Rwanda: Educating Children Crucial to Development

George Kagame17 June 2007
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Kigali — For want of quality education, black children in poverty stricken Soweto township of South Africa took to the streets in 1976 where they were met with hails of bullets. It is in honour of them that the Day of the African Child marked every June 16 exists today.


Education has improved greatly and taken centre stage not only in South Africa but in many other countries on the continent. Other child related issues, such as child trafficking which was the theme of this year's celebrations, have metamorphosed with time but education remains an essential priority for African children.

In an ideal world, children's education would be universal and publicly financed, and all children would be able to attend school regardless of their parents' ability or willingness to pay.

The reason is simple. When any child fails to acquire the basic skills needed to function as a productive, responsible member of society, society as a whole - not to mention the individual child - loses.

The cost of educating children far outweighs the cost of not educating them. Adults who lack basic skills have greater difficulty making gainful contributions and escaping poverty.

Education for girls has particularly striking social benefits: incomes are higher and maternal and infant mortality rates are lower for educated women, who also have more personal freedom in making choices.

In Rwanda, according to the Education Sector Review report, the net enrolment rate has been steadily increasing and is currently 74.5 percent for both girls and boys. However, the rates of drop out and repetition are still high at 31.8 percent and 14.5 percent respectively.


Both these rates are generally higher for girls, and the performance rate at the end of the primary cycle of education is higher for boys. The 2000 Households Living Conditions survey estimates the dropout rate at 15 percent for girls. This is mainly attributed to the fact that girls have relatively greater obligation in supporting their families.

The Gross Enrolment Rate has also been increasing and is now over 100 percent. This is because the high repetition rates keep children in classes which are incompatible with their actual age.

The teacher/pupil ratio is currently 1:56. This is too high, a fact which is reflected in the practice of double shifting where teachers teach one half of the class in the morning and the other half in the afternoon, effectively reducing time on task for pupils and increasing the workload for teachers. This cannot be good for quality. It should be noted that pupil/teacher ratios vary widely around the country from 1:47.7 in the capital Kigali, to 1:71.3 in say Kibungo.

Because basic education is a recognised entitlement and society benefits when children are educated, the state should bear the cost, especially for poor children. In many poor societies, however, the state does not fulfil this obligation.

In Rwanda, the government, with several development partners like UNDP, has subsidised and encouraged many children to join primary schools. This owes much to the political will to provide universal education. As education minister Dr. Jean d'Arc Mujawamariya says, her ministry is committed to giving quality education to Rwandans to ensure a great future.


Parents contribute a small charge that helps in school maintenance, covers teachers and administrative costs, materials like pencils and text books. In some cases as in Rusumo in Kirehe District, parents make payments in kind for example, providing food for the teachers, assisting in the classroom, or contributing their labour for school construction and/or maintenance.

But completion of primary school is no guarantee that children have acquired basic academic skills. Surveys in a number of low-income societies in Rwanda document that many adults who have received some schooling (five six years or less) are functionally illiterate and innumerate.

Equally disheartening are the disparities in educational attainment between different groups within the country and regions.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, in most low-income countries, children from poor families are much less likely to be in school than children from more affluent families. Therefore it can be argued that the problem is not only education accessibility but the problem could be poverty in families.

Given the evident benefits of a basic education, why do so many children in so many societies fail to get one?

According to economic theories, a lack or shortage of a good or service that is clearly desirable stems from either a failure of demand or a failure of supply.


Cost is one obvious reason why demand for education might be low, given that poor families must meet their essential needs - food and shelter - first. In addition to tuition, books, and school supplies, there may be expenses for transportation and clothing.

Demand for education may not be present because of the opportunity costs of educating children. Parents may prefer that their children work to supplement household income, do household chores, or care for sick family members.

In African countries afflicted by AIDS, children may stay out of school to care for sick parents or orphaned siblings. Opportunity costs make even free schooling unappealing for some families.

Also affecting demand for education is its perceived value. Parents may not have enough information to assess the return on an investment in their children's education accurately, or they may see the return - sometimes correctly - as too low to justify the cost, perhaps because of the poor quality of the education available to them.

They may believe that jobs in the local economy do not require academic skills or that getting a job depends more on personal connections than on skill. This is a very common feature in societies where getting jobs depends entirely on the system of patronage, which is very imminent in Rwanda.

