Author: b_igi_adm1n

The East African Community Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso has said that good governance and rule of law, are basic conditions for peaceful co-existence and economic prosperity for the regional bloc.

Kiraso who is also Secretary General of Uganda’s strongest opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was speaking at a conference in Kampala Uganda with the theme: “Upholding the Rule of Law and Constitutionalism for the Promotion of Regional Integration.”

Hon. Kiraso also argued the EAC citizens to fully participate in good governance issues as they have a crucial role and duty to play in their countries’ growth and development.

“Complacency on the part of citizens towards their governments’ actions, or their reluctance to participate in governance processes contributes to bad governance,” she underscored.

“Guaranteeing the security of people in East Africa will ensure sustainable development in the region,“ she said.

However, the EAC official cautioned that when holding the government accountable, the people must behave responsibly as individuals and communities through their elected representatives.

The Vice President of Uganda Dr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekendi emphasised the importance of upholding rule of law and constitutionalism in the region, saying that they are the bedrock in the deepening and widening East African Community (EAC) integration.

“Deficits in good governance principles and practices have been responsible for conflicts and political unrest in some parts of the continent,” he further noted adding that efforts to address them collectively will make the region more stable.

In regard to the constitutionalism and administration of justice in the regional context, Sskendi added that it was a manifestation of EAC partner states and determination to take the integration process to its logical conclusion literally meaning the EAC Political Federation.

“We cannot go there unless certain principles, policies and legislations are harmonized,” the Vice President stressed.

Commenting on the issues raised, Rwanda’s justice minister Tharcise Karugarama noted that there was a need to harmonize policies and laws but only at a regional level.

He further pointed out that not all laws can be harmonized since member states have different systems of governance and history.

“Tanzania for instance is a federal state which shares power with Zanzibar, you see their background wouldn’t allow them to harmonize all their laws, Rwanda too has its own history and way of doing things,” he emphasised.

“This isn’t an issue of Rwanda against East Africa all countries have different systems and it would be hard to harmonize all laws to have East Africa as one country with uniform laws,” he remarked.

Karugarama further noted that there was progress in the country’s good governance despite a few that criticize the representative voting process whereby citizens vote political parties as opposed to individuals.

“It’s not only Rwanda that uses this style even other countries have similar voting processes, and we also have direct elections too, the criticism is not right,” he remarked.

The objective of the annual conference is to promote continuous debate and advocacy at the highest levels of political leadership to underscore good governance if regional integration is to be strong and sustainable.

At the end of the conference, the delegates will make some resolutions and recommendations to the EAC decision-making organs.

The program on Good Governance bases on Article 6(d) of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community which provides for upholding the fundamental principles of good governance including adherence to the rule of law, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities.

A draft Protocol is in the process of being finalized according to reliable sources of the Arusha-based EAC Secretiariat.

The three day annual conference which began wednesday is organized by EAC Secretariat and will build on the momentum from the two previous conferences.

A three-day training on case handling software to journalists by the Media High Council has been been concluded this Thursday at Kigali Institute of Education (KIE).

“This software is not for journalists only, but also to other people who wish to forward complaints to MHC in case a journalist misbehaves to him/her,” said Karema Ibrahim the officer in charge of media freedom and access to information for MHC.

Karema argued trainees to avoid speculations and violation of the media freedoms while gathering data.

Joseph Hakwuzumuremyi from Umuryango.com says, “This software will facilitate us in our daily activities to easily submit the problems we face at the field like being tortured.”

He further said the number of victims will reduce because journalists have where channel reports and make a follow-up.

“I gained much from the training that is valuable to both MHC and journalists. I believe that if they practice what they have preached, our work will be fruitful,” said Trevor Kabagambe a freelancer.

More training on this software will take place in the whole country to other people not only journalists, he noted.

This has come after the article, “Journalists have right to access Public information” in the bill seeking to promote public participation and development process where government and private bodies should provide to journalists public information in possession by those bodies.

Without reasonable cause for refusing a request for access on information, bad faith in denying a request for information or knowingly give incorrect, incomplete or misleading information, fines will be provided.

China’s Deputy Minister of commerce Gao Hucheng has said that his government will support Rwanda with US$15.7 million in grants and loans to encourage economic development and trade.

