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  • Regional Universities to Harmonise Programs

    East African universities are set to harmonise their academic programs and establish a program of exchanging lecturers.

    The board of the inter university council for East Africa announced today during a press conference that was aimed at giving details on its achievements and prospects.

    According to the Executive Director of the Higher Education Council, Prof Geoffrey Rugege, Rwanda will benefit a lot from the forthcoming conference.

    The 2012 annual meeting will be held 30th March in Kigali under the theme
    “The role of universities in fostering knowledge based economies in East Africa through University/partnership”.

    The conference will discuss implementation of harmonization of programs and exchange of lecturers and students as well.

    Participants will discuss what the council has achieved with a view to establishing a program of fostering regional education development.

    The previously conferences were in Arusha and Bujumbura respectively,
    Prof Silas Lwakabamba rector of the national university of Rwanda said that the development is aimed at improving quality of education in the region.

    Prof. Lwakabamba is also the chairperson of the Inter-university council for East Africa.

    Prof. Mayunga Nkunya the council’s secretary says the meeting will also discuss harmonization of tuition fees in universities in the region to enable exchange of students.

    The official said that the program has already kicked off at the National University of Rwanda, and added that private universities are expected to comply with the program.

  • Couple to Marry After 19 years of Separation

    After 19 years of separation, John and Cynthia, (they wanted to publish first names only), who have loved each other during their time in exile in Burundi, and reunited curiously, their love was so real they want soon give to each other for better or worse and for life.

    It is never believed that people can love for so long, but after these two people, this is indeed a reality, a deep and sincere love.

    John revealed this information while he celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, March 27, at a feast in front of all his guests.

    The reporter of IGIHE wanted to ascertain the truth about this new home and the couple said that the flame of their love, despite 19 years of separation, never extinguished.

    This love, they said, will lead to marriage. They are ready to get married shortly as they have indicated.

    John noted that it is God’s will because he did not know if his sweetheart was still alive especially since there had been no communication or by mail since the date of their separation in 1993.

    His lover travelled to Zambia across Lake Tanganyika. She later moved to Zaire and finally Sweden before returning home 2011.

    Cynthia, meanwhile, said that after a long stay in out of the country she’s all happy to see her boyfriend always healthy and he loves me like it was the first day we met.

    John said “Me too, I still love her and I think it’s stronger than before”, for all her affections towards me which she never ceases to show me every day.

    This couple confirms that the secret of their love lies in a firm trust in God. John and Cynthia live in Kigali and are ready to show their love to anyone who will listen.

    That love endures and leads to marriage, with the helping hand of Jesus, no doubt they will get there in the near future as they wish according to their own words.

  • New Global Shipping Company Extends to Rwanda

    Rwandan exporters and importers have yet another choice through which they can send and receive products.

    A Ugandan Based Katwine shipping company has now established in Rwanda after years of success in Uganda.

    Katwine Company with head offices at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda is the authorized cargo accounts settlement system (CASS) agency for Air France-KLM.

    According to Charles Jube Kimbowa the company manager and customer service personnel, the company is also shipping agent for some companies including; Greenfields, Marine and agro in Uganda and DHL Express, worldwide movers, flight logistics services in Rwanda.

    Kimbowa said they aim at meeting end to end logistic needs of importers, exporters, manufacturers, global retailers, consolidators, forwarders and shipping agents and for Rwanda the company transports personal effects goods and general cargo by air, trucking and on oceans.

    “We thought it was a good idea to open up a branch in Rwanda because both Uganda and Rwanda depend on exports and imports,” he said.

    Katwine shipping company Kigali branch offices are located at ‘Jesus is Able-House’ (Sonatube), Kicukiro district.

  • Gender Based Violence in Schools Addressed

    Four international organisations have come together with a treatment plan they believe will inspire and help the youth of Rwanda to open up to talking about school related gender based violence through the film script competition for young Rwandan film makers that was launched on the 15th of march 2012 up to November 30th.

