This follows an exercise which started in February.
Affected churches are those found lacking basic infrastructure, poor hygiene, poor safety standards, lack of parking space, operating without licenses and operating in residential houses among others.
In Eastern Province alone, officials say that until Thursday last week, among 3,303 that were inspected, 1,415 were closed. Among those affected are 56 Catholic Churches, 109 Anglican Churches, 121 Adventist Seventh Day Churches and 21 Mosques.
In Southern Province, by the end of last week, 2,514 were inspected and 1269 were closed.
In Northern Province, they closed 775 churches among 2164 available in the whole province.
Recent statistics from City of Kigali show that 714 churches were closed among 1,351 which were inspected in three districts of the city.
The Western Province Governor Alphonse Munyentwali told IGIHE that until yesterday, 4228 churches were inspected among them 2142 were closed and others were given some time to continue operation as they implement recommendations.
However, these affected were given recommendations which they should put in place and be allowed to re-open.
Speaking to IGIHE, the Head of Political Parties and Civil Society Department at the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) Justus Kangwagye said that the prevalence of the problem was caused by people who misinterpreted and violated laws regulating faith based organizations in Rwanda.
“The 2012 law states that when people want to pray, they come together and inform local leaders. However, some went beyond bounds and turned prayer groups into churches. When they pray freely, they do not remember that there are basic requirements,” he explained.
Kangwage said that some people started churches with a small number of worshippers, but did not consider expanding the building when the size of congregation grew.
“Whoever started with 20 Christians or 20 Muslims and they became 100 and did not consider changing the building was also affected,” he explained
He said that others got chance to develop and relocated to other places for them to be able to expand, but they did not inform local leaders, and were also closed.
Mahamat who is attending the ongoing African Union Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali noted that working together as on Africa is paramount.
“We aspire to speak with one voice to our partners. We should prove our capacity to work together as one continent. I’m calling upon all AU member states to have one voice. Let’s hold hands and establish this continental free trade area.”
“The Continental African Free Trade Area, the Single Market on Air Transport in Africa, the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport, as well as major regional infrastructure projects are the pillars of this endeavor”, he added.
AfCFTA is a flagship project of Agenda 2063 of the African Union – Africa’s own development vision. It was approved by the African Union Summit as an urgent initiative whose immediate implementation would provide quick wins, impact on socio-economic development and enhance confidence and the commitment of Africans as the owners and drivers of Agenda 2063.
Mahamat further urged the delegates to act responsibly and take measures to be part of the free movements and trade of the AFTCA.
“One question that looks at us is that can we accept to take the risks together or individually? At the time when the rest of the world is getting together but to forge ahead, we have to overcome our fears and project to the world the united Africa”, he said
The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement with its critical economic implications, will bring together fifty-four African countries and open up a market of 1.2 billion people with the possibility of generating enormous wealth on the continent.
Mushikiwabo was speaking Monday in Kigali while opening the special session of African Union’s Executive Council, a session preparing the signing of the agreement establishing the Continental Free Trade Area.
The AfCFTA will be signed in an extraordinary African Union (AU) summit scheduled on Wednesday 21st in Kigali.
On Saturday another session of Permanent Representatives Committee also took place in Kigali.
Mushikiwabo said that the Africa’s flagship project of Agenda 2063 will lead to the social and economic changes of the continent.
“The AfCFTA is one of our key milestones, a critical initiative that has the ability to bring about the social and economic changes that Africa has been envisioning for decades,” she said.
Mushikiwabo said that with the adaptation of the AfCFTA agreement, it will be important for all countries to sign it so that they can proceed with speedy ratification and implementation.
“AfCFTA agreement is not just a simple document; it has critical economic implications for African populations. It will open up a market of 1.2 billion people, with the possibility of generating enormous wealth on the continent. However, we should realize that what we make of the AfCFTA is up to us. We have the choice to translate vast potential into concrete reality and each of us has to do our part,” she urged.
