 was US$13.1 trillion and is estimated to reach $19.5 trillion in 2027, almost doubling in ten years from $10.4 trillion in 2017.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the CEO of African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that common future goes hand in hand with good governance.
“As the Secretary-General said, the size of the economy of Commonwealth is about us$13 trillion but the issue is that it concentrated in five countries. These include UK, Australia, Canada, India and Nigeria. It must be well shared,” he said.
President Kagame has emphasized that Commonwealth needs to be a bloc comprised of countries with a shared vision to lift each other along the economic growth.
“With the commonwealth, we already have many things in common indeed. Be it the language, be it different systems, financial systems that would enable us to make investments, trade with each other altogether. There is a starting point that it more less, I would say, good enough.
But we need to make it better. We need to keep making sure that when we talk about the Commonwealth, we actually mean the Commonwealth. Not just being common to a few of the main 54 countries,” he said.
The Head of State called for more efforts to ensure that no country member is left behind.
“[…] this is why I said, it keeps being work in progress. We keep having to engage one another, finding out what we can do to bring that balance to the extent that everyone in the Commonwealth, the family of nations feels, they are part of it and no one is left behind,” he noted.
“I think this is what we have to focus on so that those at the low level, like it was said earlier; the small and developing nations, feel not left behind. Uplift everyone, move towards that and fulfill that obligation to the commonness that we aspire to in this family of nations whether it is trade or investments,” added Kagame.
The President also pointed out an example of COVID-19 pandemic where some countries struggled to access vaccines. He observed that there have been efforts to foster cooperation noting that it is still possible to make improvements.
“But the pace at which things move, need to be increased so that we give more value to the Commonwealth and the feelings of the people of Commonwealth,” he said.
Kagame said that there is optimism to do more based on the fact that participants seem to understand very well what they need to do.
On empowering the youth, Kagame said that young people should be involved in decision making to get the best outcomes.
“We also need to be thinking about what we do more with them than for them because they know what to do as well. It is about having access to different things they don’t have access to. We also need to get them involved. There are certain decisions that have to be made at different levels and the more they get involved in these decision making processes, the better we get the best outcomes,” he said.
“We must look at the society as a complete thing and allow different players to do their part,” he added.
The forum brought together government leaders, captains of industry and business executives, leaders of global and regional development institutions, young entrepreneurs and representatives of trade and investment organizations from across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF 2022) is the first and largest in-person gathering for governments and businesses across the Commonwealth since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing together over 1,500 delegates from Commonwealth member states.
It addresses the CHOGM theme – ’Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, with a focus on “A Global Reset”, dealing with the impact of the pandemic and the Commonwealth’s role in rebuilding and reinvigorating the global economy.
Throughout the 3-days of the forum, participants will explore topics such as financing future growth, trade and regional integration, sustainability, inclusive and resilient food systems and the future of work.
There will be several sessions with discussions that shape agendas, generate insights and share best practice knowledge on strategies businesses in the Commonwealth can apply as they build back post-pandemic.
The building is expected to be the tallest in Rwanda.
Dr. James Mwangi, the Group CEO of Equity Group Holdings has said that the bank was the smallest in Kenya when it was inaugurated 30 years ago but has registered tremendous growth over the years.
Today, the group has become the largest in Central and East Africa by assets where it has hit US$13 billion and registered 17 million clients.
Dr. Mwangi has revealed that the group continued to expend much effort to maintain a leading role while expanding cooperation with other institutions including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) affiliated to the World Bank.
IFC is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.
Dr. Mwangi has said that the group has cemented its presence in Rwanda with a wide range of services including loans for execution of mega projects like the construction of Kigali Marriot Hotel.
He underscored that the time has come for the group to expand activities.
As part of expansion plans, Dr. Mwangi revealed that they decided to support Rwanda along its vision to become financial and business hub by setting up state-of-the art infrastructures.
He said that the US$100 million project will see two identical tall skyscrapers (Twin Tower) erected in Kigali.
The eco-friendly building is expected to be completed in 24 months.
One section will be comprised of 24 floors that will house offices while the second will be a 20-floor building comprised of a hotel and residential structures.
“We are hoping this building will attract investment banks, finance companies, Africa regional offices and others,” said Dr. James Mwangi.
Marc Allchin, the Managing Director of Equity Holding and Venture Capital Rwanda has said that the building can serve different purposes.
During night hours, the building will have displays conveying different messages, some of which aligning with the development of Kigali City.
Taking an example of different hotels constructed on loans provided by the bank including Marriott Hotel and others; the CEO of RDB, Clare Akamanzi has said that the contribution of Equity Bank in Rwanda’s development is self-evident.
President Kagame commended Equity Group highlighting that the project is in the interests of Rwandans.
“This project is also about the future of our people and our most valuable asset that is our people. Over the years, we have created meaningful partnership that contributed to our development. I think it will be the same for Kigali International Finance and Business Square,” he said.
Kigali Financial Square will be built in the plot between Kigali City Hall, Ecobank building.
It will be the tallest skyscraper in Kigali followed by Kigali City Tower (20 floors) inaugurated in 2011. The latter was completed at a tune of US$20 million (approximately Rwf 20 billion).
Mathias Havugwintore was born in former Commune Kayove in 1940 in the current Kayove Village, Nyakarera Cell of Ruhango Sector in Rutsiro District, Western Province.
He did primary studies in Murunda and pursued secondary studies at Nyundo Junior Seminary.
He had aspirations to become a priest but ended up becoming a senior military officer at the regime of former Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana.
Havugwintore joined the army in 1962 after graduating from Nyundo Junior Seminary in 1962.
