Mukantabana urges refugees to return

- Séraphine Mukantabana Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs

THE NEW MINISTER of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), Séraphine Mukantabana (pictured), has appealed to Rwandan refugees to return home before the Cessation Clause comes into force.

The Cessation Clause states that with effect from June 30, 2013, Rwanda refugees who fled between 1959 and December 31, 1998, must either voluntarily return home or apply for citizenship to stay in the host countries.
 
Addressing a news conference yesterday, Mukantabana who was appointed minister last week, said about 70,000 Rwandans are still living as refugees in different countries.

“We want at least 90 per cent of them (refugees) to return home voluntarily before the implementation of the cessation clause,” she emphasised.

Rwandans refugees return recently. UNHCR in partnership with Rwanda last year allocated $12 million to facilitate voluntary repatriation of refugees and permanent settlement.ning peacekeepers yesterday.

Mukantabana explained that Rwandans living outside the country and engaged in lucrative business, are free to remain there, as long as they are living a better life, but urged them to come and get Rwanda Identification cards.

Most Rwandan refugees are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Congo Brazaville, Malawi, and Zambia.

Once the cessation clause comes into force, Rwandan refugees will no longer be entitled to refugees’ benefits from United Nations High commission for Refugees (UNCHR).

Without divulging the new measures, Mukantabana said the ministry was developing new repatriation mechanisms that will see refugees return in big numbers.

“We are providing transport fares and other assistance if need be, to enable refugees wherever they are in the world return home with ease.”

“I am new in this ministry and confident, we will achieve our target. I didn’t come to sleep in the office, I came to work. I have been a refugee myself and I know how challenging it is, to live as a refugee,” she emphasised.

According to the government, the returnees are facilitated to resettle in terms of medical care, food, education for the children, and shelter, among other things.

The returnees 

UNHCR, in partnership with Rwanda last year allocated $12 million to facilitate voluntary repatriation of refugees and permanent settlement.

Since 1994, up to January 2013, a total of 3, 437,472 Rwandan refugees have voluntarily returned including 11,031 who returned in 2012.

Since January this year, over 800 refugees have repatriated.

At the same news briefing, two former Rwandan refugees told reporters that, they were happy to return home.

“I am so amazed by the transformation of the country I left torn apart by war,” said Zaria Karangwa, 52, a former refugee in Chad.

Karangwa returned last year in December, with his wife, three children and two grand children.

Sarathiel Nyandwi, another refugee who recently voluntarily returned from South Africa, said he thought Rwanda was faced with political instabilities and civil strife before he returned.

“I came back in December on a fact finding mission but I was surprised to see that Rwanda is very peaceful compared to where I have been staying. I have realised that people who speak ill things about Rwanda are enemies of this government based on their personal interests,” he explained.

Nyandwi currently operates a security firm in South Africa but plans to conduct business between Rwanda and South Africa.

He hails from Rusizi District and that is where most of his family members are.

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Kategaya played key role in EAC integration – Mukaruliza

RIP. Kategaya has been described as an asset in the EAC . Net Photo.

THE MINISTER of East African Community Affaris, Monique Mukaruliza, yesterday, said that the region will greatly miss Uganda’s former third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs.

Born in 1945 in Uganda’s western district of Ntungamo, Kategaya died on Saturday in Nairobi, where he had been hospitalised for weeks.

“We have lost an asset in the community and we shall always miss his rich experience and the insights he brought to the EAC Council of Ministers,” Mukaruliza said.

Until his death, Kategaya, a childhood friend to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, held the docket of East African Community Affairs.

“Our condolences go to the family, relatives, and the people and the Government of Uganda,” Mukaruliza said.

Abdulrahman Kinana, the former Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly and Head of the EAC Election observer mission in the ongoing Kenyan elections, described Kategaya as a principled man who strongly stood for integration.

“We have lost a patriotic East African. He was a very soft spoken man but firm on matters of principle,” Kinana said.

