Bonaventure will be responsible for the implementation of the Bank’s lending strategy, managing the loan book towards a high-quality credit portfolio, and ensuring compliance with all credit-related laws, regulations and directives.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Diane Karusisi, Bank of Kigali CEO, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Bonaventure Urimube as Chief Credit Officer. His leadership and expertise make him a valuable addition to the Executive Committee as we continue to position the bank for continued growth.“
Bonaventure has over 10 years of experience in the banking sector. Previously, he was serving as the Head of Credit Department at Bank of Kigali Plc, a position he held since 2017.
He holds an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University, a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Statistics from the National University of Rwanda and an International Diploma in Banking Profession from the Institut Technique de Banque (ITB), Groupe CFPB – L’Ecole supérieure de la banque, France.
{{About Bank of Kigali Plc}}
Bank of Kigali Plc. is the largest commercial bank in Rwanda, by total assets. In 2017, Global Credit Ratings affirmed Bank of Kigali’s long-term and short-term national scale ratings of AA-(RW) and A1+(RW) respectively with a stable outlook.
The Bank has won several back-to-back international and regional banking awards from Euromoney, The Banker, Global Finance Magazine, and EMEA Finance. Last year, Bank of Kigali was awarded “Best Bank in Rwanda” in the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2021.
Kagame received Amb. Adonia Ayebare on Monday 17th January 2022 as Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed via Twitter handle.
Political analysts have considered the milestone as a step further towards restoring relations to normal.
Amb. Ayebare was last in Rwanda on 29th December 2019 where he delivered a message from Museveni to his counterpart of Rwanda.
Since then, there has been no significant progress towards normalizing both countries relations.
Rwanda, Uganda relations worsened since 2017. Rwanda has been expressing concerns over Rwandans who travel to Uganda for business purposes but are abducted, imprisoned and tortured accused of being spies.
It is said that some of these Rwandans are tortured after refusing to join rebel groups intending to threaten Rwanda’s security.
Rwanda also accuses Uganda of hosting dissidents posing threat to national security.
In March 2019, the Government of Rwanda officially advised citizens not to travel to Uganda for their security following testimonies of over 1000 Rwandans tortured and deported from Uganda.
Rwanda has been explaining that it has no interests in supporting rebels posing threat to Uganda adding that there no Ugandans illegally detained in Rwanda.
In August 2019, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame signed memorandum of understanding ‘Luanda Agreement’ in a bid to solve conflicts between both countries.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state witnessed by mediators including the President of Angola, Joao Lourenço and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the situation is still worsening as Uganda continues with arbitrary detention of Rwandans who are subjected to torture in its facilities.
Since the beginning of 2022, Rwanda has received over 50 nationals deported from Uganda. They were dumped at different borders connecting both countries.
The Minister of State in charge of Primary Healthcare, Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga has said that the situation might return to normal in case the country doesn’t register new variants of COVID-19.
Dr. Mpunga made the revelation during a press conference held on 15th January 2022 where he explained that the sharp decrease in new positive cases registered between 3rd and 14th January might be considered to ease COVID-19 related restrictions.
The report of the Ministry of Health released on 16th January 2022 indicates that the positivity rate stands at 3.2% from 5.1% recorded between 4th and 10th January 2022.
The percentage was confirmed after 7162 people tested positive out of 147,000 sample tests.
Last week, the country announced plan to inoculate 1.6 million people against COVID-19 in 15 days. Dr. Mpunga has expressed optimism for the situation to be back to normal in consideration of reducing positive cases and increasing number of vaccine recipients.
“The current efforts are promising for life to be back to normal in case the country doesn’t confirm emergence of new variants of COVID-19. Considering the pace at which patients are recovering without falling critically ill following the emergence of Omicron variant and developed higher level of immunity among vaccine recipients; there is optimism that measures will be eased if the number of vaccinated people goes higher,” he said.
Dr. Mpunga further revealed that the country did not register a large number of critically ill patients after the confirmation of new variant of COVID-19 in December 2021.
As at 15th January 2021, Rwanda reported 11 admitted COVID-19 patients out of more than 4,000 people who tested positive.
The decline in critically ill patients is mainly attributed to increasing number of vaccine recipients where close to 8 million people have received the first dose, over 6 million received two doses while more than 600,000 received the booster jab.
Rwanda targets to vaccinate 70% of its population by July 2022.
[The current COVID-19 preventive measures were instituted on 7th January 2022.->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-makes-covid-19-vaccination-mandatory-for-motorcyclists-passengers]
With the latest shipment of Pfizer vaccine doses that arrived at Kigali International Airport on Saturday 15th January 2022, the contribution of US to Rwanda’s response to COVID-19 has reached Rwf28 billion.
