Idamange is accused of crimes including incitement public disorder, assaulting and causing injuries intentionally, denigrating Genocide evidences, and issuing bounced cheque.
Appearing in court recently, the woman denied all charges.
During the previous hearing, Idamange said that she was illegally detained and asked the court to analyze the case and order her release. Idamange claimed, she was never summoned before her arrest.
The Prosecution rejected Idamange’s objections explaining that they had a warrant for her arrest which happened in presence of local leaders.
The Prosecution said, Idamange was brought to court to face justice for alleged crimes committed through talks aired on a YouTube channel.
She was accused of using the platform to incite public disorder and encouraging citizens to organize riots.
Reading the ruling yesterday, the court explained that the decision was based on evidences provided during the previous hearing and legal provisions and Idamange’s video in which she is heard pronouncing words pinning her for suspected crimes.
The judge said that extracts of the video shows Idamange calling upon all citizens to organize riots at Presidency Office to revendicate against the Government of Rwanda, asserting that President Paul Kagame died, that the country is led by a ghost.
The court read that she is suspected of serious crimes which he would continue using social media platforms when released and remanded her for 30 days.
Idamange, 42, was arrested on 15th February 2021 few days after featuring in series of talk shows aired on YouTube where she called on people to wage riots at Presidency Office.
Idamange appeared in court for first time on 4th March 2021 for hearing on remand or release on bail.
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.
Vaccinated population range from the age bracket of 60 and above as well as inmates with chronic diseases.
These inmates expressed delight for receiving the vaccine noting that it is a gesture that the country takes care of them.
“I am overwhelmed with joy for the gesture as I heard that we are among people to be vaccinated. It reflects how President of the Republic loves us so much,” said Mucanda Vital Kivumbi, a 73-year old inmate.
As Kivumbi explained, he was always worried that he might catch Coronavirus due to congested population in prisons but was comforted when selected among first groups of people to be vaccinated.
Nirere Béatrice, 67, said he felt better after receiving the vaccine and thanked the Government for being far sighted to include inmates among first groups.
“Being vaccinated among first groups is something of great importance that induces smile. This gesture evidences how the Government plans for all people including inmates,” she noted.
RCS Commissioner General, CGP George Rwigamba has said that vaccinating inmates is among best ways to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in prisons.
“The vaccine is of great relevance because it is not easy to maintain social distancing in prisons. The vaccination will relive worries of catching new infections. We voice our appreciation to the Government that planned for inclusive distribution of vaccines,” he explained.
It is expected that over 12,000 inmates from different prisons will be vaccinated first while others will follow the suit later.
Rwanda kicked off countrywide vaccination program on 5th February 2021 after receiving 240,000 AstraZeneca and 102 960 Pfizer-BioNTech doses distributed through COVAX as well as 50,000 AstraZeneca doses donated by India last week.
So far, over 208,000 doses have been administered.
Having graduated two cohorts already, with a third gearing up to join the Alumni community, Tourism Inc is excited to launch its recruitment of the next group of dynamic young entrepreneurs to join this innovative training program.
Inadequate skills, access to financing, and lack of role models are key challenges that prevent youth from starting and growing a business in Tourism and Hospitality in Rwanda and beyond. In response, Tourism Inc plans to select 25 young entrepreneurs in the fourth cohort to receive the right mix of skills-building, financing, and guidance to grow the next generation of leaders in this sector.
Commenting on the development, Sandra Gatete, Co-founder of City Buddiz and a graduate of the program said that Tourism Inc has been supportive in taking her business to the next level, allowing her team to launch, and manage products with thorough guidance.
“They have trained us to be innovative problem solvers, and with that we have been able to stay in business by launching new services that can still operate regardless of this pandemic. Being part of Tourism Inc has enabled me to collaborate and share ideas with other female entrepreneurs with strong business attitudes, and it has revived my hope that Rwanda’s Tourism industry will survive this pandemic and come back even stronger,” she noted.
