J. Cole who recently released his album dubbed “The Off-Season” is among 13 players representing Patriots BBC in the inaugural BAL.
Kagame recently attended the game opposing US Monastir representing Tunisia which defeated Patriots BBC 91-75 on Saturday 22nd May 2021.
At the time, J. Cole scored 2 points in the first 12 minutes 16 seconds.
The 36-year-old Grammy Award winner is expected to play three to six games this season.
Patriots BBC has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Basketball Africa League.
J Cole is known to be a huge basketball fan and has referenced Lebron James and Michael Jordan in his music, but he has no professional basketball experience
In 2012 he appeared in the NBA’s Celebrity All Star game which is held during the league’s annual All Star Weekend.
At the 2019 All Stars game he performed during the half-time show.
RDF statement released today shows that the incident took place last night in Rwamisave village, Nyamuzi cell, Bweyeye sector in Rusizi district.
“Last night on Sunday 23 May 2021 between 21:15hrs and 21:35hrs, about one section of FLN enemy assailants from Giturashyamba in Mabayi commune in Burundi, crossed river Ruhwa along our borderline and entered approximately 100 metres inside Rwanda territory in Bweyeye, Nyamuzi cell, Rwamisave village,” reads the statement in part.
“The enemy assailants were intercepted by a Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) ambush; two (2) assailants were immediately killed, and equipment captured including one (1) submachine gun, seven (7) magazines, one (1) tortoise grenade, one (1) antennae of a Motorola radio and two (2) Burundi National Defence Force army uniforms,” adds the statement.
RDF explained that assailants have been repelled back to Burundi across River Ruhwa separating Ruhororo zone in Mabayi commune in Burundi and Bweyeye sector in Rwanda and returned to Kibira Forest where they have bases.
IGIHE has learnt that gunfire assailants returned to pick killed colleagues around 1pm and repelled back again.
Bweyeye is among 18 sectors of Rusizi district bordering with Burundi.
In June 2020, more assailants from Burundi attacked RDF defensive base in Ruheru sector, Nyaruguru district.
At the time, RDF foiled the attack which targeted a displaced persons camp about one kilometre into Rwandan territory. Four of the attackers were killed.
The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on Saturday night sent about 5,000 people fleeing from the city of Goma across the nearby border into Rwanda, while another 25,000 others sought refuge to the northwest in Sake, the U.N. children’s agency said Sunday.
More than 170 children were still feared missing Sunday and UNICEF officials said they were organizing transit centers to help unaccompanied children in the wake of the disaster.
Goma ultimately was largely spared the mass destruction it suffered the last time the volcano erupted back in 2002. Hundreds died then and more than 100,000 people were left homeless. But in outlying villages closer to the volcano, Sunday was marked by grief and uncertainty.
Aline Bichikwebo and her baby managed to escape when the lava flow reached her village, but said both her mother and father were among those who perished. Community members gave a provisional toll of 10 dead in Bugamba alone, though provincial authorities said it was too soon to know how many lives were lost.
Bichikwebo says she tried to rescue her father but wasn’t strong enough to move him to safety before the family’s home was ignited by lava.
“I am asking for help because everything we had is gone,” she said, clutching her baby. “We don’t even have a pot. We are now orphans and we have nothing.”
The air remained thick with smoke because of how many homes had caught fire when the lava came.
“People are still panicking and are hungry,” resident Alumba Sutoye said. “They don’t even know where they are going to spend the night.”
Elsewhere, authorities said at least five other people had died in a truck crash while they were trying to evacuate Goma, but the scale of the loss had yet to be determined in some of the hardest-hit communities.
Residents said there was little warning before the dark sky turned a fiery red, sending people running for their lives in all directions. One woman went into labor and gave birth while fleeing the eruption to Rwanda, the national broadcaster there said.
Smoke rose from smoldering heaps of lava in the Buhene area near the city Sunday.
“We have seen the loss of almost an entire neighborhood,” Innocent Bahala Shamavu said. “All the houses in Buhene neighborhood were burned and that’s why we are asking all the provincial authorities and authorities at the national level as well as all the partners, all the people of good faith in the world, to come to the aid of this population.”
