The Head of State was speaking Thursday while closing the 15th National Leaders Retreat (Umwiherero) at Rwanda Defence Force’s Combat Training Center in Gabiro.
Kagame reminded leaders that the main objective of the retreat is to effect change as they strive to develop the country.
He said that the key to transformation is harnessing the strength of culture. Among the strengths of those who have attained development are humility and hard work.
“We must instill a culture of firmness about what we stand for, and resist those who may want to make us be what they want us to be. Without firmness, disorganization will be imposed on you from elsewhere, and you will be obliged to accept it,” he said.
He said that the discussions at the retreat should focus on why the good policies the country don’t produce the results wanted, and they should not focus on a review of these policies.
“Where we have failed, the right culture was lacking,” he said.
“It is due to lack of these values that people tend to cover up the reality on the ground, and only implement projects when the President is coming to visit,” he added.
Kagame said that the cost of standing on ceremony is bad habits that distract leaders from the things that matter.
“Why should a Minister’s visit to a district outside Kigali be seen as a favour to citizens?” he questioned.
He urged that professionalism should be a habit among leaders if they want to get the results wanted. He added that in order to achieve this, the efforts must be collective.
Speaking to Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, Kagame advised; “You are new and will probably be discouraged by advisors who resist change or reject a new work culture. If it hasn’t already happened, it will. Don’t accept it,”
He cited cases of lack of communication between leaders, to the extent where a Minister may give a report contradicting that of his Director General.
He urged new and young public servants to resist attempts to discourage them, or slow them down.
“Fight back. Do what you know is right for your country, what you have been trained to do,” he said adding that there should be consequences for officials who try to discourage those who want to change things for the better.
Started on Monday, the four day retreat brought together over 300 leaders from the central and local government and parastatals as well as private sector.
On the panel discussion about enhanced quality of health care and Early Childhood Development services was the Minister of Health, Dr. Diane Gashumba; Dr. Anitha Asiimwe, the National Early Childhood Development Programme Coordinator and investor in health services, Dr. Dominique Savio Mugenzi.
About knowledge based economy discussion, on the panel was Education Minister Dr. Eugene Mutimura, the Minister of Information, Technology and Communication, Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa; the Director of ICT in Rwanda Online, Faith Keza and Didier Nkurikiyimfura, the Head of Technology and Innovation at Smart Africa Secretariat.
The National Leadership Retreat commonly known as Umwiherero, meaning retreat, refers to a tradition in Rwandan culture whereby leaders would convene to reflect on issues affecting their communities. The objective of these meetings was to identify solutions and commit to achieving them.
Today, Umwiherero has become a unique governance tool that allows Rwanda’s leaders to hold themselves accountable. It provides with them an opportunity to reflect on the country’s progress and identify strategies to accelerate delivery of national priorities while solving on-going challenges.
The four-day retreat started on Monday and is attended by over 300 leaders from Central and Local Government as well as the private sector.
While opening the retreat on Monday, President Paul Kagame reminded that the retreat is an opportunity for leaders to ask themselves why some issues keep coming up even when they have been discussed several times, adding that the retreat should help devise strategies to improve how government does business and build on what has been done thus far.
“This is the 15th National Leadership Retreat. It is now part of our culture of self-assessment, to ensure that what we are doing helps us deliver our vision. This time of reflection and discussion helps us change what needs to be changed. Leaders must provide guidance working with whoever they need to work with to set the vision for the country”, said President Kagame.
The day two of the retreat featured discussions on measures to use in order to improve agricultural production as the sector dominated by many Rwandans.
With expertise in research, training medics in cancer surgery among other diseases using technology, the centre will be the first of its kind in Africa.
The establishment of the Centre in Kigali was announced by IRCAD France President, Prof. Jacques Marescaux during his visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre on Tuesday.
“We are here because we are also preparing to establish a centre of excellence in research and surgery with the aim of saving people’s lives. We expect to construct the centre in Kigali, but, it will serve all Africans,” he said.
Prof. Marescaux said that the centre will not be the first to be constructed as there are different centres constructed in France, Asia, South America and Africa is the next.
