Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Man Arrested for Murdering His Brother

    NIYONZIMA Oscar
    On November 25 we reported that a body had been recovered stuffed in a sack that had been dumped into a stream commonly known as Rwanzekwuma at Kinamba-Gisozi in Kigali.

    Police investigations have revealed that the young man in his early 20s identified as Marola eldebrand was killed by his elder brother identified as NIYONZIMA Oscar.

    Niyonzima allegedly brutally killed his brother accusing the deceased for bringing home prostitutes. The incident happened on 24th November.

    The murder suspect who confessed on camera to the whole public that he intended to kill his brother. Its alleged that the two brothers had always been involved in family dispute.

    When the landlord learnt of the dispute always caused by Niyonzima, a 15day notice to vacate the house was issued.

    Niyonzima will be produced before the court and if found guilty will get life imprisonment subject to penal code act 311.

    “I have been arrested for killing someone I lived with in the same house.I agree I killed him”, Niyonzima told Press.

    Meanwhile Police Authorities have urged families to always settle such disputes as a means to prevent the occurrence of such criminal acts.

  • EAC court rules against Rwandan senior army official detention

    The First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice Thursday declared that the detention of Lt. Col Rugigana Ngabo in Rwanda was in breach of fundamental and operational principles of the East African Community.

    The court presided over by Justice Johnston Busingye (Principal Judge), Lady Justice Mary Stella Arach Amoko (Deputy Principal Judge), Justice John Mukwawa and Justice Bosco Butasi ordered Rwanda to pay the costs for the unlawful and arbitrary action to the applicant, Plaxeda Rugumba, who is a sister to Lt. Col. Ngabo.

    According to the East African Community official website, the Court said the act of detaining Lt. Col. Ngabo from August 2010 to January 2011 offended Articles 6 (d) and 7(2) of the Treaty; the latter which demands that Partner States shall be bound by the principles of inter alia, good governance and the rule of law.

    The Court also declared that the five-month detention of Lt. Col. Ngabo was unlawful according to the laws of Rwanda.

    It declared that the continued detention of the subject without trial in a competent court was a breach of the country’s laws.

    Rwanda’s laws provide that any person arrested shall not be detained beyond 48 hours without being produced before a court of law.

    The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

    Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.

    Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The High Courts of the Partner States serve as sub-registries.
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  • S.Korea, Rwanda To Partner For Internet Security

    Current information has indicated that President Paul Kagame’s participation in the Aid effectiveness forum in S.Korea may also benefit Rwanda to partner with by the summit hosting country in Internet security.

    This followed President Kagame’s visit to the Global electronic company SamSung and Korea Internet security Agency (KISA).

    According to Paulkagame.com, Partick Nyirishema, Head of Rwanda Development Board Information Technology department, president’s visit to these technological giants was very instrumental for Rwanda an aspiring ICT hub in the region.

    Nyirishema believes a country cannot invest in the use of the internet if security in ICT cannot be secured which would lead to loss of trust and credibility.

    “KISA is indeed a strategic partner, and they are going to be helping us to build cyber security capability so that as we strive to fast track out technological capabilities in ICT, we do that with security in mind and putting the right measure in place,”Nyirishema said.

    “We are going to be partnering with them to put the right measures in place and build our own capacity for cyber security.”He added.

    He also said that bSamSung electronic giant will partner with Rwanda in skills development in ICT excellence.

    “To have Samsung as a partner would be strategic because they have very high levels of expertise and competence. We are looking at partnering in the area of skills development, to help us build skills in certain areas we have discussed,”Nyirishema noted.

    “We will continue to discuss the details on how they will help us as a country, to build skills in electronics as well as software application development. There are some tangible things that they are going to help us which will be very instrumental for ICT development in Rwanda.”

    KISA is a government agency established in 2009 to focus on the national Korean information security, national internet development and international cooperation in the area of ICT and broadcasting.

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  • Turkish Firm Invest in Rwanda’s Energy

    A Turkish firm, Hakan Mining and Electricity Generation Industry and Trade Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Ministry of Infranstracture to develop power generating plants in the wetlands of Nyanza and Gisagara Districts in the Southern Province.

    Min. Emma Francoise Isumbingabo (L) and Ahmet Karasoy(Net Photo)

    According to Emma Francoise Isumbingabo the Minister of State in Charge of energy and Water, the project is expected to be completed in three years and US$230 million (Est. Rwf136,8bn) to develop the peat power generation plants.

