The Head of State received both officials yesterday after the foundation donated 27.8 hectares of land to Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for the expansion of gorillas’ habitat in the Volcanoes National Park in the ceremony that took place in Kinigi area, of Musanze District in the Northern Province.
The property adds to the 16,000 hectares that had formerly comprised the national park.
During the ceremony, the Tanzania ex-President Mkapa hailed the commitment by Rwandan Government to conserve biodiversity and urged other African governments to follow the suit.
He was elected to the position following African Countries’ request to be represented by Rwanda to the council committee.
He was elected yesterday replacing an Egyptian. He will serve a one year mandate.
Speaking to IGIHE yesterday, Amb. Ngarambe said that the recognition indicates the positioning of Rwanda on the international level.
“We have always been saying how these so called human rights organisations have other intentions in reporting falsehoods on Rwanda including on Human Rights of which reports have no truth,” he said.
“So, when they see how a person from the country they have been criticizing is elected to represent other countries on this council, they should note that such a country has a history and achievements that make other Africans believe in us,” Ngarambe explained.
He reminded that recently, President Paul Kagame was elected the African Person of the year, which coincided with taking over the stewardship of African Union Commission at the end of this January.
“Human Rights and other organization criticizing Rwanda have no reason to do so, they should rethink their criticism, based on how Rwanda’s leaders are rated by other African leaders, on our history and self-explanatory activities,” he added.
Information obtained by this website shows that Agape Church owned by “Pastor” Deo Nyiligira has turned into a centre for RNC covert operations in western Uganda where religious deeds are only used as a cover up for RNC recruitment and mobilization activities.
This church is one of the dozen RNC cells operating freely in Uganda and engaged in mobilizing for this ragtag terrorist outfit thanks to the support they enjoy from Uganda’s Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) under the command of Brig. Gen. Abel Kandiho.
Well-placed sources intimated to this website that Deo Nyirigira’s Agape church in Mbarara is not only a recruitment front for RNC but also a planning base for all RNC clandestine operations in western Uganda.
Eyewitnesses testified to this website that RNC fugitives frequently meet at the church under the guise of prayers and draw up lists of young Rwandans to recruit into rebel activities but also come up with lists of innocent Rwandans deemed ‘hostile’ to RNC agenda.
According to one member of this church, those Rwandans classified as “hostile” to RNC propaganda are often baptized as Rwandan government spies and subsequently forwarded to CMI for arrest and torture.
“For the recruitment and mobilization to succeed those that they see as an obstacle to their agenda are simply framed as Rwandan spies and handed to CMI…it’s a strategy that is working well for the group,” the church member that spoke to this website on condition of anonymity said.
One of the recent victims of those lists is Emmanuel Cyemayire, a Rwandan businessman based in Mbarara who was kidnapped on January 4 by CMI operatives. His whereabouts remain unknown till today.
The group at church does not only stop at recruiting and plotting kidnaps, they also work with CMI to transport the recruits to their training base as the case was with the 43 recruits that were detained enroute for Minembwe in DRC through Burundi.
It should be recalled that this very Agape church is where Dr. Ruvuma, a well known RNC mobiliser in Mbarara was arrested from but later released amidst pressure from CMI. Ruvuma has since continued to operate freely for the terrorist group RNC since his release.
Other top RNC agents who frequent the church are Charles Sande (alias Robert Mugisha) and Felix Mwizerwa (Pastor Nyirigira’son). Mwizerwa and Dr Ruvuma were part of the group that escorted the 43 RNC recruits to Kikagati border post but escaped upon seeing Uganda Police detain the group.
For the past two months, Nyirigira’s church has been active in framing cases of espionage on innocent Rwandans and hence leading to their arrest. This website has detailed information on seven Rwandan businessmen and women who were kidnapped and taken to Kampala CMI after their names were drawn up by a group working from this church.
Pastor Deo Nyirigira fled justice in Rwanda in 2000 after members of his AGAPE Church in Kigali reported him to the authorities that he was extorting money from them and that he was using the church for personal gains at the expense of the interests of the members. Even members of his AGAPE Church in Mbarara have leveled similar charges against him his close links to CMI have helped to provide cover for these corrupt tendencies, according to sources with close links to the Church.
RNC operations in Uganda are coordinated by Rugema Kayumba, a cousin to RNC’s political head, Kayumba Nyamwasa and the CMI’s CPL Mulindwa aka Mukombozi and the duo work closely with chief of CMI, Brigadier Abel Kandiho.
The RNC-CMI harassment and torture of Rwandans has since been joined by the Uganda’s Minister of Security Lt Gen. Henry Tumukunde who is inspired by his anti-Rwanda stance.
The handover ceremony took place in Kinigi area of the Northern Province on Tuesday.
The property adds to the 16,000 hectares that had formerly comprised the national park.
