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{{Referring to the repeated question about the term limit, President Paul Kagame said the author of the opinion should be the one to respond to journalists who have over asked him about it.}}

Recently, while addressing a press conference in Kampala, Uganda journalists asked President Paul Kagame whether he is not bothered by people suggesting him to run for third term.

The journalists referred to the view which was forwarded by Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana the Minister of Internal security.

For two times, Minister Harerimana from Idealist Democratic Party (PDI)has publicly expressed his view to amend Rwandan constitution to remove presidential term limits to allow Kagame run for a third term of office.

According to Article 101 of the 2003 Rwandan Constitution, the President of the Republic of Rwanda is elected for a term of seven years renewable only once.

“There’s contradiction, on one hand you say people should have freedom to express themselves. On the other hand, you start questioning somebody expressing himself.” President Kagame said recently in Uganda referring to his critics who say there is no freedom of expression in Rwanda an issue he repeatedly commented on in his speech while opening the 9th National Dialogue.

“There is this question I have kept on answering, and keeps coming back asking me if I am comfortable with people saying to amend the constitution for me to run for the third term, I begin to answer what I never suggested. Fazil who said it is here,” he said.

“I can serve my country whether I am in this office or out of this office. I actually served my country even before I came to this office but people keep on accusing me for the offence I have not committed. I think Fazil needs to carry his own cross,”Kagame said.

Kagame added, “This is not serious and some of us are used to serious issues, members of the press misunderstand us. They draw cartoon of me that when they asked me I was vague, I have never been vague in my life,” Kagame concluded his speech.

In an interview with a local newspaper The Chronicles, Prof. Shyka Anastase, the executive director of Rwanda Governance Advisory Council, a national body that promotes and monitors good governance in Rwanda, described Harerimana’s comments as a joke.

“I think he was probably trying to be funny. He was just saying out what was in his mind but nobody in Rwanda is actually interested in following him,” he said.

“President Kagame has stated clearly that he shouldn’t be counted in if anyone ever wants him for another term because he is not interested in that game,” Prof. Shyaka added.

The Professor said there is no such momentum building up in the country to delete term limits, stating that had the comments come from inside the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front or two years before the next election due in 2017, or if Kagame says I’ ll think about it, then people would be worried.

Only Uganda in this region has no presidential term limits which turned around since 2005.

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{{President Paul Kagame has blasted people who tend to believe that they are placed in better position to teach Rwanda about freedom and democracy.}}

Kagame was officially opening the on-going 9th national Dialogue at the parliamentary building where different dignitaries within the country, Rwandans in the Diaspora and friends of Rwanda from international community in their diplomatic representatives attended.

“This dialogue should be a platform to examine how we give ourselves dignity,” Kagame said citing some people who question Rwanda’s freedom.

“They have questioned political space, freedom of expression and democracy. They have made themselves teachers of political freedom, teachers of freedom of expression, they can’t be teachers of freedom when they give freedom to the murders of our own people, freedom to Bagosora and his colleagues now walking free in their territories and you come here to give us a lesson?,” Kagame said.

“We have fought for our freedom and freedoms for others. There are no lessons to learn from these people with double standards,” he added.

Kagame said some journalists, Human Rights activists and masqueraders should not speak for all Rwandans.

He said that some people make it a myth to indicate that only the selected few have the answers to Rwanda.

“They should first get answers to their own problems before they claim to carry answers to Rwanda. Who are you to teach me about my freedom? You come here to teach me about my freedom?, I am not that kind, i am not cheap,” Kagame added.

“They feel they can do anything like what they did to Mutara Rudahigwa, even if they can do anything, it does not make them right,” He noted.

He noted that the reason for external disrespect is due to over dependency hence called for working hard to end dependency because when one is a beggar does not have a choice.

President called upon the participants in the 9th National Dialogue therefore to treat it as a very important and leaving it more than determined to leave beggar spirit behind.

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{{The Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga Wednesday concluded a five day working visit to Sudan where he visited Rwanda Contingents deployed in UNAMID Darfur, Sudan, from 10th to 14th December 2011.}}

The working visit to Rwandan contingents serving in United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was aimed at witnessing how the RDF, Rwanda National Police and Civilian Staff are executing their duties in contributing to UN Peace and to wish them a happy holiday season.

Rwanda is one of the biggest Troop Contributors in the Mission.

Lt Gen Charles Kayonga also held discussions with UNAMID Force Commander Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba and other Senior UNAMID officials who briefed him on the situation in Darfur.

The CDS and his delegation held meetings with Rwandan Officers, and troops of RWABATT 26 deployed in Zalinge, RWABATT 28 in Kabkabiya, RWABATT 29 and RWABATT 27 deployed at UN Headquarters, El Fasher and Zam Zam respectively.