Elsewhere, witnesses said lava had engulfed one highway connecting Goma with the city of Beni. However, the airport appeared to be spared the same fate as 2002 when lava flowed onto the runways.
Goma is a regional hub for many humanitarian agencies in the region, as well as the U.N. peacekeeping mission. While Goma is home to many U.N. peacekeepers and aid workers, much of surrounding eastern Congo is under threat from myriad armed groups vying for control of the region’s mineral resources.
Congolese nationals are returning home after mixed assessments on the threat by officials and experts revealing that the lava flowing speed has reduced.
Returnees estimated between 8,000 to 10,000 fled to Rwanda last night through La Corniche and Petite Barrière borders among other entry points in respective sectors of Rubavu district, Cyanzarwe and Bugeshi.
Congolese nationals that crossed through Rubavu town were accommodated at Umuganda Stadium where they received beddings, water and food donated by Red Cross Rwanda while those who fled to other sectors were accommodated and fed by residents.
As he returned home, Sibomana Cyprien who spent night at Umuganda Stadium thanked Rwanda for treating them humanely.
“Nyiragongo eruption improvised us that we rushed to flee to Rwanda. We are grateful for received kind support,” he said.
The volcano in central Africa last swamped the city of Goma with lava in January 2002, leaving more than 100,000 people homeless and hundreds dead by some counts. Well over one million people live near the active crater, with Goma just a dozen miles south.
A DRC government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, said Saturday that Goma’s evacuation plan had been activated, as the Associated Press reported that thousands were already fleeing, often on foot. A din of people and honking horns could be heard in videos of the red-glowing eruption shared on social media, and Rwandan officials said that more than 3,500 Congolese people had sought refuge across the border in nearby Rwanda.
As of today morning, it has been reported that over 7000 Congolese are returning home following last night’s incident.
Lava coursed onto a highway linking Goma with the city of Beni, according to the AP. Reuters said it was approaching an airport as the city grappled with power outages. Officials and experts gave mixed assessments on the threat the lava posted to Goma.
A United Nations peacekeeping mission in the area said that Goma seemed safe, though officials remained on “alert.”
“Current assessments indicate eruption doesn’t threaten the city itself,” the British embassy in the Congo echoed in a statement. Celestin Kasereka, who leads scientific research at the Goma Volcano Observatory, told reporters he also doubted lava could make it Goma.
But Dario Tedesco, a volcanologist in Goma, told Reuters that lava was flowing toward the city center after initially heading for Rwanda.
“Now Goma is the target,” Tedesco said. “It’s similar to 2002. … It might stop before or go on. It’s difficult to forecast.”
The U.N. mission MONUSCO tweeted that it was running reconnaissance flights and posted footage of a fiery landscape.
Congo President Félix Tshisekedi said he would cut his trip to Europe short to return home Sunday to coordinate aid.
Government spokesperson Muyaya said that the prime minister had called an emergency meeting and that authorities would set more plans in motion Sunday.
Muyaya urged people to avoid engaging with “everything that is being said in social media” in the face of an “extremely serious situation.” He vowed that officials would do their best to keep people updated and manage a crisis that “touches us all.”
The AP said there were no immediate reports of casualties, as some residents complained of what they said was a delay in information. Dorcas Mbulayi told the Associated Press that she left home for Mount Goma as the volcanic activity began and faulted officials “for not informing us in time about the possible volcanic eruption.”
In one especially deadly eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in 1977, around 2,000 people were reported killed.
“This is the most dangerous volcano in the world!” volcanologist Dario Tedesco told Science magazine last year, suggesting another disaster could strike.
Video of Saturday’s new threat circulated widely. Charles Balagizi, a geochemist and geohazards researcher at Goma Volcano Observatory, posted footage of a towering cloud of smoke lit bright red against a dark sky, with the lights of buildings all around.
Posting another video later, Balagizi said a new “vent” — an opening from which the volcano erupts — had formed near Mujoga.
