Gatsinzi was kidnaped in Uganda a fortnight ago by men clad in Uganda’s military uniform suspected to be agents of Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI).
He was captured when he was visiting his son who studies in Uganda and was returned to Rwanda on Friday.
Seated in a wheelchair and recounting his ordeal to journalists at Rwanda National Police Headquarters in Kigali, Gatsinzi said that he was detained incommunicado with his face covered. He said the torture lasted for 12 days.
{{How he was detained}}
Gatsinzi says that he was in Kampala city when one of military men deceived him that there was a Rwandan colleague identified as Rugema who wanted to talk to him.
It is in that time when men clad in military uniform forced him into a car and Rugema told Gatsinzi “you shot Kayumba and the bullet remains still inside him.” Rugema is Kayumba Nyamwasa’s niece.
Kayumba is former Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Army. He fled to South Africa in 2010 and was sentenced in absentia to 24 years in prison by the Military High Court in Kigali over terrorist acts. Nyamwasa was shot in the stomach in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2010. He blamed the murder attempt on the Government of Rwanda which rejected the allegations.
Another Rwandan citizen, Rutagungira, was kidnapped by Ugandan security operatives in August this year and held incommunicado at Mbuya military barracks for months where he was subjected to terrible torture before being dragged into court.
Yamamoto was responding to IGIHE reporter’s question during the Africa Conference Call about U.S strategic priorities in Africa. The discussion with the reporter from different countries around Africa revolved around Yamamoto’s recent visit on the continent.
Yamamoto visited Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda early this month.
Yamamoto said that Kagame is the right person to address different issues in AU countries, considering all he has articulated over the years in the leadership of Rwanda.
He said there are commonalities towards some basic fundamental issues to think about and act.
Yamamoto said that Kagame is very situated to think about how to stabilize security in Somalia, to respond to crisis facing South Sudan, the G5 issues facing ISIS and Boko Haram, stability in Nigeria as well as the Nile River issue with Egypt.
“I think President Kagame, being a very neutral person on a lot of these issues, is situated very well. But again, we also all agree that we’ve got to move forward on institution building. And as we always say, if you take Africa as a snapshot today, we see a lot of challenges,” he said.
Yamamoto lauded democracy strides in Africa, saying that the number of democratic or democratic-leaning countries with fair and open elections has increased to almost two dozen over the last years.
“And so that means you have greater stability in Africa, and what we want to do is to build on that, and the fragile democratic state, is to strengthen them,” he added.
Yamamoto promised good relationship with Kagame during his one-year term at the helm of the continent as the Chairperson of AU.
“And I think we’ll have a great relationship with President Kagame, but also other leaders from the African Union and the regional states. I look forward to a very dynamic, open, and progressive movement when he takes over the African Union,” he added.
Rwanda was elected to head the AU Commission in the 29th AU summit that took place in Ethiopia in July, this year. President Kagame will lead AU in 2018, taking over from Guinea President, Alpha Condé.
Tigo Rwanda will hand in all operations to Airtel as soon as Rwanda Utility and Regulatory Authority (RURA) approves the merger which is expected to take between one and three months, starting the deal signing early this week.
The deal might have caused uncertainty among subscribers, retailers, agents, distributors and any other person in touch with the two companies but, in fact, the merger is more of benefits than liabilities in all angles, according to Airtel.
Airtel has answered the questions most people might be wondering about in these interview excerpts:
{{General information}}
{{Question 1. What is happening now?}}
Airtel and Tigo are awaiting the requisite regulatory approvals and everything remains the same for now.
{{Question 2. When the transaction has received regulatory approvals, what is next?}}
The two entities will commence the actual integration process which entails consolidating our customers, operations, people and infrastructure.
{{Question 3. Why are the two companies combining their operations?}}
We strongly believe that consolidation will lead to a greater industry stability, scalability, and better quality of service and innovation that will benefit the customer. The integration will allow us to leverage the strengths of both entities to better serve our customers.
{{Question 4. How will this merger benefit customers?}}
The benefits of the merger will include improved coverage and enhanced customer experience across a wider network of customer touch points. Our combined customers will now be part of a bigger family benefiting from competitively priced services.
Our Mobile Financial Services footprint will be greatly enhanced with combined agent networks and platforms.
{{Question 5. What will happen to customer’s SIM cards? Will they have to change their phone numbers?}}
Customers’ SIM cards and mobile numbers will not change. There will be no interruption to customers’ experience on both networks for the moment.
{{Question 6. What will happen to funds in customers Airtel Money and Tigo Cash wallets?}}
Their funds are safe and secured and they will continue to use their Airtel Money and Tigo Cash to pay for goods and services. Funds on customers’ wallets are always held in trust by our partner banks.
{{Question 7. What will be the name of the joint entity?}}
Airtel Rwanda.