    Isumbingabo signed the MoU on behalf of the government.

    This comes in a wake of unclear circumstances of Rukarara Hydro power project which is said to have involved slapdash deals and work in the execution of the project.

    Currently an independent ad-hoc committee from the parliament has been set to investigate thoroughly well what failed the project.

    After one month, the ad hoc committee is expected to come up with the expected independent report which will be followed by summoning relevant ministries or will ask for more time if it will have not completed its investigations.

    A number of government institutions are now under scrutiny by Parliamentary Public Accountants Committee (PAC) for possible abuse of public funds following auditor general’s report 2009/10 which highlighted billions of funds spent with no supporting documents.

    The report listed a number of public institutes that would have been caused a huge loss to the government in various aspects.

    The Turkish firm represented by its Board of Director’s Chairman of Hakan, Ahmet Karasoy hailed Rwanda Development Board(RDB) that helped it eased and quickened its paper work.

    “We shall also be looking at other energy areas where we can invest in,” Karasoy said.

    Energy has become one of the world’s priorities of investment with latest technologies inventing various sources of energy from Sun, human and animal waste, and wind among others.

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  • Gov’t Wants To Achieve Clean Audit Report Soonest

    Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has advised government chief accounting officers to do away with common mistakes that appear in their reports if they want to achieve Rwanda’s target of having clean audit reports.

    The premier was reacting to the recent 2010 Auditor General’s report that highlighted significant flaws in public funds accountability.

    In a meeting which took place at the former Prime Holdings Hall in Kimihurura was attended by government ministers, Mayor of Kigali City, provincial governors and district mayors.

    “We cannot allow our increasingly good image in matters of public accountability and good governance to be soiled by behavior we can avoid.

    Since I’m sure none of you is happy with the blame we bear by virtue of the failures the report brought up, let us all find lasting solutions and commit to implementing them”, the Prime Minister said.

    Participants agreed on measures to 20 common errors highlighted by the 2010 Auditor General’s report and among them recommend government institutions to strengthen their internal audit units.

    “Accounting officers should receive regular and effective training, under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, district finance administration units should be given capacity level and manpower size in finance administration commensurate with increased money volumes they handle. Ministries of Local Government, Finance and Public Service to follow up,” stated the recommendations.

    From now all government agencies should within three months hire external auditors as a measure to supplement the Auditor General’s Office.

    Government agencies must produce audit reports authored by external auditors before end of September 2011.

  • Mrs. Kagame to Attend ICASA Conference in Addis Ababa

    The First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame will attend the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), taking place in Addis Ababa from 4-8 December 2011, under the theme “OWN, SCALE-UP and SUSTAIN.”

    Mrs. Kagame, co-founder of OAFLA (Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS,) will give remarks on Monday at a special First Ladies’ roundtable discussion on “The Justification For The Engagement of First Ladies In The Fight against HIV and AIDS.”

    The session will deliberate on the efforts made and leadership provided by the spouses of African leaders towards achieving an HIV free generation, with the aim of enhancing commitment and action.

    The ICASA conference expects to welcome more than 10,000 delegates from around the world including scientists, health workers, policy makers, people living with HIV (PLHIV), community leaders and activists working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, Tuberculosis & Malaria.

    The conference provides a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in Africa and around the globe in responding to HIV/ AIDS and STIs, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

    A key significance of the ICASA conference is that 2011 marks 30 years after AIDS was discovered as a new disease.

  • Transparency Rwanda calls for More Efforts Against Corruption

    Though Rwanda has showed good progress in fighting corruption, Transparency Rwanda director Marie Immaculée Ingabire says more needs to be done in ensuring zero tolerance of bribery.

    Ingabire has raised concerns including; issuing of jail terms to people found guilty of embezzling public funds yet they don’t refund the stolen money, another area is the employment process into government institutions.

    She recommends that among the ways to discourage embezzlement of public funds, is by not only giving longer jail terms to culprits but also ensure that the lost amount is returned to government coffers.

    “Imagine if you sentence someone to five years in jail for committing fraud of Frw 500 million, he or she will later be set free and use the money on their personal interests. We have seen many use this trick that’s why I still insist they should serve both the jail sentence and pay back stolen money. The law should be revised,” she advised.

