Igihe

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  • Rwanda Tourism Reports 11% Growth in Revenue

    Tourism revenues have increased by 11% this year generating over US$ 128 Million of the first semester compared to US$ 115.6 Million fetched in the same period in 2011.

    The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has said in a statement that it wishes to inform and reassure tourists and the business community that it is safe to travel to the Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda despite the on-going conflict in the neighbouring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB said that Rwanda’s tourism progress is attributed to peace and security: “Visitor safety is guaranteed as usual. We would like to reassure visitors to Rwanda that it is business as usual here and that it is extremely safe and secure to travel to and within the country.

    In addition to the all-in-one experience in Rwanda from diverse wildlife in the national parks, to the magnificent scenery, amazing climate and the rare mountain gorillas; peace and security continues to be a magnetic pool for visitors in Rwanda.”

    Rwanda also hosted an estimate of 493,744 visitors in the first semester 2012 corresponding to an increase of 22% compared to 2011 in the same period and recorded a remarkable 16% increase in leisure visitors as well as an 8% increase in business visitors.

    In terms of investment promotion, in the first semester only (January to June), the Tourism sector has so far registered projects worth US$ 184.1m. These projects are expected to create 1,328 jobs.

    Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB said that “There was a noticeable increase in revenues, visits and value of registered tourism investments as well as projected jobs created in the first semester.

    We believe that if we continue to achieve as reflected by the results in the first semester, we will indeed surpass our targets and more importantly, this will drive growth and generate wealth for Rwandans.”

    Rwanda’s tourism and conservation efforts are also reflected in the commitment to the contribution towards the communities’ welfare under the revenue sharing framework, RDB recently increased the price of gorilla permits to US$750 which will consequently also increase the contribution to the communities as well as the activities in conservation.

    Indeed, Rwanda places conservation and community development at the core of the sustainable tourism agenda.

    In addition to the current room capacity of more than 6500 today, the government is encouraging more investment in accommodation facilities, hotels and restaurants in order to match the ever increasing visitors’ number.

    Tourism is the largest foreign exchange earner with US$251 Million earned in 2011.

  • Rwanda Responds to Allegations by UN Group of Experts

    The Government of Rwanda has responded to allegations contained in the Addendum to the UN Group of Experts Interim Report. Below is a detailed responce highlighting every allegation and a responce to it.

    ALLEGATION 1. RDF UNIT TRAINED IN KANOMBE BARRACKS TO GO AND FIGHT FOR M23

    Rebuttal: It is common (and verifiable) knowledge that Kanombe Barracks is a garrison-type barracks that comprises living quarters; a referral military hospital also open to civilian patients; a cemetery; and five service support units’ headquarters and related facilities.

    This Barracks therefore cannot host the training of recruits or any other force preparation activity.

    Evidence: During their visit to Kigali, the GoE toured Kanombe Barracks and were able to see that the allegation is farfetched

    ALLEGATION 2. RWANDA PROVIDED ARMS AND AMMUNITION TO M23

    Rebuttal: The GoE seriously suggests that it was able to establish, in about a week’s time, that Col. Makenga could not obtain 75mm canons and their ammunition from FARDC and concludes that these were instead provided by RDF.

    As a matter of fact, RDF does not hold 75mm canons in ordinance stores and has never purchased such canons or their ammunition. Remnants of these weapons and ammunition from the 1990 – 94 war of liberation were disposed of in 2008, which is well documented by the RDF ordinance regiment.

    The GoR has credible information that FARDC, unlike RDF, maintains 75 mm canons and anti-tank rifle grenades on their arms/ammunition inventory, through RDF participation in several joint-operations with FARDC including the recent operations codenamed AMANI-LEO and UMOJA-WETU.

    Evidence: Relevant documented evidence can be availed for in-situ review.

