These VUP beneficiaries are from Bushekeri sector of Nyamasheke district, Western Province employed in road maintenance works. From their wages, each of them has saved Rwf 30,000 for a period of one year and bought preferred small livestock.
Bought livestock include pigs, goats, sheep and chicken. Beneficiaries have revealed that these livestock will usher them into economic growth and uplift them from the current social classification category of vulnerable residents to become self-reliant people.
“We are optimistic that these livestock will enhance our economic growth. We shall utilize well compost and sell offspring to generate income. It will particularly help me to graduate from the current social class category,’ said Twagiramungu Naasson, one of beneficiaries.
Uzayisenga Jeannette expressed confidence that her livestock will help her afford school fees and graduate from poverty.
Indemarugamba Felix said that the small livestock will be reared properly and continue embracing saving culture until he buys cattle.
“We earn little payments but we understand the relevance of being far sighted to prosper. That is why VUP beneficiaries should not be stuck in the first Ubudehe category but rather should work hard to graduate from poverty. I will take care of the livestock to produce compost and continue embracing saving culture to buy a cow,” he noted.
Yvan Munezero, the executive secretary of Bushekeri sector has explained that farmers were advised to get insured under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme for to avoid losses.
“It will help beneficiaries to cater for basic needs without reliance on Government’s support. Insuring their livestock will help them to get compensations in case of losses. We agreed with them not to sale livestock but rather grow them to produce offspring and generate income,” he said.
The program was launched for the first time in Macuba sector towards the end of 2020.
As he visited Nyamasheke residents recently, the Minister of Local Government , Prof. Shyaka Anastase extolled residents for initiating the program and urged other sectors and districts to emulate it.
Upon arrival in India, the child was diagnosed with ‘rare disease’ known as ‘William syndrome’ and underwent heart surgery two times for improved health conditions.
‘Rare diseases’ are characterized by a wide diversity of symptoms and signs that vary not only from disease to disease but also from patient to patient suffering from the same disease.
Williams syndrome is believed to be a developmental disorder that affects many parts of the body. This condition is characterized by mild to moderate intellectual disability or learning problems, unique personality characteristics, distinctive facial features, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems.
The child grew with such health conditions and taken to school but the disease prevented him from being concentrated on studies like colleagues appropriately.
Parents sought an alternative, and looked for a private tutor taking care of him alone.
The alternative yielded big that the child’s intellectual capacity developed and became literate. Today, he is attending vocational trainings like computer science, repairing damaged apparatuses and doing artistic works among others.
Parents were delighted with their child’s progress that the father decided to help children with similar conditions to educate them with special attention on areas suiting their capability.
There are various types of rare diseases including ‘William syndrome’, ‘Achalasia’, ‘Trisomy 21’ and ‘Autism’ among others.
Figures from World Health Organization (WHO) show that 300 million people suffer from such diseases worldwide.
Due to the low prevalence of each disease, medical expertise is rare, knowledge is scarce, care offerings inadequate and research limited. This exposes patients to limited healthcare access and proper education.
Health experts show that people with such conditions need special attention to unleash their potential but such facilities taking care of them are rare in many countries including Rwanda.
It is under this context that Manzi and his wife Uwimbabazi decided to impact the society after realizing that their child was improving.
Speaking to IGIHE, Manzi has said that the disease couldn’t allow her child to study advance courses with others and decided to provide special education.
“Our child caught the disease at early age and failed to concentrate on studies like colleagues. The time came when colleagues went to study in secondary schools but the child stayed at home. He would join others in class but couldn’t stay focused with the disease. I later contacted a private teacher for tutoring. The child is currently literate and has acquired basic skills,” she said.
Inspired by her child’s improvement, Manzi established ‘Centre Alliance’ to take care of children with similar conditions.
“I have founded the center to acquaint children with basic life skills including how to read and write. The center will, among other things, help children to socialize and get familiar with the society. We will also engage with parents to comfort them and offer course packages on rare diseases helping parents to take care of children,” she revealed.
Manzi requested parents rush to register their children to the center to get assistance.