Havugwintore served in different positions as a military commander in different provinces. He also worked in the then Ministry of Defence.
He had attended training in Europe at the same military school where former president Habyarimana studied.
Speaking to IGIHE, Havugwintore has revealed that he often met with Habyarimana to update him on security situation in areas under his command.
He served a forces commander in the prefectures of Cyangugu, Kibungo and Gisenyi.
{{His arrest}}
In 1988, Colonel Mayuya who served as the Commander of Kanombe Military Camp was shot dead by unidentified people. It is said that the man was betrayed by the then First Lady Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana who wanted to get dominance in the functioning of Akazu, a small elite group that orchestrated the Genocide against the Tutsi.
It was however announced that Col Mayuya was killed by Major Mathias Havugwintore in collaboration with Col Ndibwami and Lt Col Nkwiriyekubona.
The trio was immediately arrested and detained at Nyarugenge Prison commonly known as 1930. Havugwintore said that individuals prepared to provide testimonies used to visit the prison regularly to identify who they had to accuse ‘because they didn’t know us and had to provide false testimonies pinning us’.
Major Havugwintore revealed that individuals behind the death of Col Mayuya sanitize themselves by accusing the three suspects.
They falsified evidences and brought a manipulated sorcerer who testified that Major Havugwintore and co-accused consulted him to be sure if their intentions would be successful.
“Those who incarcerated us are the ones knowing the reality. We were astonished to be taken behind bars yet we were not aware of circumstances under which Mayuua died,” he said.
The suspects spent six months in Nyarugenge Prison. They were later transferred to different prisons separately. One stayed at the prison, another was taken to Muhanga Prison in Gitarama while Havugwintore was taken to Ruhengeri Prison (Musanze).
Havugwintore has explained that the Prosecution used to visit the prison where they destroyed their detention files regularly and replaced them with new ones to conceal information about the exact time spent in prison.
Havugwintore and co-accused spent three years in prison without anyone visiting them because it was considered a provisional detention pending further investigations.
{{Inkotanyi came to their rescue}}
In the wee hours of 23rd January 1991, inmates were about to wake up and go for bath.
At the time, Havugwintore revealed, they heard heavy gunfire and suspected that it could be an attack by Inkotanyi.
“We had heard rumours that Inkotanyi could plot an attack. Inmates were extremely overwhelmed with joy at the moment. Inkotanyi forced their way inside with gunfire to unlock padlocks because they didn’t have keys. They asked us to step out and return home,” he noted.
As inmates stepped out, some returned home while others went with Inkotanyi to help them during the liberation struggle.
“They told us that they were going to burn the prison and asked all of us to move out. However, they were lying because they never set it on fire. We told others that they burnt the facility,” he said.
The old man who was 51-year old at the time has disclosed that he did not follow Inkotanyi lest he would be remorseful for having betrayed colleagues detained in other prisons.
He also observed that returning home in Kayove would provide loopholes to definitely confirm him as the mastermind behind the death of Col Mayuya.
“Others returned home but I stayed there because I had not yet been tried. Where should I go? Only convicted inmates went back home. I could not do it yet co-accused colleagues were still in prison. One in Muhanga and another in Kigali. That would be stupidity as they would consider it among reasons proving that I am guilty,” observed Havugwintore.
He walked through Nyakinama to Vunga along with other inmates who did not want to return home where they spent the whole day in a bus that had to take them to another prison in Gitarama.
Major Havugwintore explained that the bus departed during the night lest Rwandans would suspect that the situation has worsened.
“They sheltered us in a chapel where we spend a night recounting what happened to other inmates. I met with my colleague Lt Col Nkwiriyekubona in the next morning,” said Major Havugwintore.
It is said that Habyarimana didn’t believe that Maj Havugwintore reported himself and sent his guards to the prison for confirmation.
“Habyarimana sent his guard at the prison to confirm if it was me. He did not however disclose the reason for his visit. He said that he wanted to check on me,” he noted.
Havugwintore spent nearly four months in Muhanga Prison. Relevant authorities continued to make a new file every month so that he would be considered an inmate in one-month of provisional detention yet he had spent three years in jail.
On 5th April 1991, court officials went to the prison for their release from Muhanga Prison. As they saw them arriving, Maj Havugwintore stayed inside because he was used to seeing them there to follow up their case on 6th every month.
Lt Col Nkwiriyekubona who stepped out to meet them was given a certificate of release and asked to inform his colleague.
“It was around 4:30. He met me in a chapel where I was seated praying. He told me that I declined to go out yet they came for our release. I run fast so that they could not leave without giving me the certificate. They mocked at me saying that I finally came. I replied that someone lied to me that you want to release me,” he said.
Maj Havugwintore who had been married on 1st January 1966, was released and went back home to stay with her wife and children.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Maj Havugwintore said that he fled along with neighbours.
He commended the leadership of Rwanda under the stewardship of Inkotanyi for having fast tracked national development.
“It is apparent that the country is moving fast along the development journey unlike the slow pace of the former regime. We had never dreamt seeing Rubavu-Rusizi road being constructed but it has been possible. There are many more infrastructures evidencing the country’s fast progress,” observed Maj Havugwintore.
Maj Havugwintore also urged the youth to remain vigilant and stand against whoever tends to distract them.
“Access to education has been made easy. Those unable to pursue formal education can attend vocational trainings; enroll in a driving school to become a driver or motorcyclist. There are many opportunities that the youth can tap into instead of dedicating their time to those distracting them,” he observed.
Rtd Maj Havugwintore spends part of his retirement life reading books including religious ones. One of co-accused lives in Europe while another one died.
He has disclosed that he never met them face to face after their release.
