Author: b_igi_adm1n

Security operatives in Gicumbi district have arrested 29 men in an operation aimed at curbing suspected idlers. The arrested were transferred to Gicumbi transit center where they await screening.

According to the Regional Police Commander Northern Province Chief Superintendent Gilbert Gumira, such operations are aimed at preventing criminal activities that may be committed by potential criminals such as loiterers, prostitutes as well as street children.

At the transit centers screening process is conducted to identify criminals while street children are handed over to their parents with a warning to keep them off streets.

“In some cases some of those rounded up happen to be criminals on the run so we try to establish where they come from to ascertain whether they have cases to answer,” CSP Gumira explained.

He also noted that a partnership with Iwawa Rehabilitation and Integration Center has been established where Male loiterers aged between 18 and 35 years are transferred for rehabilitation. Facilities to accommodate women are yet to be established.

Currently only three districts in Northern Province have transit centers. They include Gicumbi, Murera and Musanze. Efforts are already underway to establish at least a transit center in all the districts within the province.

The transit centers have already contributed to reduction in criminal activities. “If you compare crimes committed in December last year and those of last month you realize a significant reduction,” Gumira noted.

Two commercial houses in Nyamasheke District were razed by fire started by a short circuit on Saturday, the police confirmed.

Merchandize worth Rwf 1,076,000 was destroyed in the fire. The police have called upon general public to avoid incidents that can cause fire outbreak.

Police post in Nyamasheke District reported that the cause of fire was a wooden battery- charger that burst leading to a short circuit.

“A resident notified police who immediately arrived at the scene and together with locals managed extinguished the fire,” National Police official website has indicated.

Fire and Rescue Brigade commanding Officer Chief Superintendent Reverien Rugwizangoga urged citizens to always avoid any incident that may lead to fire accidents.

He asked citizens to be more cautious especially in the dry season.

“We have had cases of fire accidents in rural areas where forests get burnt up due to deliberate motives of some farmers. This has to stop and Rwandans should recognise the overall importance of forests”, Rugwizangoga said.

He reiterated the need for citizens to participate towards fighting fire outbreaks noting that quick sharing of information would not only save lives but also property.

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According to the Minister of local Government (MINALOC) James Musoni, living in planned villages has progressed significantly but still more is needed to be done.

Minister Musoni has said there has been a 67% response across the country to live in planned villages.

The minister was speaking at the closing of a two day meeting on rural settlement and integrated development programs. The meeting had brought together vice mayors in charge of economic affairs.

The local leaders focused on issues assessment findings on households living in planned village sites as well as access to low cost housing materials.

But the most dominating issue was finding ways of effectively mobilizing citizens to settle in planned villages for they can easily access infrastructural development collectively.

Local government minister Musoni said more needs to be done to improve both rural and urban settlement despite the development registered at different levels.

The minister observed that in the rural areas construction is done with consideration to available infrastructure and agricultural activities.

In the urban areas on the other hand, there are still some areas that are not well planned.

He therefore called on the local leaders to sensitize citizens to always bear in mind the city’s master plan before construction of residential settlements.

To facilitate in this program, the ministry of local government donated to each district GPS apparatus, a lap top computer and camera.

Kamonyi district vice mayor who was elected to represent her colleagues said these equipment will enable them to carry out their work effectively.

The vice mayors agreed to finalize the identification of sites for settlement and validate them through districts advisory councils by the end of February 2012.

They also agreed to stop construction of houses in marshlands and emphasize on conduction of environmental impact assessment to all projects before they start being implemented.

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Police in Ngoma District has detained four of Mutenderi Secondary school staff in Ngoma District for wrongfully admit 300 students.

The four staffs of the school that included its head teacher Bonneur Gapira Maombi are accused of violating powers and abusing responsibilities of Rwanda Education Board charged with students’ transfers and admissions to different schools.

It is said that one teacher collected money from the students before they could be registered.

The Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Mathias Harebamungu, has called for immediate thorough investigations into the matter.

Harebamungu say that the 2007 law on enrolment and transfer of students bars head teachers from carrying out admissions themselves.

He stated that similar cases had previously surfaced in the neighbouring district of Kayonza.

