MC Monday

Riderman’s recent confession of his struggles as a musician to be where he is today will serve as a real inspirational story to most people, mainly young persons, except MC Monday.

The rapper revealed the hardships he underwent as an upcoming rapper, including a long trek he made on foot to the studios of Radio10, at the time based at Rebero where MC Monday worked as a radio presenter. “On reaching the studios, I found him there and handed him my song on a CD. He refused to take it and instead told me to wait for him outside,” Riderman remembers.

The painful memories evoke mixed emotions according to Riderman, but he believes if he had not struggled that much he would not be a star he is today. He continues, “I waited for him till 8pm and when he came out of the studio, he told me to leave the CD at the reception. I almost cried and wondered how I would make it home from Rebero in the middle of the night and on foot!”

But MC Monday, who now goes by the pseudonym Saga Assou has responded angrily, asking Rideman to apologize.

“How dare he? These are the artists that I and other radio presenters helped to promote but listen to the things he is saying. That is equal to biting the hand that feeds you. I remember I would go around music studios collecting songs from Rwandan artists because we needed them, so there is no way I could ever have turned him down. I would like to hear an apology from him.”

Despite the acrimonious atmosphere that continues to sour between the two, Riderman insists he holds utmost respect towards MC Monday and says that he has never had any personal conflict with him.

Riderman’s success story is well documented, the most recent being his victory at Primus Guma Guma Super Star, where he became the first rapper to ever win this accolade.

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Rwanda gets a Film School

Rwanda is set to get a Film and multi-media school by next year, courtesy of   the government of German in partnership with German Development Cooperation and Kwetu Film Institute-Rwanda.

The school will start with twenty students who will be awarded with certificates in Filming as well as professionals in film production, editing and script writing.

The facility will operate under Rwanda media Project, an innovation by Oscar winning movie Director, Volker Schloendorff who is a long-term supporter of  Rwanda based; Kwetu Film Institute.

“Rwanda has a hospitable culture, a beautiful landscape and wildlife, all these make it a great place to shoot films,” says Martin Brandes, The coordinator of Rwanda Media Project.

The German government will provide filming equipment including cameras, sound equipment, computers, editing and light systems while other partners will provide the rest.

Other partners  include; Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA) and European Film Centre Babelsberg (EFB), in close cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)/Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM).

Rwanda gets a Film School

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Rulindo: Heifer Project donates 20 cows to Girinka program

Residents in Rulindo District are set to benefit from a donation of 20 cows provided by Heifer Project International (HPI) on Monday 11 November 2013 in Cyinzuzi Sector.

HPI organization partners Rulindo district development programmes particularly in the Girinka program.

Girinka program started operating in Rulindo district in 2006 after it was introduced in the country by President Kagame in the same year.

Girinka (One Cow per Family) programme is one of Rwanda’s poverty reduction strategies aiming at improving people’s social and economic status.

The program is promoted in its condition that whoever gets a cow will give out the first calf to the next neighbour and so on. The cows provide milk for consumption, income earning manure for boosting crop farming.

Rulindo district is steadily supporting Girinka program as a strategy of poverty reduction. According to Prosper Murindwa the Vice Mayor for Finance and Economic Affairs in the district, getting a cow shifts individuals from one social level to the next.

Cyinzuzi sector residents commended the district support in many programs especially Girinka that has helped in eradicating poverty and poor eating habits.

HPI project operates in three sectors namely; Ntarabana, Masoro and Cyinzuzi The project has so far given out 152 cows for promotion of Girinka program to its beneficiaries in the said sectors.

Rulindo: Heifer Project donates 20 cows to Girinka program

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The search for Miss Rwanda 2014 begins

Reigning Miss Rwanda, Aurore Mutesi

The search for Miss Rwanda 2014 is on.  All interested girls from all districts have been called upon to register at designated points for the competition as disclosed by the Ministry of Sports and Culture.

Venues for registration include; Ministry of Sports and Culture, Gender Ministries in all universities, East African Publishers’ Rwanda offices  and Cogebanque branches all over the country.

Aspiring contestants can also apply online at www.missrwanda.rw or fill registration forms provided in all districts.

According to organizers, Registration forms are accompanied by two passport photos and a copy of the national card, (indangamuntu).  Registration is free of charge.

Meanwhile, the annual Miss Rwanda beauty pageant was moved to January 2014 to match other international beauty pageants like the Miss Universe competition.  This makes the reigning Miss Rwanda hold the crown for at least two years.

Reigning Miss Rwanda, Aurore Mutesi urged parents to allow their children participate in the competition.

“The Miss Rwanda pageant promotes culture and upholds unity and development of the nation,” said  Aurore.

According to the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Miss Rwanda 2014 will be a platform for women empowerment, building their confidence and capacities.

source:http://www.rwandashow.com/event-calendar/4710/the-search-for-miss-rwanda-2014-begins/

The search for Miss Rwanda 2014 begins

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Goethe’s monthly creative writing resumes

A two-day creative writing workshop is set to run at Goethe Institute on November 15^th and 16^th. The workshop will feature renowned Kenyan Billy Kahora, author of the non-fiction novella, The True Story of David Munyakei.

Kahora also wrote the screenplay for the Kenyan-German film Soul Boy and co-wrote Nairobi Half Life. His works have appeared in Chimurenga, Mc Sweeney’s, Granta Online, Internazionale and Vanity Fair.

He is also Managing Editor of Kwani Trust and has edited 7 issues of the Kwani journal as well as Kwani’s Nairobi 24 and Kenya Burning. An Associate Editor with the Chimurenga Chronic, Billy received several scholarships, led a number of Creative Writing workshops and was a judge of the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the 2012 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

His creative writing workshop in Kigali will explore how the writer discovers his or her narrative ‘voice’ in which to tell a story.

Participants will also be introduced to famous writers who illustrate excellent use of ‘voice’. One of the sessions will be an interactive look at submitted participant’s work and how this can be improved by reworking and rewriting through choice and improvement of ‘voice’

Speaking to kigalirat.com, Dr. Peter Stepan, Director of Goethe institute referred to Kahora as “a professional writer and critic who won’t return to Kenya before giving participants an empowering push for their own literary work.”

Sessions shall be kicking off from 10am to 6pm for the two days running, while entrance will be free.

Goethe’s monthly creative writing resumes

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Mukura sinks leaders AS Kigali

Hussein Cyiza Mugabo dribbles past AS Kigali defender Soter Kayumba

to score the winning goal for Mukura on Tuesday

 TKFL, Tuesday

AS Kigali       1-2 Mukura

SC Kiyovu     2-0 Police FC

Amagaju        1-0 Gicumbi

Etincelles       2-1 Rayon Sporta

Musanze        0-1 APR

STRIKER Hussein Cyiza Mugabo’s soaring second-half winning goal helped Mukura secure a 2-1 win over leaders AS Kigali in the ninth round of the Turbo King Football league held yesterday at Stade de Kigali.

Cedric Kaze’ side has struggled in front of goal in the top-flight so far this season, having notched just nine goals in their eight previous encounters.

The hosts dominated possession during the early stages and were able to find the net on 20th minute with a brilliant strike.

The visitors had initially looked somewhat overawed with the pace of the game and their opponents’ slick passing in the first half.

