With dedication to meet customers’ satisfaction with world class services, the 64-room facility has what it takes to succeed in the hospitality sector and gives memorable experience to customers luring them for a prolonged stay.
The delightful experience starts with a warm welcome by guests attendants worn in traditional attires as you enter premises coupled with amenities making your sojourn an indelible memory and probably making the hotel a home away from your home.
The rooms with capacity to accommodate one or two persons are equipped with all necessary items while some of them have private sitting rooms.
Great Hotel Kiyovu has experienced chefs with prowess in culinary arts to prepare extraordinary menu courses of customers’ choices giving another reason to stick to the hotel’s services.
Besides, the hotel’s bar offers a unique and comfortable setting for guests to quench the thirst.
It also has other recreational and sports facilities including a piscine, gym, sauna and massage.
Justine Nishimwe, the Manager of Great Hotel Kiyovu has explained that delivering good services to ensure customers’ memorable experience is the hotel’s priority.
“Besides, the location of the hotel offers beautiful scenery everyone in the town would love to visit. It is an addition to our trained and welcoming staff,” she said.
The summit held on 26th and 27th August 2021 was chaired by Chancellor Merkel and brought together heads of state and governments from G20, entrepreneurs, investors and entrepreneurs among other partners.
As he addressed participants of the summit, Kagame emphasized that Africa is open for business and investment providing ground for prosperity.
“Africa is open for business and that productive investment and trade is the pathway to prosperity and stability,” he said.
In Rwanda, we have seen an increase in connections to German business and investment. We welcome this and wish to see even more.The challenge before us is to convert the solid political will into even more tangible results on the ground,” added Kagame.
The President also voiced appreciation to Chancellor Merkel highlighting that the Compact with Africa is one of many examples of her personal engagement, leadership, and commitment that have marked her tenure.
The G20 Investment Summit is considered a unique opportunity to meet high-ranking representatives from business and politics.
So far, twelve African countries that have joined the Compact with Africa initiative include Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia.
The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated in 2017 under the German G20 Presidency to promote private investment in Africa including, in infrastructure.
The CwA’s primary objective is to increase attractiveness of private investment through substantial improvements of the macro, business and financing frameworks.
It brings together reform-minded African countries, international organizations and bilateral partners from G20 and beyond to coordinate country-specific reform agendas, support respective policy measures and advertise investment opportunities to private investors.
The initiative is demand-driven and open to all African countries.
The President made the appreciation on Friday 27th August 2021 after participating in a meeting with the CEO of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin convened by KENUP Foundation on the sidelines of G20 Compact with Africa Investment Summit.
The meeting aimed at agreeing on a way forward for the development of end-to-end vaccine production in Africa, starting with Rwanda and Senegal was also attended by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall and President of European Union Commission, Ursuka von der Leyen.
On Friday, BioNTech revealed that Rwanda and Senegal have been selected for potential malaria and tuberculosis mRNA vaccine manufacturing.
Kagame hailed BioNTech for expressing interest to provide technology needed on the African continent and highlighted that achieved milestone reflects fruits of working together.
“We cannot afford business as usual. I appreciate the urgency that all of us here are bringing to the table. And this is the basis upon which I suggest we move forward. Africa works best, when it works together. It is important that this initiative builds on a continent-wide strategy elaborated through the African Union and the Africa CDC. End-to-end production of mRNA vaccines is possible in Africa, thanks to innovations in engineering being undertaken by BioNTech and its partners, among others,” he said.
“Thank you BioNTech not only for being the genius behind this technology but also for having this vision that Africa, the place that needs what is being done urgently, is also associated and benefits,” added Kagame.
The President also thanked the President of EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen as well as organizations including Mastercard Foundation and International Finance Corporation for their contribution.
The company’s Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine has given it a hefty financial boost. BioNTech expects to rake in €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) in Comirnaty sales during 2021 alone, likely launching the company among the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue this year.
BioNTech had previously expressed interest in taking its manufacturing to Africa when it first announced its intentions to develop a malaria vaccine in late July.