The three upgraded to five stars are among 31 hospitality establishments awarded between 1 (one) to 5 (five) stars by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) during the Hospitality Grading ceremony held on Friday 21st May at Kigali Serena Hotel.
The 1-5 star grading system helps to differentiate the quality of services that establishments render to their clientele.
The criteria used to grade the establishments range from their location, site, and environment, architectural design and features, capacity, reception area, information services, hours of service, decor, amenities and accessories and regulation of temperature among others as per the ‘East African Criteria for Standardization of Hotels, Restaurants and other Tourist Accommodation Facilities’.
The criteria stipulates the standards that should be met for any accommodation establishment to be one, two, three, four or five stars and are mandatory for any prospective property developer in the accommodation sector in all EAC member states.
It is the first time the ceremony is held during COVID-19 pandemic following the previous one held in November 2019.
The facilities awarded a five-star rating this year include One & Only Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House and The Retreat & Heaven Boutique Hotel while Phoenix Plaza and Kivu Marina Bay in Rusizi were upgraded to four-star.
Seven hotels including Mythos Boutique Hotel (Kiyovu) and Ste Famille Hotel also received three star grading while 18 were awarded two-star rating. These are Vive Hotel and Apartments (Rusizi), Okapi Hotel (Kigali) and 5 Swiss Hotel (Kiyovu) among others. Munini Hill Motel located in Rusizi received one-star rating.
Four-star facilities are The Retreat Boutique Hotel and Residence Prima 2000, all located in the City of Kigali.
One & Only Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House were inaugurated in 2019.
RDB Chief Tourism Officer, Belise Kariza said that the grading of one to five stars should be well interpreted and no level of star should be undermined.
He highlighted that the ranking typically helps both the client and the investor to understand what is expected for a service.
As she delivered her remarks, the CEO of RDB Clare Akamanzi stressed that the classification of hotels is a tool that defines quality standards of facilities and services to the consumer and the industry in general.
“Consequently, the classification of accommodation establishments continues to be a tool we use to raise the quality of services and facilities offered to tourists. It is in part how we will continue being an attractive destination,” she said.
“In order to recover and rebuild our industry’s capabilities, I want to call upon our private sector to continue improving on standards as that is one of the ways of building confidence among consumers of your services. The number of opportunities in this sector is immense, the Government is committed to provide support that is needed to ensure quality standards are achieved and maintained,” added Akamanzi.
Beata Habyarimana, the Minister of Trade and Industry who was the guest of honor congratulated graded establishments and urged them to maintain good services.
“As the country strives to become a knowledge-based economy, the hospitality industry should be at the forefront of providing quality services. The receiving establishments should embrace the grading as a service delivery contract. It’s not just an award but an obligation, which you should be accountable for,” she stated.
Kagame made the revelation on Friday 21st May 2021 at the virtual Global Health Summit bringing together G20 leaders, and executives from vaccine manufacturers among others.
Participants discussed ways to distribute vaccines to poor countries that have so far received 0.2 % of delivered vaccines against 80% of developed countries.
Kagame explained that the global distribution of vaccines is the way to defeat COVID-19 pandemic and return to normalcy.
“First, we have to urgently improve the frameworks and tools needed to defeat this pandemic and others that are sure to follow. Ending Covid-19 will require expanded pathways to vaccine access for populations throughout the world,” he said.
Kagame revealed that Rwanda is in advanced talks with manufacturers to produce vaccines locally.
“In the context of developing hubs for manufacturing the vaccines in our continent, Rwanda is in advanced talks with private firms and multilateral agencies to build manufacturing capacity in our region for the raw materials to produce mRNA vaccines,” he affirmed.
Kagame commended the European Union institutions for commitment to support the cause.
He expressed optimism that the world will find the appropriate solution on the issue of intellectual property to manufacture vaccines in developing countries.
During the summit, vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer agreed to provide vaccines at low cost to poor countries.