However, they quickly got to grips with their surroundings and took the lead after just 12 minutes from recess with Nelson Minani snatching the equaliser.

The Mukura faithful roared in support as Andre Gasambungo’ men continued to look for the winner and just in 65th minute striker Hussein Cyiza Mugabo who has just received his maiden summon to Amavubi team scored the winning goal after eliminating two defenders to shoot past goalie Dominique Nsengimana.

The loss which was the second pricked the visitors bubble and thrust the Huye-based club back into the Turbo League title race. AS Kigali who lost their second game of the season remains on top of the standings with 21 points while Mukura remained on ninth slot with 12 points.

Elsewhere, APR closed the gap on AS Kigali as they now stand in second position with 20 points, a point behind the Kigali City-sponsored club following their 1-0 win away to Musanze who dropped to fourth place with 17 points.

Striker Michel Ndahinduka scored the lone goal of the game as the military side dominated the game to extend their good form this season which have saw them beat arch rivals Rayon Sports last week.

SC Kiyovu jumped into third position with 18 points after thrashing Sam Ssimbwa’s Police side 2-0 at Mumena turf. Hussein Habimana and Ali Musa scored the vital goals for the old giants who have started to regain their form following a poor start to the season.

It was a shock for defending champions Rayon Sports as they suffered a second loss in a space of four days. Abdu Bizimana a.k.a Bekeni’s side Etincelles defeated the blues 2-1 at Umuganda stadiumto move into eighth position with 13 points courtesy of brilliant strikes from of veteran striker Yussuf Kayihura Chami and Arafat Bahame with Meddie Kagere snatching the consolation goal for ths visitors.

Rayon Sports has dropped to fifth place with 16 points in nine matches.

In Nyamagabe, Amagaju under new coach Godfroid Okoko snatched their first win of the season after edging Gicumbi 1-0 at Nyagisenyi Stadium.

Amagaju has escaped the relegation zone to move to 12th position with five points, two better than Esperance and AS Muhanga who will honour their respective fixtures on Saturday when they face Marines as Esperance travels to Rusizi for a date against Espoir.

Mukura sinks leaders AS Kigali

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Rwanda duo picked for Cecafa Cup

Referee Louis Hakizimana

 EIGHTEEN referees among them two Rwandans have been named in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) list of officials set to handle the upcoming regional tournament.

Referee Louis Hakizimana and assistant referee Honore Simba will be in action during this year’s senior Challenge Cup matches in Kenya.

The list released by the Secretary General Nicholas Musonye comprises of nine referees and nine assistants, all of whom are expected to travel to Nairobi ahead of the kickoff.

The named referees will then be taken through to fitness and medical tests on their arrival in Nairobi after which the tournament will officially kickoff.

This year’s tournament will kick off on 27th November and run for a fortnight until 8th December across various yet to be decided venues.

Various stadiums including one each in Mombasa and Machakos are expected to host the event which will bring together different countries from the East and Central African region including guest teams.

Referees: Anthony Ongwayo (Kenya), Denis Batte (Uganda), Wish Yabarow (Somalia), Israel Mujuni (Tanzania), Louis Hakizimana (Rwanda), Thierry Nkurunziza (Burundi), Waziri Sheha (Zanzibar), Gebremichael Luleseged (Eritrea), Kheirala Murtaz (Sudan)

Assistant Referees: Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya), Tonny Kidiya (Kenya) Mark Sonko (Uganda), Fedinard Chacha (Tanzania), Suleiman Bashir (Somalia), Fraser Zakara (South Sudan), Simba Honore (Rwanda), Hamid Idam (Sudan), Kinfe Yimla (Ethiopia).

Rwanda duo picked for Cecafa Cup

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Nyabihu; Parents urged to encourage youth to participate in Itorero

Jacqueline Bakunduseruye, National Civic school Coordinator in Nyabihu District

The coordinator of the National Civic School (Itorero) in Nyabihu District has urged all parents to encourage their children to participate in Urugerero program during ongoing holidays.

The youth that will attend this program will learn about the Rwandan cultural values, self reliance and finding solutions to their problems.

It is expected that another phase of students who are through with secondary section already in vacancies in Rwanda are set to start with the Itorero program on November 29, 2013 and about 1,016 students in Nyabihu district are expected to attend in Itorero programme.

In Nyabihu district, the training will be conducted at Rambura Girls’ Secondary School and Rambura Boys’ Secondary School. It is expected that 571 boys and 445 girls who recently sat for their senior six examinations will attend the National civic Education/training.

Jacqueline Bakunduseruye, the coordinator of the National Civic School in Nyabihu district says all parents should make sure their children attend the program for the good of the community, for the youth to learn of Rwandan values and history and be prepared as Rwanda’s future leaders.

Bakunduseruye says participation in Urugerero program will help the youth to become the positive influence and support their community in development.

Itorero program will be held for the second time involving students completing Secondary school education.

Nyabihu; Parents urged to encourage youth to participate in Itorero

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Nyabihu: Irish Potato prices drop

Residents of Nyabihu district have welcomed the decrease of Irish Potato prices from Rwf200 to Rwf100 per kilogram amid the current increase in food prices

The scarcity was caused by prolonged drought that forced Irish potato prices to rise to Rwf200 per one Kilogram and made many homes go hungry or with little food. Nyabihu is one of Districts producing large quantity of Irish Potatoes in the country.

 “Now one kilogram is sold being at Rwf100 with more hope to go even lower,” said farmers in Bigogwe sector.

Innocent Hakizimana an agricultural officer in Bigogwe Sector noted that they expected good harvest because of the training being offered to residents

“People are now more involved in land consolidation and planting a selected crop which is more beneficial to the district”, said Hakizimana.

If no climatic changes and natural calamities, crop production in this district is expected to increase during this season 2014 A, according to the district official in charge of agriculture.

Nyabihu: Irish Potato prices drop

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Nyabihu: Former civil servant earning big from vegetable growing

Even the smallest piece of land can be put to use in job creation

Florence Mukarukaka a former civil servant and resident of Nyabihu district testifies that vegetable growing has greatly improved her social-economic status.

Mukarukaka, a mother of five and resident of Kibugazi village, Rurengeri cell, Mukamira sector drew her efforts into vegetable growing after pulling out of civil service and she earns enough to keep her family.

She says that, when she quit government work and faced with poverty; she thought of creating a vegetable garden to generate income.

On the small piece of land in front of her house, she started growing different types of vegetables and spices that people use every day in preparing meals.

Asked about her success, she said: “What matters is commitment and being optimistic about the output.”

Mukarukaka confirms that she gets adaily income of Rwf2, 500 making an estimated monthly earning of Rwf75,000 or more from vegetables which she uses to provide for her family’s needs.

Mukarukaka advises youth and other unemployed members of the society to create small projects and fight poverty minding less about the nature of work.

Nyabihu: Former civil servant earning big from vegetable growing

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Gishwati woodland, the richest forest in Rwanda

The Gishwati farms for cattle grazing/keeping

Despite the threats Gishwati forest has faced over the years especially environmental degradation, erosion and land sliding that destroyed people’s homes and crops, Gishwati stands as  the richest forest in Rwanda.