Beyond capacity-building and access to finance, the high-performing entrepreneurs in this cohort will also receive seed funding grants to further build their ventures. The program will nurture Rwanda’s innovative Tourism and Hospitality businesses, and inspire them, to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
“ESP’s Tourism Inc program is uniquely designed to develop the next generation of business leaders in Rwanda’s Tourism and Hospitality sector; and we’re already seeing a positive impact in our Alumni community. We are very excited about the continued collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation to empower young people, especially women, through entrepreneurship,” said Charity Kabango, Co-founder and Director at Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP).
“To thrive in a post-pandemic world, the Tourism and Hospitality sector will need the creativity of young people. The Foundation is committed to this ongoing partnership with ESPartners to develop and hone the innovators that will expand the prosperity and opportunity available in this sector,” said Rica Rwigamba, Country Head at the Mastercard Foundation.
ESP is accepting applications now for the fourth cohort of this program. Applicants who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
-* Must be a start-up (or have start-up idea) in the Tourism and Hospitality sector (or supplier to the sector).
-* Must be a young person (18-35 years old).
-* Must be based in Rwanda.
-* Must have a commitment to complete the 6-month program.
-* Women entrepreneurs are highly encouraged to apply.
ESP will be hosting online information sessions to provide interested Tourism and Hospitality entrepreneurs with further details on the program and on how to apply.
{{For more information: }}
Visit the ESPartners website: espartners.co or Contact ESPartners Rwanda by email: thincubation@espartners.co
{{About Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners}}
Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) aims to enable innovative, scalable, and profitable enterprises to build prosperity. Our mission is “to foster entrepreneurial solutions for prosperity.” ESP enables people, firms, institutions, and nations to articulate and implement solutions to their economic challenges.
ESP’s approach is to provide Intelligent Capital™—the right combination of insights and capital—to address critical societal issues. We provide consulting and strategy advisory services to diverse clients, including governments, businesses, and development partners in Africa. We support innovative models and provide leadership training and entrepreneurial boot camps. With offices in Abidjan and Kigali, ESP has been in operation since 2011.
For more information, visit www.espartners.co and follow ESP at @es_partners on Twitter.
{{About the Mastercard Foundation }}
The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. The Foundation was created by Mastercard in 2006 as an independent organization with its own Board of Directors and management.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
{{For media inquiries, please contact:}}
{{Isidore Iradukunda}}
ESP Program Manager
iiradukunda@espartners.co
+250 788 406 076
{{Nicolas Emane}}
Partner Program Communication, Mastercard Foundation
From page 44 to 45, the book published in three languages (English, Kinyarwanda and French) shows how the regime of the then President Juvenal Habyarimana silenced and killed some foreigners attempting to denounce preparations of the Genocide.
Many of them were murdered; others were jailed, especially journalists who revealed the truth, for example Kameya André, the editor of the newspaper Rwanda Rushya. It was in this context that Antonia Locatelli was murdered.
Antonia Locatelli, of Italian nationality, was the Director of the Centre d’Enseignement Rural et Artisanal Intégré (CERAI) in Nyamata. Her assassination occurred on the night of March 9-10, 1992, shot dead by a gendarme Épimaque Ulimubenshi.
This Italian educator in Nyamata had welcomed Tutsi refugees fleeing the killers and had alerted several public and private institutions, including the Archdiocese of Kigali on which CERAI Nyamata depended.
Antonia Locatelli had also provided information on the massacres against the Tutsi to Radio France Internationale (RFI). She was killed immediately after the broadcast of her interview in the evening newspaper of RFI. Herkiller was never worried, a sign that it was a remote-controlled act and supported act by the Rwandan regime.
Besides Antonia Locatelli, another foreigner, Brother François Cardinal, a Canadian, who ran the Butamwa Rural Youth Training Center in which young people were acquiring various skills, was also murdered.
He lived in this center with three other brothers including the Canadian Paul Latraversse, Rwandan Karake Evariste and Rwibandira Pierre Servillien.
As stated in the letter dated 2nd December 1992 from Dr. Iyamuremye Augustin, Director General of the Intelligence Service, on the night of 29th to 30th November 1992, Brother Cardinal, aged 50, was murdered by a group of nearly 6 people wearing military uniforms.
