She was speaking at the 8th “Ring the bell for gender equality” ceremony held on Friday 11th March 2022.
The ceremony seeks to bring to limelight the importance of private sector collaboration towards attaining gender equality and women empowerment.
It was organized by Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) in partnership with UN Women and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), aims to attract attention to the pivotal role the private sector can play in advancing gender equality to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
Hakuziyaremye said that BNR has put in place initiatives to support women through financial inclusion and access to financial services from all relevant institutions in Rwanda.
She stressed that research is of critical significance to identify the gaps and challenges that women face in the financial sector.
“We make research-informed decisions to advocate for women. Research has proved that informal traders pay loans at 95%. When these women face challenges, we intervene as the National Bank of Rwanda through advocacy to enable access to requested loan” she said.
Hakuziyaremye underscored that BNR remains committed to support women and encouraged financial institutions to use research findings to accelerate women empowerment.
Pierre Célestin Rwabukumba, the CEO of RSE observed that financial institutions need to give attention to gender equality and women empowerment for sustainable development.
“If people are given needed resources, they will contribute to national development. We call upon the private sector to increase its efforts in gender equality and women empowerment because it is not only beneficial to individuals but also to the country at large,” he said
Rwabukumba also talked about various RSE initiatives for women empowerment like the investment clinic and advocating for investment in profitable women startups.
Denise Umwali wa Ngoga, the Gender Joint Programme Manager at UN Women said that their partnership with RSE gives a clear picture of what can be achieved with regards to gender equality and women empowerment.
“Our strong partnership has evidenced that it is possible to achieve desired outcomes in women’s economic empowerment and gender equality,” she noted.
Even though there is still a long way to go, other participants of the event called for multisectoral collaboration to meet envisaged objectives.
Through initiatives like the affordable housing program, the government seeks to address low and middle-income communities’ housing challenges.
Speaking at the recent launch of “Bwiza Riverside Homes” project in Karama, Kigali sector of Nyarugenge district, President Paul Kagame said that the country is committed to make possible efforts to help people access affordable houses that are needed in large numbers.
“If we can move faster, that should be our aim. On the side of Government, we feel we should do whatever is possible within our means to have our people access the kind of affordable houses that are needed in so large numbers. But today, we saw what is possible; we are going to stick with it and will demand that every one of us in the Government system does what we can possibly do to make significant progress,” Kagame noted.
“We have partners who want to support the Government to be able to house our people. I think they have seen what is possible with this model. I also think, it invites all of us for this strong partnership we can forge to be able to achieve what needs to be done,” he added.
Affordable housing projects are expected to help the Government of Rwanda meet targets to increase urbanization rate from 18% to 35% in 2024 to support economic growth.
Particularly, Kigali City needs more 310,000 housing units between 2017 and 2023. Meeting the target, will help middle income earners to own houses and address the issue of informal settlements.
In this article, we have compiled ten affordable housing projects expected to give boost to ongoing efforts to address housing demand in Kigali.
{{Bwiza Riverside Homes}}
The estate located in Karama, Kigali sector of Nyarugenge district was inaugurated by President Paul Kagame on 11th February 2022.
The multibillion eco-friendly homes are developed under a project dubbed ‘Bwiza Riverside Homes’ run by ADHI Rwanda Ltd. ADHI Rwanda is a subsidiary of ADHI Corporate Group established in 2011 in Gabon.
The Bwiza Riverside affordable homes community project was designed primarily with first-time homeowners in mind. Qualifying buyers will choose from four distinct affordable home sizes and styles.
Each of housing units at the estate is estimated to cost between Rwf16 million and Rwf35 million. Rwanda entered agreements with ADHI Rwanda Ltd in November 2020 to implement the project to be completed in five phases.
So far, seven model units have been completed. They are part of out of 245 units expected to be completed this year.
At least 300 million housing units are needed globally not later than 2030 to address housing needs particularly in the Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.
Commenting on the project, Clare Akamanzi, RDB CEO welcomed the investment by ADHI in the provision of affordable housing.
“It boosts the government’s goal for urbanisation to reach 35 per cent by 2024. However, we need to see more houses being built as there is still a significant gap to meet the demand for affordable housing. We encourage more developers to take advantage of the existing incentives, which include the provision of infrastructures like roads, water and electricity, and a reduced corporate income tax of 15 per cent,” she said.