He clarified that half of the amount will be in form of grant while the remaining half will be five-year interest-free loan.

Hucheng acknowledged Rwanda’s development progress adding that his country will continue offering its support. He further emphasized that trade between the two countries doubled to US$76.4 million in the first half from a year earlier.

“China also plans to build a government administrative building, a 25-kilometer road in Kigali and provide medical devices and pharmaceuticals to Rwanda, as well as providing support for exports to China,” he assured the minister.

“On top of the 60 percent tariff-free treatment China already has granted to Rwandan exports to China, we will continue to help you to publicize and promote your products to the Chinese market,” Hucheng concluded.

The minister of foreign affairs Louise Mushikiwabo hailed the country’s cooperation with China adding that Rwanda was still improving its business environment which would favor investors, especially those from china.

She asked Hucheng to encourage more investors from his country to set their business in Rwanda. “Even though there’s a rise in Chinese investments, it’s still low and on behalf of the investment authority we request you to encourage more investments here,” the minister stressed.

Research conducted by Transparency Rwanda (TR) show that gender-based corruption exists in several workplaces, especially those in the private sector and the most affected are women who have been hesitant to report the injustices due to fear of losing their jobs.

Marie Immaculee Ingabire , the TR Chairperson confirmed existence of the vice but commended progress made to ensure gender equality in the country.

She also insisted on the need to do away with some corrupt practices that discriminated people particularly in workplaces.

The survey dubbed ‘gender based corruption at workplace re veiled that among its group respondents categorized in both homogenous and heterogeneous groups of people at work and those seeking for a job, that 5% of respondents personally experienced gender based corruption at workplaces.

The survey indicates that women are most affected since they constitute a high number of job seekers. Commenting on the matter Mugabe Shyaka, a consultant and a researcher on the survey noted that the private sector is the most affected recording 58.3% of the interviewees who have met corrupt demands in the sector, while both public and civil society range at 51.4% and 43.1%.

“Women make up 84.5% of those particularly looking for jobs, and the most perpetrators became men at a range of 83.2% working as directors or hold any other senior rank in an institution,” said Shyaka.

The study also reveals that human resource management is largely considered as being based on objective criteria, but 21% believe that the determination of salary is not objective.

More worryingly, the report shows that 5.6% of victims reported the cases they encountered to the police or the ombudsman with the fear of likely negative consequences being the main reason why victims do not report.

Reacting on the matter, Aloysia Inyumba, the Minister of Family and Gender Promotion (MIGEPROF) said that progress made to reduce corruption shouldn’t be undermined by a few dishonest.

“A lot of efforts have been enhanced to ensure gender equality and those who are corrupt are dealt with accordingly,” she remarked.

She further observed that those affected should report the cases to relevant authorities, “Our country has vowed to empower women and mobilize them to fight such immoral activities.”

The Kigali City Council administration will relocate buses that travel upcountry from the stopovers in the city center to Nyabugogo Main Taxi Park before the end of this month.

Exclusively speaking to igihe.com, Bruno Rangira, in charge of communications at the City Council said that, relocation is intended to reduce traffic jam and congestion of cars in the city center.

Rangira added that the stopovers create disorganization because most of them operate inside the parking yards of different city mall buildings and that this leads to a lot of congestion around the city.

Igihe.com also spoke to some of the passengers who normally use these buses when travelling.

Jeannette Mukamurenzi of Kamembe, Rusizi district in the western part of the country noted: “I normally use express bus company called Sotra to come to Kigali for shopping and the relocation will tease us for some time but we shall get used to it because the policy looks to be developmental for the city.”

She added that normally people don’t get used to the new system easily but in the long run they get used and find the system useful.

Aline Umutesi, is a student at the National University of Rwanda (NUR). She pointed out that : “relocating parking yards of these buses is not so bad, but what is necessary is to provide enough security in Nyabugogo because the place normally looks to be insecure.”

Responding to the issue of security, Rangira assured the public saying that security will be enough since there will be enough space for these buses as compared to where they are currently operating from.

According to the KCC, the relocation process would have been ended some time back but the challenge has been the bidders meant to develop the area where offices of these buses are to operate from.