He was shot in front of the room he lived in. His assassins then entered his room and stole between Rwf200, 000 and 400,000. The Director General of the Intelligence Service concludes this letter affirming that the population of the region complained of the poor functioning of the security services and the criminal investigation police and suspected that these services were accomplices of the criminals and other offenders.
The assassination of Brother Cardinal does not seem to have surprised those who knew him, in particular diplomats accredited to Rwanda. On November 30, 1992, one day after his assassination, the newspaper Kinyamateka met with diplomats who had visited Butamwa where he was killed.
Kinyamateka reveals that one of these diplomats affirmed that this assassination was foreseeable as long as the brother was repeatedly warned on the phone that he will be killed, and that his killing had been organized by Colonel Elie Sagatwa, the brother in law and personal advisor to President Habyarimana.
The genocide took place in 1994 before the assassins of Brother Cardinal were prosecuted, which proves that in its article, Kinyamateka was correct in claiming that top officials were behind his assassination.
Kagame delivered the message via Twitter handle yesterday as Rwanda joined the rest of the World to celebrate International Women’s Day under the global theme “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world,” while in Rwanda, the theme was “Women at the forefront in the Covid-19 World.”
“Happy International Women’s Day! Today is a reminder that gender equality is not just a women’s issue. There can be no progress without equal participation and opportunity for all. Each one of us has a role to play to ensure gender disparity and exclusion has no place in our future,” he said.
The International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also making a call to action for strengthening gender equality and accelerating women’s empowerment.
The day has been celebrated during COVID-19 pandemic which has caused unprecedented effects in different aspects of life.
At least 3 million African women lost jobs while 1.3 million stopped applying for jobs in 2020 due to Coronavirus.
Rwanda has been commended globally for efforts in establishing policies and laws aimed at promoting women empowerment in different aspects.
Rwanda is now a global leader in women participation in legislative decision-making positions with 61.3% female members of Parliament and also ranked 9th globally in closing gender gaps according to the Global Gender Gap Report, 2020.
In addition, 53% of the Cabinet members are women, among the Judges and clerks, women stand at 49.7% while in the local government leadership, women occupy 45.2 % as Members of District Councils.
International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 9, 1911. More than one million women and men attended the rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.
In line with the Government initiative to promote youth skills development towards 1,500,000 jobs creation by 2024 as per National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), the “IGIRA KU MURIMO” programme recognizes the need to expand inclusive employment opportunities for youth and adapt their skill levels and areas of expertise to the current demands of the labor market.
Since the start of the programme in 2017, different initiatives were undertaken to promote women participation in youth skills development in the trades of food processing, fashion and beauty in 9 districts of the country. In the framework of implementing dual training in Rwanda, the programme considers gender inclusion to ensure equality and equity in the learning process of supported young women and men.
Gender perspectives count for each stage of the programme interventions from the recruitment of apprentices, their learning in TVET schools and in companies, the capacity development of different stakeholders to collaborate and coordinate the implementation of dual training, up to the coaching of graduates in entrepreneurship and access to finance.
{{Women potentials boosted}}
The programme assists vulnerable women to join the programme. Most of them are young girls and single mothers who dropped out from the school, women who completed their secondary or university education but could not find a job nor an income generating occupation. The programme counts 80 women among 121 graduates of the first intake of dual training (66.1%), and 129 women over 179 apprentices in the second intake (72%). This advances the target to have trained and certified at least 153 women among 375 graduates in 2021 at the end of the programme.
TVET Trainers and In-company instructors were trained in gender inclusion to provide the supported youth with equal learning facilities. In opposition to social stereotypes against women potentials, young women proved strong ability to acquire both soft and practical skills in the trades they learned. Some of them are now employed or engaged in their own income generating businesses.
{{From vulnerability to success }}
The Workplace Learning Support Programme – “IGIRA KU MURIMO” celebrates the success of Aline Munyana and Josiane Uwimbabazi, two among dual training graduates who made a successful journey during and after their training in tailoring and hairdressing.
