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Police in Gicumbi district, yesterday arrested a Ugandan national identified as Ibrahim Kaggwa found in possession with Ten Kilograms of mayirungi.

Mayirungi is a local name given to a narcotic khat leaf stuffed in the mouth and chewed like gum. It is chewed as a social tonic and stimulant. It is legal in some countries especially Somalia.

Khat contains a stimulant chemical Alkaloid called cathinone which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria. In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol).

The WHO does not consider khat to be seriously addictive. The plant has been targeted by anti-drug organizations. It is a controlled or illegal substance in some countries, but is legal for sale and production in others.

According to Police sources in Gicumbi, Kaggwa was cited entering an ONATRACOM bus while carrying a bag containing some leafy substance that was later established to be mayirungi.

When the bus had moved approximately 300 meters from the boarder to Kigali, the driver stopped and the suspect rushed from the nearby bush into the bus.

When the suspect cited police officers approaching, he decided to throw away the bag to the nearby bush. This however did not work out well for him because the bus conductor confirmed to the police that the thrown- away bag belonged to Kaggwa.

The arrest took place at Gatuna border post. The suspect with exhibits is detained at Gatuna Police post.

Asked why he stopped, the bus driver explained that some passenger’s bags had fallen and that there was a need to re arrange them properly.

Police investigation further indicates that Kaggwa had been released from prison over the same charges.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Theos Badege warned for people involved in dealing and consuming illegal drugs adding that, police devised concrete mechanisms to deter, apprehend and bring these criminal to justice.

He called on citizens to engage in a more income generating and productive activities rather than indulging in drugs that simply cause them troubles.

“We have different initiatives put in place to Rwandans and more particularly the youth, it is imperative that people join such development oriented programs that lead to increased house hold incomes”, Badege said.

Badege further asked citizens to partner with security organs by availing information that leads to apprehension of criminals.

Rwanda National Police have consistently carried out different public education campaigns against drugs with the recent held in Serena that was centered at protecting the youth from drugs and alcohol.

The French Institute of Rwanda officially on 16th of February inaugurated a modern Music studio in Kigali– a studio that will help conduct training and professionalising Rwandan artists.

The new music studio is installed with various musical instruments. It has a total of 2 drums, 2 keyboards, 3 congas, 1 table of percussions, 2 bass guitars, 2 acoustic guitars, 2 electric guitars and software for music mix.

Though this studio is filled with musical instruments, it isn’t all the music this new studio will be used for.

At the official inauguration of the studio, the co director of the French institute Maurice Brouard, told the press that next year, there will be a selection of ten groups of musicians and singers that will be picked by great legends of Rwanda such as Jean Mustsare, Albert Rudatsimbura and more, the selected will be given vocal training from international and master class professionals.

Musicians and singers that will be selected shall be given an opportunity to live aboard for twelve months where they will develop their talents and improve their creation all for free and all will be given lessons by Artists from different parts of Africa.

Teachers will include; Sia tolno from Guinea winner of the RFI music of 2011, guitarist Vieux Farka Toure from Mali, Uganda’s Maurice Kirya and German based opera singer Jacques-Greg Belobo who will be teaching vocal lessons in bass baritone.

The unique combination of all these musicians and blend of voices is deemed to make the environment in Rwanda as well as the great lakes region a reference for musicians everywhere in East Africa.

President Paul Kagame has received Preneet Kaur the Indian State Minister for external Affairs at Village Urugwiro.

They are believed to have discussed bilateral ties as well as the Indo-Africa Partnership (IAP) under which India has committed US $5 billion for Africa.

The deal, which involves a grant of US $700 million and loan schemes, was announced during the IAP forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May last year.

Kaur, who arrived in the country Tuesday for a two-day visit with a delegation of 22 high profiled Indian business leaders, she also signed pacts with the government on renewable energy and solar electrification in 35 rural-based schools.

She stated that Indian programmes in Africa will focus on human resource development, capacity building, agriculture, ICT, hydro-power irrigation, among others.

The state minister said Rwanda is a “very friendly country with conducive business investment climate.

She said that was the main reason why many Indian companies are interested in investing in the country.

“Yesterday we signed cooperation agreements with the Rwandan government and immediately proposed that the first joint permanent commission meeting be held in New Delhi,” she noted.

“The Head of State was very supportive and positive in the talks we had and we are optimistic and sure that things will go in a very smooth manner as planned”.

The Indian business leaders travelling with the minister explored investment opportunities in the country, including the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The government seeks to create a fully functioning Special Economic Zone by 2015, where traders can enjoy from more free-market-oriented practices.

ENDS

The Ivorian army chief Lieutenant General Bakayoko Soumaila has called upon all countries especially African countries to pick a lesson from what befell Rwanda in 1994.

His three day official visit is aimed at attaining useful nation-building solutions and military friendship.

Bakayoko visited Kigali Genocide Memorial Site with his delegation said picking a lesson would remind all humanity to depict never again concept. “What happened in Rwanda is painful but should as well provide lessons to build a better and strong future.”