{{Question 8. Which number will be used by customers?}}
Both. Our joint customers will continue to use their current SIM cards and phone numbers.
{{Question 9. Do customers need to re-register their SIM Cards?}}
No. If they have already registered their SIM cards, there is no need to re-register.
{{Question 10. Will employees be affected by this merger? How many?}}
It is early in the process to comment on this. As the integration process unfolds, details on this will become available.
{{Business to Business (B2B) information}}
{{Question 1. What will happen to retailers like me? Shall we lose our business? }}
No. Retailers will continue their business. They will now have the opportunity to serve a wider customer base of Airtel and Tigo customers – increasing their incomes
{{Question 2. Where do I pick my stock from now? Will my distributor change?}}
No. You will continue to take stock from your current supplier or distributor. We will inform you if this changes in the future.
{{Question 3. Which TSEs or Sales representative should I contact now if I need help?}}
Your current TSE or Sales representative will still be your point of contact. If this changes, we will let you know.
{{Question 4. As a retailer, should I stop stocking SIM Cards and recharge cards of one of the companies because of the merger?}}
No. Continue stocking Airtel and Tigo SIM cards and recharge cards and make these available to customers. You now have the opportunity to serve a wider customer base.
{{Question 5. Where should I go for services e.g. to buy a SIM Card/recharge cards or for SIM replacement?}}
You can go to your current Airtel or Tigo shop, agent points and vendors to access these services.
{{Question 6. What number can I call now if I have an issue with my services?}}
You can call your call center number (for both Airtel and Tigo). You will continue to be served by your call center agents.
{{Question 7. Who will be my main point of contact to resolve issues I may have?}}
Your current relationship manager will continue to serve you. They will remain your point of contact. We will communicate to you if this changes.
{{Question 8. What will happen to my current contractual arrangement or services on Airtel or Tigo Business?}}
You will continue to enjoy your services uninterrupted.
{{Question 9. Am I required to take any action?}}
No. Continue enjoying your current services on Airtel or Tigo.
{{Question 10. What else should subscribers expect?}}
Only the best. Continue to enjoy all the services you currently have on Airtel and Tigo.
The Head of State was speaking Thursday at International University of Africa in Sudan.
Kagame is on a two-day state visit in Khartoum, Sudan, where he arrived yesterday and held bilateral talks with Sudan President, Omar Al-Bashir.
He said that his visit to Khartoum aims at strengthening the friendship between Rwanda and Sudan, and advancing cooperation on the continent.
“The need to work together as Africans has always been pressing and we now have more reasons than ever to reinforce our solidarity. Our continent is young, dynamic, and growing fast. Africa already plays an active and positive role in global affairs,” he told students.
He said that solutions for Africa’s biggest challenges are in Africa. He said there was time Africans were conditioned and sometimes forced to rely on others for the interests of those outsiders.
“Your generation has everything it takes to make our continent what it should be,” he said.
“It is no small matter that the students in this university come from more than 70 different countries, most of them African. You represent a wealth of ideas and perspectives and you have a critical role to play in building a better continent,” Kagame noted.
Three pillars of focus
Kagame cited three pillars that Africans can focus together to attain the desired development and welfare of the population.
He said the first pillar is special efforts that must be directed to managing the diversity and deepening national cohesion and consensus.
“This means always striving to nurture good and productive politics in keeping with our respective situations and historical contexts,” he said.
He said Africa’s diversity should be seen as a source of vitality and dynamism, adding that it is up to everyone to contribute to the African character, one that is confident, at peace with itself, and open to partnership with the wider world.
“Ultimately, we should be responsible for our own security and well-being. No one will hand these to us for free,” he urged.
The second, Kagame said, Africans must accelerate African integration both economic and political. According to Kagame, Africa’s tremendous resources and opportunities have benefitted others for far too long.
“One way to also make them work for us is to stay united and collaborate closely on the things that have the most impact on the lives of our people. Trade and investment is a primary example, which is why implementing the Continental Free Trade Area is so important,” he said.
“It should not be harder to do business within Africa than it is between Africa and other parts of the world. That is a recipe for exploitation and poor terms of trade. Solidarity gives us the means to tackle these challenges more effectively rather than as individual countries with less leverage,” he said.
Kagame said that the ongoing institutional reform of the African Union aims to make the continental organization more focused, effective and financially sustainable, a target he said is critically important for Africa’s future.
He noted that a good number of countries including Sudan and Rwanda have already begun to implement the new 0.2% levy on eligible imports to finance African Union programmes.
He explained that the measure is designed to make the African Union less dependent on external partners and more attuned to the interests and priorities that Africa has defined for itself.
He said a better organised African Union (AU) will allow more mutually beneficial partnerships between Africa and other parts of the world.
The third pillar, he said, is that Africans must do the right things to seize the opportunities presented by globalisation.
