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{Paul Kagame was sworn in as the new president of Rwanda and the country’s head of state in front of thousands of people and continental leaders on Friday, August 18th at Amahoro Stadium.}

The ceremony was opened by prayers from religious leaders.

Clerics thanked God for the peace and security witnessed during the August 3 and 4 polls. And asked for more peace and prosperity in Rwanda as President Paul Kagame takes on the next seven years as president and father of the nation.

While welcoming the Heads of States and other special delegatiosn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Louise Mushyikiwabo said:

“Amahoro stadium named after the word peace- and Kagame has fodged that peace for Rwandans,”

“Through all, we have passed through, Rwanda is a blessed country,: Rwanda is a country that has come far away. I wish to welcome former Heads of States from different countries.” She added

Heads of State, Top Government Officials and Friends of Rwanda who attended Kagame inauguration, among them, was former Botswana President Ketumile Masire, Obasanjo Nigeria, Pierre Buyoya of Burundi, Ivory Cost and special envoys from China.

The function was led by Cheif Justice Prof. Rugege, alongside his wife and first lady Jeannette. President Paul Kagame was sworn in to uphold the constitution, strengthen Rwanda’s unity and development.

“May God help me,” Kagame said after taking the oath, before signing the oath and later received symbols of the statenamely; the Constitution, Court of Arms, National Flag and National Anthem.

Ballet National Urukerereza Rwanda also entertained the guests

{President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya is in Kigali to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Paul Kagame.}

Uhuru who is accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta is attending the ceremony to show Kenya’s solidarity with the people of Rwanda and their government.

In his congratulatory message, Uhuru said the re-election of President Kagame renews friendship and alliance between the two countries.

{About 20 Heads of State and Government as well as representatives of various governments and organizations are at Amahoro stadium for the inauguration of President Paul Kagame who is taking Oath this Friday.}

On, Thursday, Kigali International Airport was very busy with different Presidents and delegates arriving for the inauguration ceremony.

The Central Africa Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera was the first continental President to arrive followed by Brahim Ghali of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The Djibouti President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, followed shortly after, just ahead of Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou. Former Tanzania president Benjamin Mkapa is around for the ceremony. Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe Patrice Emery Trovoada also arrived yesterday.

The other delegates who arrived yesterday include the Vice President of Cote d’Ivoire Daniel Kablan Duncan, the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki, Speaker of the DR Congo Parliament Aubin Minaku, former Botswana President Festus Mogae and, Prime Minister of Madagascar Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana

Other Heads of State and Governments who had arrived included: Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Sassou Nguesso of Congo, and Hage Geingob of Namibia.

Kagame takes the oath two weeks after he was re-elected into office after winning with a landslide victory of 98.7 per cent beating, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate, and opposition party leader Frank Habineza, of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda.

{Rwanda National Police (RNP) has called upon the general population to exercise their rights safely and to follow all rules and regulations to ensure maximum security during the Presidential swearing-in celebrations.}

RNP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Theos Badege, observed that Rwandans, since the start of the election process and election D-Day, exhibited high moral and respect for the law, and urged them to maintain the same spirit as they celebrate or run their errands.

“The swearing-in ceremony falls in the general security plan before, during and after elections to ensure that safety and security remain the order of the day. It entails safe movement of people on roads and safety at celebration sites countrywide where people will be expected to follow inauguration proceedings, among others,” ACP Badege said.

The spokesperson also observed that the inauguration ceremony will also affect the usual traffic-flow especially in the City of Kigali, and appealed to the public to safely use the provided alternative roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Heads of State and Government, as well as several high profile dignitaries and thousands of Rwandans from across the country, are expected to attend the inauguration ceremony

“In order to receive and host our guests in a customary manner, priority will be given to guest on some main roads. The road stretching from Kanombe-Giporoso-Gisementi-Gishushu-Kimihurura-City Centre will be very busy until 19.”

“We advise motorists to use other provided routes; Kanombe-Nyandungu-Kigali Parents-Kimironko/Mushumba Mwiza-Rwahama-Kibagabaga-Gacuriro-Utexrwa-Kinamba to City Centre, Nyabugogo or Poidslourd to Gikondo,” he said.