Friday, the biotech said it affirmed those plans in a meeting with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
The company has already started evaluating the manufacturing capabilities in each country, BioNTech said. The decision to narrow its search to Senegal and Rwanda came after guidance from the African Union, the Africa CDC and the African Medical Agency, the union’s drug regulator still under formation.
The locations of the sites within each country, which have yet to be decided, will eventually co-locate with the WHO’s upcoming vaccine hubs, sites the organization has used against the coronavirus and influenza to transfer manufacturing know-how.
The company’s Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine has given it a hefty financial boost. BioNTech expects to rake in €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) in Comirnaty sales during 2021 alone, likely launching the company among the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue this year.
The incident took place in Bereshi village, Hehu cell of Bugeshi sector last night around 10p.m.
Fabien Mutuyimana, one of the area residents has said that assailants got suspicious of possible counter attack by Rwandan soldiers and withdrew to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after shooting cows.
“The incident took around 10p.m where we heard gunshots. As we woke up in the morning, we learnt that assailants might have attacked from DRC where they returned after getting suspicious of counter attack by Rwandan soldiers. They shot down five cows leaving of dead,” he said.
It is said that assailants left ammunition and a grenade while no resident was injured during the attack.
Following the incident, local leaders and security officials have convened a meeting to comfort residents today morning.
Colonel Andrew Nyamvumba, the head of operations in the 3rd Division of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has reassured residents that Rwandan forces are standby to protect the nation.
“The enemy feared soldiers and raided resident’s cows. I am convinced that you are aware of your soldiers’ capabilities. We know where the enemy is located. He wanted to gain attention for his existence. I would like to reassure that the enemy won’t threaten again. We are dedicated to protect you and have capabilities to do so,” he said.
Deogratias Nzabonimpa, Rubavu district vice mayor for economic affairs promised support to affected resident.
He appealed on residents to report susceptible security threats and assured that the district will work closely with DRC officials to bring suspects to book .
Following the meeting, the affected resident got a promise of three cows.
They will be donated by Rubavu district, Bugeshi residents and Busasamana sector officials.
FDLR combatants last attacked Rubavu district on 10th December 2018. At the time, Rwandan soldiers repulsed the attack and killed seven of them.
Unlike the previous years that convened together thousands of participants including international guests, this year’s celebrations will be held virtually to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ariella Kageruka, acting chief tourism officer at RDB during a press conference.
The event will take place on September 24, and will be the 17th of its kind held so far, according to Kageruka.
“This year, Rwanda is inviting the world to be part of the ultimate celebration of life, as 24 new baby gorillas will be named during the ceremony. Since the inception of this annual event in 2005, we have named 328 baby gorillas,” she said.
Kageruka said that this year’s baby gorilla naming celebration will showcase Rwanda’s conservation efforts, including the health of the mountain gorillas and the need to expand their habitat and how the livelihoods of communities have been improved while enabling wildlife conservation.
“The pandemic has emphasized the importance of building partnerships to support conservation even as tourist numbers dwindle. We appreciate our conservation partners who have joined us in this journey,” she said.
The baby gorilla naming event has become a major tourism ceremony in the small central African country. It has boosted efforts to conserve endangered mountain gorillas which have enabled Rwanda to tap tourism revenues hinged on conservation.
According to Kageruka, Rwanda recorded a sharp decline in tourism revenues last year, amounting to 121 million U.S. dollars. This was a sharp decline from the 498 million U.S. dollars generated in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism activities were suspended for months due to COVID-19 in Rwanda before the country reopened the tourism sector in June 2020, with a sharp cut in the price of permits for tracking endangered mountain gorillas.
The previous events attracted thousands of Rwandans, members of the diplomatic corps, foreign dignitaries, sports personalities, philanthropists and conservation enthusiasts from across the world to participate in the baby gorilla naming ceremony at the foothills of the Virunga Massif, in Kinigi sector, Musanze district of Northern Province.
Kageruka also pointed out that through a partnership with Alibaba, RDB has been promoting Rwanda as a tourist destination to China.