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Corruption is another reason poor children in poor families may not have access to quality schools. Government officials may shun spending on schools in favour of big-ticket items such as defence or road construction, for example, since funding for them is easier to divert and such projects are likelier to involve kickbacks.

The experience of the Rwandan primary education however is that education cannot be achieved simply by abolishing high fees and opening classroom doors. Obstacles arise on both the demand and the supply sides.

Education can still be costly for the poor, thus discouraging enrolment, especially when maintaining quality is a problem. Maintaining quality, in turn, is not just a matter of increasing spending. Good planning, implementation, and monitoring are also necessary.

Achieving the goal of universal school attendance in the country will require measures to relieve poor parents of all education-related costs, perhaps through a system of reducing abject poverty in the country.

Rwanda: International Peace Cyclist in Rwanda

George Kagame21 June 2007
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Kigali — He started his worldwide ride in 2002 and hopes to end in 2010. After riding on his tandem bicycle across 36 countries, Jamie Bianchini arrived in Rwanda on Monday, still determined to accomplish his daunting mission.

The American entered the country from Ugandan via Musanze District, Northern Province.


As he rides through the countryside, he supplies free Coartem malaria doses in remote areas and other random acts of kindness as he calls them.

Rwanda is the ninth country in Africa that the native of California has ridden through.

Speaking to The New Times, Bianchini said he is inspired by cultural homogeneity of the world and his love for world peace and understanding.

He said he is in Rwanda to help increase awareness of the country's transition from the 1994 Genocide.

"I would like to inspire many more people to visit Rwanda as a safe place," he said.

The American added that with the coverage he gets through the internet and Peace Paddlers' (a group he chairs) newsletter, he would like to encourage many people to visit Rwanda "not to just see the gorillas and go but make friends and enjoy the beauty of the country."

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"Through [small] efforts like internet and newspaper articles, we can help promote cultural awareness and education, and reduce fear amongst people. You find the one part of the world is afraid of another because of misleading television news," he added.

Bianchini also offered to pay school fees for a Rwandan child in Musanze District. "I just paid tuition for a kid that rode with me from Ruhengeri (Musanze), and we will be sending his school fees for every school term."

He said his most trying moments were in Mozambique where he was attacked and beaten up by a person he had offered a ride. He also disclosed that Rwandair Express has sponsored "my air travel from Rwanda to Tanzania to film the Zanzibar International Film festival." He travels with cameras, computer and riding clothes.

Rwanda: Citizens Urged to Support the Vulnerable

George Kagame30 November 2007
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Kigali — The Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of Gender and Family Promotion, Valerie Nyirahabineza has called upon HIV/Aids activists in the country to link beneficiaries and care-givers to HIV/Aids patients at grassroots level.

She was briefing the press yesterday at Telecom House, Kacyiru on the progress of preparations to host the third annual national pediatric conference on children infected and affected by HIV/Aids.


"The conference will aim to find out how service providers can work closely with children and their parents to help ascertain who is infected and affected and establish measures for treatment," Nyirahabineza said.

The fight against HIV/Aids in Rwanda currently encompasses programmes to help orphans and other vulnerable children with access to education and healthcare.

The conference due on Sunday, December 2 in Kigali will attract over 300 policymakers, international researchers, children, health workers, development partners and NGOs.

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Antoine Ssemukanya, the deputy Executive Secretary of the National Aids Control Commission (CNLS) said at the press briefing. "We have committees at the lowest local government level charged with fighting HIV/Aids related problems. Local leaders were tasked to ensure better coordination of service delivery to patients," he said.

According to estimates by the Treatment and Research Aids Centre (TRAC), Rwanda currently has 27,000 children infected with HIV/Aids.

Dr. Anita Asiimwe said her organisation was able to test children only after they were 18 months old "but today Government and development partners have bolstered our capacity more; we are now able to test children as young as six weeks."

Rwanda: Clashes Resume in Eastern Congo

George Kagame 8 September 2007
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Kigali — Clashes broke out last week in the Eastern Congo between General Laurent Nkunda's rebels and the Congolese army which includes Rwandan rebel group FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda).