She urged that the countries have to work on establishing the administrative, legal and logistical structures that will make use of such opportunity.
Mushikiwabo urged that if they want to increase intra-Africa trade, they must address challenges like access to finance by private sector, infrastructure networks and simplification of customs processes.
“With the AfCFTA -related agreements before us, we are now well armed to improve our social structures, improve the livelihoods of even our poorest communities, and develop regional and continental value chains to ensure prosperity and well-being for our people,” she added.
Mushikiwabo reminded that Africa is well equipped to ensure a better future for future generations, and reminded that the Agreement plans to make Africa an attractive destination for inward and foreign investment.
{{Addressing trade issues}}
She said that the Phase two of the AfCFTA negotiations starting later this year, aims for the goal to addressing key trade issues as competition, investment and intellectual property rights.
“This Agreement must enter into force as soon as possible. By signing and ratifying it, we would signal that we are determined to play our part as a global player while promoting the continent’s economic interests as one, through a single African market,” she said.
She said that the move should not only win Africans the confidence of the investment community, but also provide with them increased bargaining power in future partnership agreements and to help secure the best deals for African businesses.
“We need those investments to generate jobs and improve livelihoods,” she noted.
He is accusing Rwanda’s Minister for Infrastructure, Mr. James Musoni, of allegedly wrecking his family, leaving his livelihood physically and emotionally shredded to threadbare. He says Musoni invaded his family, and home, impregnated his wife and produced with her a daughter while the husband was pursuing his studies in Uganda.
Rtd. Captain Safari Patrick accuses Minister Musoni of causing him financial losses and trauma, calling for investigations into the minister’s deeds and bringing him to book. As he talks of his marriage’s ordeal, Safari’ face grows creases with solemn pain.
Safari, now 47, joined Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) in 1991 and retired in 2005 from Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), which replaced the former rebel wing which stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi.
After his military career, Capt. Safari served in different government institutions including Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Natural Resources and Rwanda Governance Board.
Safari says he suspended his job to pursue his PhD studies in 2012 after consulting with his wife Immaculate Kayitesi, now ex-wife because the couple divorced in September 2017 as a result of Minister Musoni’s interference into their marriage.
While carrying on his studies in Uganda, Rtd. Capt. Safari says he was at the same time striving to provide for his family which was in Rwanda and managed to afford it as well as his regular bills on visiting the family.
{{Second marriage engagement
}}
Rtd. Capt. Safari, whose first wife had died leaving him with three children, legally married his second wife, Immaculate Kayitesi.
They lived happily in the first days and produced one child, adding to the three that Safari had with his deceased wife.
Things turned around in 2014 when Safari’s neighbours informed him that they were seeing an escorted man visiting Safari’s home at night and weekends very often.
In his testimony, Safari told IGIHE “My neighbours told me that there was a man who had invaded my home. They told me that they were seeing a special car, that is usually known for belonging to high ranking officials, entering my home so often but they couldn’t know who the man was. I kept quiet but coming back home towards end of the following month, I asked my wife about the issue but she fooled me, telling me they were our family’s friends who were visiting her.”
Capt. Safari says he didn’t attach much importance to what neighbours told him but he secretly followed up to know the car that was visiting his home and taking away his wife and bringing her back many times at night.
He decided to get to the root of what was taking place at his home in his absence. He engaged his house servants who started telling him everything that was taking place at home.
The servants could not identify the visiting man in the first days as they were seeing the car and the visitor’s body guard. Safari asked his wife about the visitor several times but she always denied the allegations of having affairs with another man.
Rtd. Capt. Safari pushed further his investigations because his servants were not getting to know the visiting man. He started surprising his wife with phone calls asking about the situation at home and the wife told him on different occasions that she was not at home, that she was not in Rwanda and she was once in Singapore without notifying her husband.