During the unveiling, guests toured five completed model homes, which will serve as the “blueprints” for all other housing units to be built over the next two years. Upon completion of the development, Bwiza Riverside will comprise 1,680 affordable houses and 720 luxury units.
In addition to the affordable homes, ADHI Corporate has established a training academy for Innovative and Sustainable light steel frame construction. Academy students receive on-site, competence-based training to prepare them for future employment opportunities. As such, the academy students will form a key component in the building of Bwiza Riverside.
To ensure access to affordable financing, enabling more Rwandans to purchase homes in the project, ADHI Corporate has partnered with the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD).
{{Rugarama Park Estate}}
Rugarama Park Estate project run by Remote Group seeks to build 2000 affordable homes on 42 hectares in Nyamirambo sector of Nyarugenge district.
Rugarama Park Estate is a joint venture between Shelter Afrique, a Pan-African housing finance institution, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) and Remote Group – an engineering and construction firm. The project is also in accordance with the City of Kigali master plan and the affordable housing program under the National Housing Policy. The estate will also be comprised of recreational facilities and shopping malls among others.
Rugarama Park Estate will have 1,200 stacked townhouses priced between Rwf 12 million for a-one-bedroom studio to Rwf 35 million for a convertible 4-bedroom units. The likely buyer into this mixed-income mixed-use community will have an income ranging anywhere from Rwf200,000 to Rwf700,000 and they must be first-time homeowners.
The project is estimated to cost US$131 million. It is expected to accommodate 14,000 residents and provide jobs to hundreds of people during construction and various opportunities after construction due to the traffic in the area.
{{Kinyinya Park Estate Project}}
Kinyinya Park Estate Project is expected to build 10,000 modern homes in Kinyinya. The housing units are set to be completed in the next three years to accommodate 50,000 Rwandans. The project is valued at US$400 million.
The project is a joint venture between the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), Development Funding Institution (DFI), Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank (TDB), Ultimate Developers Limited (UDL) and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC).It will be implemented between three and five years in five phases.
{{Batsinda Project}}
Batsinda Project seeks to build affordable houses for salaried workers. The Government introduced a subsidy program to cater for 30% of the total price estimated between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
These housing units will only be available for first time home owners. Initially, 548 housing units will be built in Batsinda in Kinyinya sector.
As per figures from Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), the project’s progress is at 25%.
{{Busanza Housing Estate}}
Busanza Housing Estate is located in Kanombe sector in Kicukiro district. It is comprised of different blocks to accommodate families who were living in Kigali’s largest slum bringing together three zones; Kangondo I, Kangondo II, and Kibiraro I.
Over 570 families have been resettled in Busanza estate while more than 800 families from Kangondo and Kibiraro are to be relocated. So far, 1200 housing units at the Busanza estate have been completed.
Each of resettled residents will receive a unit equivalent to his/her properties in Kangondo and Kibiraro.
{{Vision City Project }}
Vision City is multi-phase housing development in Kigali, Rwanda currently being built by Ultimate Developers Ltd for the Rwanda Social Security Board.
Construction activities for the estate located in Gacuriro of Gasabo district began in 2013. The first phase is comprised of 504 housing units while the entire project is expected to provide 4500 units at a total cost of US$150 million.
The first phase comprises villas and apartments among other categories.
Figures released in 2020 show that 77% of housing units at the estate have been already sold out while 87% of the total cost has been paid. The statistics also indicate that 37% of buyers are public servants, 27% are members of Rwandan diaspora while 9% are foreigners.
In September 2018, the apartments under Vision City estate saw prices slashed to 60% to allow ‘eligible’ civil servants to buy apartments on a mortgage deal to be repaid in 20 years at 11% interest rate.
The discount saw the cost of two-room unit sold at Rwf108 million reducing to Rwf63 million.
Among others, the cost of three-room housing unit reduced from Rwf163 million to Rwf94 million and Rwf187 million to Rwf108 million for a four-room house.