    The competition aims at encouraging young Rwandans to come up with a sample treatment or idea on script that focuses on zero tolerance to gender based violence.

    The organisation consisting of GIZ, Plan Rwanda, KFM and Jumelage Rhinaninie Platinat which are German organisations, will givse 10,000 Euros to the winners of the short films that will be presented at the gala to be held on November the 30th of 2012.

    There will be three awards, the first is for the 20 minutes film that goes for 2,500 EUR, the second is the 15minute film that goes for 20,000 Euro, and the last will be special award prize of 5.360 Euros for the best short film on school related gender based violence in Rwanda.

    “Many girls and boys in rural districts across Rwanda are dealing with gender based violence, But the fear and lack of who to turn to has led these children to drop out of school.”

    “We need to assist, these children, to step forward and speak out so we can help prevent this from continuing today,” says Katherine Nicol, a gender specialist working for Plan international Rwanda told.

    In the district of Gatsibo 13 year old Uwimana Kayetsi says she hated school due to the constant bullying she would receive from the elder boys who would taunt her and tease her.

    She says. “I could not complain at home for I was scared they would take me out of school.”

    I could not talk about it in school because the boys would find out and would probably hurt me, so I was stuck until some people came to our school and spoke about gender based violence and soon afterward the bullying stopped.”

    This film script competition will not only benefit the young filmmakers in receiving recognition and a large sum of money but most importantly the films that will be screened at a gala concluding the festival which will celebrate the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

  • FootBall team Drowns in DRC River

    Twenty football players of AC Virgin KA in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), drowned Sunday in the sinking of three boats on the Luapula River in Zambia, said Tuesday Mushanga Aaron an official of Katanga province.

    According to local reports 20 people were killed returning from Zambia, where they had been playing a game with a Zambian team.

    “Their boat capsized in the middle of Luapula River after being hit by the wave,” said Deputy District Commissioner Luapula, Mushanga.

    This information was confirmed Tuesday by the Zambian Agnec information, Zanis.

    “The boats carried a total of over 100 people, but 80 of them were rescued by the crew of the boat,” said the source.

    The boat came from the Congolese side of the river, which marks the border between the two countries.

    “At present many bodies have not been recovered. It will take some days to find more bodies,” said an official of the Red Cross Luapula.

    This shipwreck highlights the need for security on the river and lake navigation in the DRC. Since the beginning of 2012, two boats capsized on Lake Tanganyika killing over 100 people.

    Officials said the Waterways Authority (RVF) in the DRC, the high rate of sinking in the river, lakes and rivers in the DRC is due to overloading among other challenges.

  • Rwanda Granted Six-Month Duty Waiver on Sugar

    The Ministerial Session of the EAC Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment concluded met last week in Arusha, Tanzania to grant a request by Rwanda for an additional six-month duty waiver on sugar imports, among other business.

    The Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment which brings together the Ministers responsible for these dockets in the EAC Partner States gave its approval for the extension of the stay of application of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) on 38,000 metric tonners of sugar to be imported into Rwanda following a report that the country could not take full advantage of a previous EAC allowance to import 50,000 metric tonnes duty free due to logistical issues.

    The Sectoral Council directed that sugar exported from Rwanda to other Partner States attracts a CET rate during the six months the waiver is effective.

    It further directed the Secretariat to develop a strategy on sugar production, supply and distribution after observing that persistent shortage of sugar in the region has continued since 2005, despite the commodity being a sensitive product and attracting a duty rate of 100%.

  • East Province Leaders Urged to Engage Citizens

    Minister of Local Government James Musoni has urged local leaders to engage the population in order to achieve developmental goals.

    This was revealed in Eastern Province Monday where Musoni was meeting local leaders.

    MINICOFIN in its research ‘EICV3’ disclosed that Eastern Province reduced poverty by 9.7%.

    Musoni said that this province didn’t work hard as it is expected because Northern Province reached 18% on poverty reduction.

    Tom Rwagasana- the Chairman of Private Sector Federation in Eastern Province says that they signed performance contracts in the way to develop their districts and their province particularly.