Arrested last year, Rusesabagina faces nine counts linked to terrorism, and he is co-accused with other 20 individuals who were allegedly involved in terror attacks that took place between 2018 and 2019 and claimed nine lives.
During trial proceedings, Rusesabagina has been heard claiming that he was abducted.
This prompted the prosecution to request the court to allow a Burundian Bishop, Constantin Niyomwungere, who rused Paul Rusesabagina until his arrival to Rwanda to provide testimonies showing how the latter was not abducted but tricked by his trusted friend until he arrived in Rwanda.
Commenting on why people make a lot of noise claiming that Rusesabagina was tricked into Rwanda, the President labelled him a “criminal” getting fair trial along with 20 co-accused terror suspects.
“What is wrong with tricking a criminal you are looking for? When you get him, where do you put him? If it is in a court of law, I think that is okay,” he stated.
He explained that these suspects who committed these crimes against Rwanda and Rwandans are all appearing in court highlighting that some of them are giving overwhelming evidence against him (Rusesabagina).
“So, I do not see why people make a lot of noise. He is in court of law. He is not just being, you know, hidden somewhere under arrest. He is in a court of law, like many others,” he said.
Talking about the United States and European Union’s concern about him, Kagame stressed that Rwanda has all it takes to try him fairly.
“Sure, I am calling for fair trial myself. So, it is not UK, US, or the European Union. No. I want to see a fair trial myself. Why do you think being fair belongs to Europe, or US or anybody else and not to us – why? This is how people, you see, end up being caught up in some of these useless things, and they end up being racist. It is like the only thing to be fair in Rwanda or in Africa, has to be supervised by Europe or US or some other place. No. Absolutely not,” he affirmed.
{{Excerpts:}}
{{MP: Hello and welcome on FRANCE 24 and Radio France International for an interview with the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame. With me for this interview, Alexandra Brangeon from rfi. Mr. President you are welcome. A recent report by French historians was commissioned by the French President Emmanuel Macron and the report concludes that France had an overwhelming responsibility in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The French President is scheduled to visit Rwanda in a few days, is this a watershed moment in the relationship? Are we on the brink of formalization of the relationship between France and Rwanda?
}}
{{PK }} – To begin with, with all you said, I think this is a big step forward that is welcome by Rwanda and I guess by many in France, that we can have these facts, the truth, established, by independent people, by independent commissions. Because there is a report by Duclert and another commission on our side by Muse. There is convergence as to the facts and evidence for what happened, and I think France and Rwanda have a chance now and good basis on which to create a good relationship as the case should have been. Then the rest we can leave behind us, may be not forget it but forgive it, and be able to move forward. I think that is the most important thing. So, I think we are really moving very well forward.
{{AB: Mr. President you talk about moving forward. Now this report concluded that France bears an overwhelming responsibility, but it does not conclude that France was complicit. Do you agree with that conclusion?}}
{{President Kagame}}: I agree with many things that the two reports established, and I think more work can still be done moving forward, but the most important thing has been covered, and that is when you talk about the overwhelming responsibility. That is loaded, it is huge, it means a lot. So, it Is not up to me to conclude and say this is what they should have said, or this is what it is. But it is something I can accommodate, and say okay, let us go with the most important thing that has been established by both – that overwhelming responsibility.
{{AB: You say ‘accommodate’, but less than 10 years ago in an interview in 2014, you said France was not only complicit but actively participated in the execution of the Genocide. So, what has changed between now and then?}}
{{President Kagame:}} For me I am entitled to my own opinion, because I also lived this situation, I was in it, so I said what I said, and I may even believe what I said then, or even now, but we are talking of independent commissions that went into what they did, and the fact they did not come to the same conclusion one way or the other, well that’s their problem, not mine.
{{MP: United States, United Nations, Belgium – former colonial power, have all formally apologized for what they did or did not do back in 1994. France has not done so; would you like France to do so as a gesture of good will to build this new relationship that you are describing?}}
{{PK –}} All that matter is up on France to decide what they think is best for them. The worst thing I can do, which I would not actually wish to do, is to ever ask anybody to apologize or to do this or do that. I leave it to them because that is when it comes out honestly, genuinely, and people, the world judges, not just me.