“Some parents stigmatize children with such conditions and isolate them yet they are able to achieve great things if they potential is unleashed,” she said.
Rwanda joined the world to celebrate Rare Diseases Day on 28th February 2021. In Rwanda, it was celebrated under the theme ‘I can’t make it alone, but we can achieve great things together’.
The court moved to Kacyiru following the recent relocation of the Ministry of Justice to the building in which the Office of the Prime Minister is headquartered.
The Court of Appeal also moved along with the Supreme Court in the same premises.
The former buildings in which these institutions were operating in Kimihurura are set to be demolished to develop a multibillion environmental-friendly complex known as ‘Inzovu mall’ at premises that used to house the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Court in Kimihurura, near Kigali Convention Centre.
The complex mall to be developed by Groupe Duval will be home to ‘Odalys City Business Apart Hotel’ with 140 service apartment rooms, conference rooms, offices, entertainment and exhibition areas.
It will also have Cinema rooms, markets, shops, bars and restaurants, Forex Bureaus, natural areas, children areas, playgrounds, pharmacies, clinics and others.
Groupe Duval is a French company established in 1996 by Eric Duval. With 25 years experience investing in real estate, it currently has over 4000 employees. It has so far earned over $ 700 million from executed projects.
The company has been constructing eco-friendly buildings in Rwanda through its subsidiary ‘Duval Great Lakes Ltd’ led by Vicky Murabukirwa. Groupe Duval has huge investments in real estate, hospitality and food processing among others.
The project will be implemented on 26,000 square metres where green technologies will also be integrated. The plot of land where the Ministry of Justice and Supreme Court are headquartered was handed to these investors as published in the Official Gazette of 26th April 2020.
Construction activities for the multibillion project are expected to start this year, once businesses operating in the buildings have relocated.
It is expected that the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) operating at these premises will also move to new offices in Remera nearby headquarters of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG).
Kagame revealed this yesterday during the second summit of Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development on Africa continent. The theme of this year’s Forum is “recovering stronger and building better” from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented negative effects on and slowed down economic growth on African continent and took lives of many.
Despite effects of Covid-19, Kagame highlighted lessons that African continent can learn from the pandemic to be able to stand firm in similar future situations.
“No topic is more urgent for Africa. Let me offer a few thoughts on the way forward. First, the pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of increasing domestic health financing on our continent,” he said.
“National health systems have been the backbone of pandemic response on our continent. As I highlighted in my last report to the African Union as the Champion for Domestic Health Financing, tools are available to help governments not only spend more, but spend better,” added Kagame.
Besides increasing domestic financing, the President also requested African countries to strengthen the capacity of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“Second, Africa’s continental health institution, the Africa CDC, has proven its value during this pandemic. It has helped secure and distribute test kits and protective equipment, collected epidemiological data, and supported the collective procurement of supplies and vaccines. We must further strengthen Africa CDC to ensure its autonomy and effectiveness,” he underscored.
Kagame also urged African countries to fast track the signing and ratification of the African Medicines Agency Treaty ‘so that it comes into force, as soon as possible’.
He emphasized that Africa should support the Continental Free Trade Area expected to fast track economic recovery.
“Third, we must double down on implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area, as the key strategy for rebuilding better,” said Kagame.
“In that context, creating robust continental supply chains for pharmaceutical manufacturing is essential for Africa’s future health security. Finally, Africa should speak with one voice on the importance of global vaccine equity, both now and in the future,” he added.
The development is aligned with the firm’s commitment to continue rendering improved health services.
Joseph Ndagijimana, Zipline Rwanda General Manager has told IGIHE that the program will draw emphasis on patients with chronic diseases.
“We are planning to deploy drones to patients’ homes in real-time. There are patients with chronic diseases like Diabetis, or Cancer taking medicaments every day and are aware of prescribed drugs without need to consult the medical doctor every day. We are developing a program in collaboration with Partners in Health so that we can start deploying drones to deliver drugs to some of these patients with difficulties to pick medications at hospitals,” he said.
Ndagijimana explained that the program might start in the next two months.
“We have started applying for licensing from Civil Aviation Authority and expect to start delivery in the next two months,” he noted.
