Gasigwa wins seventh ITF title

Singles finalMenJ. Gasigwa     bt      D. Oringa(Uga) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5WomenC. Odour (Ken)     bt     E. Otula(Ken)    6-4, 6-2TOP SEED Jean Claude Gasigwa had to cope with the scorching sun to beat David Oringa and win a record seventh ITF/CAT Prize Money title on Friday at Umubano hotel courts.Gasigwa, 30, needed three hours to edge his Ugandan opponent in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reaffirm his dominance on clay, and further re-write his name among the greats of the sport in the country.Both men appeared edgy in the early stages, with breaks of serve exchanged in games three and four, but Gasigwa fired a brilliant cross-court backhand winner to take the opening...

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Acting was my childhood dream– Ndahiro

His personality is adorable. Willy Ndahiro, is sociable, active and enjoys hanging out, despite having worked as a presidential guard for 10 years.Ndahiro was born in Bujumbura, Burundi on April 1, 1976, to Jean Pierre Ndahiro and Re’oncie Nyirasafari. He attended primary education at Ecole Primaire de la Nation before enrolling at College de la Fratermite secondary school for his secondary education.In 1993, he returned to Rwanda with his family and joined the Rwanda Patriotic Army, now Rwanda Defence Force. He later left the army and went back to school where he earned a certificate in Information Technology.Yet the now noncombatant ditched his certificate in the shelf to work in the film industry, which had always been his dream.“I liked...

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Google plunges deeper into smartwatch wars with WIMM

With Samsung on the brink of a big smartwatch reveal, Google confirms that it snapped up smartwatch maker WIMM Labs.Google, oft rumored to be working on a smartwatch, quietly bought WIMM Labs last year to light a fire under the effort.A Google spokeswoman confirmed to CNET that Google has acquired smartwatch maker WIMM. The takeover was first reported by GigaOm.Smartwatch maker WIMM went dark last year, posting a cryptic thank-you message on its Web site citing “an exclusive, confidential relationship” for its technology.Similar to previous reports of a coming Google smartwatch, the latest says the company has the work on the product — including WIMM’s employees — centered in the Android unit, rather than its X Lab. That could mean a Google...

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Is arming guards the solution to Sacco break-ins?

TWO ROBBERIES have hit two separate financial institutions based in the Southern Province in less than two weeks.First to be attacked was the Buhanda branch of Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) in Kinihira Sector, Ruhango District. The August 13 robbery, which occurred at around 7.30pm, left a cashier dead and Rwf4.6 million was stolen.Just after a week, during the night of August 25,  robbers hit again but this time targeting a Huye-based Umwarimo Savings and Credit cooperative (Umwarimu Sacco). The yet-to-be identified assailants killed an unarmed night guard and fled with over Rwf10.6 million in cash.The recent attacks add to others that occurred in the preceeding months, including one on a sector-based Umurenge Sacco in Musange, Nyamagabe...

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Civic group backs EDPRS2

In a bid to deliver targets outlined in Rwanda’s Second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2) particularly in the land management sector, LandNet Rwanda Chapter has pledged to work closely with government entities in realising rural development through proper management of land.The pledge was made during a consultative meeting between officials from LandNet Rwanda Chapter, Rwanda Natural Resource Authority (RNRA) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.According to Annie Kairaba, the national Coordinator of LandNet Rwanda, there is clear evidence of commitment from both the government and LandNet to develop strategies that will ensure the successful implementation of the EDPRS 2 development roadmap.Kairaba...

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Hope as Kigali rolls out public transport system

City of Kigali mayor Fidele Ndayisaba and other passengers during the launch of the KBS designated route covering Kabuga, Mulindi, Remera and Kanombe yesterday. Saturday Times/Timothy Kisambira.Three transport firms were awarded a five-year deal to operate public transport in the capital. The firms include Kigali Bus Service (KBS), Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperative (RFTC) and Royal Express.Kigali commuters yesterday cautiously welcomed a new public transport system with hope that it marked the end of difficulties synonymous with public transport in the city.On the first day of the new arrangement it became immediately clear that commuter taxis had been phased out off the main routes to give way for buses and mini-buses.“I am waiting...