In Rwanda and the whole Africa experts from the institute used to come and provide temporary training.
The institute is expected to be constructed at Masaka, Kicukiro District around the place where University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) is set to relocate to.
Materials for construction activities will cost over $7 million and will come from IRCAD France whereas the plot will be provided by the Government of Rwanda.
No commencement date has been revealed as discussions between the Government of Rwanda and IRCAD France are still underway.
The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Malick Kayumba said that the institute will be constructed for the whole Africa and will help Rwandan medics to improve skills about treating cancer and will raise awareness among cancer patients who need to travel abroad for medication.
In July 2017, the Ministry of Health announced that they had entered in partnership with IRCAD France with an aim of providing ‘Micro invasive surgery training’ to Rwandan medics.
Under the report presented to officials gathered in the 15th National Leaders Retreat on Monday, Ngirente said that 19 targets (37%) have been implemented at 75%; 19 targets (37%) have been implemented by 50% and six targets (12%) have been implemented by below 50%.
“Among achievements in economic cluster is that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has developed. Since 2000 to 2016, it increased at an average of 8%, meaning it grew from Rwf676 billion to Rwf6,618 billion.
“GDP per capita is USD729 against USD1240 that was targeted. The statistics of population under poverty line has slightly reduced from 60.4% in 2000 to 39.1% in 2016,” he explained.
He said that child mortality has reduced from 107/1000 deaths in 2000 to 32/1000 currently whereas maternal death is 210/100,000 from 1,071/100,000 in 2000.
Ngirente said that factors that some targets are not well achieved include poor collaboration among local government institutions, poor implementation of master plan, misuse of resources and forgery in reporting.
Poor use of resources is seen in 2015/2016 national budget where among 139 institutions that have been audited by the Office of the Auditor General, 40% had genuine reports and 50% implemented Auditor General’s recommendations of the previous year.
In the same year, 98 infrastructure projects were delayed and the majority of the contractors had been paid.
He said that some sectors that still lag behind in implementation include export development, service delivery development and agriculture development among others.
Vision 2020 is a government development Programme that was launched back in 2000. Its main objective is transforming the country into a knowledge based middle-income country, hereby reducing poverty, health problems and making the nation united and democratic.
During his opening speech, President Kagame reminded that the retreat is an opportunity for leaders to ask themselves why some issues keep coming up even when they have been discussed several times, adding that the retreat should help devise strategies to improve how government does business and build on what has been done thus far.
“This is the 15th National Leadership Retreat. It is now part of our culture of self-assessment, to ensure that what we are doing helps us deliver our vision. This time of reflection and discussion helps us change what needs to be changed. Leaders must provide guidance working with whoever they need to work with to set the vision for the country”, said President Kagame.
The first day of the retreat also featured a presentation from Prime Minister Dr. Édouard Ngirente on the implementation status of 2017 Leadership Retreat recommendations.
During his presentation that also included the implementation of Rwanda 2020 Vision and EDPRS II, the Prime Minister underscored that the country has been steadily delivering on its vision but that more efforts are needed in some areas.
During the next four days, discussions will feature various sessions including: Where is Rwanda today in relation to the country’s development targets? Prerequisites for transformational growth; Transformation through enhanced urbanization and competitiveness, Education for a knowledge-based economy, Improving the quality of health services and Rwanda in Africa and Beyond.
The National Leadership Retreat commonly known as Umwiherero, meaning retreat, refers to a tradition in Rwandan culture whereby leaders would convene to reflect on issues affecting their communities. The objective of these meetings was to identify solutions and commit to achieving them. Today, Umwiherero has become a unique governance tool that allows Rwanda’s leaders to hold themselves accountable. It provides with them an opportunity to reflect on the country’s progress and identify strategies to accelerate delivery of national priorities while solving on-going challenges.
Guillaume had been in Rwanda under the French-led military operation ‘Operation Turquoise’ under the mandate of the United Nations.
He has, for long, been saying that France supported the genocidal government, but it is the first time to reveal particular massacre that was committed by French soldiers.
