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By the end of this year Rwandans are expected to view more than two TV stations, thanks to the yet to be introduced Set Top Box (STB) a special decoder that facilitates reception of digital signal to analog TV sets.

The decoder is in line with the transformation of analog to digital TV viewing, that also involves construction of relevant infrastructure to support the latest technology.

Patrice Mulama, the executive secretary of Media High Council (MHC) noted that establishment of antennas and boosters to support digital signal is in final stages.

He added that the new technology will attract more television companies to start business in Rwanda.

“There was a delay in introducing new TV channels due to a requirement by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) demanding latest infrastructure and so far we have approved some companies both locally and regional.

The regional channels include Nation, Citizen, EATV, and Light House TV while those from local investors are Contact and Tele 10.

Eugène Nyagahene proprieter of Tele 10 and Radio 10 says that he’s ready to start broadcasting soon.

“Now we have everything in a place including a well equipped studio and our TV employees are being oriented on how to use some of the sophisticated equipments,” he remarked.

Nyagahene who was part of a team that spearheaded the transformation urged the government to step in and buy the special decoders and sell them at affordable rates so that early next year Rwandans would begin watching TV with clear signals.

Meanwhile, decoders won’t necessarily be used by those who have digital TV sets but rather favour those who still have the analog ones to get better images.

However, a digital TV cost is twice higher than Analog TV thus many would likely opt for a separate kit of STB to serve as an antenna.

Different passengers have informally requested for three-seat commuter taxi claiming they have for long time been disturbed with the current four-seats.

Felicien Mulinda found at Rwandex bus stop said his trouser was torn due to sandwiched way of sitting four in a row when he was trying to get out of the taxi.

“Why on earth can’t we sit three per row in Rwanda. What is so hard that Rwandan transport system cannot do when other countries have afforded it, if we not careful and take measures to day we may end up having poor transport system like that of Kenya,” Mulinda said in an interview.

Claudine Manishimwe who has been a driver for 15 years retaliated saying Rwanda still has inadequate commuter cars which require them to take as many as possible to solve a problem of passengers waiting for long on different bus stops.

“I do not see any problem in it for we are familiar with it. This is a system we have been operating in ever since, these are just wishes,” Manishimwe said.

Celestin Twahirwa the head of traffic police told IGIHE.com that that the number of passengers in every commuter taxi is determined by the authority of transport companies.

He said: “our intervention may come in for different dangers of traffic otherwise sitting 3 or 4 on each row are the transport companies’ decision.”

Comments from Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), was fruitless as they could not available at the time.

Fidele Ndayisaba, the mayor of Kigali city also says that any time people show it as a serious problem; they will look for a way to solve it collaborating with relevant authorities.

However many complaints come in as a reference to Rwanda’s joining the East African Community(EAC) where a number of member states like Uganda sit three in a row.

ENDS

President Paul Kagame has emerged among seventy most powerful people on the planet and among the 2011 personalities by the Forbes Africa Magazine.

Kagame was named on the list for having led Rwanda’s transformation after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi which has led the country to become one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

President Kagame has been named among the 20 other most African personalities.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, emerged as the most powerful person in Africa.

The list includes Activits,Economists, Politicians and nobel laureates.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Pedro Veron Pires, former President of Cape Verde, the late Professor Wangari Mathai, Nobel Prize Kenyan environmental and political activist also feature on the list.

The list includes; Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, Goodluck Johnson, the President of Nigeria, John Atta Mills, the President of Ghana, Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda and Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian Street Vendor who set himself on fire, a move that triggered the widespread Arab spring revolutionaries.

“Kagame is also driving the East African Community initiative, a renowned Publication New Statesman named him as one of the 50 people in the world who matter,” reads the Forbes magazine.

Eight students risk a five years sentence if found guilty of stealing school materials from the school at which they have been studying.

Prosecution at Nyagatare district has proposed 5 years of prison sentence for the students because of the magnitude of the offence.

“Though some materials were found and returned to the school, it doesn’t invalidate the offence they have committed”, said the prosecution.

Prosecution argues that it is a serious offence because the accused first forged the key to open the house containing materials.

Legal assistants for the accused students asked prosecution to consider article 9 that provides for Children’s rights in trial reading scheduled on the 20th January 2012.

The accused students admitted to have committed the offence during which they tried to steal three times; July, September and October when they were still young.

Although they are being tried, the school authorities have already expelled them.

The ministry of Local Administration (MINALOC) has declared that special measures will be used for people to contribute towards good governance.

James Musoni, the minister of local administration said, “it is true, some decisions are taken without people’s participation, but there will not be sustainable good governance without the voice of the population.”

He added that people must be aware of their rights. The ministry is doing all the best to give power to the population’s contribution in decisions making.

“There are decisions which would be taken without people’s contribution. You cannot negotiate with a parent for a child to attend school or prevent a child from being affected by diseases; that is a must” he said.

The president addressed this problem in the 2010 national dialogue talking about leaders who used to destruct people’s houses without negotiations or even showing them other shelters in Bye Bye -Nyakatsi program .

Jackyline Uwimana, of Gatsibo district, said “Its possible for people who despise government’s programs however, authorities involved in this should change because it deteriorates the country’s development and projecting a negative image of the country.”

The ministry calls upon journalists, civil societies to help people know their role in good governance.

All the problems will be exposed on the 30th January 2012 at the end of good governance month.

Kigali city tower sky scrapper the latest and tallest building has a malfunctioning elevator (lifts). Our reporter and other city dwellers got trapped in the elevator for over thirty minutes on January 4.

It is said that the technician in charge of operating the elevator at the city tower complex had gone home and they had to wait until he comes back and work on their way out of the lift.

