The CEO of the newly launched Mkoba Private Equity Fund, Frannie Leautier, who is also former Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) visited President Paul Kagame to discuss ways of boosting SME’s in Rwanda.

The fund will support SMEs targeting equity investments ranging from $1.0 to $15 million Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, DRC, South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“I briefed the President on what I have been doing since I finished my term at the African Capacity Building Foundation and thanked him because Rwanda has been one of the countries that worked closely and supported the ACBF along the years,” said Leautier.

He observed that Rwanda has also been one of the most successful countries to use support from the fund to advance its own priorities.

“I presented to the President what I am doing now and where we have just launched the Mkoba Equity Private Equity Fund to support Small and Medium Enterprises to make them global and regional champions.”

Frannie Léautier said discussions with the President also focused on how best to introduce the fund in the Rwandan context in terms of investments:

“I am very happy to say I have received very strong support in terms of launching these activities in Rwanda.

Adding on that experiencing the successes of Rwanda where one can launch a business in a matter of days and should be a signal to the rest of the world.

Rwanda’s Vision2020 identifies six priority pillars and three cross-cutting areas, the development of which is crucial for making the necessary long-term transformations in the Rwandan society.

Among the pillars is the development of an efficient private sector spearheaded by competitiveness and entrepreneurship.

SMEs comprise 98% of all the establishments; micro-sized establishments – those employing between 1 and 3 people – account for 92.6% of all establishments while enterprises with only one worker account for 72% of all establishments.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete said the equity fund would be very significant raising the portfolios of Rwanda’s Small and Medium enterprises which are the key providers of employment.

“This is a great initiative for Rwanda because it provides solutions that are in line with our vision which aims to grow small business into big industries that can contribute to national development,” he explained.

“The fund will introduce capacities and capital which are the main recipes for growth of businesses and we are hopeful that this will boost overall development of our country.”

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned “in the strongest terms” the latest attacks against a peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s Darfur region, which left a peacekeeper dead.

The soldier died when Rwanda peacekeepers intervened to stop fighting that broke out between Arab and Fur tribesmen about 200 m from Kabkabiya Base Camp, North Darfur.

Ban was deeply disturbed to learn of another attack by unidentified armed assailants on a convoy of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) near Kabkabiya, North Darfur, in which one Rwandan peacekeeper was killed,” said a statement issued here by Ban’s spokesperson on the night of May 25, 2014.

In a reaction to this RDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Joseph Nzabamwita on May 25, 2014 said that “When the Commanding Officer was approaching, the Arabs opened fire on Rwanda peacekeepers.”

“Consequently 3 of our soldiers sustained injuries. One was shot in the chest and later died at Level II Hospital, the other two sustained non life threatening injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment,” Nzabamwita.

“In self defense and in line with the mission mandate of protecting civilians, our forces retaliated and 4 of the attackers were killed in action.”

“We condemn in strongest terms this cowardly act of attacking Peacekeepers, acting in good faith to bring peace to Darfur,“ he said.

“Our Peacekeepers will not be intimidated by such criminal acts and shall continue to aggressively protect innocent civilians and the Defence of our Troops in line with our mandate,” he added.

RDF expresses it’s heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased.

The names of the deceased will be released once the next of kin have been informed. May the soul of the fallen peacekeeper rest in eternal peace.

While expressing his condolences to the fallen peacekeeper’s family Ban called upon the Sudanese government to take swift action to bring the perpetrators of this and previous attacks on UNAMID to justice.

President Paul Kagame (Middle) African Insurance Organisation General Assembly and Conference Serena Kigali hotel

President Kagame has stated that insurance is about people, about their deepest hopes and fears in spite of the fact that there exists a wide gap between public understanding and the critical importance insurance services play in their daily lives.

President Kagame said this on June 4, 2014 while officially closing the 41st African Insurance Organisation General Assembly and Conference at Serena Kigali hotel.

“Without insurance we cannot drive cars, or build infrastructure, or provide healthcare, without serious concerns,” he said.

He observed that without insurance, every risk is magnified. A person can literally lose everything. Insurance makes life less scary by providing a safety net beyond what the state alone could ever offer.

“In pursuing your vocation as underwriters which includes producing a return for your shareholders you free up the insured to be more productive, entrepreneurial, and future minded.”

President Kagame pointed out that low penetration of insurance products in Africa is as much of a challenge as it is an opportunity because the untapped potential for innovation as well as the scope for increased public-private partnership is huge.

Citing Rwanda as an example, Kagame said the fact that a greater portion of foreign investment in the financial sector, including insurance comes from elsewhere on the continent demonstrates growing confidence in Africa’s future, which in turn enhances its attractiveness globally.

In conclusion, he urged Africans to continue working together as governments and as companies across the continent, pooling know-how and resources until products and services are within the reach of every family in Africa.

“This conference is now closing, but our work is not done. We are counting on your input to set and continue the important agenda.”

Neimah Warsame ( L ) shaking hands with President Paul Kagame in Kigali

The UNHCR representative in Rwanda, Neimah Warsame, concluded her tour of duty in Rwanda to assume her new posting in Uganda.

After completing her over three years Rwandan mission Warsame bid farewell to President Kagame on June 4, 2014 in Kigali

Speaking to press after the meeting, the UNHCR representative said:

After discussing with Kagame she said: “I have been in Rwanda for three years and three months and I came to bid the President farewell and to express the gratitude of the UNHCR for the exemplary leadership when it comes to the asylum institute in Rwanda which is not only maintained, but is absolutely preserved.”

“We also wanted to express our gratitude for the unmatched generosity of the leadership and Rwandan people when it comes to hosting refugees,” Warsame said.

“I have worked in different countries but what happens in Rwanda is an exemplary model.”

