Igihe

Tag: HomeNews

  • Kimicanga Residents Evicted

    Residents of Kimicanga suburb are angry at their eviction with only two days remaining to have the area secured. Locals are literally collecting their belongings including; bricks and roofing materials from structures they have always known as home.

    The residents who have resided in the affected houses are outraged at the manner in which local officials as well as landlords have begun demolishing the houses while residents are still inside.

    The area comprised of restaurants, shops homes and all sorts of livelihood facets. The emotional attachment to the place seems strong at the moment but the decision has already been made.

    Some residents who have been renting in the suburb have been left stranded as their landlords have literally begun taking down the houses.

    Peter Shimimana a resident of Kimicanga has been renting in the area says he is troubled to find a place to go in just two days.

    “I have nowhere to go, this house only cost me 40,000rwf.other places are too expensive. I don’t know where to find money in just two days.”

    By last night demolition was ongoing in the area while residents were still occupying the houses. The House proprietors have begun removing bricks, windows, and all valuable items.

    Several residents claim they are now homeless while others will return to their villages.

    Agnes karuranga a widow,owned houses at Kimicanga with her five children, and grandchildren all in the same house. She has lived at Kinamba for over 35 years; her family depended on money from the houses that she had rented out for several years.

    Karuranga told IGIHE.com that the money the government has given her as compensation for her houses is what she will use to build a new house. But She says the biggest problem is that her family has been deprived of a source of regular income.

    Beatrice Isenga owner of a small resturant already demolished said this is the third time she is moving due to land expropriation and that everytime she moves it gets harder and harder for her to make her business work.she has no husband but only a schooling daughter.

    “I have no idea whether my business will thrive again. I have to start afresh. Places like Kimicanga have been helpful to small businesses like mine because the clients are also low income earners”.

    Local Officials and landlords have said that the people were given sufficient time and notice as stated by the law; last month was the official eviction announcement and all the people have been fairly compensated.

    Those who have any official complaint should contact authorities at the national land center.

  • Bank Seizes Conman Attempting to Steal Frw12M

    Police has arrested a man identified as Claude Uwintwari for attempting to defraud cash worth Frw12million from Banque Populaire branch at Nyamirambo.

    Police sources revealed that Uwintwari was intercepted at the bank where he had submitted a falsified cheque to withdraw Frw12million from an accunt belonging to a business woman identified as Esperance Mugande, a business woman.

    Uwintwari had allegedly connived with a team of fraudsters that illegally duplicated a telephone simcard belonging to Mugande through SIM swap.

    Therefore when bank authorities telephoned Mugande on the same line, it was answered by a different person confirming that indeed permission had been granted to withdraw the amount of cash inscribed on the cheque.

    The bank needed confirmation from the the Account Holder that such a massive amount had been authorized for withdrawal.

    However, as Luck would have it, Mugande coincidentally arrived at the bank as Uwintwari tried to cash the check. Mugande was immediately recognized by bank employees who asked her whether she had indeed authorized payment of Frw 12million.

    Mugande denied any authorization. She swiftly contacted her husband to find out whether he had authorized any payment which he also denied.

    Suspecting an ongoing fraudulent activity, the bank ordered its security detail to restrain Uwintwari as it notified Police.

  • How to Manage An Alcoholic Spouse

    Below is a sample of a letter representing the challenges or concerns that come when alcoholism takes effect…:

    My husband got a new job a few months ago and since then I’ve realized he comes home very late always smelling of alcohol. He used to drink before but would always come home by 9pm.

    Nowadays, he stays out late even on weekends, my children and I hardly see him anymore and when I ask him about it, he just says that it’s his life. How can I help him to stop taking alcohol?

    This question dwells on the negative effects this has on the family, the disconnection that’s present and the issue of great financial stability.

    Now, this lady never mentioned whether the husband provides adequately for the family or not but in most situations, the family has to do without many things as most of the money goes to alcohol consumption.

    These are just some of the effects of alcoholism.

    Helping an alcoholic or a person who suffers from alcohol abuse to stop this habit is not easy so we go for the next best thing.

    It’s been known to happen where friends and loved ones even hide all the drinks and monitor the alcoholic’s whereabouts throughout the day. My advice is, don’t stress yourself over that.

    Help and love them where you can and don’t let it affect you so much when they don’t take your help seriously or in a positive manner. At the end of the day, it’s the alcoholic’s will to stop drinking that actually works.