Uganda’s Minister of Information, Mary Karooro-Okurut, said Kategaya was a historical member of the ruling National Resistance Movement, who for decades, worked selflessly for the liberation of Uganda.

“His resolve and passion for accomplishing the East African [political] federation will, at this critical stage, be sorely missed,” Okurut said in a statement to the media yesterday.

Straton Ndikuryayo, one of Rwanda’s representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), was equally shocked by the news of Kategaya’s death.

“He always advised on avoiding what may lead to the collapse of the Community like it did in 1977. He inisted on ensuring that the EAC integration process is people centred,” Ndikuryayo said. 

The Ugandan government yesterday announced that it will, in due course, issue a detailed programme with funeral arrangements for the late Kategaya.

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Organizational Efficiency in Kigali City to be augmented with the new e-mboni system

The e-mboni launch officiated by the Minster of Youth and ICT Nsegimana Jean Philibert

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT) has today officially launched a Document Tracking and Workflow Management System tag named e-Mboni.
The project, which was co-funded by GoR and the World Bank has been launched at the City of Kigali as an institution that has championed implementation of the system. E-Mboni aims at improving overall efficiency, accountability and transparency in government through the use of electronic documents and records lifecycle management.
The Minister of Youth and ICT Jean Philibert Nsengimana said; “This system is meant to improve inter and intra governmental efficiencies ultimately geared to serving Rwandans in an efficient and effective manner. The advantage of this system is that it is flexible and mobile; one can work wherever he or she is in order to serve clients without delay.”
The RDB Head of Department for ICT, Patrick Nyirishema added that; “The System is solution oriented – it is meant to drastically reduce the use of paper based processing and also automate, accelerate and simplify administrative processes.” He further commented that this project is an enabler for administrative reform in government operations and it will boost Rwanda’s economic transformation.

At the e-mboni launch (from left: Mayor Ndayisaba Fidele, Minsiter Nsengimana Jean Philibert and Dr. Sebashongore Dieudonne, the Chairman of the Council of the City of Kigali

The Document Tracking and Workflow Management System (e-Mboni) has a centralised structure that can be used in any Ministry or Public Service Organisation to track the progress of documents throughout their life cycle. The system enables secure and consistent storage of documents as well as increased information retrieval efficiency through powerful and fast search option.
The Mayor of the City of Kigali Fidele Ndayisaba applauded the system “E-Mboni has come at a time when we actually need it. We are presently implementing various IT programmes to enhance service delivery in the City of Kigali. I am sure this system help in better service delivery.”
E- Mboni has been developed for all ministries and district offices and ready to be used. So far, five ministries notably Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Youth and ICT, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs; three district offices; and the City of Kigali are already using the system.

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I’m thinking about the future of Rwanda, not the third term- Kagame

