Author: b_igi_adm1n

Mathias Harebamungu, the state minister in charge of primary and secondary education has said that government is ready to kick start 12 Years Basic Education program that will commence this academic year.

“The public did a great work by contributing 63% to the construction of the classrooms by providing labour and extra assistance .I am very grateful for the support rendered”, he said.

The minister of education, Vincent Biruta, told IGIHE.com that classrooms were built in collaboration with the population.Teachers have been recruited to make sure the program is started.

“The programme will start with students that completed ordinary level last year.We have already completed marking national exams.We almost have the necessary requirements for the programme to kick off.”

The 12 Years Basic Education program just like the 9-YBE, were thought of in the system of Education for all, facilitating children preventing them from dropping out of school due to lack of school fees.

Nyanza district Mayor Abdallah Murenzi has confirmed the arrest of Cassien Rukundo of Kabilizi sector for alledgedly attacking and injuring several residents at Nyagasozi cell with a mob of local night guards (Abanyarondo).

“Rukundo is being interogated by Police. We will communicate the outcomes to the press once Police investigations are concluded,” Murenzi noted.

Rukundo is a local leader at Kabilizi sector in charge of development. He was arrested following a petition filed by area residents accusing him of bullying locals and denying them various rights.

Victims claim that it was not the first time they were harassed by Rukundo. He allegedly whips residents with a stick especially when residents fail to attend the monthly communal service (Umuganda) and defaulting local medical insurance (mutuelle de santé ).

Rukundo however argues that he whipped a team of thugs that had attacked him and a team of local night guards (abanyarondo) on the eve of new year while on a patrol.

“On our way to Muhanga center in the night we met a man who was grazing his cattle in another person’s garden. When we questioned him about illegally grazing in someones land, he agreed to pay a fine of Frw 5,000.
He later went to a nearby house and returned with a group of more than 20 people. We had no choice but ran away before they would attack us.”

Rukundo claims he didn’t attack anyone that night but later conducted an operation in the area the following day to arrest some suspects.

During the operation he allegedly whipped several people with a team of night Guards loyal to him and three residents were seriously wounded in the operation.

Marcel Makuza a victim who has been bandaged on his skull disclosed that he was beaten without any committing any crime.

“As I walked home from the market I found several men along the way, I greeted them however, one of them said that I was among the people who attacked them on the eve of New Year and they immediately started beating me mercilessly despite my innocence,” he narrated.

Pauline Mutabaruka the executive secretary of Nyagasozi noted that tough actions should be taken against bully leaders.

“We appoint them to lead us not to injure people when they are in the wrong. They shouldn’t take the law in their hands,” she advised.

She condemned the attack of a Muragijimana a 15 year old boy who sustained injuries on his left eye.

Another resident only indetified as Bimenyimana disclosed that he has been harassed in the past by Rukundo for lacking mutuelle de santé yet among the vulnerable in the community.

Source: IGITONDO

Rwanda National Police, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IRST) to collaborate in areas of biodiesel production.

Both institutions will work on how marketing, research and to share expertise in biodiesel.

The event held at the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC) was presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Stanley Nsabimana.

Nsabimana observed that environmental degradation and climate change have been recognized as being one of the barriers to achieving sustainable development.

He said that RNP had already started working with IRST in various researches and training activities, especially those ones related to biodiesel project and health safety.

He stated that a number of achievements, including development of renewable fuels, environmental protection and human health, will be attained as a result of the continued partnership between the two institutions.

The Director General of IRST Dr. Jean Batiste Nduwayezu lauded RNP for facilitating the establishment of the agreement and its valuable support and assistance during various tests on performance of biodiesel in diesel- driven engines.

He, however, pointed out the need to further establish more strong collaborative linkages in order to significantly contribute to the improvement of both environmental and socio- economic conditions of Rwandans.

“Collaboration will mainly focus on Biodiesel research, production and marketing, environmental protection, pollution control and human health safety,” Nduwayezu said.

Currently, IRST produces 2,000 liters of biodiesel every day.

Nduwayezu also said IRST developed a business plan for Rwanda to sustain herself in biodiesel production by the year 2025.

The event was also attended by the mayor of Burera District, Samuel Sembagare, several researchers and academicians.

ENDS

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has released a statement urging the general public to remain calm and vigilant following the grenade explosion on Tuesday evening at Gasabo district, City of Kigali, that injured 18 people.

The explosion happened at about 6:40PM in Marembo Village, Nyabisindu Cell, Remera Sector, in an overcrowded area popular for selling fruits and vegetables.

Police has reported that two people died, 15 have so far been treated and discharged, while one remains under medical treatment at Kanombe hospital.

As investigations continue, Rwanda National Police assures the public that whoever is behind the blast will be brought to book to answer the criminal charges, as has been in previous cases.

The statement quotes, “We urge the public to continue cooperating and sharing timely information, through community policing channels, by reporting anything suspicious to the nearest police station or other security organs and concerned authorities.”

Rwanda National Police extends our sympathy to those affected by this criminal incident. We remain committed to working for a crime free Rwanda.

The UNHCR declared that effective 30th June 2013, there will be no more refugee status accorded to any Rwandan who fled between 1959 and 1998.

Marcel Gatsinzi, the Minister in charge of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs, told media that the decision of avoiding refugee status to any Rwandan living abroad was handed over to Rwanda on 2nd January 2012 and they highly appreciated it.

He said, “We have highly admired this decision.”

