Author: b_igi_adm1n

Two days ago, over 15 Rwandan returnees who returned from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have disclosed they never enjoyed refugee rights rather faced suffering and isolation.

Isidore Nkurunziza hopes things will change, now that he’s back in his mother country.

“I started planning my travel back to Rwanda in October last year from Kinshasa where I resided with my family, to be honest we were suffering especially because we didn’t have DRC’s legal documents, meaning we were not given priority in government initiatives for instance,” he remarked.

Another returnee, Felicien Nsanzineza explained he and his friends never enjoyed the rights of a refugee since they were not living in a camp. They had to move out in search for greener pastures but unfortunately things didn’t turn out how they expected.

“We were frustrated because of being refugees and I couldn’t keep a job for two months for example yet I wouldn’t report some work related injustice to any authority because I didn’t have legal documents, really we have suffered enough and I hope that life will be smoother according to what Rwandan authorities assure us,” he said.

The return of Rwandan refugees is expected to increase following a UN cessation clause ending refugee status of all Rwandans by June 2013.

Some of the Rwanda refugees residing in Uganda, Congo Brazaville and Cameroon amongst others, have shown fears of being persecuted in the country due to their role in the 1994 genocide.

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Religious leaders and officials from the Ministry of Local Government have discussed ways of how good governance can involve the clergy.

The meeting which took several hours looked at religious leaders can play a key role in the implementation of good governance principles in the country.

The country is now in the month of good governance aimed at instilling and discussing and understanding good governance.

“The religious leaders pledged to embark on an awareness campaign to enable Rwandans understand the country’s development programmes, such as family planning, education and other social affairs,” the statement reads.

Participants commended the country’s efforts in fast tracking the development process but called for more enhancement of better service delivery.

“Be part of the country’s development process,” James Musoni, the Minister of Local Government, urged the religious leaders.

Musoni stated that the leaders should play a key role in supporting the government to realize its development agenda.

The meeting condemned those who don’t participate in the country’s development programmes on the pretext that they contravened their religious beliefs.

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Companies whose staff were killed during the 1994 Genocide have been urged to support families of the deceased, Bralirwa a beverage company is said to have done it frequently.

Jean de Dieu Mucyo the executive secretary of National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG) has on frequent occasions urged companies to support families of their staff who were killed on duty during the genocide war.

He has also recommended construction of remembrance sites in the compounds of affected institutions in order to serve as a wakeup call to some staff who might have genocide ideologies.

Indeed, Bralirwa is offering scholarship to family members of its 36 staff who were killed in 1998 by militias whom after the end of 1994 genocide war which was halted by Patriotic Army (RPA) continued to kill Tutsi’s and their sympathizers in northern province.

During a commemoration ceremony at Bralirwa premises in Gisenyi town, Rubavu district, among the survivors Alphonse Bahati disclosed that his colleagues were killed on 19 January 1998 at 7 am shortly after arriving at work in the company’s van.

Since then with the support from the beverage company, families of the deceased have managed to improve their welfare through income generated in farming activities whereby the produce is sold through their cooperative well known as Girimpuhwe.

“We can provide meals on our table but can’t educate our child, that’s why on behalf of my colleagues we deeply thank Bralirwa for facilitating education of our children,” said Bahati.

Pascal Karangwa a representative of BRALIRWA commended braveness manifested in their former staff killed by militias since most of them denied to join the negative force.

He also assured families of the deceased Braliwa’s continued support in improving not only improving their welfare but also offering scholarships to their children.

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Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi and his delegation that include Aloysia Inyumba, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion have had a brief visit to Senegal holding a meeting with Rwandans in the Senegal Diaspora.

The premier was on his way back to the country from Gambia.

Discussing with the Rwandans in the Senegal Diaspora, the Prime Minister delivered to them message from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda, and also told them the mission of his trips to West Africa.

Habumuremyi presented to the Rwandan Diaspora the policy and the vision of the Country and the priorities of the Government in the year 2012.

He also reminded them on the orientation of the Country’s value and the international position of Rwanda today.

“Rwanda and Rwandan are highly considered and respected due to the endless ambitions of His Excellency Paul Kagame who give the Country a focused system in different dimensions and by encouraging all Rwandans to know their values and always stand up for it,” The Prime Minister said.