Nyabihu District locals and the District administration have worked hard with concerned Ministries and various organizations   in conserving Gishwati forest that has made it a historical and touristic area in the country.

Gishwati is a natural forest that covers about 250,000 km². This forest nearly got completely depleted due to large scale cattle ranching and refugee resettlement of people who returned to Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

By 2001, only 1500 acres of the original 250,000 remained.

Nyabihu district being hilly and mountainous, there was an increase of landslides and eroding that the area became risky and dangerous.

A view of the cattle ranches in Gishwati Forest  

With the effects of environmental degradation becoming so fierce, in 2007, President Kagame and the Great Ape Trust chose Gishwati as the new national park and launched the Gishwati Area Conservation Program (GACP).

 

The terraces are so productive for crop farming

Permanent strategies to conserve the Gishwati forest were put in place; the area was then divided into 3 parts. One part is for farming, the other is for animal rearing and the 3^rd area was to be conserved.

The place for crop farming was made in terraces and crops like Irish potatoes, maize and beans are grown in the terraces. This area is so productive and through the making of terraces, soil erosion has been stopped.

Further, cattle rearing are at the peak in Gishwati. People were evacuated to safer places, the once a dangerous and High Risk Zones of Gishwati are now the most beautiful areas of Nyabihu district.

In 2011, GACP started a tourism program in the forest part of Gishwati, trees have increasingly been planted, and the Trust reports that 20 chimpanzees have been identified in the area.

The Forest now comprises 3,665 acres.  The program offers guided hikes and visits with handicrafts producers, traditional healers and beekeeping benefiting from the booming tourism.

Gishwati is being reforested as part of Rwanda’s policy of active reforestation aiming to have 30 percent of the country covered in forests by 2020.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources has embarked on a massive tree planting effort with over 67 million tree seedlings to be planted this year.

Gishwati woodland, the richest forest in Rwanda

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World Cup trophy returns to SA

World Cup trophy

The Fifa World Cup trophy will return to South Africa for the first time in almost four years as part of a global tour.

This tour will see the biggest prize in world football take on 88 countries in 267 days.

South Africans caught their last glimpse of the magnificent 18-carat gold sculpture when it was being held aloft by victorious Spain at the conclusion of the 2010 Fifa World Cup at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

But now it will return from 1 – 3 December 2013 on its way to its final destination, Brazil for the next global showpiece tournament that gets underway in June next year.

Dignitaries from across South Africa will welcome the trophy in a true Brazilian style ceremony on the 1st of December 2013 at the Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg.

Samba dancers and the 2014 Fifa World Cup Mascot, Fuleco are expected to add to the excitement.

South Africans will have a chance to see and be seen with one of sport’s greatest emblem at the Southgate Shopping Centre in Johannesburg from the 2nd December – 3rd December from 11:00 to 19:00 each day.

Fans will also have an opportunity to have souvenir photos of themselves taken with the word’s trophy, view a special hologram animation showcasing memorable moments of the Fifa World Cup, participate in interactive displays and enjoy other entertainment.

The tour will no doubt bring back special memories for fans of the magnificent finals held in South Africa in 2010, the first time ever the World Cup has been staged on the African continent.

The 2010 Fifa World Cup provided South Africa with the ultimate football party and the country’s citizens came together in the spirit of nation-building.

The sight of the trophy will forever evoke those memories and put a smile on the face of all South Africans, who will be delighted to see the prize back in their country.

The trophy itself is the second to be handed to winners of the Fifa World Cup. The original prize was named the Jules Rimet Trophy after the French football administrator who is credited with developing the concept of the World Cup tournament.

That was given to the Brazilian Football Confederation to keep after the country won its third World Cup title in 1970.

A new trophy was commissioned and after a total of 53 designs were submitted to Fifa by experts from seven countries, the final choice was the work of Italian artist Silvio Gazzaniga.

“The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world. From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture raise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory,” Gazzaniga said of his work.

The new trophy is 36 cm high, made of solid 18-carat gold and weighs 6175 grams. The base contains two layers of semi-precious malachite while the bottom side of the Trophy bears the engraved year and name of each Fifa World Cup winner since 1974.

The Fifa World Cup Trophy Tour was developed through an exclusive partnership between Fifa and Coca-Cola, one of Fifa’s longest-standing partners.

The total distance covered during The Tour will be 149 576.78-kilometres. In other words, more than three times the circumference of earth!

The Trophy Tour began its journey in Rio de Janeiro on 12 September, 2013. Departing from the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, the Fifa World Cup Trophy will travel around the world for nine months before returning to the country that will host the 2014 Fifa World Cup: Brazil.

Supersport

World Cup trophy returns to SA

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Cranes step up preparation ahead of Cecafa challenge

The Uganda Cranes begun their residential training at Namboole Stadium on Wednesday morning ahead of the Saturday friendly game against Rwanda Amavubi Stars to be played at the same venue

Cranes Coach Micho Sredejovic has had a several training sessions during the past weekends with all the Super League Players at Lugogo KCC FC Ground as a build up for the Cecafa Tournament due this month in Nairobi -Kenya.

Several players have been called and dropped during these weekend training sessions as a way to get used with National team tactics and atmosphere.

The Cranes will name a strong squad next week after the friendly that will enter residential training before they jet to Kenya for the Cecafa assignment.

Coach  Sledejovic has cautioned all the players to keep working hard because the tournament  “is not for boys rather for men” and he hopes to name a strong squad for the  annual tournament  as they aim at defending the title .The squad will be named later this week.

Cranes step up preparation ahead of Cecafa challenge

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Youth pitch IT projects to potential investors

Some of the members of the Young Presidents Organisation during the East Africa Business summit in Kigali.

The Private Sector Federation’s ICT chamber on Tuesday afternoon hosted the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), a network of chief executives that exchange and share ideas for career and personal growth in a bid to provide avenue for their members to access finance through venture capital.

The visiting members of YPO, mostly composed of chief executive officers of regional firms, are in the country for a week-long tour to follow up on and assess various projects run by YPO-Rwanda Action Forum (Raf).

During the meeting, five Rwandan entrepreneurs in the ICT sector who are members of the chamber had a chance to pitch their business proposals on ways they are planning to expand their enterprises, most of them seeking funding from the YPO members and others seeking for strategic partnerships to enable them grow.

“We want to create an environment for young people who have ideas to grow, we are looking to link them with experienced and established business people for them to make their ideas realities, more than money, they need mentoring and sound advice,” Patrick Kabagema, the chairperson of the private sector ICT chamber, said while welcoming the executives.

The entreprenuers

Those who pitched their proposal include Clement Uwajeneza, the managing director of AxIS, a software development company that was in 2011 awarded an excellence award as the best ICT company during the Rwanda Development Board Awards.

Uwajeneza is looking to grow his enterprise regionally through sale and installation of a modern tablet enabled point of sale that will ease accountancy and stock management.

By the end of his presentation, Uwajeneza had aroused some of the executives’ interest, some looking to acquire the service and others looking to put money in it.

He is seeking $630,000 (about Rwf422 million) for his project.

Other entrepreneurs who pitched were Jean Niyotwagira, the founder of TORQE, a software development company that is seeking to ease management problems, especially distribution.

Niyotwagira was requesting for $90,000 (about Rwf60 million ) for a percentage of his company.