She said UNHCR and herself had accessibility to the leadership at all levels which made the work of the UN agency easy, allowing the resolution of many issues in a timely manner.

“We have cultivated a very strong partnership with the Rwanda immigration, Rwanda Police, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, District officials through MIDIMAR in the management of the refugee programme.”

“We have also talked about the biggest achievement that has been recorded, which is the comprehensive solution for the Rwandan refugees and the invocation of the Cessation Clause,” she explained.

On the issue of the former M23 fighters living in Rwanda, the UNHCR representative said the Government of Rwanda and the UN were working together on the issue in line with the Kampala and Nairobi Agreement and that the UNHCR was convinced this was the best way to go about it.

A total of twenty- one police officer from the region are in Rwanda to take part in a month-long United Nations peacekeeping pre-deployment course at the Rwanda National Police peacekeeping training centre in Gishari, Rwamagana District.

Participants are from countries including Ethiopia, Burundi and Rwanda,

The course that started on June 10, 2014 is meant for ‘Training of Trainers (TOT)’ from the three countries who will help in UN pre-deployment training of police officers in their respective countries.

The training was organized by the Rwanda National Police in partnership with Eastern Africa Standby force Coordination mechanism (EASF-COM).

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dan Munyuza, who presided over the official launch of the course, urged participants to utilize this chance to be competent trainers for the good of their respective forces and to help execute their peacekeeping duties effectively.

The course, he observed, will help police forces “to be an answer to security challenges in the region.”

He urged them to take “full advantage of the course to improve Formed Police Unit capabilities in peace keeping missions.”

Senior Superintendent Wanderi Mwangi, a representative from EASF-COM thanked Rwanda and RNP in particular for playing a key role in bringing peace in other countries.

Wanderi appealed to EASFCOM member countries to implement the UN Resolution 1325 which urges all actors to increase involvement of women in conflict prevention, management, resolution, peace building and reconciliation.

The Gishari Peacekeeping pre-deployment training centre was established in 2012 and has since conducted eight FPU intakes including a contingent of 140 Police officers from Burundi Police Force.

The centre was also certified by EASFCOM as a ‘Regional Centre of Excellence’ and so far eleven regional countries have attained UN courses at the centre

Rwanda will celebrate the birth of 18 baby gorillas at the 10th anniversary of Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony under this year’s  theme is ‘A Decade: Conserving-Empowering-Growing’ on July 1, 2014 at Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, Musanze.

This was disclosed by Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

“On this occasion, we will not only celebrate the birth of one of the world’s most endangered species but also the efforts of individuals, organisations and nations involved in the preservation of these rare animals,” Amb Karitanyi said.

She added that “Rwanda’s community led conservation efforts have led to a 26.3% growth in the population of gorillas since 2003 and Kwita Izina has been key to this success. This is also thanks to the Government of Rwanda which has ensured tourism flourishes in a secure and enabling environment.”

Early this year, Kwita Izina won second prize in the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance.

The Rwanda Development Board recognises enhanced national conservation practices and community ownership of projects around the Volcanoes National Park that have seen beneficiaries empowered and their lives improved.

Rwanda’s tourism sector has also been growing remarkably. In 2013, Rwanda hosted 1,137,000 visitors who generated $294m, up from $62m in 2000.

This increase is attributed to Rwanda’s attractiveness as a travel destination, new airline routes, especially in West Africa, spearheaded by our national carrier RwandAir, an increase in unique experiences for tourists and the county’s stability and welcoming visa policies.

Kwita Izina will be marked by a series of activities starting with the launch of Basumba Primary School in Bigogwe, Nyabihu District on 26 June 2014.

The school of six classrooms has been built with funds from the Shared Revenue Scheme which gives 5% of tourism profits from National Parks back to the communities surrounding the gorilla habitat.

The launch will be followed by a mix of conservation, business, cultural and entertainment activities.

Kwita Izina is inspired by the ancient Rwandan tradition of naming babies soon after they are born. In the nine years since the event was established, 161 mountain gorillas have been named in a celebration of nature and the communities who protect the magnificent animals.

Kwita Izina related activities

On 26 June there will be an official launch of Basumba Primary School in Bigogwe, Nyabihu District. The school of six classrooms has been built with funding from the Shared Revenue Scheme. It will enable over 380 children to easily access education facilities.

Global umuganda will take place on June 28 to enable Participants will have an opportunity to participate in the global umuganda. The community work reflects on the culture and commitment of Rwandans to clean and conserve the environment.

On the same day of performing global umuganda B2B meetings will be held at Serena Hotel in Kigali. This platform will provide an opportunity for local tourism operators to showcase Rwanda tourism experiences to domestic, regional and international markets.

Gorilla Conservation and Community Exhibition will be held at Musanze Stadium on 29-30 June. The aim of the exhibition is to showcase what has been achieved in conservation and community empowerment through the 5% revenue sharing scheme.

On June 30, there will be Igitaramo “Community Party” in Kinigi, a night of showcasing cultural immersion with performances from local dance troupes and musicians.

Rwanda has three National Parks including Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Volcano National Park.

It has many unique tourist attractions including the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, eco-tourism, heritage & leisure experiences.

The country is becoming increasingly attractive for Conference Tourism (MICE); recently hosting the African Development Bank meetings and will host the World Export Development Forum in September, among other events.

In 2010, Rwanda hosted 666,000 visitors who generated US$ 200M – a 14% increase from 2009. In 2013, Rwanda hosted 1,137,000 visitors who generated $294m, up from $62m in 2000.

Tourism receipts are expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 25% until 2017 (EDPRS 2 targets).

Rwanda has over 380 accommodation establishments and approx. 6,500 accommodation rooms. Upper range occupancy rate is 70%, with foreigners accounting for 97% of beds availed.

