NUR honours Mwapachu, Karma

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Kamalesh Sharma the receiving the honoris cause degree at NUR Friday The New Times / J.P. Bucyensenge

HUYE — The National University of Rwanda has conferred honorary doctorate degrees to two prominent politicians and diplomats; Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Amb. Juma Mwapachu, former Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC)

The two were presented degrees in political science and Literature.

The awards ceremony took place yesterday during a colourful graduation ceremony where over 3000 students were conferred with Bachelors and Masters degrees in various disciplines.

The Rector of the National University of Rwanda, Prof Silas Lwakabamba, noted that the two scholars were awarded due to their contribution towards the world’s development.

“Both are scholars and opinion leaders in their own right; both have fought for human rights and the alleviation of poverty and discrimination and have been good friends of Rwanda,” Lwakabamba said.

In his acceptance speech, Karma noted that it was an honour for him to be recognized and observed that the Commonwealth “will always endeavour for a better change”.

Amb. Mwapachu thanked the university and hailed its role in the East African region.

“This university is at the forefront of shaping a new Rwandan identity, building a new strong country. It is playing a role of forming intellectuals who serve our society. This is a unique University which is probably not found anywhere in the world,” Mwapachu observed.

This is the second time the NUR has made honorary awards. Previously, the university awarded the former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata.

By Jean Pierre Bucyensenge, The New Times

Rwanda: Supermarkets demand quality from local companies

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Shoppers in one of Kigali’s retail stores. Supermarket owners have decried the poor quality of local products they are supplied with. The New Times

Local producers must improve the quality and supply of their products in order to match the surging demand for local products, supermarket owners and managers have urged.

According to them, supermarket shelves are filled with imported goods because small and medium local producers do not put emphasis on quality.

“Many Rwandan suppliers are unaware that consumers are more interested in local products than in imported ones. We urge them to maintain a good level of supply of quality goods to meet the high demand,” Peter Macharia, the Head of Procurement at Nakumatt Supermarket said.

“Our customers inquire about particular products, but because there is inconsistent supply, some of them lose interest and divert to alternative products. Suppliers must look into this and fight against delays in supply.”

In a bid to improve producer-supplier relations, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has begun a market linkage program where issues between the two parties can be discussed in detail.

In a meeting yesterday, Evase Nsegimana, the owner of Frulep Supermarket, located in Gikondo, challenged local producers to carry out extensive market research to understand the needs of customers.

“Most of our local suppliers deal in food products, but many do not indicate the types of nutrients in a given product; these small details are what matter to a consumer. A producer who engages in research will always have a competitive edge”, Nsegimana said.

In response, suppliers pledged to implement what is required to compete favorably with imported goods.

“We sometimes lack marketing skills to attract the public, but through exchange of ideas with supermarket managers, we will know what to do. Although it can not be done overnight, we shall endeavor to improve quality and increase supply to meet the demand,” Didace Nshimyiryayo, a marketing agent of SRB Investment Ltd, a local industry that makes paper bags, said.

Martin Gasasira, a Senior Trade Development Officer at RDB, said: “Although exports have increased, we still face an influx of imports because suppliers in supermarkets want to ensure a constant supply of goods to meet the high demand”.

“The market linkage program will bring both suppliers and producers to discuss challenges and see how their relationship can be sustained. When producers realize that there is steady demand, they will be forced to produce more and help to reduce importation,” he added.

RDB also identified seven small and medium producers with the capacity to export and helped them to develop quality labels and logos for their products.

They include Coproviba (banana wine), Shekina Ltd (processed flour), Urwibutso (juice), MIG (honey), Rwanda Agribusiness Industries Ltd (processed food), Contraf (juice) and ABDC Ltd (honey).

By Ivan R. Mugisha, The New Times

RDB hikes gorilla permit fee

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A Gorilla family in the Virunga National Park. The permit fees to trek the gorillas have been hiked. The New Times

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has confirmed plans to implement changes to the current gorilla permit rates by 50 percent with effect from 1st June, 2012.

Charges for foreign non residents will increase to US$ 750 from US$500, whereas foreigners residing in Rwanda will be charged US$ 375 instead of US$250 to trek the gorillas.

Rwandan nationals will be charged US$ 50 up from US $33.

The Chief Executive of RDB, John Gara explained that the increase coincides with significant growth of the gorilla population as well as increasing demand for gorilla tourism.

“This means that there is need to continue channelling all our efforts in conservation in order to protect their environment”.

Rwanda’s gorilla conservation efforts have realised significant achievements. Currently, there are ten gorilla groups which accommodate up to eight tourists each per day, a number that has almost doubled over the last five years.

RDB clarified that the new pricing will not affect full payments and bookings for dates between now and June 1st, 2012.

