Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Minister Inyumba Meets Rwandans in Canada

    The Minister of gender and family promotion Hon. Aloysia Inyumba met with over 200 Rwandans living in Canada at Travelodge hotel on 9 June.

    Minister Inyumba met the Diaspora Rwandans after attending a meeting “Universal Peace Federation” and “Women’s Federation for World Peace” in Toronto where she explained Rwanda’s progress and family promotion.

    Rwandans travelled from different parts including; Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Hamilton among other places to meet the minister in Ottawa.

    Dr. Karuranga Egide the leader of Rwandan community in Canada explained to the minister the achievements of the Rwandan Diaspora in Canada and their programs aimed at helping Rwanda through their various skills.

    The Diaspora requested the minister to always update them with information on various government policies and programs so that they can also contribute to the country’s development.

    Mukabagwiza Edda the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Canada explained to Minister Inyumba that Rwandans living in Canada established structures to help improve on implementation of various Diaspora activities especially “One Dollar Campaign”.

    The minister explained to the Diaspora the level of progress achieved in Rwanda on gender equality.

  • LULU to Prove She is Under 18

    Wednesday June 13, the High Court in Dar es Salaam will be presented with evidence and supporting documents by way of affidavit to prove that Lulu is under age.

    Elizabeth Michael a.k.a Lulu is charged at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court with murdering local movie star Steven Kanumba on April 7, this year, at Sinza Vatican.

    Tuesday court Judge Fauz Twaibu ordered defence lawyers of Lulu to submit evidence about age of the actress supporting their claim she is under the age of 18.

    Defence counsel led by advocate Peter Kibatala filed the application at the High Court seeking the determination of the accused’s age.

    Lawyers stated that Lulu has not attained the age of 18 years to merit prosecution in an adult court.

    The application by Kibatara followed a decision by the lower court to turn down their request to transfer the murder case to a juvenile court on the ground that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    However, in his ruling Monday, Judge Twaib quashed and set aside the decision by the resident magistrate’s court to refuse to entertain the application, saying it was an error in law and an abdication of duty.

    “Consequently, I hold that the lower court was wrong to refuse to entertain the application, thinking that such an enquiry could only be done by this court.
    I quash and set aside the decision of the Kisutu Court,” the judge ruled.

    The judge said, considering the seriousness of the charge facing the applicant and the urgency of determining whether or not the applicant is entitled to the benefits of the Child Act and in the interest of justice, the court is invoking its supervisory powers under Section 44 of the Magistrate’s Court Act and shall proceed to determine the correct age of the applicant in terms of Section 113 of the Child Act.

    The judge said that the nature and seriousness of the charge facing the applicant, the lack of any possibility for securing bail, during the pendency of the charge and undisputed urgency of the matter require that the controversy about her age be determined the soonest.

    He further ruled that, in the meantime, the proceedings of the murder case at the lower court should stay, pending determination of the applicant’s age in the High Court.

    The judge ordered the applicant’s counsel to produce evidence on their client’s age on June 13 while prosecution required submitting their reply on June 20 while the hearing would be on June 25.

  • They want to Kill me–Hosni Mubarak

    Former President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak 84, has accused the current government that ousted him of planning to kill him in jail.

    ‘They want to kill me. Save me, Farid, find me a solution,” said Farid al-Deeb, his chief lawyer in the murder and corruption trial that ended this month with his sentencing.

    Mubarak is serving a life sentence over protester killings, has said the authorities “want to kill” him in jail as his health deteriorated, his lawyer told media.

    The former president’s health has deteriorated since his imprisonment on June 2, and he was defibrillated twice to revive his heart on Monday.

    He is currently being held in an intensive care wing of Cairo’s Tora prison. Prison authorities agreed on Monday to allow his son Alaa, also jailed in the same prison on corruption charges, to join him and his other son Gamal.

    Mubarak’s wife Suzanne and his two daughters-in-law were given special permission to visit him on Sunday following rumours that he had died in prison.

  • US Envoy in DRC Calls For Destruction of M23

    The United States ambassador to the DRCongo has urged Congolese troops to destroy the M23 rebels confirming U.S. position through a statement issued on June 7 in Washington.

    “We support efforts made by the Congolese government and its partners against the M23. Government has a duty to destroy the rebels.
    You are right to destroy these rebels, “James Entwistle told the Congolese authorities in Goma.