This years’ Kwita Izina will bring together over 5,000 people and 300-400 of the guests will be Internationals.

The total of 161 baby gorillas have so far been named, and this year 18 more will be given names.

The rapid growth of RwandAir in addition to other airlines serving Kigali such as KLM, SN Brussels, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines allow for easy access to the country from all over the world.

Rwanda has remained the safest country to live in in Africa as crime rates dropped 5.6 percent lower between January and June this year, following the report presented by Rwanda’s Minister of Internal Security Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana.

The Gallup poll “Global States of Mind”2012 listed Rwanda among countries where citizens are most likely to feel safe at 92%.

Gallup poll conducts its research in more than 150 countries, where  typically 1,000 adults are surveyed  in each country at least once a year, using a standard set of core questions that Gallup translates into the major languages of the respective country.

During presentation in Kigali on July 8, 2014, Harelimana said 7590 cases of crimes were registered in the past six months, down from 8026 recorded between July and December last year.

He attributed the reduction to stringent measures initiated by the RNP in partnership with the public through community policing to report security threats, leading to prevention.

Harelimana outlined assault, drug abuse and theft as some of the major crimes registered in these six months.

Accidents

Road accidents, he said, also reduced by 43.8 percent to 1324 cases down from 2356 cases recorded in previous period, which also led to the reduction in deaths to 97 down from 141 respectively.

“The regional and international meetings held in the country were all incident-free with no accidents or lost belongings, an indication of how safe and secure Rwanda is,” Minister Harelimana observed.

Rwanda has hosted a number of local and international meetings this year including the African Development Bank Annual General meeting which brought together over 3000 participants, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Interpol meeting on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, Women In Parliament, tripartite summit and the Pan-African Youth Conference.

The country also held its 20th genocide commemoration and liberation anniversaries which were attended by thousands of friends of Rwanda including Heads of States and international organizations.

Fighting graft

Only nine cases of corruption within the force were also registered in which seven of those caught are Non-Commissioned Officers while two others are junior officers. 26 civilians, majority drivers, were also apprehended attempting to bribe police officers.

Between July and December last year, 78 cases of corruption in the force were reported.

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana said the decrease in graft-related cases was due to tough measures initiated, including enforcing the law and dismissal of any officer implicated in such illegal acts.

“It is very clear; any Police officer caught in graft related crimes is dismissed from the force with no compromise. Be it a bribe of Rwf500 or Rwf1 million, we treat it the same,” the IGP said.

He, however, said the force established the anti-corruption department, Police Disciplinary Unit (PDU), Ethics training centre and quarterly inspection and audits to keep the officers in the check.

He also outlined improving the welfare of the officers, online registration especially of driving licence seekers, decentralization of motor vehicle mechanical inspection centre and hotlines as some of the other initiatives that have led to the reduction of corruption cases in the force.

During the session, concerns were also raised over the threat posed by the genocidal forces – FDLR – hauled up in the jungles of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“FDLR is not only a threat to Rwanda but also to the entire region. This is a terrorist organization working with other negative groups like RNC [Rwanda National Congress] and other regional terror groups with intent to destabilize Rwanda,” the Police Chief said.

“With the good partnership between security organs and the general public, we apprehended 44 people connected to these terror groups, who were trying to coordinate or carryout subversive activities in the country, and also recovered eight guns and 21 grenades, which they intended to use,” he added.

“There is security in Rwanda and there will be no hesitation to use all possible means to stop whoever tried to destabilize it,” he noted.

IGP Gasana also disclosed that the force is in the process to acquire six other firefighting trucks in the next three months to be stationed at the regional level, to deal with emerging fire challenges.

This will be an addition to two other rescue crane vehicles the force acquired recently.

“We have enough firefighting equipment to cover the City of Kigali and we are now shifting to other parts of the country and that’s why even in this financial year, we allocated a budget to procure other ten firefighting engines to further reinforce provinces,” IGP Gasana said.

Odette Bayagambe, 39, had always considered Tanzania her home, until the afternoon of August 9, 2013 when Tanzanian security operatives attacked her home and forced her to leave the country.

“I had just taken goats to graze,” she says. “As I stood in the middle of our banana plantation, four Tanzanian soldiers came to our home and shouted at me, ‘RudiKwenu’ [Kiswahili phrase meaning ‘Go back home’]”.

She was forced out of Tanzania, leaving behind 30 goats, land plots, a three hectares cassava plantation, a banana plantation, and her house and all other properties.

Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete had ordered all “illegal immigrants” be expelled with due effect. Thousands of people from neighboring Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Burundi have lived in Tanzania for decades. Others have a long ancestral linage.

Following Kikwete’s directive, more than 14,000 Rwandans were kicked out of the country, indefinitely. Many were not given the opportunity to pack their properties or sell them.

Tanzanian security operatives stormed the villages,smashed the houses, burnt some of them, looted properties and mercilessly beat up many.

Those who managed to escape, abandoned everything; land, houses, animals, plantations, businesses, and left without bidding farewell to neighbors and friends.

Some bribed officers not to be tortured. The rest were rounded up and forced into trucks, drove them off and dumped them at the Rwandan border.

Tanzania’s action sent shock waves in the neighboring countries. Many wondered how Tanzania lost a camaraderie spirit.

Rwanda responds to the influx

In Rwanda, pressure was mounting. Government quickly set up a transit camp at Kiyanzi in Eastern Rwanda, with necessary facilities such as shelter, food and water, to accommodate the returnees.

Villagers signed up to volunteer setting up the camps. Others donated money, food items and clothing in big numbers.

About 9,000 families were helped locate their ancestral relatives. “We also provided them with a three months’ food package; beans, rice, maize, salt, cooking oil and boxes of compact rice for the children and the elderly,” says Séraphine Mukantabana, Rwanda’s Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR).