During the intense fighting, 20 FDLR rebels were captured by Nkunda's troops. Reports from Nkunda's camp indicate that there are 12000 FDLR soldiers recruited by the Congo government army to fight against Nkunda.


Two senior FDLR colonels are among the high hierarchy of the Congo army.

Monuc, which comprises of 17200 strong UN peace-keeping forces, and was mandated to guard the Eastern Congo, has not made a good record of the events.

It has been accused in the past, for collaborating with Rwandan rebels in the exchange of arms and supplies from the peace keepers, for gold and other minerals from the FDLR; which unites elements of the defeated Genocide Ex-FAR/Interahamwe.

The peace keeping mission in Eastern Congo is the biggest UN force in the world.


Rwanda's Foreign minister, Charles Murigande, says the existence of FDLR in Eastern Congo is the root causes of instability in the region. The ultimate aim of the FDLR is the total cleansing of the Tutsi.

According to the minister, this has led to the emergency of the "Nkunda phenomena."

Nkunda has come out to say he is fighting to protect his Tutsi countrymen who are a constant target of the FDLR.

The Rwandan government has consistently called upon the DRC government to disarm, demobilise and repatriate the FDLR.

ORTPN and the international community must be concerned and worried about the Virunga National Park which is largely under the control of Nkunda's rebels; this will adversely affect the young and booming tourism industry in Rwanda and Eastern Congo.

The park is home to the world's precious gorillas, and at the same time harbours rebel camps belonging to FDLR. Nine gorillas have so far been killed since the beginning of the year.


To set the record straight, Murigande has announced that Rwanda is not in any way supporting Nkunda's forces, but was ready to act, should the conflict spill over to affect Rwanda. Murigande was last week in Kinshasa to ask the DRC government to hold negotiations with Nkunda.

According to Mbusa Nyamwisi, the DRC Foreign Affairs Minister, Congo prefers to solve the conflict in Eastern Congo by military approach.

"Rwanda has no side, let them fight till the stronger wins," said Murigande.

The fighting continues while the gorillas are in a state of terror, because the fighting is taking place in their neighbourhood.


However, by last Friday, Nkunda's troops and the DRC army had agreed to a cease fire and find an amicable solution to the conflict.

In a related development, President Yoweri Museveni and his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila were involved in a high level meeting yesterday in Tanzania.

The two nations are at loggerheads over oil drilling beneath Lake Albert, which straddles their borders.

Last month, Congolese soldiers and Ugandan oil explorers had clashes near the boarder between Uganda and Congo.

A British oil expert and a couple of Ugandan soldiers were killed.

The two countries are also disputing a small island in the middle of Lake Albert.

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As Congolese military men continue to fight in the bushes of Eastern Congo, Rwandan politicians continue to battle in boardrooms of political parties.

Protais Mitalli, the Minister of Commerce and president of the Liberal party, continues to wrestle in the fight to keep his integrity and post intact.

His party members have been liberal enough to ask him and his cousin sister, Senator Odette Nyiramirimo who is also the vice president of to party, to resign.

Mitalli has not appreciated their Liberal spirit; the president has stood his ground.

He has not only vowed to keep fighting to retain his authority over the party, but has also suspended the party members who are disagreeing with him.

As a result, the party treasurers, Honourable Elie Ngirabakunzi, one MP Isaie Murashi, along with two other senior members, have been shown the door from their Kicukiro headquarters.

Rwanda: Be Exemplary, Muslims Told

George Kagame12 October 2007
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Kigali — Rwanda's Mufti Sheik Swalleh Habimana has advised Muslims in the country and the world over to embrace the good spirit that the Holy month of Ramadan instilled in them.

He was addressing thousands of Islamic faithful who attended Idd El Fitr prayers at the Rwanda Islamic Cultural Centre in Nyamirambo, Kigali, yesterday where the neatly dressed Muslims arrived as early as 6 a.m to celebrate the end of Ramadan.


In his sermon, Mufti Habimana called upon Muslims to be brotherly and exemplary citizens in the society.

"I advise all Muslims to contribute to the noble cause for having a better world," he said. He called upon Muslims to "foster good understanding with other religions so as to achieve and preserve peaceful coexistence in our communities."

After the morning prayers, Sheik Habimana proceeded to Nyanza in the Southern Province where the function was held at the national level.

Muslims from across the country thronged nearby Islamic worship centres wearing their finest white attire.