    He said the Congolese government has the right to destroy the Movement of March 23 (M23), currently under fire from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in North Kivu.

    “We support the Congolese government’s efforts to discourage further desertions and bring to justice perpetrators of violations of human rights among the mutineers, including Bosco Ntaganda,” read the statement issued by the White House.

    The rebel general was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, crimes against humanity committed in Ituri in 2002.

    Ambassador Entwistle said that he made him a briefing on the military situation prevailing in that province.

    The clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebels have caused displacement of thousands into neighbouring countries including Uganda and Rwanda.

    He noted that cooperation between Kinshasa and Washington did not begin with the case of M23.

    “We trained Congolese soldiers a long time. We support this country for years, “he said.

  • U.S. Hosts Events Promoting Economic Growth in Africa

    This June 2012, the U.S. Department of State is hosting several events to promote economic growth throughout Africa by engaging women and youth, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthening U.S.- African economic partnerships.

    The main events are the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum, the U.S.-Africa Business Conference, the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, the Innovation Summit and Mentoring Partnership with Young African Leaders, and Global Economic Statecraft Day.

    The exchanges and opportunities for dialogue will bring economics to the forefront of the United States’ relationship with Africa and help us to build a stronger international economy together.

    African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum

    The United States Department of State is hosting the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Washington D.C. from June 11th to 16th.

    Enacted in 2000, AGOA serves to support free markets, increase U.S.-African trade and investment, and promote economic growth to integrate Sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy.

    The Forum will bring together U.S. and African ministers, members of Congress, private sector and civil society representatives. The policy focus of this year’s forum is the importance of infrastructure (power, transportation, communications, etc.) to business development, trade and economic growth.

    U.S. Africa Business Conference

    The State Department, in collaboration with several U.S. Government agencies, will host the U.S.-Africa Business Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 21-22.

    The U.S.-Africa Business Conference aims at providing an opportunity to showcase U.S. business expertise to potential African clients, and to highlight trade and investment opportunities in Africa to U.S. exporters and investors.

    In addition to an official Government of Rwanda delegation, 11 Rwandan companies will also attend the conference to discuss investment and partnership opportunities.

    African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP)

    The U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Visitors is hosting women entrepreneurs from across Africa from June 4-22, 2012 on its third “African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP).

    AWEP is an initiative launched by the State Department in July 2010 to foster networks of female entrepreneurs across Sub-Saharan Africa who are qualified to transform and develop their communities by owning, running, and operating businesses.

    Innovation Summit and Mentoring Partnership with Young African Leaders (YAL)

    The State Department will host the Innovation Summit and Mentoring Partnership with Young African Leaders from June 13th to 30th, 2012.

    This three-week professional development program, sponsored by the U.S. government in collaboration with Meridian International Center, is part of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative to engage young African leaders who promote positive change in their communities.

    The two-day Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. will launch the program, connecting business leaders, speakers, and international and local civil society activists.

    Participants will travel to various destinations in the U.S. for the Mentoring Partnership with American companies and non-profit organizations. Through this opportunity, young African leaders will gain hands-on experience in the American workplace to foster their own professional leadership skills.

    The program focuses on social entrepreneurship as a tool for maximizing Africa’s potential to create jobs and opportunities and aim to enhance U.S.-African collaboration to promote innovation, investment, and social responsibility.

    The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda is sending one young Rwandan, Clarisse Iribagiza, to participate. Clarisse Iribagiza is the winner of the East African reality TV show “Inspire Africa.

    She is also at the head of HeHe Limited, a mobile applications development company founded in 2010 while she was a student at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

    Global Economic Statecraft Day

    Economic statecraft is one of the central pillars of American foreign policy. Through the Global Economic Statecraft initiative, established in 2011, the U.S. aims to increase U.S.-African trade and investment.

    Global Economic Statecraft Day is a day set aside to highlight the United States’ support for business and to reflect on how to integrate better economics into our foreign policy.

    To celebrate Global Economic Statecraft Day, the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda will host a Youth Entrepreneurship Program at the American Corner at the Rwanda Tourism University College in Gisenyi on June 14th at 2:00 p.m.