{{Masaka Housing Project}}
A total of 278 housing units under Masaka Housing Project are expected to be built by Remote Estate. They will be classified into five categories namely; 162 apartments, 24 Semi-Detached buildings, 54 townhouses, 7 luxury villas and 34 commercial buildings. Construction of units in the first phase stands at 10%.
The estate will have infrastructures including roads, selling points, garages and playgrounds among other recreational facilities.
Individuals willing to own homes through Remote Estates pays 20% of the total cost in five phases.
A three-bedroom house with a washing room and storage room costs from US$35,000 (approximately Rwf30 million) and above.
{{Riverside City Estate}}
Riverside City Estate has a mega project to build 100 affordable homes in Gahanga of Kicukiro district.
The developer has plots of land in Kagasa cell, Gahanga, nearby Cricket Stadium.
Housing units at the estate cost below Rwf50 million. Interested individuals have options to pay in installments.
Each of houses being constructed at the estate has three rooms, sitting room, dining room, toilets and kitchen.
Each house has a parking for two to three cars, an annex building with an outdoor kitchen, storage room, and another one for security guard.
One house at Riverside City Estate, is stretched on between 300 and 350 square meters.
The second phase of this project is expected to build more 200 housing units in Gahanga. The estate will consist of a nursery school, health center, supermarket and space dedicated for children’s leisure.
{{Project to build 1300 housing units in Ndera}}
The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) in collaboration with partners have designed a mega project to build a modern estate in Ndera with affordable housing units ranging from Rwf27 million and above.
The estate will be comprised of 13000 houses on 18.6 hectares. It is estimated to be completed at a cost of Rwf60 billion. Once completed, the estate is expected to address housing unit demand for employees with income ranging from Rwf261,000 to Rwf1.2 million per month.
Of the houses to be built, 80% will be affordable with a price ranging from Rwf27 million to Rwf35 million while 20% will be comprised of luxurious homes.
{{Isange Estate}}
Isange Estate is being developed by Imara Properties at Rebero Hill in Kigali City. The first phase of the project comprised of 14 housing units is expected to be completed in July this year to be followed by the second comprised of 16 units.
These units constructed in compliance with Kigali City master plan are environment friendly while most of construction materials are sourced locally.
Imara Properties was created with a vision to help Rwandans, particularly Kigali City dwellers to get modern homes.
The CEO and Co-founder of Imara Properties, David Benazeraf recently told IGIHE that increased clients’ demand encouraged them to carry on their activities with the second phase.
He said that the first phase will be completed in July while 93% of housing units have been sold.
The second phase of the project will be comprised of 12 apartments and six villas for main residence or rental investment.
It comprises of housing units of different designs featuring sleeping rooms, bathrooms, parking space, kitchen, garden and gym.
Clients can pay 90% of the total cost upfront and the balance later.
There are other options for payments in installments where interested buyers can pay 10%, 20% respectively in the first two months, 30% in the third and fourth month and the remaining 10% in the fifth month. One can also pay 30% upfront and 70% later. Each house has three to four rooms.
A person standing at Isange Estate at Rebero Hill gets a better view Kigali City. It is home to other infrastructures including Kigali Cultural Village.
‘Isange Estate’ was conceived by three Rwandans along with their colleagues from France and Belgium.
To meet the housing unit demand, Rwanda introduced incentives including the provision of infrastructures like roads, water and electricity, and a reduced corporate income tax of 15 per cent to facilitate investors.
The Government of Rwanda has also earmarked 1100 hectares for affordable housing units. So far, 1692 houses have been built in Kigali and secondary cities through six projects while 13 more projects expected to provide 9000 housing units are underway.
IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that the refinery is no longer operational because Alain Goetz, an investor owning 50% shares withdrew his interest. Goetz runs other refineries including Aldabra.
Aldango Ltd started operations in 2017 following agreements signed in February 2017. Each of the shareholders including Alain Goetz and Ngali Holdings owned 50 percent shares.
Aldango was initially running as a business dealing in gold and later set up a Gold refinery on the request of the Government of Rwanda.
The refinery opened in June 2019 to melt and process Gold to get 99.99% of quality before exporting to the international market.
However, the plant did not deliver on expectations after inconsistencies in payments of taxes to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).
It is said that the plant had the capacity to process at least 480 kgs of Gold within 30 hours.