“After finishing my secondary studies, I started the university programme in nursing. When I was about to finish the 1st semester of the 1st year, my mother died. Some days later, my father got sick and required to get treatment from abroad. I found myself home alone to cater for the family and dropped from university. Life became more and more difficult because I had nowhere to gain income to survive. When I was starting to sell our family properties to get some money for survival, I was happy to join the “IGIRA KU MURIMO” programme and acquire skills in tailoring,”said Aline Munyana, one of the programme graduates.
“After my graduation, I decided to rent a sewing machine and started making different styles of clothes for women and men. I also make bags and very soon, I will start to make bed-covers. I am very glad that I can earn some money to address some family needs. Thanks to the programme I got a strong foundation to become entrepreneur. The skills I gained from dual training enabled self-resilience to address my basic needs, and I am ambitious to become an icon in this tailoring sector,” she added.
“I could not imagine what my life was going to be like, because I lost hope when I dropped out from the 3rd year of secondary school after getting pregnant. I stayed home with my poor family. While my parents also needed support to survive, I became an additional burden to them. I struggled to get what to feed my baby son and I was victim of malnutrition, as I had no income. Later, I was happy to hear that there is a project supporting vulnerable youth including those affected by early pregnancies, and then I applied to join. “IGIRA KU MURIMO” programme came as a response to lighten my way to change my life,” said Josiane Uwimbabazi, another programme graduate.
“After completion of dual training in hairdressing, a company that hosted me during in-company training hired me as a permanent employee and I am so happy that I can get a regular income. I can also get extra clients from my village after company working hours. The programme provided me with employment opportunities that allow me to earn money to address needed resources to cater for my son and contribute to my family survival. I am working hard to create my own hairdressing saloon,” she added.
Under the support of Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD) through APEFE, the Workplace Learning Support Programme – IGIRA KU MURIMO, which is the pilot phase of the Workplace Learning Policy, is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) and the Private Sector Federation (PSF). The programme aims at supporting the role of the private sector and training providers in the implementation of dual training in Rwanda to ensure that youth employability skills are boosted to contribute to Rwanda economic growth.
{{Author:}}
Pierre Celestin Muhingabire,
Communication Expert,
Workplace Learning Support Programme – IGIRA KU MURIMO,
Bugesera is among places where Tutsis were brutally killed in 1992 during attempts that preceded the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
From page 40 to 44 of the book, the book narrates how Tutsi were cruelly killed in the night of 4th leading to 5th March 1992 in Bugesera, Eastern Province.
The killing was executed by Interahamwe militia in collaboration with the then republican guards and soldiers from Gako military camp.
The massacre was preceded by a communiqué inciting Hutus to kill Tutsis aired on Radio Rwanda on 3rd March 1992 and read by a journalist Bamwanga Jean-Baptiste on order of Nahimana Ferdinand who was the then Director General of National Broadcaster (ORINFOR).
As he read the fake communiqué, Bamwanga said it was released by Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) leadership that it featured names of top officials in Habyarimana’s regime that FPR targeted to kill through collaboration with cadres inside the country.
Bamwanga said that the piece of writing was discovered in Nyamata from a Tutsi businessman known as Gahima François who was the Chairperson of Liberal Party (PL) in the area.
In fact, the unfounded information is considered a direct way to sensitize Hutus to kill Tutsi.
Figures released by a committee established by Kigali Prefecture on 5th March 1992 shows that the massacre saw 36 Tutsis killed in former Commune Kanzenze, 309 houses and 573 kitchens set ablaze. Among others, 165 cows, 268 goats and 28 pigs went missing that time.
In Commune Ngenda, 36 people were killed, 74 houses and 119 kitchens were burnt while 112 cows, 111 goats and 16 pigs went missing.
The massacre in Commune Gashora saw 84 Tutsi killed, 216 housed and 288 kitchens burnt. Livestock that went missing include 188 cows, 325 goats and 28 pigs.
