UN: No Evidence Rwanda Supported M23 Rebels in Congo

Citing what they termed is a “leaked” memo from the UN Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO), last week the BBC and the New York Times claimed that Rwanda is secretly supporting the M23 rebel movement in Eastern Congo.

Both media organizations reported that eleven deserters from the M23 showed up at a UN base claiming they had been recruited and trained in Rwanda. Neither publication produced an actual memo, nor did they quote sources. The memo was cited around the world as “fact,” with no supporting documentation. The result was a vehement denial by Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, who said claims that Rwandans were transferred to eastern Congo to fight for the rebels are “categorically false and dangerous.”

“M23 Congo” and it is obvious that accounts of the leaked report have gone viral. But is it correct? Does the report exist? What, exactly, does it say?

The latest comment from the UN says the BBC got it wrong.

U.N. spokesman Penangnini Toure told Voice of America (VOA) that the UN report resulted from a “routine interrogation of the 11 men who had presented themselves to the UN and asked to be repatriated to Rwanda.”

“That’s all we reported and that’s where it stops. The U.N. did not produce a report saying that Rwanda is directly involved in what is happening in eastern Congo,” said Toure.

SAPA also reported that there was no evidence Rwanda recruited the “mutineers.”

The United Nations on Wednesday confirmed 11 Rwandans had been recruited to join army mutineers in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, but said there was no evidence the Rwandan government played any role.

As the reports of the leaked memo spread exponentially via the internet and social media, an already strained relationship between The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has been tested and tensions have spilled over into Congo’s Parliament. Opposition lawmakers want any discussion of relations with Rwanda to be debated in public, to avoid the appearance of any “secret deals.”

On Wednesday May 30, the president of the assembly ruled that debate would require a closed session. A number of opposition MPs walked out. On the same day as the walk-out, Radio Okapi (UN) reported that MONUSCO refused to confirm or refute the involvement of Rwanda  in the conflict in eastern DRC.

The “leaked memo” is beginning to look more and more like a propaganda trial balloon that has sprung a leak. It may have been MONUSCO’s attempt to cover its failures in eastern Congo by blaming Rwanda for the latest insurgencies. Or it may have been a low level staffer trying to curry favor with the international press.

In a press release, The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expressed concern about civilians targeted in fighting between the rebels and government forces that has displaced more than 100,000 people in eastern Congo since April.

Rwanda’s Minister Mushikiwabo accused MONUSCO of failure to implement its mandate and suggests that the “leaked memo” is an attempt to shift blame and justify MONUSCO’s “bloated budgets.”

This billion-dollar-a-year operation makes up one quarter of the UN’s entire peacekeeping budget, and yet it has been a failure from day one. Instead of pursuing its mandate to eradicate the FDLR menace and help stabilise the region, MONUSCO has become a destabilizing influence, primarily concerned with keeping hold of its bloated budgets and justifying its ongoing existence. Rwanda has received several refugees who are severely wounded and traumatised as a result of the UN’s failure to protect civilians in eastern DRC.

A source close to M23 told says that the persons presenting themselves as “deserters” and “defectors” from M23 “did not come from the front lines.” Instead it is more likely that individuals were bribed by Congolese commanders to go to MONUSCO and say they were defecting, said the source.

According to VOA, the United Nations has said categorically that it “did not produce a report saying that Rwanda is directly involved in what is happening in eastern Congo.”

http://itangazamakuru.com/index.php/2012/06/un-evidence-rwanda-supported-m23-rebels-congo/

Rwanda : Kayonza taxi Motorcyclists complain over Motors

Taxi motor is a mode of transport preferred by many in Rwandans, mostly due its low cost fee and fast maneuvers along streets jammed with vehicles.

The number of Karongi Taxi Motor cyclists has increased as their transport business grew but consequently now complaints of the business not paying as anticipated have rose.

Emmanuel Tuyizere a Tax Motorcyclist in Karongi says that “at first we used to earn enough money from this transport but currently we are not earning enough to pay off our bosses. Usually an owner of a motor cycle pays about Rwf70, 000 monthly but currently one finishes a month with savings of less than Rwf60, 000.”

Some of the cyclists attribute the cause for low turnover of the business to increased number of motors and a reduced number of customers but the reason could be the fact that the motor cycle owners demand more returns.