{{MP: But it would be an important gesture. I understand you would not go for it, but if it happened you would deem it as an important…}}
PK – I think so. If anybody recognizes a problem and does something about it, I think that would make the best outcome, and absolutely I would appreciate that.
{{MP: As you would appreciate the French Ambassador going to Rwanda after years of not…}}
{{PK – }} Yes, we are in the process of normalization…
{{MP: You think this is on the horizon, I mean very soon?}}
{{President Kagame:}} I would wish that was the case. Again, that is a matter for France to decide.
{{MP: A few months ago, France had Felicien Kabuga arrested. He was the financier, if I may use that expression, of the Genocide. Does this signal in your eyes, that France is really, finally willing to go after these so-called Genocidaires on its soil?}}
{{PK }} – Well, I think it is a good start. And may be more could be done. So, my perspective is that we can encourage more good things to happen, if France is willing to do that. There is still a number of genocide suspects here in France whose cases have not been handled the way they should.
{{MP: Let us take an example of Agatha Habyarimana, the former wife of the killed President. She is in legal limbo here in France. Would you like France to kick her out, extradite her? This would obviously be a very symbolic gesture. It has been hanging over the relationship for years now.}}
{{PK:}} I think we can continue to get things done much better. Whether Agatha or other individuals, they are many here, and as I said…
{{MP: But she would be an important one, you agree with that.}}
{{PK –}} She is one of those. She is on the list, there is no question. On the long list she is at the top. But France will decide what to do. I am not going even to advise them what to do. I can only request them, may be, and that should be done officially in an official communication, but I am not going in any way to tell them what to do. I can only request them what to do.
{{AB: Staying with justice and accountability, last month the Congolese Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dennis Mukwege was in Paris. He called and he asked France to help bring justice to those responsible of crimes in Eastern Congo, some of them were committed by soldiers of the region – Congo’s neighbors, that is according to UN experts. Would you agree to have Rwandan officers prosecuted for crimes committed in Eastern Congo in the wake of the Genocide?}}
{{PK –}} As you might be well aware, the mapping report has been extremely controversial, in actual fact, highly disputed by people in Congo and in the neighboring countries. It was highly politicized. Mukwege becomes just a symbol or a tool of these forces you don’t get to see, and he is made a Nobel Laureate, and therefore is told what to say. And by the way there are also other reports that dispute and say completely the opposite
{{AB: The opposite, that there were no crimes committed?}}
{{PK – }} That there were no crimes, yes.
{{AB: In the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? }}
{{PK –}} Absolutely. And not by either the individuals or countries talked about. It is the theory of double genocide playing out here.
{{MP: In the east of congo the security situation continues to be very bad, some say continues to deteriorate. The Congolese government has decreed a state of siege into areas of Ituri and North Kivu, for thirty days, may be longer; is this a good move, do you agree with it? }}
{{PK –}} The state of emergency for me was like saying there is a big problem here, lets take measures that give us a good start to deal with it. This is why I am saying it is one thing to establish a state of emergency, even me I would do that. But I would follow it up also with a well thought out planned actions to actually deal with it in concrete terms, not to come and run over things again and after five years you still have the same or even a much bigger problem. But we have also had the UN forces, and the UN from outside, for now 24 years. There are still these responsibilities for the world that are kept, you know, silent about or put under… and nobody says, yeah, but what have you been there for all these 24 years? You went there to solve a problem – what happened?
{{MP: It is a failure?}}
{{PK –}} I think it is a big-big failure. It is an understatement, to say it is a failure.
{{AB: Now talking about doing more, your country and Congo seem to have better relationship since Tshekedi was elected. You both agreed to reinforce security at the borders between the two countries to tackle the rebel groups that are operating in that region. How far are you in these talks? Are you talking about joint military operations for instance?}}
{{ PK –}} We are still having a good discussion. But the most important thing here is, at least there is that environment where we can talk to each other, which was lacking before. And then, always people working together will find a solution.