Over 5,000 families remained in the camp, including Bayagambe’s. Government continued supporting them. Life was not the same anymore. Those who joined their relatives have managed to cope up, somewhat. Those in the camps cursed, but the government says camps are temporary.

On June 28, at a community gathering, with hundreds of villagers and local authorities in attendance, 40 families, including Bayagambe’s, had not prepared themselves for a big surprise.

The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, called each family and handed them keys to magnificent fully furnished houses. Each house costs Rwf12 million (about 20,000USD). An average Rwandan lives in a house of one million, slightly more than 1000USD.

These houses have massive living rooms, two furniture bedrooms, an equipped kitchen, a store, and an attractive tilled washroom. They have access to utilities, electricity and clean water. President Paul Kagame pledged Rwf480 million (about 700,000USD) to help build these houses.

Returnees adjust to new lifestyle

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Bayagambe, with her four children, days after she occupied the house, sits on a bluish carpet laid at a veranda of her new home, enjoying the cool breeze blowing uphill from the curvy valley of Kicukiro district, on the outskirts of Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.

She takes a rest while listening to local pop music playing on a local radio station. She keeps receiving flashbacks of the horror in Tanzania.

She feels somehow lonely. Her husband escaped the operation and stayed in Tanzania, although both have managed to keep contact. But it’s a completely new life.

Indeed, her heart is torn apart, with divided sentiments. One heart in Rwanda, another in Tanzania. “I have not yet felt at home here, but partly enjoying the peaceful Rwanda,” she says. “I hope I will eventually feel at home as a Rwandan.”

Understandably, though, like thousands of others, starting a new life from scratch is an excruciating experience, especially in the land scarce Rwanda. There is no enough land for cultivation especially for those who are farmers.

Florence Uwayisaba, the Vice Mayor in charge of welfare in Kicukiro district, says the district has allocated start-up capital of Rwf100, 000 (about 150$) to help run small business and earn an income.

Community members have also donated food to the families. Each family is getting 50kgs of beans, 25kgs of rice, 25kgs of corn flour and cooking oil.

Neighbors regularly visit and give them comfort. “They are nice people,”says Pacifique Munyaneza, 23, Bayagambe’s neighbor. They don’t speak fluent Kinyarwanda, but “We visit them and chat in Kinyarwanda,” he adds.

Children have also started going to school. “There is no problem at school. I play with other children”, says Bayagambe’s14 years old daughter, AminataYampiriye, who goes to a nearby primary school.

Dismas Habimana, 47, is a father of two, whose wife and children still live in Tanzania. He raised cows and wonders what else he will be doing to earn a living.

“I had 120 cows, and I left all of them in Tanzania”, he says, from his temporary shelter at Ruhashya sector, Huye district, a two hours’ drive south from the capital Kigali. He has heard that his uncle who stayed back is looking after the cows.

Meanwhile, more families are being settled across the country, according to MIDIMAR. “We have given them shelter at the sector headquarters as we complete more houses by August”, said Jacqueline Uwamariya, the executive secretary of Ruhashya sector of Huye district.

Four families, including Habimana’s, have been living here at Ruhashya sector headquarters since January from the Kiyanzi camp.

Here, community members also contributed 1.5 tones in beans, rice, Irish potatoes, mattresses and clothing to support the four families. Authorities of Ruhashya sector are looking for land to allocate to them so that they can cultivate.

“I have asked my wife to come and join me here, but she refused”, says Habimana.

Like many, Dismas Habimana says going back to Tanzania is not an option. He has already acquired a Rwandan National Identification Card and plans to marry another woman if his wife insists on staying in Tanzania. “What else can I do?” he regrets.

Source : KT Press

African women touring Isange One-Stop Centre in Kigali

Women attending the ongoing ‘African Centers of Excellence (ACE)’ meeting in Kigali visited the Rwanda National Police (RNP) anti-gender and domestic violence medical wing – Isange One Stop Centre and commended the force for its holistic approach in dealing with women and child issues.

The delegation headed by Melat Tekletsadik, the director of ACE was on August 6, 2014 received by Chief Inspector of Police Shafiga Murebwayire, the Director of Isange.

African Center of Excellence for women’s leadership meeting organized by Rwanda Women Network is a programme that responds to an articulated need by women across the continent for a strategic leadership organizations and development.

It also seeks for a stronger and more coordinated effort to help women advocate for issues that most concern them.

Participants in the ACE meeting are from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.

Melat said they visited the centre to learn and gain experience on how GBV issues are addressed in Rwanda.

“The medial services are availed; the legal services are availed including the laboratory. This is very important because victims do not have to go to many places,” Melat noted.

Isange established in 2009 with the support of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame through Imbuto Foundation and One-UN Rwanda offers free medical, psycho-socio and legal services to victims of gender and domestic violence.

Rwanda’s economy has maintained a steady growth of 7.4% thanks to a booming service industry which rose by 22.4% from 12.6% in the first quarter.

Central Bank Governor, John Rwangombwa said private sector financing grew by 47.8% from 12.4% of 2013 in the same period.

Central bank Chief Economist, Dr. Thomas Kagabo, attributes said liquidity into commercial banks was a major tool that allowed them to lend more and remain stable.

Meanwhile all construction projects that had been put on complete hold at the end of 2013, have contributed 8%. Manufacturing made a turnover of 13.1%.

Rwanda is experiencing growth while recovering from a meltdown that dragged the economy to 4.7% in 2013 due to earlier financial aid cuts.

Governor Rwangombwa said the growth trend is expected continue despite his earlier projection of a 6% growth.

However, despite the positive growth, Rwanda faces a staggering trade imbalance due to increased imports; valued at 75.4% from 72.5% in the same period in 2013.

Revenues from minerals dropped sharply as a result of a fall in global prices and international blockade of African minerals to global markets.