Volcanoes National Park is home of the critically endangered mountain gorillas but the space has decreased by 54% since its establishment in 1925. Due to conservation efforts by the Government of Rwanda and its conservation partners, mountain gorilla numbers are recovering.
Gorilla population has increased from 285 in 1978 to 480 in 2010. Between 2003 and 2010, the population increased by 26.3%. This represents an annual growth rate of 3.7%. The increase in the mountain gorilla population has led to a major challenge for an adequate habitat.
Recognising the need for additional land, RDB Chief Executive Officer Clare Akamanzi appreciated African Wildlife Foundation for the land donation.
“Today’s donation to the Volcanoes National Park is a major step in the consolidation of Rwanda’s conservation gains for the benefit of communities today and future generations. Through gorilla conservation and tourism, we are directly benefitting from these wonderful animals. Over the last nine years, revenues from mountain gorilla conservation and the resulting tourism has brought $107 million into the national coffers,” she said.
Over Rwf531,466, 921 was last year distributed by RDB to more than 158 community-based projects through the tourism revenue sharing programme. The support will increase this year following the government’s decision in 2017 to increase the revenue sharing programme from 5% to 10% of all tourism revenues.
“In addition, in partnership with fellow conservationists, over 700 community-based projects providing housing, schools, health clinics, water tanks have been provided for the communities living in 12 sectors from four districts surrounding the Volcanoes National Park”, she said.
Over 298,000 tourists have visited the Volcanoes National Park since 2006. An average number of 29,000 tourists visited the Park annually between 2011 and 2016.
AWF President Kaddu Sebunya said Rwanda had distinguished itself as a leader in conservation following the most remarkable great ape recovery.
“I am excited by the great strides Rwanda is taking to develop its natural heritage sustainably and guarantee long-term socio-economic stability for its people. Through proactive government policies, community involvement and open governance, Rwanda is demonstrating that development and conservation are inseparable. Such a win-win approach to conservation suggests that there is nothing inevitable about conservation challenges in Africa today,” Kaddu said.
He said Rwanda and RDB had provided a template for sustainable development.
“With support from the Annenburg Foundation, AWF bought 27.8 hectares of land directly adjacent to the Park to donate to the Government of Rwanda to be incorporated into the Volcanoes National Park. AWF recognises that if mountain gorillas are going to survive in the long-term, this park must be strategically protected and we are committed to supporting RDB in this endeavour,” he said.
Among them, 51 students are from O’Level and 102 from primary school.
Speaking to IGIHE shortly after the results’ release on Tuesday, the Head of Examinations and Accreditation Department at REB, Dr. Michel Rwibasira Tusiime said that some students exhibited bad behaviours and resulted into temporary reservation of results for 153 students. He said results for two more students were completely withheld.
“Withholding results is temporal except those two students who entered examination rooms with cheating materials. Other cases are to be investigated and the results can be released based on the nature of each one’s case. There is no tolerance for these students who were caught with cheating materials,” said Rwibasira.
He said the students committed similar faults including the same answers to multiple choice questions, deletions and writing similar new answers while others unacceptably wrote their identifications on examination sheets.
He said that through different measures against malpractices, withheld results were reduced by 50% compared to the previous year.
While unveiling the results, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Isaac Munyakazi said that some teachers are in prison over their bad behaviours in 2016 national examinations, adding that investigations are also underway about those involved in malpractices in 2017.
“We have some cases that are being investigated like where answers for students from the same examination room show that there was an irresponsible invigilator or allowed them to cheat. We cannot judge but institutions in charge are investigating the cases and all involved will face sanctions,” he explained.
According to REB, if students find that their results were reserved, they should go to the board to seek explanations. The students may provide necessary information which can help the board assess their cases and will probably release their results.
REB issued directives in 2017 stating that any teacher found involving in cheating cases shall be denied access to national examinations exercise and face legal sanctions.
Stocked in MAGERWA warehouses, the RMC’s Qurans and 1,444 cartons of ‘grapevine fruits’ locally known as intende, will go to auction on 28th this month.
According to the announcement from RRA, the auction is set on 28th this month at Magerwa in Gikondo, Kigali city.
Both the Qurans and grapevine fruits were from foreign donors to RMC.
RMC was reportedly informed too late about the arrival of goods, making them fail to clear taxes on time.
IGIHE heard that RMC is unable to pay the required Rwf30 million as taxes to acquire the goods.
RMC officials did not want to comment on the issue by press time.
Among other goods to be auctioned are mattresses, generators and machines, glasses and water dispensers and more commodities stocked at Magerwa and Ballore Logistics warehouses.
According to RRA, failing to clear taxes for goods in public warehouses before six months results in auction to avoid accumulating taxes and to leave space for incoming goods
He was until last year a student at Kigali Parents School in Gasabo District, the City of Kigali.
Manzi, 15, has championed the national examinations twice and plans to do it again at the next level.
Speaking to IGIHE yesterday shortly after the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) released results of 2017 O’Level and Primary leaving examinations, Manzi could not hide his excitements.
