The developments mark the latest phase in the company’s efforts to enhance service quality and meet rising demand for modern fitness facilities in the city.
The fitness centre has expanded training spaces, installed new equipment, and bolstered its coaching staff in recent months. Management says the improvements are part of a broader strategy to deliver a safer, more efficient, and motivating environment for its members.
“Our focus has always been on giving our members real value, better equipment, more classes, and professional guidance,” the FitnessPoint Management Team said in a statement. “The improvements we’ve made are all geared toward creating an elevated fitness experience for everyone who trains with us.”
Alongside the upgrades, FitnessPoint has introduced special promotional prices valid from 2 to 31 December. The discounts precede a revised pricing structure that will take effect in January 2026.
Under the festive-season offer, a six-month membership has been reduced to Rwf 300,000 from Rwf 350,000. Couples will pay Rwf 880,000, equivalent to Rwf 440,000 per person, down from Rwf 990,000.
Annual membership has also been revised to Rwf 490,000 from the previous Rwf 600,000.
“These festive-season prices are our way of saying thank you to our community,” management added, encouraging members and new clients to take advantage of the limited-time rates.
FitnessPoint says the upgrades and temporary discounts underline its commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles in Rwanda by providing accessible and professional fitness services.
Classic Optic’s journey began in humble surroundings on the ground floor of the Umyenzi Plaza building in Remera, Kigali.
Despite a small team, the company quickly garnered a loyal following, thanks to its exceptional customer service and attention to the unique needs of each client.
The professionalism of the staff and their commitment to patient care played a key role in establishing the company as a trusted name in Kigali’s optical sector.
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Over the years, Classic Optic has achieved significant milestones in its expansion strategy. In 2018, the company opened its first branch in Gisenyi, followed by another in downtown Kigali at the MIC Building in 2020.
Though some branches faced challenges and were short-lived due to internal reasons, the company’s growth has been steady and impactful.
Furthermore, Classic Optic has developed partnerships with insurance companies and international organizations, ensuring it stays at the forefront of innovation with the latest optical equipment and technology.
The company’s success can largely be attributed to the loyalty of its customers, whose experiences highlight the personalized care and attention they receive.
One client shared, “Thanks to Classic Optic, I regained visual comfort at work. Their team was attentive from start to finish.” Another added, “Beyond just glasses, I received real support and advice tailored to my vision and budget.”
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As it looks toward the future, Classic Optic has ambitious plans for the next decade. The company intends to expand its presence by opening new branches in every city across Rwanda, while also fostering the training and development of young Rwandans in the fields of optics and optometry.
According to the management, continuing education for its staff will remain a priority to maintain a high level of expertise with a clear goal to provide accessible, high-quality visual health services for everyone, without compromise.
Ten years after its establishment, Classic Optic remains steadfast in its mission to deliver technical excellence, innovative solutions, and close relationships with both clients and partners.
For Samson Botoh and his team, this anniversary marks not an end, but the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their dedication to the vision and well-being of the people of Rwanda.
The wetlands being restored include Kibumba, Gikondo, Rugenge Rw’Intare, and Nyabugogo, with Real Contractors Limited collaborating with NPD, another construction company in Rwanda.
The total area under restoration spans 491 hectares, with Gikondo covering 162 hectares, Nyabugogo 131 hectares, Kibumba 68 hectares, and Rugenge-Rwintare 65 hectares.
Fred Bugingo, Managing Director of Real Contractors Limited, stated that the restoration of these wetlands is aimed at preventing flooding in Kigali, protecting biodiversity, and filtering water that flows through the area.
“The restoration of these wetlands will help the City of Kigali mitigate flooding, especially in areas like Nyabugogo, where flooding was once a significant issue,” Bugingo explained.
To further protect the environment, the company has installed waste collection traps to capture debris that typically flows into the wetlands from rainwater and surrounding areas.
“We’ve been installing traps designed to capture waste in rainwater, as it often carries significant debris,” he added.
In total, 142 waste collection traps have been installed across the wetlands. Gikondo has 24 traps, Kibumba 16, Rugenge-Rwintare 48, and Nyabugogo 30.
The Gikondo wetland will include special features aimed at attracting tourists, such as educational spaces, a restaurant, and rest areas.