It is said the development is meant to reduce exhausting treks that patients would make to reach hospitals.
Ndagijimana has assured that Zipline continues to introduce more innovative programs to improve health services.
“We continue to draw emphasis on health sector to transform people’s lives which aligns with our mandate,” he revealed.
It is said that patients might pay for delivery cost or have the service integrated into health insurances for subsidized cost.
Zipline started operations in Rwanda in 2016. It has two distribution centers based in Kayonza district, Eastern Province and Muhanga district in Southern Province.
Somalia and DRC have been pushing to join EAC whereby the bloc is assessing their request to join existing country members including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
During the 21st EAC Heads of State summit held on 27th February 2021, the bloc tasked the Council of Ministers to fast track the assessment to identify if DRC meets admission requirements.
It is expected that new and existing members including Rwanda will benefit from the integration from different areas.
A political expert, Dr. Ismael Buchanan has told IGIHE that there are several benefits Rwanda can reap from DRC integration and vice versa. For instance, he pointed out enhanced foreign relations and security among others.
“You know that DRC has been engulfed by insecurity with the presence of rebel groups. It is possible that the collaboration of EAC country members can restore security in the region. Rwanda has several advantages to pull from DRC membership even though the latter also has a lot to learn from EAC,” he said.
“Usually, these countries have cooperation agreements in many ways. If there are standby forces to intervene in peace restoration without long processes, it is obvious that cooperation is key to putting an end to incessant wars,” added Buchanan.
Buchanan explained that these countries’ membership can reinforce efforts to defeat some of armed groups operating in DRC intending to destabilize Rwanda like FDLR and FLN among others.
“It doesn’t put completely eradicate these groups. It is apparent that political is necessary to eradicate an armed group like FDLR but integration can shake the group’s strength. Real cooperation between both countries can be fruitful to fight these groups if they are under one bloc,” he said.
{{Economic benefits }}
Teddy Kaberuka, an economic expert has told IGIHE that Rwanda will also benefit from economic development through facilitating free movement.
“You know well that EAC has ratified trade agreements exempting import duties. This means, custom duties for DRC imports will be exempted. Our exports to the country will also get boost because custom duties will have been exempted on both sides. In fact, it can promote trade between both countries and enable traders to reap bigger returns,” she said.
EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation of 6 Partner States: the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC is home to 177 million citizens, of which over 22% is urban population.
With a land area of 2.5 million square kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$ 193 billion (EAC Statistics for 2019), its realisation bears great strategic and geopolitical significance and prospects for the renewed and reinvigorated EAC.
The work of the EAC is guided by its Treaty which established the Community. It was signed on 30 November 1999 and entered into force on 7 July 2000 following its ratification by the original three Partner States: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Rwanda and Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18 June 2007 and became full members of the community with effect from 1 July 2007. The Republic of South Sudan acceded to the treaty on 15th April 2016 and become a full member on 15th August 2016.
As one of the fastest growing regional economic blocs, the EAC is widening and deepening co-operation among the partner states in various key spheres for their mutual benefit. These spheres include political, economic and social.
In his remarks, President Kagame noted that the positive examples of cooperation through the East African Community institutions has played a role in mitigating the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that ‘the regional focus now should be on rebuilding stronger than before, with closer regional cooperation as a pillar of our resilience and prosperity’.
During the summit, President Kagame handed over the chairmanship of the East African Community to the new chairperson, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya.
{{Full speech: }}
-* Excellency, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Chairperson of the Summit
-* Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
-* Secretary-General
-* Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I first wish to congratulate the new Chairperson of the Summit, my brother President Uhuru Kenyatta.
I also extend a warm welcome to our new Secretary-General, Dr Peter Mathuki. We look forward to working closely with you.
I thank our outgoing Secretary-General, Ambassador Libérat Mfumukeko, for his dedication and service to our organisation, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
Let me also thank the Heads of State, as well as the East African Community Secretariat, for the cooperation afforded to Rwanda during our tenure as Chair.
This has been a year like no other, for East Africa and for the world.