He said investing in the capacities of people, especially youth, through education and information technology will allow Africans compete effectively in the knowledge industries that drive prosperity.
“Acquiring a mindset for success and ownership doesn’t require money but it is the most important condition for transforming our continent. We already have means and ability to do so, right here in Africa, and it is our responsibility. We must maintain a sense of urgency. Everything is in place and so we cannot allow time to work against us. Our people have already been waiting for too long,” he told the students.
“As university students, you are already on a path to leadership and useful service in your respective communities. I call on you to use your talents to create opportunity and well-being for others. We count on the young people of Africa to build a dignified and prosperous future for everyone on our continent.”
He told students that Rwanda has learnt lesson from her tragic history and established relevant institutions. “Rwanda doesn’t have a lot of resources but this proves that there is more in people and what they can achieve,” he said.
He noted that Africans have to deal with so many problems but they also have many opportunities to help them deal with those challenges as they also work together with other countries to maximise the opportunities.
The Strengthening Social Protection Project (SSPP) will help expand the coverage and effectiveness of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) to benefit a bigger number of vulnerable households.
It will also expand the number of working days for public works and the number of cash transfer beneficiaries
The project will extend eligibility criteria for direct support to more labor-constrained households including vulnerable households with people caring for disabled members.
SSPP will also introduce gender and child sensitive public works model to provide more accessible jobs to those ineligible for direct support but still with labor constraints including child caregivers.
The project will benefit vulnerable households primarily in Ubudehe Category One living in the 416 VUP direct support targeted geographical sectors, 300 sectors targeted for expanded public works as well as 270 sectors targeted for classic public works.
“Social protection remains one of the main priorities of the Government of Rwanda for meeting its ambitious poverty reduction and human capital development goals. To further this agenda, Rwanda has started building an integrated social protection system to ensure a minimum standard of living and access to core public services, boost resilience against shocks, promote equitable growth and strengthen opportunity through increased human capital development,” said Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete.
World Bank Country Manager, Yasser El-Gammal, said “SSPP is part of the wider program of the Government of Rwanda and World Bank to combat chronic malnutrition and invest in the early years development along with other World Bank supported projects namely the Stunting Prevention and Reduction, and Agriculture Projects.”
It is expected that direct support to approximately 95,846 households in Ubudehe Category One will continue and expand to about 11,000 same category households with one person working and caring for a person with disability.
It is also expected that beneficiaries of classic public works support will increase from the current 128,000 households in 240 sectors to approximately 141,361 in 270 sectors.
Major extension of gender and child-sensitive model is expected to reach 75,000 households in 300 sectors by the end of the project, up from 2,757 households in 30 sectors in Fiscal Year 2016-2017.
The long-running probe has been a major source of tension between the two countries following accusations that a Tutsi militia headed by current Rwandan President Paul Kagame was responsible for the attack on the plane in April 1994.
The missile strike near Kigali’s airport sparked 100 days of slaughter of the Tutsi ethnic minority by members of Habyarimana’s Hutu ethnic group, leaving an estimated million of dead people.
Kigali has long accused France of complicity in the genocide by supporting the Hutu regime, training the soldiers and militiamen who carried out the killings.
Ties had been on the mend until 2014 when Kagame repeated accusations that French soldiers had been involved in the bloodbath.
The relationship took an even worse turn when the French judiciary decided in October 2016 to reopen an investigation into the attack on the plane, as the French crew were among the victims.
In October, sources close to the probe told AFP that the judges had heard from a new witness who claimed to have seen the surface-to-air missiles used to launch the attack at the headquarters of Kagame’s militia.
The testimony corroborates other versions of events that point the finger at Kagame’s regime.
French authorities have been investigating the strike as French citizens were among those killed aboard Habyarimana’s plane.
A total of seven people have been charged in France over the deaths, including Rwanda’s current defence minister, James Kabarebe, and Franck Nziza who allegedly fired the missile.
Tigo Rwanda Chief Executive Officer, Philip Amoateng told media on Wednesday that the move will help solving connectivity problems including roaming from inside and outside the country. He promised continued good services.
Amoateng was speaking following a definitive agreement between Bharti Airtel and Millicom International Cellular, the mother company of Tigo Rwanda, under which Airtel Rwanda Limited will acquire 100% equity interest of Tigo Rwanda Limited.
He said that clients will retain their lines and access to other services like Tigo Cash.
“We have good share on telecommunication market, we are present all around the country with 3G and 4G internet services with over 530 telecom towers. When they get added to Airtel’s 490 towers, they will make the telecommunication more effective,” he explained.
Tigo Rwanda will handover services to Airtel after the approval by Rwanda Utility and Regulatory Authority (RURA). The process will take between one and three months.