    What to do

    Concentrate on doing the best for you and your whole family because the alcoholic is surely not having your best interests at heart.

    If you are an alcoholic’s spouse it is time to step up and handle most of the responsibilities in the household. If you can gather both your incomes and manage them yourself, that would be best.

    It’ s good not to seem controlling by allocating just a little of it for the alcoholic’s pleasure. Otherwise many other problems may arise.

    If you do not have a job, try and look for one in case your spouse is not forthcoming with his/her income. Financial stability is best so as to avoid stressing(…)

    Read more on agasaro.com

  • Get More Information On How to Study in USA

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    What?

    The Educational Advising Center at the American Embassy presents a student advising session on “Undergraduate Study in America.”

    When?

    These sessions will be held every first Wednesday of every month.
    The next one will take place on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

    Where?

    The presentation will be done in the Consular Waiting Room at the American Embassy in Kacyiru. Please enter through the consular entrance.

    RSVP Required: Please call or email to reserve a space as seating is limited.

    Email [email protected] or call 252 596-689.

  • New Law Extends Road Space to 22 Meters

    The new law that establishes Roads in the country has created major adjustments to the previous law.

    The current law provides that all major roads especially Highways extend upto 22 meters up from previous 15 meters in the old law.

    Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure announced the changes in the provisions of the old law and urged respect of the new law (no 55 of 14 Ukuboza 2011).

    “Roads including those connecting districts in category One, are required subject to the new law to be 7 meters wide (two lane) and the reserve area has been adjusted to 22 meters from the previous 15 meters,” said Dr. Nzahabwanimana.

    Adjustments in the law imply that any developmental activities existing within the range of 22 meters from the Highway road and other roads provided for in the new law shall be affected.

    It is not yet explained whether proprietors of existing infrastructure such as Houses and other activities including arable land would be compensated.
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  • Body of Rwandan Woman Found Floating on River in Canada

    A Rwandan woman in Montreal Canada who vanished while on an evening walk near her home in January was found floating in the St. Lawrence River more than 100 kilometres away, the circumstances of her death are as mysterious as her disappearance.

    IGIHE.com had reported this matter of the missing Rwandan Clemence Umugwaneza.

    The body of Clémence Umugwaneza, 26, was spotted by the Coast Guard near Louiseville on Saturday night, about 115 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

    The corpse was pulled out of the river, and Trois Rivières police were called in to investigate. Once the body was identified as Umugwaneza, Montreal police were contacted to deliver the news to her family.

    An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death and how long Umugwaneza was in the river, said Montreal police spokesperson Mélanie Martineau, saying every hypothesis from foul play to suicide remains on the table.

    “All avenues of investigation are being kept open,” she said. “It’s really the autopsy that will determine where we go from here.”

    A key question is where Umugwaneza ended up in the frigid waters – near her Cartierville home or closer to Louiseville. While Martineau said it is “possible” she floated all that way, the autopsy may be able to shed light on whether her body could have gone into the water closer to where it was found.

    The coroner’s office will also look for signs of violence as well as try to pinpoint when Umugwaneza died.

    Umugwaneza was last seen at about 9 p.m. on Jan. 11 when she left the home she shares with her family in the Cartierville area of Montreal to go for a walk.

    Relatives became alarmed when she didn’t return and called the police, who took the disappearance seriously.

    Umugwaneza had no history of going missing, suicidal tendencies or known associations with unsavoury characters.

    Montreal police combed the area around her home, searched the riverbanks with dogs and set up command posts nearby to seek the public’s help to locate her.

    “We really had no clues,” Martineau said.

    While the file is in the hands of Trois Rivières police for the moment, she added Montreal police could get involved again depending on what the coroner finds.

  • Lady Stripped Naked for Kissing Friend’s Boyfriend

    Today a bizarre but true story happened in the morning hours at Remera trading center when a lady only identified as Mahoro Louise was stripped off her Jeans trousers and left half nude in knickers. This prompted onlookers to hurl insults at the naked lady that had been thought to be insane.

    A motorcycle taxi operator a.k.a Plazo who witnessed the drama narrated to IGIHE.com. Plazo had parked at the stage when two girls emerged while struggling with each other.

    Suddenly one of the girls started undressing her jeans and was left with only light blue knickers as the other girl simply watched and then confidently walked away with Mahoro’s trousers without looking behind.

    This attracted a huge crowd that stopped and stared at the naked girl as though she was crazy. Onlookers waited to see what would happen next.

