He was accused of abusing power and being a matchmaker in bribery scandal.
Dr. Munyakazi was not presented as the court read the ruling on Wednesday 15th December 2021.
He is co-accused with Abdu Gahima, a local businessman and owner of Good Harvest School, a private school located in the Kicukiro District.
Nyarugenge Intermediate Court had sentenced Dr. Munyakazi for ten years and slapped him Rwf10 million fine on 16th October 2021 while Gahima was given five-year sentence and slapped Rwf2 million fine.
The ruling read on Wednesday saw the sentence handed to Munyakazi reduced by half.
Among others, the court rejected Gahima’s appeal and maintained his five-year jail term while the fine was reduced to Rwf 1.5 million.
Maj Gen Chume was accompanied by other Generals including Maj Gen M Nposso, the Head of Civil Military Cooperation and Brig Gen Niba, Head of Intelligence under the Ministry of Defence.
Upon arrival on 14th December 2021, he was welcomed by Rwanda Security Forces-Joint Task Force Comd Maj Gen Innocent Kabandana at JTF HQ accompanied by Brig Gen Pascal Muhizi, the Task Force BG Comd.
The Minister and his delegation were briefed on the current operations by Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) in the Area of Operations in Cabo Delgado.
Majj Gen Chume said the purpose of his visit was to thank RSF and other forces in the theatre operations for their contribution to the overall success in Joint Operations while he was Army Commander.
He further pledged continued commitment to enable the RSF to accomplish its mission.
Chume also appreciated the work done in Cabo Delgado by the RSF-Officers and Men, and thanked them for supporting Mozambique to fight the terrorists.
He stressed that the collaboration between Rwanda Security Forces and Forças Armadas de Defensa de Moçambique (FADM) was excellent.
Rwandan troops were deployed to Cabo Delgado Province on the request of the Government of Mozambique which sought assistance to quell insurgents that had captured the northern part of the country.
So far, Rwandan troops in collaboration with Mozambicans and SADC forces have repulsed the insurgents that had occupied the area for more than four years.
His appointment has been announced through cabinet statement released last night.
Mukuralinda had suspended official duties for unspecified duration since 2015.
At the time, he went to the Netherlands to stay with his family after her wife got a job at Heineken.
He later moved to Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast where her wife was transferred in the marketing department of Heineken.
Recently, Mukuralinda’s family returned to the motherland following her wife’s new appointment at Bralirwa, Rwanda’s leading beverage manufacturer.
Mukurarinda will deputize Yolande Makolo appointed Government Spokesperson in July 2021.
Other appointees include Beatrice Mukamurenzi named Judge in the Court of Appeal, while Olivier Kayumba became Minister Counsellor in Central African Republic.
Kayumba has been serving as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management since 2017.
Among others, Didier Ruginahas been named the Second Counsellor in the Central African Republic Diplomatic Mission.
Kagame was speaking on Tuesday 14th December 2021, at the inaugural international Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2021), organized by the African Union and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“This has been a priority of the African Union for several years, but progress has not been fast enough. We cannot continue to rely on external funding for something so important to our future,” he said.
The three-day conference has brought together health experts from different backgrounds to discuss how to accelerate progress against COVID-19 and chart a new path forward for public health on the continent.
As he addressed participants, Kagame also stressed the need to continue building the capabilities and professionalism of continental health bodies.
“Africa CDC has provided clear leadership throughout the pandemic and helped many of African countries to access tests, protective equipment and vaccines,” he said.
In a bid to continue reinforcing Africa’s health systems, the African Medicines Agency (AMA) entered into force in 2019.
It is expected to address challenges in the health sector particularly reinforcing the manufacturing of medicines of African continent to avoid heavy reliance on imports.
The African Union adopted treaties establishing AMA in February 2019.
Signatories to the new African Medicines Agency Treaty have now reached 28 countries – more than half of the African Union’s 55 member states.
Kagame said that ‘it is important to speed up the implementation of AMA, and see more member states ratify its statute’.
Among others, the Head of State stressed the need to invest much more in national health systems highlighting that the ability to implement critical health programs, including regular mass vaccination campaigns, depends on the quality of national health services, and the trust that the public has in them.
He further underscored that countries need to continue working together to implement the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing.