Callixte another cyclist from Karongi pleads for the government support in advocacy to the financial institutions to allocate loans to cyclists so that they can ride their own motor cycles.

Currently a number of Karongi youth are found working hard to pass the drive tests exams hoping that with the cycling permit they can earn a living out of it.http://rwandatransport.com/2012/06/rwanda-kayonza-taxi-motorcyclists-complain-motors/

Rwanda : Swiss and Dutch Investors to construct modern ports on Lake Kivu

Swiss and Dutch investors in collaboration with the Rwandan Office charged with shipping, land and air transport_ Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA) have signed an agreement for the construction of three modern ports on Lake Kivu.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Elias Twagira, RTDA CEO, said the project was developed and that the next step will be setting up the equipments necessary for the construction of harbors.

Dr. Elias Twagira explained that the major ports will be built in the district of Rusizi, Karongi and Rubavu on Lake Kivu.
Dr. Twagira continued to say that seven ports are to be built, however indicated that four of them are of medium caliber.
Dr. Twagira mentioned that construction will be funded by the state budget adding that the construction will kick off in July.
Next to each port will be a building which will house the Office of Immigration, Customs, the counters of travel tickets, the police office and a place reserved for leisure in front of the lake.http://rwandatransport.com/2012/06/rwanda-swiss-dutch-investors-construct-modern-ports-lake-kivu/

Rwanda: U.S supports students in English language skills

The U.S Embassy launched a training known as English Access Micro Scholarship Program ,the launch took place at Lycee de Kigali School, on June 3, 2012 and was presided over by the U.S Ambassador to Rwanda, Donald Koran.

A two-year English training program was unveiled in four schools in Kigali such as Lycee Notre Dame de Citeaux, Lycee de Kigali, Groupe Rcolaire Rugunga and Groupe Scolaire Kacyiru 11.

Susan Falatko, the Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy, said the programme will cater for students from four schools, who will attend their lessons from at Lycee de Kigali, every Saturday from 8:00 am up to midday.

“Since Rwanda switched to entirely an English education system, the course will be very beneficial to the students to quickly adopting to the Anglophone sphere,” said Falatko.

“This will help students understand their notes and give the answers to the examinations accordingly,” Falatko said.

She added that apart from training the beneficiaries in various English skills, during the two year course, they will also organize field trips where the students will visit the embassy’s library where they will be taught several communication and leadership skills, for a better generation.

According to the headmaster of Lycee de Kigali, Martin Masabo, Rwanda became a member of East African Community (EAC) and the Commonwealth, and I believe this training will help the beneficiaries learn more English skills and know how best they can compete in the labour market in the country and beyond after completing their university studies.

Patrick Uwayisenga, a student from Groupe scolaire Kacyiru said the training will help us become broad minded in several communication skills as far as English language is concerned. I believe that this will equip us with more skills on how to interact with people in the region and internationally.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-u-s-supports-students-in-english-language-skills/

Rwanda : Rhineland Palatinate officials support Nyabihu

Officials of the Holzeim State from the Federal State of Rhineland Palatinate in Germany have donated €1300 Euros to thirteen schools in Nyabihu district in the Northern of Rwanda.

The delegation handed the funds, on June 3, to the school which have special partnership with local schools in Rwanda, and have over the past years benefited from the twining programs of the German-Rwanda Jumelage.

The delegation also made a two day tour of the projects previously funded under this partnership. Some of the projects included schools, health activities in Rambura sector.

The head of the German delegation, Helmt Vaiima, said that the team was pleased to witness the impact of the support provided by the German province, which showed evidence that the support had been put in proper use.

Vaiima also handed over sports equipment to the women football team in the sector (Rambura womens football club) and stated that the German province will continue supporting other community initiatives in the future.

School heads in Nyabihu district said that the sponsored projects have impacted on lives of the youths in the area especially in providing life skills for the young generation.

The relationship between Rwanda and the German Province has now clocked 30 years. The partnership is base on four broad areas of co-operation that include exchange of knowledge; culture friendship and emotional bonding, humanitarian and developmental initiatives.

http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-rhineland-palatinate-officials-support-nyabihu/

Rwanda : KARONGI: Lake Kivu waters rise by 20centimetres

Because of much rainfall that has been in western province, water level in Lake Kivu has increased by 20 centimetres, according to reports.
This is evidenced at how the sand at Golf hotel where people walk and play from is covered by water.
People could sit on concrete benches built in the sand near the water and have drinks but the benches are covered with the water.