    ALLEGATION 3. PROOF THAT KEY FACILITATOR OF M23 WAS SEEN IN GISENYI

    Rebuttal: Brig. Gen. Ruvusha denies all allegations and states that he was on leave and out of Gisenyi from 3 – 14 May 12 and provides an incontrovertible evidence of his whereabouts during the period.

    Evidence: A summarized statement of Brig. Gen. Ruvusha denying allegations can be found on Annex B to this submission.

    ALLEGATION 4. M23 TROOPS CROSS BY BOAT WITH EQUIPMENTS FROM BUKAVU TO GISENYI

    Rebuttal: This is technically impossible because RDF use motorised zodiac boats to carry 60 personnel and tones of equipment back and forth at night without detection by FARDC border patrols.

    II. It is impossible to drive RDF 15 tonner trucks along the route reported by GoE because the alleged route is under major construction and there is no way it could support night movement involving heavy trucks.

    In addition, it is inconceivable how offloading of troops in RDF uniforms on RDF trucks on the Rwandan side of the border with DRC at a time of tension is out of order, extra-ordinary and linked to Col. Makenga.

    Evidence: Detailed specifications and technical data regarding all types of boats held by Rwanda Marines can be found on Annex Con this submission.

    ALLEGATION 5. CONGOLESE BUSINESSMEN VISITED RWANDA TO DISCUSS M23 FINANCING

    Rebuttal: Investigation by the Rwanda migration department indicates that the two businessmen mentioned in the addendum did not travel to Rwanda during the period mentioned in the addendum.

    Only Mr.Dieudonne Komayombi travelled through Rwanda to Nairobi between 24 and 28 of June 2012.

    Evidence: Detailed accounts of the nature and purpose of these calls and meetings are available onAnnex D on this submission.

    ALLEGATION 6. GENERAL JACQUES NZIZA, THE PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, IS ALLEGED TO BE PROVIDING MILITARY, FINANCIAL AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT TO M23. IT IS ALSO ARGUED THAT HE WAS RECENTLY DEPLOYED TO RUHENGERI AND GISENYI TO COORDINATE ASSISTANCE AND RECRUITMENT.

    Rebuttal: Gen. Nziza actively dismisses these allegations, since as PS of Ministry of Defense he is in charge of daily accounting at the Ministry and as such; deploying him to support M23 would amount to grounding most of the core activities of the Ministry.

    Additionally, Gen. Nziza provides solid evidence that support the fact that he has not been in Gisenyi or Ruhengeri of recent.

    Evidence: For copies of Gen. Nziza’s daily meetings, including detailed logs 114 people he met at the Ministry during that same period, see Annex F of this document.

    ALLEGATION 7. GENS. JAMES KABAREBE AND CHARLES KAYONGA ALLEGED TO BE SUPPORTING M23 THROUGH COORDINATING COL.MAKENGA’S OPERATIONS.

    Rebuttal: Gens. Kabarebe and Kayonga have played an active role in promoting peace in the region, and as such, the fact that they can be in contact with senior officials of FARDC and/or M23 should not come as a surprise. The false allegations made in paragraph 33 of the addendum as evidence of their involvement in supervising Col.Makenga’s operations are misleading.

    Evidence: For detailed accounts of Gens. Kabarebe and Kayonga involvement in attempts to prevent the crisis are provided at Annex D and E.

    ALLEGATION 8. LT COL JOMBA WAS RECENTLY DEPLOYED FROM GAKO MILITARY ACADEMY WHERE HE HAS BEEN AN INSTRUCTOR, TO RUHENGERI SINCE THE CREATION OF M23. HE WAS ALLEGEDLY PUT IN CHARGE OF COMMANDING LOCALLY MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF M23.

    Rebuttal: Lt. Col. Gakumba states that he was never deployed to Ruhengeri and remains an instructor at Gako Military in Bugesera. He provides incontrovertible evidence to support his statement; these include daily and weekly training activities in which Lt. Col. Gakumba was involved, as well as details of all visits by foreign delegations handled by the officer while at Gako.