“Building manufacturing capacity is the only way to ensure that Africa does not remain at the back of queue for life-saving medicines,” Kagame said.
The President also revealed that the uncertainty around the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has proven that much more need to be done. To this end, he called for vigilance, and response with a sense of urgency and purpose ‘both as a continent and together with our partners around the world’.
The decision is part of stringent measures taken by the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 14th December 2021 to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“Night clubs are suspended is is live band entertainment in other venues. Organized concerts will be approved on a case by case basis by Rwanda Development Board (RDB),” reads in part the cabinet communiqué.
The new measures follow the confirmation of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Rwanda.
Among others, the cabinet meeting has prohibited movements between midnight (12a.m) and 4a.m while all businesses must close by 11p.m while all arriving passengers must quarantine for three days at a designated hotel at their own cost. A COVID-19 PCR test will be taken upon arrival, and an additional test will be taken on day 3 and 7 at own cost, from the arrival date at a designated testing site.
Arriving and departing passengers at Kigali International Airport must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to the departure and should comply with health guidelines.
Public officers will continue at no more than 30% capacity. Employers are encouraged to limit staff to essential workers who interface with the public.
Private businesses are urged to continue at 50% capacity and must comply with COVID-19 preventive measures.
Among others, the cabinet meeting has resolved that, civil, religious and traditional weddings guests should not exceed 30% of venue capacity and must not exceed 100 persons.
The cabinet meeting has also resolved that services held at places of worship should not exceed 50% maximum occupancy.
The new measures will take effect nationwide starting December 16th 2021 for the duration of one month and may be reviewed anytime necessary upon health assessment.
All citizens and Rwanda residents have been urged to get fully vaccinated, frequently tested and encouraged to work remotely if and when possible while continuing to observe preventive measures.
Omicron variant was first reported in South Africa. At the time, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus variant to be “of concern” noting that it has a large number of mutations, and early evidence suggested an increased reinfection risk.
The Ministry of Health has reminded Rwandans to get fully vaccinated or obtain a third booster dose as soon as they are eligible, especially those aged above 50 or with underlying health conditions.
A total of 4,259,242 people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 6,925,192 received the first dose of COVID-19 since Rwanda began countrywide inoculation program on 5th March 2021. Among others; 27220 have received the third booster dose.
Kagame has welcomed the new minister and expressed optimism that he will leverage on his experience to fulfill duties diligently.
He further stated that Gasana is familiar with security matters, considering his previous line of duty on which he will build to ‘continue performing well for the benefit of the country’.
The President also congratulated the new Minister and wished him well in his new responsibilities.
“I assure him of our collaboration and support,” he promised.
Among others, the Head of State highlighted that the country has made commendable progress in fighting this Covid-19 pandemic including vaccinating a big number of its population and reducing positive cases.
He however stressed the need to strengthen preventive measures as the festive season begins to unfold considering that fact that the pandemic has not yet been defeated. He said that the Ministry of Interior has a role to play as the country seeks to enhance response to the pandemic.
“When people meet in big numbers to socialize, they fail to respect the established preventive measures properly. The Ministry of Interior is also part of our lead institutions in fighting this pandemic, working together with the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry for Local Government,” Kagame noted.
Gasana was named Minister of Interior on 10th December 2021 replacing Gen Patrick Nyamvumba who held the position for five months until April 2020.
Gasana once served as a legislator in the Lower Chamber of Parliament and was later named Director-General in charge of Internal Security at National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) prior to his new appointment.
The Ministry of Internal Security was once led by Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana for ten years before it was dissolved in 2016. It was re-established in 2019.
His predecessors include Jean de Dieu Ntiruhungwa from 2001 until 2005 when he was replaced by Christophe Bazivamo.
“Best wishes to my brother President Cyril Ramaphosa for quick recovery,” he tweeted.
Ramaphosa who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday 12th December 2021 is in self-isolation in Cape Town where he is receiving treatment for mild Covid-19 symptoms.
The statement released by the office of the presidency reads that Ramaphosa has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.
The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today,” the presidency statement said.
He is however “in good spirits” and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service of the South African National Defence Force.
“President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure. Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization,” adds the statement.
South Africa is among southern Africa countries where the new COVID-19 Omicron variant was reported recently.