Apart from people who come to swim, people wearing shoes stand in a distance because water covered sand where they could walk from.

Golf hotel beach side
However, it is very easy for swimming starters since water on the sand is very shallow at Golf Hotel.
When we talked to the people that had come to swim, they confirmed to have seen this for the first time but say they enjoy swimming in shallow waters especially for the beginners.http://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/06/rwanda-karongi-lake-kivu-waters-rise-20centimetres/

Rwanda : Burera, a district dripping with beauty

Mountain Muhabura as seen from a distance : It is one of the tourist attractions in Burera district
Burera district is divided into 17 sectors which are Bungwe, Butaro, Cyanika, Cyeru, Gahunga, Gatebe, Gitovu, Kagogo, Kinoni, Kinyababa, Kivuye, Nemba, Rugarama, Rugendabari, Ruhunde, Rusarabuge and Rwerere. It has 69 cells, 571 villages, 339,200 inhabitants and covers 644.5 square kilometers.
The district boarders the Republic of Uganda to the North, Gakenke and Rulindo districts to the South, Gicumbi district to the East and Musanze district in the West.
Burera has an agro bio climatic zone which is very productive. Its average altitude is 2100 meters above sea level.
On the infrastructure front, Burera District has a total of 268.6 Kilometers of road.  94 Kilometers are currently in good shape, 75.5 Kilometers are being rehabilitated and 89 Kilometers are still in a poor state.
Most bridges are being rehabilitated. This is a good sign o the tourism frontier because it eases access to the interior of the district.
Overall, Burera District has 35 nursery schools, 87 Primary schools, 42 Secondary schools. It has one hospital, 15 health centers and about 96% of the population has medical insurance.
Access to electricity is expanding and 540 homes, 12 trading centers and 27 schools have electricityhttp://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/06/rwanda-burera-district-dripping-beauty/

Rwanda : Journalists trained to advocate negative impacts facing Orphaned Children

National Children Commission recently held a one day workshop with media practitioners about sensitizing the society about negative impacts of children living in orphanage institutions.
This initiative by NCC was done in line with the government program that every child should have a home or a family he or she belongs, not in the orphanage institutions.
National survey found out that, children in orphanage institutions suffers from different psychological disorders due to lack of shoulder to cry on.
“The effects of a child that was brought up in orphanage everything is general like beds and clothes, which denies children to have psycho social development” Claudine Nyinawagaga, Hope and Homes country director says.
Rwanda currently has 33 orphanages while 18 are owned by religious organizations like Caritas, the research showed that one of the strong causes of increased number of children in orphanages is the presence of orphanage institutions.
It is believed that, women who dump their children have full knowledge that orphanages will take care of them and local leaders help them to look for orphanages instead of facilitating them to raise their children.
All 33 orphanages in the country have 3323 orphans, 762 (22.9)percent come from Kigali, 10 percent(347) from Northern province and 20 percent in southern province.  While eastern 455, western province 1086 making Kigali the first province that has a lot of orphans because lots of orphanages in place.
Media practitioners are call upon to spread the government program to uproot the issue of children living in orphanages.
By encouraging people through their medium to adopt children and fight the habit of abandoning kids for orphanages.
The government spends 8.682.679 annually which means that one child costs 1.5 m Rwf per year, 87.600 per month, while 2.920 Rwf are spent on one child per day, according to the national survey.
All children living in orphanages will be in their respective families or adopted families by 2014, according to the National Children Commission officials.http://itangazamakuru.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-journalists-trained-advocate-negative-impacts-facing-orphaned-children/

Rwanda : Cummings Foundation supports health sector

The Cummings Foundation, an American establishment founded by Joyce and Bill Cummings, has pledged $250,000 to help establish Rwanda’s first cancer infusion center, to be located in Burera District, Northern Province of Rwanda.

Joyce Cummings said that the center will be opened in 2013, and will be one of the foundation’s most rewarding philanthropic efforts in Rwanda.

The operations of these two rural hospitals, both part of Massachusetts-based Partners In Health, are overseen by Dr. Peter Drobac.

In appreciation for the grants, Drobac wrote, “Cancer care and integrated food security are two of Partners In Health’s most important new initiatives, and we expect both to have significant impact throughout this remarkable country.”