While receiving the Prime Minister the Rwandan Ambassador to Senegal Gérard NTWARI, appreciated the Prime Minister’s which proves how much the Government considers and gives value to its citizens whenever they are.

They also congratulated the Prime Minister upon his Doctorate Thesis that attained from Gambia with a first class distinction.

On the other hand the Rwanda Diaspora highly welcomed the Prime Minister and showed their sincere gratitude and appreciation the government for giving them an Embassy.

They appreciated the policies of the Country which focus and centralizes the interests of the citizens and more especially the local people which is lacking in many African Countries.

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“A well fed brain is always an excellent brain,” The Headmaster of New Life High School John Africa said when asked the secret for his school to emerge the best in just released ‘O’ Level results.

Officially the state minister for primary and secondary school Dr Matthias Harebamungu has publicly announced the rural based school New Life High School in Kayonza District emerged the best performer in 2011 examination results among 1,061 schools nationwide.

The school had 38 students who sat 2011 ‘O’ Level examinations only 3 students attained the second grade while the rest were in the first grade including John Bosco Habimana said to have emerged the second student in the country.

The first student came from Maranyundo Girl in Bugesera District a few kilometers away from the Kayonza based New Life High School where second student was.

“We are a Christian school and our values are based on Christianity, we instill high level of discipline, feed students very well and treat them well, and have the best teacher in chemistry, geography and history,” The Headmaster John Africa told IGIHE.com by his cell phone.

“A hungry child will never learn, we always tell them bread will never put for them on a silver plate, they have to work hard for it. We tell them however much we are in rural area but we still compete with well placed and more advantaged schools in Kigali or elsewhere and we tell them they can do it,” Africa added.

The trend repeated itself as rural-based secondary schools trampled their urban counterparts in the 2011 ‘O’ Level examinations.

New Life High School in Kayonza District, Eastern Province emerged the overall best school with an average aggregate of 14, followed by its neighbor Maranyundo Girls’ School of Bugesera, Eastern Province and then a Kigali based Lycee Notre-Dame de Citeaux of Nyarugenge District.

Others are Petit Seminaire St. Pie X De Nyundo in Rubavu, Western Province, Petit Seminaire St. Leon Kabgayi in Muhanga, Southern Province and Petit Seminaire Nkumba in Gakenke, Northern Province.

They were followed by Nu-Vision High School in Gasabo, Kigal, Petit Seminaire Rwesero in Gicumbi, Northern Province, Petit Seminaire Ndera in Gasabo, Kigali and Esc Byimana in Ruhango Distrcit, Southern Province.

Ten students tied at the top, with New Life, Nu-Vision, Lycee Notre-Dame de Citeaux, FAWE Girls School in Gasabo District, Kigali each producing two students among the top ten.

Although a slight improvement was registered in the pass rate of girls in the first division, boys still dominated the top divisions, with 52.7 percent.

Boys came out top in science subjects, contributing 29 out of the 50 best performers countrywide.

The State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Matthias Harebamungu, said heads of schools will start to collect results from their respective district headquarters on Monday.

“Examinations were held in 355 examination centers and candidates were from 1,061 schools nationwide, a significant increase compared to 2010,” Harebamungu said.

Placement for senior 4 will take place on the January 27 and 28, according to the Rwanda Examinations Board officials.

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Over 130 youth have graduated in business skills in what has been termed as StartUp program by Digital Opportunity Trust(DOT).

The program which is also an advanced business skills program, has been offered in three center in Kiagli equipping micro entrepreneurs, youth and skills.

Early last year, Over 3600 youth and women participants were graduated from the four weeks DOT economic program termed as the ReachUp.

Through 85 trainers/Interns, DOT operates in 23 districts in all the Provinces of Rwanda.

The participants were youth and women cooperatives which run different projects such as agribusiness, handcrafts production and selling, leadership building and social support schemes, etc.

Graduates from Kicukiro, and Gasabo Districts benefited StartUp! Which is one of DOT programs which started operating in Rwanda mid October 2011 as a pilot program to cover Kigali.

StartUp! Also included fresh recruits of University graduates who get trained in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise owners, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs.