IGIHE has learnt that the company owed tax arrears worth Rwf113 billion to RRA as at the end of 2019.
RRA approached the company’s management for negotiations, but Goetz refused to pay explaining that he was exempted from taxes when he was granted license to operate in Rwanda.
The investor failed to provide related documents until the case was filed to court.
It is also reported that the investor might have dragged himself in Gold trafficking, hence tarnishing Rwanda’s image.
On 27th January 2021, the Government of Rwanda suspended Aldango’s license to export Gold processed from Rwanda.
IGIHE could not access copies of detailed rulings but learnt that the court ordered the sale of Aldango’s properties to pay the tax arrears.
Following the ruling, the investor expressed dissatisfaction through a statement published on Aldango’s website.
Goetz explained that he was deceived when asked to pay taxes yet ‘Aldango was exempted from taxes in consideration of its major purpose to add value to the gold supply chain and promote Made in Rwanda’.
Goetz underscored that he will not stop complaining to have the assets handed back to ‘the rightful owner’ claiming that he has enough evidences.
One of individuals familiar with the issue has told IGIHE, on condition of anonymity, that Goetz had totally refused to pay taxes.
“The company had accumulated huge tax arrears until RRA exempted fines but it bore no fruits,” he said.
It is said that Goetz might have filed his case to French courts with international competencies to get justice.
We tried to speak to RRA officials but could not get comments by press time.
IGIHE has learnt that Ndimbati has been arrested on Thursday 10th March 2022.
“RIB has arrested a man identified as Jean Bosco Uwihoreye alias Ndimbati,51, over alleged defilement,” RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has told IGIHE.
He revealed that Ndimbati is detained at Rwezamenyo RIB Post as investigation is underway pending transfer of his file to the Prosecution.
Ndimbati is arrested after publication of a video that went viral on social media where a girl accused him of abandoning parental duties to take care of twins they sired together.
The girl also revealed that Ndimbati drugged her to have sexual intercourses at a time when she was still a minor.
It is said that Ndimbati had started plans to escape after learning about accusations against her through the media.
Ndimbati has become a popular figure in local film industry particularly in Papa Sava film series aired on YouTube.
Trained as an aeronautical engineer, my life changed when I understood, through the work of researchers and journalists, that my country, France, could have been involved in Rwanda in a Genocide. The importance for me of this question comes, even if it took me long to admit it, from the history of my family : my mother, Charlotte, has been, when she was four years old, caught in 1942 with her own Polish mother, Shana, by the Parisian police, both being taken to the Veld’Hiv. My mother will get out of it, otherwise I would not be here today in front of you, thanks to a French nurse, which was not the case of her mother who was murdered by nazis in Auschwitz. For more than fifteen years, it has been impossible for me to give up the Rwandan affair. I have worked on the evolution of post-genocidal Franco-Rwandan relations on which subject I have written a lot. I have also collected, in Rwanda, the testimonies of lots of people, whatever survivors or former genocidaires, gathering them into in a book, all the witnesses speaking with their faces uncovered so that whoever wants hearing them after me has their name to do so. All of this led Mr Richard Gisagara to consider that my point of view on this matter might interest you.
Before starting my testimony, I would like to express the interest I generally have in listening to the various analyses of Ms Polony. I say this so that you know I have personally nothing against her. Thus, even if her words, which create confusion between victims and killers, deeply shocked me in the context of a genocide, I first imagined she did not know the subject enough (Indeed I still wonder how journalists manage to have something to say on every subjects) and that she could have been manipulated.
But it does not fit with the activism of the magazine Marianne to falsify the History of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, not only since 2004 but since Ms. Polony was her director in 2018. And we cannot, in my opinion, properly analyze her words without taking this context into account. So when she says that « we had bastards in front of bastards », this sentence should be analyzed in the light of the article she will let Judi Rever write a bit later in Marianne. In this article, Rever will explain that the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda would have been partly executed by the current Rwandan leaders (in majority Tutsi at the time when the Rwandan identity cards still indicated the ethnic mention). An accusation identical to the one that would have consisted in affirming that the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel, David Ben-Gourion, would have planned and implemented the Shoah in order to become president of a State to be born from the ashes of this genocide ! How to dare such an accusation ! Moreover, when Ms. Polony tells us she had only talked about the leaders, not the population, is she forgetting that Judi Rever is writing that thousands of Tutsi genocidaires would have been directly involved in the genocide of Tutsi ? They are not leaders. Then I wondered what to think of what says Mrs. Polony when she affirms not denying the existence of the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi of Rwanda, and when at the same time she denies so crudely its mechanism. That is why I started suspecting it could be a strategy.