{{AB: But joint military operations could be envisaged? }}
{{PK –}} I guess that would not be out of the question. But it always depends on the situation at hand and what people see, always the two sides will talk and see if that is going to work, what are the costs, what are the benefits, and the decision can be made. I think here people need to be flexible.
AB: Because you know UN experts are saying that Rwandan troops are already intervening in the DRC and already conducting operations.
{{PK – }} Yeah, but I wish they could go beyond that, and ask themselves, meaning the UN: Why would Rwanda have to go to Congo at all, when they are the ones responsible for the situation?
{{MP: So, but does that mean that you are acknowledging that Rwandan troops are in the DRC? }}
{{PK –}} No, I am acknowledging that the UN making that report is actually a failure in the Congo. That is what I am trying to say.
{{AB: They are failure?}}
{{PK: }} Yeah, total failure.
{{MP: So, are the Rwandan troops in the DRC as we speak?}}
{{PK – }} No if we were there we would not be failing. I assure you we would not fail to deal with the problem.
{{AB: So, coming back to Rwanda and your internal problems as you mentioned them, Paul Rusesabagina is currently on trial in Kigali, and he is charged on nine accounts, including terrorism for his alleged support to armed groups. He claims that he never condoned violence.}}
{{PK –}} One, he is not alone by the way in the trial. There are over 20 people who are being tried together with him. They were together committing these crimes against Rwanda and Rwandans. They are all appearing in court, and in fact some of them are giving overwhelming evidence against him. So, I do not see why people make a lot of noise. He is in court of law. He is not just being, you know, hidden somewhere under arrest. He is in a court of law, like many others.
{{AB: You are saying why do people make a lot of noise, also I think probably because of the way he was arrested. He says he was tricked into coming to Rwanda.}}
{{PK –}} What is wrong with tricking a criminal you are looking for? When you get him, where do you put him? If it is in a court of law, I think that is okay.
{{Marc Parelman: But the US, EU and others have expressed their concern about him getting a fair trial. When they say this, they suspect that this is actually not the case because of the way he was tricked, and because they don’t think he will get a fair trial. You have to be concerned when you hear this.}}
{{PK – }} Sure, I am calling for fair trial myself. So, it is not UK, US, or the European Union. No. I want to see a fair trial myself. Why do you think being fair belongs to Europe, or US or anybody else and not to us – why? This is how people, you see, end up being caught up in some of these useless things, and they end up being racist. It is like the only thing to be fair in Rwanda or in Africa, has to be supervised by Europe or US or some other place. No. Absolutely not.
{{AB: Or may be the concern is because several think tanks or organizations have accused your regime of suppressing all types of descent. I will give you another example of the arrest of the gospel singer, Kizito Mihigo, who became a critic of your regime. He was accused of inciting hatred, and he died in police custody. The official version is suicide, but human rights organizations are doubting that.}}
{{PK – }} The concerns will be there, but who tells you I do not have those concerns myself? But everything will be cleared by investigation and through the court of law.
{{AB: So, would you accept a probe? They are calling for an independent investigation?}}
{{PK –}} Independent what? You mean we should always be having independent investigation for things that happen here in Paris or in France?
{{AB: Mr. President you have been Head of State for 21 years. Next presidential elections are in three years. Will you be running?}}
{{PK –}} You know above all, I wish God continues to give me good health, that is at a personal level. The rest about politics, Rwandans will decide, and maybe I can also decide. I can decide even when Rwandans say, no we still want you. That is something important. But I can say you know what, I feel I need to go and do something else.
{{Alexandra Brangeon: Mr. President thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. And thank you to our listeners and viewers of France 24 and rfi – Radio France International. }}
{{President Kagame}} – Thank you
{ {{Transcribed by Kabagambe R. Ignatius – on 18/05/2021. The interview was jointly conducted by Marc Parelman of FRANCE 24, together with Alexandra Brangeon of Radio France International – rfi.}}
{{Kabagambe Rwiyemaho Ignatius is the Head of Corporate Communications, University of Rwanda}} }
Sylvine Vuguziga is among mothers whose children suffered from malnutrition related diseases because she had no kitchen garden and lacked skills to prepare balanced diet.