The program also provides skills on how to prepare and manage their businesses better to leverage growth.

Marie Jeane Musabe who came to startUp! with an idea and after one month the idea has been developed into a business plan waiting its implementation.

“StartUp! has not only given me business skills and prepared me as an Enterprenuer, it has made me a visionary person who looks at the big picture of how to materialize my business grow it and improve as a person” she observed

Musabe showcased her business plan which is about processing mushroom into mushroom flour, the business is estimated to cost 21,428,000frw.

Another beneficiary Aimable Mugabo showcased a product from his venture, where he showcased an eco-freindly stove that does not use charcoal, but uses stones for cooking.

The stove is an innovative idea which is environmentally friendly and cost effective as the stones or coal used can take years without changing.

The different partners thanked DOT for this program and promised their support in materializing these ideas.

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Inspector General of Police (IGP) tour of Police units which took place across the country continued in the Eastern Province where he was inspecting police activities in the region.

According to the police statement, in his address to police officers at different District Police Units, IGP Emmanuel K. Gasana noted that it was imperative that the welfare of police officers improve.

He told police officers that with better welfare police will be able to fully focus on their duties and thus avoid getting involved in criminal activities such as corruption.

Several initiatives have been commenced to improve welfare of Police officers. For example the Police housing scheme in Gishali is aimed at providing non- commissioned police officers with houses.

Not only that, Rwanda National Police provides education opportunities to police officers to help them carry out their work. So far many police officers have benefited from this initiative.

“We are always thinking of police welfare and to that end we have also ensured that police force have enough equipment, ensure that police officers are settled and in comfortable working environment through the force balance program and we continue to think of other initiatives that would improve the lives of police officers,” IGP Gasana pointed out.

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Residents in Rulindo District, Northern Province have complained of forced maize growing saying that their area does not support maize growing.

Residents have requested the authorities to allow them instead to continue growing sorghum.

Residents here say that the maize crop need one to be having a wide parcel with good soils that are fertile, yet sorghum crop does not need such requirements and said to bring huge harvest.

Commenting on the issue, Justus Kangwagye, Rulindo District Mayor said, “a resident that know to calculate will can grow maize, beans among others that does not take long to mature, but growing of sorghum is to miscalculate.”

Kangwagye also added that many residents who responded to get maize seeds have now multiplied and that are responding positively to the move.

He also said that Sorghum takes long to mature and that its market is currently limited as compared to maize

Rafael Murasandonyi, the District Agronomist challenged the residents saying that the same soils used to grow sorghum can be used on growing of maize as well.

Murasandonyi explained that residents in this area are not used to growing of maize and that’s why they are resistant to Sorghum.

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After the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) announced new fuel prices fall to Rwf 940 per liter, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) is reviewing possible ways to reduce transportation fees.

Fuel had increased to Rwf 1200, then reduced to Rwf 1000 and now Rwf 940 but transport costs had remained static.

“We know the problem of transport costs but in few days we shall announce new tariffs that will be slightly down,” said Regis Gatarayiha the acting Director General of RURA.

Speaking to IGIHE.com, Gatarayiha said that on yesterday a meeting was convened with the transport companies’ representatives to discuss possible ways to put favorable costs for passengers.

This comes after passengers started complaining of the static transport fares as fuel prices dropped several times.

Kayitesi Jeannette of Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District said that transport fares from the city center to Kimironko should reduce from Rwf 200 to Rwf 150.

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Paul Rusesabagina of the film ‘Hotel Rwanda’, has asked Canadian government not to deport Leon Mugesera a Rwandan accused of helping to incite the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

In a letter to Canada’s immigration minister, Rusesabagina said he opposes Mugesera’s extradition to Rwanda where he says Mugesera risks being tortured.

“I implore Canada, cradle of human rights, not to deport Leon Mugesera but rather prosecute him on Canadian soil for his alleged crimes and under Canadian laws because if he is deported he will surely suffer the same fate as other prisoners,” wrote Rusesabagina.

Mugesera was scheduled to be deported last week but appeals to two Canadian courts and the UN Committee Against Torture earned him a reprieve.

He was taken into custody after falling ill last week and requiring hospitalization, while Canada considers a request to stay his deportation so that the UN can probe a claim that he faces persecution at home.

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