On April 7, 2014, twenty years after the genocide against the Tutsi, Guillaume told Jeunafrique’s journalist Mehdi Ba that French soldiers who had been in Opération Turquoise supported the government that committed the genocide in terms of providing weapons which were also used during freeing period to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reorganization to attack the country.
Guillaume was explaining the content in previous book dubbed ‘Vents sombres sur le lac Kivu’ loosely translated as ‘Dark Winds on Kivu Lake’ which has testimonies of what he witnessed while in Rwanda and his 2500 colleagues since June 1994.
The new book set for launch was dubbed ‘Rwanda, la fin du silence’, ‘The end of the Silence’
The book will be launched next month in the France-based publishing house, ‘Les Belles Lettres’.
Guillaume who was Captain in 1994, says that though ‘Opération Turqouise’ was masqueraded as was targeting to save lives of victims of the genocide and stop it from happening, he says the target was to support the genocidal government and fight the Rwanda Patriotic Army, which was fighting to stop the genocide.
He said that all actions by French Army were masterminded by political interests which are yet to be revealed due to inaccessibility of archives containing all information.
The preface of the book says that there is unrecorded information about the massacre done by French army whether in self-protection acts and organized ones.
In 2014, Guillaume urged France to reveal the truth, if they want to avoid the recurrence of similar mistakes.
Convening for the 15th time, the retreat has attracted over 300 leaders that will discuss a range of issues.
Among the issues to be discussed are the assessment of progress towards sustainable development; foundations for sustainable development; industrial sector development; Urban development, economic development; education as the pillar of knowledge based economy, health services development and Rwanda’s position in Africa and International level.
Speaking to IGIHE, the State Minister in charge of Economic Planning in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana said that the retreat comes at a time when stakeholders will be discussing the recently unveiled seven-year government programme.
This is the first retreat since the new cabinet was named following last year’s presidential election.
“When we observe different retreats in the past 14 years, good strides are being made towards implementing resolutions. Last year’s resolutions were implemented remarkably and the report will be discussed in this retreat,” he said.
“This retreat will assess economic development, people’s welfare, governance among others, but measures will be taken to fast-track the implementation of seven-year government programme,” Ndagijimana added.
The retreat will be chaired by President Paul Kagame. The Prime Minister Dr. Eduard Ngirente will present a report on implementation of last year’s retreat resolutions.
The retreat is a tradition in Rwandan culture where leaders convene in a secluded place in order to reflect on issues affecting their communities to get workable solutions.
Miss Iradukunda, 18, representing Western Province replaces Miss Elsa Iradukunda who has been holding the crown for a period of one year.
The Second Runner up is Ursule Irebe Natacha while the First Runner Up is Shanitah Umunyana.
Miss Iradukunda took away a zero Kilometer SUZUKI Baleno car, Rwf800,000 monthly salary and other prizes provided by RwandAir and Sebamed among other sponsors.
Twenty contestants have been in the boot camp in Bugesera Eastern Province during the last two weeks.
{{List of crowned }}
Miss Photogenic: Liliane Iradukunda Miss Congeniality: Liliane Uwase Ndahiro Miss Popularity: Anastasie Umutoniwase Miss Heritage: Lydia Dushimimana Second Runner Up: Natacha Irebe First Runner Up: Shanitah Umunyana
Miss Rwanda: Liliane Iradukunda
Briefing media about Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2017 report on Thursday, TI-Rwanda’s Executive Director, Apollinaire Mupiganyi, hailed media for the unrivalled role in pointing out corruption and sensitising the general public on preventing and fighting graft.
The anti-corruption watchdog’s report released on Wednesday ranked Rwanda as 48th globally with 55 score, reflecting a slight improvement compared to 50th position with 54 score in 2016 but retained best position in East Africa and third tying with Cape Verde in Sub-Saharan Africa which is topped by Botswana followed by Seychelles ranked 34th and 36th,respectively, globally.
