Author: b_igi_adm1n

Residents of Nyamagabe District are complaining about long distance treked in search of services to the District level.

They say lack of transport facilities and damaged roads are among the problems they face.

One resident says:”when you want to travel from Kaduha sector to Nyamagabe District you need to sell one goat of Frw10, 000 for travel on motorcycle.”

Residents also say that going to Kigali is nearer than going to Kirehe District. It costs Frw 5000 to Kigali.

The Mayor of Nyamagabe District, Mugisha Philbert told IGIHE that damaged roads are a major problem for travelers.

However, he said in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure, the District has tendered for roads rehabilitation and the problem will be resolved as soon as possible.

Currently, there is an ongoing project of construct a 30 Km road in Gasaka which will ease the journey to Nyamagabe District in 15 minutes

Gabon is considering switching to the use of english language following Rwanda’s success.

Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzesai, the spokesperson of Gabon presidency says President Ali Bongo will visit Rwanda from Friday to Saturday to study at first hand its experience with bilingualism.

Bongo’s visit will take place a week before the Francophonie summit in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 12, which French President Francois Hollande will attend.

Gabon’s President Ali Bongo wants to boost the use of English in his country, a former colony of France where French is widely spoken.

Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzesai said “Gabon wants to look closely at Rwanda’s experience with the introduction of bilingualism,”

“Rwanda used to be a French-speaking country and part of the Francophonie (French-speaking international community),” he said. “Today it is part of two communities: the Francophonie and the Commonwealth.”

Gabon is one of France’s closest African allies and a privileged channel for France’s influence on the continent however, Gabon plans to introduce English.

The vast majority of Gabon’s 1.5 million people speak French.

The European Union Development and Cooperation (DEVCO) Director for Sub-Saharan Africa Francesca Mosca acknowledged the partnership between the European Union and Rwanda is positive and will continue to grow.

Mosca was speaking to journalists, October 1, after meeting Rwanda’s Finance minister John Rwangombwa in Kigali.

The EU official praised Rwanda for her effective aid utilisation, saying the EU support was delivering results on the ground.

Mosca’s remarks follow media reports attributed to Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, that the EU was suspending new aid to Rwanda, following controversial allegations that the country was backing M23 rebels in DRC.

According to Rwangombwa, EU continues to support Rwanda’s development programmes, especially in poverty eradication and promotion of good nutrition.

Rwangombwa stated that the budget support to Rwanda is supposed to get from the EU has already been disbursed, adding that additional budget support will go directly to development of rural roads, energy and agriculture.

Police in Bugesera District on October 1 arrested two men for allegedly trafficking local plant commonly known as Umushikiri used in the production of perfume in Uganda.

Suspects Eric Biziyaremye and one only identified as Edison were arrested in Ngeruka Sector, Ngeruka cell in Binyonjwe village by Police night patrol with two tonnes of umushikiri.

Currently the suspects are detained at Nyamata Police station.
A fuso truck (RAA 693D)which the suspects were using to transport the species to Nyagatare was impounded.

According to police the tree stumps are transported to porous borders in Nyagatare District and sold people from Uganda, before they are exported to Asian countries, especially Malaysia.

Police says another truck carrying about six tonnes of umushikiri was also impounded in Gatsibo District also en route to Nyagatere,
Mid last month, two trucks were also impounded in the Eastern Province transporting about 10 tonnes of the tree stump to Nyagatare.

The cutting and trafficking of the species is punishable under article 412 of the organic law on the demolition and environmental degradation whose sentence ranges from six months to three years and a fine of Frw200, 000 to Frw3 million.

Police has arrested Bitegetsimana Olivier 29, found in posession with 120Kgs of marijuana narcotic drug.
He was arrested at Kimisagara sector in Nyarugenge district over the weekend.

The operation follows the first one which was carried out recently in different parts of the country and saw 80 people arrested in connection with the act and 185Kgs of cannabis seized in the process.

Most of the people arrested are the youth who are most involved in these criminal acts.

MPs from Eastafrican legislative assembly says that Gacaca courts and Abunzi initiatives are among the best homegrown innovations that other East African countries should learn from.

This was noted during their work visit to Rwanda.

The president of Rwanda’s Supreme court Prof. Sam RUGEGE has said apart from Gacaca and Abunzi, the judiciary sector acts fairly and in a democratic way.

Hon. Petere Mutuku Mathuku from Kenya noted that Gacaca courts was a significant achievement that Rwanda used to prosecute the 1994 genocides crimes adding that other countries in the region should learn from the courts while resolving conflicts among citizens.