Rugenge-Rwintare will feature a large 5-hectare pond that collects water from Rwampara and Gikondo, designed to showcase Rwanda’s advancements in environmental conservation.
The Kibumba wetland will focus on fishing, with several ponds and a designated area for a flower garden, along with a facility for showcasing fishing-related activities in Rwanda.
The Nyabugogo wetland will be dedicated to research and education focused on biodiversity conservation.
Since the restoration began, wildlife has already begun returning to the wetlands, according to the management at Real Contractors Limited.
In a statement released by the U.S. State Department, Washington said its priorities will include “unleashing economic prosperity by limiting regulatory burdens,” ensuring “affordable and secure energy supply chains,” and “pioneering new technologies and innovations.”
The U.S. framed its leadership of the G20 as an opportunity to return the multilateral forum to its core mission of driving global economic prosperity.
The transition comes amid a diplomatic rift with South Africa, the previous G20 chair, after Washington boycotted the 2025 G20 summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa
Under the new U.S. presidency, the next G20 leaders’ summit is scheduled to take place in Miami at a resort owned by Donald Trump.
The decision to relocate the summit and the U.S. boycott of the previous meeting has already created friction among member states, with some leaders urging return to collaboration over controversy.
Analysts say the U.S. agenda under its presidency could reshape global economic cooperation especially if Washington achieves reforms in regulation, energy, and technology sectors.
However, given the existing divisions within the G20 over issues ranging from debt relief to energy policy, accomplishing broad consensus will likely be challenging.
The report, titled “The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries”, outlines the potential risks posed by AI technologies in deepening the already widening development gaps.
While AI offers vast opportunities for growth, particularly in sectors like health, finance, and education, its benefits are not likely to be evenly distributed.
Countries starting from different levels of technological and economic development will experience very different outcomes.
The Asia and Pacific region, which is home to more than half the world’s population, has been quick to adopt AI.
According to the report, over half of the world’s AI-related startups and innovations are now based in this region, with AI potentially boosting GDP by up to 2% per year in some countries.
The technology also has the potential to improve productivity across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and public services.
However, the UNDP cautions that unequal access to AI-related technologies and digital infrastructure could deepen divides, especially if low-income countries do not have access to the resources necessary to adopt AI. This could result in a “two-speed” world, where wealthy nations thrive on AI while developing nations are left behind.
The report highlights the vulnerabilities that accompany AI adoption, particularly job displacement. Many routine and manual jobs, especially those held by women and youth in developing countries are at risk of being replaced by automation.
Without proper policies to address this, millions of workers could lose their livelihoods. Women, who are often employed in routine service jobs such as caregiving, retail, and hospitality, could be disproportionately impacted.
The rise of AI also introduces new risks around ethical concerns. AI systems that rely on biased data could perpetuate existing inequalities or even create new forms of discrimination. The lack of transparency in AI algorithms could lead to situations where certain groups are unfairly excluded from services, opportunities, or decision-making processes.
To avoid these outcomes, the UNDP emphasizes that inclusive, people-centered policies are essential. Governments must invest in education and skills training to equip workers with the tools they need to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Additionally, fostering international cooperation and collaboration will be critical to ensuring that AI benefits are shared globally.
The UNDP calls for ethical AI governance frameworks that are aligned with human development goals. This includes ensuring that AI systems are designed and implemented with fairness, accountability, and transparency at their core. The report also stresses the importance of strengthening global cooperation to ensure that the deployment of AI is equitable, focusing on addressing the digital divide and empowering countries with the means to compete in the AI space.
The global impact of AI is still unfolding, but the UNDP’s report provides a crucial warning: without deliberate actions to ensure inclusivity, the world risks entering a new era of development divergence, where inequality is amplified by the very technology that should be used to solve it.
With smart policies, investments in technology, and global collaboration, AI could transform global development for the better. But without proper oversight and inclusive frameworks, the technology could reinforce and even worsen global inequalities.
The funding, provided through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), will finance the Revenue Improvement and Spending Efficiency Program-for-Results (PforR). The program aims to modernise tax administration, reinforce public investment management, and promote accountability across government systems, ensuring that development outcomes reach citizens and businesses more effectively.