A strategy that is far from new. Since it was no longer possible to deny the existence of this crime against humanity (once it has been recognized by the ICTR [International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda] and before its denial was punished by the french law of 2017), deniers would not deny explicitly its existence anymore, but would still follow the idea of the former genocide communication plan consisting in preventing us from seeing it clearly. It is the case of Védrine’s attempts to explain that this genocide was not planned but was only the result of the gradual transformation of spontaneous popular anger. It is the case of Villepin’s attempts to explain that the genocide against the Tutsi would have come with another genocide against the Hutu, thus recycling the old thesis of inter-ethnic conflict. This is the case of the attempts of the magazine Marianne, then directed by Ms. Polony when this media tries, through the article of Judi Rever, to explain that this genocide would have been partly executed by the current leaders of Rwanda.
The fact that Ms Polony chose to publish such an article clarifies, at least in my eyes, the words she pronounced a bit earlier on France Inter radio. Because publishing this article makes her pursuing the strategy of Marianne which will have, for fifteen years, vainly tried to falsify the History of this genocide. I insist on this « vainly » and will explain it because this is the heart of my point. I take this opportunity to say I do not understand why we are still listening, on this subject, to the theories of the journalists of this media after their intention to distort history has been publicly proved, what I am about to remind us. And if I consider of course that Mrs Polony is not responsible for Marianne’s communication on this subject before she became her director, her decisions, now that she is at the head of this media, make her, in my eyes, endorse this past. Consequently, her words pronounced on France Inter cannot be considered as having for a moment exceeded her thought, but as totally assumed in that they are perfectly coherent with a constant communication strategy for fifteen years.
Yes, fifteen years is the time separating Judi Rever’s article from another one also published by Marianne, both following exactly the same line of communication according to which the Genocide against the Tutsi would have been planned and executed by the RPF [Rwandan Patriotic Front, a rebellion movement mostly composed of Tutsi who returned to Rwanda through a guerrilla war launched on October 1, 1990]. On April 12, 2004, Marianne prepared us to read the testimony of a man named Ruzibiza by writing that « Paul Kagame believed that only an apocalyptic solution could lead him to take power. » By evoking « damning documents », Marianne therefore prepared the public to adopt the thesis of the one who would soon become french Judge Bruguière’s « key witness » in the investigation relating to the attack against Rwandan President Habyarimana plane, attack which was part of the genocidal plan in that it was the first event of a sequence of events triggered one after the other : according to this thesis, Kagame would have been the organizer of this plane attack. In the testimony that Marianne made available as an exclusive on her website, Ruzibiza claimed that « the bodies buried in the mass graves were not only those of Tutsi », made us appear the genocidal Interahamwe militias as militias of self-defense, mentioned « an authorization (to massacre) coming from a single man: Kagame » that he compared to Hitler. Among others.
Four years later, in November 2008, Ruzibiza withdrawn from his testimony by publicly admitting that everything he had written and said so far about the plane attack was false. Therefore the whole structure of Judge Bruguière’s investigation collapsed, making collapse all those who had participated in promoting this thesis : Marianne, Pierre Péan, Claudine Vidal and André Guichaoua, who respectively signed the preface and the postscript of Ruzibiza’s book in which he wrote the lies he had already written in his first report published by Marianne, a book which they presented to Science-po thank’s with the help of Philip Reynjtens and Rony Brauman.
Two years later, Ruzibiza died and, the day after his death, on September 23, 2010, Marianne published a new document : the minutes of a hearing held three months earlier by Ruzibiza, and in which he was suddenly returned to his first accusations against the RPF. But in this document, he denied that he had eyewitnessed the plane attack, what he had affirmed both in his report and in his book : this time, he said to have been some one hundred kilometers from the place of the attack ! The title of Marianne’s article in which the content of this document was published stated that « before dying, he explained that he had been threatened by Kagame’s men. » Why the magazine Marianne waited three months until he died to publish this document ? And why Marianne published it the day after his death ?
