Author: b_igi_adm1n

Rwanda’s telecom company Tigo has launched an in-house HIV/AIDS program aimed at promoting the pandemic awareness amongst its employees and partners.

The program will involve providing and encouraging voluntary HIV testing, treatment, care and support at the workplace.

Four years program will be conducted by the support of Swedish Workplace HIV/AIDS Program (SWAHAP), an NGO that aims at contributing to the private sector response towards awareness of the virus and medical support.

Tigo’s acting CEO Diego Camberos encouraged his staff to utilize the services which he believes would help them to know their health status.

“Most of you are young and we’re building the future hence a need to fight and achieve our goals so this pandemic shouldn’t let us down.” Camberos said at the launch of the program one hour ago.

Nina-Claudia Ndabaneze the company’s marketing manager was quick to point out that, “the impact of HIV/AIDS on any business and its employees is patent in many ways.

“Sometimes it leads to absenteeism of workers seeking health services which reduces productivity, high medical bills due to health conditions, increased costs due to terminal benefits and many more,” Ndabaneze remarked.

According to reactions from various employees, the program is essential especially to those who might be infected since they will get medical support at work hence improving their productivity.

“Indeed this program is interesting but my fear is a need for privacy for those affected, really this is an issue to consider or else people will be hesitant to go for the services,” noted Alpha Bundu.

Reacting on the matter Daniel Mwaura the SWAHAP regional coordinator assured the staff that confidentiality will be highly considered and that Tigo will only be given numbers of people infected but not their names.

“We have a contract with Tigo and among our terms is not to disclose the names of people infected. What we will disclose is the number of people they should support financially, the funds will be channeled through our organization in order to assist those who are in need of help,” said Mwaura.

He also added that there will be a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) tent in the company’s compound which will offer services related to testing HIV/AIDS, counseling and awareness of the pandemic.

Rwandan peace activist Edouard Bamporiki, 27 is attending a Crimes and Punishment film festival in Istanbul, Turkey where he has delivered a message of peace at the festival.

Bamporiki,a filmmaker award winner received national and international attention for his stories of hope, unity and reconciliation.

The festival, that opened in Istanbul last Friday is screening about 100 films from 40 countries dealing with all kinds of crimes and punishments but focusing especially on coups d’état, the inaugural year’s main festival theme.

Speaking to igihe.com, Bamporiki said that he was invited to present and deliver a message of peace at the event together with other renowned peace activist, filmmakers and actors around the globe.

During his presentation at the event Bamporiki said, “If we want long lasting peace, there should be a journey to inbuilt peace and reconciliation within our own hearts because no one can deliver and give out what he doesn’t have personally.”

He said that the film called Kinyarwanda where he prominently acted together with Cassandra freeman of Hollywood won international attention and that it can be used to fight against related war crimes and genocide ideologies around the world as the main objective of the festival.

Bamporiki also told the gathering how Rwanda passed via worst history of horror in 1994 and how the nation has regained national pride today which gives hope to the sustainable development.

Yesterday evening, Bamporiki visited Qwiyq city in Asia. He has also visited different cities and countries including Congo Kinshasa, Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya.

Others include Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Pologne, Istanbul Turkey, New York, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Boston among others all speaking out and delivering the message of unity, peace, reconciliation and hope.

After a weeklong at the festival, the Rwandan Bamporiki is expected back in the country tomorrow on Friday.

The festival is a theme with a special resonance in Turkey, which has seen four elected governments pushed out by the military since 1960 and has just started to overcome taboos surrounding that history.

The focus of the Istanbul festival is also significant for those nations in the region facing the question of how to deal with crimes committed by dictatorial regimes toppled in the popular uprisings of the Arab Spring this year.

The distinguishing feature of the Crime and Punishment Festival are the legal panels, presentations and debates accompanying the screenings that try to cross-pollinate artistic and academic exploration of the concept of justice.

Experts sent by Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) are currently carrying on assessment study on impact of the regional Rusumo Hydro power project to the population.

The study is expected to unearth general impact of the project from environment, area affected, people affected and how they will be compensated up to benefits it largely bring to member countries.

Nile Basin Discourse Forum is a network of civil society organizations from the 10 countries of the Nile Basin that aims to promote sustainable and equitable development, poverty reduction, and cooperation between all countries in the Nile Basin.

“We have sent experts to report possible ways of making the project successful without harming anyone and causing any problem,” said Jean Batiste Habiyaremye the chairman of NBDF-Rwanda who also doubles as a treasurer of the same forum at the regional level based in Entebbe, Uganda.

According to Habiyaremye, one expert from Rwandan side is expected to file in a report late this week and the findings of the study expected are documented importance of the project and how it will affect families residing near Rusumo falls where the hydro power plant will be constructed.

Rusumo hydro power project is expected to increase hydro power production by 90 MW in three countries including Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

Other experts from the Nile Basin member countries are also said to be conducting the same study and one over all report will be compiled to be thoroughly discussed in order to also compare it with other stakeholders’s report to come up with one report to be tabled in the infrastructure Ministers from the member countries late this year.

