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Rwanda’s prosecutor general Martin Ngoga has condemned a delay in the deportation of Rwandan genocide suspect Leon Mugesera held in Canada, saying the delay is ‘disgrace to genocide victims’.

The delay resulted from United Nations Committee against Torture highlighting further investigation into Mugesera’s concerns of fearing for his life once deported to Rwanda and that he would be given a fair trial under the Rwandan judicial system.

Another reason for the delay is his sudden illness which Quebec tabloids attribute to a suicide attempt.

Ngoga has rejected Mugesera’s allegations of being tortured and lacking fair trial since the accusations were baseless given progress in the Rwanda’s judiciary.

The prosecutor general noted that torture for instance was abolished in Rwanda and that the country is a signatory to an international agreement on the same. “We have also abolished death sentence I wonder why he is making such complaints,” he remarked.

He also criticized UN decision of delaying his deportation adding that the body wants to mislead and prolong the case yet UN’s International Criminal Court (ICC) has sent Sierra Leone war prisoners to be jailed in Rwanda.

“I wonder how they doubt our judiciary yet they entrust us with trying other deported suspects for example the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has sent several suspects here and they’ve got fair trials,” he said.

As Mugesera recovers from what his physicians term as severe fatigue and stress, Quebec’s Justice William Fraiberg has ordered a stay of deportation until Jan. 20, when Mugesera’s lawyers are due back in court.

Clinical Psychology Students at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) claim to have been abandoned by the Ministry of Health in regard to accessing jobs.

Students explained that when they were previously under the faculty of Education, they were considered for Jobs, however, when they were shifted to the faculty of medicine, they have since been ignored in the Job market.

They complain that the ministry of health should consider them like it does for students from medicine since it is the same field.

Rugege Geoffrey, the head of Education High Council told media that students have to know that the government’s abilities cannot handle all those problems.

He added that once government is able, the issue of Clinical Psychology students shall be handled otherwise they have to compete for jobs just like others from different fields in the job market.

However, unlike for students of Clinical Psychology, the Ministry of Health dispatches students from medicine department to different hospitals at the end of their university studies.

For the first time, a Rwandan national has been named director of the Karisoke Research Center located at Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

According to the press statement Clare Richardson, president and CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI), announced yesterday January 15, that Felix Ndagijimana, who has served as deputy director for the last four years, will assume leadership of Karisoke.

The Karisoke Research Center is the world’s centerpiece for the study and protection of the critically endangered mountain gorillas.

The statement reveals that the historic appointment also comes on an historic date Jan. 16, which would have been the 80th birthday of Dr. Dian Fossey, who founded the Karisoke Research Center in 1967 and the Fossey Fund, originally the Digit Fund, which has operated the center since her death.

In the speech Richardson pointed out, “Ndagijimana is the first Rwandan to lead Karisoke as its director.”

“He is a prime example of the Fossey Fund’s effort to conduct capacity building in Africa, through support for education and training so that local people can become stewards of conservation in their own lands,” added Richardson.

As director, Ndagijimana will oversee all of Karisoke’s research and protection programs for mountain gorillas and other species in Volcanoes National Park, as well as health and education programs in the communities surrounding the park, administering a staff of more than 100, including trackers, anti-poachers, research assistants, and administrative personnel.

He succeeds Katie Fawcett, Ph.D., who held the position since 2002.

Ndagijimana began working at Karisoke as a research assistant in 2004. Through a scholarship created by Fossey Fund supporter Mary Ann Parker in memory of her son John Eric Peckham, he earned a master’s degree in primate conservation from Oxford Brookes University (UK).

He was named deputy director in 2008 after completing his master’s, and has been responsible for overseeing field activities and for expansion of research programs.

Ndagijimana also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Mysore, India.

He has represented the Fossey Fund at numerous gatherings including International Primatological Society Congress meetings in Uganda and Scotland; the 2010 Poverty and Conservation Learning Groupworkshop; and at annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremonies in Kinigi, Rwanda.

He also served as a field assistant for the production of the critically acclaimed PBS Nature program, “The Gorilla King.” “I am greatly honored to be chosen for this important role,” says Ndagijimana.

