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The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) director of quality services Jean Baptiste Mutabazi has dismissed allegations from experts claiming that Rwandan telecommunication masts pose a health threat to the general public.

“We have the best telecommunication boosters with less radiation which can’t affect people, mind you we have done research and used some of the best practices from countries which have managed to reduce radiation in their societies,” he remarked.

He noted that Rwanda is a member if the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) which assists them to identify sophisticated gadgets.

However,Dr. Rudasingwa Gatege who heads the faculty of physicians at the National University of Rwanda disagrees with Mutabazi.

“Trust me the radiation might be less but let’s not forget that the health complication doesn’t occur over night rather with time and can cause serious diseases especially in the brain,” he explained.

“It’s not only radiation from telecom masts that are harmful even cell phones and laptops also exhume radiations and since we cannot play safe 100%, still we can reduce the risks by placing the masts away from public and keeping cell phones away from our bodies especially when asleep.”

Meanwhile,others claim that they haven’t experienced any health complications from the telecom masts or perhaps it’s because they have less knowledge about the technology.

Elias Nzabandora a resident in Kimironko who lives nearby a telecom mast gave us his opinion.

“What do you mean by radiation? I’ve never heard of it. As a matter of fact I’ve not heard anyone complaining of health issues as a result of this mast, apart from some who are uneasy with its loud sound of generator when power goes off.”

Jean Baptist Uwihanganye, the Executive Secretary of Mukura Sector in Rutsiro district has recommended the formation of a protection unit to curb the rise of illegal mining in the area.

He noted that despite arresting over 50 illegal miners, the extraction of minerals continues.

“I imagine they have a spy network that monitors and alerts them when we are going for patrol that’s why I recommend a special unit to do the patrols in a consistent manner,” he recommended.

If formed the protection unit will have trusted guards nominated by the society, they will be tasked to guard the mining holes on a 24 hour period, reporting dubious activities and sensitize the public about the risks of mining without professional supervision.

Uwihanganye further urged the government to support the initiative by allocating funds to the protection unit will also the reduce tax evasion.

The leaders started campaign given the fact that for the past four months illegal mining had intensified.

“What they’re doing is risky, recently one person was found dead as a result of landslide,” said Christophe Mudahemuka the Executive Secretary of Ruseheya Sector in Rutsiro District.

RwandAir the national carrier on December 2 launched direct flights to Lagos the commercial capital of Nigeria and West Africa in its effort to connect Kigali to the rest of the world.

The three weekly flights will depart from Kigali at 0830HRS (Local Time) and arrive in Lagos at 1140HRS (Local Time). The return flights depart from Lagos at 1330HRS (Local Time) to reach Kigali at 1840HRS
(Local Time).

The latest Rwandair Boeing 737-800 has already set off to Lagos to mark the first flight.

Lagos becomes the 13th destination to join the airlines rapidly growing network and the
fourth new destination this year after destinations including Gisenyi in the north, neighboring countries; Brazzaville-Congo and Libreville-Gabon.

The ceremony to inaugurate the flight was held in Abuja at a gala dinner that was attended by Rwanda senior government officials, business community and government officials from Nigeria among other guests.

RwandAir CEO John Mirenge present at the event said that Lagos route is part of the airlines commitment and plans to continue exploring the westward network expansion drive.

“At the beginning of the year, we made a commitment to expand our network with a focus on Central and West Africa. Lagos for us is an exciting addition to our network and we know the destination will have very positive contributions to the already existing network,” Mirenge pointed out. We are pleased to make this our first West African destination,” he added.

Mirenge further stated that the Nigerian Aviation Authorities had been very cooperative and responsive to the RwandAir request to fly to Lagos.

“From the time we declared our intentions to fly to Lagos, the Nigerian government and aviation authorities have been very swift and quick in welcoming us,”

Albert Nsengiyumva, the Minister of infrastructure said that aviation experts predicted that Lagos is poised to become an airline megacity in the next 20 years with the ability to handle over 10, 000 passengers per day.

“Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and Nigeria should be our number one partner in revolutionizing this sector,” Nsengiyumva remarked.

In Ruhango district, a Pastor identified as Evariste Habiyambere 65,including other four people have been arrested and suspected of stealing 10 laptops meant for pupils in the program named ‘One Laptop per Child’.

Only the Pastor of one of the Seventh day Adventists church has been identified while efforts to obtain identification of others were futile.

Police reports that the laptops were stolen recently at a Nine year Basic Education School of Mutima in Ntongwe sector, Ruhango district by a 19 years old student; Edward Munyabugingo who then gave them to the pastor to market them.

