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The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) yesterday passed a resolution urging the EAC Council of Ministers to implore the International Criminal Court to transfer the cases of the four accused Kenyans facing trial at The Hague to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).

Such legislation if passed would enable the EAC take up and treat matters that affect it in future in a sustainable manner.

The legislator hailed the Republic of Rwanda noting that it was the only country in the region that had not appended its signature to the Rome Statute.

EALAh has thus resolved that the Council of Ministers further submits the resolutions to the 10th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State sitting tomorrow 28th April, to amend Article 27 of the EAC Treaty.

Amendment of the Article shall provide jurisdiction to the EACJ giving it retrospective effect, the Assembly stated.

The resolution moved by Hon Dan Ogalo and seconded by Hon Gervase Akhaabi, received overwhelming support during debate on the floor of the House.

The resolution implores that the process of transfer of proceedings from the International Criminal Court to the East African Court of Justice immediately begins on the basis of the fact that the acts complained of, are contraventions of the Treaty.

The mover, Hon Ogalo noted that it was unfortunate that five years after the disputed elections, the cases at the ICC was still in its inception stages and echoed the sentiments that justice delayed is justice denied.

During debate, Hon Leonce Ndarubagiye noted that it was important to have the cases brought back home to the local setting and urged Partner States to be wary of the content of future international agreements before penning their signatures.

Hon. Christopher Nakuleu said by bringing the ICC cases back to the EACJ, the region would test the effectiveness of the local instruments. He noted that justice needed to be dispensed for the accused and the internally displaced persons.

Hon. Dora Byamukama who was a member of the Observation Mission to Kenya during the elections in December 2007 noted that the ICC cases were more symbolic, failing to reach out to the core and hearts of the Kenyans and urged the EAC to pass legislation on matters of joint interest to the region.

Hon Mike Sebalu called for home-grown solutions indicating that East African solutions must be found for East African problems.

He noted that the African Union would be the next best option to seek assistance where the region failed in its quest to find answers to her problems.

The Council of Ministers through the Assistant Minister for EAC Hon. Peter Munya supported the motion, saying the cases were best suited to be heard and determined at home or at the EACJ – its nearest home.

“We must never allow ourselves to return to neo-colonialism,” Hon Munya reiterated stating that any facts on the ground could easily be ascertained by a court within the local jurisdiction.

On Wednesday evening hours, 3 people died and 3 were severely injured when two cars collided along Kigali-Butare highway. Police sources say the accident resulted from careless driving, over speeding and overloading.

However, in a matter of minutes after the collision, Police and Army arrived at the scene for rescue with ambulances.

The injured were immediately rushed to Kigali Central Hospital (CHUK).The dead were carried by Police van to a mortuary and vehicle wrecks were taken to Runda Police station.

Police once again warned the drivers to avoid careless driving and over speeding as they lead to fatal accidents that claim Rwandan lives.

Police spokesman Superintendent Theos Badege reminded drivers that tough measures have been put in place to discipline drivers who violate laws.

“Drivers have been warned on several occasions against violating traffic regulations but now we are going to apply tougher measures to contain traffic accidents,” Supt. Badege warned.

The immediate past president of Rotary international Mr. Rajendra K. Sabo is in Rwanda where he has toured different activities including the new Kigali public Library at kacyiru.

The library cost an estimated US$ 6Million of which US$ 2Million was contributed by Rotary International-Rwanda. Rajendra noted that the library was a piece of meticulous planning with a highly competent management.

However, he urged Rwanda to purchase more books to stock the library.

“The Kigali Public Library is one of the best kept secrets of Rotary International. I will always talk about it wherever i will go,” Rajendra said.

Mr. Rajendra commended the progress Rwanda has attained since 1994 when the country was totally destroyed during the genocide against ethnic Tutsi in which a million lives were lost.

“Rwandans are dedicated, disciplined and hard working people. I have noticed that although there are traffic jams in cities all over the world, the Rwandan traffic jam is always at 7:30 Am. It shows Rwandans begin working so early”. Rajendra told IGIHE.

Also a team of 18 doctors of Rotary International have so far performed 89 major surgeries at the CHK University hospital in Kigali. “I am excited to be part of this mission,” Rajendra said.

Rajendra said, “Our Rwanda Medicare project is part of the ‘Reach Out to Africa’ programme which for us is an extension of the idea ‘Serving beyond borders’.”

“We have been pursuing this bridge building between India and Africa since the last thirteen years and we are extremely happy that this time Rotary District 3080 in India is reaching out to Rwanda, part of rotary district 9150, in this common mission” he said.

We are part of one large family living on this planet earth. Reaching out to our brethren in Rwanda is the recognition of this reality of our existence and the accomplishment of ‘Service Above Self’ that rotary has imbibed in all of us.

Mr Rajendra explained that several surgeries have been performed at CHK hospital in Kigali among which 89 are classified as major surgeries.

He also highlighted one surgery of a young girl who was bitten by a dog which deformed her face, however after a 3hours surgery, her face was reformed and that “she will be able to live a dignified life”.

Another surgery was conducted on a patient who has been suffering from cancer of the larynx (voice box). The visiting doctors spent about 5hours performing this surgery.

However, Ranjendra noted that the patient requires post surgery care and chemotherapy which implies he will be transferred to Uganda for the post surgery care because it’s not provided in Rwanda.

Ranjendra said they selected Rwanda as favourable candidate for the Medicare mission because; Rwanda has recorded more progress in the past years after the Genocide. And that Rwanda had an exemplary medicare policy for the citizens.

“I have observed that Rwandans are dedicated and hard working people with commendable discipline”.

