Igihe

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  • IGIHE.com CEO To Recieve World’s Outstanding Persons Award

    Meilleur Murindabigwi CEO of the Rwanda based online news paper igihe.com, will join 9 other young people from 160 countries in the world to receive their awards in what they called Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World 2011.

    The 10 young people will receive their awards from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in the event that will take place in at JCI World Congress in Brussels, Belgium scheduled tomorrow Nov. 1 to 3.

    They are awarded of having creativity as young active citizens that made them reach their anticipated targets.

    Murindabagwi who was awarded of ‘Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment’; after witnessing the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, wanted to provide a fresh start for the youth of Rwanda.

    Him and 12 other student volunteers started igihe.com, which publishes Rwandan breaking news and other daily information in the form of articles and videos.

    It is now published in three languages and has a full-time employed staff. The website has also expanded into an entire IT company, Igihe Ltd.

    Murindabigwi becomes the second Rwandan to be awarded by JCI after Dr. Joseph Ryarasa who last year in the category named, ‘Contribution to children, world peace and/or human rights’.

    Through great achievement and innovation the 2011 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World are leading by example and creating positive change across the globe.

    Junior Chamber International honors ten outstanding young people under the age of 40 each year.

    These individuals exemplify the spirit of the JCI Mission and provide extraordinary service to their communities.

    Whether through service, innovation, determination or revolutionary thinking, these young active citizens create positive impact in their communities.

  • Senate President Calls For Population Decrease

    The president of the Senate Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo has this morning at Muhima Hospital in Kigali called for increased efforts to restrain population growth in Rwanda.

    Ntawukuriryayo was speaking at the handover ceremony of the baby kits to the parents of the symbolic seven billionth children born at the hospital.

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    Senate president challenged medical practitioners to lead the campaign against the cultural beliefs that encourage couples to have a large number of children by championing and sensitizing on family planning methods.

    While at the event Ntawukuriryayo also explained that having a manageable and small family will help improve living conditions for the population.

    The world today clicked seven billion people, 12 years after hitting six billion in 1999. In Rwanda the population is nearing 11 million.

    This year’s State of the World Population report, People and Possibilities in the World of 7 Billion, looks at the dynamics behind the numbers.

    It explains the trends that are defining the world of 7 billion and documents actions that people in vastly different countries and circumstances are taking in their own communities to make the most of the world.

    The report also makes the case for sound planning and investing in people.

  • Kenyans in Rwanda Pleadge to Plant 5000 Trees

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    The Kenyan community living inRwanda has a target plan of planting over 5000 trees in Gasabo at Nduva cell of Nyacyonga area.

    This was revealed by Boniface Mutua the Rwandan-Kenyan community Chiarman
    During the weekend’s Umuganda (a monthly communal cleaning day).

    The community planted 1,100 seedlings in honor of the late Kenyan Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai who was renowned to her campaign towards tree planting as a way to curbing effects of climate change.

    “We thank Gatsabo district for allocating us 5 hectares of land in Nyacyonga. We will continue supporting government initiatives especially those that are related to climate change since this is a matter that affects everyone. We intend to plant more trees during the next Umuganda,”Mutua said.

  • Government Prioritise Aviation Safety-Transport State Minister

    The State Minister in charge of transport Dr. Alexis Nzahabwanimana has said that government of Rwanda has prioritized aviation safety.

    Nzahabwanimana who was opening a two weeks training on civil aviation state safety program and safety management system at The Manor Hotel, said that where aviation safety is guaranteed is a contribution to development.

    “The Government has accorded high priority to aviation safety and will continue to work closely with stakeholder to enhance aviation safety.” Says Minister Nzahabwanimana.

    The training which attracted over 30 regulators, industry and aviation stakeholders operating in Rwanda, was organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization- African and Indian Ocean region (ICAO-AFI) in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.

    In 2007 an audit was conducted by ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight pointed out that Rwanda’s inadequacy of qualified aviation personnel is the main hindrance to the fulfillment of Chicago Convention and participation in the global aviation market.

    According to the training facilitators the scope of the course is to provide Safety Management Concepts in line with ICAO standards and Recommendation practices, and also to develop skills that facilitate the implementation of a state safety program.