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Umaru Mutabazi, a resident of Nyamirambo said he was happy for having completed the Holy month. "It is great to finish thirty days of fasting because I feel my body and spirit are purified," he said.

He said after Idd prayers he was going to share a heavy meal with relatives and friends "and we shall also exchange gifts of love."

In his Idd El Fitr message, President Paul Kagame observed that Islam is a religion that preaches harmony and called for all citizens to "cherish the peace and stability that we have built together, continue to work for national and international solidarity, and strive for prosperity for all." Muslims told

Rwanda: Islamic Leader Urges On Child Upbringing

George Kagame20 December 2007
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Kigali — The deputy Mufti Sheik Said Bakari has called on families to understand and respect children's rights, and not to preach divisionism among their children.

Sheik Bakari is the second highest ranked Muslim leader in the country after the Mufti Sheik Swalleh Habimana, who is currently attending this year's Hijah, an annual Muslim trip to holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.


He was speaking yesterday as Rwandan Muslims in Rwanda joined the rest of the world to mark Iddi Adhuha celebrations.

The Iddi Adhuha celebrations, characterised by slaughtering animal sacrifices, symbolise Prophet Abraham's willingness when he followed God's command and slaughtered his only son, Ismail, as a sign of obedience to the Almighty Allah.

Sheik Bakari led the national prayers, which began at 7.30a.m at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Nyamirambo.

"Families need to openly discuss how they can take good care of their children," he said.

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Sheik Bakari's appeal comes days after a parliamentary report exposed rampant genocide ideology among secondary school students in various parts of the country.

"Parents that are indoctrinating their children with genocide ideology should be exposed and punished," he said.

The First Lady Jeanette Kagame was last evening expected to attend a celebratory feast organised for child-headed orphans in Gasabo District, under their association, Tubeho.

Meanwhile, Rwanda's 174 pilgrims are among hundreds of thousands of Muslims attending this year's Hijah, an annual Muslim trip to holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Mufti Sheik Habimana is leading 173 Rwandan pilgrims in Mecca who are expected back home on January 4, 2008.

Rwanda: Gacaca Courts Ill-Equipped - Report

George Kagame14 June 2007
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Kigali — Lack of infrastructure for Gacaca jurisdictions is one of the reasons for delayed justice for thousands of Genocide suspects, a Senatorial report has said. The report, a product of investigations by the Senate's Standing Committee on Political Affairs, indicates that many Gacaca tribunals lack court rooms, while those available are too small to accommodate trial attendants. Even those in place are in very bad condition, adds the report.

The report, which was presented by the committee's chairperson Immaculate Gahima Kayumba, says that as a result, many Gacaca sessions are held in open space, the reason why they always postpone proceedings whenever it rains.

"(The situation) has forced Gacaca judges to conduct trials in open places - sometimes under trees or stadiums. Because of this problem many cases have been delayed for very long periods.

"This is because when it rains or gets too hot, judges suspend hearings, which has subsequently led to backlog of cases," Kayumba said during a power point presentation to the Senate on Wednesday.

The senators' investigation covered a period between 2000 and 2007.

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The report also says that there were reports of Gacaca judges allegedly taking bribes. It also notes that there are some Burundian nationals who participated in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and later fled back to their country.

Kayumba said such cases were reported in the areas of Kibungo, Kirehe, Ruhango and Ruhuha.

The Rwandan government has previously appealed to the government of Burundi to help prosecute Burundians that participated in the Genocide.

However, the report observed that tremendous progress had been registered under the Gacaca judicial system, citing cases where people willingly told the truth, thereby promoting reconciliation.

Kayumba also said many citizens are "very responsive to Gacaca proceedings (through) contributing ideas and asking very important questions that help guide judges during proceedings."

Rwanda: Moral Values Thrown to the Dogs, As Pastor And Economist Incarcerated

George Kagame29 September 2007
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Kigali — Altering tender regulations to benefit themselves is the latest favourite pursuit for many officials in Rwanda's public sector; from senior officials in government ministries to public parastatals have not spared the tax payer in their effort to fleece money from public coffers.