However, Rajendra observed that Rwandan health experts need to engage in exchange programs with other experienced countries to enhance quality of healthcare services.

He also noted that Rwanda health care needs to scale up specialized doctors to be able to handle specific cases.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor 64, has been convicted today (Thursday) of arming rebels during Sierra Leone’s civil war in return for blood diamonds.

In the first judgement, Taylor was found guilty of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

“The trial chamber finds you guilty of aiding and abetting of all these crimes,” said presiding judge Richard Lussick.

“The chamber finds beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is criminally responsible for aiding and abetting in the commission of crimes one to 11 in the indictment,” Lussick said at the court, based just outside The Hague.

During the verdict, Charles Taylor stood motionless and showed no emotion afterwards.

He will be sentenced by the same court on May 30.

If sentenced to jail, Taylor will be held in a British prison.

Earlier the Samoan judge Lussick said: “The trial chamber found that the accused was instrumental in procuring and transporting arms to (Sierra Leone’s) RUF rebels, that he was paid in diamonds and kept some for himself.”

Taylor, was convicted on all counts against him including acts of terrorism, murder and rape, committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, who waged a terror campaign during acivil war that claimed 120,000 lives between 1991 and 2001.

Jean Bosco Uwinkindi a Genocide suspect appeared before Nyarugenge Intermediate Court today and requested for 4 months to prepare for his trial.

Uwinkindi is accused of murdering Tutsi’s during the 1994 Genocide. He was a pastor at the Pentecostal Church at Kanzenze in the former Kigali-Rural Prefecture.

Uwinkindi’s lawyer Gatera Gashabana said that they didn’t found a time to discuss with his client on what he’s being accused.

“I know this information that I will be his lawyer in the last time so I didn’t get much time to revise his dossier that’s why I’m requesting 4 months to understand what he’s being accused,” says Gashabana.

Uwinkindi is detained at the special transit facility at Kigali Central Prison, designated for suspects transferred from the ICTR or other international jurisdictions.

The decision to transfer Uwinkindi to Rwanda was first made in June 2011 by the tribunal’s referral chamber, and later upheld by the appeals chamber, after giving the Rwandan judiciary a clean bill of health.

The court will give its decision on the Uwinkindi’s request tomorrow Friday, April 27, 2012 at 11:00 AM.

Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has asked Bank Populaire to increase the use of technology in the provision of their services to the clients.

Dr. Habumuremyi made the observations while meeting the Bank Populaire officials at the Bank’s headquarters in Kigali city. He also had a firsthand experience of the services rendered to clients at the bank.

The prime minister’s visit was a follow up on the implementation of the recommendations agreed upon during the January 25 meeting when he met with all leaders of Banks and financial institutions.

The premier asked the Bank to speed up service delivery to clients to reduce on the time they spend in queues waiting to be served. He also asked the Bank to provide ATMs to clients.

Dr. Habumuremyi however, commended the level of service at Bank Populaire compared to the previous years. He also promised to help the bank find solutions to some of its challenges.

A delegation of Uganda Police Force is in Rwanda for a joint meeting that is geared towards improving cooperation between the two Police forces especially in domains of security and Crime prevention.

Uganda Police delegation is led by Inspector General of Police Lt. Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura.

Rwanda’s Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana noted “Today’s policing challenges of combating trans-national organised crimes not only require force capabilities but also call for cooperation.”

IGP Kayihura said the two countries have so much in common- this factor calls for deepening and actualising this cooperation. “Commitment and readiness to deepen our cooperation is the only way to assure the safety and security of our people.”

He pointed out that globalization has created opportunity but also enhanced criminals’ capabilities such as increased speed with which they engage in crimes, flexibility to cross borders among others. “We have to develop mechanisms to outmaneuver criminals,” Kayihura noted.

Police has arrested a group of five men and recovered various items they had robbed in the city. The five are suspected of having a hand in several burglary crimes in Gasabo and Kicukiro districts of Kigali city.

The group was also found in possession with a DR-Congo registered vehicle which they have been using to ferry their loot into DRC including television sets, laptops and radios.

The group was arrested after a tip off from Community Policing Committees and local authorities who had been suspicious of the group’s dubious activities.

According to a security official at Rwimbogo cell, the group was suspected of being involved in dubious activities because they spent normal working hours at their house. “We immediately informed Police about the situation,” He said.

Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of one of the suspects Innocent Niyibizi on Monday morning after a burglary stint at Kagugu. During an interrogation, Niyibizi revealed the whereabouts of the rest of the group leading to the arrest.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege acknowledged citizens role in the arrest of the thieves. He urged the public to continue sharing timely information with security organs to enhance crime prevention.

Rwandan Genocide fugitive Jacques Mungwarere is expected to appear before an Ottawa court in Canada this week on charges of war crimes and complicit in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Jacques Mungwarere is charged with one count of genocide under Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.

It is alleged that Mungwarere “intentionally killed an identifiable group of Tutsis with the intention of destroying the entire Tutsi” between April 1 and July 31, 1994, in the former prefecture of Kibuye, Rwanda.

He was charged following a six-year probe by the RCMP that took investigators to Rwanda and the United States.

John Bosco Siboyintore the head of Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU) said, “The same way the Canadian authorities handled the case of Desire Munyaneza is likely to be the way Mungwarere’s case will be handled. They have a balanced case; both the prosecution and defence have been here and gathered sufficient witness testimonies.”

Mungwarere is the second person to be charged under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.

The first, Désiré Munyaneza, was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole until 2030 for his leading role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Mungwarere’s trial had been set to begin April 10.