According to the findings released at the EAC’s headquarters in Arusha, Rwanda still emerged the first among the five partner states in the 10 indicators used to rank 183 countries globally in business facilitation.

Globally, the EAC state ranking statistics indicate that Rwanda is the best with the 58 position, followed by Kenya which is ranked 98 while Uganda 122, Tanzania is 128 and Burundi a humiliating 181 position.

Compared with its partner states, Tanzania did poorly in dealing with construction permits and registering property, where it is ranked 179 and 151, respectively.

Exclusively speaking to igihe.com, Rwanda Development Board’s Chief Operating Officer, Clare Akamanzi noted: “We ranked with that position because of our systematic and convenient ways of easing ‘the doing business’ here.

“For example in quickening to start business through reduced bureaucracy, quick to transfer land to the ownership, and easy to access information and securing credits has helped us to be the best in the region and 4th position in Africa.”

Kenya, East Africa’s strongest economy, placed second in the Doing Business in East African Community 2011 report while Tanzania placed fourth after Uganda, casting the spotlight on Dar es Salaam’s pitch that the country was a favored destination for investors and a reliable partner in global trade.

Burundi placed last in the bloc, with persistent strife blamed for the poor showing. The EAC has Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda as its member states while newly independent South Sudan has applied to join the bloc.

The report also shows that, the regional bloc had an average global ranking of 117, one point short of the previous year’s average of 116.

The study took a detailed look at business regulations and environment such as the ease of setting up a new business, securing credit and permits, paying taxes and the enforcement of contracts.

According to the Doing Business Report 2011, East African countries implemented eight reforms; three carried out in Rwanda, two each in Kenya and Uganda and one in Burundi. No reform on trade regulation was carried out in Tanzania during the period.

The report has put in the spotlight Tanzania’s competitiveness as an investment destination and trading partner, with some business stakeholders and experts blaming the low ranking on red tape.

They warned that unless the situation was addressed as a matter of urgency, the country would continue to lag behind other EAC member states.

A prominent businessman in Arusha, Walter Maeda, cited the most cumbersome procedures as registering land titles and securing bank loans, saying these were among factors affecting Tanzania’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

He added that Kenyan business people were much better off than their Tanzanian counterparts because it was much easier for them to access credit.

EAC deputy secretary general, Planning and Infrastructure Enos Bukuku during the launch of the report at an Arusha hotel that concerted efforts should be made to make the region an investment haven.

Bukuku who until recently was the Bank of Tanzania Deputy Governor noted, “We can do this by further streamlining regulations affecting enterprise and by ensuring that the business environment is reassuring to investors.”

He added, “We are serious about our role in the creation of an environment which is attractive to increasing private sector activity within and across our borders.”

The East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Secretary, Ms Agatha Nderitu said, “Although the EAC Common Market has opened several opportunities for businesses in the region, it still requires an investment climate that is properly suited to catalyzing additional trade and investment.”

Tanzania was fourth regionally in the getting credit category after it was placed 89th globally, with Burundi being ranked fifth in East Africa after taking 168th spot globally.

The study also shows that in protecting investors, Rwanda still emerged the best with 28 points, Tanzania tied with Kenya on 93rd spot globally.

Tanzania is ranked 120th on the paying tax indicator ahead of Kenya (162) and Burundi (141). Rwanda and Uganda are placed 43rd and 62nd, respectively.

The report said despite the progress made in the EAC integration, especially since the Common Market Protocol came into effect in July 2010, critical obstacles to entrepreneurship in the bloc still remained and said that reforming business regulations would accelerate their growth

Rwanda police is a role model in the region, said a Tanzanian traveler yesterday after getting his lost money back from a Police Constable PC Willy Bizimana.

Bizimana who works at Kigali International Airport picked and returned a wallet containing US$19,700 to the rightful owner Juma Rajab Faraji, a Tanzanian traveler.

Smiling Faraji talking to journalists, said: “I realized that I did not have my wallet when I needed to get local currency to pay the tax verture.

“I thoroughly searched my luggage and it shocked me that I left my wallet on top of the trolleys at the airport,” Faraji said.

He added: “I honestly didn’t expect to get the money but I went back to try my luck. Talking to the receptionist at the airport that, I had lost money, she gave me hope and sent me to the police desk” he said.