“Those that have booked but have not made full payments will not be affected if they make full payments by March 15th, 2012,” the head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, Rica Rwigamba elucidated.

She added that RDB has introduced a new VIP special group package where a group of tourists can book a gorilla group exclusively with customised services for US$10, 000 per group.

A communiqué released by RDB later stated that, “a contribution of five percent towards the communities surrounding the national parks, under the revenue sharing programme, is an activity that RDB is also committed to, and that the increase will also proportionally impact on this initiative.”

However, tour companies have urged RDB to involve them more in major decisions that affect the industry.

“I am just getting to learn about the increase in prices now. RDB’s reasons could be good, but it would help us if they communicated to us so that we adjust accordingly,” Rosette Kirongo, the Acting Manager of Virunga Expedition Tours, told The New Times over a telephone interview.

By Ivan R. Mugisha, The New Times

Indian firm to set up campus in Rwanda

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Jai Singh Banafal, the Business Head SRI SAI Group Rwanda give a speech during the launch yesterday. The New /Timothy Kisambira

An Indian consultant firm, SRI SAI Group, is set to establish an institution of higher learning in the country early this year, according to one of the company’s officials.

Jai Singh Banafal, the Business Head of SRI SAI Group Rwanda, told The New Times on Thursday evening that the firm is going to invest in Rwanda due to the country’s conducive investment environment.

The company that is based in Ethiopia has so far opened several braches in Rwanda dealing in the field of Education, Business and Management.

“We are going to open a university college in Rwanda that will be specialising in Information Communication Technology (ICT) courses because this country is emerging as one of the ICT hubs in Africa,” he said.

Banafal stated that after their successful story of Ethiopia, the SRI SAI Group started its business operations in Rwanda.

“Currently in Rwanda we are in IT Training and Consultancy, Higher Education, Distance learning program, Pre-Primary, Primary Schools and vocational training,” he noted.

He mentioned that the firm has put aside $1.5 million for operations in Rwanda, including the

Technologies,” he explained.

He said the firm is currently operating in Rwanda and Ethiopia but was planning to expand to other countries.

By Frank Kanyesigye, The New Times

Poulsen to sharpen local coaches

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Jan Poulsen

Taifa Stars coach Jan Poulsen

Taifa Stars head coach Jan Poulsen is expected to sharpen the skills of local coaches at the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) organized advanced level coaching course that will be held in Dar es Salaam from February 12-25 this year.

TFF Information Officer Boniface Wambura said  apart from Poulsen, who is also a FIFA accredited instructor,  other course’s instructors include, TFF Technical Director, Sunday Kayuni, who is also the CAF accredited instructor, and national junior soccer teams’ head coach, Kim Poulsen, who also serves as Denmark soccer governing body (DBU) instructor.

“The deadline for receiving applications from coaches that wish to participate in the course, whose participation fee is 60,000/-, will be February 5 this year,” he said.

He said the course’s applicants should possess Ordinary Level Secondary School education, must be practising soccer coaching apart from having performed well in the intermediate level course. The applicants should also have coached for at least two years after receiving the intermediate level coaching certificate.

Wambura further mentioned that the coaches’ applications must have been sanctioned by regional football coaches associations, district football associations or regional football associations. He said coaches that will excel in the advanced level course will possess the required qualifications for attending the CAF’s Licence C coaching course.

Source Tanzania Daily News

Over 3000 graduate at NUR

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Medical students take the Hoppocratic Oath during the graduation ceremony last Friday. The New Times / J.P. Bucyensenge

HUYE – A total of 3,391 students yesterday graduated at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) 1,070 of them females.

The students were awarded Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in various disciplines while a few others received diplomas.

During the same ceremony, the NUR awarded honorary doctorate degrees to two prominent politicians and diplomats, Amb Juma Mwapachu and Kamalesh Sharma.

Karma is the current Secretary General for Commonwealth while Mwapachu is the former Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC).

The Rector of the National University of Rwanda, Prof Silas Lwakabamba, noted that the fresh graduates were well equipped to serve the community.

“The National University of Rwanda continues to be one of the leaders in the Rwandan’ quality revolution…students now take responsibility for their own learning, and the programmes require them to meet learning outcomes: to be able to do something at the end of a module or degree that they could not do at the beginning”, Prof Lwakabamba observed.

The Minister of Education, who also serves as the Chancellor of the university, Dr Vincent Biruta, called upon students to use the skills they acquired to excel in their new life.

“You have demonstrated that your hard work was not in vain, you should be proud of that”, Dr Biruta told the graduates.

Dr Biruta congratulated the University for its contribution towards the development of the country.

By Jean Pierre Bucyensenge, The New Times

NEC team undergoes electoral training

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The National Eletoral Commission boss Charles Munyaneza. The New Times

20 employees of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) yesterday completed a ten-day seminar on various issues concerning elections.