“I once took a night flight from Uganda and I didn’t find her at home. She later came in the dawn and told me she had gone to attend her friend’s anniversary,” Safari recounts.
{{How Safari’s wife got in touch with Musoni
}}
Capt. Safari recalls the time his wife asked him for Musoni’s phone number and the man never hesitated because the wife was working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), thinking that his wife wanted to talk to Musoni for work purposes.
Three days after giving her Musoni’s phone number, Safari’s wife told him that her sister had got a job at Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) with the hand of Minister Musoni whom the wife praised as a “good man.”
Safari was happy for the employment of his wife’s sister for whom he had paid school fees.
It was in 2015 when his wife’s sister got a job at WASAC and his wife Kayitesi resigned from his job at MINAGRI on the reasons she did not tell her husband and went to work as the supervisor at the construction of Kigali Convention Centre, the job she was allegedly given by Minister Musoni.
{{Banned from his home
}}
In 2016, Capt. Safari says he got enough of his wife’s behaviour and invoked her family but his wife’s father distanced himself from the issue.
Safari went back to Uganda but when he came back home later, he didn’t see their marriage portrait photo where it was hanged in the sitting room and he realised that the wife was dismantling souvenirs of their marriage.
“I insisted much on asking her to tell me which man was visiting her in my absence but she held me in contempt,” says Safari.
He later learnt towards end of 2016 that his wife was impregnanted by Minister Musoni but Safari never inquired anything because he was banned from entering his home. The wife delivered in March 2017.
Safari later tried again to enter his home but he was blocked at the gates by ISCO security guards and called his wife to help him through but she declined.
“The security guards told me that they didn’t know me, they were given job by their boss woman. I left my home and went to sleep in a hotel. That time was at the beginning of 2017,” he says.
His wife told him the next morning that she had employed security guards to protect their home from thieves who had ravaged their area of Kimihurura.
Capt. Safari says he got information several times that his wife was getting out with Minister Musoni, citing an example of the tour they had at Akagera Game Lodge with the two travelling in two different cars.
Safari’s house servants did not know Musoni at first but one of them saw him on television and told Safari that he was the man they had seen many times at his home.
He also learnt of his wife and Musoni’s affairs from the chief of ISCO security guards who were deployed at his gates.
{{Heavy loss of money, property
}}
Before the mess emerged, Capt. Safari says he agreed with his wife on constructing their residential house and they received a Rwf40 million bank loan and started constructing a house in Rusororo, a Kigali suburb.
He kept sending money to his wife for repaying the loan but he was later phoned by the bank telling him his debt arrears were increasing.
“I asked my wife why she had not deposited money to repay the loan but she told me ‘how do you think our child could survive?’” says Safari.
The debt kept increasing and Safari asked his wife to allow him sell their house to service their loan instead of waiting for the bank to sell the house, causing them a loss but the wife declined.
The house they constructed at a tune of Rwf106 million was sold by bank at Rwf51 million, leaving behind the debt of Rwf500,000.
Safari says he discovered that his wife used the money he was sending her in renovating another house located in Kimihurura which he thinks it belongs to Minister Musoni.
He says Musoni caused him all of the problems he is currently suffering.
“He (Musoni) oppressed me yet he was supposed to protect me as a leader. He caused me a lot of problems, he interfered in my life and my family, something abusing the powers of a leader,” says Safari.
{{Wife filed for divorce
}}
Rtd. Capt. Safari divorced from his wife in 2017 after the Gasabo Primary Court’s verdict on the case filed by the wife. The wife never appeared during the trial as she cited pregnancy complications.
After the divorce, the wife accused Safari of forgery of the documents when he applied for the bank loan. Safari was later sentenced to seven years in prison and a fine of Rwf3 million. He appealed for the verdict, directed the court to Rwanda’s embassy in Uganda where the couple signed the documents applying for the loan. The sentence was annulled on February 27, 2018 when the court examined the proofs and rendered void the first verdict which Safari says was influenced by Minister Musoni.