“Mutenderi’s head teacher went against the law, the motive is yet to be found but all sorts of suspicions can be thought of. It is known to all that only REB enrolls students and their transfers are handled by districts,” he said.

“Involving head teachers in student enrolment could encourage such malpractices corruption, favouritism and nepotism”.

“He picked students from nine-year basic education programme, something that has a very negative implication. He had no right at all. I think the district will know how to handle this case”.

An order from schools inspectors have been issued to the school administration to send back the students where they had come from.

According to an eye witness at the scene, the school seemed to have no capacity to handle the 300 students to be accommodated by the school.

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Belgian chief of defense Gen. Charles-Henri Delcour, is expected in Rwanda tomorrow Monday January 6th, 2012 for a two-day official visit.

The visit aims at strengthening ties between the two countries’ defence forces, according to official website of Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense.

While in Rwanda, General Delcour will hold talks with his Rwandan counterpart, Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff among high profiled officials.

“General Delcour and his team will also visit Zigama CSS, Rwanda Military Hospital, after which they will lay wreaths at Camp Kigali (memorial for Belgian peacekeepers killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi) and Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre,” a statement from Ministry of Defence reads in parts.

Belgium has been among countries that have good military relations with Rwanda in an efforts modernize and proffessionalise Rwandan army.

As technologies advance so it is needed for security organs to advance and get skills to adopt latest technology.

Several specialized trainings have been offered to several individuals in the army Belgium has been one of them.

Three specialist medical doctors graduated in the Royal Military Academy in Belgium and other 50 students also passed through the same academy pursuing different courses, especially in engineering.

Other 60 Rwandans students also enrolled at the Defence Engineering College in Debre Zeit in Ethiopia and 25 more joining later.

2nd Lt. Stephen Semwaga graduated from the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK with Steven Mutabazi and Ramsey Simba also followed suit.

Roland Kalisa has graduated in electronic engineering at another USA top military academy, West Point. Ivan Cyomoro Kagame successfully passed his entry exam at the same Academy.

Engineer Danny Gatsinzi has also graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

South Africa is another country that has seen many young Rwandan men and women pass through its academies including Sgt Emery Gakuba who holds a Masters Degree from one of the South African Universities.

Many pilots, avionic engineers, medical doctors, lawyers, managers and economists have successfully had their studies in different countries and more others are still benefiting from bilateral relations Rwanda has her allies.

Gen. Delcour’s visit comes within the context of a military cooperation between the two countries.

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A national plan to conserve forests in the country will be unveiled next month, according to stakeholders and experts in forestry management.

The team which met for a retreat in Ruhengeri town unanimously agreed that more emphasis should be put in planting more trees, the target is to have 30% forest coverage in the country by the year 2020.

Jean Gapusi the head of forestry and agro-forestry research station of Rwanda noted that there’s a 21% forest coverage, a fact that also shows good results in environmental conservation.

“Today 13 percent consists of natural and planted forests above 0.5 hectares the remaining is 8 percent of agro-forestry and woodland-lots of less than 0.5 hectares,” he said.

Claudien Habimana the director of A forestation Support Program (PAREF in French) noted that in order for forestry to be improved some key measures will be taken, and among them include, planting trees, sustainable management and income generation.

Some of the activities will be implemented under PAREF a four year program which is funded by the Belgian Development Agency (BTC) to the tune of Euro 6 million.

Habimana further pointed out those planting trees will be among the program’s priorities; hence they intend to support the growth of eucalyptus trees since they germinate in a short time and can do well in various climates.

“In terms of reducing cutting down of trees, we intend to introduce other alternatives of fuel like pit and biogas so that people don’t depend mainly on charcoal which is obtained from trees,” he said.

Gapusi was quick to advise that Eucalyptus trees shouldn’t be planted close to the source of rivers since they absorb a lot of water.

He however noted that the tree can be used for economic growth since its hard wood timber has demand in both local and international market.

The program will also train people from the private sector on how to manage their forests since the majority of big hectares of land containing trees is owned by individuals.

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The Michigan court of appeal, has decided to deny Jean Wyclef Ndayisaba exile and he is likely to be deported soon to Rwanda and be tried for his possible participation in 1994 Tutsi genocide.