President Paul Kagame

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has told local and international media that the issue of his succession is in Rwandans hands and that he is very concerned of the country’s future other than the third term that is repeatedly and unnecessarily brought up.
The president was responding to questions from Journalists during a press conference held in Kigali this Wednesday 27^th February 2013.
The President asserted that Rwandans are the ones concerned with the succession after 2017, saying the rest of the World that seems to worry is actually less concerned.
Kagame challenged some media where he referred to some article he read recently advising him not to be bothered with the justification that the constitution stipulates everything.
He told journalists that any president that is not bothered is out of the place. “I’m bothered of citizens rights, I’m bothered of what has happened, what is happening, what will happen and I’m bothered of where we have come from, where we are and where we are going” Kagame clarified 
Explaining why people mistake and confuse some statements he makes with what they already have in mind, the President said Rwandans should not have a president who is not bothered; arguing that it would be a worst deal in their life ever.
“You may have different views but I believe the country has been making progress” He remarked while emphasising on the country progress as the best thing to look at and find ways to consolidate it, empower the society with more vibrant means to promote development from the grassroots instead of focusing on what he referred to as “  a confused situation”
When the question to whether Kagame would leave the office in 2017 was repeated by the newsmen to him, the President reminded them that Rwanda’s situation is very complex, unique, and special with complicated history.
“The debate is welcome.  But at the end of the time, let’s remember that Rwandans will decide. These interrogators keep forget that it is Rwandans with prime right, power and decision. It is Rwandans who put the constitution in place people do not know how I’m dying to leave this office so that I can freely say anything, and have peace of mind”.
Some journalists  among whom were from the British Broadcasting corporation (BBC)  brought in the question of a recent signed peace accord in Addis Ababa over Congo issue, asking if the recently reported conflict among M23 rebels will not affect it.
“This Rwanda that has suffered so much need be treated with respect for our people” He noted.
“I’m not responsible for Congo. When such deals are signed, every country benefits and Rwanda expects to benefit from peace.
Other matters on the press conference table were about opposition parties and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) among others.
While responding to the question posed by a journalist from Reuters on if Kagame would like to see more opposition parties registering, He said: “They may create as many as they want”. He criticised western countries saying “It is even strange that these advocates of oppositions have only two or three opposition parties and most of the time they do not have beyond two but when it comes to Africa they want us to have so many claiming it is the sign of Democracy”.
 Kagame even wondered why some countries in Africa which have a good number of political parties have not yet been considered the most democratic countries while on the other hand, those developed ones with only two political parties are said to be the most democratic ones.
He noted that the justice institutions in Rwanda are capable but these International justice institutions like the ICTR might have  hidden institutions and agendas, stating that  it might be the reason why cases of murderers are handled poorly, partially tried, sentenced and later  released.
There are many requests by Rwandans from across the country both in urban and rural who write, speak through media and express their interests during some presidents visits begging President Paul Kagame to consider contesting for the third term.
 Kagame has repeatedly said he is not interested in the extension of his time nor does he want to alter the constitution for any reason close to that.
“I do not do this job to be paid or please anybody. I do not want the third term but I’m doing this business…. and  when I’m done I’m done. I can serve the country in the deferent way, I’m thinking about the future of Rwanda but not the third term.” Kagame stated 

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Rwanda a role model for British Healthcare system

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame addresses the UN. The country has made strides in healthcare AP Photo/Richard Drew

The Atlantic magazine had an interesting article this month:“Rwanda’s Historic Health Recovery: What the US Might Learn”by Neal Emery. Given the appalling genocide in Rwanda in 1994, the statistics of the country’s turn-around in health are truly good news. Given that bad news is the traditional fare of newspapers, it is worth highlighting what has happened in this Third World country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Emery writes that in the wake of the genocide Rwanda seemed another failed state. One in four children died before their fifth birthday and life expectancy was aged 30. However, within the last ten years alone, Rwanda has seen huge improvements: deaths from HIV, TB and malaria have each dropped by roughly 80% and the maternal mortality ration has dropped by 60 per cent. Despite a population increase of 35 per cent since the years 2000, the number of annual child deaths has fallen by 63 per cent. The economy is growing rapidly and millions have lifted themselves out of poverty during the same period.
These dramatic developments did not happen because of an influx of Western aid following the genocide. Emery writes that many aid organisations “wrote off the country as a lost cause” and that Rwanda “achieves its superb improvement while spending only $55 per person on health care and public health per year”. Emery cites an article by Dr Paul Farmer in the BMJ which investigated the ways in which Rwanda has been able to achieve these results. It seems that they are due because of how money has been spent on healthcare rather than on how much has been spent.
Credit is largely due to the Rwandan government’s centralised planning of health care. In 2000, the Government created a plan called Vision 2020, with the aim of developing into a middle-income country within 20 years. Economic growth required a corresponding improvement in health. Thus all the government ministries had to coordinate plans to deal with HIV and later on, other non-infectious diseases such as cancer. Outside funding agencies and NGOs had to fit in with Vision 2020, rather than push their own agenda. Money given to Rwanda to combat HIV has been used to build a system of primary care because “HIV does not exist in a vacuum – if an HIV program does not address the associated problems such as tuberculosis and malnutrition it will fail.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr Agnes Binagwaho, emphasises that as well as building hospitals and clinics, the country has trained 45,000 community health workers who provide in-home care and psychosocial support for HIV patients as well as basic primary care for local communities. Rwanda also has universal health insurance; Dr Binahwaho comments, “Whatever we do, we make sure that the poorest and most vulnerable have benefits too.”
The article makes the point that in the US, despite its wealth, the health system relies too heavily on doctors and hospitals to provide care; many poorer patients living in the community fall through the cracks. It struck me that the UK could also learn from the example of Rwanda. Listening to “Yesterday in Parliament” I heard Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, yet again talk about the importance of “compassionate care” rather than a managerial, target-based model of the kind that led to the Mid Staffs NHS Trust scandal. But are they mutually exclusive? Rwanda’s Vision 2020 has the goal of a radically improved health system – but without failing the most vulnerable.
By far the biggest problem the UK has to face now and in the future is the growing numbers of the elderly needing some form of support and help at home. Much of this basic care could be provided in the community – but the present system is woeful: too few and untrained care workers struggling with a large list of housebound and vulnerable people for whom “compassionate care” doesn’t exist. The NHS has enormous sums of money at its disposal; perhaps this budget could be used more effectively in recruiting and training more and better-qualified community health workers? As Rwanda shows, it is not how much money is available that matters, but how effectively the money is spent.