    The event will feature a discussion on youth entrepreneurship in rural areas led by Charles Kayitana, a lecturer at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB).

    Kayitana will lead discussions on best practices in “customer care” with students, small business owners, tourism employees and transport service professionals.

    Participants from neighboring Goma in DRC are also invited.

  • Police Donates Bikes, Sewing Machines to Youths

    In the ongoing Police-week activities, the national police have provided 5sewing machines to an association of youths that previously engaged in drug abuse.

    12 bicycles were also donated to another association of youths united in the fight against drug abuse.

    The supportive material was donated to the two associations in Busoro sector in Nyanza district.

    IGP Emmanuel Gasana reminded residents that in the current situation, security and safety of citizens are not about crime prevention but also engaging in developmental activities; fighting poverty, fighting gender based violence all done in collaboration between police and citizens.

    Local government minister James Musoni commended Nyanza district authorities for their efforts in containing drunkenness and drug abuse among youths in the district.

  • Britain’s Envoy to Libya Attacked

    Britain’s ambassador to Libya was in a convoy of cars attacked in the eastern city of Benghazi, a British embassy spokeswoman has said.

    The convoy was hit about 300m from the British consulate office in the city’s al-Rabha neighbourhood on Monday.

    “A convoy carrying the British ambassador to Libya was involved in a serious incident in Benghazi this afternoon,” the spokeswoman said.

    “Two close protection officers were injured in the attack but all other staff are safe and uninjured.”

    She said the injured officers were receiving medical treatment.

    The diplomatic convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, local security officials said earlier on Monday.

    The embassy spokeswoman earlier said that all staff were accounted for following the attack. “We are liaising closely with the Libyan authorities,” she said.

  • Less Sleep Raises Risk of Stroke

    A new study suggests that middle-aged and older people who regularly sleep less than six hours a night may be significantly raising their risk of stroke.

    As much as a fourfold increased risk was seen among normal-weight people who didn’t suffer fromsleep apnea but got fewer than six hours of sleep each night, the researchers found. Both obesity and sleep apnea are known risk factors for stroke.

    “Sleep is important,” said lead researcher Megan Ruiter, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Medicine. “There is evidence that insufficient sleep -increases all sorts of abnormal responses in the body.”

    Lack of sleep increases inflammation and causes increases in blood pressure and the release of certain hormones, all creating a greater stress response that can increase the risk for stroke, Ruiter said.

    The results of the study were scheduled to be presented Monday at the annual meeting of theAssociated Professional Sleep Societies in Boston. The data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

    For the study, Ruiter’s group collected data on more than 5,600 people who took part in a larger study on geographical and racial differences in stroke.

    Over three years of follow-up, the researchers found that sleeping fewer than six hours a night was associated with an increased risk of stroke in normal-weight people beyond that related to other risk factors.

    They didn’t find any association between stroke and short sleep among overweight and obese people.

    Although the study found an association between shorter sleep and stroke, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

    Dr. Michael Frankel, director of vascular neurology at Emory University and director of the Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center at Grady Hospital, both in Atlanta, commented that “although difficult to define why this may be occurring, one can speculate about a possible mechanism linked to changes in cortisol levels, an important stress hormone that may be in higher levels in people who have shortened sleep.”

    Elevated levels of this hormone may trigger dysfunction of the cells that line and protect people’s blood vessels and set in motion the cascade of events that leads to stroke, he explained.

    This finding may explain why people without traditional vascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes occasionally have a stroke, he added.

    “We know that in about a third of patients with ischemic stroke, doctors are unable to define a cause,” Frankel said. “Reduction in sleep may be contributing in some of these patients.”

    “For those of us who chronically work long hours, we may need to listen closely to these findings and adjust our lifestyle to reduce our risk of stroke,” he added.

    Controlling blood pressure; eating a low-calorie, balanced diet; exercising; not smoking; not drinking heavily; having regular checkups; and closely following doctors’ advice remain critical for vascular health, Frankel said.

    “But attention to proper sleep may be equally important,” he added.

    Another expert, Dr. Keith Siller, medical director of the NYU Comprehensive Stroke Care Center in New York City, agreed that sleep is an important factor.

    “I see this as part of a general message that along with exercise and a proper diet, a good night’s sleep should be included in a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

  • Rwandan Youths Recieve Advocacy Training

    Youths from Rwanda and East African member states have undergone training on advocacy and peer education to enable them deal with their challenges as youths.