Amoateng said that after merging both companies, Tigo lines and other services will electronically be connected Airtel and clients will continue to access them as usual but from a different company.
Speaking about Tigo Staff who are likely to lose jobs, Amoateng said that Airtel will decide the next step but assured of a due processes abiding by Rwanda’s Labour Law.
Airtel is a global network which currently serves over 370 million customers across 17 countries. In the region, Airtel operates from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Tigo Rwanda currently occupies 38.9% after MTN with 41% of the market share.
Mugambage said that they asked for the explanations about the armed group operating in Uganda with ambition to oust the government of Rwanda.
The call for clarifications followed different abduction acts against Rwandans doing businesses in Uganda.
Among them include, René Rutagungira who was kidnapped in Kampala in August.
A fortnight ago, another Rwandan Fidèle Gatsinzi was reported arrested by people clad in military fatigues suspected to be working for Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI) and Rwanda knows nothing of his whereabouts until now.
Speaking to IGIHE this week, Amb. Mugambage confirmed the crisis in diplomatic relations between both countries adding that they are seeking the solution. He said that Rwanda has started acting on the problem.
“Our desire in Rwandan politics is for tighten relations with other countries, be our neighbors, the region and Africa. Rwanda does all the best to tie good relations. Sure, crisis is there resulting from arrests and other activities against the development of our country but we are working on it,” he explained.
In September, different media houses from the region wrote that three Rwandans identified as James Bayingana, Lando Ali Nsekanabo, Vianney Byaruhanga Nduwamungu were arrested by CMI from Bukasa region and were held incommunicado at Mbuya prison during the period of three months.
Mugambage said, following different acts of provocation, the government of Rwanda has written to the Government of Uganda asking them clarification about arrests of Rwandans and the armed group operating from there.
“We always look for good relations but people continue to hamper its development. We have to ask them the reason behind as there is no clear reason we know till now. We want this problem to be clarified. We have written asking clarifications, we are waiting to hear from them,” he said.
Rwandans working from Uganda continue to raise anxiety about their security over the rising relations crisis between both countries.
The suspension follows the outbreak of Kaba (Listriosis) disease in South Africa.
According to medicalnewstoday.com, Listeriosis is a food-borne infection caused by Listeria bacteria. The majority of people who become infected might barely notice the illness. However, those at risk can be severely affected and mortality rates are relatively high.
In a statement released on Tuesday, MINAGRI referred to the decision by the South African health ministry’s notice issued on December 12 confirming that they have the disease in the country. The statement also followed one of their neighboring country, Botswana, which was cautioning South Africa on the disease.
Studies have revealed that 36 out of 557 infected people died in South Africa. The disease is most appearing in Gauteng at 62% and Western Cape at 17%.
Listeriosis, also called Listeria, can be a serious infection; it strikes pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
The initial symptoms of listeriosis might not become apparent for some time; the incubation period is variable and can be anything from 11-70 days after consuming Listeria contaminated food.
These symptoms include muscle aches, fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhea and for many people the infection spreads to the nervous system and the symptom will be headache, confusion, stiff neck, tremors and convulsions, and loss of balance among others.
For animals with listeriosis, they lose foetus and lead to abortion or give birth to a stillborn. They also suffer from paralysis of one side of the face like eyes, nostrils, mouth and ear dropping.
“Based on these reasons, Minister of agriculture and animal resources informs the general public, government institutions, security agencies in the country, from borders, at the airport and people going outside the country that meat, milk and related products, vegetables and fruits dealership from South Africa are suspended till further notice,” reads MINAGRI statement in part.
MINAGRI calls herders and veterinaries to take animals with such symptoms to the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) to put them under their care.
The Ministry assures that they will continue to monitor the developments on the disease from South Africa, Africa and around the world.
According to the local media in Uganda Dr Ruvuma who teaches at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and studied from Rwanda’s Butare University (Medicine Faculty) was asked by the church warden that some people outside wanted to have a chart with him.
Media reports further revealed that when he went out the men who were waiting for him swiftly forced him into a vehicle which drove off to an unknown destination.
The move left the crowd in shock as the doctor left his personal belongings in the church.
According to highly placed sources, Dr Ruvuma is likely to be charged with “human trafficking” following the arrest over 40 Rwandan refugees as they travelled from Uganda to Burundi via Tanzania.
It’s alleged some members of the church participated in the trip which was blocked by Police.
The Rwandan refugees, who said they were heading for a Christian Crusade in Burundi, had crossed into Tanzania before being pursued by Ugandan police and returned to Isingiro, Uganda.
Officials say the arrest has shocked many in security as Dr Ruvuma is a brother of Lt Col Gideon Katinda, the Judge Advocate of the Army Court Martial which is currently prosecuting police officers and Rwandan nationals accused of kidnap and harassment of Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
However other sources said the refugees where headed to RNC training camps via Burundi