Reminding this affair allows us to make appear the intentions of those who spread these lies. Because if this kind of accusations can create some illusion when they are launched, which is the case during each commemoration of this genocide when these accusations aimed at diverting us from the accusations against French leaders, they can not resist at the patina of time. And I do not see how Mrs. Polony, at the time when she expressed herself on France Inter radio, could ignore that the intention of Marianne to lie on this subject had been publicly proved. And let’s not forget she was working for Marianne from 2002 to 2009. So we have to consider her words pronounced on France Inter in the light of her determination to keep on promoting a thesis that I consider to be the worst way to deny this genocide.
As a conclusion, I would like to say that accusing the victims of a genocide to have somehow participated in their own extermination is inflicting them much worse than the denial of the genocide they have been the target of. Considering that the french law against genocide denial would be a « yes or no game » is not only playing with this law but is also insulting the intelligence of the judges. Making the victims of a genocide guilty of the genocide they suffered from is the worst way to deny a genocide. Because what is a crime but suicide when the killer is the victim ?And don’t tell it’s not the same. According to the Polony/Rever tandem, a Tutsi from the RPF would have killed his Tutsi blood brother who remained in the country? A nephew killed his uncle? But from what sick mind have such a theory come from ? And how can we spread it?
What I fear above all is that, without any sanction, other media will be offered a precedent enabling them to establish a bit more, in public opinion, these thesis of inversion of victims and killers. That would even reinforce the slogan which was the leitmotif of the Genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda in 1994. We remember that RTLM called on the Hutu population to kill the Tutsi before they kill them themselves, according to an alleged plan of Tutsi to do so. Have we already forgotten the Protocols of the Elders of Zion ? And what about remembering of its use within the exhibition « The Jew and France » in 1941 which aimed at making Parisians believe that the Jews had a plan to dominate the world ? This exhibition lasted until January 1942, only a few months before the Veld’Hiv roundup, in a Paris whose inhabitants had been previously brainwashed in order to facilitate it. What we are judging today is the use of this type of inversion for deadly purposes. I dream that this trial will help put a stop to these mirror accusations which, one day or another, will lead us to new exterminations.
{{Serge Farnel
Web site of Serge Farnel’s inquiry : [www.bisesero.net/en->https://www.bisesero.net/en/]
Serge Farnel is an aeronautical engineer, professor, journalist and writer. His writings explore novel, poetry, theater, investigative journalism as well as scientific pedagogy.}}
President Kagame has via his Twitter handle sent best wishes to women in Rwanda and beyond as they celebrated the IWD 2022 on 8th March.
“Today, we celebrate the resilience of Rwandan women who have been at the center of Rwanda’s transformation journey,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
From the beginning, the Head of State said, RPF has walked the talk by creating an environment that enabled women to take their rightful place.
“Gender equality has always been central to the politics of RPF. The progress we see in Rwanda today is the result of this commitment to inclusivity,” he noted.
Equality is a right not a favour. We must challenge ourselves to do even more and better to ensure that the next generations of our daughters and granddaughters inherit a nation where their aspirations have no limits,” Kagame added.
Rwanda has earned international reputation for its efforts to empower women and promote gender equality.
The success was a result of the country’s commitment to inclusivity, which among other things, saw the country giving women the floor in decision making positions.
For instance, women have 61 % and 50% representation respectively in Rwanda’s parliament and cabinet.
Umaro arrived in Rwanda in the morning of Monday 7th March for three-day working visit. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, he was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vincent Biruta before his reception at Urugwiro Village.
After hosting Umaru, the two Heads of State sat down for a tête-â-tête before holding bilateral talks with officials from both delegations. They also witnessed the signing of agreements focused on strengthening key areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The memoranda of understanding were signed in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, education, tourism, business events and conservation.
As he toured the Kigali Special Economic Zone on Tuesday 8th March 2022, Umaro visited Carnegie Mellon University, African Improved Foods and Volkswagen, a Germany firm assembling cars in Rwanda.