Rtd. Capt. Safari is currently renting a house in Kigali and raising his three children by his first wife and he says he is disgusted with marrying any other wife.
He advised men and women to pay attention to their family responsibilities to avoid conflicts which often lead to murderous incidents. Safari appeals to concerned organs to conduct investigations into Minister Musoni’s conduct which he says does not honour the trust conferred to him as a high ranking leader.
IGIHE tried to get comments from Minister James Musoni and Immaculate Kayitesi from Tuesday but they had not picked our phone calls by press time.
We shall bring out their side whenever they give us any information.
Tumukunde was speaking Saturday in the meeting of Permanent Representatives’ Committee in preparation for the launch of AfCFTA.
Tumukunde appreciated the work of Issoufou Mahamadu, the President of the Republic of Niger and the head of African Continental Free Trade Area for relentless efforts and invaluable contributions towards the realization of AfCFTA.
“As you are all aware, the establishment of the AfCFTA is a critical political priority of our African Union leadership. It is also a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063,” she reminded.
She said that the AfCFTA is not about trade liberalization for its own sake, but rather it is also a political reflection of leaders’ commitment to finding joint solutions for African problems.
Tumukunde said that AfCFTA is a political statement and declaration of the idea of African Unity in economic and commercial terms. She added that without it and Africa’s economic integration, rhetoric about African unity will remain empty.
“With AfCFTA jobs would be created. Entrepreneurs will expand their businesses. African value chains will be developed and maintained, and those value chains will be linked to global value chains,” she said.
“Our young people will have genuine employment opportunities on the continent and no longer hanger for greener pastures in Europe or elsewhere because the greener pastures would be here,” she added.
Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Amb. Kwesi Quartey thanked President President Paul Kagame and the Chairperson for the African Union for his commitment, determination and ability to place Africa on the international scene.
He also thanked President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger for spearheading efforts geared at creating One African Market.
“I urge PRC to lay down fundamentals that enable us to execute the decision taken by AU Heads of State of creating one African market by putting in place the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
He said that African Continental Free Trade Area refers all to political symbolism.
“Africa taking charge of itself. Her voice should resonate with other projects that contribute to its development, especially consolidation of its integration and unity,” he said.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat arrived in Kigali, on Friday to take part in the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area slated on Wednesday 21st March 2018, as well as in preparatory meetings at the level of the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Executive Council.
He will also take part in the Business Forum that will be held on the margins of the Summit, and take the opportunity to interact with private sector representatives.
The Kigali Extraordinary Summit was agreed to during the ordinary session of the Assembly of the Union held in Addis Ababa in late January 2018.
The Free Trade Area is one of the flagship projects of the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 and aims to deepen the integration process. It is being driven forward along with other key related initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport.
Karuranga had been the spokesperson of the interim regime in the last nine months.
In the elections which took place at the church’s Dove Hotel, this Saturday, the committee of five people has been elected.
Elected are Rev. Euphrem Karuranga the spokesperson; Vice-spokesperson, Rev. Pastor John Karangwa; Secretary General, Pastor Paul Gatemberezi Muzungu; Head of Governance and Finance, Aurélie Umuhoza and Pastor Jean Paul Ntaganda, the advisor for Finance.
Speaking in an interview with IGIHE this week, Karuranga said that during the interim regime, the committee had a big job of restoring the order in the church after different problems they passed through.
“We achieved many things including restoring order in the church. We also dealt with debts,” he said.
The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on preparations for the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union scheduled to take place in Rwanda on 21st March 2018. The Cabinet Meeting appreciated that the preparations are on track and that all concerned stakeholders are collaborating.