The foundation was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings, a Massachusetts couple who founded commercial real estate firm Cummings Properties. The foundation has also committed $500,000 in grants to Rwandan organizations through Institute for World Justice, an arm of the Foundation dedicated to international causes, with a special focus on Rwanda

Joyce and Bill Cummings became interested in the country after sponsoring student groups from Tufts University on annual service-learning trips to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village- located near Rubona. The Village houses, cares for, and schools 500 young people who were orphaned during and after the genocide.

In January, the couple traveled to Rwanda themselves for the first time, spending 12 days learning about the country and its needs. They Cummings stayed four days at Agahozo-Shalom, and have since awarded it a $100,000 grant.

While in Rwanda, the Cummings also toured Butaro Hospital and Rwinkwavu Hospital. Impressed with the work being done in areas where advanced medical care was previously lacking, the couple committed $100,000 to Rwinkwavu Hospital. The funds are dedicated to an agricultural training program to combat chronic malnutrition, one of the country’s most vexing development challenges.

http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/06/rwanda-cummings-foundation-supports-health-sector/

Rwanda : Students Loan recovery facing challenges

The Loan Payment and Recovery Unit in Rwanda Education Board (REB) is currently facing challenges of meeting its targets of recovering at least Rwf18 billion by the end of 2015, due to lack of legal structures.

The institutions’ Acting Director, Esther Mukasine Ndagije says that lack of a legal instrument and inadequate human resources continue to derail efforts to recover loans that are advanced to students for further studies.

The said students’ loans are handed in form of grants from the government to students in higher institutions of learning, which they are supposed to reimburse after graduation and acquiring employments.

The repayment of loans is done mainly through deduction of 8 per cent of the gross salary of employees on a monthly basis and deductions are deposited on recovery accounts, however ever since the program started in 2008, only  Rwf4.5 billion out of Rwf70 billion has been recovered.

The acting director says that this setback in recovering the funds is because there is no law which could enforce and determine penalties to the employers who refuse to make deductions and declarations on their employees who benefited from the government’s academic loan.

However, Mukasine says that despite employers and former benefactor of the grants resistance among the challenges, some few individuals have voluntarily approached the unit and started repaying their loans though the majority of recipients are still silent.

REB statistics indicate that so far 329 employers have been contacted in a bid to trace the loan beneficiaries and that, by end of April, this year; only 8,146 beneficiaries had already been contacted.

As part of cosmetic measures to this problem Mukasine revealed that apparently, the grant unit is planning to make regular visits to organizations where the beneficiaries are employed to sensitize them on the need to honour their obligations.

The Unit has also recommended the need to decentralize the loan recovery process, saying that the procedure is currently complicated by lack of human resource to cover all institutions where former beneficiaries are employed.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-students-loan-recovery-facing-challenges/

Rwanda : EU restrictions impede Rwandan exporters

Rwandan exporters have raised complaints over the strict export regulations in the European Union which have blocked their access to markets in European countries, thus resorting to the US and other Asian countries

The exporters say that they have met difficulties with European countries refusing to have fruits from Rwanda and the have asked the EAC community to intervene through negotiations with the EU under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)

Nathan Gashayija, the director of economic infrastructure and productive unit in the Ministry of EAC affairs, said the issue would be addressed after the EAC concludes, but the process has been delayed by EU negotiators – who are against EAC’s proposed indicators that would monitor the outcomes in the economic development areas.

The Rwandan exporters also want an agreement to be signed between the EAC and EU communities –so as to access both markets from the two communities without barriers.

One of the exporters, Nicolas Ndagijimana says that he has been trading in Europe and USA but finds problems in Europe especially with its protective nature on their local businesses especially horticulture exports.

Maggie Kagimbanyi, is a coffee exporter, who has now diverted to US and Japan markets because of limited market access in Europe.

Apparently, Rwanda’s exports have increase in the first quarter of 2012 (from January-March), Rwanda’s exports amounted to 63 tonnes, worth $104.8 million, according to latest statistics from the National Bank of Rwanda.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-eu-restrictions-impede-rwandan-exporters/

Rwanda : Airtel Boss reveals investment plan for Rwanda

Airtel plans to invest USD 100 million in its operations over the next three years and will work towards generating both direct and indirect employment opportunities within its ecosystem, says Manoj Kohli, the CEO & Joint MD, Bharti Airtel.

