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At least 360 children, from around the country, are receiving Christian education in a camp meeting going on at College Saint André in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District.

The third edition of the annual exercise dubbed “Children For Christ Camp 2017” was organised by umbrellas of Christian churches in Rwanda in partnership with World Vision Rwanda. The three-day camp meeting started on Tuesday under the theme “Children, Obey Your Parents.”

The camp was officially opened today in the ceremony which attracted many church representatives in Rwanda including Philippe Rukamba, Bishop of Butare Diocese who doubles as the Chairperson of the Catholic Episcopal Conference of Rwanda, Archbishop of Anglican Church in Rwanda, Onesphore Rwaje and National Director of World Vision, Abebe Nigatu, among others.

Bishop Rukamba urged parents and church leaders to raise children on a Christian model, respect their rights and protect them from all kinds of evil and violence drawing on the example of Biblical legends, Joseph and Mary who raised Jesus Christ.

“This exercise is intended to provide children with Christian education. We urge you, children, to respect your parents following the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said.

World Vision’s Nigatu pledged the charity’s unwavering support to ensure that children receive good education and Christian principles preparing them to be good citizens of the country.

“Obedient child becomes a good citizen who brings peace into society. Obedience is God’s commandment and Jesus is our role model,” he said.

Nigatu said that World Vision Rwanda inked a partnership agreement with Christian churches on children’s education in 2013 because “we know potentials of churches in raising children.”

Other sessions of the camp are expected to be held in other areas of the country to reach at least 1300 children by end of 2017, according to Nigatu.

World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose ministry focuses on community-based development through interventions in health, economic empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, among other areas.

The Inspector General of Tanzania Police Force, Simon N. Sirro, arrived in the country, yesterday for a four-day official visit that focuses mainly on strengthening existing ties between the two police institutions against cross-border crimes.

IGP Sirro was received at the Rwanda National Police (RNP) General Headquarters in Kacyiru by his host IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana. The meeting, the third of its kind to be held this year, is in line with the cooperation pact signed in 2012 that seeks to combat cross-border and transnational organized crimes, including drug trafficking and terrorism; building capacity to respond to emerging security threats; prevention and management of disasters; and ensuring security and road safety along the Central Corridor.

IGP Gasana said “Heads of State of the two countries gave guidance on strategic partnership and cooperation”

“What remains and a task at hand now is how we fast-track our cooperation in the policing journey with collective understanding,” IGP Gasana said.

“These engagements manifest the will our leaders to work together to translate their vision into our missions,” he added.

He outlined capacity building especially through training, exchange of best practices and criminals, embracing technological development as well as taking a tough stand against drug trafficking, as areas of immediacy that send strong message to criminals.

“The need to maintain homeland security in our countries goes with development. We need to strengthen our cooperation to facilitate fast development and the wellbeing of our people,” he said.

The IGP of Tanzania, on his part, said that increased production and export of the two countries depends on the security, which attracts investment and facilitates development.

“We are gathered here for one thing; security of our people. The transitional flow of people, trade capital and ideas have become larger, and brought many benefits to citizens,” IGP Sirro said, calling for cross-border coordinated efforts, sharing of information and joint operations to protect the law abiding citizens against threats.
He commended RNP and the leadership of Rwanda for ensuring safety and incident-free presidential elections, and thanked Rwandans for exercising their electoral rights peacefully.

The cooperation pact highlights major areas of cooperation including exchange of information on criminals, expertise, and joint training, among others.

Consequently, the two forces have exchanged training programmes, engaged in joint disaster response – in particular when Rwandans were involved in fatal accident in Tanzania few years back – as well as study tours conducted in Tanzania by police students of the Senior Command and Staff Course.

Meanwhile, IGP Sirro later on his first day of the visit, toured various RNP facilities including Isange One Stop Centre, which offers free medical, legal and psycho-socio services to victims of GBV and child abuse; the Regional Centre of Excellence of GBV and Child Abuse; and Police Training School Gishari.

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has said that the presidential elections held on Friday were conducted in a safe and secure environment as predicted.

RNP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege, said the elections which involved a lot of movement of people to and from polling stations across the country, escorting electoral materials to and from poling centres, was “flawless.”

“As expected, like before, Rwandans exercised their constitutional rights with utmost discipline, which defined the smooth, secure and incident-free presidential elections,” said ACP Badege.

The presidential elections security plan involved escorting election materials to and from policing centres, ensuring safety of poling venues as well as safe movement of people on roads, which ACP Badege said that, were fruitful, but credited the role of the public to make it happen.

“We can only urge the public to continue exhibiting this kind of partnership and responsible expression of their freedoms and rights, even during post elections celebrations,” he added.