The report shows that 16,239 Tutsi were displaced and fled to different places including Government’s buildings, churches in Nyamata, Maranyundo, Ruhuha, Musenyi, Karama, Gitagata, Mayange, Rango, Ntarama, Murago, Kigusa and Kayenzi.
CNLG says that the commission that made the report was only comprised of public servants some of whom were directly involved in the killings which makes it unauthentic.
CNLG pointed out that masterminds who should to face justice for the killings in Bugesera include former Minister for local administration and communal development, Faustin Munyazesa for not condemning leaders who orchestrated the killing; the Minister of Justice, Matthieu Ngirumpatse who didn’t bring to book perpetrators and the préfet (governor) of Kigali, Emmanuel Bagambiki who organized meetings that prepared for the killings.
Others include the vice governor préfet, Faustin Sekagina ; the Bourgmestre (mayor) of Commune Kanzenze, Fidèle Rwambuka for overseeing the killing, Colonel Pierre Célestin Rwagafirita, Gendarmerie (Rwanda’s Policing unit the pre-Genocide period ) Chief of Staff for not sending troops to stop the killings and protect their belongings; Colonel Venant Musonera, the Commander of Gako Military Camp, soldiers from the camp who took part in the killings and Ferdinand Nahimana, the Director General of ORINFOR.
CNLG also says that more people who should to face justice for the killings include Radio Rwanda journalists Jean-Baptiste Bamwanga and Jean-Baptiste Nubahumpatse who read the communiqué mobilizing people to kill.
Other people associated with the killing are; Dominique Muhawenimana, the former Intelligence Officer in Kanazi Sub-Prefecture who spread rumours that Tutsi especially leaders of PL political party in Nyamata including Gahima had intentions to exterminate Hutus; the first vice prosecutor in Nyamata, Déogratias Ndimubanzi who whose acts were denounced by human rights activists and independent media houses for his role in Bugesera killings.
{{Prolonged persecution, rape }}
Following the killing of Tutsis in the night of 4th to 5th March 1992 in Bugesera, an umbrella organization of five human rights groups namely; ADL, LICHREDOR, ARDHO, Kanyarwanda and AVP deeply investigated the killing and came up hurting realities.
The first report released on 1oth March 1992 showed that 300 Tutsis were killed. Some of them had been dumped in rivers while others were burnt inside their houses.
The report also established that approximately 15,000 Tutsis were displaced living in critical conditions especially those who had fled to Parishes and schools in Nyamata, Maranyundo, Ruhuha and Rilima.
The report condemned leaders who took part in the killings especially the Bourgmestre of Commune Kanzenze, Fidèle Rwambuka; the Sous-Préfet of Kanzenze, Faustin Sekagina; the first vice prosecutor at Kanzenze court, Déogratias Ndimubanzi and the head of intelligence services in Kanazi Sous-Prefecture, Dominique Muhawenimana.
On 30th March 1993, these organizations carry out more investigations in Bugesera to identify the state of security in Bugesera, one year after these killings.
In the report released on 5th March 1994, these organizations revealed that many displaced Tutsis had not returned home that they were often abused by members of CDR political party.
Among others, the report highlighted that teens had been raped by soldiers from Gako military camp at different times. The killing of Tutsis continued accusing them of collaborating with Inkotanyi.
Some of victims include Nyabyenda and Anastase killed for working for an official in the Ministry of Finance called Mbarute.
Another one called Butera was killed by soldiers in Nyarurama (Commune Ngenda) on 6th March 1993. Many Tutsis were beaten and crippled like an old man called Mutabazi beaten by Gendarmerie troops on 21st February 1993 at the headquarters of Commune Kanzenze.
Lieutenant-colonel Claudien Singirankabo the commander of Gako military camp said that the killings were a result of attacks waged by RPF claiming that his mother was killed by Inkotanyi in Ruhengeri.
Uganda’s Immigration and Emigration officers dumped these Rwandans at Kagitumba border in Nyagatare district, Eastern Province yesterday around 8pm.