The Airtel boss made the statement while meeting with Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda on Sunday 27th May.

The courtesy visit comes two months after Airtel launched operations in Rwanda, expanding Airtel’s already significant footprint on the continent. The two met to discuss the telecommunication company’s progress in the country.

During the conversation with the President, Mr. Kohli reinforced the telecom’s commitment to work with the government in supporting the knowledge-based economy.

The company will also be bringing aboard partners like IBM and Ericsson to set up and manage world class facilities in the country.

Kohli explained that Rwanda is a promising telecommunications market and we are grateful to the Government and people of Rwanda for the support extended to us since our entry into the country.

“Our strategy for Rwanda is in harmony with the government’s vision to make telecommunications a priority,” he continued. “We plan to work closely with the government to provide access to affordable telecoms products and services across the country” Kohli said.

The company’s vision for Rwanda stretches far beyond business priorities, explained Kohli. Since launching in March this year, the company has strengthened its commitment to the community by adopting a primary school in Kicukiro.

Some of the Airtel activities outside the telecom provisions will include: will be refurbishing the school to ensure that its students are educated in an environment most suitable for learning, bring its football talent search – ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ – into Rwanda. Since its opening season last year, this pan-African tournament has grown to be Africa’s largest youth football initiative.

The ‘Airtel Rising Stars’ will focus on identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage provides a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts and coaches, which gives the participants an opportunity to further their football skills.

Making a long-lasting positive impact on the community remains a priority for the organization.

Airtel Africa’s parent company – Bharti Airtel – is a leading integrated telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Africa and Asia. The company is ranked as the fifth largest mobile service provider globally in terms of subscribers with over 250 million customers across its operations. In Africa, the Airtel brand is present in both Francophone and Anglophone markets spanning Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-airtel-boss-reveals-investment-plan-for-rwanda/

Rwanda : EAJA backs trade union democracy, calls for measures toward empowerment of women journalists

Journalists unions and associations in Eastern Africa met in Kenya’s capital Nairobi and adopted a set of recommendations that will enhance internal democratic governance and gender equality.
They resolved on the steps towards strengthening trade union leadership in the media adopted strategies that will revitalize the unions and enhance their capacity to negotiate effective collective bargaining agreements with employers.
Leaders and delegates representing the journalists’ trade unions drawn from nine countries in the region reiterated their commitment to collective leadership and dedication to the promotion of the welfare and rights of journalists.
The conference, which brought together equal number of participants of both women and men journalist leaders, admitted that women journalists have little representation at the leadership level and decision-making bodies of the national journalists organizations, which results in limited number of women representatives at the regional level.
The participants were drawn from journalists unions and associations from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
According to a press statement from EAJA, the conference resolved to lead an aggressive sensitization and advocacy campaign among journalists in the region to play an active role in advancing the cause of freedom of the press and labour rights.
“We emphasized the need for EAJA to work towards attaining greater organizational vibrancy in its defense of journalists’ rights and interests in the region by encouraging and promoting the culture of active participation by members, transparent and accountable leadership and a commitment and respect for EAJA constitution.”
The conference noted that many national unions and associations still faced challenges in practicing internal democracy due to weak constitutional provisions and failure to adhere to ethical practices.
The national journalist organizations were also asked to strive to make membership education a priority and ensure that the programmes provide adequate support for membership capacity building.
On internal discipline within EAJA and the unions, it was resolved that there was need for strict application of the appropriate sanctions in cases of violation of the constitution and other policy decisions by members of respective EAJA affiliated unions and associations.
EAJA committed to developing the capacity of women journalists, empowering them with skills to actively participate and take up the leadership responsibilities within EAJA and all affiliate unions and associations.http://itangazamakuru.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-eaja-backs-trade-union-democracy-calls-measures-empowerment-women-journalists/

Rwanda | Nyamagabe: Action Aid workers visit Murambi Memorial Centre

Workers laying down flowers to the mass grave
 Action Aid workers in Rwanda has recently visited Murambi 1994 genocide against Tutsi memorial centre in a move to honour the victims.
During the visit, Action Aid workers were explained for history of Murambi memorial and witnessed survivors testify on how massacre was done in the place where the grave is built.
The testimony entailed how Tutsi from different corners of Murambi, gathered and hid at Murambi vocational school were brutally murdered by Interahamwe and soldiers.
Josephine Uwamariya, Director for ActioAid- Rwanda commented on what happened in Murambi as painful and said its everybody’s duty to build a better Rwanda.