Revenues from major minerals Coltan, Cassiterite and Wolfram drop by 18.6%. Coltan was slapped the sharpest decline of 30.5%, fetching only $41.7m.

Inflation, despite the 1.9% depreciation of local currency against the dollar remained below 5%.

Agriculture that employs 70% of the population, remains an untapped. Rwangombwa said the sector continues to suffer from minimal financing due to its risky nature.  “There is money but agriculture projects are risky…banks are only interested in bankable projects.”

He said efforts to revamp cooperatives (SACCOs) will help increase financing in the sector, especially in mechanized farming.

Rwanda’s coffee export volumes declined by 31.2% blamed on bad weather in the fourth quarter of 2013 coupled with low levels of stock, 2,560T at the end of 2013 compared to 3,262T during the end of 2012. Tea prices this year dropped from $2.85/Kg in January to $2.12/Kg in June leading to contraction of value of tea exports by 10.2% despite a rise of 5.1% in volume.

The decline in tea prices was attributed to a surge in tea supply at the Mombasa auction in Kenya, where 71% of Rwanda’s tea competed with tens of other tea growing countries.

Source: KT Press

UN officials touring the GBV centre in Kigali

A delegation of 10 officials from the United Nations on 30, visited Isange One Centre in Kacyiru Police Hospital, to learn from the centre’s achievements in as far addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) is concerned.

United Nations delegation commended Rwanda’s Isange One Stop Centre, an initiative to combat Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases.

Lanyny Martin, the head of the delegation said he was impressed by Rwanda National Police’s achievements particularly in the area of Gender Based Violence.

He noted that, the skills they acquired from the centre will be shared among Female Police Officers and that the skills will help a great deal in addressing GBV cases across the world.

Rwanda set up the centre to fight the vice, a move which has also helped accelerate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Chief Inspector of Police, Shafiga Murebwayire, the Isange One Stop Centre’s Director briefed UN officials on the centre’s achievements since its inception in 2009.

Murebwayire said that One Stop Centre’s offers free medical services to victims of GBV.

Statistics indicate that the centre has so far received about 7, 000 cases since its establishment.

The UN officials are in the country to teach Rwandan female Police officers on skills such as shooting, driving and language.

Isange is in line with the framework of the UN resolution 1325, which aims at protecting women and girls during and after armed conflicts, and to fully involve females in conflict prevention, management and resolution, peace building and reconciliation.

Giraffe, one of the thousands of animal species you encounter on trip to Akagera National Park

Charlene Jendry, an American conservationist, made a maiden visit to Rwanda in 1990. She toured Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s high-end touristic destination. The mighty lions, the Kings of the Jungle, were the prime tourist attractions.

Jendry traversed through the lions’ den of 300.

She stayed at Gabiro Guest House, a magnificent safari lodge, built right in the middle of the jungle.

Park rangers warned tourists against sitting outside at night because lions would be roaming around.

Watching lions catch a kill is indeed exciting, and for Jendry, the stay at Akagera was a spectacular experience.

Jendry thereafter flew back to USA. She would return to Rwanda five years later; in 1995.

Then, the park had changed, with almost no lions in the park. The big cats’ number had immensely declined, headed to total extinction.

Lions’ sudden disappearance

After the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, thousands of Rwandan refugees returned from exile with extended families. Some were pastoralists. Others were farmers. Land for cultivation and rearing cattle became scarce. Getting a plot was a matter of life or death. Land grabbing was the norm of the day, where only the “haves” would get a plot. The “have not” suffered. The appetite for land mounted. The government intervened, cuting off a huge chunk of Akagera national park and give it out to farmers and herders. The park was reduced from 2500 to 1200 square Kilometers.

More often, wild animals would be hunted and killed. Lions fought back, defending their territories. Lions eventually started attacking cattle. But it wasn’t a walkover. Cattle keepers waged a deadly war. The lions weren’t a pushover either.

It appeared there would be no truce. Herdsmen decided to take a more lethal measure; poisoning the carcasses to kill prides of 9 to 12 lions.

By the year 2000, lions were no more. Completely.

Jes Gruner, the Manager of the Park, says the ecosystem equation could not balance. The national park had shrunk to a third.

Importing the king of the jungle

Tourists would express frustration for not having seen lions. Rwanda considered importing lions from South Africa and breed the big cats back in the park, but the move never materialized.

Kenya would later, earlier this year, endorse giving out 8 lions to Rwanda. But Kenya’s wildlife conservation groups have fiercely opposed the idea, demanding Rwanda to explain the extinction of its lion population.

How to keep’em lions

The Park is being run by African Parks, since 2010. Tourism in the park has increased to 71 since then, from 15259 tourists in 2010 to 260, 92 in 2013.

Camping is another common service on offer in the Akagera National Park

The management of the park says it has invested in infrastructure and marketing.

Akagera Park is home to the Ruzizi tented lodge with a honeymoon suit, Akagera Game Lodge and various camping sites; giving tourists a magnificent experience.

The management has already laid ground for receiving the lions.

Akagera Park Manager, Gruner, says once the lions arrive, they will be kept in a boomer for monitoring before they are released into the wild with a GPS tracking collar.

“The park should be able to know the location of every lion all time,” says Gruner.

A study conducted helped to ensure they will survive in Akagera’s savanna terrain.

Tight protection

The extinction of the lions gave buffalos, antelopes, zebras, and other herbivores freedom to move and even graze in farmers’ plantations. Farmers started killing countless animals.

The government intervened in 2010 by installing a 1.8 high electric fence on a 110 kilometer area, worth Rwf2.7bn ($4M). The two former enemies now live peacefully.

The park is protected by professionally trained and equipped Rangers. There are no chances for poachers, says Eugene Mutangana, the Head of Law Enforcement and Deputy Park Manager.