    “If Rwanda fulfilled its obligations concerning aviation safety, whilst RDC or any other country did not, ICAO’s purpose would not be met, therefore ICAO ensures the cooperation of all its 190 member states in all the domains of civil aviation.” One facilitator Zo’o Minto’o said.

    ICAO was established in 1994 as a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.

    It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, along with aviation environmental protection.

  • Kagame, Zuma Hold Private Meeting in Perth

    President Paul Kagame had a private meeting with the South African president Jacob Zuma in western Australian city of Perth where CHOGM is taking place.

    The two presidents were briefed by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on the security situation in the war-torn Somalia.

    Kibaki told the two presidents that his government and the Transition Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, were trying to neutralise Al-Shaabab insurgents.

    He noted that Kenya’s invocation of the relevant United Nations Charter against continued aggression by Al-Shaabab militants was in self-defence.

  • Rwandan Community Welcomes High Commission in Australia

    Rwandans living in Australia have welcomed Rwanda’s new high commission in Australia now headed by Amb. Dr. Charles Murigande.

    The Rwandans expressed their excitement while meeting Minister of Foreign affairs Louise Mushikiwabo last Sunday.

    “We are very happy that we now have a High Commissioner here, what we are asking is for him to be close to us because we are not organized back here, we haven’t got time to get closer and socialize ,” One Rwandan living in Australia said in the time of questions and answers.

    Over 50 Rwandans living in Australia turned up for the meeting that also attracted Rwanda’s high commissioner to Australia who seat is Tokyo, Japan, Amb. Dr. Charles Murigande, Prof. Anastase Shyaka of Rwanda Governance Advisory Council and Rwanda Development Board CEO John Gara.

    Speaking to over 50 Rwandan community members in Australia, Mushikiwabo said, “We were told that we cannot find more than 20 Rwandans attending the event, but we can even meet you when you are only two, discus about the profitability of our nation and leave the place satisfied.”

    Present were also friends of Rwanda from different countries like DR Congo, Zimbabwe and Australia itself.

    The Minister also assured them of any support needed from Rwandan government in case of any problem incurred in such foreign countries.

    Prof. Anastase Shyaka of Rwanda Governance Advisory Council present at the event explained to the participants about the efforts and developments reached in Rwanda’s good governance while John Gara, RDB’s CEO lectured them about doing business in Rwanda.

    Rwandans in Australia welcomed John Gara’s presentation showing interest of being part of the country development and asking how they can be involved.

    It is the first time Rwandan government officials met the Rwandan community in Australia.

  • Report On Homosexuality In Rwanda To Be Released

    Information reaching igihe.com indicates that Ministry of Health is yet to present to the government research results detailing the relationship between Homosexuality and HIV prevalence in Rwanda.

    The survey that begun early this year 2011 is under supervision by the Health Ministry.

    However, a reliable source told this reporter that the results had been shelved saying that the officials found them ‘disturbing’ and that couldnt be made public.

    The Director General of Heath Communication Centre (HCC), Arthur Asiimwe denied allegations that the research results had been shelved.

    “Mr. Bigabo, this report has not been shelved or hidden from my office like you mention. It’s still under study and the principle investigator is still analyzing the data before validaing it. Keep your ears on the ground.” Asiimwe wrote in a comment he posted on the Rwanda Journalists Online Forum on Facebook last week.

    “Bigabo those are rumors. As I write this, am seated next to an investigator who is still working on the document. It cannot be presented to government before sectoral validation.” said Asiimwe who was contributing to a topic on the Forum that requested contributors to provide information on Homosexuality and HIV in Rwanda.

    The Executive Secretary of Rwanda National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) Dr. Anita Asiimwe added that the research is ongoing and will soon be presented to partners for validation.

    However, Dr. Asiimwe couldn’t share any information from the findings citing that it was against the research policy.

    “At this moment I can’t say anything since the report is being handled by the ministry of health,” she remarked.

    When contacted the Health Minister Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, she said, “I’m in a meeting”. When insisted Binagwaho said; “ Wrong Rumors”.