Other alternative routes include Kanombe-Busanza-Kabeza-Niboye-Sonatube-Rwandex-Kanogo to Nyamirambo, City Centre or Kinamba and Kacyiru.

“These alternative routes are meant to control the expected heavy traffic flow and minimize inconveniences to road users. Police officers will be deployed along the road to facilitate and direct road users,” ACP Badege said.

He further appealed to those commuting from the countryside to attend the ceremony, to drive responsibly, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent any likely accidents that may arise out of “irresponsible road use.”

{First Lady Jeannette Kagame has called upon the public to offer significant consideration of early childhood education.}

Mrs Kagame was speaking in Kigali, Thursday, at the inaugural graduation of Premier ECDE Teachers College (PECDTC) where 41 teachers completed early childhood education studies. She urged graduands to seriously consider the education of children to provide them with good foundation while building good nation’s future.
She also reminded that good foundation starts when the infant is conceived up to six years old, urging graduands to consider that and help everyone understand the theory.

“We need your contribution in helping people understand the importance of considering infants’ education even before they are born. It is your responsibility to educate children and train their caregivers on good early childhood education,” said the First Lady.

She was also optimistic that their skills will be instrumental in building the country and urged them to create jobs in the education sector.

PECDTC was established in 2013 to help improve early childhood education and contribute to the country’s Vision 2020.

Nyirantagorama Françoise, principal of PECDTC, said a good education foundation helps children into seamless socialization and adapting to different learning environments.

That foundation, she said, helps a child learn different sports, feel comfortable with colleagues, develop love for school and discover talents they might have.

“Strive for starting nursery schools around the country and teaching in early childhood development centres in order to help improve the country’s education,” Nyirantagorama told graduands.

Nursery schools in Rwanda have increased in number from 1,870 in 2012 to 2,757 in 2016

Isaac Munyakazi, Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, said the first graduation ever in the field of early childhood development and education is a milestone in addressing the challenge of qualified teachers.

He asked graduands to put into practice their skills to bring change in Rwanda’s education.

Diane Kayitesi, a graduand, said they have acquired extensive skills that will bring about a change in childhood education. She said they have committed to help other teachers and parents understand better how to offer early childhood education.

Graduands include 21 who have been awarded with diploma in early childhood education and 20 received certificates after completing short courses.

{This morning in Kigali, President Kagame bid farewell to President Sisi of Egypt marking the end of his official visit to Rwanda.}

Sisi arrived at Kigali International Airport Tuesday morning at 11:50AM from Tanzania to start his two-day official visit to Rwanda and the other two Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

He was accompanied by a delegation of Egypitian government officials. At the airport he was received by his counterpart President Paul Kagame alongside some senior goverment officials before inspecting a guard of honour mounted for him,

He then visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the more than one million victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

He was accompanied by Rwanda Minister of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu, Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni, and the Executive Secretary of Rwandas National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, Jean-Damascène Bizimana.
Sisi was guided through the memorials exhibitions by Honore Gatera, Manager of the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

During his tour, Sisi expressed his solidarity with Rwandans and shared his own memories of the tragedy of the Genocide before calling for peace.

At the conclusion of his visit, the President wrote a touching message in the memorial guestbook;

“We feel much sorrow as we remember the heroes and victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. We emphasise that life should not be violated. We should live in harmony, support each other and focus on a dialogue of peace. We hope that mass atrocities like this will never happen again, and that peace will prevail around the world.
Later in the afternoon, he met and held discussions with President Paul Kagame after which a statement of new areas of cooperation was presented.

The two presidents said that their governments will strive to promote trade, joint investments as well as creating linkages between private sectors of both countries.
Sisi said that Egypt has a lot to offer as an investor and business partner for Rwanda and the East African region, eager to deepen commercial ties.

Kagame said that Egyptians do not need to apply for a visa to visit Rwanda and hope to welcome tourists and business people from Egypt to the country in greater numbers.
The two heads of state were speaking after holding talks at Urugwiro Village on Tuesday.