Killing any animal is punishable by a jail sentence of 6 months to two years or a fine between Rwf300, 000 ($500) to Rwf2, 000, 000 ($2,900).

On a serious note though, selling or injuring a gorilla (Rwanda’s prime attractions) or any other endangered species lands one a 5 to 10 year jail term or a fine of Rwf500,000 ($725) to Rwf5,000,000 ($7,600).

Ambassador Yamina Karitanyi heads the tourism and conservation department at the Rwanda Development Board.

She says law enforcement is accompanied by extensive community awareness to ensure co-existence.

The big five

Akagera’s ambition is to accommodate the big five, the buffaloes, leopards, elephants black rhinos and lions. With the presence of lions, only black rhinos will be lacking.

As a two time tourist to Rwanda, Jendry, the founder of Partners in Conservation from Columbus, Ohio, was amazed when she heard of Rwanda’s plan to bring back the lions.

“It will encourage more visitors, and improve the livelihoods of people surrounding the park.”

Spoiling the big cats

Conservationists say the lions will be spoilt for choices of prey. Akagera now boasts of 2500 buffaloes, different types of antelopes, and zebras.

For the park managers, that is an ideal experience of a lifetime for any tourist. As the lion roar, and go out for a kill, activity will increase in the park.

It will become an intense and lively national park, shooting up revenues as big cat lovers flood to Akagera.

Communities excited

Joseph Karama, Community Liaison Manager says the community has been informed about the return of the lions.

“The community played a significant role in wiping out the lions, we have to engage them ahead of the return of the lions,” says Karama.

Thirty six villages have been approached, with more than 7000 villagers attending awareness rallies to learn about lion behavior.

If that’s what it takes for Rwanda to get Africa’s Pride back in its largest National Park, says Jendry, then, “It is a good strategy.”

By Lillian Gahima.

Source : KT PRESS

Samba Panza commends Rwanda troop’s intervention in restoring peace and security

The President of the Central African Republic Catherine Samba Panza has lauded Rwanda for its role in restoring peace and security and taking a “noble initiative” to send Police peacekeepers before due date, in the conflict-prone nation.

In an exclusive interview at the State House in the capital Bangui, on September 4, 2014, Samba noted that her country has “experienced bad times in the past” brought about by individuals and groups that “violated the law”.

The president said the violation requires a professional law enforcement agency to reinforce law.

“In the past few weeks, we have also been seeing bandits involved in violent theft and other criminal activities because they think when the blue berets arrive on September 15, the official date, it won’t be possible to implement their criminal acts.”

“The coming of the Rwanda Police peacekeepers, therefore, is an honor to us because they will help to block and prevent these illegal acts and I am really grateful for anticipating this and arriving a bit earlier,” she reckoned

As per the United Nations plan, Police and military forces under the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (Minusca) are supposed to deploy effective September 15.

The Rwanda National Police started the deployment of its contingent of 140 officers under Rwanda Formed Police Unit one (RWFPU1), on September 1, 2014 when the first batch and some equipment arrived in Bangui, where they will be based.

The second batch of officers and other equipment arrived on September 4.

They were received at Bangui international airport by Chief Supt. Benoit Kayijuka, the contingent commander, who left with the first batch.

“Today, there is a strong bond between Central African Republic and Rwanda; we are enjoying strong bilateral cooperation. I am thankful that when I requested for Police peacekeepers, Rwanda became the first country to welcome it and to express willingness to send its contingent,” Samba said.

She noted that between April and September, there were many factions that were armed and dangerous, and many politicians that wanted to express and take their position before the arrival of MINUSCA forces.

The contingent, which include 14 females, will be conducting patrols, ensure protection of VIPs, key installations and other escort duties.

The former mayor of Bangui was also full of praises for the role played by the Rwandan troops in restoring calm and ensuring her security since their arrival in January.

“Since the arrival of Rwandan troops under Misca (African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA), in January, and also taking over my security, I have come to learn them as a very professional, focused, respectful and friendly force. These are important elements in security and that’s why I chose them to provide me with security,” she said.

Rwanda maintains 850 troops in CAR and charged with, among others, to guard and escort the Head of State and President of the Senate.

They also ensure security of the vice President of the senate; Catholic and Anglican Church bishops, Imam of the Central Mosque, central prison, escorting convoy to the countryside, disarmament and have been sensitizing the local population and the warring parties.

ADMA Director Christopher Marler inspecting student’s animated video production

Africa Digital Media Academy (ADMA) has opened motion capture studio in Rwanda to expand its programs in digital media production.

The facility that happens to be the first of its kind in Africa, is aimed at training Rwandan students in the world’s latest film making technology.

“We are thrilled to introduce this new technical capacity for media production in Rwanda,” says ADMA Director Christopher Marler.

Motion capture is the process by which live movement is recorded and the data used more efficiently creates realistic animations for film and TV.

The Director General of Workforce Development Authority (WDA) Jerome Gasana said that such technology was introduced to develop Rwanda’s film industry so as to meet international standards.

He however added that much effort is needed to generate content that interests the public.

Over a year in preparation, the ADMA motion capture studio uses a total of 24 cameras mounted around a specially-designed room.

A performer wears a custom suit covered with special reflectors that the cameras can track as the performer dances, jumps or makes movements.

Those movements are then, in turn, applied to a 3D model, allowing the model to move in exactly the same way.

Advanced motion capture has been used in films such as “Lord of the Rings,” “Avatar” and “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”

The Africa Digital Media Academy (ADMA) is a part of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training network, operated by the Workforce Develop Authority.

ADMA is born of a partnership between the WDA in Rwanda and the Pixel Corps, a company based in California with over 10 years experience preparing people to work across different aspects of digital media.