Retired Colonel Charles Musitu and Anastace Ntabahire-both senior officers with Travaux d'Interets Generals (TIG) are accused of breaking the law while awarding Prosper Muhirwa-a businessman a tender to supply food to prisoners in the Southern Province. The two cohorts awarded the deal worth Frw 43 million to Muhirwa without the consent of their boss, Emmanuel Twagiramukiza. The corruption suspects on top of side stepping the law, also inflated the value of the tender from Frw 28m to Frw 43m, and never advertised the deal as the law stipulates-instead they just called Muhirwa at a personal level that he had won the tender.

Like Commerce Minister Protais Mitali-who was accused of allegedly messing up the tender to import oil into Rwanda, the two TIG officials reverted to the time tested cliché- they were trying to avert a food shortage crisis at a prison facility in Kamonyi District. Twagiramukiza, (who has since left TIG), has vehemently refuted reports that Musitu and his colleague were solving a food shortage crisis, "They had more than thirty days to handle this particular case, which they did not." he said. TIG serves community by organising community service activities for Genocide convicts. In a related development, a senior official from the Ministry of Finance Jean Jacques Nyirubutama who is accused of defiling his 14 year old housemaid will have more days languishing in the less alluring environs of Central Prison. This is after prosecution refused to accept his plea for bail at Nyarugenge court of Lower Instance.

Moral corruption has attacked the house of God as well-at the heart of Kigali's Shining Light church actually.


Pastor Charles Murenzi has been in the media lately for all the wrong reasons-but he has also consistently been on the defensive. First it was a couple of girls who accused him of sexual harassment, then one of the girls allegedly 'kidnapped' his teenage daughter-who mysteriously disappeared from home and according to reports headed to Kampala, only to return by herself. Now Pastor Murenzi has been arrested for rape and defilement cases. The whole of seven girls reported to CID headquarters how their pastor Murenzi has sexually harrassing them in the past.

Unfortunately Murenzi, accompanied by his wife Jolly is the one who took himself to be arrested by Police; he had gone to Kacyiru Police headquarters to deny the accusations of the girls, who say the Jesus man(Sajjawalyayesu as known in Uganda where he was a pastor too) used them whenever his wife was away. Murenzi who works for his wife as an assistant pastor in the family run Shining Light Church has come out strongly to defend her husband against all the accusations. Concerned with the increasing reduction of moral values in this country, Parliament has decided to institute a law banning the practice of homosexuality in Rwanda. Though the homosexuality syndrome in Rwanda has so far been appearing in prisons, the legislators are concerned that the practice will soon break into mainstream society as it has happened in neighbouring countries in the Great Lakes Region.


Nonetheless, the legislators say they need to prempt the issue, "We don't have a specific law against homosexuality but we have a law that states that a person gets married to another person of the opposite sex," Francis Kaboneka said. It remains to be seen what the government will do about homosexuality, as Justice Minster Tharcisse Karugarama said, "Issues of prostitution and homosexuality are sensitive but government has more concerns to give prominence to than those."

It is generally considered that government exists to help society understand and participate in sensitive issues-there's room for wonder what exactly the honourable minister meant by "sensitive". While many public leaders are busy fighting to retrieve their loss integrity or lack of it, two senior army officials were recently in the dock for allegedly facilitating the escape of city Tycoon Assinapol Rwigara. General Kaka and Rusagara won the right to have theirs (integrity) as they were acquitted by the Military Tribunal. The court did not find evidence enough to incarcerate the army top shots for unprofessional behaviour of disrupting justice and letting Rwigara off the hook during a funeral early last month. The Judicial Sector in Ruhango is at loggerheads after the disappearance of court files containing the minutes of cases against Genocide suspects in the area. Genocide survivors in the area allege that the case of one Thaddee Mukezabatware, an official with the Adventist Relief Agency-ADRA has not been brought to answer; they also accuse the Adventist church of blocking Gacaca proceedings by using biblical teachings before and after Gacaca sessions.

"The suspected Genocide masterminds are protected by the church and Mukezabataware is one of them." Mulinda Byuma one of the survivors says.