The contingents briefed him on how they are executing the UN duties and their role in contributing to peace building not only through the conventional methods but also through sharing Rwanda’s experience in home grown solutions.

Addressing the Rwandan Peacekeepers on ground, the CDS conveyed greetings from the leadership and compatriots from home, briefed them on activities RDF is engaged in at home and wished them happy holidays.

During the visit to Sudan, the CDS paid a courtesy call to his counterpart in Sudan and visited SAF Military Academies.

{{In a meeting held at Lemigo hotel, attracting different energy stakeholders, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged support to Rwanda’s efforts to obtain geothermal energy.}}

Without giving details, the resident representative, Hiroyuki Kobayashi said that they have brought five experts in geothermal exploration and will provide technical support whenever the need arises.

The financial lending arm of Japanese government has widely embarked on supporting geothermal energy explorations globally including Africa.

Last week, JICA signed memorandum of understanding to finance feasibility studies for two geothermal projects in Costa Rica, Pailas II and Borinquen in Guanacaste province.

Since reopening its office in 2005, JICA Rwanda has implemented more than twenty projects on the ground, including those supported by Japanese volunteers through Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) – JICA’s volunteer program.

Currently, approximately nine activities are ongoing in the three priority areas of Human Resource Development, Rural Development and Economic Infrastructure and Industrial Development.

In August the agency launched a USD 18 million project to supply water to communities in Ngoma and Kirehe districts covering five sectors with a population of 31,000, while in Ngoma district, two sectors with 28,000 people benefiting from the project.

Early this year, the government announced plans to spend US $935 million on the development of 310 megawatts of electricity from geothermal sources in the next seven years.

Geothermal energy is produced by tapping the steam created by water trapped near hot rocks in the earth.

In the statement from former energy and water minister, the geothermal sources have been identified between Gisenyi and Karisimbi Volcano and Bugarama.

Rwanda had an installed capacity of only 69 MW in 2009, but plans to increase to 130 MW by the end of 2012 through investments in small hydropower and methane gas plants.

State Minister for Energy and Water, Emma Francoise Isumbingabo said the exploration of geothermal energy is set to commence at the slopes of Mt. Karisimbi.

Isumbingabo said feasibility studies have been conducted and before end of this month findings will be compiled to enable the beginning of the drilling three planned wells at Karisimbi.

She added that the exercise is expected to be completed in two months.
The minister said that surveys conducted by various firms since 1983, including Kenya Electricity Company (KenGen), in 2009, indicated that the geothermal resource area at Karisimbi was enormous.

Other sites identified are Gisenyi, Kinigi and Bugarama.

According to the national electricity master plan, geothermal energy is expected to contribute at least 300 MW to the national grid by 2017, and potentially provide half of the country’s energy requirements by 2020.

Rwanda is also looking at developing hydropower, methane gas, solar, biogas, peat, with an ultimate goal to reach 1,000 MW of production capacity by 2017.

Experts estimate the geothermal potential along the East African Rift Valley in excess of 15,000 MW, but the huge potential has remained largely untapped except in Kenya and Ethiopia.

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{{The New Minister of youth’s first public announcement has come with a warning to bar owners who sell alcohol to the under age.}}

Minister Jean Philbert Nsengimana reminded bar owners that selling alcohol to under age was illegal and purnishable by Rwandan law.

He was addressing over 2000 students at Regional stadium Nyamirambo who successfully completed their civic training commonly known as {Itorero ry’Igihugu.}

“The law is very clear; selling alcoholic drinks to a person less than 21 years of age is illegal. Once caught, they will be charged accordingly,” Nsengimana said in a protest to those drugging young generation.

Students also signed performance contracts (Imihigo) with the ministry to form unity and reconciliation clubs, fighting consumption of drugs and other social vices towards beviral change.

At least 36,115 students completed three weeks of civic education training at various camps across the country.

Students attended the training in their home districts contrary to previous arrangements where the programme could be conducted at Nkumba Peace and Leadership Centre in Burera District.

In general students say the training helped them understand more of government programmes and also helped them get a picture of Rwanda’s future.

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{{Rwanda’s first mobile telecommunication giant MTN has donated Rwf 90m to support Imbuto Foundation’s Scholarship Programme.}}

The donation which is from MTN’s own charitable foundation, will benefit 100 vulnerable children in high school, ranging from Senior One through Senior Six.

Recently the foundation supported the opening of ICT labs in Northern Province and Kigali which is fully equipped with internet connection in a bid to promote information communication technology among the needy students.

MTN Rwanda CEO, Khaled Mikkawi, who handed the cheque to Imbuto Foundation chairperson and the First Lady Jeannette Kagame said it was not the end of such charitable act for the giant telecommunication.