This is not the first time elevators in High rise buildings in Kigali have been shunned by city dwellers claiming they get trapped leaving them stranded for several hours.

An elevator or lift is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors (levels, decks) of a building, vessel or other structures.

Elevators are generally powered by electric motors that either drive traction cables or counterweight systems like a hoist, or pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack.

Igihe.com also witnessed Vice Prime Minister of Timor Leste, José Luis Guterres during his visit to Rwanda late last year getting stuck with other people in the lift at the Rwanda’s Premature building for over 20 minutes.

Another anticipated building with the same problem is where RURA offices are based. Many people claim that its elevator also strands people in there.

Mathias Harebamungu, the state minister in charge of primary and secondary education has said that government is ready to kick start 12 Years Basic Education program that will commence this academic year.

“The public did a great work by contributing 63% to the construction of the classrooms by providing labour and extra assistance .I am very grateful for the support rendered”, he said.

The minister of education, Vincent Biruta, told IGIHE.com that classrooms were built in collaboration with the population.Teachers have been recruited to make sure the program is started.

“The programme will start with students that completed ordinary level last year.We have already completed marking national exams.We almost have the necessary requirements for the programme to kick off.”

The 12 Years Basic Education program just like the 9-YBE, were thought of in the system of Education for all, facilitating children preventing them from dropping out of school due to lack of school fees.

Nyanza district Mayor Abdallah Murenzi has confirmed the arrest of Cassien Rukundo of Kabilizi sector for alledgedly attacking and injuring several residents at Nyagasozi cell with a mob of local night guards (Abanyarondo).

“Rukundo is being interogated by Police. We will communicate the outcomes to the press once Police investigations are concluded,” Murenzi noted.

Rukundo is a local leader at Kabilizi sector in charge of development. He was arrested following a petition filed by area residents accusing him of bullying locals and denying them various rights.

Victims claim that it was not the first time they were harassed by Rukundo. He allegedly whips residents with a stick especially when residents fail to attend the monthly communal service (Umuganda) and defaulting local medical insurance (mutuelle de santé ).

Rukundo however argues that he whipped a team of thugs that had attacked him and a team of local night guards (abanyarondo) on the eve of new year while on a patrol.

“On our way to Muhanga center in the night we met a man who was grazing his cattle in another person’s garden. When we questioned him about illegally grazing in someones land, he agreed to pay a fine of Frw 5,000.
He later went to a nearby house and returned with a group of more than 20 people. We had no choice but ran away before they would attack us.”

Rukundo claims he didn’t attack anyone that night but later conducted an operation in the area the following day to arrest some suspects.

During the operation he allegedly whipped several people with a team of night Guards loyal to him and three residents were seriously wounded in the operation.

Marcel Makuza a victim who has been bandaged on his skull disclosed that he was beaten without any committing any crime.

“As I walked home from the market I found several men along the way, I greeted them however, one of them said that I was among the people who attacked them on the eve of New Year and they immediately started beating me mercilessly despite my innocence,” he narrated.

Pauline Mutabaruka the executive secretary of Nyagasozi noted that tough actions should be taken against bully leaders.

“We appoint them to lead us not to injure people when they are in the wrong. They shouldn’t take the law in their hands,” she advised.

She condemned the attack of a Muragijimana a 15 year old boy who sustained injuries on his left eye.

Another resident only indetified as Bimenyimana disclosed that he has been harassed in the past by Rukundo for lacking mutuelle de santé yet among the vulnerable in the community.

Source: IGITONDO

Rwanda National Police, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IRST) to collaborate in areas of biodiesel production.

Both institutions will work on how marketing, research and to share expertise in biodiesel.

The event held at the Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC) was presided over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Stanley Nsabimana.

Nsabimana observed that environmental degradation and climate change have been recognized as being one of the barriers to achieving sustainable development.

He said that RNP had already started working with IRST in various researches and training activities, especially those ones related to biodiesel project and health safety.

He stated that a number of achievements, including development of renewable fuels, environmental protection and human health, will be attained as a result of the continued partnership between the two institutions.

The Director General of IRST Dr. Jean Batiste Nduwayezu lauded RNP for facilitating the establishment of the agreement and its valuable support and assistance during various tests on performance of biodiesel in diesel- driven engines.

He, however, pointed out the need to further establish more strong collaborative linkages in order to significantly contribute to the improvement of both environmental and socio- economic conditions of Rwandans.

“Collaboration will mainly focus on Biodiesel research, production and marketing, environmental protection, pollution control and human health safety,” Nduwayezu said.

Currently, IRST produces 2,000 liters of biodiesel every day.

Nduwayezu also said IRST developed a business plan for Rwanda to sustain herself in biodiesel production by the year 2025.

The event was also attended by the mayor of Burera District, Samuel Sembagare, several researchers and academicians.

ENDS

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has released a statement urging the general public to remain calm and vigilant following the grenade explosion on Tuesday evening at Gasabo district, City of Kigali, that injured 18 people.

The explosion happened at about 6:40PM in Marembo Village, Nyabisindu Cell, Remera Sector, in an overcrowded area popular for selling fruits and vegetables.

Police has reported that two people died, 15 have so far been treated and discharged, while one remains under medical treatment at Kanombe hospital.

As investigations continue, Rwanda National Police assures the public that whoever is behind the blast will be brought to book to answer the criminal charges, as has been in previous cases.

The statement quotes, “We urge the public to continue cooperating and sharing timely information, through community policing channels, by reporting anything suspicious to the nearest police station or other security organs and concerned authorities.”

Rwanda National Police extends our sympathy to those affected by this criminal incident. We remain committed to working for a crime free Rwanda.