“This program reflects our strong partnership with Rwanda and our shared ambition to scale up transformational governance reforms that create jobs, strengthen fiscal resilience, and improve service delivery for all Rwandans,” said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda, in a statement released in late November.
“By supporting both national institutions and local government structures, the program reinforces Rwanda’s decentralisation agenda and helps ensure that development outcomes reach citizens where they live and work.”
The initiative aims to increase domestic revenue mobilisation by expanding the use of electronic billing machines (EBMs) for VAT compliance and modernising property tax registration and valuation systems. It also seeks to enhance national-level public spending efficiency and transparency through improved project feasibility studies, institutionalised asset management, strengthened procurement, and better oversight of state-owned enterprises.
At the local level, the program focuses on improving planning and accountability, ensuring that districts prepare evidence-based development strategies, publish budget performance reports, strengthen financial management practices, and design viable local economic development projects.
The program is aligned with Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST-2), which emphasises an efficient, transparent, and citizen-centred public sector. It builds on over two decades of World Bank support for Rwanda’s public financial management reforms, which have positioned the country as a regional leader in accountable governance.
The reforms also leverage technology, including piloting AI-enabled functionalities within the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), aimed at reducing operational inefficiencies and enhancing financial oversight.
“This program represents a significant step forward in Rwanda’s efforts to expand its domestic resource base and ensure that every franc is used efficiently,” said Meron Tadesse Techane, World Bank Senior Financial Management Specialist.
“By leveraging technology, strengthening institutions, and incentivizing good practices at both national and district levels, the program will help the government deliver better services, build trust with citizens, and expand opportunities for private sector–led job creation.”
Direct beneficiaries include national ministries, state-owned companies, and all 30 districts, while citizens and businesses will benefit indirectly from a more predictable public finance system, higher-quality services, and better-managed public investments.
The IDA, established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low- or zero-interest loans for projects that stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve lives. Rwanda is among the 40 African countries benefiting from IDA financing.
The directive, published on November 26, 2025, follows assessments showing persistent gaps in promoting and monitoring hygiene practices at individual, household, workplace and community levels.
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Under the new rules, all Rwandans are required to bathe the entire body at least once a day; brush their teeth at least twice daily using a toothbrush and toothpaste; maintain clean hair and short, clean nails; and wash hands routinely, before preparing or eating food, before breastfeeding or feeding a child, after using the toilet, after cleaning a child, after handling waste, or anytime hands are visibly dirty. Individuals must also wear clean clothing and footwear, and sleep in clean bedding.
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Every household must have a latrine built to a minimum depth of six meters where possible, properly constructed, covered and kept clean. A handwashing facility must be installed near the latrine. Homes are also required to have an enclosed bathroom, cemented or tiled where possible, and a clothesline for drying laundry.
Residents must ensure animals do not sleep indoors and must properly manage wastewater from the home, as well as rainwater, through designated drainage channels. It is prohibited to dump waste in drainage systems.
Households must also ensure safe storage and treatment of drinking water; clear bushes and stagnant water around the compound; segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste; and maintain a clean kitchen and dish-drying area. Houses and their surroundings are to be swept or mopped daily.
Compounds should be kept orderly and, where possible, include vegetable gardens, fruit trees, ornamental plants or flowers. Water storage tanks for clean water and rainwater must be cleaned at least once every six months. In urban areas, waste must be disposed of in covered bins or designated areas until collected by licensed waste-management companies.
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The guidelines also set minimum standards for cemeteries. Burial sites must be located away from rivers, springs and groundwater sources to prevent contamination. Cemeteries must have waste-management systems, clean access paths and sanitation workers to clean after funeral ceremonies.
Additionally, wilted flowers must be removed within two days, and a handwashing facility with clean water and soap must be placed at the entrance.
Cemeteries must also have separate public toilets for men and women, equipped with toilet paper, waste bins and handwashing areas.
On road hygiene, the directive requires roads to be swept regularly and kept free of waste or unauthorised structures, with waste bins placed at least every 100 meters. Public urination and defecation on roads is prohibited. Inter-district roads must have public toilets, and all roads must have adequate rainwater drainage. Trucks transporting goods are barred from dropping waste onto roadways.