“I look forward to leading the dedicated team of trackers, scientists, and administrative personnel at Karisoke in continuing the legacy of Dian Fossey and our leadership in gorilla conservation.”

“I am very excited to build on the achievements of the past directors of Karisoke and to continue working with the Fossey Fund’s partners, both in Rwanda and elsewhere, to further our mission of conserving and protecting gorillas and their habitat.”

Tara Stoinski, Ph.D., has been promoted to vice president and chief scientist for the Fossey Fund. Dr. Stoinski is based at the Fossey Fund’s U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

The center was founded over 40 years ago by Dr. Dian Fossey and operated since her death by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Today, Karisoke is the greatest hope for the future of the mountain gorillas, and has become a significant resource for the people who live near the gorillas.

IGIHE.com has reliably learnt that Canadian Police of the City of Montreal (SPVM) is looking for Umugwaneza Clemence(photo above) who has been missing since last Wednesday.

The police are asking the public to find Umugwaneza aged 26. She left her home sector Cartierville on January 11 to go get some fresh air.

She has not been seen or heard from since the day she left her home.

According to the SPVM, Clemence Umugwaneza would not be considered suicidal and had never gone missing before.

Umugwaneza measure 1.70meters, weighs 90 kg. She has black hair and brown eyes.

When she left the family home, she wore a black hat, a long black coat with hood black.

Anyone wishing to provide information concerning this matter may do so anonymously and confidentially by calling 911 or your local ward office.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) has with effect from today Monday January 16, announced new fuel prices showing a slight fall as compared to the previous prices.

The Kigali price of Super petrol will no more go beyond Frw 940 per liter while Kigali price of Diesel also won’t exceed Frw 940 per liter.

According to the announcement, the reduction in prices has been possible due to government’s decision to once again reduce prices on fuel products with effect from January 16, 2012 and also due to the slight reduction in fuel prices on international market.

As battle to fight illicit drugs consumption expands, more people are getting involved.

Rwamagana District authorities in conjuction with other relevant authorities have set ablaze illicit drugs impounded in the area.

This follows passenger who also arrested their colleague when he entered a taxi smelling marijuana and they alerted the police after they found him with five kilogram tied on his body.

“Those suspects are now going to face trial and if found guilty will face 5 years sentence in jail or a fine not less than Rwf250, 000 if convicted,” said Docile Gapira Kigabiro court prosecutor.

“However are experiencing a decrease though in this kind of business. This is due to heavy punishments given to such suspects once convicted,” she said adding that prosecutors prefer a jail term as a deterrent measure.

The burnt illicit drugs included Chief Waragi, Suzie Waragi, crude Waragi Marijuana, and local brews allegedly smuggled from neighboring Uganda.

Among the burnt illicit drugs were also 457 bottles of juice expired in 2009 that were destroyed.

Rwamagana District Mayor, Nehemie Uwimana, called upon the residents to be vigilant so that they could end the drugs and their consequences.

According to police officials the dealers of the brew and drugs have been cautioned several times but the problem still persists.

Most of them had earlier been arrested and punished, but they have failed to reform, the officials said.

Asuman Nsengiyunva one of the residents said that illegal brew causes insecurity and poverty among families, and asked people to give up the illegal activities.

Police burnt 128 litres of kanyanga, 38 kilos of drugs and 1614 small ones packets, 4344 packets and 25 suzi pieces.

ENDS

Sunday, January 15, marks the 83rd anniversary of the birth of American clergyman and civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., in Atlanta, Georgia. Each year Americans honor Dr. King with a federal holiday on the third Monday of January, and invite the people of the world to join us in celebrating his legacy.

As the U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda, I would like to personally extend this invitation to you.

Martin Luther King, Jr., brought justice to oppressed people using peaceful means for peaceful ends. He became famous for his contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States, but his impact and legacy extend around the world and have influenced subsequent non-violent movements from Tibet to Wall Street.

It was his non-violent actions, indeed, which continue to inspire us. What courage Dr. King possessed to face dangerous adversaries without a knife or gun, bear death threats against his wife and children without threatening others, even face prison and insults without striking a blow!

He never stopped fighting for justice, but he never abandoned his commitment to the principles of non-violence.