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Ferwafa confirm La Jeunesse league exit

THE Ferwafa executive committee has given a greenlight to La Jeunesse’s request to pull out of the 2013/14 National Football League due to financial constraints.According to the secretariat of Ferwafa, the executive committee which sat on Tuesday agreed to La Jeunesse’s request and passed two decisions which stipulated that if La Jeunesse feels like returning back into the league in future, they will first seek qualification by featuring in the second division league tier.The executive committee also paved way for Etincelles to return back into the 14-man fold which will take part in the next season’s league which gets underway on September 21.Etincelles finished 13th last season but after La Jeunesse’s pull out, the club which is...

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Platini undecided on Fifa candidacy

Uefa president Michel Platini says he remains unsure whether he will run for the same post at the head of world governing body Fifa when current president Sepp Blatter’s mandate expires in 2015.“I am in the middle of thinking whether it is good or not good but I will certainly say something at Dubrovnik (the Croatian city where the next Uefa executive committee meetings will be held on September 19 and 20),” the Frenchman told sports daily L’Equipe.“I am obliged to say something because everyone is expecting me to express myself,” added the 58-year-old who enjoyed a glorious playing career that peaked in 1984 when he captained France to their first European championship.“It is not a simple decision. People will fight each other to have the...

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Rwanda lose classification match against Tunisia

9-16 places, WednesdayMali 71-70 Burkina FasoCongo-Brazaville 63-64 Central AfricaAlgeria 56-78 MozambiqueTunisia 76-54            RwandaRWANDA men’s basketball team continued with their poor performances as they lost to Tunisia 76-54 in the 9-16 classification matches on Wednesday night in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.Tunisia, who were bundled out in the eighth final led the first quarter with a 23-13 win but Rwanda won the second quarter 25-12 to go into half time with a 38-35 win.The North Africans took control of the game after recess leading the third and fourth quarter with 23-8 and 18-8 wins respectively.France-based Thierry Suku Suku and Kami Kabangu each grabbed ten points each while...

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Japanese envoy affirms continued support to Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs

The ambassador of Japan in Rwanda, Mr. Kazuwa Ogawa has affirmed his country’s commitment to continue to support MIDIMAR in its various areas of intervention.Ambassador Ogawa made the assurance during a courtesy visit paid to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs on Wednesday August 28, 2013.That was the first visit of ambassador Ogawa to MIDIMAR since he presented his credentials to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame in May 2013.Ogawa Kazuwa replaced Kunio Hatanaka who has also established smooth cooperation with the MIDIMAR during the three years he served as Japanese ambassadorin Rwanda.During a brief conversation held with Minister Seraphine Mukantabana, ambassador Ogawa reiterated that...

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Officials from African countries conclude training in Rwanda

Officials from six African countries who joined their Rwandan counterparts in a Transitional Justice and Peace building Course at Rwanda Peace Academy in the  northern province concluded the training on August 28, 2013.The week- long course attracted 25 participants including military, police and civilians.Talking on behalf of the Course Participants, Lt Col Modest Kombo from Kenya noted that they benefited a lot from the Training.“We have been exposed to the holistic approach to perfecting transitional justice… We now leave better than we came”, he testified adding that Kigali Genocide Memorial they visited is a must visit site especially for leaders and high ranking Government Officials from other countries,” said Kombo.Presiding over...

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Technical education the solution to unemployment

Rwandan youth whether educated or not are all facing the unemployment problem and the solution to majority of the youth would be learning technical skills to be job creators not job seekers This was said by Marie Alice Uwera the vice mayor for social affairs in Kamonyi district during her visit to the CPJSP Youth Center in Rukoma sector. This was during the youth training on fighting poverty provided by this Youth Center.The vice mayor appreciated parents who put in place this Youth Center to train school dropouts and Secondary School leavers on technical skills for them to compete on the employment market.“There is a problem of unemployment in most of the graduating youth; we need job creators and not job seekers. Unfortunately, people...

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PL Party Rallies Ruhango Voters

PL party rallies Ruhango votersLiberal Party (PL) has said that it will seek to ensure continued social justice, civil liberties and development for all Rwandans and asked Ruhango district voters to support its parliamentary candidates to meet this agendaPL party president, Protais Mitali, made the remarks during parliamentary campaigns by candidates on the party’s ticket in Ruhango district this August 27, at the rally held at Ruhango grounds.Mitali told residents that even though the country has registered remarkable progress, his party wants to ensure there is sustainability of that success.“The party also projects to increase the number of representation in the lower chamber of Parliament. Mitali said, we are optimistic this goal will be...