1. The Cabinet Meeting approved Minutes of previous Cabinet Meeting held on 14.02.2018, with some adjustments.
2. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:
a) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Loan Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 12th March, 2018 between the Republic of Rwanda and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), relating to the Loan of twenty million American Dollars (USD 20,000,000) for Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program; b) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Grant Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 7th March, 2018 between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA) acting as Administrator of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for achieving nutrition impact at scale, relating to the Grant of twenty million American Dollars (USD 20,000,000) for Stunting Prevention and Reduction Project;
b) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Financing Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 7th March, 2018 between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), relating to the Credit of seventeen million, six hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 17,600,000) for Stunting Prevention and Reduction Project;
c) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Grant Agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 7th March, 2018 between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), acting as Administrator of the Global Financing Facility relating to the Grant of ten million American Dollars (USD 10,000,000) for Stunting Prevention and Reduction Project;
d) Draft Law approving the ratification of the Financing Agreement signed at Kigali, Rwanda and Luxembourg on 28th December, 2017 between the Republic of Rwanda and the European Investment Bank, relating to the Loan of forty-five million Euros (EUR 45,000,000) for Kigali Central Sewerage Project;
e) Draft Law determining the responsibilities, organisation and functioning of National Public Service Commission (NPSC);
f) Draft Law on Cyber Crimes;
g) Draft Law relating to the rights and the protection of the child;
h) Draft Law modifying and complementing the Law N° 05/2011 of 21/03/2011 regulating Special Economic Zones in Rwanda.
3. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:
a) Presidential Order relieving from duties Mr. MUNYAKAYANZA Eugene who was Rwandan Representative in Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Authority (ABAKIR);
b) Prime Minister’s Order determining organisational structure, job profiles, salaries and fringe benefits for employees in the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS);
c) Prime Minister’s Order Appointing Lt. Triphonie UMUHIRE as Military Prosecutor.
4. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrément of the following persons to represent their respective countries to Rwanda at the level of Ambassador:
a) Mr. KAREN DRASTAMATOVICH TCHALIAN, of the Russian Federation, with residence in Kigali;
b) Mr. ERNEST JUMBE MANGU, of the United Republic of Tanzania, with residence in Kigali;
c) Mrs. FRANCISCA ASHIETEY-ODUNTON, of the Republic of Ghana, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
d) Mr. LOH SECK TIONG, of Malaysia, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya;
e) Mr. KRZYSZTOF BUZALSKI, of the Republic of Poland, with residence in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
f) Mr. ABULLA JASSIM AL-MAADIDA, of the State of Qatar, with residence in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
5. In AOBs.
a) The Minister of Education informed the Cabinet Meeting that on 22/03/2018 at Serena Hotel in Kigali, the Mastercard Foundation based in Canada will launch a new Strategy for Africa called “Young Africa Works”. b) The Minister of Environment informed the Cabinet Meeting that from 19th to 21st March 2018, Rwanda will host the Sustainable Energy Forum and Africa Cooling Summit at Serena and Marriot hotels in Kigali.
b) The Minister of Sports and Culture informed the Cabinet Meeting that from 21st to 23rd March 2018 Rwanda Archives and Library Services will hold in Lemigo Hotel a Seminar bringing together local and international experts in archives and library services to discuss on the Development of Rwanda archives and library services.
This Statement was signed By Marie Solange KAYISIRE The Minister in Charge of Cabinet Affairs
The burial ceremony was attended by different Catholic Church episcopal from different Dioceses including Bishop Anaclet Mwumvaneza of Nyundo, Celestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro, Servelien Nzakamwita of Byumba, Antoine Kambanda of Kibungo, Vincent Harolimana of Ruhengeri, Habiyambere former Nyundo Diocese Bishop, Smaragde Mbonyintege of Kabgayi, Rukamba Philippe of Butare and Pope Francis’s envoy in Rwanda among others from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
{{Bishop Bimenyimana eulogized as hero}}
Bishop Halorimana said that late Bimenyimana was a person of all people.