    In related development, the Prime Minister of Britain David Cameron has threatened to consider withholding aid from countries that do not recognise Homosexuality rights.

    Cameron told Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia after they failed to adopt reforms on the Gay rights issue.

    “Britain is now one of the premier aid givers in the world. We want to see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people,” Cameron said.

    “British aid should have more strings attached, in terms of do you persecute people for their faith or their Christianity, or do you persecute people for their sexuality. We don’t think that’s acceptable.”

    Asked on whether UK aid to Rwanda will be withheld under the lack of recognition of Gay rights, Rwanda’s Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said, “I cant comment of UK business”.

    Karugarama emphasised that the Rwandan constitution doesn’t discriminate against any sexual orientation.

    Cameron insisted the issue of gay rights had been discussed at the summit and he had personally raised it with “a number of the African countries that I’ve been speaking with,” although he would not say which ones.

    “We’ve been raising the issue consistently, we’ve been raising it here at this Commonwealth heads of government (summit),” he said.

    However, Cameron said change would not happen overnight, saying: “They are in a different place from us on this issue. I think these countries are all on a journey and it’s up to us to try and help them along on that journey.”

    Responding to Cameron’s statement, Karugarama said, “We (Rwanda) don’t have a special law on homosexuality. We (Rwanda) treat everyone equal; however, the problem is when sex is used immorally”.

  • EAC Technology Commission To Seat In Rwanda

    East Africa Community (EAC) Science, Technology Commission will have its headquarters in Rwanda following the apparent spirited efforts to turn the country into the technological hub in the region.

    This was approved by the bloc’s sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for the Community Affairs and Planning in its three-day meeting that ended on Friday in Zanzibar.

    The Council also approved quota system in the recruitment of staff in its organs and institutions. The system is to strike poise in hiring proficient staff from all EAC member states.

    “The ministers agreed that Burundi and Rwanda will, host institutions under the EAC,” a press release from the Arusha-based EAC Secretariat read in parts.

    “The sectoral ministers also agreed that a verification exercise would be carried out for purposes of advising the Burundi government on the details of the requirements for hosting the EAC Health Research Commission,” the statement added.

    Kiswahili Commission was given to Tanzania which is the regional role in the promotion of the language, that is widely spoken in the region and beyond.

    The officials from the EAC partner states also decided that a review of the existing criteria for hosting EAC organs and institutions would be undertaken to ensure among others; an equitable distribution of the organs and that such criteria shall guide all future hosting of the institutions.

    According to the decision made in the meeting, all EAC member countries are now hosting some regional organs and institutions.

    Currently, Uganda hosts four organs, while Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda are hosting one regional organ each.

    Arusha is the headquarters of the Community and its three organs; the Secretariat, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

    Institutions located in Uganda are the East African Development Bank (EADB), Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) and the Civil Aviation Security and Safety Oversight Agency (Cassoa).

  • EAC Single Currency Talks for Next Week

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    A negotiating team, known as the High Level Task Force (HLTF) on the Monetary Union, will meet in Uganda at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel from 31 October to 9 November to negotiate various articles of the Protocol.

    This will be the fifth round of negotiations by the East African Community on a march towards a single currency.

    Dr. Enos Bukuku, EAC’s Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure), confirmed that among the draft provisions to be negotiated over a ten-day period are articles on the harmonization and coordination of fiscal policies; taxation and customs; national Budget formulation processes; domestic and external debt management frameworks; joint financing of projects; and macroeconomic convergence.

    Experts from the Partner States will also negotiate provisions on coordination of monetary policy and fiscal policies; restrictions on Central Bank lending to public entities; restrictions on privileged access to financial institutions; conditions for bail-outs; conduct of foreign exchange transactions by Partner States; management of foreign exchange reserves as well as liberalization of current account and capital accounts of the Partner States.

    Crucially too, the HLTF will discuss a framework for building resilience and managing economic shocks as well as safeguard measures; the conditions for the application of these safeguard measures plus surveillance and compliance mechanisms to be embedded in the Protocol.

    The Task Force will also negotiate provisions on the name and status of the single currency envisaged for the EAC, as well as provisions on the determination of conversion rates, conversion and redenomination of existing legal instruments and bank notes and coins to be issued by the proposed East African Central Bank (EACB).