Talking about bad leadership that killed what it should have protected, Uwamariya urged residents to learn from the history.
“We should learn from history and strive to prevent genocide from happening again in Rwanda or elsewhere in the world,” adds Uwamariya.
After the visit, Action Aid workers gave the contribution of Rwf200000.http://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/05/rwanda-nyamagabe-action-aid-workers-visit-murambi-memorial-centre/

Rwanda | Reproductive Health experts meet in Kigali

The 5th Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network ((EARHN) summit held has condoned cultural beliefs in the region which have impeded the implementation of Family Planning initiatives on a wider scale.

The three day summit kicked off in Kigali Rwanda, this May 21, 2012 attracting over 50 health experts from Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi and DRC to exchange information on how to strengthen family planning strategies.

Partners in Population and Development (PDD) says that two in three Africans currently have no access to reproductive health services and as a result, women in Sub-Saharan Africa have one out of sixteen chances of dying from complications of pregnancy during their lives.

Omar Muwonge, the District Chairperson of Mayuge District in Uganda revealed in his country, traditional culture recognizes polygamous families- which have made it hard to promote family planning methods like child spacing because nobody wants to be ridiculed.

Apparently Rwanda is arguably the only country in the region where polygamous marriages are highly discouraged by society though the government has also raised an alert on the increasing population and need to control child birth.

Statistics provided at the summit indicate that a woman in Uganda has an average number of 6.2 children, and although this number has fallen from 6.7 from the previous year, it is still the second highest in the region, after DRC which has 6.4 children per woman.

Rwanda has the third lowest in the region at 4.6 children per woman, after Zimbabwe and Namibia which have 4.1 and 3.6 children per woman respectively.

Anicet Nzabonimpa, the HIV Integration Coordinator in the Ministry of Health (MoH) said that 99% of women and 100 per cent of men in Rwanda know at least one modern method of contraception. The Ministry of Health and its partners have ensured that knowledge about family planning and condom use.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-reproductive-health-experts-meet-in-kigali/

Rwanda | Dutch report indicates Gender disparity in agriculture

A new report has indicated that there is gender disparity in the agricultural sector in Rwanda among the countries where the research was conducted in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The report by Agri-ProFocus – a Dutch based organization was this May 2012, made public in Kigali city, by Agri-Hub, a sister company of Agri-ProFocus.

The 367-page research report entitled “A woman’s Business: Gender equity in agricultural value chains” was based on a research conducted in the three continents since 2008. In Africa, the research was conducted in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda

The research was commissioned by the Royal Tropical Institute (RTI) showed that achieving gender equality in most of the agricultural work is still a major challenge.

It points out that poverty remains concentrated in rural areas and conditions in agriculture are especially hard for women; and women are at least half of the workforce in agriculture; often their work is not visible, or is simply not valued, and often excluded from more profitable aspects of agric-enterprises.

However the report recommended specific measures of interventions such as: support female entrepreneurs to bring economic prosperity, reduce poverty and improve the economic and societal position of women and their activities in the chain.

Rhiannon Pyburn, the Senior Advisor at RTI, said the research findings indicated that women had limited access to resources, such as land, credit and other services in rural communities.

Adding that women do most domestic chores, face high levels of illiteracy and lack bargaining power in the three surveyed continents.

Pyburn advised Governments to consider gender mainstreaming dimensions with a practical focus on livelihoods, income generation and quality issues of when in the three continents, because they are the ones who do most of the agricultural work.

On the Rwanda story Pyburn said that despite the fact that Rwanda is ahead in addressing gender inequality in Africa, respecting gender value chains in agricultural work is still a challenge.

Rwandan agricultural experts say that women constitute the majority of the agricultural workforce and that most of the work done by women in the rural areas of normally attributed to their husbands in rural communities.

Patrice Mugenzi, a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE) Busogo, said that this community and social perception of women should be changed and women credited for the contributions so as to be role models for other women in rural communities.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-dutch-report-indicates-gender-disparity-in-agriculture/

Rwanda : Kagame joins residents for communal work

President Paul Kagame, this May 26, 2012 picked up a slasher and joined residents of Kigarama Sector, Kicukiro District in the monthly community work programme commonly known as Umuganda at Rebero hill.