These Rwandans include Michael Matabaro, Tresor Hirwa, David Rukundo, Patrick Rugema and Muhammed Ndaheranwa.
They were released after months of torture in Uganda’s prisons accused of being Rwanda’s spies.
Matabaro, 58, is a son of Uwimana John and Mukaruzajye Elizabeth. The man lived in Kayonza district before legally crossing to Uganda in 2016 to install in Kyenkwanzi county where he had business.
Matabaro was arrested by Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on 24th January 2021 accused of being ADEPR follower.
His colleague Hirwa, 30, hailing from Gasabo district arrived in Uganda in 2017. He crossed through Cyanika border and installed in Uganda where he traded clothes and shoes. He was arrested on 22nd September 2020 accused of illegally staying in Uganda.
Rukundo David, 25, hailing from Nyagatare district is another Rwandan dumped at the border.
He went to Kenya through Uganda in January 2020. Rukundo was arrested nearby Busia border on 19th January 2021 returning to Uganda.
Security officials asked him to bail out his release which he denied. Rukundo was detained for three days before he was transferred at CMI camp in Mbuya.
He was accused of crimes including espionage and illegal entry to Uganda.
Uganda has also expelled Patrick Rugema, 22, hailing from Muhanga district. In December 2019, he went to Kenya through Tanzania to visit a relative. He was arrested in Uganda in September 2020.
He was accused of being Rwanda’s spy and detained five days. As he prepared to return to Rwanda, he was arrested again and detained at Mbarara military camp from where he was transferred to CMI.
Muhammed Mudaheranwa, 25, is another Rwandan who went to Uganda in 2018 through Bunagana border in DRC.
He was arrested on 23rf September 2020 and detained in CMI prison in Mbuya accused of espionage too.
As these Rwandans arrived last night, they were tested for COVID-19 and got negative results.
More Rwandans including a woman in critical condition tortured by Uganda’s CMI were deported on 3rd February 2021.
Abduction of Rwandans living or traveling through Uganda is linked to CMI’s close collaboration with Rwanda National Congress (RNC), a rebel group against the Government of Rwanda led by Kayumba Nyamwasa with intentions to destabilize Rwanda’s security.
Through the cooperation, Rwandans on Uganda’s land denying cooperation with the rebel group are arrested; tortured in CMI prisons while others are taken in Minembwe of DRC to be tortured.
Uganda has been arresting Rwandans since 2017 in different operations. The Government of Rwanda has since 2017 been condemning such arbitrary detentions and advised Rwandans not to travel to Uganda in March 2019.
Later on, Angola launched discussions to mend Rwanda, Uganda relations which led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Angola, Luanda known as Luanda Agreement in 2019.
The memorandum was signed on August 21st 2019 in a bid to solve conflicts between Rwanda and Uganda.
Despite efforts to sign the agreement between both heads of state. CMI continues arbitrary detention of Rwandans who endure torture in its facilities.
The Office of the Presidency has revealed that these leaders came to Rwanda to support ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
“The President of the European Council, Charles Michel; OIF Secretary General, Louise Mushikiwabo and European Union parliamentarian, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou are in Rwanda to support the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign with vaccines obtained through COVAX and to advocate for international collaboration for equitable access to vaccines,” reads the tweet.
Following the visit, President Kagame said that he had fruitful discussions with Charles Michel.
“We had a productive meeting with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. We appreciate his commitment to strengthening Africa-Europe ties, including with the private sector. We look forward to collaborating on equitable access to vaccines & improved management of current & future pandemics,” he said via Twitter handle.
The delegation met with Kagame few hours after visiting Mayange Health Center in Bugesera district where they witnessed the inoculation of the inoculation of first anti-COVID-19 vaccines brought by COVAX.
COVAX, is a global initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
They were accompanied by the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta.
The exercise saw health workers, teachers and people in advanced ages vaccinated.
As he visited the health center, Charles Michel thanked Rwanda’s efforts to quickly deliver vaccines to people and commended efficient vaccines administration facilitated by embraced technology.