Founded in January 2012, the ADMA trains Rwandans on all aspects of advanced media production, from film editing and production to 3D animation.

Ambassador Pauwels (L) and Clever Gatete sign the grant in Kigali

The government of Belgium gave €13.5 million to boost Rwanda’s decentralization Program.

Under the Rwanda Decentralization Support Program, the grant is aimed at supporting institutional strengthening and capacity building.

An agreement to allocate the funds was signed between Belgian Ambassador to Rwanda H.E. Arnout Pauwels and Rwanda’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Claver Gatete in Kigali.

The move comes after ambassador Pauwels pledged his commitment to support Rwanda’s economic development agenda, after presenting his credentials to President Paul Kagame on September 15.

He also reiterated the strong and profound relations between the two countries as well as the compatibility in the cooperation of the two nations.

For over 50 years, Rwanda and Belgium have established long-standing bilateral relations.

Cooperation between the two countries has increased in the past few years with Belgium committing EUR 160 million over 5 years in the most recent Indicative Cooperation Program (PIC).

Signed in 2011 the PIC program has so far seen €28 million allocated to decentralization, €55 million to health and € 77 million to the energy sector.

Under the € 28 million decentralization funds, €14.5 million will be used to support the implementation of District Development Plans, while €13.5 million will focus on strengthening capacity building.

The objective of the program is to sustainably enhance the capacity of Local Governments to deliver services and to support an enabling environment for local economic development in respect of best governance practice.

Pauwels observed that Rwanda considers decentralization process as key to achieve sustainable economic development and poverty reduction for all.

“It is the way forward to rebuild trust and give local communities greater voice.

Legal framework, policy, and strategies have been regularly adapted, developed and implemented to respond efficiently to the evolving challenges of effective service delivery and local economic development”.

Capacity development will be delivered through supporting and strengthening existing capacity building strategies of the sector institutions combined with a mix of long term and short term technical assistance.

Speaking after the signing event, Gatete noted that Decentralization has been a key policy of the Government of Rwanda since May 2000 when the National Decentralization Policy was adopted.

“We are currently implementing the third phase of decentralization–2011 to 2015) which focuses on consolidating past achievements in governance and service delivery, and on scaling up local economic development,” Gatete said.

Belgium has been supporting Rwanda in key sectors such as decentralization, health and energy.

The delegation of Zambian senior officers is in Rwanda on a week-long regional study tour and to strengthen cooperation with Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).

A 23 Defence Service Command and Staff Collegeis led by Col Choongo Geoffrey Zyeele.

The aim of the visit is to strengthen military cooperation and getting lessons on RDF organization and activities.

In order to have a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s history,especially the tragic past the group started their official tour by visiting Kigali Genocide memorial where they paid homage to victims of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi on yesterday.

Col Zyeele said that they want to learn Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and development with an aim of having lessons learnt.

At the Memorial site, Col Zyeele wrote in the visitors’ book that “We can live to forgive but it is hard to forget”

The visiting delegation also visited RDF Headquarters where they were briefed by J3, Col Chris Murari on Rwanda Defence Forces and its different activities that include contribution to national development, peacekeeping operations and regional defence cooperation among others.

While in Rwanda the delegation will tour different RDF institutions such as ZIGAMA CSS, Military Medical Insurance, Horizon Ltd, Rwanda Military Hospital, RDF Senior Command and Staff College. They will also visit other key government and public institutions.

After presentations on Rwanda, local Rwandan food was served to participants

On October 5, in Korea advanced institute of science and technology (KAIST), Rwandan students hosted a cultural event to present their country to more than 250 internationals in an event dubbed KAIST Overseas Networking Exchange (KAIST.O.N.E)

KAIST.O.N.E is a networking and cultural exchange event initiated by KAIST Office of International Relations in Partnership with ITTP Program.

It typically includes time of presentation and performances about a specific country, followed by open networking and refreshments/dinner including local foods.

Since its inception, the event has become quite a success in bringing together more than 500 people from different cultures and languages, nurturing cultural exchange and promoting friendship.

For more than forty years, KAIST is well known in Korea and internationally as the best university in Korea in terms of science and technology since 1971.

On the above mentioned date, it was a special evening for Rwanda in KAIST. This event gathered Korean and international students and staff of this university to hear and learn about Rwanda.

The activities done on that day were brief introduction about Rwanda, Rwandan pre and post genocide history, economy, Governance and the major achievements of Rwanda.

Speaking on behalf of Rwandese diaspora in Korea, Abdel Aziz K. Mwiseneza who came from Seoul National University thanked KAIST administration and Rwandese in KAIST for planning a memorable event to introduce the image of Rwanda to the entire world.

Mwiseneza said that “the beauty of our difference and diversity is a wonderful resource that should inspire all of us for peace and development in the world.”

On introduction to Rwandan culture and History Aimable NIYIKIZA, a student among four others in KAIST with help of different photos, explained well how Rwandese had their own lifestyle even before the coming of colonies.

In his short presentation, Mwiseneza whose presentation theme was “Rwanda: from failure to success” explained to the audience how Rwanda came out of genocide darkness and currently shinning in the world in different areas of life.

He said that “the major vision of Rwanda is to accelerate our own development inspired by the spirit of self-reliance and dignity.

Rwanda went through worst moments and we don’t want to go back because we have embraced the spirit of good governance and the fact is the difference between where we were before and where we are today in only twenty years after genocide against Tutsis occurred”

While Willy KAZUNGU, the only Rwandese student in KAIST’s Global IT Technology department which hosts this event explained to the audience the good steps Rwanda has made in terms of Tourism, Transport and ICT.

KAZUNG said that” Rwanda and Korea have a lot in common; they are the only Two countries that received ITU award of 2014 for developing their ICT on considerable rate. Rwanda is hailed as first country in Africa with long distance optic fiber infrastructure installed countrywide.