“When you don’t have either a kitchen garden or money, it ends up cooking food without vegetables. This is what happened to me that my children were subjected to poor dietary intake until they suffered from malnutrition diseases,” she said.
Vuguziga was among other mothers with children suffering from malnutrition diseases taken to nearby health center from where they learnt how to build kitchen garden and were equipped with best cooking practices to feed children with balanced diet.
Since then, she has never run short of vegetables that she even makes reserve for the market.
Assia Murekatete is another mother whose child suffered from malnutrition. Through kitchen demonstrations where they are acquainted with best cooking practices at village level, Murekatete also learn to build a kitchen garden.
“The money I used to spend on vegetables is currently used to buy sardine fishes or fruits. With the kitchen garden at home, my child’s health conditions has improved for good and won’t suffer from malnutrition again,” she affirmed.
Nyirabunani Fatuma has also revealed that kitchen garden has helped her to prepare balanced diet because she crowds different crops rich in nutrients.
“I used to spend much on vegetables and ripening egg plants but I am currently used to eating fresh vegetables from my garden,” she said.
Apart from improved nutrition, Kayonza residents including Uwimbabazi have started generating income from vegetables grown in kitchen gardens.
“My kitchen garden is productive that I cannot consume all vegetables. To this end, I make reserve for the market and generate income used to cater for basic needs, children’s uniforms among others. For instance, I earn much from cassava leaves unlike the past when I would only earn Rwf 700, an amount that could not feed the family obtained from casual work ,” she noted.
Mukanyirigira Alphonsine also makes Rwf 2000 per week from vegetable sales to people who don’t have a kitchen garden.
These women share common understanding that building a kitchen garden does not require huge budget but rather commitment.
Kayonza district vice mayor for social affairs, Harerimana Jean Damasce has stressed that kitchen gardens have been very helpful to preparing balanced diet and reduced the number of children suffering from malnutrition.
“Apart from kitchen gardens, we have also embraced the Government’s policy of planting three fruit trees per household to complement existing efforts to prevent malnutrition. With these initiatives, malnutrition cases have considerably reduced compared to the previous five years,” she affirmed.
Harerimana explained that the Stunting Prevention and Reduction project (SPRP) has facilitated adoption through trainings to community health workers among others to prevent children’s stunting and malnutrition.
Today, Kayonza district registers 91, 000 households and over 70,000 kitchen gardens.
In 2019, the Government of Rwanda and Qatar Airways have signed partnership agreements that saw the latter investing in the construction of Bugesera International Airport (BIA) estimated to cost $1.3 billion at completion.
The agreement spells out that Qatar will own 60% shares of the airport while the Government of Rwanda will own the remaining 40%.
The acquisition of 60% shares went hand in hand with revised master plan to expand the airport and upgrade it to international standards.
The airport will have the capacity of receiving 7 million passengers on annual basis against 4.5 million of the initial master plan.
Recently on 17th May 2021, the Minister of Infrastructure (MININFRA), Claver Gatete told the media that COVID-19 occasioned delays but highlighted that construction activities are currently on track.
“We faced challenges related to COVID-19 whereby limited number of workers was allowed to prevent spread of the virus. As of today, construction activities are on good progress. The remaining task is to fast track the project’s implementation. Despite the fact that we are working during COVID-19, we are hopeful to complete activities next year, whatever the delays,” he said.
Minister Gatete explained that construction activities have reached nearly 40%.
“The master plan which stalled activities is available. Constructions activities are carried out in framework of the master plan. That is why we are optimistic that to fast track progress of the project,” he noted.
Developing runaways and other infrastructure required for an airplane to use the land is underway while construction of terminals will begin in the next two months.
Minister Gatete said that 13-km road to the airport is among other infrastructures set to be developed in Bugesera district.
Bugesera International Airport will be seated on 2500 hectares.