He said that these efforts highlight Rwanda’s efficient responsiveness in the fight against Coronavirus and assured that the European Union continues to advocate for increased vaccines production for equitable distribution.
The vaccines administered in Rwanda include 240,000 AstraZeneca and 102 960 Pfizer-BioNTech doses distributed through COVAX as well as 50,000 AstraZeneca doses donated by India last week.
As the first shipment of vaccines arrived in Rwanda last week, President Kagame used his Twitter handle to commend the milestone enabling African countries including Rwanda to roll out vaccinations widely.
“It’s been long wait, some better prepared and more ready.. not to mention some ‘more equal than others’ But certainly all of us in urgent need. Now good news to see COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Africa starting with Ghana…this morning in Rwanda and more. Thanks COVAX,” he said.
The European Union is one of the main contributors to COVAX, the international solidarity initiative with recent contribution totaling Euros 500 million.
As of today, Rwanda has vaccinated approximately 200,000 people within three days.
He was giving testimonies yesterday as Rusesabagina and co-accused suspects facing terrorism charges appeared in the High Court Special Chamber for International and Cross-border crimes at the ongoing trial.
Born on 17th June 1976, Niyomwungere is a son of Nzubugize François and Iyamuremye Beathe. He lives in Commune Forest, Brussels city in Belgium but travels to Rwanda often for work purposes.
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.
Rusesabagina claimed he was kidnapped that he should only face charges of arriving in Rwanda illegally.
This prompted the prosecution to request the court to allow Niyomwungere to provide testimonies showing how Rusesabagina was not abducted but tricked by his trusted friend until he arrived in Rwanda.
Bishop Niyomwungere started explaining how he met with Rusesabagina and the reason that pushed to bring him to Rwanda.
He said that they knew each other in 2017 connected by a friend when he was in Belgium.
“I was linked by a friend to Paul Rusesabagina for the first time. I met with him [Rusesabagina], and told me the reason why he wanted us to interact. Paul talked to me about his personal issues, took me through his project, told me that he is the President of MRCD political party against the Government of Rwanda with an affiliated militia group called FLN,” he said.
“After discussing, he said, I have been told that you are a Bishop operating in Great Lakes Region. You can help me to liaise with Burundi leaders. I want their support,” added Niyomwungere.
As he narrated, Niyomwungere told Rusesabagina that he was not able do it but promised to link him to another person. He later linked him with a person from the embassy.
“Few days later, I continued to chat with Rusesabagina on WatsApp or interacted via phone calls. I also visited him two times,” he said.
In 2018, Niyomwungere got information from newspapers and BBC that FLN was behind some people’s deaths.
“I texted Paul asking him if those who killed people belong to his group. He accepted. I felt shocked as a Bishop for having interacted with such a person. I didn’t immediately accept what he said and called him again. Did you tell me that your people are the ones behind the killings?”
“Bishop,that is not the major concern. I am only worried to see Sankara claiming the group’s responsibility for the killings. He told me that they should keep quiet after these killings and announce on social media, if necessary, that Rwandas’ leaders are behind it,” said Niyomwungere.
The Bishop went to explain that he started distancing himself away from Rusesabagina after learning about his acts.
“The word that shocked until today is that it was the first time to ask a person if he killed people and reply yes. That got me nervous as a pitiful Bishop with a mission to spread the Gospel not to support such intentions,” he said.
Niyomwungere said he was extremely moved on and wondered why God allow him to meet with such a person who is not worried of having killed people.
{{Cooperating with RIB }}
Towards the end of 2019, Niyomwungere came to Rwanda during festive seasons and was called by unknown person as he planned to return in February 2020.
“I received a telephone call as I prepared to return. The person introduced himself to me with his names but didn’t tell me that he works with Rwanda Investigation Bureau [RIB]. He said that he wanted me to carry his message in Belgium. I have a friend there and I have learnt that you are about to return. Would you please delivery what I want to send him?”
“He begged me to come and pick what he wanted to send promising me it won’t take long. I told the driver to go there to pick an item someone wants to send to Bruxelles. Arriving there, the person showed me his service card and asked me to go with him. I found myself at RIB,” said Niyomwungere.