In his words, the pastor accepts the guilt. “I helped boys to keep them and to find a buyer but they caught me before getting them sold.”

Ruhango district Police Commander, CIP Jules Rutayisire, announced that five of the ten laptops have been recovered and the rest are still missing.

Two of them were discovered in Busoro, Nyanza district and other three were recovered from Ntongwe and Kinazi sectors in Ruhango district.

On November 25 we reported that a body had been recovered stuffed in a sack that had been dumped into a stream commonly known as Rwanzekwuma at Kinamba-Gisozi in Kigali.

Police investigations have revealed that the young man in his early 20s identified as Marola eldebrand was killed by his elder brother identified as NIYONZIMA Oscar.

Niyonzima allegedly brutally killed his brother accusing the deceased for bringing home prostitutes. The incident happened on 24th November.

The murder suspect who confessed on camera to the whole public that he intended to kill his brother. Its alleged that the two brothers had always been involved in family dispute.

When the landlord learnt of the dispute always caused by Niyonzima, a 15day notice to vacate the house was issued.

Niyonzima will be produced before the court and if found guilty will get life imprisonment subject to penal code act 311.

“I have been arrested for killing someone I lived with in the same house.I agree I killed him”, Niyonzima told Press.

Meanwhile Police Authorities have urged families to always settle such disputes as a means to prevent the occurrence of such criminal acts.

The First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice Thursday declared that the detention of Lt. Col Rugigana Ngabo in Rwanda was in breach of fundamental and operational principles of the East African Community.

The court presided over by Justice Johnston Busingye (Principal Judge), Lady Justice Mary Stella Arach Amoko (Deputy Principal Judge), Justice John Mukwawa and Justice Bosco Butasi ordered Rwanda to pay the costs for the unlawful and arbitrary action to the applicant, Plaxeda Rugumba, who is a sister to Lt. Col. Ngabo.

According to the East African Community official website, the Court said the act of detaining Lt. Col. Ngabo from August 2010 to January 2011 offended Articles 6 (d) and 7(2) of the Treaty; the latter which demands that Partner States shall be bound by the principles of inter alia, good governance and the rule of law.

The Court also declared that the five-month detention of Lt. Col. Ngabo was unlawful according to the laws of Rwanda.

It declared that the continued detention of the subject without trial in a competent court was a breach of the country’s laws.

Rwanda’s laws provide that any person arrested shall not be detained beyond 48 hours without being produced before a court of law.

The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.

Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The High Courts of the Partner States serve as sub-registries.
Ends

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has advised government chief accounting officers to do away with common mistakes that appear in their reports if they want to achieve Rwanda’s target of having clean audit reports.

The premier was reacting to the recent 2010 Auditor General’s report that highlighted significant flaws in public funds accountability.

In a meeting which took place at the former Prime Holdings Hall in Kimihurura was attended by government ministers, Mayor of Kigali City, provincial governors and district mayors.

“We cannot allow our increasingly good image in matters of public accountability and good governance to be soiled by behavior we can avoid.

Since I’m sure none of you is happy with the blame we bear by virtue of the failures the report brought up, let us all find lasting solutions and commit to implementing them”, the Prime Minister said.

Participants agreed on measures to 20 common errors highlighted by the 2010 Auditor General’s report and among them recommend government institutions to strengthen their internal audit units.

“Accounting officers should receive regular and effective training, under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, district finance administration units should be given capacity level and manpower size in finance administration commensurate with increased money volumes they handle. Ministries of Local Government, Finance and Public Service to follow up,” stated the recommendations.

From now all government agencies should within three months hire external auditors as a measure to supplement the Auditor General’s Office.

Government agencies must produce audit reports authored by external auditors before end of September 2011.

The First Lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame will attend the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), taking place in Addis Ababa from 4-8 December 2011, under the theme “OWN, SCALE-UP and SUSTAIN.”

Mrs. Kagame, co-founder of OAFLA (Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS,) will give remarks on Monday at a special First Ladies’ roundtable discussion on “The Justification For The Engagement of First Ladies In The Fight against HIV and AIDS.”

The session will deliberate on the efforts made and leadership provided by the spouses of African leaders towards achieving an HIV free generation, with the aim of enhancing commitment and action.

The ICASA conference expects to welcome more than 10,000 delegates from around the world including scientists, health workers, policy makers, people living with HIV (PLHIV), community leaders and activists working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, Tuberculosis & Malaria.

The conference provides a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in Africa and around the globe in responding to HIV/ AIDS and STIs, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

A key significance of the ICASA conference is that 2011 marks 30 years after AIDS was discovered as a new disease.