    Evidence: Relevant statement and supporting documents are available at Annex H on this submission.

    ALLEGATION 9. THE GOE REFERS TO THE SIGNAL INTERCEPTION BY FARDC OF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN RDF AND M23

    Rebuttal: The so-called signal interception a FARDC indicated the reception of RDF troop reinforcements by M23, and request for additional reinforcements.

    The evidence provided is one of the most unsophisticated pieces of fabrication in the entire report.. On the basis of “image 10” on p.16 of the addendum (i) the mode of communication indicated is a single frequency per channel also referred to as a ‘direct mode operation’;

    (ii) encryption seems to be based on a manual cipher system also known as SLIDEX; (iii) the frequency is VHF (high) and the frequency range (159,500.00 KHz – 160,900.00 KHz – 161,000.00 KHz) indicates some eqipment of commercial standard.

    Hence, it is technically incompatible with the RDF VHF communication system which uses PRC family military standard with low VHF rage operating from 30 – 80/108 MHz which means that a two-way communication would be impossible; (iv) Furthermore, RDF uses digital encryption imbedded in its communication assets which confirms that a two way communication is not possible in this case.

    Evidence: Additional details confirming that the intercepted radio communication cannot refer to a communication between an RDF communicator and that of M23 are available on Annex Ion this submission

    ALLEGATION 10. BOSCO NTAGANDA-OWNS PROPERTY IN RWANDA

    Rebuttal: Investigations on the claim of a house belonging to Ntaganda indicate that the house presented as image 15 in the addendum is actually owned owned by Mr. Innocent Ndagano alias “Cent Kilos”.

    Further allegations that Hotel Bushokoro located at Kinigi is co-partially owned by Gen. BoscoNtaganda is proved wrong because the property is actually owned at 50% each by Mr. Enock Munyajabo and his wife Mrs. NyiramanaKesie. it is therefore categorically false to claim that the properties belong to BoscoNtaganda.

    Evidence: The certificate of registration of epithetic lease title No. UPI 3/03/04/05/217 is available at Annex J to this submission under the certificate of registration of epithetic lease title No. UPI 4/03/07/03/329 is at Annex Kto this submission

  • FDLR Rebels Enter DRC’s Virunga Park

    FDLR rebels are reported to have on Tuesday taken control of the easter part of the Virunga park on the Drcongo side.

    A statement released by the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) says, “ This is very worrying, because our relationship with the FDLR is not good.”

    It adds that the FDLR are a violent militia group from Rwanda largely made up of combatants most of whom are responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda .

    The statement further notes, “Most of the our 12 rangers who were killed last year were killed during attacks on our positions by the FDLR.”

    It is said the military advances by the M23 rebels in the past few days has caused the Congolese military to withdraw, but the M23 have not advanced as much as the military have fled, and the empty ground in between is being filled by militia groups.

    Many of those areas are in the park, and park rangers have remained to protect it. We currently have 40 rangers at Lulimbi, which is on the border with Uganda, and protects the Ishasha Valley.

    It’s a tremendously important area for elephant migrations with Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, as well as for its hippo and other large mammal populations.

    We can’t afford to abandon this area, but the rangers are now cut off because the FDLR occupy the nearby fishing settlement of Nyakakoma.

    They’re low on ammunition and rations. Yesterday morning we received news that a column of FDLR were advancing to attack our rangers at Lulimbi.

  • Rwandan Media Urged on Regional Integration

    Rwandan Journalists have been urged to mobilise people from the East African community senstising them about advantages of regional integration.

    The call was made at the secretariat general of east African community (EAC) while meeting with journalists at a press conference held in Kigali 1st August 2012.

    The summit aimed at mobilising Journalists from different media institutions in Rwanda to use their media channels to publish regional intergration material and informing the regional citizens about acheivements of integration and the interest they will get in future.