Following the delivery of new doses, the US Ambassador in Rwanda, Peter H. Vrooman said that his country is honored to continue partnership with Rwanda to defeat the pandemic.
“4 Million vaccine doses! With last night’s new shipment of more than 1 million doses, the United States celebrates with Rwanda our continued partnership to fight COVID-19,” he tweeted on Sunday.
So far, US has donated a total of 4,296,450 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Rwanda.
Since the start of the pandemic, the United States has stood side-by-side with the Rwandan people committing nearly Rwf30 billion to combat COVID-19. The United States has pledged to donate at least 1.1 billion doses of COVID-19 doses globally by 2023.
US has also helped Rwanda to renovate three hospitals, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies, X-ray machines, and other equipment to fight COVID-19.
Other US COVID-19 support to Rwanda include state-of-the-art ventilators; construction of handwashing stations across Rwanda; public communications to fight COVID-19; vehicles to support contact tracing; patient monitors, hospital beds, and intensive care unit equipment; and other supplies such as biohazard bags, alcohol and hand washing soap.
The program’s final virtual event took place on January 12th-13th, where the six finalists pitched their concepts to a prestigious jury panel.
The statement released on Friday 14th January 2022 reads that the winners will share a prize fund of €200,000 and receive a year-long mentorship with internal experts from Tommy Hilfiger and from INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools. They also secured a place in an INSEAD program that brings people, cultures, and ideas together to cultivate innovative leaders.
More than 430 startups and scaleups from 22 countries submitted their ideas in January 2021 for this initiative, which echoes Tommy Hilfiger’s sustainability vision to Waste Nothing and Welcome All.
This year’s program particularly sought to amplify and support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who are working to advance their communities, while fostering a more inclusive future for the fashion industry. For the first time, fans of the TOMMY HILFIGER brand were able to participate in the initial phases of the challenge, where they cast their digital vote to help narrow down the applications to identify the finalists. Alongside Tommy Hilfiger associates at the final event, they were also invited to vote for their favorite pitch to award an additional €15,000 to one of the finalists.
“This empowering challenge brought together passionate and hard-working individuals with fresh ideas on how to create a future of fashion we can all look forward to,” said Tommy Hilfiger. “It was an impressive final event, and I am proud to continue this journey with the entrepreneurs who presented groundbreaking and impactful solutions that challenge how we think, build, and create.”
Lalaland, a Netherlands-based platform that uses artificial intelligence to generate customized and inclusive synthetic models, was awarded €100,000.
“Creating technology that drives a more inclusive and diverse e-commerce platform is at the heart of our vision at Lalaland,” said Michael Musandu, co-founder, and CEO of Lalaland. “Being part of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge brought incredible insights and will elevate our A.I. solution to reach more people than we could have imagined. Through donning this achievement, our team cannot wait to empower a welcoming online shopping experience, so no consumer feels under-represented.”
UZURI K&Y, a Rwandan-based eco-friendly shoe brand that uses recycled car tires from sub-Saharan Africa and employs 80 local youth, was also awarded €100,000.
Commenting on the development, Kevine Kagirimpundu, co-founder, and CEO of UZURI K&Y said: “We are honored to be named a winner of the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge. This opportunity has provided mentorship, strategic guidance, and given us a platform to share our dream of bringing sustainable footwear options from Africa to the global market. We are dedicated to drive real impact and inspire the youth of today to craft a cleaner future.”
Clothes to Good, a South African-based social enterprise that creates micro-business opportunities and jobs for people with disabilities through textile recycling, was also awarded €15,000.
“We feel blessed to be recognized by the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge viewers, it’s an experience we will never forget,” said Tammy Greyling, Operations Director and Occupational Therapist at Clothes to Good. “It’s humbling to know others believe in our dream to really make a difference for people with disabilities and their families. Receiving this award will empower Clothes to Good to continue creating micro-business and job opportunities through textile recycling from the South African community.”
Entries for the next challenge will open in March.
Minister Biruta conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda and Commander -In- Chief of the Rwanda Defence Force, wishing them a happy New Year and thanking them for fulfilling their mission with discipline and professionalism in Central African Republic.
Minister Biruta updated the Forces on current security situation in Rwanda and also on efforts the country has made in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic including giving vaccines to the population. He also briefed them on current relations between Rwanda and neighbouring countries.
The Head of Defence Intelligence, Brig Gen Vincent Nyakarundi urged the Forces to remain very determined in accomplishing their tasks.