He further acknowledged the role played by other security entities, the Ministry of Local Government and the National Electoral Commission (NEC), as the leading institution in the electoral process, which also impacted on safe and smooth running of the elections.

“This was another milestone in policing a major national event, an achievement we also attribute to all our esteemed policing partners. However, we should not relax; we all have to maintain this partnership in keeping our country safe.”

The Spokesperson emphasized the need to respect traffic rules and regulations to prevent road carnage, particularly during celebrations.

“Celebrate responsibly; if you are driving, keep your eyes on the road, and don’t drink and drive,” he said.

Rwanda Defence Force has officially handed over 15 irrigation pumps (water-motor pumps) to 46 Members of Farmers Cooperative (Cooperative des CultivateursProgressistes URUMURI); farming around Akagera marshland Rukumberi Sector in Ngoma District.

The event graced by the Mayor of Ngoma District Mr. Aphrodise Nambaje and the 211 Brigade Commander Col Bertin Cyubahiro Mukasa was held on 31st July in Gituza Cell, Rukumberi Sector.

The two Officials underscored the importance of the new irrigation systems provided to increase productivity.

Col Cyubahiro Mukasa said; “The modern irrigation pumps acquired will increase the production for farmers who have been using small-scale watering cans for irrigation.”
He encouraged farmers to take advantage of the new irrigation pumps to get the intended results

“I Hope there will be no more unproductive land as you are now equipped with these enablers”, said Col Mukasa.

According to Ngoma District Mayor, the irrigation pumps will also contribute to uplifting the livelihood of farmers and increase the annual productivity.

“Initially the Akagera marshland has been producing watermelons, tomatoes, cabbages, onions, carrots and other types of vegetables using traditional means of irrigation. You can imagine the quality and quantity of the harvest that could result from this marshland with these modern irrigation pumps donated by RDF,” Mayor Nambaje told Rukumberi Residents.

Mechanization farming in Mutenderi Sector

After Rukumberi Sector, Ngoma District mayor accompanied by 211 Brigade Commander moved to Mutenderi Sector to inaugurate another Quick Impact Project meant to support mechanization farming in Mutenderi Sector, Ngoma District, Eastern Province.

This Project is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the Rwanda Defence Force and Ngoma District, consisting of increasing productivity of maize and other produce by use of farming tractors on an area of 54 Ha in Zaza Sector, Ngoma District.

Other agricultural activities conducted during 2017 Army week in Eastern Province include hill side and marshland farming on an area of 1,176 Ha, banana pruning on 134 Ha, eradication of banana weevils on 213 Ha, coffee plantation rehabilitation on 252 Ha, nursery bed preparation and maintenance of terraces on 15 Ha.

The Police Commissioner of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Gen. Roland Zamora visited the Rwandan Police peacekeepers’ camp on July 28, and thanked them for their sacrifice and putting their life on the line for the sake of the civilian population.

While meeting the Formed Police Unit (RWAFPU2) contingent deployed in Kaga-Bandoro region to protect a camp of internally displaced police persons, Gen. Zamora said that their presence, readiness and professional response has brought sanity in the area and reassured security of the people.

Kaga-Bandoro camp is about 400km from the capital Bangui. It is home to over 25,000 IDPs.

“I came to thank you for your determination and courage in restoring peace and stability in this area and the country in general,” the Police Commissioner said.
His comments were in line with the recent attack on IDP camp by the ex-seleka rebels, who were repulsed by the Rwandan peacekeepers.

The three-day standoff happened between June 30 and July 2, when the Rwandan police peacekeepers managed to repel and capture some of the attackers.

“I congratulate the commander and the entire unit for the determination and courageous actions you have shown in protecting the civilian population,” he said.

His visit and salutation follows a recent formal letter by Dr. Renner Onana, the chief of the Human Rights and Justice Section in MINUSCA, who also credited the readiness, professionalism and response that the Rwandan Police peacekeepers continues to exhibit at all times in apprehending criminals, as well as their partnership with the people in human security activities.

The Chairman of the RPF Inkotanyi and the party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming Presidential elections, Paul Kagame, on Sunday promised to transform Ngoma District, should they give the mandate to the RPF to lead the country.

The incumbent President was campaigning in Eastern Province where he made his second campaign stop of the day, which he had begun from nearby Kirehe.

“We want to transform Ngoma into a modern town with modern infrastructure, electricity, schools and health facilities. There are some ongoing activities that should be finished soon but I want this town to change the face,” he told the tens of thousands of Ngoma residents.

The RPF-Inkontanyi Chairman took the time to thank the people of Ngoma for their hard work, saying that he had no doubt that together, they will transform the region.
“When people work hard, when there is good governance, everything else follows.”