Another option is to deport him Burkina Faso where UNHCR had managed to acquire him a refugee status. he has lost a asylum seeker cases he filed in 2008.

A ruling published January 31 in the US State of Michigan maintains earlier rulings by two lower courts which ruled that the grounds of his asylum application were baseless.

In asylum documents filed in June 2008, Ndayisaba claimed that he was fearful of his life from the Rwandan government because he had testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in the defence of Elizaphan Ntakirutimana. He also made several other allegations, which were all dismissed.

Ntakirutimana was convicted at the ICTR for genocide. The elderly Adventist clergyman served his 10-year sentence and was released in December 2006 and continued to live in Arusha. He died early the following year aged 82 years.

Ndayisaba had testified for Ntakirutimana because they belonged to the same sect, and Ndayisaba had been an active member of the congregation.

The decision to go to USA for exile was an advice from Ramsey Clark, the former USA general prosecutor and an advocate for Ntakirutimana.

Before being denied the exile, the decision had been refused by 2 courts in Michigan state for the reason were not reliable.

After that decision Ndayisaba is likely to be deported to Rwanda where he is accused of 1994 Tutsi Genocide crimes or Burkina Faso where he was allowed a refuge.

Though Ndayisaba was attrubuting innocence to him, Pastor Elizaphan Ntakirutimana was later proved guilty and was given a 10 year jail which he finished in 2006 and died in 2007 at 82 years old.

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Claudine Yambabariye, a 20 year old woman in Muhanga District, has been accused of striking her husband on a shoulder using a machette.

According sources, Leon Sebaganwa 31 who is currently at Kabgayi hospital, says that they were not involved in any dispute prior to the incident.

“Except a slap I had struck her long ago which caused us to separation for a short time but later we remarried,” said Sebaganwa.

Police is currently investigating the wife to determine the cause of the crime.

The executive secretary of Shyogwe sector, said that there have recently been a reduction of domestic violence. “citizens should report such kinds of problems.”

Leon Sebaganwa and his wife are used to live on hand work and they are characterized by a good collaboration but neighbours agree that the couple had consumed alcohol before nightfall on Thursday.

The husband is said, apart from having a 2 year kid with Yambabariye, an accused, to have abandoned another wife in Nyaruguru district with whom he had three children.

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Reliable sources have disclosed that the recent deported 1994 Genocide suspect Leon Mugesera may have a defense team of 3-4 lawyers.

The defense lawyers’ team will be composed of Canadian origin and local lawyers which is also yet to be named by next week.

According to Leon Mugesera, his case has to be defended by lawyers familiar with his case and recently he said that he cannot fully trust a local lawyer.

His first hearing, Mugesera was defended by a local lawyer identified as Donat Mukunzi who may also end up in his defense team.

When contacted Mukunzi, told Igihe.com without disclosing details that negotiations are still ongoing about how the legal battle for Mugesera will go.

“By now nothing has changed so far but we still have another time to talk to my client about the forward,” Mukunzi said by cell phone.

Mugesera who pledged more one-two months preparation; his next court date is billed on April 2, and that’s when he will enter a plea on charges related to arms trafficking, as well as those related to planning to make the 1994 Tutsi genocide inevitable.

Bertrand his former lawyer in Canada said that for financial reasons, Mugesera may end up defending himself, with only legal advice from Mukunzi.

Bertrand admitted the now infamous speech Mugesera made in 1992 was harsh and hateful but did not incite people to kill, despite the fact the Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously in 2005 that there were reasonable grounds to believe Mugesera had committed crimes against humanity.

As for the other charges of arms trafficking, planning and participating, Bertrand said he is perplexed. His client left the country two years before the mass killings began and “probably hasn’t seen a gun in his life.

“It’s only this speech they have against him. That’s all.”

A Montreal retired public and international law professor said it would be too sweeping to suggest that Mugesera has no chance at a fair trial, given the number of international observers watching the highly publicized case.

“I think if you have a good and impartial judge, he or she should be able to distinguish between what is fabricated and what is serious,” Peter Leuprecht said. “I think there has been some progress in that respect.”

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