According to CNN’s global vaccine tracker, over 25% of the country has been fully vaccinated, with an additional 5% partially vaccinated.
On his recent visit to four West African states, President Ramaphosa and the South African delegation were tested for COVID-19 in all countries.
The President and the delegation returned to South Africa from the Republic of Senegal on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, after obtaining negative test results. The President also tested negative on his return to Johannesburg on 8th December.
Ramaphosa has via twitter handle thanked South Africans for their good wishes and warned citizens to remain vigilant in the fight against the virus.
Busingye was appointed High Commissioner to the UK in August 2021. Prior to the new appointment, he had served as the Minister of Justice for eight years.
Four months following his appointment, Chris Bryant, one of UK parliamentarians has requested his country to reject Busingye’s nomination citing concerns linked to his involvement in the ‘abduction’ of Rusesabagina.
Bryant filed the request during a debate held at British Parliament which also recommended sanctions on other leaders from Sudan and Iran over human rights abuse allegations.
According to BBC, Bryant has recommended his country to reject Busingye’s appointment.
“In August last year, Paul Rusesabagina, the subject of the film [Hotel Rwanda], which many members may have seen, and a vocal critic of President Kagame … was drugged, bound and forcefully returned to Rwanda, where he has been imprisoned and tortured,” he said.
He further suggested that ‘Busingye should be on a list of sanctioned individuals, not of people to be escorted to Buckingham Palace to have their credentials agreed by Her Majesty’.
The parliamentarian also recommended sanctions on Colonel Jeannot Ruhunga, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau.
UK based media houses have reported about the issue noting that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been advised to block the appointment of Rwanda’s top diplomat in London ‘over his central role in the kidnap and detention of human rights activist’.
“Mr Busingye was demoted by Rwandan President Paul Kagame after admitting that their government chartered a flight that led to the seizure of Paul Rusesabagina,” Daily Mail has reported.
{{Rwanda’s stand}}
Following the story published by Daily Mail, the Spokesperson of the Government of Rwanda, Yolande Makolo has via Twitter handle revealed that the media house’s story is misleading.
“The Daily Mail and The Times are misinforming readers when the true facts are so easily verifiable. A reminder: Johnston Busingye, Rwanda’s high commissioner-designate to the UK, has served with distinction as Justice Minister and Attorney-General since 2013,” she tweeted.
Makolo went on to clarify that Rusesabagina was arrested over terrorism in an operation planned by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau and arrested in Kigali on an outstanding warrant for terrorism and related offences, in compliance with all domestic and international laws.
“The Government of Rwanda has made it clear on numerous occasions since September 2020 how & why Rusesabagina was tricked into coming to Rwanda. He has since been convicted & sentenced following a fair & transparent trial along with 20 co-accused of the FLN armed group which he led,” she revealed.
In September 2021, the High Court Chamber for International and Cross-border Crimes handed 25-year sentence to Rusesabagina after he was found guilty of terrorism charges.
Born in 1964, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe is the founder and CEO of African Fashion International (AFI), an all-inclusive investment firm based in South Africa which develops entrepreneurs operating within the creative sector across Africa.
In 1989, she was married to Patrice Motsepe, ranked among top 1064 global tycoons with wealth estimated at US$2.9 billion.
She has been leading the University of Cape Town since January 2020 but her official inauguration was delayed due to COVID-19 related effects.
As he virtually addressed participants at the official installation of Dr. Precious on Friday 10th December 2021, President Kagame highlighted that the University of Cape Town is not only one of Africa’s finest universities, but also recognized around the world for excellence.
“Among its graduates, we count South Africa’s best and brightest, as well as many emerging professionals in my country and throughout Africa,” he noted.
The Head of State underscored that the time students spent on the University of Cape Town campus did not only enrich them academically, but also prepared them for a productive life of service after graduation.
Dr. Precious replaced Graça Machel, the wife of late Nelson Mandela who led the university from 1999 to 2019.
Kagame congratulated Dr. Precious on new appointment and commended her for being an inspiration ‘in her own right as a physician, philanthropist and an entrepreneur’.
The President further urged the university to create greater connection with the continent to support its initiative of deepening integration and unity.
Dr. Precious becomes the sixth chancellor of the University of Cape Town and second black woman holding similar position.