Annually Rwf 150,000 will be disbursed to students for the next six years of secondary to cover their school fees and scholastic materials.

“Education is a cornerstone of development, and I am delighted that MTN has decided to support this journey with Imbuto Foundation as they provide opportunities to young boys and girls,” the chairperson of Imbuto foundation said.

According to Radegonde Ndejuru the Director General of Imbuto Foundation, the Foundation has offered 5000 scholarships to youth since 2002.

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{{Rwandan seven firms including Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), NPD CONTRACO, and banks; BK, KCB, BNR, Fina Bank and Unguka Bank Ltd have been granted certificates of participation in the 2011 FiRe Award held in Nairobi recently and organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants.}}

FiRe award reports provide a summary of findings based on evaluation criteria.
Its purpose is to promote excellence in financial reporting and corporate citizenship by participating organizations.

Speaking to igihe.com, Peter Rutaremara President of ICPA Rwanda explained that the award was one wayof improving financial reporting standards in Rwanda, and competing at international level.

“We encourage different Rwandan organizations into competition at international level through increasing their capacity in financial reporting standards,” said Rutaremara.

African Gatare the Director of Administration and Finance in MINICOM who represented the ministry and received the certificate in form of International Public Sector Accountant Standards (IPSAS).

“Our financial reporting this year was very well prepared and we submitted it in to compete and therefore, won at the East African Level,” he said.

Gatare challenged other organizations to take part and participate in the competition as one way to improve on their reporting standards.

During the event, ICPAR signed an MoU with Professional Organization of Auditors Agreed in Rwanda (OCCAR).

According to Charles Karori Karara the OCCAR Chair; the MoU will help the organization in the capacity building by getting better skills done by ICPAR an organization with vast field experienced.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) is a Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) mandated by law to regulate the Accounting profession in the republic of Rwanda.

{{The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has sentenced Colonel Theoneste Bagosora to 35 years and Lieutenant Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva to 15 years.}}

Nsengiyumva was immediately released since he had already served 15 years in jail. Bagosora who was arrested on March 9th 1996 will serve an extra 20 years in prison.

Bagosora, former Director of Cabinet in the Defence Ministry and Nsengiyumva, who was in charge of military operations in Gisenyi appealed against life imprisonment sentences imposed on him on December 18, 2008 after being convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Also today the ICTR Appeals Chamber is due to hear an appeal for Rwandan former businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga and ex-Commander of Ngoma military camp in Butare prefecture, Southern Rwanda, Lieutenant Idelphonse Hategekimana.

Hategekimana is appealing a life sentence imposed on him by the lower court on December 6, 2010, for genocide and crimes against humanity (murder and rape), for ordering the massacres of Tutsis who had sought refuge at Ngoma church in Butare prefecture.

Regarding Kanyarukiga, the lower court convicted him of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity on November 1, 2010.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in massacres of Tutsis at Nyange Parish in Kivumu commune, Kibuye prefecture (western Rwanda), on April 16, 1994.

{{President Paul Kagame has warned members of judicial fraternity against ostensible corruption while rendering justice to Rwandan population.}}

While presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Justice Prof. Sam Rugege and his deputy Sylvie Zainabo Kayitesi, Kagame said that Justice should be paid for.

“Justice is for all not for only those who are able to pay. It should be equally rendered to all,” Kagame said in his speech after the two senior officials of Supreme Court were sworn-in.

“We have seen the trend of paid justice shrinking. The culture of giving justice to a selected few due to their ability to pay for it or positions or influence should not be tolerated,” Kagame said while describing the weight of responsibilities the two chief justices have to carry as senior officials at Supreme Court.

He reminded the new officials sworn-in that Supreme Court was the highest level where Justice is expected and being examples to all other levels of justice.

“This court should not be doubted by public, the public should have confidence in it as it renders the expected and desired justice. It should be a court of reference for proper justice and that gives you heavy responsibility to shape Rwandan justice more to its excellence,” He added.

The president urged the two new senior judicial officials to carryout justice responsibility beyond the country’s boundaries to international relations.

“You should remember that justice supports the country’s development.It’s imperative you do the best for the interests of general public,” Kagame said.

He pointed out that the new chief justice and his deputy should work hand in hand to improve justice in the country.

In his speech, President Kagame first commended the out-going chief justice Aloysia Cyanzayire for a great work done towards judicial reforms.

He said the judicial reforms saw qualified staff increase, renovation and construction of judicial facilities, reduction of the backlogs of cases that had piled during and before 1994 Genocide and the use of ICT where one can file a case without necessarily having queue at registrar’s office.

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