He also laid a wreath in memory of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Bakayoko said that his country is emerging from a crisis and that he hopes to take advantage of the Rwandan experience and adapt them back home.

“The solutions you have adopted here may add to our knowledge, we could adapt them and give Ivory Coast more suitable solutions so that Ivoirians can be able to work towards reconstructing their country,” noted Gen. Bakayoko.

“We hope that the big sacrifice made allows the Rwandan people to rediscover themselves for the future generation, for a country of liberty, a country where all live together and where harmony among the people is a reality”.

The Ivorian army chief said that what happened in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi is so dismaying and should serve as a lesson for other countries so as to build strong nations in future.

Lt. Gen. Bakayoko held discussions with his Rwandan counterpart, Lieutenant General Charles KAYONGA, and with Defence Minister General James KABAREBE.

Bakayoko also visited the army’s Credit and Savings Society ZIGAMA CSS, and Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission.

His visit also aims at learning from Rwanda’s experience on issues related to the reintegration of ex-forces in a single unified army and the concept of the Reserve Force.

Friday Bagayoko is expected to visit various military activities including Nyakinama Military academy, reserve force in Rubavu district where they are cutting terraces.

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Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has called upon relevant institutions to instill good governance saying it is one of the pillars for sustainable development in the country.

Habumuremyi was speaking at the 4th African Parliamentary Forum (APF) conference involving speakers of the parliaments from Francophone countries that took place at the parliamentary building, Kimihurura.

The conference which attracted representatives from 14 African countries was held under theme; ‘The Role of African Parliaments in Promoting Good Governance’.

“For Good governance to be attained, local populations must have a role in it yet the parliament acts as the bridge between the government and the local population,” Habumuremyi said.

Habumuremyi said that decentralization policy is a principle pre-requisite for good governance promotion in Rwanda, because the local people are involved in planning, preparing and implementation of national programs.

The Premier further noted that Rwanda’s Parliament has played an imperative role fostering of good governance in the country.

He cited an example of the recommendations the law makers adopted in reaction to the auditor general’s report on mismanagement of funds in some government institutions.

The Speaker of Rwanda’s Parliament Rose Muntabana said while addressing the conference that the meeting will benefit Rwanda because Parliaments plays an important role in a country’s good governance, democracy, and justice.

Roch Marc Christian Kabore, the chairperson of the African Parliamentary Forum of Speakers from the Francophone countries (APF), revealed that Rwanda is one of the important member states within ‘Le Francophonie’ countries because of its influence on the African continent.

Kabore said that such meetings aim at implementation of resolving pressing issues of local populations of member states and promotion of democracy, by building states governed by law and respecting human rights.

“It’s clear African problems today revolve around political, social, and economic affairs, lack of good governance and corruption practises that undermine our countries’ development,” Kabore said.

“We parliamentarians, have to fully play our mandatory role in problem solving. Parliaments must be independent, checking government’s activities,” He added.

After the opening of the conference, participants visited Kigali Genocide memorial centre at Gisozi, where they laid wreath of flowers on a mass grave, where over 250,000 bodies of victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi are laid to rest.

The parliamentarians said that they were greatly saddened by inhumane acts done by Rwandans; killing fellow innocent Rwandans.

They said that the Rwandan genocide should serve as a lesson to other countries, to strive that it does not happened again elsewhere in the world.

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After eight years, the computer hack man CEO Mark Zuckerberg creator of Facebook has decided to take his creation and go public as soon as May 2012.

Mark Zuckeberg’s decision to make facebook go public would make him the 14th richest person in the world making him worth 24 billion, and the most powerful man in Silicon Valley, if facebook is to go public the company’s value could soar up to $100 Billion, with shares available as early as May, Facebook will have the largest IPO in internet history, beating out companies such as Google.

Face book which has had a growth rate of 71 percent from 2009 to 2010, and an audience of over 845 million users, and over 250 million photos alone are posted on its site each day, everyone from teenagers to senior citizens log on to Face book, everyday and everyone will be benefitting from this deal.

The announcement from Mr. Zuckerberg was that he wants to give his users control over what’s public and private. When Facebook filed a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a move to make their company public, the SEC website crashed within hours of the news release.

But they are those whom can’t wait for Facebook to go public, once facebook launches the first people to reap its rewards will be the hundreds of employees whom will get a return of up to 12,000 percent return on shares when the company goes public will become instant millionaires.

Other people whom are looking to receive millions from this deal are people like Russian Yuri Miller, one of the richest men in the world; Yuri miller whom gains huge from this deal for Yuri is one of Facebook’s biggest investors, in the form of Digital sky technology.

Wall Street bankers are clawing at each other to handle this megadeal, which would generate millions of dollars in fees, the likes of Goldman Sachs whom invested $50 billion in 2011.

Microsoft which invested $150 billion in 2007 and is reported to be up to $240 billion now, Facebook indicated it hopes to raise $5 billion in its IPO. That would be the most for an Internet IPO since Google Inc