Gira ICT founder Alphose Ruhigira, whose company makes it possible for customers to purchase ICT equipment through installments via banks and their employers, was looking for an investor to pump in $150,000  (about Rwf100 million) for a share of her company.

Sylvia Umutesi, the founder of Mahwii Ltd that makes it possible for patients to make medical appointments via SMS had options for the investors, either three per cent of the company for $100,000 (about Rwf67 million) or a loan of the same amount repayable in three years to cover the cost of the systems installations around the continent.

Already Mahwii Ltd is working with the Rwanda Military Hospital and Gertrude’s children’s hospital in Kenya and is still in the process enlisting other partners.

Nicholas Pottier, a software developer who worked in building systems used on Amazon, presented an SMS based platform TextIt to act as clinic reminder for pregnant mothers to bring down the number of women who die of pregnancy related complications, currently at 800 a day worldwide.

Pottier’s presentation stood out in that he required no funding only strategic partnerships.

The last presenter was the founder of Algorithm Inc that develops software for optimal management of business, which so far has presence in Rwanda, Burundi and Canada.

The company’s request was $200,000 (about Rwf134 million) and a committed partner to extend the company in more countries around the region.

The executives in turn wanted to find out the business models employed by the entrepreneurs  who were their target markets for the various presentations.

Yariv Cohen, the managing director of Israel-based Ananas Capital, a venture capital firm with a presence in more than 20 countries across the world, said the executives want to be more impactful in the business environment in the country.

“We want to connect strategic investors and people interested in businesses here to come and give value, capital and know how.  We are looking for good entrepreneurs in all sectors and be able to support them with our experience,” he said.

Yariv added that Rwandan entrepreneurs stood out in that they had regional ambitions.

“It is rare that we have young entrepreneurs with regional ambitions and a deep understanding of the business environment. To get ahead they will require funding and mentoring for them to keep turning the market needs into solutions. The ICT sector is at a good time as it is being recognised even by neighbours as the place to be.”

RDB lauds YPO

RDB Chief Executive Valentine Rugwabiza said Young Presidents Organisation is impacting on the country’s information and communication technology setting in a way not felt before.

“As the largest group (about 20,000) of CEOs around the world, we are truly feeling the strength of YPO in Rwanda. Spanning from agriculture to entrepreneurship, these CEOs are using business to impact the lives of many Rwandans,” Amb Rugwabiza said.

“We are pleased to see YPO’s engagement in child nutrition, agricultural production and skills development. These are areas that can significantly improve livelihoods of Rwandans,” she added.

Amb. Rugwabiza said there is a shared vision that has been exemplified by the group’s recognition of the country’s efforts through the  YPO’s Global Leadership Award that was previously awarded to President Paul Kagame.

“Our discussions today focused on reviewing what YPO has achieved in the past year, as documented in their 2013 year-end report that was handed to President Kagame. We also discussed future opportunities ranging from projects in the energy sector to e-procurement in ICT. We are happy to see the relationship between YPO and Rwanda continue to grow for the benefit of all Rwandans.”

Youth pitch IT projects to potential investors

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Terror suspect Mutabazi appears in court

Lt. Mutabazi (C) and his co-accused before the Nyamirambo Military Tribunal yesterday.

Terror suspect Joel Mutabazi was yesterday arraigned before court to hear his charges.

Lt. Mutabazi, a former Rwanda Defence Force officer, appeared before Nyamirambo Military Tribunal in the morning, where multiple charges levelled against him and his co-accused were read out.

He appeared before the court with 14 other suspects, including three women.

Presiding judge Charles Sumanyi read to the suspect his charges.

“You are accused of terrorism, formation of an armed group, spreading rumors with an intention to incite the public to rise up against the State, murder and conspiracy to murder, offence against the State and illegal possession of fire arms,” Capt. Sumanyi said.

The judge then asked the suspect if he was ready to stand trial.

Lt. Mutabazi told court that he is indigent and asked for legal aid ahead of the trial, prompting the judge to adjourn the hearing to ensure that he is accorded the necessary legal support.

The next pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for November 25.

Desertion and subversion

Lt. Mutabazi deserted the army and fled to Uganda in October 2011, where he is alleged to have operated a terror cell responsible for the spate of grenade attacks in Kigali.

Information gathered from suspects arrested after the grenade blasts in Kigali suggested that Lt. Mutabazi had been coordinating a group of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) agents who allegedly carried out the attacks earlier this year.

The FDLR are a militia group based in DR Congo largely responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

An Interpol red notice was issued following an international arrest warrant by Rwandan authorities accusing Lt. Mutabazi of terrorism activities and other criminal acts.

Lt. Mutabazi was arrested and handed over by Uganda Police last month.

Terror suspect Mutabazi appears in court

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Kigali summit focuses on ‘conflict minerals’

Minister Kamanzi addresses the forum on responsible mineral sourcing yesterday

The sixth edition of the Summit on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains kicked off in Kigali, yesterday, with delegates discussing the highly controversial mineral trade in the great lakes region.

The summit is organised by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the UN Group of Experts on DR Congo.

The first day was mostly held behind closed doors to encourage open deliberations with reporters left out of the anticipated session under the theme, “Who is to blame” for illegal mining activities that have fueled violence in eastern DR Congo and the way forward.

Questionable reports

Participants included international watchdogs like Global Witness and the Enough Project who produced several reports, such as the 2011 report–“Congo’s Mineral Trade in the Balance” that was highly contested.

Several sources who attended the session told The New Times that the summit presents an ideal forum to expose the inaccuracies in reports produced by watchdogs, while the international critics will also defend their stance.

In his introductory remarks, OECD Chairperson Roel Nieuwenkamp said that collaboration between stakeholders to end illegal trade in minerals “is not always easy,”  adding that the summit is a platform where those involved can debate and listen to each other freely.

“Due diligence in (mineral) supply chains is a central concept in the guidelines for all sectors and the entire region. Important messages which can be derived are; that it is not a zero tolerance approach…mistakes can be made since it is a risk based approach,” Nieuwenkamp said.

“It is not a big bang effort; it is a gradual continuous learning effort. It should not lead to embargoes. It is focused on improving the situation on the ground, not simply about cleaning your own hands and leave.”

Understanding mining sector

The Minister for Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, said the forum will help participants to understand Rwanda’s mining sector better, by interacting with first hand actors in the process of implementing international guidelines, such as the ITSCi Mineral Tagging and Traceability Scheme.

“The participants will grasp successes achieved in due diligence guidelines for tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, despite the challenges involved–and thus, chart the appropriate way forward,” Kamanzi said.

“They will be able to visit mining sites out of Kigali, where they will see for themselves the strides made in our national mining sector, including in production and carrying out the due diligence process,” he added.

Kigali’s hosting of the conference and the subsequent visits to the mineral sites is expected to help dispel rumours and allegations that Rwanda is involved in illegal mineral trade.

The mining fraternity is eager to contest the charges they face when implementing international guidelines, which they deem to be too expensive and hurting to the local miners.

“These are good guidelines and they help mining companies to work in a better and streamlined way. However, the charges are a real burden; for example, we are charged $200 and $300 per tonne of cassetirite and coltan exported. This money goes to the International Tin Research Institute (ITRI) to support the mineral tagging scheme,” Jean Malic Kalima, the president of Rwanda Mining Association, said.