According to the UNHCR announcement affected persons include those who fled between the years 1959 and 1998.

This is because a big number of refugees fled during 1994 Tutsi Genocide and others fled in the 1998 period of war against insurgents.

The Minister added that the decision will be implemented right from the 30th June 2013 by the UNHCR and they will not consider any Rwandan living abroad as a refugee to be supported.

The decision would have been set on 31st December 2011 and executed right from 30th June 2012.

About 3,424,919 people that fled in 1994, have already returned to Rwanda.

The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration has launched a new travel document Laisser passé which is electronic.

The New travel document is in form of a pass port booklet which expires in two years replacing the hard large paper Laisser passé which expired in one year.

Presided over by Director General of Immigration and Emigration Anaclet Kalibata said that this will help improve quality services to nationals especially in the business sector and students.

While launching the new Machine Readable Laisser Passé, Kalibata said that people were spending lots of time at the borders but the new document would to avoid the long processes.

“This cannot be forged as foreigners used to do for the previous one to enter in the country,” Kalibata added.

Talking to Ange Sebatege , the public relations officer of Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration said that the previous document could be easily damaged.

“People used to spend much time on borders and a number of countries applicable to this Laisser passé increased,” she added.

She said: “people used to spend much money on the road looking for the previous document, but it will be delivered to the district only. Once you ask it to the district, it is expected that, you will get it within two days. The document is electronically made and is in form of a booklet is easy to keep. Another difference is that duration has changed to two years instead of being one.”

With regard to different prices between adult and children, Sebatege said that it was done in order to facilitate people with children who do not travel much as the adults.

Furthermore, the price for the previous was Rwf 3,000 but the new one costs Rwf 10,000 for adults and Rwf 5,000 for children.

He also declared that 9 machines were dispatched all over the country to facilitate people to easily access the document.

District like Musanze, Rusizi, Huye, Rwamagana and Rubavu have already got those printing machines.

The first people to receive the document agree that it is a good document for it is easy to keep and will solve problems they faced at borders due to electronic checking device.

The countries in which this document is likely to be used are all East African countries, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

ENDS

Linked information from a well placed source has said tourism sector seems to be topping coffee and tea in Rwanda’s foreign exchange earnings.

The figures as of the year 2011 ended indicate that the internal target would exceed US $ 216m, the source said.

“Conference tourism and the opening of new attractions, like the bird trails outside the national parks and the launch of the Congo Nile Trail (CNT), have all contributed. Otherwise, we are happy with 2011,” the source said.

“Presence at all key international tourism trade fairs and joining the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) all added to giving Rwanda an edge and resulted in record earnings and arrivals, full data will be published here just as soon as the statisticians at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) officially release the results,”.

However when contacted the Head of Tourism in RDB, Rica Rwigamba refuted the information saying it’s premature.

“The information is premature and not from us, we have not compiled figures yet,” she said in a cell phone text message.

Sources say that the trend was also supported by adding more beds in the Kigali, as well as in key upcountry locations, easing the pressure of previous years when fully booked hotels preventing clients from being able to actually come to the country due to absence of confirmed accommodation.

ENDS

A student of National University of Rwanda (NUR) identified as Fred Bankunda has died in a bus accident that Occured at Mubende district of western Uganda.

Bankunda (pictured above) was among those listed for the forthcoming graduation ceremony due to take place on January 27. He had gone for Christmas celebration and shopping in preparation for the graduation ceremony.

Bankunda’s sister and the guardian only identified as Norah, in Mubende District in Uganda told IGIHE.com that the deceased was traveling in a bus from Kampala to Fort portal district when the bus Bankunda was traveling in crashed in Mubende killing three people and several sustaining serious injuries.

Bankunda and others were rushed to a hospital in the same district. His sister was at the police looking for documents to allow her get the body out of the hospital.

His close friend and the roommate at the university (cambodge room no. 118), Frank Ngarambe said, “He was my friend and a roommate ever since we met at the university in 2007. He was a very humbled person and innovative.”

Ngarambe added, “this is very sad. I can’t believe he is dead”

Fred Bankunda was born in 1982 in Uganda.He studied primary school in Nyagatare district, High School at Essa Nyarugunga in Kigali and then National University of Rwanda.

He had completed his degree at the Faculty of Economics and Management in the department of Finance (BBA).

His body will be brought back to Rwanda for burial slated for tomorrow Thursday at Kijojo in Nyagatare district.

A group of thirty MBA Students and Faculty from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania visited the Ministry of Defence on 3 January 2012 to learn Rwanda’s Post Conflict Reconstruction and Economic Growth.

The Wharton MBA Executive Program is one of the best in the world that brings together business executives from across the world to the two campuses of University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia and San Francisco.

In their Interaction with the Hon Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe, they were interested in sharing with them the role of security organs in Rwanda’s recovery and socio-economic development.

He briefed on the importance of holistic security as a foundation for development, stressed the role of good leadership in Rwanda and a disciplined Military that is engaged in development of all sectors of national life as opposed to a parasitic Military depending on tax payers money.

Professor Catherine J. Klein leading the team said the four day study tour is under the theme “Conflict, leadership and change, lessons from Rwanda” and the students were interested in learning the role of Security forces in positive transformation of the Rwandan society after 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

Prof Catherine J. Klein also said that the Wharton University students also learned about the Ministry of Defence relationship with other institutions as well as the working relationship between Rwanda Defence Forces with the people.