Rwandan business tycoon Miko Rwayitare 65 passed on to the next world last Tuesday while undergoing a routine surgical operation in a Belgian Clinic. Miko was a multi millionaire with huge investments in the telecommunication industry owning 40 percent of cellular networks that serve the Sub Saharan regional market. He is also listed as the first person to make a cellular call on the African continent in 1986, according to UCT School of Business. The billionaire was buried on Thursday in South Africa. Miko's death comes not long after the death of another money magnate Vedaste Rubangura. The tribal wars in Eastern Congo were back again last week after a brief period of a ceasefire between General Laurent Nkunda and the DR Congo government, the armistice lasted for only three weeks. Nkunda- it has come to light is not fighting against the government of DR Congo but fighters belonging to Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-who stand accused of carrying out the 1994 Genocide, these bandits want to exterminate Congolese Tutsi tribesmen to which Nkunda belongs.

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Rwanda is the most improved nation according to The Ibrahim Mo index; the index compiles data about government in African countries and rates the countries according to improvements in the public, private and security sectors. Mo Ibrahim is a Sudanese entrepreneur that has set up a different version of awards to rival the Noble prizes. The prizes will be awarded to African leaders that demonstrate commitment to improving the quality of life for their citizens. Bernard Kouchner and Dr Charles Muligande Foreign Affairs minister for France and Rwanda respectively met in New York last week for the first time since relations between the two countries broke off diplomatic relations a year ago. It was not established what exactly the two ministers discussed but analysts say the meeting could help starting dialogue between the two states.

From sports circles it has been reported soccer super stars Zinedine Zidane Didier Drogba, Nwanko Kanu, are expected in the country-yes-Rwanda for a charity match in the weekend of 13-15 October.

Minister Habineza said the match is aimed at boosting football standards in the country as well as improving bilateral relationships between French soccer players and their counties of origin. It is not known yet which among France's black players on the national team is from Rwanda.

Rwanda: Kigali's Cost of Growth

George Kagame15 June 2007
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Kigali — Kigali Central Prison, 1930, to be moved.

The announcement by the Minister of Internal Security Sheikh Fazil Musa Harerimana that all the prisons in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city and all metropolitan towns will be shifted to less crowded places is just the latest signs of a turning socio-economical destiny of the country.

The land surrounding Kigali Central Prison, commonly known as 1930 has already been


"sold to private investors," to quote the minister, who are likely to build new modern housing and office blocks. The minister however, could not divulge information relating to whom the land was sold to.

It is a fact that the general demand for industrial and development premises, most certainly above 10,000 sq ft, is increasing, nowadays is interesting to note that identifying suitable sites within Kigali and the surrounding region for industrial development is extremely difficult at the present time yet demand for such space grows everyday.

While on the face of it, with reference to Kigali City Council's land allocation plan and the new master plan for urban housing, you would feel that many sites are available for development; upon further investigation one may find very few ready for immediate development like it is being portrayed.

This acute shortage of residential and industrial land has been intensified by many former industrial allocated sites being re-developed for residential schemes which generate higher land values, such as the 600 hundred low income housing estates in Remera that the city recently embarked on.

Demand for residential land

Demand for residential land is at all time high and there does not seem to be a downward trend in the market, at least at present with national and international companies targeting Rwandans in the Diaspora, with the crafty but appealing advert 'own a home at home campaign' the competition is very aggressive for suitable sites.


In the recent past, largely unexpected, high increase in rates and the potential of a further rise, many people in the market place are erring on the side of prudence although, given the shortage of quality investment product, yields being achieved continue to sharpen.

Yields for quality office buildings in Kigali City have materialized and indeed will continue to do so in the near future (subject to no major increase in rates). With all the commercial activity and new jobs being created, the need for more housing stock continues to arise.

The hard work of the City Council and many leading investors in the city has been instrumental in providing a comprehensive master plan for the re-development of key locations in Kigali. These are the ongoing revitalization of the city centre, the suburbs, an industrial park set to be built in the east and the imminent shift of the city centre to southwards.

The latter location will see a surge of new residential development over the next few years with approximately 100 acres allocated to industrial/commercial development just before Kabuga along the road to Rwamagana.

Kigali City has come a long way, for now 100 years, the changes no longer just have to be talked about but are actually happening. The foundations of success have most certainly been laid and the growth is now being constructed.


International events such as the recently concluded International Conference for Women, where the city hosted President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, International investment conference when many of Africa's leading business executives and the forth coming International Conference on HIV/Aids activists slated to take place mid June boost and will further enhance the profile of Kigali City.