“We believe that it is too high and particularly affects the local Rwandan artisanal miners. We want to tell OECD and ITRI that this is a burden to us and that they should consider revising these charges,” Kalima said.

Mineral revenue

The sector employs more than 35,000 people and has been growing at a rate of 10 per cent in revenue and volume since 1999, according to statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The ministry further indicates that about 90 per cent of the country’s surface area is underlain by the Kibaran System Rocks, which are known to be mineralised wherever they have occurred, such as in Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo and Angola.

Rwanda’s mineral volumes and revenues last year stood at 8,000 tonnes and $136.6 million (about Rwf86.7 billion).

The government plans to increase the figures to 18,000 tonnes and $400 million (about Rwf268 billion) by 2017.

Kigali summit focuses on ‘conflict minerals’

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Global young business leaders in investment drive

President Paul Kagame (C) poses for a photo with members of the Young Presidents’ Organization yesterday.

The Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO) has pledged to increase their investment in the country as well as help attract foreign direct investments from its members.

The organisation’s representatives made the remarks shortly after meeting President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, yesterday.

An eleven-member YPO delegation is in the country for a week to follow up and assess the various projects run by YPO-Rwanda Action Forum (Raf).

“YPO members are engaged in various projects in Rwanda, especially in the areas of agriculture, and ICT. We want to increase investments in this country because of the favourable business conditions Rwanda offers,” said YPO member, Yariv Cohen.

The World Bank’s Doing Business Report 201 4 ranked Rwanda second-best place to do business in Africa after Mauritius.

The annual World Bank report, which assesses country-by-country performance in ease of doing business, shows that Rwanda moved 22 places, to 32nd out of 189 countries globally.

Cohen noted that YPO also focuses on contributing to the development of Rwanda through provision of resources and expertise to businesses.

“Among our team, we have investors from shipping, manufacturing, agricultural processing and are looking to establishing local presence and learn more about Rwanda. We want to do a lot of projects and bring more of YPO members and invest in this country and use Rwanda as base of their operations,” Cohen added.

YPO and Rwanda

YPO is a global network that connects 20,000 chief executives of leading companies generating $6 trillion and employing more than 15 million people in 120 countries.

Formed in 2008, the Rwanda Action Forum, with 30 members currently focuses on priority areas, including agriculture, ICT and education.

The chair of YPO-Rwanda, Emery Rubagenga, said that they want to see more business entrepreneurs from YPO coming to invest in Rwanda.

“YPO members are from different countries across the globe and represent different established companies so it is an opportunity for them to explore potential areas of investment in our country,” he said, adding that the delegation called on the Head of State to present to him the progress report regarding the implementation of YPO projects in Rwanda.

“The projects are very important to our economy because they create jobs and improve on the population’s livelihood.”

The global young presidents are engaged in projects and partnerships such as geospatial data project, maize storage, Ikerezi and women empowerment through health and lifestyle.

Synergies

Others are Enablis, Agaseke craft partnership, educational radio, YPO Rwanda investment Committee and YPO doing business in Rwanda network.

RDB shares four projects with members of the YPO Investment Committee that include Ikerezi – Production of essential oils, Rabi – Sale of pre-cooked and packaged agricultural projects, mainly beans, Sopar – offers a local solution for quality feed and Hotel Vision in Kiyovu, Kigali.

YPO was founded in 1950 by manufacturer Ray Hickok, who at the age of 27, inherited his family’s 300-employee company in New York. He and other young presidents began meeting regularly as a way to become better leaders by learning from each other. This founding principle still guides the organisation to-date.

YPO members are required to “graduate” from the organisation at age 50, with many joining World Presidents’ Organisation, or WPO, a group founded in 1970 by 200 former YPO members to sustain their YPO experience.

Originally called World Business Council, the group changed its name to World Presidents’ Organisation in 1991 to reflect its rapid growth in membership and global reach.

Global young business leaders in investment drive

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RAB compensates farmers in Kayonza District

John Mugabo, mayor of Kayonza District

Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) has compensated farmers in drought affected sectors of Kayonza District with 30 tons of yielding bean seeds.

Scorching sunrays hit Rwinkwavu, Kabare, Murama and Kabarondo sectors and ruined maize plantations, according to John Mugabo; the Kayonza District Mayor.

Mayor Mugabo adds that it was worth repaying the farmers who had put in much effort to grow maize only for the sun to dry the crops.

 “RAB saw it beneficial to compensate farmers with new yielding bean seeds.” He said

The RAB help came after residents reported fear of hunger due to persistent drought. Residents revealed it was on November 9^th 2013 during the community work to grow beans in Kayonza district.

The mayor said they are optimistic that the beans will yield; adding residents are luck as has started raining.

Like other residents, Kazungu; a resident of Murama sector in Kayonza district commended the government for giving them another type of beans.

Apart from the affected sectors, the entire population of Kayonza district had worries over increased food prices in the market.

RAB compensates farmers in Kayonza District

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The Eastern Province prepares for Girinka Awareness Week

Girinka Awareness Week in Rwanda’s Eastern Province is set to commence on Wednesday 13^th to Saturday 16^th, 11, 2013

The week is being prepared by Rwanda Agriculture Development Board (RAB).

About 180,547 families in the country have been given cows in Girinka program ever since President Kagame initiated the programme in 2006.

According to Dr. Christine Kanyandekwe, the Deputy Director of RAB; It is projected that, about 350,000 families will benefit from the program by 2017

The Girinka Awareness Week will start in Rwamagana District and will be carried out Province and the country at large.

According to Kanyandekwe, the Girinka week will involve different activities including artificial insemination to cows.

Girinka program is now a better program with all strategies set to make it successful. The Deputy Director of RAB said it will be easy to give out cows to 350, 000 families in the next four years.

The Eastern Province prepares for Girinka Awareness Week

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MTN Rwanda launches 24- hour service

The Mobile Telephone Networks (MTN) Rwanda launched a 24 service delivery programme aimed at ensuring customer access services at their Union Trade center service point in Kigali on Monday 11th November 2013

The launch makes MTN Rwanda the second multinational Company to operate around the clock in Kigali, second to Nakumatt Supermarket. MTN Rwanda is the first MTN service Center offering such services in most parts of Africa.

 “This is an initiative aimed at ensuring proper customer service”, said the telecom General Manager –Customer Operations Norman Munyampundu during the launching, adding that they wanted a transition from customer service to customer experience so that in few years; customer experience at all the MTN access points will be excellent.

Munyampundu said they wanted MTN to become the global example with outstanding customer experience.

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer Ebenezer Twum Asante said the company improved the time of the service delivery to suit the fluctuating nature of its business and the digital world their customers live in.

By opening 24 hours, MTN is enabling the growth of different businesses and makes easy for every client who would chose what time suitable to seek the service.

MTN Rwanda launches 24- hour service

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Nyagatare: EWSA calls on public to protect infrastructure

Residents during EWSA open day in Nyagatare district

Electricity, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) has called on customers in Nyagatare district to protect infrastructures and approach its offices for services.