Our health systems have been challenged like never before, and the disruption to travel and trade has been significant.
This situation has had real impacts on the well-being and livelihoods of our people.
However, the positive examples of cooperation we have seen, through our East African Community institutions, has played a role in mitigating the effects of the pandemic.
Our focus now should be on rebuilding stronger than before, with closer regional cooperation as a pillar of our resilience and prosperity.
Let us continue in this spirit, and actually do even more and better, together.
The Qatar based television, Al Jazeera yesterday aired 24-minute story about Rusesabagina’s trial.
The talk show dubbed ’Up Front’ of the television, shows that Minister Busingye was invited twice for an interview with a journalist hailing from America, Marc Lamont Hill, 42, who is also a lecturer at Temple University in Philadelphia.
In the first part of the interview, the journalist asked different questions related to how Rusesabagina arrived in Rwanda where the Minister replied that Rusesabagina arrived in Kigali willingly and arrested.
Minister Busingye declined to provide much detail noting that his case is handled in court where everything will be made clear.
The first part of the interview lasts 12 minutes. In the second part, the journalist played a video featuring statements made during Minister Busingye’s interactions with his advisors where he emphasized that there are laws allowing prisons to have access to activities taking place inside including rights to see letters sent to prisons.
During interactions with advisors, he explained that the prison saw a letter detailing plans to facilitate Rusesabagina to escape sent by his daughter.
The Minister revealed that the prison saw the letter and returned it to Rusesabagina.
Recorded private discussions also show Busingye and advisors discussing about the jet which brought Rusesabagina to Kigali and what to explain in the interview.
When the journalist asked who paid the jet, Busingye replied that Rwanda provided payments to the person who brought Rusesabagina to Kigali without violating any laws.
He highlighted that the Government only facilitated the man who brought Rusesabagina to Rwanda.
Marc Lamont Hill yesterday wrote via his Twitter handle that staff of the Ministry accidentally sent the video to Aljazeera.
Moments before my Up Front interview with Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, his team accidentally sent us a video of them discussing and preparing for our interview. On that video, they made statements that clearly contradicted their public statements’.
{{MINIJUST provides clarifications}}
The statement released on Friday 26th February 2021 by the Ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) shows that private discussions with Minister Busingye and his advisors seen on Aljazeera don’t reflect the policy of Rwanda Government.
“The Ministry of justice wished to clarify some of the issues raised in an interview with the Minister of Justice broadcast by Aljazeera English on 26th February 2021, and which was based in part on private recording that doesn’t reflect government policy,” reads the statement in part.
“The Minister confirmed that the Government of Rwanda facilitated the journey that led to Paul Rusesabagina’s arrest in Kigali in August 2020, a fact that has been in public domain since September 2020. The Government’s position, which it has argued in court, is that this arrest was legal and proper, and at no time were Mr Rusesabagina’s rights violated,” adds the statement.
The statement also reads that, the Minister confirmed that the privacy of defense communications between lawyers and clients, including those in provisional detention is protected under Rwandan law.
Among others, the Minister highlighted that all other materials entering a prison, including non-privileged correspondence, is subject to routine safety checks by the Rwanda Correctional Service, according to established rules that RCS is mandated to implement.
“When the Minister became aware of a possible violation in December 2020, he immediately instructed that the relevant documents be returned to Mr. Rusesabagina and that RCS take greater care to distinguish privileged from non-privileged documentation,” reads the statement.
The statement further reads that the ‘Minister did not address this matter directly in an interview with Aljazeera knowing that a legal challenge by Mr. Rusesabagina’s defense lawyers on this point was likely, a challenge which was in fact raised in court on 26th February’.
The Ministry also revealed that ‘additional corrective action may be taken by the Ministry of Justice based on the court’s findings’.
Pastor Niyomwungere, 44, is a Burundian with Belgian and Rwandan nationality who brought Rusesabagina to Rwanda.
In mid February 2021, he told Jeune Afrique (through a virtual interview) how Rusesabagina arrived in Kigali.
“He asked me to escort him in Burundi. I never invited him. He wanted to meet with FLN leaders in Burundi and Burundian leaders as well. He wanted me to escort and link him with these leaders,” he said.