“Through the partnership we have with Alibaba, we are continuing to look at how we can intensify our activities by hosting targeted travel media and trade from China that can allow us to penetrate the Chinese market better,” she added.
BioNTech, in its bid to become a “global immunotherapy powerhouse,” announced that it’s looking to build mRNA manufacturing sites in Rwanda and Senegal to support future production of the two vaccine hopefuls, the company said Friday.
The sites would provide “end-to-end vaccine supply solutions on the African continent.” Africa’s vaccine supply chain has come into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, since low- to middle-income countries have had to wait for their first shipments of vaccines behind richer countries, which snapped up initial supplies.
Malaria is an acute problem for Africa. The continent experienced a disproportionately high rate of deaths due to the mosquito-borne illness in 2019, accounting for 94% of all reported cases and deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
BioNTech had previously expressed interest in taking its manufacturing to Africa when it first announced its intentions to develop a malaria vaccine in late July.
Friday, the biotech said it affirmed those plans in a meeting with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
The company has already started evaluating the manufacturing capabilities in each country, BioNTech said. The decision to narrow its search to Senegal and Rwanda came after guidance from the African Union, the Africa CDC and the African Medical Agency, the union’s drug regulator still under formation.
The locations of the sites within each country, which have yet to be decided, will eventually co-locate with the WHO’s upcoming vaccine hubs, sites the organization has used against the coronavirus and influenza to transfer manufacturing know-how.
Developing an mRNA shot against malaria and tuberculosis won’t be an easy feat. While the global health community has set a 2030 deadline to squash those diseases, as well as HIV/AIDS, a lack of funding has hampered vaccine development, according to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation research.
For BioNTech, the company hopes to push its malaria hopeful into human testing by the end of next year. In tuberculosis, it started preclinical development for “multiple product candidates” against that disease as well as HIV after launching those programs in 2019, according to BioNTech’s second-quarter earnings presentation.
The company’s Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine has given it a hefty financial boost. BioNTech expects to rake in €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) in Comirnaty sales during 2021 alone, likely launching the company among the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue this year.
Kagame arrived in Germany on Thursday 26th August 2021 to attend the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Investment Summit.
The G20 Investment Summit is considered a unique opportunity to meet high-ranking representatives from business and politics.
The summit taking place on Friday 27th August 2021; will feature talks from entrepreneurs and politicians from Africa and Germany about the importance of good governance, investment opportunities in the Compact with Africa (CwA) countries and initiatives for trade and investments.
The aim is to attract attention to engage even more German companies in the CwA markets and enhance their investments.
Rwanda’s Presidency has revealed via Twitter handle that Kagame also held talks with other leaders including the President of Senegal, Macky Sall; the CEO of kENUP Foundation, Holm Heller and Sabine Dall’Omo, the CEO of Siemens South Africa ahead of G20 Compact with Africa Summit.
Since 2000, EIB has been supporting different development projects in Rwanda aimed at transforming citizens’ livelihoods and advancing economic growth.
In 2018, Rwanda signed Rwf46.8 billion financing agreement with EIB signed to build waste water treatment plant and public sewage network in Kigali City.
At the time, Maria Shaw-Barragan, Director of the European Investment Bank said that the investment to transform wastewater in Kigali would benefit Rwanda and Rwandans for the coming years.
She explained that the construction of Kigali’s first wastewater network and treatment plant would improve health, reduce pollution and carbon emissions, and make Kigali an even better place to live and work.
The European Investment Bank plans to back kENUP Foundation’s initiative to fund projects meant to manufacture vaccines in Sub-Sahara African countries.
Recently, the CEO of kENUP Foundation, Holm Keller visited Rwanda as part of preparations paving the way for vaccine manufacturing in Rwanda.
The G20 Investment Summit is considered a unique opportunity to meet high-ranking representatives from business and politics.
The summit taking place from 27th August 2021; will feature talks from entrepreneurs and politicians from Africa and Germany about the importance of good governance, investment opportunities in the Compact with Africa (CwA) countries and initiatives for trade and investments.
The aim is to attract attention to engage even more German companies in the CwA markets and enhance their investments.