The Bishop said he was interrogated and shown evidences that he interacts with Rusesabagina, told that he is suspected of working with terror groups, asked him how he met with Rusesabagina and signed a statement.
Five days later, RIB staff called Michel asked Niyomwungere what he plans to do if released, and promised not to speak to Rusesabagina.
“Going back a little bit, RIB had shown me orphaned children and saw burnt cars due to Rusesabagina’s acts and felt unhappy extremely for having met such a person. Few days later, Rusesabagina told me that he wanted to travel to Burundi,” he said.
{{Bringing Rusesabagina to Kigali }}
Niyomwungere told the court that RIB never asked him to bring Rusesabagina to Rwanda but was arrested to explain his connections with terror groups.
When RIB asked Niyomwugere what he could do when released, he said: “If you set me free, I will immediately stop interacting with Rusesabagina. He told me that I should not do so and advised me to follow up him so that you can alert us if something unusual happens again. I accepted but told them that it is not easy. Since then, I started following him up day and night but my heart was chagrined.”
When Michel allowed Niyomwungere to escort Rusesabagina to Burundi, the Bishop asked how he could help RIB to bring Rusesabagina to Kigali.
“I texted him that it is difficult to do so. That’s when I told him a word that I cannot deny: ‘Michel, why can’t I make possible efforts, please accept that and help me […] Isn’t there something I can do leading to his arrest to face justice’.”
“ I am the one who introduced the idea concerning how Rusesabagina can be brought. He told me ‘why Bishop?’ I told him that my heart shocked, that I never sleep nor eat since I learnt about his acts. I always see images of crying orphaned children,” said Niyomwungere.
“Michel asked me what I think should be done. I told him that I want to do the right thing because a man would rather be a tomb than being a dog. He asked me ‘will you manage to do it alone?’”
At the time, Niyomwungere accepted that he will be able to do it but asked Michel to provide possible support.
Since then, Niyomwungere asked Rusesabagina when he plans to go to Burundi but the latter said he has difficulties of how he will arrive in the country because he would be arrested by using ordinary planes.
Niyomwungere talked to Michel again giving updates of Rusesabagina’s challenges. Michel pledged to cater for private jet ticket.
Niyomwungere later tricked Rusesabagina that Burundi leaders accepted to facilitate the aircraft that will take him to Burundi.
Since then, he started planning how to bring Rusesabagina to Kigali given that the jet was available. The latter denied passage through Europe fearing his arrest and requested his advisor to take off from Dubai where he had traveled for several times previously.
Niyomwungere who was in Kenya immediately went to Dubai to wait for Rusesabagina. He explained that they took off the same day Rusesabagina arrived in Dubai where they flew with the booked private jet to Rwanda instead of Burundi as Rusesabagina expected.
Rusesabagina was not aware but had trusted his friends that he didn’t follow up all details believing the jet cost was catered for by Burundi.
After boarding the jet, Niyomwungere tricked Rusesabagina to sit in a place where he could not see the destination on screen.
Realizing that the flight crew was about informing passengers on the flight route and destination, Niyomwungere said that he immediately started interactions with Rusesabagina and distracted him lest he hears the destination.
As he explained, Niyomwungere again was worried when Rusesabagina asked a flight attendant how many hours it takes to reach Bujumbura.
Fortunately, Niyomwungere said, the lady was not straight to the point and explained hours of flight to different cities in East Africa.
Niyomwungere said that Rusesabagina was tired that time and fell asleep immediately.
“I told him aren’t you tired? I advised him that we should sleep and asked the lady to switch off lights but I was not stupid to sleep. I kept my eyes open. Shortly before landing, they told us that we are about reaching Kigali. I looked at Rusesabagina and found he was still asleep,” he narrated.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, Rusesabagina found himself with RIB staff including Michel waiting for him and took him in a different car with Niyomwungere’s.
“That is when I last saw Rusesabagina after arriving in Rwanda,” said Niyomwungere.