The call was made on November 9^th 2013 during EWSA public accountability for water and electricity customers in Nyagatare district.

Themothe Kayumba the Manager of EWSA in Nyagatare asserts that this day was put in place to share ideas in order to improve service delivery.

Among the issues raised during the open day was that many residents have not yet accessed water and electricity and challenged EWSA to speed up the supply.

Stanley Muganwa, vice-mayor for economic affairs in Nyagatare district noted that apart from Kigali city, Nyagatare district tops other districts in electricity distribution.

The vice-mayor asked residents to protect infrastructures because it costs a lot to avail them to the residents. However he says that some residents complain of low electricity yet they don’t use it in the right way.

On the issue of power blackouts, EWSA officials told the residents that it’s caused by old machines that are undergoing maintenance services.

30 percent of Nyagatare District residents have access to electricity and 54 percent of people been supplied with water.

Nyagatare: EWSA calls on public to protect infrastructure

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Parliament probes public hospitals

CHUK

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) wants an investigation conducted on King Faisal Hospital and Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) after the Attorney General’s report indicated that over 70millions was lost through expired drugs and unused equipment.

The Chairman of the PAC committee, Honorable Juvenal Nkusi, said these losses incurred out of carelessness the institutions need to step up efforts to improve management of government funds.

The AG’s 2011/12 report indicates that King Faisal and CHUK failed to recover money owed to it by patients. At the same time, CHUK is owed over 1.2 billion Rwanda francs while King Faisal is owed 1.3 billion.

In the report, King Faisal hospital also has a long standing debt of a little over 1 billion Rwanda francs owed to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and Rwanda Social Security Board, and also purchased medicine and equipment totaling to Rwf2 billion without a specific plan, leading to a loss of about 70 million Rwanda francs of expired drugs.

In the case of CHUK, the report indicated that the hospital sells some medicines to patients at a very high price, which has resulted to poor services and many patients not being able to afford medication.

Appearing before the PAC, the minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, expressed her disappointment over the management of hospitals and said that security and judicial organs ought to do their work because it is shameful to see some health institutions exhibit such serious financial management errors.

The PAC committee stated that an investigation shall be done to establish how the tendering process was conducted and why the hospital ordered such bulk medicine and equipment.

However, the hospital officials said that these problems would be resolved, especially the pricing on medicine which was brought about by a new computer program that was installed at the hospital which the staff was not familiar with.

Parliament probes public hospitals

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MINEDUC targets four adult learning centers per cell by 2015

In an effort to increase the current statistics of literate adults, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) is targeting to establish 8,600 adult learning centers around the country by 2015, a move that will see each of the country’s 2,148 cells having at least four learning facilities.

“We intend to teach adults reading, writing and counting, across the country,” said Espérance Muziganyi, the official in charge of adult learning at MINEDUC.

According to Muziganyi, Rwanda currently boasts of 5,017 learning facilities for adult education – slightly over two learning facilities in every cell. And over 70 percent of all Rwandans now know how to read and write.

Together with partners, MINEDUC spends an estimated annual budget of Rwf 500,000,000 (about $735,294) on adult education.

This year, it’s expected that thousands of high school students on vacation, will be volunteering with the education of the old people. After receiving refresher training, they will be dispatched to different schools across the country.

And some churches have been also helping with teaching the old people.

According to Jean Paul Seneza, Secretary in the Pentecost Church of Rwanda, his church has been teaching old people how to read, write since 1999. The church now has 2,835 learning facilities, which supplement the government-owned ones.

But there are challenges still. 35-year-old Bernard Twiringiyimana says some illiterate people still don’t have the courage to go to school to learn how to read, write and count because of an apparent illiteracy stigma.

MINEDUC targets four adult learning centers per cell by 2015

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Rwandan students sensitized on EAC integration benefits

Students from universities and higher learning institutes in Rwanda have been tipped on the benefits East African Community (EAC) integration.

According to a capacity-building expert Wanyama Masinde, a number of people from the five EAC partner states (Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya) have not yet understood the benefits of EAC integration and still cling to their respective countries.

In a public lecture at the Kigali Institute of Management (KIM), Wanyama told students that since independence, African countries have always considered a united continent a key to development.

He said that the major challenge towards benefiting from integration is the fact that African leaders rushed to having integration blocks ahead of communities’ understanding of the whole concept.

“In the past countries merged their borders prior to identifying the opportunities that would come along with the merging of frontiers, simply because of little knowledge and a few means based on mindset,” expressed Wanyama,

He called on students to aid mindset change for the region, with a message that all people in the region would benefit from the EAC integration without discrimination.

Augustine Karangwa, a students’ representative at Kigali Institute of Management {KIM}, said the training helped students with mindset change.

Karangwa said that following the increasing number of university graduates in Rwanda, EAC is an ideal job market.

Rwandan students sensitized on EAC integration benefits

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As Kigali Eye Mukura Scalps

AS Kigali team

TKFL, Tuesday

AS Kigali vs Mukura (Stade de Kigali)

Musanze vs APR (Musanze)

SC Kiyovu vs Police (Mumena)

Etincelles vs Rayon Sports (Umuganda)

AS Muhanga vs Marines (Muhanga)

LEADERS AS Kigali looks to extend its lead at the top of the Turbo King Football League when they face Mukura in the ninth round of the season at Stade de Kigali on Tuesday.

Unbeaten in the past six matches, Coach Andre Gasambungo will all be out to register another win for his youthful side which has been in good form since the season started.

They have lost once and won seven matches consecutively and AS Kigali seems not to be in any stand of losing any point again.

“The team has picked up the league rhythm and we are set for our next assignment against Mukura. It is a good squad and though they have struggled this season, we will not underestimate them,

“We will give them the respect they deserve as we seek to win the game,” added Gasambungo.

Coach Cedric Kaze has seen Mukura struggle to make any impression in as far as the league is concerned. Standing ninth with nine points, Mukura has won three matches and lost five.

However, Kaze believe his team will bounce back after losing three consecutive league matches just in a space of 14 days. “Lack of concentration and inability to score goals despite creating many opportunities has been our sole problem,”

“We have to pick up ourselves and prepare for the next match. I believe we can work hard and be able to start picking points in the enxt matches,” said Kaze.

Kaze’s side lost 2-1 at home to Police on Saturday, which followed narrow identical 1-0 defeats to APR and Rayon Sports respectively ahead of the AS Kigali crucial tie.

Mukura, who finished fourth last season, are aiming at winning this season’s title but if they are to achieve their targets, they will need to win more than they lose or draw.

Yossa Betrand Ngandjeu is expected to sit out this match due to suspension.

In other matches due this afternoon, defending champions Rayon Sports plays away to Etincelles at Umuganda stadium. Both sides go into today’s game nursing a loss in their last fixture. Rayon Sports lost 1-0 to APR while Etincelles succumbed to a 0-2 loss to Gicumbi.

Both sides will miss services of their key players; Cedric Amissi and Isiaka Nahimana who are out with two accumulated yellow cards.

Another tight match today will pit SC Kiyovu against Police at Mumena turf. Coach Gilbert Kanyankole’s old giants have been in good form and are ranked fifth with 15 points, a point better than Sam Ssimbwa’s side while AS Muhanga hosts Marines in Muhanga.