“After a number of queries, police realized that the name on the police clearance in the bag corresponds with the names on my passport” He elaborated.

The jovial traveler said Rwanda is first country where he has lost anything and recovered it: “Rwanda is a role model for other African countries; I was on a business trip and was planning to open a bank account for business transactions” the lucky Faraji concluded.

“Ensuring Security at the airport is my responsibility, I had to open the luggage and verify what it contains while patrolling around the parking area close to the trolley bay” Bizimana clarified.

Superintendent Theos Badege, Police spokesperson acknowledges the exemplary integrity shown by police constable Bizimana for the good act. “We encourage others to keep up the integrity and transparency,” he said.

In our story published on 15th this month, we reported about a police constable Frank Bizimungu who was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and decorated with a police exemplary medal by President Paul Kagame, after his selfless act of picking and reporting a bag containing US$ 40,000 (Frw 24 million) two months ago.

Younger people may not remember the African country of Rwanda, but the civil war and genocide there in 1994 remains one of the most harrowing events in recent history.

Carl Wilkens, the former head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) in Rwanda and an American who chose to remain in the country during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, will today Thursday 18, tour the US to tell his experience while in Rwanda at that time.

He will be at the Austin Public Library, in the City of Austin, Texas in the United States of America, today from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to share his stories about his experience in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide with local residents.

Kirsten Lindbloom, head of Austin’s Human Rights Commission noted, “It’s a unique opportunity for people in the area to hear a firsthand account of something that’s really foreign for most of us,”

Wilkins yesterday Wednesday, had a presentation at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, following a screening of his “Ghosts of Rwanda,” an award-winning Frontline documentary on the Rwandan Genocide While at Austin Public Library, his new book, “I’m not leaving,” will be available as well.

In his recent presentation, Wilkens noted, “I can still hear very clearly the sound of the hoes thwacking into the earth…the men swinging them were not gardening, they were digging up mass graves. Take a moment to try and put yourself in the shoes of the family members and friends who had loved ones taken from them.”

He also pointed out: “serving is more than just staying alive; serving is learning how to live again.”

Jean de Dieu Mucyo, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda National Commission against Genocide confirmed Wilkens’s genocide testimonies and documentation.

Mucyo said,“wilkens came to Rwanda during the 15 genocide commemoration and gave us testimony about his life in Rwanda during the genocide. His speeches and writings are really based on the truth about the 1994 mayhem”.

Kirehe residents will be able to access clean and safe water thanks to the Japanese international cooperation Agency (JICA) construction and rehabilitation of water supply facilities launched this Wednesday.

The Japan Ambassador Kunio Hatanaka said the purpose of the project is to increase safe water access targeting 55,000 beneficiaries in 11 sectors of Kirehe and Ngoma by the end of 2011.

The state Minister in charge of Energy and Water, Eng. Collette Ruhamya told citizens to safeguard water which will soon be accessed in their district and remember how essential water is in life.

The Minister expressed gratitude to Japanese government in committing itself to double developmental assistance to Rwanda.

“Most people in rural areas normally have a challenge of fetching water from valleys far away from their homes and the rehabilitation of water supply will improve the standard of living for many vulnerable citizens”, says Ambassador Hatanaka.

He added that water supply will improve from the present 41.6% to 57.4% in 2014 and the project will approximately cost US$18 Million in the construction and rehabilitation facilities.

He further explained that the project will provide support in establishment of administration system of the cooperatives for operation and maintanenance and of the capacity of the districts to supervise the cooperatives.

With pleasure, Berancie Mukarugwiza says “we are grateful for JICA we will no longer drink water from swamps”.

She further says Kirehe residents used to travel about a kilometer to fetch water, but at the present safe water will be near their houses”.

“I used to first go downhill for water and be late at school, now JICA is soon solving the dilemma” says Denise Umutesi a student at Nyakarama Secondary School.

She added, “Safe water will enable me to make general cleaning of my body and clothes more often than I used because I used to wash from swamps”.

At the fourth Tokyo international Conference for African Development(TICAD IV) in 2008, that is when the Japanese government agreed to double its overseas development assistance (ODA) to Africa by 2012,targeting water as one of its key development areas.

JICA’s major goal is providing safe drinking water to 6.5 million people in Africa as stated in a press release.