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Regional countries urged to cooperate in fighting crime

Kayihura (L) hands a gift to his host, Gasana, yesterday.

The chairperson of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has called upon member countries to be vigilant of the increasing transnational crimes, calling for strong cooperation in thwarting the felonies.

Gen. Kayihura, the Inspector General of Uganda Police, is in Kigali to discuss various security issues as well as assessing the implementation of previous decisions by the EAPCCO meeting.

During the meeting with RNP officers, led by IGP Emmanuel Gasana, Kayihura said criminals were abusing regional integration framework under which free movement of persons has been eased.

He said countries are focusing more on domestic issues, and called crime prevention to be ‘regionalised’.

“If you take care of your own security and forget neighbours, you’re deceiving yourself. We need to help each other in building capacity and cooperation to end cross-border crimes,” Kayihura said.

Gasana, for his part, said criminals now use technology in transnational crimes and called for teamwork to fight them.

“Criminals take advantages of modern technology to commit high-risk crimes that affect national interests. The challenge remains how we use the same technology to deter the crimes committed and ensure that fugitives are apprehended and brought to justice,” he said.

EAPCCO was established as an effective way of improving international police cooperation in combating transnational crimes through cooperation and collaboration, adoption of joint strategies, monitoring and information exchange.

Gasana, who also represents the continent on the Interpol executive committee, urged African countries to unite and fight to ensure peace and security.

EAPCCO is made up of 12 member countries; Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. Others are Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

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630 graduate at INILAK

A mother congratulates her daughter upon her graduation.

Six hundred and thirty-one students yesterday graduated in various disciplines from the  Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali with a call from the Director-General of Education Planning in the Ministry of Education, Dr Erasme Rwanamiza, to Rwandan universities to observe education standards.


The Director-General of Education Planning in the Ministry of Education, Dr Erasme Rwanamiza, has urged universities to observe standards to improve the quality of their graduates.

Dr Rwanamiza, who was yesterday presiding over the 5th graduation ceremony of the Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK), said universities should focus on education that produce job creators.

“The government targets to develop vocational skills in general. University education should be based on research,” Dr Rwanamiza said. 

Passing out the 631 graduates, the Rector, Dr Jean Ngamije, said the staff was proud to have equipped the students with necessary skills to help them stand the competition in the job market. 

“You have entered a challenging and yet important juncture of life; realising your dreams and delivering for the nation. At this crucial stage, let dignity and self-reliance be your mark, let your plans be imbued with this kind of thinking big to achieve greater success,” he said.

Since 1997, the Independent Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali has graduated more than 5,050 students.

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