Author: b_igi_adm1n

The New Minister of youth’s first public announcement has come with a warning to bar owners who sell alcohol to the under age.

Minister Jean Philbert Nsengimana reminded bar owners that selling alcohol to under age was illegal and purnishable by Rwandan law.

He was addressing over 2000 students at Regional stadium Nyamirambo who successfully completed their civic training commonly known as Itorero ry’Igihugu.

“The law is very clear; selling alcoholic drinks to a person less than 21 years of age is illegal. Once caught, they will be charged accordingly,” Nsengimana said in a protest to those drugging young generation.

Students also signed performance contracts (Imihigo) with the ministry to form unity and reconciliation clubs, fighting consumption of drugs and other social vices towards beviral change.

At least 36,115 students completed three weeks of civic education training at various camps across the country.

Students attended the training in their home districts contrary to previous arrangements where the programme could be conducted at Nkumba Peace and Leadership Centre in Burera District.

In general students say the training helped them understand more of government programmes and also helped them get a picture of Rwanda’s future.

ENDS

Rwanda’s first mobile telecommunication giant MTN has donated Rwf 90m to support Imbuto Foundation’s Scholarship Programme.

The donation which is from MTN’s own charitable foundation, will benefit 100 vulnerable children in high school, ranging from Senior One through Senior Six.

Recently the foundation supported the opening of ICT labs in Northern Province and Kigali which is fully equipped with internet connection in a bid to promote information communication technology among the needy students.

MTN Rwanda CEO, Khaled Mikkawi, who handed the cheque to Imbuto Foundation chairperson and the First Lady Jeannette Kagame said it was not the end of such charitable act for the giant telecommunication.

Annually Rwf 150,000 will be disbursed to students for the next six years of secondary to cover their school fees and scholastic materials.

“Education is a cornerstone of development, and I am delighted that MTN has decided to support this journey with Imbuto Foundation as they provide opportunities to young boys and girls,” the chairperson of Imbuto foundation said.

According to Radegonde Ndejuru the Director General of Imbuto Foundation, the Foundation has offered 5000 scholarships to youth since 2002.

ENDS

Rwandan seven firms including Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), NPD CONTRACO, and banks; BK, KCB, BNR, Fina Bank and Unguka Bank Ltd have been granted certificates of participation in the 2011 FiRe Award held in Nairobi recently and organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

FiRe award reports provide a summary of findings based on evaluation criteria.
Its purpose is to promote excellence in financial reporting and corporate citizenship by participating organizations.

Speaking to igihe.com, Peter Rutaremara President of ICPA Rwanda explained that the award was one wayof improving financial reporting standards in Rwanda, and competing at international level.

“We encourage different Rwandan organizations into competition at international level through increasing their capacity in financial reporting standards,” said Rutaremara.

African Gatare the Director of Administration and Finance in MINICOM who represented the ministry and received the certificate in form of International Public Sector Accountant Standards (IPSAS).

“Our financial reporting this year was very well prepared and we submitted it in to compete and therefore, won at the East African Level,” he said.

Gatare challenged other organizations to take part and participate in the competition as one way to improve on their reporting standards.

During the event, ICPAR signed an MoU with Professional Organization of Auditors Agreed in Rwanda (OCCAR).

According to Charles Karori Karara the OCCAR Chair; the MoU will help the organization in the capacity building by getting better skills done by ICPAR an organization with vast field experienced.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) is a Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) mandated by law to regulate the Accounting profession in the republic of Rwanda.

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has sentenced Colonel Theoneste Bagosora to 35 years and Lieutenant Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva to 15 years.

Nsengiyumva was immediately released since he had already served 15 years in jail. Bagosora who was arrested on March 9th 1996 will serve an extra 20 years in prison.

Bagosora, former Director of Cabinet in the Defence Ministry and Nsengiyumva, who was in charge of military operations in Gisenyi appealed against life imprisonment sentences imposed on him on December 18, 2008 after being convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Also today the ICTR Appeals Chamber is due to hear an appeal for Rwandan former businessman Gaspard Kanyarukiga and ex-Commander of Ngoma military camp in Butare prefecture, Southern Rwanda, Lieutenant Idelphonse Hategekimana.

Hategekimana is appealing a life sentence imposed on him by the lower court on December 6, 2010, for genocide and crimes against humanity (murder and rape), for ordering the massacres of Tutsis who had sought refuge at Ngoma church in Butare prefecture.

Regarding Kanyarukiga, the lower court convicted him of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity on November 1, 2010.

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in massacres of Tutsis at Nyange Parish in Kivumu commune, Kibuye prefecture (western Rwanda), on April 16, 1994.

President Paul Kagame has warned members of judicial fraternity against ostensible corruption while rendering justice to Rwandan population.

While presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Justice Prof. Sam Rugege and his deputy Sylvie Zainabo Kayitesi, Kagame said that Justice should be paid for.

“Justice is for all not for only those who are able to pay. It should be equally rendered to all,” Kagame said in his speech after the two senior officials of Supreme Court were sworn-in.

“We have seen the trend of paid justice shrinking. The culture of giving justice to a selected few due to their ability to pay for it or positions or influence should not be tolerated,” Kagame said while describing the weight of responsibilities the two chief justices have to carry as senior officials at Supreme Court.