However, there is still a lot of hard work to be undertaken and no matter how good the feeling of success may be we can never become complacent, says Mr. Bruno Rangira the Director of Communication and Media in Kigali City Council.

Minister Harerimana says his ministry will respond to the increased need for urban development land, "The construction of new prisons will result in improved conditions for the inmates". He says, through contributing towards construction plans, inmates will considerably reduce the costs of building and resources will be considerably freed to improve other services within the prisons.

There are two possible options in respect of the replacement of the outdated prisoner accommodation at Remera, the first is to redevelop the area, according to the Minister, and the Remera prison will be refurbished to host all juvenile convicts in the country whose number is now estimated at 1,000.

"According to the plan, the new facility would cost over Frw6 billion but we are planning to cut the cost by using the services of inmates in constructing it, and the work will kick off next year," Harerimana said.


The second option is to relocate the prison to a new area like 1930 which is set to relocate to Butamwa in Nyarugenge District, where the district gave the Internal security ministry 800 hectares of land.

Modern prison

The prison at Remera will be changed and remodelled. It will have three main wings for women, children and men.

Also planned are state-of-the-art executive cells that will be put in place in case foreigners are arrested in Rwanda and need solitude.

"Our judiciary has of recent been credited internationally and we may one time be asked to host international prisoners as it is the case for Mali, which is detaining Rwanda Genocide convicts. We shall be using such cells which will be self contained," he said. Six Rwandans including former Prime Minister Jean Kambanda are currently serving their respective sentences in Mali after being convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, (ICTR).

Meanwhile the construction of the new prison will start from a block that will serve as a transit centre for suspects (who will be transferred from ICTR) during the course of trial, as their designated prison is the newly constructed Mpanga, in Southern Province.

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It is one of the terrible ironies of Kigali life that the sprawling prison complex at 1930 has been having a crude form of in cell sanitation, well as outside their jails, prisoners looked far well fed. Some times even looking far better than normal citizens, conditions inside the jails were appalling.

Upon entering the prison, a visitor was welcomed by a very violent stench of a mixture of urine and body sweat. At night the stench took another ugly form that mixed to form a nasty smell around the prison. The sale off of the prison will significantly increase the sanitation in that area.

An argument can be made for maintaining a city centre prison, especially one which is close to the main judicial courts and can facilitate trials and committals. It is possible following a reallocation of functions and remodelling that Remera prison would be used for that purpose.

The location is also is very convenient, Batumwa is close to the main road, and access to the Supreme Court is very easy. So the ministry in choosing Butamwa in Nyarugenge District and Remera which is very near the Supreme Court in Kacyiru was good enough.

Rwanda: Banking in Country - From Exclusive Individual Clubs to Serving the Masses

George Kagame23 October 2007
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Kigali — A banking hall of the Housing Bank in Kigali. Most banks have adopted ICT to reduce congestion.

From the 1920s under the Belgian administration, the monetary and banking systems of Rwanda and Burundi were integrated with those of the Congo.


This state of affairs did not practically change till after 1994, the only interruption being the robbery of the Central Bank during the 1994 war. The monetary sector of Rwanda did not really make a significant impact on majority of Rwandans. Many described the sector as an 'exclusive for individual clubs'. Today the impact of the monetary and banking business is being rejuvenated at a breakneck speed. Not only has the economy expanded, but many of Rwanda's commercial banks have been taken over by 'strong' investors, thanks to good leadership and regional intergrations.

"We were even able to make profits during our first year and even introduced new products," David Kuwana the boss of Rwanda Commercial Bank proudly says.


With the recent developments in the banking sector , more Rwandans have started saving, the monetary sector has expanded. "From January to August 2007, Banque de Kigali (BK) has registered increased account holders by 1,681 clients. BK is encouraging its clients to save (more), because when they save there's capacity to borrow, and this will increase their capacity to invest. He adds: "We encourage people to have long term benefits, where we can give interests- for example BK gives 9 percent on a year-saving-scheme. With inflation, he says his bank adjusts to demand by reducing costs such that savings can go to clients.

David Kuwana, the Rwanda Commercial Bank (BCR) managing director says the privatisation of the banks was important. BCR was able to reset. And, today it is run like an international bank. Kuwana says the coming of Ecobank, Access Bank and the other international banks is not a surprise. "The takeovers are good for the country because it brings a variety of experiences and a new banking culture," he says.