Clément Musangabatware, the Deputy-Ombudsman in charge of Preventing and Fighting Corruption, also commended media role and called for concerted efforts from the general public, civil society, public and private institutions to intensify the battle
He listed government’s efforts against corruption including ensuring the recovery of misappropriated funds, digitising services to minimise provider-consumer interaction and tightening laws punishing corruption.
ACP Jean Nepo Mbonyumuvunyi, the Commissioner of Inspectorate of Services and Ethics at Rwanda National Police, also highly recognised media hand in the force’s work against corruption.
{{Journalists cite threats, suggest solutions}}
Despite their role also recognised by Patricia Moreira, the Managing Director of Transparency International, media practitioners and organs told IGIHE on Thursday that they can do even more were the conditions rendered favourable.
Announcing the CPI 2017 findings on Wednesday, Moreira called for increased protection of media and civil society, saying that among the journalists killed in the last six years, one in five was covering a story about corruption.
John Williams Ntwali, an independent journalist carrying experience of 17 years, said there are threats against investigative journalism in Rwanda including limited safety and financial constraints, adding that special mechanisms are needed to protect investigative journalists.
“Investigative journalism is highly risky and corruption is among the issues that are often investigated. Crimes done in the hiding are often shielded by strong powers. People often fear to point out people with extensive authority. We are sometimes forced to drop corruption investigations,” he said.
Ivan Mugisha, an investigative reporter with The East African, said “The major risk to investigative journalism in Rwanda is security. Reporters who try to uncover corruption involving influential politicians or businessmen are sometimes threatened. The second challenge is lack of information. Government institutions are sometimes adamant and refuse to give journalists information despite the existence of a law on access to information.”
Mugisha cited the establishment of Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) as “an important step towards facilitating investigative journalists because now we do not have to worry about jail sentences for writing stories like it was in the past. The other credible step government has taken is to decriminalise defamation.”
Albert Baudouin Twizeyimana, the National Coordinator of Pax Press, a local NGO operating in promoting media professionalism, said there are still security threats against investigative journalism in Rwanda despite good policies fighting corruption, adding that a stronger networking of civil society and media can help encounter the threats.
He also called for government’s special financial support to journalists doing corruption investigation, citing ombudsman office and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning as being in the right position.
Gonzaga Muganwa, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Journalists Association, said that no journalist has been killed or reported facing threats covering corruption but cites financial constraints and skills gap as serious impediments for investigative journalism.
{{RMC, MHC speak}}
Emmanuel Mugisha, the Executive Secretary of RMC, also said the body has recorded no case of threats against a journalist doing investigation of corruption and called for increased public support to investigative journalism, urging media houses to come up with innovative approaches that can contribute to their financial means.
He also urged journalists to take safety precautions in their work of investigation, noting that investigative journalism carries safety risks everywhere in the world.
Peacemaker Mbungiramihigo, the Executive Secretary of Media High Council (MHC), acknowledged media’s limited financial and skills constraints, saying that MHC is doing the best in capacity building.
“We want to increase training focusing on specialised reporting so that we get professional investigative journalists who can do more in fighting corruption and other crimes. We also ask other concerned institutions to keep increasing media’s financial means,” he said.
He added that MHC has introduced training types that take reporters to a certain area and spend good days getting familiar with the residents, making it easier for citizens to open up and tell reporters about issues like corruption.
For the first time, CPI study examined the relationship between corruption levels and the protection of journalistic freedoms and engagement of civil society. It found that at least nine out of 10 journalists killed in the last six years were in the most corrupt countries scoring 45 and less on CPI.
On average, at least one journalist was killed in a country that is highly corrupt every week.
New Zealand leads the CPI 2017 ranking with 89 scores down from 90 in 2016, followed by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Switzerland.
Rwanda leads the East African region, followed by Tanzania ranked 103th, Kenya 143rd, Uganda 151st and Burundi 157th globally.
The bottom five countries are Somalia with 9 scores, South Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen with 12, 14, 15 and 16 scores respectively.
More than two-thirds of countries scored below 50 per cent while the global average score is 43 on the scale 0 to 100 with zero being the highly corrupt while 100 is for no corruption.