    Owora Richard othieno, the head of corporate communication and public affairs department at the EAC secretariat, Arusha, said the regional body targets media because of vast pemetration and reach a large audience.

    Owora recommended that in order to facilitate Journalists to report about what they are aware, the EAC secretariat will provide more training on them.

    Sarafina Flavia responsible for explaining the interest of EAC in Rwanda, told IGIHE that when Rwanda joined the east African community in 2007, different ways have been used in providing trainings to the people on advantages of integration.

    Sarafina noted that this august, the secretariat is planning to supply documents to the community, indicating achievements and future targets.

    The 5th press summit which will take place here at Kigali from 9th to 10th august , will be attended by both the east African community secretariat and east African business council to engage in an annual forum, media owners ,chief executive officers of media houses, media executives ,publishers ,editors, prominent media personalities ,and the practioners in the region on integration issues.

  • Kenya High Quality Tea Drops in Sales

    Market reports indicate that Kenya’s top quality Tea has dropped in price for the first time on the global trading market in seven weeks to US$4.06/Kg at auction this week from US$4.07/Kg last week, market participants have said.

    Kenya is the world’s biggest exporter of black tea and the crop is one of its largest foreign exchange earners. It fetched US$1.27 Billion in 2011.

    The Mombasa-based Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) said in a market report that Best Broken Pekoe Ones TEABP1-BEST-KE sold at US$3.92-US$4.20/Kg from US$3.88-US$4.25 last week.

    Best Pekoe Fanning Ones TEAPF1-BEST-KE fetched US$3.74-US$4.00/Kg from US$3.67-US$3.96/Kg at the previous sale.

    It said 102,796 packages were offered for sale, with 17.1% going unsold. Last week, 98,514 packages were offered with 13% left unsold.

    The report said Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Sudan showed strong demand, as did Egyptian Packers.

    Yemeni Packers, Middle Eastern countries and UK Were also said to have been active at the auction.

  • Family Angry As Court Auctions Their House

    A family has been ejected out of their house(Chez John) because their own child swindled money in the name of family when he issued a cheque to withdraw money from family company account.

    It all started when Nzeyimana Johnson 35, gave a non provisional cheque of Frw36 Million to one Kabonara Ramathan and he escaped.

    Nzeyimana was not owner of the cheque, it was a cheque of a family company called Society Export World furniture represented by his father Kanimba John.

    After Ramathan found that, it was a non provisional cheque, he decided to go to court Nzeyimana Johnson was convicted and sentenced to four years in Jail and ordered to pay a fine of Frw36 Million which was on that cheque.

    After the court decision, Nzeyimana escaped so they decided to take his father’s properties.

    A family lawyer Karangwa Vincent who defend the family in court says that the properties sold in auction has nothing to do with the business of Nzeyimana and those who accuse him.

    Murekatete Matilde, wife to Kanimba John says that the decision of the court was wrong.

    “For three months they always postponed the trail. The family company has nothing to do with this case. The company was not convicted.

    The court decision to auction family property was unlawful moreover at a very low price of Frw420 Million instead of more than Frw1 Billion.”

    Murekatete says, the family had always been intimidated.

    Murekatete says that family requested court to ask Ramathan what kind of agreement was between him and their son in their business.

    Niyomwungeri François who lives in German but who is now in Rwanda during one month said that among properties sold was his house with equipments he used in his business, and a plot.

    He said that he doesn’t understand the reason why, they confused his properties and the one of Kanimba.

    Court bailiff in Nyamirambo Kagamme k.Alexis said that the prosecutor accuses Nizeyimana Johnson, the plaintiff is Kabonera Ramathan the accused is Society Expo World furniture represented by Kanimba Jean.

    The court received a claim of prosecutor and the claim of those who claim about their properties (plaintiff ) but the court did not acknowledge the claim of Kazungu who defend the society Expo World furniture because he doesn’t provide sufficient explanations to the case.