“In our country that was characterized by history of divisionism and hatred, he was a person of all people. People who had divisionism among themselves hunted him wanting to kill him, but, luckily he escaped the death several times,” he said.
In 1994, he was hunted but committed to stay together with Tutsi who were being hunt and shared hardships they passed through, he added.
He said that his race was Rwandanship and Christianity. His inspiration was gospel and made him consider all people as brethrens.
“He passed on as a hero, that is why all people who knew him should stick on such heroism,” Halorimana said.
“Other Bishops used to have study visits to this diocese with the ambition to learn from him, the way he managed the church and the way all things developed leading to good gospel,” he added.
Under the message of Episcopal Conference of Rwanda red by Harolimana, they said ‘We loved him and he was a person of value in our shared mission’
Bishop Bimenyimana was born on June 22nd 1953, in Bumazi, former Cyangugu Prefecture now Rusizi District of Western Province.
He was ordained a priest on June 6th, 1980; ordained to the sacerdotal class in Nyundo Parish; and was ordained as Bishop of Cyangugu Diocese on January 18th, 1997. He was made an episcopal priest on March 16th, 1997.
According to the management, the bank recorded significant growth in business.
The bank reported profit before tax of Rwf9.8 billion, an increase of 17% year on year resulting in a cost-to-income ratio of 55.8%, compared to 58.1% at the close of 2016.
The bank’s headline earning per share grew by 11.3% from Rwf11.61 in 2016 to Rwf12.92 in 2017.
According to the bank’s Managing Director, Robin Bairstow, the performance is accredited the passion for customer satisfaction and investment in staff.
“With a constantly evolving economic landscape, we have managed to remain relevant and we are doing this by listening to and meeting market needs. We are also now focusing on new business avenue such as support to the SME sector, and partnerships with the development agencies to grow targeted segments of market such as export growth and tourism,” he said.
The bank targets to steady income growth over the next five years, with Compounded Annual Growth Rate 18% on loans, 19% on deposits and 18% on revenues.
Also, the bank targets to continue to invest in people with training in the staff.
“Based on customer insights and forecast market trends, we shall in the near future be rolling more innovative products for our customers including treasury products which focus on managing our client’s risk, bank assurance and wealth management,” said the bank’s Executive Director and Divisional Head of Business Development, Faustin Byishimo.
By 31st December, I&M Bank’s total assets was Rwf260 billion which represents a year on year increase of 26%.
In 2017, the bank embarked on a new five-year strategic plan which is based on revenue diversification, operational excellence, digital channel optimization and business growth.
The Head of State was speaking Thursday in an interactive session with members of the African Union Broadcasting (AUB) gathered in a General Assembly in Kigali
For African broadcasters to be able to broadcast football or other sports, they need to buy rights from European or American companies.
He said that Africans want an African Union that can deliver, and through that aspiration they can’t stand problems like broadcasting rights.
“It is an embarrassment for example that the rights of Africans playing football in Africa is managed by people outside. There is nothing to be proud of in such a situation. For how long can we continue this way?” Kagame questioned.
“Countries are paying for broadcasting rights. So, money really isn’t Africa’s problem. Why don’t we use that money for what is right for us and actually reduce the cost?” he urged.
Kagame said that Africans need to occupy their space; otherwise others will occupy it for them.
“Who in Africa doesn’t know the problems we have? We can’t keep lamenting over our problems. We know what we need to do for ourselves,” Kagame urged.
He said that for people to speak for themselves they need their own mouth.
“You can’t give someone else a signal to speak for you. We need our own content and our own way of transmitting it, not only to Africans but outsiders as well,” he said.
Kagame said that they have to encourage analog to digital migration saying that people are less driven by deadlines than the benefits they will get. He said that they should help each other to understand that the switch-over is beneficial for the continent.
“Analog to digital migration is delayed but we have not forgotten it. I am happy to push for this as chair of the Smart Africa Initiative, and include relevant partners,” he said.