So far, twelve African countries that have joined the Compact with Africa initiative include Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia.
The event is organized by the Sub-Saharan Initiative of German Business (SAFRI) and the German-African Business Association (AV), in cooperation with the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), and the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and will take place in a hybrid format on Friday 27th August 2021.
The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated in 2017 under the German G20 Presidency to promote private investment in Africa including, in infrastructure.
The CwA’s primary objective is to increase attractiveness of private investment through substantial improvements of the macro, business and financing frameworks.
It brings together reform-minded African countries, international organizations and bilateral partners from G20 and beyond to coordinate country-specific reform agendas, support respective policy measures and advertise investment opportunities to private investors.
The initiative is demand-driven and open to all African countries.
Dr. Bihira who served for different banks in Rwanda has been currently heading a microfiance known as African Agency for Development and Environmental Project (AFADE).
He was arrested on Wednesday 25th August 2021.
IGIHE has learnt that Dr. Bihira, 61, has been mobilizing people to buy shares in AFADE promising them quick profits.
It is said that the latter lured members of the public with promises to conduct feasibility study for their projects free of charge and provide loans through Kanani Project affiliated to AFADE.
“I am among people whom he fleeced money. I have evidences. We made contributions which he embezzled to solve his problems,” a witness has revealed.
It is said that unwitting members of the public contributed Rwf16, 000,000 at different times but never received anything despite claims for their money.
The Spokesperson of RIB, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira has confirmed that Dr. Bihira is held in custody over illegally obtaining another person’s property.
He also reminded the public that the institution won’t tolerate anyone involved in such fraudulent acts.
“RIB reminds all members of the public to be cautious in case they are promised quicker profits. They should be far-sighted and make thorough deductions to confirm if the promise can be fulfilled,” he noted.
The suspect, Dr. Bihira is detained at Kacyiru RIB Post as investigation is underway to file his case to the Prosecution.
Clause One of article 174 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, defines fraud as deception, obtaining another person’s property, whole or part of his/her finance by use of false names or qualifications, or offering positive promises or threats of future misfortunes.
Clause Two of the same article provides a term of imprisonment of between two and three years, and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million but not more than Rwf5 million, upon conviction.
The move comes after KCB Group PLC secured the requisite regulatory approvals in Kenya, and Rwanda making it the majority shareholder in BPR effective from 25th August 2021.
In a statement announcing the acquisition, KCB Group CEO and MD Joshua Oigara have explained that the completion of the transaction in Rwanda will give the bank a stronger edge in deepening the ongoing group strategy to scale regional presence.
“The combined history of BPR and KCB will take the Group to greater heights, giving us a stronger edge to play a bigger role in driving the financial inclusion and economic empowerment agenda in the East African region,” said Oigara.
“This will increase our scale and improve our operating leverage by enabling us to deliver our existing retail and wholesale offerings to a wider base of customers in Rwanda while positioning the bank for sustainable growth in the long-term,” he added.
BPR is a strong retail and SME Bank with the largest branch network in the sector and a long history spanning more than 45 years in Rwanda.
Oigara revealed that the plan is to merge KCB Bank Rwanda and Banque Populaire du Rwanda to create one banking entity in Rwanda to be named BPR Bank.
The merged banks will become the second largest bank in the industry and KCB Group has already appointed an integration committee comprising senior executives to achieve this in a few months.
Oigara says the merger will see KCB Rwanda’s customers access a larger network of branches and agents, while BPR’s will benefit from best-in-class digital capability, transactional banking solutions, trade finance expertise and international banking offering from KCB.
KCB Group also plans to acquire 100 per cent stake in African Banking Corporation Tanzania Limited (BancABC) from ABC Holdings Limited (96.6 per cent) and Tanzania Development Finance Company Limited (3.4 per cent). The proposed acquisition is however pending some regulatory approvals.
By acquiring BPR and BancABC, Oigara says, KCB will get the chance to rapidly upscale its balance sheet and revenue streams placing it on the path to greater prosperity despite the pandemic.