Nile Basin Discourse Forum also seeks to maximize the social, economic and environmental benefits available to poor people within Nile river countries and to ensure that there is a more equitable distribution of these benefits across the Nile basin area.

The National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Karangwa Chrysologue
Has released provisional senatorial results for all candidates who were contesting from Kigali City Council, higher institutions of learning and 4 provinces.

Prof. Karangwa says ¾ of the Electoral College for varsities and 2/3 of Kigali and Provincial candidates were the major criteria to open doors for the voting college and this gave access to voting lecturers from all universities compared to 2003

Prof. Laurent Nkusi the Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs at the Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (INATEK) won with 335 votes equivalent to 98.53% and the people that voted were 362 standing for private universities., while 923/1138 voted for Public universities.

Prof. Emmanuel Bajyana emerged the winner of the senatorial seat reserved for public institutions of higher learning. He teaches Bio-Technology and Genetic engineering at the National University of Rwanda

Northern Province three winners are Mr. Bizimana Evariste who won with 396 votes equivalent to 92.30% while Mr. Musabyeyezu Narcisse won with 390 meaning 90.90%.

In western province, three candidates with victory are Bishagara Kagoyire Thérèse who won with 412 votes equivalent to 89.95%, Mr. Mushinzimana Appolinaire got 396 equivalent 86.46% and Mr. Sindikubwabo Jean Népomuscene got 373 81.44%

In southern province, Mukasine Marie Claire got 416 which is 84.21%, Bizimana Jean Damascéne won with 411 that’s 83.19% and Niyongana Gallican won with 345 votes that’s 69.83%.

The Eastern province out of 12 candidates, Mukabalisa Donatille, Rugema Micheal and Sebuhoro Célèstin won the elections.

In Kigali city only one candidate who was elected is the Ex-city mayor Gakuba Jeanne

The general elections of senators started on Monday for candidates to represent Kigali city and four provinces while on Tuesday they elected University representatives.

Prof. Karangwa said, as the law states, the provisional results of the candidates comes after the general elections but if there’s any objection of any candidate, this should be carried out within 48 hours.

He further said, this year’s elections had 292 observers while in 2003 they were many due to lack of trust and bad image the general world had to Rwanda.

Google has updated its maps to include the newly independent nation of South Sudan.

The move follows a campaign by a South Sudanese journalist, who posted an online petition calling for the new nation to be marked on web maps.

The absence of South Sudan on Google Maps, and the majority of Internet maps, has frustrated citizens of the new country.

As early as July 14, Google answered questions about the missing border with assurances that it was in the process of making the update.

“That’s nice,” John Tanza Mabusu(photo above), a broadcast journalist who fled Sudan in 1991 and now lives in Washington, D.C, said that 47 days after South Sudan became a country.

“But I would still argue that it’s too late to start talking about that because since the 9th of July, if they were serious, we would have seen the signs of their work.”
Mabusu started a Change.org petition urging Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and National Geographic to update their maps.

The petition collected more than 1,600 signatures.

Google is the first of those companies to update its maps.

Spokespeople from Yahoo and Mapquest have pointed to map data providers such as NAVTEQ, which has said that it is “currently assessing plans” and cited time-consuming detailed planning.

“I’m hoping that now that Google has officially recognized South Sudan on their maps, the other major online mapping services will quickly follow suit,” Mabusu said in a statement.

He added. “The people of South Sudan fought long and hard for their independence and suffered greatly. It’s time these maps reflect their efforts and catch up.”

University Students from Kayonza district today merged at the districts headquarters to officially present their association KUSA to the district authorities in a ceremony headed by the Vice Mayor in Charge of Social Affairs Mutesi Anita.

Originating from the National university of Rwanda, KUSA today openedup welcoming new members from other universities and institutions of higher learning in Rwanda such as Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Kigali Health Institute (KHI), Higher Agriculture and Veterinary Institute (ISAE), School of Finance and Banking (SFB), Umutara Polytechnic University (UPU), Kibungo University of Agriculture, Technology and Education (UNATEK), Kigali Independent University (ULK), Kigali Lay Adventist University (UNILAK), RUKARA COLLEGE, Kigali Institute of Education (KIE).

The cheerful students expressed their gratitude to the district administration that has been working hard to make this day come true; a day most of them thought of as a dream.

Mutangana Emmanuel KUSA president at NUR told igihe.com that the purpose of this gathering was to link all university students from Kayonza district with the districts administration and determine what the students can do to support the district.

“We are here today to meet the district authorities to express our support to the district developmental agenda and shariing our vision and plans for the district with the district authorities.” Mutangana said.

“As a student from UPU I am ready to help my district in achieving the desired development by use of the knowledge I have gained. I am also ready to help the district in realizing its performance contracts so as to develop our district to the level of Singapore.” Mphinganzima Ariane an ICT student at Umutara Poltechnique University told igihe.com.