Like hawks, leading banks are presenting very ambitious commitments. Many of these commercial executives have mastered government programmes like the Vision 2020, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).

They have also grasped various government reforms while talking to their clients. Their talk is interjected with anacetodes of political programmes meant to get as many people out of poverty as possible.


Jacky Kayiteshonge of Bancor says, "It is the stability not the resources of Rwanda that is attracting investors. They want to take advantage of the region, Rwanda has become a key player in the region." He says at Bancor, they simplified banking and taken services closer to Rwandans. Banque de Kigali has taken on Rwanda's ICT infrastructure to serve their clients better.

"BK has set out to reduce inconveniences in banks. We want to reduce long queues in banks in banking halls," Gateera says. ICT will allow a customer to carry out bank transactions from the comfort of their homes by use of internet. The bank is also issuing VISA Cards, which is credit to travellers.

They can easily pay back at their convenience and reduces risks of carrying cash. The entry of international banks is a vote of confidence in Rwanda's stability and the benefits of Rwanda's joining the East African Community. Many of the banks entering Rwanda's market have had their operations in the region for years. And their recent entry into Rwanda is seen as an attempt to scout for opportunities in the now enlarged East African Community. "I think it is a healthy development because of the new players.


Banks will offer better services, make more business because of increased capital and competition. New players are bringing in new ways of doing business. This is therefore a good thing", says Consolate Rusagara, the vice Governor National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). The crucial sectors that Rwanda's commercial banks intend to exploit and help expand include the coffee, tea, horticulture and the tourism (eco-tourism, hotels and restaurants, leisure activities) sector.

Others include: The manufacturing, ICT and telecommunications, energy and finance. Rwanda's economy is predominantly agricultural. The sector contributes over 40 percent of the country's GDP and employs nearly 90 percent of the workforce. Coffee, tea, fresh fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and pyrethrum are the main export crops. Coffee and tea account for more a large part of the total agricultural export value. "We are looking at rice driers, agro based vehicles as a potential intervention to help our clients in the agricultural sector," Kuwana says.

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While BK's Gateera says they are increasing the amount tobe lent to the agricultural sector. The Housing Bank is currently seeking to increase its share capital which offers opportunities for institutional and private investors, both local and foreign. Private-sector participation is crucial for the further development of the housing sector in Rwanda, and the high demand for housing in Rwanda also provides opportunities for estate and property developers.

The main sectors and industries targeted by the Government as engines of future economic growth include ICT, construction and property development, manufacturing, horticulture, coffee, tea, crafts and tourism and, to a smaller degree, textiles and apparel.

With the possible exception of textiles and apparel, all of these sectors have significant potential for growth and are likely to be among the main engines of Rwanda's future prosperity.

C notes inventory 3

One of the stories I'll love telling my fellow Africans back in my hometown will be the inexplainable weather by their standards of geography and climate.
Its difficult to explain to someone who grew up watching the sun raising at 5.30 am and setting at 6.41 pm that in some places the sun sets past 9.30 pm. If you are well brought up you can try and explain it and they will understand the movement of the sun and the bi-polar movement of the sun and moon, it can all be understood.

The first time I heard of this eccentric movement of the sun I was still in Africa and two western friends were discussing the weather in Canada, these friends of mine considered the topic too complex for my small mind to figure out. So David Kawai, one of my closest friends told the other two no to bother explaining to me about the lateness of the sun to set in Canada: "He will think its devil worship," he told them.

Talking about Kawai, this gentleman must have had a very low opinion of my conceptual ability, he is the one who introduced me to facebook in mid 2007. The first time he mentioned it we were talking the apparent ease and abuse with each which European girls-on tour in Africa-use their women power to get African guys into bed. The men fall in love and then the summer suddenly ends and the guys are left with mouthfuls of broken hearts.
Kawai explained to me that facebook is a file in which European girls post the faces of African guys they have fucked!!!!!

Communication is that subtle in the west and to be able to understand one's statement your mind must be working in double shifts.
So your truly with a modest level of education initially could not understand facebook and Canadian sunsets, I wonder what my colleagues on the shores of Lake Victoria can make out of the the sun setting at 10.00 pm!!!!!