    Ingabire disclosed that she is personally tired of redundant reasons from some government officials who fail to deliver and put the blame to employees whom they claim lack competence.

    “There’re two things either the official is corrupt or perhaps they hire incompetent employees based on their selfish interests,” she noted.

    “How comes they claim workers lack competence yet the employment process was done professionally and those selected given a trial period to verify whether they are fit for the job? This doesn’t make sense,” Ingabire inquired.

    Meanwhile, Transparency International ranked Rwanda on 49th place in the world among countries fighting corruption, 4th in the African continent and 1st in the East African Community.

  • Government Launches Youth AIDS Campaign

    The government of Rwanda through Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and other partners has launched a three months long national campaign to fight against HIV/AIDS among the youth.

    This was in relation with the World Aids Day that was marked December 1, 2011.

    Over 5000 youth in the city of Kigali including high school leavers who are currently undergoing the civic education (ingando) participated in the event that started with the peace walk from Kaciru round about to Petit Stade, Remera.

    dscn1920.jpg

    Dr. Anita Asiimwe the Deputy Director General of RBC told the press that the campaign will go through all secondary schools and universities, and all villages under the assistance of local and youth leaders.

    Asiimwe also demonstrated that since 2008 to the end of the year 2011, new HIV infections among the youth has reduced by 50% of which she noted it was a big achievement.

    Jados Habimana one of the youth that attended the launch said “I think the mobilization will creates awareness among some of us who never knew much about AIDS and how it can be controlled like using of condoms.”

    Mashirika Creative and Performing Arts Group and other group of local artists delivered HIV/AIDS related messages in form of entertainment.

    In a recent press conference, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that HIV infection were at 50% among young generation between 15 and 24 years, which meant between 5000-6000 new infections every day across the world.

    According to Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC); the same age group HIV prevalence was estimated at the rate of 1.0% relatively lower than many other countries.

    These figures varied from 1.5% among women to 0.4% among men. Meaning that 380 women in this category are infected over every 100 men.

    In the same press conference Dr Asiimwe announced that a new behavioral studies among youth in Rwanda, which showed the proportion of young men and women aged between 15-24 years who are sexually active, the number increased from 34% to 39% among young men and from 20 to 26% among young women between the year 2006 and 2009 respectively.

    The study show different factors as lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, lack of educating and life skills, poor access to health services and commodities, early sexual debut, early marriage, sexual coercion and violence.

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  • Police Pickup Truck Slips Off The Road

    A police patrol car commonly known as Panda gali (get on a car) last night slipped off the road into a gully at RTUC near round point at Sonatubes-kicukiro in Kigali.

    Igihe.com attempted to obtain more information about the accident but the police at the scene declined him of any information not even to take pictures.

    On a telephone interview, police spokesperson Supt. Theos Badege confirmed the accident but said he has not yet got detailed information about it

  • Exiled Rwandan Musician Wants To Return Home

    Rwandan R&B singer Benjamin Mugisha alias The Ben exiled in the United States of America has expressed interests to return home after living in New York city for close to two years now.
    Mugisha 'The Ben'
    In a phone interview with one of the renowned musicians in the US Mike Soda who also works closely with The Ben, he admitted that he is recording songs of Rwandan context; they consist of topics related to peace and reconciliation which are contrary to his style of love songs.

    Soda said that Ben’s talent has improved since he arrived in the US and due to his electrifying performances, he has been selected to perform on a California tour but his performance is scheduled on 3rd December.

    The R&B singer has changed his stage name to his surname Mugisha meaning luck in Kinyarwanda.

    “He has often told me that he prefers his real name in order to associate himself with his mother country Rwanda, I support his idea since it brings Rwandan musicians to the spotlight who I believe through Ben’s delivery that they have talent,” he remarked.

    However, the former local singer’s move to come home has been rebuffed by some of his fans who find his passion for patriotism as a mere scapegoat.

    “Remember when they first fled with his colleague Meddy they didn’t give a clear reason to their fans, then again in order to get an asylum in the US it means you have to talk bad about your home country in order to be accommodated there.”

    “They should not waste their time coming, we now have better talented musicians like King James for instance Rider-Man, Tom-Close name them,” Said Abdi Gatete a music store owner in Nyamirambo’s Tari Nyota area.