Stephanie Nyombayire, the Press Secretary at the Office of the President has said that the zone was set up to facilitate commerce and trading between Rwanda and other countries where Guinea Bissau ‘could be one of them’.
“All of these are companies that were able to set up in Rwanda are looking to have partnerships with (Guinea) whether it is in exporting the cars that are locally manufactured, whether it is in bringing students from Guinea Bissau to study on the campus here, or in exporting some of the foods that Africa Improved Foods produces here,” Nyombayire told the media.
She explained that there are ongoing talks that might lead to the signing of a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Rwanda and Guinea Bissau.
The child is none else than Sandra Umuhoza Isimbi. Unlike other passengers, the 15-year old primary school pupil was recently going to school when she saw a baby abandoned in a bush. With her deep affection for humans, Umuhoza did not wait for others’ intervention but made possible efforts on her own to save the baby. She picked the baby, wrapped him in her pullover and took him to school. Unfortunately, the baby died few days later.
Umuhoza studies at Groupe Scolaire Karembure in Gahanga sector of Kicukiro district. She was raised by one biological parent (her mother) but did not discourage her from virtues of generosity.
As Umuhoza headed to school, three days before the celebration of International women’s Day, she met with a colleague who informed her that ‘there is a small animal that might be alive or dead in the surroundings’.
Umuhoza rushed to the place and saw what seemed to be baby’s legs. She removed the sack covering the upper part of the body and found an abandoned baby who weeped soon as Umuhoza touched him.
She wrapped him in her pullover and took the baby to school where he alerted the management.
That is when her picture was taken and attracted public attention particularly among social media users. Umuhoza was deservingly commended for her bravery to save the baby’s life.
Following the revelations, Claudette Irere, the Minister of State in charge of ICT and Technical Vocational Education and Training used her Twitter handle to praise Umuhoza as ‘a hero’.
The picture also touched many more social media users who described Umuhoza as a human with ‘fresh soul’, wished her blessing from God and blamed women that abandon babies.
IGIHE has visited Isimbi at her school. As a first year pupil, Umuhoza has a great zeal for outstanding performance.
She explained that taking the baby to school was her first option for emergency assistance.
As Umuhoza narrates, she was disappointed to see a woman passing by the abandoned baby without halting.
“Before locating the baby, a woman passed by saying that a child was dumped nearby. She however, continued her journey,” she said.
Arriving at school, she provided information to the school’s management which also alerted Police.
“The Sister who also serves as the head teacher gave me a seat awaiting Police and emergency assistance. The baby was taken to Masaka Hospital but I kept following up on his situation. I was initially told that the baby is healthy except shortness of breath. Unfortunately, I later heard that the baby was no longer alive,” she revealed.
Umuhoza says that she was shocked by the demise of the baby she had tried to save.
Umuhoza’s parents are alive but live separately. The young daughter is not fully aware of reasons for estranged relations but suspects that the father might have given up on parenting duties.
She lives with her cousin to reduce long walks it would take her to reach the school. Umuhoza requested support from kind people to help her mother (who is in the first Ubudehe social-economic category) find a shelter.
She also demanded support to pursue education up to the university because her family is hard up.
Umuhoza has urged mothers against abandoning babies reminding them to always think of the value of human being before committing such a crime.
She advised age mates to uphold the virtue of kindness and stay strong as they confront challenging situations.
Hassine Ingabire, the foster mother has said that Umuhoza is a courageous child with great ambitions who never gives up without making possible efforts.
Sister Edith Uwimbabazi, the head teacher of Groupe Scolaire Karembure has told IGIHE that the baby was male and thanked Umuhoza for daring to pick a bleeding baby.
“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement,” he has posted on Twitter.
“Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda every day,” he added.
Lt Gen Muhoozi announces the decision few days after his implication in political affairs rising suspicion that he might be preparing to replace his father.
His recent activities include talks with President Paul Kagame aimed at mending bilateral ties, talks with the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and the ambassador of France to Uganda.
Lt Gen Muhoozi, 47, is a father of three. He was born on 24th April 1974 in Tanzania where his father lived.
He is the first born and only son of President Museveni.
Ltd Gen Muhoozi attended primary and secondary school in countries including Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden and joined UPDF in 1999.