    “I was so shocked that I didn’t even realize that she was calling me, I rushed over, after talking to her I realised she was sane and immediately offered her my vest to help her cover her naked body. People hurled obscenities at Mahoro.

    Mahoro claimed that her friend falsely accused her of kissing her boyfriend in their house. The friend later chaced her out of the house upto the streets and she forced her forced her to strip the Jeans that she had borrowed from her.

    This left Mahoro nude in public. Mahoro later jumped onto a motorcycle taxi in her underwear and sped off.

    Mahoro says she was innocently mistreated in public by her friend she had always thought was a good person only to humiliate her. Mahoro lives at Gikondo and her friend Juliet is resident at Remera just behind Alpha Palace.

    Juliet had invited Mahoro to spend the night at her place as she does often.

  • Diaspora Inspired by Rwanda

    Several members of Rwandan Diaspora who have returned home are inspired by the country’s progress and say Rwanda is at its best. They want to stay and help rebuild their country with skills acquired abroad.

    Others disagree and have remained static on their decision to reside in foreign countries instead.

    Adopted at the age of six by a Belgian who was residing in Rwanda before the genocide, 26 year old Rwandan born Anita Durand told IGIHE.com she prefers to live abroad than in Rwanda.

    Durand is a Public Relations professional, this year she visited to experience Rwanda.

    Durand has spent three months in Rwanda working in collaboration with a fashion designer in Belgium who is hoping to promote her work in different parts of Africa, “the Fashion business could be a great boost in Rwanda’s economy but it hasn’t yet been exploited. This makes it harder for me to do my job to my full potential.”

    Her challenges while in Rwanda include the high cost of transport and other living expenses, “I find it hard for me to live in Rwanda on the budget I am given”. She explains that living in Belgium pays more in her profession. Transportation costs take up a bare minimum compared to Rwanda’s 60% of her salary goes to transportation.

    Durand has been living with a friend in Rwanda after realising that if she had stayed alone it would be very expensive- three times higher.

    ”I hope you understand why it’s hard for me choosing to stay in Rwanda”. Durand leaves Rwanda next week “I believe that I will be back, this is my home, just only when I have a full package that could support me.”

    Joanna Bridges, 31 is married and a mother of one. She came to Rwanda from the United States after her daughter turned one, “I wouldn’t understand anyone who would want to leave Rwanda after they came, I haven’t been here longer but I am certain I want to stay.”

    Bridges and her husband have invested in real estate business have decided that they will buy land in the district of Muhazi near the presidential residence, near the lake, where they will spend their vacations when visiting Rwanda until the time they retire.

    “Right now we are transitioning from our present professions, but when that is done life here will be so much simpler”.

    Bridges say’s the reason they are so eager to return is because during their short visit, they have witnessed the incredible opportunities Rwanda is offering, “The time is now, I believe that my family could make ourselves wealthy and live a life that would have taken us years to achieve in the US.”

    Apart from the job opportunities, the financial benefits or downfalls, and the country’s economic growth that is inspiring millions to invest in Rwanda, there are also issues about the social and cultural changes that have occurred in Rwanda and the Diaspora have had their say about this too.

    Brian Gatete, is a youth of the Diaspora recently visiting from England to see his family as well as conduct a survey for his future projects.

    After five years of life in Europe, he feels that Rwanda still lacks in the development of the social life line. “We are focused on the economic growth and yet many of the enterprises that would increase income are being taken as small business projects”.

    Gatete wants to return to Rwanda to open up the first major fast food chain similar to McDonalds, he say that those which have already opened are really small, far for some and never really open 24 hours like they claim. Food is on high demand in Rwandan.

    I have meet so many people who tell me the one reason they can’t live in Rwanda long is the lack of variety of food choices and some really have adapted to being able to find food at any time of the hour no matter where you are.

    Gatete showed us a graph and economic analysis on People of all ages around the world who are eating different foods as well as at alarming hours, “there is a greater demand for vegetarian meals across the globe, the demands of certain food stuffs have actually increased economic welfare in some of the developing countries that grow these ingredients”.

    Gatete believes that by opening various branches of a food store that will not only be famous with Rwanda tastes, but also Foreigners’ who are definitely the biggest consumers.

    Linda Kayitesi 23a Rwandan is a student in the US, her parents live in Rwanda. She relocated to US at the age of ten. Kayitesi is like all the other youths that reside in Rwanda, with the need to express themselves through fashion and music.