Rwanda Defence Force is the largest troop contributing to the United Nations Multidimensional Integration Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic.
On 20th September 2021, the High Court Special Chamber for International and Cross-border crimes convicted them of different charges including terrorism.
The court convicted former President of MRCD-FLN terrorist group, Paul Rusesabagina of terrorism charges and handed him 25-year jail term while Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.
The remaining nineteen co-accused individuals were sentenced from three to 20 years.
Following the ruling, the accused, plaintiffs and the Prosecution were given 30 days for appeal
Later on, it was said that 13 of convicts and 74 survivors of FLN attacks who sought compensation expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment separately and filed an appeal.
During trial proceedings, 94 survivors of the attacks sought over Rwf1 billion but the court resolved that few of them would get compensated and the amount was below demanded compensation.
Towards the end of last year; the Prosecutor General, Aimable Havugiyaremye said that the appeal was filed following dissatisfaction with verdicts.
He also revealed that the Prosecution was not happy with the acquittal of Rusesabagina on the formation of an irregular armed group and handed sentence among others.
Rusesabagina who did not appeal against the 25-year jail term, had boycotted the court during trial proceedings citing zero expectation of fair trial.
The convicts faced charges including the formation of an irregular armed group, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.
The crimes were committed since 2018 when MRDC/FLN combatants plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of nine innocent residents in the Southern Province.
They left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage in South-West Rwanda.
Shyaka,30, is the owner of a YouTube channel dubbed ‘Ijwi ry’Imfubyi’ translated as ‘The Voice of Orphans’ where he propagated revisionist agenda.
The man’s plot to flee the country was facilitated by a female Rwandan called Eugénie Muhayimana living in New Castle, United Kingdom who works with Uganda’s CMI.
Shyaka has two children who live at his home in Nyamabuye cell, Byumba sector of Gicumbi district.
Following his return, IGIHE has visited him at his home in Nyamabuye cell where he talked about his plans to flee the country and the collaboration he has had with CMI.
Information about his abduction went viral on social media since June 2021, particularly disseminated through platforms owned by members of a subversive group intending to tarnish Rwanda.
{{How it began}}
In April 2021, Shyaka featured in a talk show on ‘Umurabyo TV’, a YouTube channel owned by Agnes Nkusi Uwimana who is criticized for airing talks fuelling Genocide ideology.
Speaking to IGIHE, Shyaka said that he was first contacted by Uwimana who requested him to feature in her next YouTube talk show but dictated him what to say with a promise of financial support.
“Cyuma Hassan gave her my phone number. She called me and promised financial support if I agreed to feature in her talk show. She invited me at the headquarters of Rwanda Media Commission [RMC] in Remera and informed me that I wouldn’t receive any help if I refused to speak what he dictated me. So, I did what she obliged me,” he said.
“Agnes Uwimana is the first person who dragged me into revisionism agenda to talk about Hutus and Tutsis. I shared my phone number I started appearing in the talk shows. That is when people, majority of whom living abroad started contacting me and sending money,” added Shyaka.
As the man explained, he abandoned his construction job as he started receiving regular calls from members of the subversive group promising financial support.
Some of people who sent money include Eugénie Muhayimana who expressed interest in his talk show and pledged support. At the time, Muhayimana sent 50 pounds equivalent to Rwf70,000.
“She called me like others had been doing regularly, informed me that she wanted to send me some money because she liked my talk show. She sent me 50 pounds via my wife’s account in BK,” Shyaka disclosed.
Shyaka narrated that Muhayimana continued to call him every day until she promised him a house in Kigali.
“He stood by my side and called me regularly that we used to hold conversations for many hours every day. She told me her background and asked me to link her to my elder brother and wife. I shared their phone numbers with her that they started chatting,” he said.
As time went by, Muhayimana advised Shyaka to open a YouTube channel to air songs and talk shows advocating for underprivileged people.
“Since then, I opened a YouTube channel called ‘Ijwi ry’Imfubyi’ where I started airing talks. I had a small phone at the time. I added few amount of money to Rwf100,000 received from a member of the subversive group to buy a smart phone which I used to record talk shows to be uploaded on YouTube,” he revealed.
{{Plan to escape}}
During Muhayimana’s regular conversations with Shyaka, she often told him that he would be kidnapped one day.
“She used to tell me that I would be kidnapped, killed or incarcerated. There were more people who used to talk about the same thing but some of them declined to introduce themselves. Between 1st and 25th June, Muhayimana started asking me to flee the country that plans to kill me were underway. When I asked how I would escape, she promised me to take me to the United Kingdom,” he said.