Students openly expressed their desire to freely work with the district and support its programs such as sensitization of Kayonza residents on the need for family planning, fighting against illiteracy, voluntarily teaching English to students in the 9year basic education program, creation of income generating projects for the youth, demonstrations of how to make modern kitchen gardens and tippy taps (Kandagira ukarabe) among others.

University students on the other side requested the district to always consider their thoughts during the district’s planning and implementation of some programs that don’t need expatriates.

“We are ready to work for our district free of charge given the facilities and recognition by the district and sector authorities. All we need is to be informed of the districts plans and progress such that we plan our agendas in accordance to the districts orientation.”

In her speech, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs thanked the university students for their courage in making this day a reality despite the challenges they encountered.

She reminded the students that they are the catalyst to the district development given the fact that they are the learned ones.

“Nobody is going to develop your home/district better than yourselves. Use the knowledge and influence you have in your community to develop Kayonza. The district is trying to deal with all challenges but we need your support in order to efficiently realize what we contracted with the president of the Republic.”

On the point of communication and access to districts Anita assured the students that district is doing all it can to daily inform the general public of what is taking place in the district via its website (www.kayonza.gov.rw).

“With effect from next month our website will contain all updates from each sector for you to follow and know where you can lay your support most,” the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs said.

In her advice to the students Anita encouraged them to elect student focal point members in every sector at their respective universities for easy communication between the district and the students at their universities.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) has awarded five artists who participated in a song competition that encourages youth to use their talent and knowledge and be the change

Two months back, MINICOM encouraged youths on how to generate small scale business through songs in Kigali, but now this will take place in all districts and provinces while passing the message using the top 5 selected artists.

Among 71 competitors under conditions of awarding the finest song containing extraordinary message for youths encouraging them to work, in his speech, the permanent secretary of MINICOM Emmanuel Hategeka said, “If youth listen to such a song with message, it encourages them to accomplish their goals”.

The five competitors for the finals at Serena Hotel that MINICOM awarded include; Ingeri Band led by Jean Paul Samputu, Runyurana Jean Pierre and Abedé, a group of two girls who inspired the audience” Lucky Girls” known as Gloria Mukamabano and Iradukunda Debut Consolée, Dieudonné Munyanshoza known as Mibilizi, Manamana John Victor and Semivumbi Daniel ”Danny” from the brothers

Before Semivumbi receive a cheque of Frw 2million, all competitors had equal time to sing for the public and the judges proclaimed Semivumbi Danny from the brothers, a singing group which once won Salax Music Awards.

Annonciata Kuradusenge a pilot for the judges during the selection told all competitors; the criteria’s were the message from the lyrics, to witness if the public appreciates the song and the rhythm of the track.

After the criteria and judgment, Danny came first and was awarded Rwf 2 million, Dieudonné Munyanshoza received Rwf1 million, Jean Paul Samputu came third with Rwf500,000, Lucky Girls forth given Rwf 300,000 and Manamana John Victor Rwf200,000.

The Joyful Semivumbi said, “I was afraid of Samputu and Mibilizi”

I composed this song with a help of my wife and the way message flows, inspires youth to work, he added that, he will use the money accordingly so that when the project is successful, he will recognise MINICOM, he said.

Clay Therapy Laughter Yoga and Counseling Volunteers Club has released a new track composed with message for healing the vulnerable in Rwanda and included people who are in trainings by CVC.

Kim O’meara, holding an Advanced Diploma in Counseling, international Ambassador of Clay Therapy and a teacher of Philosophy at Sophia College in Australia says, Laughter Yoga clubs are social clubs free for all.

After Rwandan Genocide many people’s hearts were full of grief and loss and chose to come to Rwanda and share knowledge through trainings.

Ras Banamungu who is the president of CVC in Rwanda says they started with a group of 12 people but now they have more than 1,000 members including street kids, HIV positive and volunteers from all over the world.

He further says: “I participated in CVC as a person with a heart of giving not by accident since last year and we do offer trainings to people who have broken hearts like the way I was before.

“I had bad memories which seemed negative to my fellows and always thought of having wonderful times, I saw and heard staying deeply stored for many years until I came along Kim O’meara and entered consciousness which took my part of life” he said

On October 9 at Murindi Japan One Love, CVC is launching an extravaganza fundraising at 4pm and the amount which will be gathered will help street kids, and other vulnerable.

Laughing, acrobat, songs and other activities will be used to entertain the audience while passing the message of how affected people can laugh and access good times of fathers and mothers and empower their hearts.

Laughter Yoga has made a major difference in the lives of many people with physical and mental disabilities in India, Canada, USA, Australia and Portugal. Now it is expanding to Rwanda.

In Bangalore, India, the introduction of Laughter Yoga for the mentally and the physically challenged children has revealed a marked improvement in their mortar and expressive skills besides control of hyper activeness.

People who come to the sessions in wheel chairs have shown tremendous improvement in their physical condition and mental health. Laughter Yoga has also been introduced in many schools for the Blind, and among the deaf and mute children, to help them cope with their disabilities and generate a more positive attitude, that will help them to enhance their wellbeing.