Other activities done at this occasion include Rwandese traditional dance, questions and answers about Rwanda, as well as the  Rwandese food  shared with all the participants to this event.

The event was described as an occasion to witness the spirit of patriotism, cooperation and togetherness of Rwandese students in Korea where there were more than 30 Rwandese from different Universities in Korea yet in KAIST they are only four of them.

Those who came to support the colleagues were from different universities in Korea mostly in Seoul where they made a 3 hours journey to reach KAIST located in Daejon province.

Haitian government officials are in Rwanda to seek ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The visit is part of the partnership between the two countries that was formalized four years ago when a commission headed by the Office of the Prime Minister of Haiti, was instituted to identify major areas of collaboration.

The team of officials Haiti visited the Rwanda National Police (RNP) headquarters in Kacyiru, Kigali on October 13, 2014 for insights on police’s development programs and its works across the country.

During the visit officials learnt about the force’s structure and development journey including face-lifting police schools, community policing and the force’s support to community development as well as anti-GBV medical and legal wing – Isange One Stop Centre.

Jean Louis Karl, the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister and director of Cabinet of Haiti commended RNP for being a “people-centre force” and for facilitating the country’s development agenda.

“My mission is to evaluate where we are and what needs to be done to reinforce this partnership; the kind of activities that both countries can do together in terms of institutional support, how Rwanda, in additional to having a peacekeeping force, can further support our Police force,” Karl said.

“I met with several authorities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rwanda Police and I am meeting others to assess where we are and explore opportunities to strengthen the collaboration,” he added.

“One of the things we have done successfully; five Haitians have graduated at Butare, University of Rwanda-College of Arts and Social Sciences and are going back to Haiti,” he noted.

“Now we look forward to having more students to come here; we are looking at the possibility to have more diverse and expended collaboration between the RNP and Haiti National Police in terms of training, medical assistance and experience,” he added.

“I think there is a lot of training experience the Haitians Police force can learn. We want to learn from the Rwanda Police success story.”

“Community policing and the technical school strikes me and is a major key to build skills of officers and Rwandans and we believe there is a lot the Haitian Police can learn from this,” he further stated.

He later disclosed that next year Haiti intend to hold a cultural festival in Rwanda as part of the partnership.

They also were also briefed on the RNP gender promotion programmes including the force’s target of attaining 30 percent of the total police force from about 20 percent currently, as per the national gender policy.

“The RNP is committed to build the capacity of its personnel through professional and academic course and committed to strong partnership with other forces to bring stability and peace globally,” said John Bosco Kabera, Commissioner of Police.

Rwanda National Police started the deployment in the Caribbean nation in 2010 and currently maintains the fifth Formed Police Unit (FPU) contingent of 140 peacekeepers under the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

A delegation of officials from the National Commission against corruption in Congo Brazzaville visited the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru, yesterday, and commended the force for its effective approaches in fighting graft and gender-based violence.

The team led by Dr. Bernard Tchikaya, a commissioner in the Congo anti-graft docket was received by Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare, Commissioner for Public Relations and Community Policing and other senior officers, who briefed them on the RNP initiatives against corruption and GBV.

The initiatives include the establishment of the anti-corruption commission, the ant-GBV and child protection desk which was decentralized to the district level, force disciplinary unit, online registration of driver’s licence seekers, anti-GBV medical wing, Isange One Stop Centre that offers free services to victims, internal audits and Ethics centre.

The Ethics Centre located at the Police headquarters, was established in 2012 to maintain professional standards, values and norms of officers and the employees of other public and private companies, among others. It trains over 300 people, both police officers and civilians annually.

“We came here to learn from Rwanda’s best practices. Rwanda Police is ranked one of the leading forces in Africa that have succeeded in fighting corruption and it’s the leading force trusted by the citizens, and this takes a lot, which we can learn,” Dr. Tchikaya.

The recent Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) report by the World Economic Forum ranked Rwanda the best country in Africa and 21st globally where citizens trust and rely on Police services to enforce law and order.

The same report also ranked Rwanda the most secure and with the least incidences of crime and violence that impose costs on businesses in Africa.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 assesses the competitiveness landscape of 144 economies, providing insight into the drivers of their productivity and prosperity. The Report series remains the most comprehensive assessment of national competitiveness worldwide.

“It’s commendable how Rwanda Police works with other institutions to fight corruption; the country also has good policies in responding to graft and GBV, which we can adopt back in Congo,” he added.

The Director General of WDA Jerome Gasana (middle) explaining to Minister Blaise the main purpose of the center

The Minister in charge of vocational training and employment from Congo Brazzaville Serge Blaise Zoniaba on Wednesday visited the business incubation center in Nyarutarama (Kigali) established through collaboration between Rwanda and the government of India.

Minister Zoniaba is among participants in a three-day conference on innovation in education and ICT dubbed, “Innovation Africa 2014”, being held in Kigali. His visit to the center was to see how such an initiative could be introduced to his country.

The Director General of WDA Jerome Gasana explained to the visiting Minister how the center will enhances entrepreneurship and industrial skills. He further told him that every TVET School requires such a facility to prepare graduates become future entrepreneurs.

The center will also train skills in Bakery, edible oil extraction, packaging, , automatic wire nail manufacturing, paper napkin manufacturing, toilet roll making, knitting, stitching and embroidery, cell phone preparing, potato chips manufacturing, popcorn making, Ice cream cone making, air conditioners and refrigeration, fashion designing, mini offset printing and crockery making.

The center has a capacity of training about 200 students at ago and the Indian government has provided trainers to pass on skills to local trainers.

TVET schools are supporting government’s efforts to address skills gap in key sectors of the Rwandan economy by providing training in priority areas and equip students with appropriate and market relevant technical skills.