Residents said that Kagame’s leadership by example has been stunning and a source of encouragement for Rwandans to work had in rebuilding their country which was torn apart during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The cleaning exercise is one of the homemade community solutions that have earned Rwanda credible recognition around the world, and many visitors to Rwanda have appreciated the impact of the activity in resolving some of the country’s problems.

While addressing the residents who participated in the cleaning exercise, Kagame called on the citizens to give due regard to Umuganda and other home grown initiatives, which he observed contribute a great deal in helping one million Rwandans cross the line of poverty.

Kagame said that the difference between Rwandans and other people is the fact that they have decided to find solutions to their own problems. “When people decide to come together and work for their common good, there is nothing they cannot achieve” he said.

He also noted that majority of Rwandans are energetic young people thus they should put their energy together to contribute to the efforts of rapid economic development.

This months’ Umuganda event was part of the active faith of the community and government in protecting the environment so as to prevent natural disasters which have in recent days resulted to loss of lives and property across the county.

The event was attended by many residents and local leaders.http://livinginrwanda.com/index.php/2012/05/rwanda-kagame-joins-residents-for-communal-work/

Rwanda | Gatsibo: Illiterate to get Provisional License

On May 22nd 2012, over 637 residents in Gatsibo district turned up for provisional licence examination.



While most people think that those who reads and writes are the only ones allowed to do exams, National police allowed the illiterate the chance saying driving is all about understanding signposts but not reading or writing.



Residents who cannot read and write we found lining to do the exams, told us that they are thankful to the police for allowing the illiterate their right to driving in their country.



One resident who preferred anynormous “It’s not our fault that we do not know how to write or read, driving requires mastering the signposts on the road which they taught us.”



Some of the residents who got provisional licences were motorcyclists thank the police saying it was affecting their work.



Gatsibo district has the biggest number of mature people who can’t read and write. Although they are sensitised to go to school, most residents fear to be laughed at.

 http://rwandatransport.com/2012/05/rwanda-gatsibo-illiterate-provisional-license/

Rwanda : Traffic police introduces oral tests for the illiterate

As a way of overcoming the reading and writing barrier for driving permit seekers, traffic police has introduced oral provisional tests for the illiterate people.

The first ever special motor cycle driving test was conducted in the Eastern districts of Gatsibo and Nyagatare where a total of 1, 856 illiterate citizens participated.

According to the Traffic Police Commander, Chief Superintendent (CSP) Celestin Twahirwa, the test was organized to facilitate people in Eastern province who initially operate motor cycles in their daily activities but, do not have driving licenses

He said that the main reason for not having them is because they cannot read and write in order to undergo the normal driving exam.

He explained that the new system of conducting driving tests was part of Traffic Police efforts to ensure road safety is maintained in all parts of the country.

“The new system started with the Eastern province but plans are under way to extend it to other provinces of the country,” said Twahirwa.

Twahirwa also observed that acquiring the driving licenses by the illiterate will help them get registered by life insurance companies.

He encouraged driving license seekers to undertake literacy programs so as to access more opportunities.

Before the test, candidates had been training in traffic rules for two consecutive weeks.http://rwandatransport.com/2012/05/rwanda-traffic-police-introduces-oral-tests-illiterate/

Citizens undergoing oral provisional driving permit tests in the Eastern Province (Courtesy photo)

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http://rwandatransport.com/2012/05/citizens-undergoing-oral-provisional-driving-permit-tests-in-the-eastern-province-courtesy-photo/

Rwanda : KARONGI: Lake Kivu waters rise by 20centimetres

Because of much rainfall that has been in western province, water level in Lake Kivu has increased by 20 centimetres, according to reports.
This is evidenced at how the sand at Golf hotel where people walk and play from is covered by water.
People could sit on concrete benches built in the sand near the water and have drinks but the benches are covered with the water.


Apart from people who come to swim, people wearing shoes stand in a distance because water covered sand where they could walk from.

Golf hotel beach side
However, it is very easy for swimming starters since water on the sand is very shallow at Golf Hotel.
When we talked to the people that had come to swim, they confirmed to have seen this for the first time but say they enjoy swimming in shallow waters especially for the beginners.

http://sightsofrwanda.com/2012/06/rwanda-karongi-lake-kivu-waters-rise-20centimetres/