    The training was conducted at Hilltop Hotel recently coordinated by the East Africa Community secretariat.

    The trainings on “Integrating Advocacy Components to Peer Education” are part of the joint EAC and DSW project “Invest in Adolescents.”

    The project aims at building the individual competences, collective capabilities and overall capacity of adolescent and youth serving CSOs necessary to advocate effectively for the development and implementation of adolescent and youth sensitive SRHR policies, programs and budgets.

    Adolescents’ and youth involvement in decision-making processes and advocacy strategies remains scarce. Often because young people lack the skills to comprehend, articulate and communicate their needs and their understanding of and ability to contribute to local and national civic processes.

    However, involvement of knowledgeable and empowered adolescents is crucial to strengthen their sexual and reproductive health and rights and link and place them in decision and policy making processes. Young people remain an essential resource and potential force for change.

    They are the most ideal agents to provide appropriate knowledge and information on decisions and policies to other young people as well as communicate the role and responsibilities of young people in implementation of decisions and policies.

    The training “Integrating Advocacy Components to Peer Education Trainings” targets representatives of national youth organisations in the five project countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda)

    The goal of the training was to ensure a wider and more sustainable participation of young people in meaningful dialogue as advocacy becomes an integrated component of peer education programs with youth organisations.

    Objectives of the training targeted fostering skills on advocacy methods and process, including prioritizing advocacy issues.

    The training also focused on increasing the understanding of pertinent approaches for young people’s participation in meaningful dialogue, including civic education and involvement in decision and policy making processes.

    It also emphasised training youth organisations’ representatives on how to use the training modules and how to integrate it to peer education programs,

    And training youth organisations’ representatives on criteria and procedures for selection of youth champions to participate in national trainings.

  • Traffic Police Should Promote Passenger Rights

    The culture of silence and lack of knowledge about passenger rights coupled with lenient traffic police, over speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol continue to cause more road accidents and eventual loss of lives.

    Coaster buses of major transport companies plying upcountry routes have in the recent past adopted supersonic speeds just trying to prove the strength of the six cylinder engines.

    Whenever you try to demand the cutting down of such high speed, you are immediately rebuked by the driver and some passengers who only think of reaching their final destination in the shortest time possible irrespective of the fatal consequences that could arise.

    Very few drivers exhibit proper discipline and respect for order. Drivers threaten to refund money to passengers whom they find insisting on proper driving discipline.

    There is always minimal intervention from other passengers who prefer to remain silent because of the general feeling that they don’t own the car and the general feeling that it’s a favour to be driven in such a car.

    Traffic police has on many occasions stopped such over speeding cars but prefer to walk away to a distance with such drivers and eventually the driver returns to the car and over speeds again.

    This to many rightful thinking passengers is a signal that there is something wrong and or suspicious about traffic police.

    Driving under the influence of alcohol remains unchecked especially on weekends and night time. Traffic police should deploy on the roads during weekends like its done other working days.

    The traffic Police should not only stop drivers because of over speeding or overloading but should regularly ask passenger vehicles to pullover and sensitize passengers on their rights. Only 2minutes are enough to deliver such messages.

    Age should be pertinent in determining a bus driver. The lack of psychological relation of youthful driver to senior citizen as a passenger makes it impossible for such young drivers to exhibit road discipline and respect for lives of passengers.

    Because most drivers are young they have become crafty on the steering wheel. They have developed signs to communicate presence or absence of traffic police ahead and thus making it easy to drive according to information provided—in most cases over speed when there is no traffic police ahead.

    Passengers in most cases cannot easily notice the speed of the car but non passengers outside can easily notice how fast the car is zooming. It should thus be a combined effort by both passengers and other road users to report an over speeding car or any reckless driver.

    Although Police keeps calling upon passengers and the public to report any traffic violation by drivers and motorcyclists, the largest challenge is for the traffic police.

    They should deploy a mobile traffic unit on every road. Probably they should also deploy plain cloth police in all passenger cars to directly deal with undisciplined drivers.

    The Police week should also conduct such sensitization on passenger rights, and road discipline and encourage all road users to play a key role in reporting any road user malpractices.