Shyaka agreed with Muhayimana who facilitated him to flee to one of countries in East Africa.
Initially, Muhayimana advised Shyaka to seek a travel permit.
Following delay in issuance of the permit, she started putting pressure on him to escape as soon as possible lest he would be abducted.
“He assured me that I would be helped to flee to Uganda like they had facilitated other people and asked me to confirm whether I accept to leave the country where I was targeted for abduction. She asked me to travel to Musanze where I had to be helped to cross to Uganda,” he said.
Shyaka informed her wife who insisted that they should escape through Gatuna instead of Musanze.
On 22nd August 2021, Shyaka who was living in Kigali separately from his children who had stayed with their grandmother, went to Gatuna along with his wife.
“Upon arrival at Gatuna, I had my identity card but my wife didn’t. That is when he was arrested by security officials at the border. I escaped and returned to Byuma where I spent a night and woke up in the wee hours to travel to Musanze as I had been advised by Muhayimana,” he divulged.
“As I arrived in Musanze, a motorcyclist rode me to a place that I was not familiar with. I gave him Rwf5000 and returned the balance of Rwf1000. He took me to a tall dark-skinned man who also linked me to two children in the age bracket between 14 and 16. We trekked a long distance through dense banana plantation and stony ground,” Shyaka added.
At that time, Muhayimana had linked Shyaka to a woman living in Kampala.
The two children took him to a place where he met with smugglers with packages of illicit brew known as Kanyanga and clothes. Shyaka was then told that he reached the destination.
“I met the woman who took me to Kisoro town. That is when I rested assured that I have reached Uganda,” he revealed.
{{Collaboration with CMI}}
As Shyaka arrived in Kisoro, he was welcomed by a person called ‘Bo’ who went with him to a home where he found many Kinyarwanda-speaking people.
“I guessed it was Boy’s job because there were many people. He traveled with them in batches until my turn was reached. He took me to a Police station in Kisoro. Upon arrival, I called Muhayimana informing her that I had started facing issues. Muhayimana talked to people who were guiding me. They took me to a place known as Kyabira,”he said.
Before the travel, Muhayimana had advised Shyaka to introduce himself as his brother wherever he goes.
Arriving in Kyabira, Shyaka said that he was fleeing Rwanda over attempted abduction associated with talk shows aired on his YouTube channel.
On 23rd August 2021, he was taken to Kisoro Police Station from where he was taken to another place the following day.
Shyaka narrated that he was taken in a ‘Pandagari’, a vehicle that transports suspected criminals or detainees accompanied by two soldiers including one with the rank of captain.
“Upon arrival at the destination, I heard them speaking in English that they have handed me over. There was also a female soldier who asked me whether I was a journalist or spy. I was dropped there and taken to a detention facility where I saw many detainees, some of them seeming to be Rwandans. The soldier who accompanied me told his colleagues that I was not a criminal,” he disclosed.
Shyaka went on to explain that he was left at the facility and detained in a small room that had been previously used as a toilet.
“I was lodged in a very small room that was previously used as a latrine. They brought me a mattress on which I had to sleep but security officers who accompanied me had returned. I was served porridge in the morning as well as maize bread for lunch and dinner,” he said.
Three days later staying in the same room, a soldier took him to his superior called Captain Habyarimana John with office on the second floor.
“He was the first person I heard speaking Kinyarwanda since I arrived at the facility. The soldier told me that he had my dossier and asked me how I got there. I narrated how I lived in Rwanda and circumstances under which I fled the country,” he noted.
After two weeks, Shyaka revealed, he started receiving his phone to talk to Muhayimana. All contacts had been deleted except the latter’s number.
“Muhayimana started telling me that she sent money to Captain Habyarimana John to treat me decently in the detention facility,” he said.
{{Refugee status}}
As IGIHE visited Shyaka at his home in Gicumbi district on Thursday 13th January 2022, he showed us the documents granting him refugee status issued by Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister.
After spending 68 days, Shyaka revealed that he was interrogated at different times by Captain Habyarimana to provide more details about his situation in Rwanda.
He was once taken to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and later taken to a lodge.
“I was taken to the Office of Prime Minister escorted by two soldiers with small guns. They recorded my fingerprints, signature and got all relevant information about me,” Shyaka disclosed.
“Muhayimana was the person behind plans to release me from CMI detention facility to pick the document from OPM. However, I was not aware of all the procedures involved until I obtained the document. Since then, I never returned to CMI facility but rather was linked to Major John Nawamanya who took me to a lodge where I was housed,” he added.