{{Sisi was also hosted to a state dinner.}}

The Egyptian leader began a four-African country tour on Monday with the first stop being Tanzania.

Ties between Rwanda and Egypt have been strengthened in recent years with both countries running fully-fledged diplomatic missions in their two capitals.

{Rwanda Central Bank (BNR) has revealed that it will issue out a five-year Treasury bond worth 10 billion francs ($12.12 million) this August to fund infrastructure projects, IGIHE has learnt.}

BNR said the bids for the bond, whose coupon will be determined by the market, will be received from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23 and will be on the Rwandan stock market on Aug. 29 for secondary trade. ($1 = 824.9700 Rwandan francs).

Rwanda has been issuing bonds as part of a blueprint to develop its capital market and to fund infrastructure projects.

The bank wants to reduce its dependence on aid to finance its national budget.

{Zambia President Edgar Lungu has confirmed that he will attend President Paul Kagame swearing in ceremony which is due on Friday August 18th, 2017.}

Zambia’s Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba confirmed the news when he said that President Lungu has already accepted the invitation from his counterpart, in the context of cooperation and trade.

“The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss about different developmental issues, for the purpose of promoting common interests, and security within the Great Lakes Region.”

It is expected that President Lungu will leave for Kigali on Thursday August 17th, 2017.

President Kagame was elected for a third term in office after winning with a landslide victory in the recent elections held on August 4th. The swearing ceremony is expected to take place at Amahoro stadium; miscellaneous visitors are expected to attend, whether from outside Rwanda, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda.

At national level citizens will follow the ceremony at the village level via Radio Rwanda and television.

{The National Police has issued a tough warning of severe consequences to whoever will be caught in such acts that involve vandalizing electric pylons and those selling them as scarp metals.
}

The warning follows a case in Gatsibo District where three suspects are being held at Kabarore Police station in connection with vandalizing public infrastructure.

The three suspects are identified as, Jean Pierre Nsengiyumva, Evariste Hakiza and Laetitia arrested for vandalizing five electric pylons weighing over 500kgs that had been rolled out by NPD Ltd.

Of the three, Nsengiyumva and Hakiza were said to be the main culprits who could dismantle the pylons and sell into pieces to Urimubandi who deals in scrap metal business.

According to a report from police, the trio was arrested following complaints filed by NPD in regards to the disappearing pylons.

“Preliminary investigations led us to the two men who had vendalised five pylons. We arrested them along with the buyer Urimubandi,” said the Eastern Region Police Spokesperson Inspect of Police Jean Bosco Dusabe.

NPD has since valued the five pylons at Rwf 52 million but Nsengiyumva and Hakiza were selling a kilo at Rwf300 meaning they had sold the five pylons weight 500kg at just Rwf150,000.

Upon arrest, the two men admitted to have vendalised the pylons and said they had been sent by Urimubandi.

“Also, during the operation, we impounded FUSO RAA 962Y that we found carrying pieces of the dismantled pylons,” said the spokesperson who added that investigations are still going on to identify if no other public infrastructures have been damaged and also process the their files for prosecution.

IP Dusabe also issued a tough warning against vandalising public infrastructure and also hailed employees of NPD who hurriedly reported the case.
Such acts, he said, are punishable under article 406 of the penal code on “demolishing or damaging another person’s buildings.”

“These infrastructures are meant to improve the welfare and development of the people as well as facilitate doing business, so it should be guarded jealously by everyone. When one starts digging up electric pylons, then that person is endangering lives of thousands,” he said.

Police also warned of severe consequences to whoever will be caught in such acts, which, IP Dusabe said, affect the country’s development programmes and at times lead to loss of lives as some people are electrocuted while stealing the pylons.

Emmanuel Ruzindana , the head of security at NPD in the Eastern region said they pylons were being stolen at night and it was hard to identify how they were disappearing and that’s when they involved the police.

Officials from Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL), Gatsibo branch, said such illegal activities cost the government a lot of monies while serving the public becomes harder when infrastructures are vandalized.

The last case of ravaging public infrastructure was heard in April last year in Huye District where police arrested three men in connection with stealing underground electric cables connecting Huye mineral water plant in Ngoma Sector.