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Miss Rwanda Turns Tables In Berlarus

While many people are used to seeing beauty pageants where women show off the swim wear with just abit of the body covered, Miss Rwanda Aurore Mutesi defied the norms as she walked on stage with her body half covered.At the Miss Supranational beauty contest in Belarus, participants went into shock when she paraded in swimsuit with a sarong covering her tights and behind. She did the same when having her official swimsuit photos taken.Out of the 90 ladies who showed off the bikini, it was only Aurore Mutesi who decided to stick by her African cultural values. Though she was not recognized for any award, her move certainly has left the organizers of the contest in owe and pondering.With a very strong group of contestants this year, judges had...

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Uncle Austin remains optimistic ahead of his album launch

Afro beat singer Uncle Austin has expressed his optimism ahead of his album launch entitled Uteye Ubusambo after his main guest, Ugandan star Bebe cool arrived at Kigali International Airport. Austin expressed his belief that the launch would be a success following the arrival of the star, also a member of East Africa’s Reggae Man Bash Crew that also incorporates Kenyan pair Wyre and Nazizi.Speaking to the media shortly after receiving his guest Austin couldn’t hide his excitement saying, “This is a clear sign that what I promised my fans is about to unfold shortly. I am excited because he (Bebe Cool) is one of the guests that I had invited, so it’s a pleasure to have him here. It’s a great commitment because coming all the way from Uganda...

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Scandals and negativities sell more than positives- Bebe Cool

Ugandan musician Bebe Cool believes the controversies and eccentricities that surround musicians are always blown out of proportion in order for the tabloids to sell. Bebe Cool was speaking after his arrival in Kigali, where he is expected to be the star guest at Uncle Austin’s album launch entitled Uteye Ubusambo.Asked why he has always appeared in tabloids for all the wrong reasons, the star only smiled and said, “In music you never end up in the news for wrong reasons, I have to correct you on that, there is no news like negative news, I mean if you go to church and give out money nobody wants to talk about it. But if you get high and down there the press will be on your neck so news is good like negative news. I would like to tell you that...

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Gisagara evaluates harmonized family training programs

Gisagara District conducted an evaluation Tuesday 27th.Aug 2013 on training given by Youth and Women in the fight against domestic conflicts, an assessment that proved the program has been effective up to 95percent.The program is set on sensitizing conflicting couples to iron out their differences and create harmonious families. With the support of Care International and RWAMREC (Rwanda Men’s Resources Centre), Gisagara district has been training people to sensitize conflicting families to live in harmony. This program is becoming productive as sensitizers move around sectors discouraging domestic conflicts.“Some couples did not want to accept being sensitized pretending not to be conflicting but later admitted to the truth and solved...

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Gisagara to train People with Disabilities on their rights

People with disabilities in Gisagara district were again reminded that they are not incompetent and are capable of doing almost everything.This was a reminder given to the people with disabilities on Tuesday the 27th.August 2013 during their training on their rights as their responsibilities.While officially opening this training, the mayor of Gisagara district Léandre Karekezi appreciated the role people with disabilities are playing in the development of the district. He reminded them to keep sensitizing other people who were not in the training of their rights and responsibilities to develop the nation.“You must be well aware that everyone is capable of working and being self-reliant” the mayor reminded the people with disabilities. “For...

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Gakenke: Grassroots leaders motivated to improve government programs

With the new program of rewarding the best performing village leaders has motivated leaders to work harder to improve government programs like Community work and Mutuelle de santé medical insurance among others.The village leaders who outdid their fellows on developmental projects in their villages were in the last economic year 2012/2013 rewarded with bicycles, radios, telephones and torches. A motivated village leader of Mazinga village in Rusagara cell intends to get rewarded with the next team of outstanding leaders through sensitizing people to participate in Mutuelle de santé medical insurance before time.“I have researched and only 22 families out of 107 families that have not yet participated in Mutuelle de santé. Last June the outstanding...

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Digg launches Android app with RSS reader abilities

The software presents top stories from the Digg story-discovery service and subscription feeds on Android devices, heating up the competition in the RSS reader market.Digg now has an Android app called Digg Reader, matching one it already has on iOS.Digg, trying hard to reclaim its once-prominent position as a go-to site for interesting links on the Net, has released an Android app that combines discovery with RSS reading.“Like the Web version of Digg, the Android app includes up-to-the-minute stories from the Digg homepage as well as Digg Reader, all optimized for your Android device,” Digg said in a blog post Thursday. The app is available for download on Google Play.The app warms up the competition for a Google Reader replacement after Google...