A battle between the second and third will be hosted in Musanze as APR seeks to garner maximum points away to Musanze without skipper Ismail Nshutiyamagara whp is suspended for today’s clash.

Meanwhile, two matches which were expected to pit Amagaju against Gicumbi and Espoir against Esperance have been postponed to Saturday.

As Kigali Eye Mukura Scalps

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United Sink Arsenal; Barca, Bayern Win

Manchester United ended Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten away run in all competitions with a 1-0 Premier League win at Old Trafford.

Unbeaten Barcelona moved three points clear in La Liga with a 4-1 victory at Real Betis, while Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-1 win over Real Sociedad.

Bayern Munich extended their unbeaten record to 37 games with a 3-0 triumph over Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

ENGLAND

Manchester United climbed to fifth in the Premier league after Robin Van Persie’s goal secured a 1-0 home win over his former club Arsenal, who remain top on 25 points.

Luis Suarez moved to eight goals in six league games with a double strike as Liverpool won 4-0 against Fulham, taking them up to second place with 23 points.

Goals from England call-ups Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana helped lift Southampton to third with a 4-1 win over Hull City.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard scored a controversial last-minute penalty to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion that extended their manager Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten league record at Stamford Bridge to 66 games.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City failed to break into the top four after 1-0 defeats against a Tim Krul-inspired Newcastle United and battling Sunderland respectively.

SPAIN

Unbeaten Barcelona pulled three points clear at the top of La Liga with a 4-1 victory at basement side Real Betis, after second-placed Atletico were held 1-1 at Villarreal on Sunday.

Cesc Fabregas scored two goals and set up the opener for Neymar, with Pedro netting an outstanding second, after World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was substituted with a hamstring problem. Betis grabbed a consolation penalty at the end.

An early own-goal gave Atletico a 1-0 lead at promoted Villarreal but Juanfran also put the ball in his own net for a late equaliser.

Barca has 37 points from 13 games, Atletico have 34 and Real Madrid is third with 31 after Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick in a 5-1 rout of Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira scored the others.

GERMANY

Record-breaking Bayern Munich opened a four-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-0 win over Augsburg to set a league record with their 37th consecutive game without defeat.

First-half goals from Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery, who put in another stellar performance and a stoppage-time penalty by Thomas Mueller, lifted the treble winners to 32 points.

Borussia

Dortmund stayed on 28 points in second place after a 2-1 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg where they lost defender Neven Subotic for the rest of the season with torn knee ligaments.

Bayer Leverkusen has caught Dortmund thanks to a 5-3 home win over Hamburg with a hat-trick by South Korean Son Heung-Min.

FRANCE

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic warmed up in style for next week’s World Cup playoff against Portugal by netting a hat-trick to put Paris Saint Germain four points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-1 home win against Nice.

PSG have 31 points from 13 games while Lille are on 27 after securing their eighth consecutive clean sheet in the league this season in a 0-0 draw at En Avant Guingamp.

Monaco are third on 26 points after a 1-1 draw against Evian Thonon Gaillard, with their Colombia striker Radamel Falcao joining PSG’s Edinson Cavani as Ligue 1 top scorers with nine.

ITALY

AS Roma remain Serie A leaders despite a second successive draw, this time at home to struggling Sassuolo who scored a 94th minute equaliser through Domenica Berardi.

Titleholders Juventus closed the gap at the top to one point after beating Napoli 3-0 in a match between two sides who started the weekend level in second place.

Fernando Llorente gave Juve a second-minute lead before spectacular second-half strikes from Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba finished off Napoli.

Giuseppe Rossi took his season’s tally to 11 goals by scoring twice in Fiorentina’s 2-1 home win over Sampdoria and AC Milan’s crisis continued with a 0-0 draw at bottom side Chievo where both sides finished with 10 men.

NETHERLANDS

Vitesse Arnhem went top for the first time in 13 years with a 3-1 home win over Utrecht, helped by late goals from Mike Havenaar and Davy Propper.

Vitesse last headed the standings in November 2000, also after the 13th round of the championship.

AZ Alkmaar could have taken first place with victory on Sunday but, despite two goals from Aron Johannsson, had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Feyenoord and are a point behind.

Ajax Amsterdam moved up to third, a further point back and level with Groningen, after a Siem de Jong double and one from Nicolai Boilesen earned a 3-0 win at bottom club NEC Nijmegen.

GREECE

Olympiakos underlined their dominance of the Greek Super League with a 4-0 drubbing of second-placed visitors PAOK.

Forward Joel Campbell, on-loan from Arsenal, set up top scorer Kostas Mitroglou for his 14th goal of the season and then combined with Argentine Javier Saviola who made it 2-0.

Spaniard David Fuster hit the third before Campbell rounded off a fine performance with the fourth goal.

United Sink Arsenal; Barca, Bayern Win

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Bank of Kigali continues to dominate Rwanda Stock Exchange shares

The Rwanda Stock Exchange share index (RSI) went up 3.41 points to close at 227.38 and mainly pushed by the rising Bank of Kigali (BoK) share price which closed at Rwf 230.

The BoK counter traded at a high of Rwf 230 and low of Rwf 200 before closing at RwF 230, increasing by Rwf 13 from yesterday’s closing price whereas Bralirwa counter was quiet with no shares recorded.

The market recorded five deals of 2,600 BoK shares worth RwF 533,800; down marginally from Rwf 979,912,300 on a volume of 4,633,900 BoK shares and 10,700 Bralirwa shares traded in fifteen deals yesterday.

KCB shares last transacted at Rwf 175 while NMG and Uchumi Supermarket shares last transacted at Rwf 1,200 and Rwf 175 respectively. At the end of formal trading hours, there were outstanding offers of 69,500 BoK shares at Rwf 230 and outstanding bids of 299,200 shares at Rwf 200.

On Bralirwa counter, there were outstanding offers of 225,500 shares between Rwf 826-890 and no outstanding bids. On KCB counter; there were outstanding bids of 12,400 shares between Rwf 175-180 and no outstanding offers. On NMG counter; there was an outstanding bid of 1,000 shares at Rwf 1,200 and no outstanding offers.

Bank of Kigali continues to dominate Rwanda Stock Exchange shares

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Nyaruguru district gets Rwf8 Billion for new hospital

Residents of Nyaruguru district and its neighboring districts of Gisagara, Nyamagabe and Huye will soon be able to access quality health care once a new health facility is constructed in the southern province.

Munini hospital will be constructed in a period of three years courtesy of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), who sealed the financing agreement (US$ 12.7 million (approximately Rwf8.5 Billion) with the Government of Rwanda on November 12.

The project will see the health facility get 300 beds, supply of medical and auxiliary equipment and the consultancy services for design, supervision of construction and procurement.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete, who signed the agreement on behalf of Rwandan government said that the  construction of the Munini hospital would not only bring closer quality health services to Nyaruguru sector but also provide employment opportunities to nurses and doctors.

This project will boost to the government of Rwanda’s initiative of propelling development in Nyaruguru district- which was highlighted among rural districts that have lagged behind in development.

President Paul Kagame has tasked his government to priotise its efforts in enabling Nyaruguru residents to access clean water electricity and education among others. Recently developments in the district have seen power lines installed, roads constructed among others.