Since then, Shyaka disclosed that he received his phone and the document granting him refugee status issued by Prime Minister.
He started receiving calls from people including Matata Joseph and Freeman Bikorwa among others who asked him to propagate talks tarnishing Rwanda.
“Muhayimana started telling me to freely air views that I feared to express in Rwanda. You have identifications, you are going to live with your children but you need to express your views freely as you are safe in Uganda,” Shyaka revealed.
Muhayimana had already helped Shyaka’s children to cross to Uganda by the time he he was granted refugee status. Shyaka planned to return home soon as he was taken to live with his children in Uganda.
As the protests started in the morning of Thursday 13th January 2022, taxi moto operators turned up in groups while others rode through different parts of Kigali beeping horns to attract authorities’ attention.
Groups of motorcyclists have been seen gathered in different parts of the city including Muhima, Nyamirambo, Gikondo, Gishushu and the city centre.
They rose concerns over of huge amount deducted from revenue margin and hiking motorbike insurance premium.
Simpari Shema Pierre is among taxi moto operators who participated in the protests nearby former premises of Nyarugenge Prison known as 1930. He revealed that they have staged strikes to demand action.
“We want our problems solved because the provider of the fare meter is deducting a high percentage from our revenue margin. For instance, the fare meter deducts Rwf300 per every earned Rwf2000,” he said.
Shema went on to explain that they did not receive enough details about all charges related to the use of fare meters.
“We are complaining about the high cost of using fare meters and expensive insurance premium. We were promised that the cost would be cut down but nothing was done. Besides, Yego Moto is charging a high percentage yet we were not aware of it,” he said.
As for current prices, a passenger is necessitated to pay Rwf300 for the first two kilometres while the previous fare of Rwf133 per kilometre for the rest of the journey has been dropped to Rwf107.
The tariff changes from Rwf107 to Rwf187 when covered distance goes beyond 40 kilometres.
Taxi motor operators receive fare meters from Yego Moto for free but the provider deducts particular amount on every payment.
A taxi moto operator dodging the fare meter is charged Rwf30,000 fine.
The mandatory use of fare meters in Kigali City went into effect on 7th January 2022.
“We are offended because we pay all dues and make contributions to motorcyclists’ cooperative which seem to be idle. We are disappointed to see the fare meters charging 15% of revenue margin,” lamented another motorcyclist called Innocent Bizimungu.
Taxi moto operators have also complained about insurance premium which increased three folds.
For the past three years, motorbike insurance premium rose from Rwf45,000 to Rwf153,200 for a motorcycle that was manufactured five years ago or less.
The premium increased to more than Rwf180, 000 for those that were made more than 10 years ago.
Motorcyclists have demanded that the prices be revised and reduced to a reasonable amount.
Insurers attribute the hike in motorbike insurance cost to heavy bills paid in compensations for injuries or deaths caused by taxi motor accidents.
Many insurance companies in the country do not provide insurance package for motorbikes due to incurred losses. Radiant Insurance is currently the only company providing motorbike insurance in the country.
The development was announced on Tuesday 11th January 2022 following the phone call Rao Hongwei, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Rwanda had with Dr. Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
During the phone call, Rao Hongwei notified the latter that China will donate a total of 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda in 2022.
Amb. Rao first congratulated the Rwandan side on achieving the goal of vaccinating 40% of the population in 2021 on schedule.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, China has been vigorously promoting international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic and helping developing countries including Rwanda to obtain COVID-19 vaccines.
At the just-concluded Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged another 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Africa countries.
As the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading around the globe, Amb. Rao said, China actively implements President Xi’s commitment and decides to donate an additional 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Rwanda, to further support the Rwandan side in speeding up national vaccination program and better protecting people’s health and safety.
“China will continue to work hand in hand with Rwanda to defeat the virus at an early date, overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 and further strengthen bilateral relations,” he added.
Minister Biruta, on behalf of the Rwandan Government expressed sincere thanks to the Chinese Government for the decision on additional vaccine donation.
He said that China, as Rwanda’s good partner, has contributed to Rwanda’s milestone to achieve vaccination target last year.
“The further assistance will help Rwanda increase the vaccination rate, reach the goal of vaccinating 70% of the population by mid-2022 timely, and greatly boost Rwanda’s confidence in COVID-19 response. Rwanda looks forward to further expanding bilateral pragmatic cooperation and deepening bilateral relations in the new year,” Minister Biruta said.
Over 5 million people have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Rwanda while more than 7 million received the first dose since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program.