Dr. King also acted with urgency, imagination, and persistence to achieve his admirable goals. He did not wait for others to act first or for unjust laws to change: he organized boycotts and marches which —over time—caused attitudes and laws to change.

While Dr. King lived most of his life in the American South, his struggle transcended America’s shores. He recognized a connection binding all non-violent human rights movements in what he called our “world-wide neighborhood.”

His struggle against specific unjust laws in the United States was based on a fierce opposition to civil rights violations in general, and he took responsibility for speaking out against injustices wherever he saw them.

Dr. King had this world view because he believed all life is inter-related. He said: “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

Dr. King believed that the destiny of one person – an Indian, a Russian, a Rwandan – was linked to his own destiny, and that the destiny of any one country was inextricably tied to the destiny of the United States.

We are all even more inter-related in the age of the Internet and instant communication. That is why the United States is working with Rwanda to support this country’s efforts to achieve its destiny – a nation where good governance and justice prevail, a nation where corruption and violence have no place, a nation with an educated population with good jobs – so that the United States can realize its own destiny–safer, more prosperous, and interacting with a proud nation which shares in this security and prosperity.

If Dr. King were alive today, he would join us in unwavering condemnation of militants and terrorists who, out of frustration with their current condition, resort to violence.

He would join us in support of basic human rights—including the right to free speech and the right to assembly—for everyone, regardless of their gender, religion, nationality, tribal affiliation, or sexual orientation, to deny belligerent citizens an excuse to incite violence against others.

And he would reiterate that “non-violence is more than the absence of violence,” and reinforce the notion that conscious, persistent work towards peace is the only way to defeat violence and war permanently.

We celebrate Dr. King’s legacy every January because the lessons that we learned from him are universal and timeless. We still confront poverty and injustice in this world, and we still too often use violence to resolve our grievances.

As we remember him this January, let us also remember the ideals for which he stood and apply them to our world today.

President Paul Kagame has just told the Rwanda leadership fellowship that he will not rise and fall Saying, “I cannot rise and fall. I am not going to fall. It’s not because anybody is reminding me about it.”

President Kagame was discussing leadership excellence at a gathering of dozens of the country’s leadership cream at Kigali Serena Hotel.

Every other day journalists are asking me when am leaving office. “If you think it’s right to not overstay in power, why don’t you think I don’t think its right. It’s because I don’t need to get any lessons from them (journalists).”

Kagame said he gets irritated by such questions from media, “although I am not supposed to be irritated because of my leadership position, I am supposed to manage it and absorb it although sometimes I fail.”

The reasons other leaders use to say why they won’t leave power is the same reason I use to say I will leave power.

The President explained that in what a leader has done, “they should have mentored people into potential leaders for the future? If I fail to mentor future leaders during my term then I have to leave power.”

“This means what would follow after my leadership is what they deserve. I would leave them to get what they deserve,” Kagame noted.

In a seemingly indirect response to the recently released French report on the shooting down of Habyarimana plane in 1994, the president said he wasn’t happy with the excitement that filled many Rwandans after the report findings were made public.

“I don’t accept Rwanda or Africa to always sit and wait to be judged and defined by outside people-The same people who are so deeply involved in the problems of Rwanda, our neighbours and Africa.”

Kagame explained that Rwandans need to expand ‘our understanding and we need to grow and develop our resolve to stand-up to these challenges.’

“I don’t accept that the lives of Rwandans. My own life, Should be defined and managed by others other than ourselves.”

“When do Rwandans and Africans stand-up to define themselves. Do the right thing because it’s right not because someone is telling you. Why do you get involved in corruption until somebody starts shouting about it?,”Kagame incquired.

“Why should we mismanage ourselves and wait for somebody to shout about it before taking action?”

President Kagame also told the leaders that he often receives comments on Twitter from many people he doesn’t even know from all parts of the world who say they like Rwanda.

“Mr. President we have been in Rwanda. We appreciate the roads and good people. However, Customer care needs to be improved. This will never end by prayer. It will end by dealing with the problem head-on. Demand good service and give good service to people. This must become a culture.”

The president cited the recent Hotel Grading published on IGIHE.com saying the poor grades reflected the value of customer care in most of the hotels that received very few or no stars, “You may refuse to listen and consequences will come and hit you.”