    After the Customs Union and the Common Market, the Monetary Union is the third stage in the integration process of the EAC bloc, which ultimately aspires to a Political Federation.

    The EAC Summit of Heads of State has set a 2012 deadline for the achievement of the Monetary Union, and EAC Secretary General Amb. Richard Sezibera has on different occasions reiterated EAC’s commitment to have the Monetary Union Protocol concluded within the set timeline.

    Dr. Bukuku on his part notes that the Monetary Union will help mitigate price instability and exchange rate volatility in the region, which would be a boon for businesses and ultimately promote investment and spur development.

    To enrich the negotiations, the EAC has commissioned various studies, which include among others a study on the review of the EAC macroeconomic convergence criteria; and one on a harmonized monetary policy framework for the region both of which are being done jointly by the EAC and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Another study on a common exchange rate mechanism is being undertaken jointly with the International Growth Centre (IGC).

    Previous rounds of negotiations deliberated on provisions touching on, among others, the scope of the Monetary Union; macroeconomic policy framework; monetary policy framework, exchange rate policy and exchange rate mechanism; and instruments of monetary control.

    The negotiations commenced in January this year and are targeted to be concluded by early 2012.

  • Perth: CHOGM Officially Opened

    Friday, October 28, 2011: the three days Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was officially opened in Perth. The opening ceremony was marked by beautiful dances and music that portray the culture of the hosting country Australia.

    The opening ceremony was attended by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who is also head of the Commonwealth, Heads of states and Governments, President Paul Kagame inclusive and also official diplomats from commonwealth member countries.

    In the speech he delivered during the first Executive session, President Kagame thanked governments and officials who facilitated the admission of Rwanda to the Commonwealth.

    His special thanks were addressed to Trinidad and Tobago as well as the commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma.

    He added that Rwanda is contented to be part of the commonwealth and thus embraces the Commonwealth aspirations of mutual respect and understanding that supports cooperation and partnership framed by fair rules equally applicable to all.

    “When we work together, we win together” says President Kagame.

    President Kagame, affirmed this fact by elucidating how the economic and political crisis the world has been facing, cast light on the interdependence of the global community.

    Kagame, stated that peace, security and equal opportunities, including gender equality are the keystones of good governance and socio-economic development.

    Her Majest Queen Elizabeth II, celebrating her 60th anniversary as the Head of the

    Commonwealth, said : “Almost a decade later, we find ourselves confronting new and fresh challenges: insecurity and uncertainty in finance, food supply, climate change, and trade and development.”

    “This Commonwealth meeting is, for its part, the perfect opportunity to address these issues and find responses to today’s crises and challenges” .

    She said that the theme of the year being “Women as Agents of Change”, calls everyone to determine ways of allowing girls and women to play their full part, and also sustain the theme beyond the year 2011 in their respective country as well as across the commonwealth.

    Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard pointed out that unlike other global bodies united by practical aspects such as commerce or trade, the commonwealth is joined by a different motivation which is “values”.
    Shared Values of peace, democracy, racial equality, the rule of law and a commitment to social and economic progress.

    “So as the Commonwealth journeys towards its centenary, it is time for renewal.

    To answer the question posed of our organisation – how do we best pursue our timeless values in a world of change?

    Let us make CHOGM 2011 memorable for answering this question.
    Memorable for being the Meeting that gave the Commonwealth the direction it needed at a time of global uncertainty and risk” says Gillard

    Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth said, “CHOGMs are an occasion to take the pulse of the Commonwealth, to check that we continue in good health, to review how far we have come in the last two years, and to set signposts for the future”.

    “CHOGMs have also become the occasion to bring together in celebration the full breadth of our Commonwealth community. All can serve our three aspirations of Democracy, Development and Diversity.”

    “In offering global wisdom and value, we must continue to strive for equity, especially for the rights and causes of the small and the vulnerable, and in the service of our people”. Says Kamalesh Sharma.

    Australia has a remarkable record of serving the Commonwealth. No other country has hosted three CHOGMs. Previous CHOGMS were held in Melbourne 1981 and Coolum in 2002.