“I and my family are extremely happy. I was the second nationwide in primary leaving examinations. I was happy and got more determined to work harder which has now resulted into sitting atop today,” expressed Manzi.
In his high school studies, Manzi has been studying on school’s scholarship due to his unwavering performance in class since he started primary school.
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According to Manzi, teachers and parents’ guidance helps him perform well in all his studies.
He said that being organised and reading many books with target to learn foreign languages, doing sports and good time management helped him excel.
“Parents have been collaborating with teachers to help me. Teachers also gave me their attention as a student who wanted to be the best performer. My values are good time management, good plans and championing to always be the best performer. Those things quite help me,” he said.
After being awarded by the school to study the whole O’Level free of charge, Manzi opted to work hard so that he would be the best performer at the national level.
Kigali Parents School head teacher, Charles Mutazihara told IGIHE that Manzi exhibited good performance since primary school, the reasonthey were optimistic that he would champion the O’Level leaving national examinations.
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“I wish to be a civil engineer. I will keep heeding parents and teachers’ guidance and I hope that I will make it,” Manzi said.
He always takes home over 90% marks in all subjects but particularly scores above 98% in Mathematics, Biology and English.
Manzi’s mother, Clementine Mukarutabana told IGIHE that his son never gets tired when working on his targets.
“At school, they nicknamed him Van Damme, (a movie star), because he strives to perform well in everything,” she said.
“He is determined, he awakes early in the morning, he has good schedule and he can’t get in bed before completing all his tasks,” she added.
Manzi emerged the best performer and was followed by Audrey Umurerwa from Mary Hills in Nyagatare District.
In Primary, Frank Mugisha from Saint André- Ruhina in Shyogwe Sector of Muhanga District emerged the bestand was followed by Schadrack Sifayake from Morning Star Bright Academy in Gatsibo District.
A total of 237,181 students sat for primary leaving examinations in 2017 while 98, 268 students sat for ordinary level examinations.
Primary schools’ results show the success rate stands at 86.3% while lower secondary schools (O’Level) succeeded at 89.9%.
Primary schools’ results show the success rate stands at 86.3% while lower secondary schools (O’level) succeeded at 89.9%.
Combining primary and high schools’ ordinary level, 55.1% girls and 44.9% boys sat for exams last year. Generally, girls represent 55.5% of the success rate, leaving 44.5% to boys.
In primary schools, the best performer at national level is Frank Mugisha Nsengiyumva from Muhanga District while Josyln Karenzi Manzi from Gasabo District emerges the best performer in O’level.
In primary, boys performed better in all subjects whereas girls dominated in the category of best performing students in all subjects in O’level to the extent one boy appears among seven best overforming girls.
While unveiling the results on Tuesday, the State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Isaac Munyakazi said that good performance is attributed to the number of students who attend schools. He said attending schools has become an obligation and right among Rwandans.
He said that sensitization has contributed enough in raising the number of students who sit for national examinations.
In primary, 5.2% of students are in the first category with girls representing 43.9% whereas boys take 56.1%. In O’level, 11.14% are in the first category with 38.07% of girls and 61.93% of boys. Generally, girls represent 52.05% whereas boys occupied 47.95% of the success rate.
While appearing before the Senatorial Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Human Rights and Petitions yesterday, RAB Director General, Dr Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe said, the board currently has insufficient budget for research.
“No budget can solve the problems 100% but as Heads of State wish, if we allocate 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research, we will change things, though this is an international suggestion that cannot be easily applied,” he said.
“For RAB, if the budget was raised from Rwf5 billion to Rwf30 billion, there are things that would bring immediate impacts. I know there are different priorities like health and infrastructure but I wish that we get 1% of GDP,” he explained.
However, Bagabe said there is a good step that has been made where research budget was increased from Rwf1 billion in 2015 to Rwf5 billion currently with Rwf4.7 billion coming from the national budget and the rest from donors.
Bagabe said that RAB has stepped towards seeds multiplication after observing that the existing ones do not resist the climate change.
He said many seedlings are imported and sometimes come with pests.
Senators urged RAB to consider the research which brings impact on people’s welfare.
According to Article 82 of RDF Special Statute, General Officers may retire at the age of 55, an age limit which may be extended for not more than 5 years in the interest of service in RDF.
“RDF would like to inform the general public that the request for retirement by Brig Gen Jean Damascene Sekamana has been granted by the Commander in Chief of RDF and President of Rwanda in his capacity as the retiring authority for General Officers,” reads RDF statement.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Jean Damascene Sekamana, who is now 60 years old, joined Rwanda Patriotic Army, currently RDF during the liberation struggle in 1990.
He served in different capacities that include G2 Gendarmerie; Commanding officer, Brigade Commander and Acting Division Commander. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of operations in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Prior to his retirement, he was working as Coordinator of Production in RDF Reserve Force.