Places of worship, including churches, parishes and mosques, must have separate toilets for men, women and persons with disabilities, with handwashing facilities and covered waste bins. They must maintain contracts with waste-collection companies and ensure proper management of rainwater and wastewater. Facilities conducting water baptisms must use clean, designated water.
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Rehabilitation centres and prisons are required to maintain adequate supplies of clean water; separate toilets for men, women and persons with disabilities; and secure, well-maintained sanitation facilities. They must have functioning rainwater harvesting and wastewater systems; clean water storage tanks for use during shortages; clean, well-equipped kitchens; appropriate laundry and drying facilities; and adequate bathing areas.
Facilities must also implement regular pest-control programs, ensure constant cleaning of premises, provide mosquito nets, bedsheets and mattresses for every inmate, and maintain waste-collection contracts with licensed service providers.
According to the Ministry of Health, the guidelines form part of a broader strategy to establish a permanent hygiene and sanitation inspection framework from national to local levels. The initiative aims to enforce compliance, strengthen accountability and ensure that individuals, households and institutions contribute to improving hygiene standards across the country.
Taking place from December, 2 to 10 , 2025, the campaign features a series of community-focused activities across Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts. These activities aim to raise awareness, engage citizens, and highlight Rwanda’s progress in promoting dignity, justice, and equality for all.
The campaign begins with a national awareness message on the responsibility of every individual to uphold and defend human rights. Activities throughout the week will include disability inclusion events, youth engagement forums, community football matches, and human rights education sessions in schools, prisons, and rehabilitation centers. The initiative will culminate on December 10 with the national celebration of International Human Rights Day.
On December 2, a community football match will formally launch the campaign, leveraging sports to promote unity and respect. On December 3, the Commission will mark Disability Inclusion Day by raising awareness on equal access, dignity, and combating stigma. Meanwhile, youth-focused dialogues on 4th December will encourage young people to take leadership in the fight against violence, hate speech, and misinformation.
On 5 December, sensitization sessions on human rights will be conducted in rehabilitation centers and locations where youth gather. On 6 December, awareness activities will take place at GS Gihundwe and through sports-based engagemen
Throughout the campaign, rehabilitation centers will be visited to reinforce the right to dignity and support reintegration efforts. On December 7, a Car Free Day activation will highlight the right to a clean and healthy environment.
Among others, sensitization sessions for returnees on December 8, will reaffirm Rwanda’s commitment to welcoming its citizens without discrimination while community assemblies on 9th December will stress that human rights begin in the family, where values of respect and non-violence are first nurtured.
The campaign will conclude on 10th December with a national gathering bringing together citizens, institutions, and partners to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and renew Rwanda’s commitment to building an inclusive, rights-respecting society.
NCHR Chairperson Providence Umurungi emphasized the importance of integrating human rights into everyday life: “As we mark the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are reminded that human rights are not distant concepts — they are the foundation of our daily lives. Every Rwandan deserves dignity, justice, and equality. Through this 9-day campaign, we reaffirm our national commitment to ensuring that human rights are respected, protected, and promoted everywhere and every day.”
The campaign is supported by local leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, media partners, and community members, ensuring broad public engagement and outreach.
The Rwanda National Human Rights Commission is an independent constitutional institution mandated to promote, protect, monitor, and enforce human rights in Rwanda.
It conducts investigations, monitors human rights compliance, educates the public, advises institutions, and advocates for vulnerable groups.
Working with national and international partners, the Commission is committed to fostering a just, inclusive, and dignified society for all.
Rescue operations are continuing at full speed across affected areas, the agency said.
The agency reported that flooding displaced about 570,000 people in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces. Damage to roads and disruptions to communication networks have left some affected areas inaccessible, with relief supplies being delivered mainly by air.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday that the government’s rescue and relief efforts are being advanced with full force.
He stressed that Indonesia must respond effectively to climate change and that local governments should play a greater role in environmental protection and in preparing for future extreme weather events.
Additionally, Dr. Usta Kayitesi has been appointed as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The appointments were announced through a communiqué issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, December 1, 2025.
The President has also made appointments to other critical roles. Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe has been appointed as Senior Defence and Security Advisor in the Office of the President.
Meanwhile, Dr. Charles Murigande has been appointed as a Senator.