    Based on the fact that, the society was owned by Family members, and both Nizeyimana and his father were allowed to use the same Bank account, the court decided Nizeyimana is guilty of giving a non provisional cheque.

    In particular Nizeyimana is the one who was in charge of many activities of the family company.

    Kanimba is requested by the court to refund Frw34 Million to Kabonera with acruing benefits and give him Frw36,680,000.

  • Umutara Polytechnic Student Dumps Baby in Latrine

    A Business Student at Umutara Polytechnic in Nyagatare is being held by Police for dumping her own baby in a latrine. The baby had just been born hours earlier , Police has reported.

    Chantal Kabanyana was arrested on Monday. She is said to have given birth to a baby boy on Monday at around 3:00 PM and dumped it in a pit latrine.
    Kabanyana has been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Umutara Polytechnic University.

    According to Police source in Nyagatare, residents close to the suspect’s home heard a strange screaming. Later they traced the noise to a pit latrine where they immidiately retrieved the baby.

    Police arrived to intervene at the crime scene after getting notified by a resident in the area. Police rushed both the suspect and the baby to Nyagatare Hospital for medical attention.

    However, the baby died six hours later. The medical report revealed that it had problems with in the respiratory places as maggots were found in its throat and nose.

    Kabanyana Confessed to the crime but claimed she never intended to terminate the life of her baby. “I went to the toilet to ease myself as usual but did not intend to lose my child,” she narrated.

    Police spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege condemned the crime as unacceptable and unbelievable.

    If found guilty, Kabanyana will be sentenced between one to three years behind bars and pay a fine between Frw 50,000 to Frw 200,000 according to the new Rwandan penal code.

  • Gaddafi’s Son Wants to be Tried at ICC

    Col Gaddafi’s son has said he wants to be put on trial in The Hague, rather than in his home country, his lawyers have said.

    “I am not afraid to die but if you execute me after such a trial you should just call it murder and be done with it,” Saif al-Islam was quoted by lawyers as saying.

    Saif al-Islam said if he was executed after a trial in Libya then it would be tantamount to murder, according to documents submitted to the International Criminal Court.

    The 40-year-old is being held by militia in the city of Zintan.

    He has been indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity.

    Libya’s interim government has so far refused to hand him over for trial in the Netherlands, where the international court is based, arguing that he should face justice in his own country.

    In June, a team sent by the ICC were arrested after meeting Saif al-Islam, and held for more than three weeks.

  • Fuel Prices Cut Down

    Fuel Prices have been adjusted effetive today.

    According to a statement issued by The Minister of Trade and Industry, the general general public is informed that with effect from Wednesday 1st August 2012, the prices of the following petroleum products shall be as follows;

    The Kigali base price for Super must not exceed 970 RWF per litre;

    The Kigali base price for Diesel must also not exceed 970 RWF per litre.

    The statement signed 31st July 2012, further says that reduction in fuel prices is mainly due to the reduction in oil prices on the international market in the last two months.

  • Mai Mai Militia Kill 200 Elephants

    elephant-2.jpg
    Congolese Mai Mai militia have began targeting wildlife killing about 200 Elephants in a period of only two weeks.

    The Civil society in Mambassa, 168 kilometers south of Bunia in Ituri (Orientale Province), July 30 accused the Mai Mai militia of exterminating the elephants in the wildlife area in two weeks.

    Sources told local Congolese media that the militiamen shot down two hundred elephants in the space of two weeks.

    Mangala Martin the president of the civil society of Mambassa, says that elephant poaching is taking place in the villages of Bandisende, Mamopi, Salate, Badengaido, Nduye and others.

    “Two hundred elephants in two weeks is a real danger for the elephants,” complains Martin Mangala, accusing and some local leaders of complicity.

    The militiamen illegally exploit gold in the chiefdoms of Walese Karo Bandaka and Bombo.

    This information has been confirmed by officials of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).

    ICCN partners complain that the World Heritage has become the place of exploitation of precious materials, poaching and logging.