{{Who is Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba?}}
Born in 1974 to President Yoweri Museveni and Janet Museveni, Muhoozi is the first born. He attended schools in Tanzania, Kenya and Sweden.
After his father became President of Uganda in 1986, he attended Kampala Parents School, King’s College Budo and St Mary’s College Kisubi.
Muhoozi joined UPDF in the early 1990s, attracting outrage in the media after he was reportedly engaged in military operations without enlisting as a service man.
His father, President Yoweri Museveni, later explained that Muhoozi was only a member of the vigilante force locally known as the Local Defence Unit.
He later attended the University of Nottingham from 1996 until 1998.
Muhoozi formally joined the UPDF 1999 before being admitted at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he graduated in 2000, after which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant.
He also attended Egyptian Military Academy where he took both the company and battalion commanders’ courses as well as Kalama Armoured Warfare Training School.
He later took a one-year course at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating in June 2008.
Muhoozi has seen a meteoric rise through the ranks of the army to Lieutenant-General.
The Office of the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda has told IGIHE that the majority of 85 Rwandans that lived in Ukraine were students and others employed partially to pursue studies.
These include 19 students pursuing Medicine courses, 16 studied Aerospace Engineering while others pursued studies in technology and economics among others.
The war continues to escalate in Sámi, Kharkiv, Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.
At the onset of the war, Rwanda is among countries that rushed to support 85 nationals stuck in Ukraine through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rwanda’s embassies in Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw.
Rwanda’s ambassador to Poland, Prof. Anastase Shyaka has revealed that some embassy’s officials spent a week waiting for Rwandans crossing from Ukraine to support them.
Prof. Shyaka went on to explain that there has been collaboration between different authorities and Rwandans living in Ukraine and others living in those countries including Poland.
“We made possible efforts to work together to support students living here and Rwandans in Ukraine, get updates on their situation and speak to parents in Rwanda. We kept in touch with them for successful collaboration. Rwandans in Ukraine also helped each other and exchanged information,” he told One Nation Radio.
The President of Rwandan Diaspora in Ukraine, Fred Mupenzi , (who fled to Belgium), said that they were mainly helped to cross the border.
“The other support was the discount on RwandAir tickets. We are thankful that they helped us a lot even though our desires cannot be satisfied at once,” he noted.
Prof. Shyaka also commended Rwandans for their perseverance amidst experienced hurdles while trying to cross Ukraine’s border.
“They told us how they survived bullets as they left Kharkiv, how they boarded trains and how they kept soldiering on despite experienced struggles […] no one walked alone,” he said.
“The way they endured difficult situations is commendable. They used to foot tens of kilometers, but remained strong despite the fact that they were not accustomed to doing it. They teamed up and helped each other along the way,” Prof. Shyaka added.
He revealed that more than 70 Rwandans have fled Ukraine to countries including Poland and Hungary.
“Current figures show that more than 70 Rwandans managed to cross the border. But it is apparent that the children were hit hard despite some individuals who seem to be strong,” he said.
“One of them is sick and admitted at a hospital. I saw the person who is still strong. Doctors told me that they will continue to take care of the patient but he will not be discharged before a number of weeks or months,” he said.
Prof. Shyaka said that there are Rwandans and other foreigners living in Sámi, in the north-east of Ukraine near the border with Russia where the fighting is intense. He explained that the area is far distant in 1000 kilometers away from the European Union border.
“Discussions are ongoing to seek how they can be evacuated from the war zone. We would like to assure parents that we are here for them. We are also parents concerned about their children’s situation. We continue to seek how to evacuate them,” he noted.
The Government of Poland recently announced that it will host refugees from Ukraine temporary for two weeks before moving to their motherlands or third countries.
Prof. Shyaka said that it is a challenging situation because people will no longer have rights to stay in Poland after 15 days.
Speaking to IGIHE recently, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Alain Mukuralinda said that collaboration with parents is ongoing so that the children can be helped to return home or move to third countries after 15 days.
“Parents and relatives should be aware that people reaching Poland will not stay there. They need to start thinking how they will leave the country and seek assistance in case they fail,” he said.
[{{Related story: Rwanda sheds light on support extended to nationals stuck in Ukraine}}->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-sheds-light-on-support-extended-to-rwandans-stuck-in-ukraine]