He reminded the new officials sworn-in that Supreme Court was the highest level where Justice is expected and being examples to all other levels of justice.

“This court should not be doubted by public, the public should have confidence in it as it renders the expected and desired justice. It should be a court of reference for proper justice and that gives you heavy responsibility to shape Rwandan justice more to its excellence,” He added.

The president urged the two new senior judicial officials to carryout justice responsibility beyond the country’s boundaries to international relations.

“You should remember that justice supports the country’s development.It’s imperative you do the best for the interests of general public,” Kagame said.

He pointed out that the new chief justice and his deputy should work hand in hand to improve justice in the country.

In his speech, President Kagame first commended the out-going chief justice Aloysia Cyanzayire for a great work done towards judicial reforms.

He said the judicial reforms saw qualified staff increase, renovation and construction of judicial facilities, reduction of the backlogs of cases that had piled during and before 1994 Genocide and the use of ICT where one can file a case without necessarily having queue at registrar’s office.

ENDS

The senate vice president Jeanne d’Arc Gakuba has advised the youth in Ndera sector to avoid early sex as a way to reduce risks which might tamper with their life goals.

Gakuba was speaking at the launch of a three month HIV/AIDS awareness in Gatsabo district.

This particular area is known to have the majority of youth who consider themselves classy and often adapt to latest trends like fashion, they share similar attitude with the youth of Nyamirambo sector.

The campaign, according to Gakuba would alert those who are mislead into immoral behaviour.

“I encouraged you to look for profitable leisure activities and refrain from drug abuse and prostitution, stop being lazy and work hard,” she said adding those mislead are likely to be stricken by poverty since they’re hesitant to utilize their potential.

Her remarks were echoed by the director of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi who called upon the society to use condoms or abstain from unprotected sex, he added that most importantly is one to go for HIV test.

Gatabazi further advised parents to have open talks with their children on the effects of premature sex, since most the youth tend to fall into temptations due to lack of guidance from their superiors.

Meanwhile, the gathering marked the end of a national 16 day of activism against gender based violence.

“I’m impressed, 500 couples legally wedded during the awareness period and I hope this would reduce domestic disputes often led by polygamy,” Gakuba remarked.

Six classroom blocks at Ndera primary school were also officially inaugurated. Gakuba advised parents to send their children to school since they are more exposed to risks back home.

“There’re high chances for them to be misled or harassed by those with ill motives.Studying not only opens their mind but also keeps them busy.”

The former Minister of Education now Prime Minister, Pierre Damien Habumuremyi(right in Photo) has this Wednesday handed over to Dr. Vincent Biruta, the new Minister of Education.

Biruta has promised to support the improvement of quality education across the country.

During this handover ceremony Prime Minister Habumuremyi said that Biruta is an experienced man and this will be a foundation to perform well his new duties in the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) as a Minister.

Premier Habumuremyi noted that MINEDUC is a Ministry which is focused to help a big number of Rwandans, and he’s very optimistic that Biruta will improve the service delivery in the Ministry.

Dr. Biruta said that he will always look at improving the way the Ministry helps people to acquire the quality of education.

“The Ministry will improve more and more the quality of teaching in Rwanda, and we will monitor mainly different programs which MINEDUC leads and also we have to work hand in hand with other partners in education,” said Dr. Biruta.

Premier Habumuremyi requested the new Education Minister to strengthen different programs including 12 Years Basic Education, Umwalimu SACCO, One Laptop Per Child and One Set University.

Biruta is the former President of the Senate and replaces Habumuremyi who was appointed as the Prime Minister.

Over 600 pupils in Kayonza district have dropped out of school and joined mining activities in Rwinkwavu sector, in Eastern Province.

The announcement was made by the Governor of Eastern Province Odette Uwamariya during the International Mining Day celebration held in the area recently.

While challenging the residents Uwamariya said, “how will your children be future leaders yet they drop out of schools.”

She urged residents to give their children freedom to education and to stop them from engaging in such activities in order to let it be done by mature people only.

Kayonza district Mayor John Mugabo said that while in mines these children involve themselves in hectic activities.

The Traffic Police Commanding Officer Chief Supt. Celestin Twahirwa has cautioned motorists to be more alert while using the roads especially during the festive season as the level of accidents tends to rise due to careless driving, over speeding, drunk driving and lack of concentration among others.

CSP Twahirwa also called upon all road users to be cautious, “We urge all road users to be very careful during Christmas and New Year festivities and ensure that lives are not lost in accidents.”

Over the past two weeks a total of 48 road accidents occurred from different parts of the country.

Through these accidents, 17 people lost lives while 67 sustained both major and minor injuries. It has been established that the main causes of the accidents was over speeding and careless driving.

According to the police statement, though the number of accidents looks to be relatively high, accidents registered over the past 14 days were fewer as compared to previous fortnights.

This means that road accidents dropped in the past two weeks compared to the previous weeks.

Twahirwa observed that Rwanda National Police objective to create an accident free environment can only be attained with contribution from every road user.
Traffic Police has prepared to ensure road safety during the festive season. “We will deploy traffic police officers on different high ways country wide to help handle all these expected road risks”, Twahirwa said.

Rwanda National Police calls upon people living in Rwanda to celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities in a manner that would not put them in any danger.