Niyomwungere explained that Rwanda Investigation Bureau helped him to plan how Rusesabagina will be arrested in Rwanda.
“My intention was to bring him to Rwanda secretly. I asked him to book a private jet and cheated him that Burundian leaders have agreed to cater for payments. He accepted,” he revealed.
Rusesabagina arrived in Dubai on 27th August 2020 from Dallas in Chicago. Pastor Niyomwungere had arrived earlier and welcomed Rusesabagina to Ibis Hotel.
After having rest, Rusesabagina and Niyomwungere went to Dubai airport where they took a private jet ‘Challenger 605’ belonging to GainJet Airline which brought them to Kigali.
Saint Michel Cathedral is located in Kiyovu, Nyarugenge district. The ground where the cathedral is located is small that expansion activities seem impossible.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Archbishop of Kigali Antoine Cardinal Kambanda revealed that Kigali has had a plan to build a large cathedral because the existing one is relatively small that expansions seem impossible.
In January 2020, it was announced that the of 5.5 hectare piece of land where seated former Nyarugenge prison was given to the Catholic Church that was required to make a study plan of how the land will be utilized.
Cardinal Kambanda has explained that following the acquisition of the land, the church is currently doing a study complying with Kigali city master plan.
“The next move was to make study plan which is being developed. We gradually provide updates of the progress,” he said.
He revealed that developing a new state-of-the art cathedral doesn’t mean buildings of Saint Michel will be demolished.
The last group of inmates from the ‘1930’ prison were relocated from the historical prison in July 2018 to the new Mageragere correctional facility.
During the ceremony to install Antoine Kambanda as the Archbishop of Kigali Diocese early 2019, he told the tens of thousands of Christians including President Paul Kagame that it was time to have a cathedral that matches the beauty and modernity of the City of Kigali.
“The City of Kigali has developed in remarkable ways. We thank our leadership, particularly the President, for the infrastructure and cleanliness, which is admired by all our visitors. My wish is that we can build a cathedral that is in line with the current Kigali trends,” he said.
In his speech at the ceremony, President Kagame responded to this wish with a pledge to join the church in building the cathedral.
“We shall work together to build it. We will build a new and great cathedral and when that time comes, we shall, if possible build it in a new location. All this will depend on the wishes of the Catholic Church,” he said.
Individuals who spoke to IGIHE have appealed to the Government to ease restrictions so that they can return to work.
“We are leading hard life. We have not been working for over ten months yet we used to get whatever we want from our pocket. We need advocacy to return to work,” said Munyentwari Olivier.
Kamazi Anaclet who worked with a betting company in Nyabugogo, Nyarugenge district, has revealed that he is accommodated by a friend and rarely finds food.
“I left the landlord’s house because I couldn’t afford rental fees. I live by God’s grace and can only eat when Samaritans invite me for lunch,” he said.
Rwamasunzu Patrick, the former Manager of Lucky Bet, currently working as the Secretary of the Association of Gaming Companies said he applied for another job to find means to feed his family.
“I was the Manager at Lucky Bet but the company could not pay salaries when Covid-19 emerged. We were not laid off but didn’t receive salaries. We however do not blame the company because the crisis was brought by Coronavirus. I decided to seek other means to survive with my family,” he explained.
Rwamasunzu said that over 2000 employees working with betting companies lost jobs and appealed to the Government to help these companies run activities online.
Samuel Kamugisha, the Director General in Charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) has told IGIHE that gaming is not the only activity prohibited due to COVID-19 containment measures.
“Gaming operations are not the only businesses prohibited. They don’t neither contribute huge amounts through taxes nor provide the largest number of employments. They are mainly gaming activities for leisure yet such sporting activities are prohibited,” he noted.
Kamugisha explained that only one gaming company registered for online operations while others opted for land based gaming.
As he said, the licensed online gaming company is under the pilot phase to establish whether such services could be successful in Rwanda.
Rwanda has 24 registered gaming companies among whom; Gorilla Games is the only licensed online gaming company that began activities in 2019.