The population of Nyaruguru is district is 304,000 and about 57.5 percent are aged 19 years or younger. More than a half (53 percent) of the population is composed of females and the majority is young, with about 83 percent still under 40 years of age.

Less than forty percent (38.4 percent) of the population in Nyaruguru district is identified as non-poor; 35.4 percent are extremely poor and 26.2 percent poor (excluding extreme-poor).

Compared to other districts in Rwanda, Nyaruguru district ranks fourth by percentage of population identified as poor or extremely poor.

Abdulwahab Ahmed Al-Bader, the Director General of Kuwait Fund acknowledged the existing cooperation between the financial institution and Rwanda saying that the people of Rwanda will stand to benefit from this partnership.

Kuwait Fund supports several projects in Rwanda including the concluded US$ 10 million Rehabilitated Ngororero-Mukamira Road project, expansion and rehabilitation of the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center, with financing amounting to approximately US$ 14.2 million.

This is an ongoing project that aims to boost Rwanda’s efforts in developing Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET).

The fund is also financing Construction of Rubengera-Gisiza Road, Lot 6 of the Kivu Belt multinational road, with financing approximating to US$ 14.4 million. It is an ongoing project which upon completion will boost trade and tourism along the belt.

Nyaruguru district gets Rwf8 Billion for new hospital

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Mobile money users get ATM access

Airtel Rwanda is officially the first mobile telecommunication company in Rwanda to provide money transaction services through automated teller machines (ATMs).

Airtel Rwanda, Rwanda’s national payment {RSwitch} and I&M Bank signed an agreement to provide mobile money customers with access to automated teller machines (ATMs).

The deal was signed during the just concluded TransformAfrica ICT Summit in Kigali.

The move comes at a time when Rwanda is experiencing a high mobile phone penetration and a tight telecommunications competition, with the use of Mobile money services becoming increasingly popular countrywide.

RSwitch Company is in charge of facilitating all electronic payments, especially distributing ATM in the country. The new system will allow Airtel mobile users to access money anywhere across the country.

Konde Bugingo, the RSwitch chief executive officer, said the facility has started with Airtel and I&M Bank, but other telecoms and banks will soon come aboard. Tigo and MTN telecommunications have also expressed interest in the service.

Over 1.7 million subscribers were registered on the mobile money platform by March 2012. The figure rose to 639,000 subscribers by the end of 2012.

MTN Rwanda affirms they invested over Rwf90b in the Mobile Money project.

Mobile money users get ATM access

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Rwandan journalists to exhibit about the 1994 genocide in London

Ten Rwandan photo journalists are set to exhibit photos in London, about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, during the 20th genocide commemoration.

The initiative was taken in a one week ongoing training to enhance photography skills among Rwandan photojournalists. Ten photo journalists are being trained.

The training which started on Monday is a result of a research about the Rwandan genocide by Dr Zoe Norridge, a Lecturer in Comparative Literature at Kings College London University.

“During the research, I got interested in telling the story of Rwandan genocide survivors, and how they are coping up after the genocide. Most people who document the country, especially international visitors, leave out bits of the story of rebuilding a new life,” says Dr. Norridge.

The training and the exhibition are facilitated by Kings College London.  Renowned photographers like Brandon Bannon and Andrew Esiebo, who both have held exhibitions all over the world, are some of the trainers.

“When international organizations commission photography, foreign photojournalists are hired. We look to build photography capacity that international photo exhibitions can feature Rwandans to tell their own story,” says Dr. Norridge, on behalf of Kings College London.

The photo exhibition about the 1994 genocide will be held between March and April 2014, in London, United Kingdom. It will feature works of the photographers who participated in the Kigali workshop.

Rwandan journalists to exhibit about the 1994 genocide in London

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I will thrill my fans by the end of the year-Green P

 

Rapper Green P will soon release the long awaited first mixed tape. The tape will feature rap music mix from Tough gangs, his group.

Green P’s mixed-tape will include genres of his songs and some of his signature verses in rap.

The rapper told rwandashow.com that he chose to dub his Mixed-tape ‘NDI RAP CYANE’ as a way to show his love for hip-hop.

The tape comes after the artist released his audio-visual song dubbed, ‘Ubutsinzi’ that he co-produced with Tusker Project fame Rwanda representative Gabiro. 

I will thrill my fans by the end of the year-Green P

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Benegihanga group gets new members

Singer Mani Martin

Singer Mani Martin has expressed his satisfaction and faith in his newest recruits of his band after four former members of Benegihanga - a band he founded – deserted him while they had gone to perform at the Francophonie Festival in Paris France in September this year.

Ntizatureka Didier, Christian Ngirinshuti, Ndengera Fabrice and Munyarugerero Gerard all went missing after the band had been awarded bronze medal at the festivities, leaving a dejected Mani Martin with only Ras Makayaga as his only remaining member.

But performing at Kigali Serena Hotel on November 9 during a session by Comedy Knights, the star said he had recovered from the loss of the quartet and took an opportunity to present the audience his newest music partners. He said, “It was disappointing to lose such an experienced band, but life has to go on. I take this opportunity to tell you that these are the people I will be working with.”

Mani Martin is arguably among the most successful local and regional artistes. He has won numerous accolades including the 2008 Best Gospel Artist at Salax Awards and the “Best Traditional Artist of the Year” category in 2012 at the same awards.

His music reflects the influences of both Rwandan and international artistes, while his themes mostly touch on peace, reconciliation and unity.

Benegihanga group gets new members

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Knowless to act in Tanzanian films

Knowless Butera

Female artist Butera Knowless will act in a Tanzania Movie soon. She will act alongside household Tanzanian movie industry names like; Irene Uwoya and Vincent Kigosi.

Knowless will spend two weeks in Tanzania discussing on the anticipated film and preparing with the crew.

Celebrated Rwandan actors like Dennis Nsanzamahoro, and Uganda’s song stress Julian Kanyomozi will act in the movie.

Knowless to act in Tanzanian films

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Tom Close tight-lipped on rumors of separation with fiancée

Singer Tom Close

Just ten days after introducing his long time fiancée in a colorful ceremony and waiting to walk her down the aisle, rumors have hit local websites that Tom Close’s girlfriend Tricia may have turned her back on him and that she’s backtracking on the decision to wed him.

The shocking revelations have gained an unexpected momentum on social and celebrity websites and their surging waves will not die soon.

Rumalex.net, the website that first published the story has told of a feud that arose between the couple following a text message that a former girlfriend to Tom Close texted him, only to end up in Tricia. The website continues to allege that things have gotten out of hand to an extent that the wedding has been called off.

Tukabyine.com tried to establish the authenticity of the allegations but, through a telephone conversation, Tom Close could only angrily bark, “I have nothing to say about that.”

 But Chief Executive Officer of rumalex.net Rugambage Zikkilla maintains that the title of the story is self-telling. He told tukabyine.com.

“The title reads: Exclusive rumor, and as such it should be treated as such meaning it might or it might not be true.” Tom Close and Tricia have dated close to four years now. On 2^nd November this year, the star officially introduced her in a ceremony that was attended by hundreds of people. The date for the official wedding is yet to be announced by the couple.

Tom Close tight-lipped on rumors of separation with fiancée

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