    Kayitesi while in Rwanda had decided to take a tour around town when she was briefly assaulted by the public; Kayitesi described to us what she was wearing that day.

    She had her Afro hair spread out, Sunglasses on, earphones plugged into her ears and visible tattoo’s on her arms. She wore a Vest and shorts. Suddenly she was surrounded by groups of young men murmuring words she didn’t understand but knew it was about her.

    She quickly rushed into a restaurant where she called her mom to come pick her up but only a second too late, street kids touched her legs sending the nearby crowd into laughter.

    “I am a Rwandan and I know our culture, but there is a limit to how Rwandan’s are turning a blind eye to the truths of changes in the society without even dealing with them”. Kayitesi says she can’t stand being stared at thus she will stay abroad.

  • Motorcycle Passengers ‘Head Cover Gear’ Free

    Effective 1st March, motorcyclist will be required to give their passengers a headgear at no cost as opposed to earlier arrangements where a passenger was required to pay for the headcover at Frw 50.

    The decision was arrived at during a meeting involving representatives of cooperatives of motorcycle taxi operators and authorities of Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Agency (RURA) and Kigali City Council (KCC).

    A similar recommendation was made by Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habamuremyi during a recent meeting with motorcyclists at Nyamirambo stadium. The aim is to ensure hygiene for those using the helmets.

    However, city dwellers argue that headgears haven’t been available.

    According to a Press release from Kigali City authorities, motor riders will pay Frw 40 for each headgear and that they shouldn’t charge passengers extra on the fare, since transport charges are still high even after RURA instructed them to lower the prices following the reduction of fuel prices.

    Meanwhile, traders interested in selling headgears are required to obtain authorization from the Rwanda Bureau of Standards.

  • Gov’t Officials Meet Over Cholera Outbreak

    Senior government officials convened today in Rubavu district for an urgent meeting aimed at discussing measures that would prevent the spread of Cholera that has broken out in Neighbouring DR-Congo.

    According to a press statement by the Ministry of Health, Cholera outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to spread close to the Rwandan border. There are no cases of cholera reported on the Rwandan side and that the situation is still normal on the Rwanda side.

    “The imported cases from DR Congo were handled and contained mainly due to the usual rapid response measures implemented to fight the disease inside the country,” the statement reads in parts.

    DR-Congo Health officials have registered up to 1228 cases of Cholera in North Kivu Province leading to 11 deaths as of last week.

    It has also been reported that the first case of cholera was diagnosed in Rwanda on 13th February from an individual returning from North Kivu. Since then, 12 other cases were diagnosed and successfully treated and discharged one week ago.

    It is said all registered cases were contaminated from DR-Congo but returned for treatment and have since been discharged with no recorded death. No new cases have been reported since February 22nd.

    In a consultative meeting to address strategies of curbing the spread of Cholera into Rwanda,The Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho emphasized the need for vigilance and continuous sensitization of population on key hygienic preventive measures as well as quick and accurate rapid treatment for the sick.

    “The Government of Rwanda takes great value in the lives of each and every citizen of this country,” Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho said.

    “For now we have managed to contain this outbreak but what I need to remind everyone is that this outbreak is a ticking bomb especially in neighbouring countries. Therefore, if we are not prepared, it could spread to our population,” the Minister cautioned.

    To fully contain the situation and ensure no new infections occuring in the country, government officials agreed to enhanced Community sensitization and mobilization on best hygiene practices through mass media campaigns.

    They also agreed to advise population on limited cross-border movements especially for social functions like burials or any other functions that can be postponed, abolish consumption of raw food stuffs sold alongside roads and ensure hygiene inspections by Local Government authorities for all households.

    Other measures included placing informative and educative posters at Border posts, cross-border meetings between leaders and technicians to share best practices of combating Cholera epidemic in DRC, ensure rapid reporting and treatment of any cases that could emerge and implement all the elements of the Hygiene Campaign launched last year by His Excellency the President of the Republic.

    Binagwaho said the Health Ministry would undertake sensitization meetings across all districts bordering DRC to re-enforce mechanisms of combating the outbreak of Cholera.

    She also hailed district officials for taking seriously measures to combat the scourge which were the reasons for containing it so far.

    The meeting which was presided over by Health minister attracted the State Minister for Local Government Dr. Alvera Mukabaramba, the Governors of North and Western province, District Mayors, and other district official, Senior Army and Police Commanders, Doctors, Nurses and Sector executives of both provinces.