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EAC presidents set timelines for major integration projects

School children walk along a railway line in Kibera, a slum in Nairobi. EAC leaders want the Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali railway line fast tracked. The New Times/ Net Photo.The Presidents of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have directed their respective finance ministers to come up with a comprehensive mechanism showing the financing of proposed regional infrastructural projects.Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni also set timelines on the projects which include the Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali railway track, Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali oil pipeline and a regional power transmission line.According to Monique Mukaruliza, the national coordinator of the Tripartite Initiative (between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya), the construction of the oil pipeline...

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Women candidates hit campaign trail with pomp

Some of teh women candidates during a meeting with NEC officials. The New Times/ Timothy Kisambira.Candidates aspiring to join parliament on the women ticket have since Monday campaigned in different districts upcountry.A total of women have hit the campaign trail in the race for the 24 slots reserved for women, in a college vote that will take place on September 18.The constituency in the election for women representative is at the provincial level. The college is made up of women representatives from the village up to the provincial level. Provinces have varied number of representatives, depending on the population.In the Southern Province, 30 aspirants for six seats started presenting their manifestos on Tuesday.Ignatienne Nyirarukundo,...

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Govt: DRC provocation can no longer be tolerated

Minister Mushikiwabo. The New Times/ Edwin Musoni.The Government of Rwanda has strongly condemned the continuous shelling of its territory from the neighbouring  Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after the latest attacks yesterday killed one woman and seriously injured her two-months old son.The victim was identified as Vestine Mukagasana.On Thursday alone, 10 bombs were fired into the border district of Rubavu, with the first targeting a market at around 9:45 am.“The persistent shelling of Rwandan territory is unacceptable, as it would be to any sovereign nation. Rwandan civilians are being targeted by DRC forces. We have remained restrained for as long as we can but this provocation can no longer be tolerated,” Louise Mushikiwabo,...

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Maximise African tea’s potential, Kagame tells producers, dealers

President Paul Kagame has urged tea producers and dealers across Africa to add value to tea products in order to play a greater role in the continent’s socio-economic development.He was speaking yesterday at the ongoing second Tea Convention and Exhibition in Kigali.Kagame also called for reduced dependence on foreign markets urging expansion of domestic tea consumption.Organisers say the event, held under the auspices of the East African Tea Trade Association, provides an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences and learn from each other.Participants include industry experts, agriculture input suppliers, practitioners, researchers and scholars, as well as financiers, investors, logistic and warehousing experts.Kagame said there was...

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Kikwete Asks For Museveni Help On Rwanda Conflict

President Kagame and Ugandan counterpart President Museveni lay foundation stone on a facility in Rwanda during one of the later’s many trips (PPU Photo)Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete has asked Uganda counterpart to mediate in the ongoing spat between him and Presisent Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the Tanzanian Prime Minister announced in Parliament.PM Mizego Pinda informed Parliament on Thursday that President Museveni would work on bringing the two leaders together; more than three months after relations hit a low end. On May 26, President Kikwete suggested in a closed door African Union summit in Ethiopia that Rwanda negotiates with Rwanda FDLR rebels in DR Congo.The weeks that have passed saw bitter exchanges between Kigali and Dar es Salaam....

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Rwanda Slams “Hypocritical” International Community Over DRC Rockets

The government has accused the international community of watching with indifference as dozens of rockets have been fired into Rwanda by DR Congo government forces on a daily basis for the past week.Rwanda’s foreign affairs minister and Government Spokesperson today that “DRC forces have intensified deliberate shelling of Rwandan territory”. A bomb fired by FARDC at 9.45am this morning killed a woman and seriously injured her two-month old baby in a market in Rubavu town, witnesses reported.A second bomb landed at 11.20am near the grand barriere in Rubavu town injuring one person and eight bombs landed at Busasamana village in Rubavu District at 11.30am. This follows thirteen bombs and rockets fired by DRC forces on Wednesday at Rwandan border...

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Rwanda border on high alert after DRC bombings

Rwandans living in Rubavu district, which borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and now on high alert after DRC government forces (FARDC) shelled two bombs on the Rwandan side this August 29, morning.So far reports indicate that a woman was killed and her two-month old baby in a market in Rubavu town and other three people seriously injured and transferred to Kigali for treatment.Apparently, Rubavu local leaders have sent on alert to residents warning them to be more careful and not to move in large or cross the borders.This follows thirteen bombs and rockets fired by DRC forces since Wednesday, bringing the total of 34 bombs and rockets have been fired into Rwanda in the last month by DRC forces since...

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