    Minister recommended also to the local leaders to advise local residents on the use of biogas to protect the environment because they use more firewood.

    Odette Uwamariya, the Governor of Eastern Province said that leaders in the province should work harder to achieve targets signed in performance contracts.
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  • Kagame Tributes Outgoing World Bank Vice- President

    President Paul Kagame will deliver key remarks Wednesday in Washington, D.C., at a tribute in honour of outgoing World Bank Vice President, Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, for her contribution to the African continent throughout her tenure.

    During her last visit to Rwanda in late 2010, as World Bank VP, Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili reaffirmed the Bank’s support and commitment to Rwandans in their development process.

    She stated,“You can be assured that the World Bank will stand a steady course of partnership with the people and the leadership of Rwanda.”

    The top three sectors in Rwanda currently funded by the World Bank are energy, agriculture, and private sector development.

    The event will be jointly organised by the Whitaker Group, the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Wilson Centre.

    Rosa Whitaker, CEO of the Whitaker Group, said the evening is meant to “To recognize Dr. Oby’s personal dedication, pioneering initiatives and sterling achievements at the Bank in support of Africa.”

    Also as part of his visit to the United States, President Kagame is expected to meet with the Atlantic Council, think tank and public policy group based in Washington, D.C.

    The Atlantic Council was founded in 1961 to promote transatlantic cooperation and international security.

  • African Woman Races for World Bank top Job

    An African Woman Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been nominated to compete for the World Bank top job. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

    The African Union believes Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has undisputed credentials to be the next president of the World Bank.

    However, United States has nominated Jim Yong Kim to lead the World Bank.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been at the World Bank for 21 years; she is an economist Ph.D. from MIT with undergraduate degree from Harvard”.

    The African Union said the crux of development issues in the world today resides in Africa, and therefore, the World Bank needs to have at its helm someone with deep knowledge and expertise in a wide-range of development issues.

    Ambassador Harold E. Doley, Jr. the first U.S. Executive Director to the African Development Bank says Dr. Okonjo-Iweala can get the Bank presidency if developing countries unite behind her candidacy and with the endorsement of one developed country.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said during the weekend: “Sincerely, I feel honoured over by the decision of African leaders to back me for the job. It is elating that across the continent, the leaders spoke with one voice, and their gesture is directed at me; I am eternally grateful to them all for their support.”

    Speaking at the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Eagle Square, Abuja, She insisted that the opposition of the American government to her nomination would not dampen her spirit.

    “For the developing countries need to coalesce behind her candidacy, and you will need one of the major developed countries to support her, and that most likely candidate would be France,” Doley notes.

    He said France; with its dependence on Africa for its economic growth and triple “A” bond rating must support Dr. Ngozi for the presidency of the World Bank.

    Doley described this year’s selection process as a watershed moment in terms of opening up the World Bank to full participation and moving beyond what he calls the so-called gentleman’s agreement.

    Analysts say Africa has the greatest development needs, and should be better represented at the Bank, at the IMF and other multi-lateral institutions.

  • Oil Discovered in North Kenya

    Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced yesterday to Kenyans the discovery of oil in the East Africa’s economic powerhouse.

    Kibaki said, “Oil has been found in Ngamia-1 exploration well in Northern Kenya, Turkana. It is the first time Kenya has made such a discovery.”

    Tullow drilled an intermediate depth of 1,041 metres to hit the oil, which has similar properties to the light waxy crude discovered in Uganda. The difference is that while Tullow has to dig deeper to reach the oil in Kenya, Uganda’s oil is closer to the surface—about 600-800 metres.

    In their communiqué, Tullow Oil said it confirmed the discovery after the well encountered in excess of 20 metres of net oil in a reservoir capable of producing hydrocarbons.

    “This is an excellent start to our major exploration campaign in the East African rift basins of Kenya and Ethiopia,” said Angus McCoss, the exploration director.

    “To make a good oil discovery in our first well is beyond our expectations and bodes well for the material programme ahead of us.”