The training that was conducted by Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) and funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), focused on polling, counting and results, electoral systems and civic education.

The Human Resource Manager of NEC, Justus Iyamuremye, who spoke on behalf of the trainees, said the workshop has enabled them acquire more knowledge and skills that will improve the commission’s performance.

“I thank UNDP and BRIDGE for organising this useful seminar because I’m optimistic that the skills gained from here will enable us to take our institution to another level in as far as preparation and conducting (of elections) is concerned,” he said.

The commission’s Executive Secretary, Charles Munyaneza said: “I am pleased that our staff have been be trained in various electoral techniques because it will enable us to improve the democratisation process in the country”.

He added that the workshop would help the institution become more reliable and credible on electoral issues.

“We are looking forward, in the next few years to come, to having people in the electoral commission who can not only perform their duties professionally, but can also expose their own knowledge to our sister countries in the region and beyond through trainings such as this,”  Munyaneza stated.

Rindai Chipfunde, one of the trainers from BRIDGE, urged the trainees to put into practice what they had learnt, saying it would help NEC become more proactive.

By Stevenson Mugisha, The New Times

CUF submits to High Court defence for expelling Hamad

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Wawi legislator Hamad Rashid Mohamed

The Board of Registered Trustees of the Civic United Front (CUF) on Friday submitted at the High Court a counter affidavit defending their decision to throw former Wawi MP and CUF party member Hamad Mohamed out of the party after a High Court order not to do so, citing that it was void and not delivered on time, in the case in which the former MP is contesting its decision.

Mr Mohammed and ten other members two weeks ago went to the High Court seeking an order to summon the opposition party’s Board of Registered  Trustees over contempt of court after removing his membership even after the court had passed an order to prevent such a move.

According to the counter affidavit, which was delivered at the court at around 2:40 pm by the defence lawyer, Twaha Taslim,   the court order which was delivered at the party’s headquarters in Zanzibar was a mere printout from an email thus not legal binding.

The counter affidavit further states that the court order was first delivered at the party’s head offices in Buguruni area in Dar es Salaam when by law it was supposed to have been delivered at its headquarters in Zanzibar. It claims that the photostat copy of the court order was received by the security guard at the gate of CUF headquarters after 4 pm when all employees of the respondent except the receptionist had left their offices as they normally close at 2pm.

It also claims that by the time the court order was delivered to the Board of Registered Trustees of CUF, they had already conducted a meeting and concluded and delivered their decision to expel Mohamed. The counter affidavit of civil case number 1 of 2012 is filed by Hamad Mohamed and ten other former party members including Shoka Juma, Doyo Doyo, Juma Sanani, Yassin Mrotwa, Kirungi Kirungi.

Others are Doni Mnamani, Mohamed Albadawi, Tamim Tamim, Nanjase Nanjase and Moahamed Nassaga and it is against the Board of Registered Trustees of CUF.  Together with his colleagues, Mohamed wants the court to summon CUF National Council members, including the party’s secretary general, Mr Seif Shariff Hamad, to state why they should not be penalized for going against the court order that had wanted them to expel him after the beginning of the main case.

Mohammed and the team also want the court to nullify a decision reached on January 5, 2012 in Zanzibar by the CUF National Council to sack him and three other members. Through GF Law Chambers Advocates, he obtained a High Court order barring a CUF meeting from stripping him of his membership.

By JULIUS BWAHAMA, Tanzania Daily News

Mugesera calls family, searches for lawyer

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Leon Mugesera is led into a car upon his arrival ealier this week. This trial could take months before it commences. The New Times

Following his deportation from Canada, Léon Mugesera,  was on Thursday facilitated to call his family and lawyers back in Canada in a bid to search for a lawyer after he turned down the possibility for a local attorney, The New Times has learnt.

With his initial appearance in the horizon, Mugesera has now requested the prosecution to grant him a month or two to get his own lawyer, Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said in an exclusive interview yesterday.

He said Mugesera’s file is already in the hands of the prosecution after Police handed over the dossier the day after the suspect’s deportation.

Mugesera arrived in Kigali on Wednesday, two decades after he fled the country following an inflammatory speech he gave in Kabaya, former Gisenyi Prefecture, on November 22, 1992.

According to Ngoga, Mugesera, 59, will appear in the High Court next week, but he informed the prosecution yesterday that he might not be able to get a lawyer of his choice immediately, requesting for a month or two to get one.

“We received the file from police the day after his arrival. In fact, we had wanted to commence interrogations on Thursday but it didn’t continue because he could not find a lawyer.

There are several ways for him to find lawyers: One is to write to the Bar Association asking for a pro bono lawyer who can be provided under the legal aid arrangement if he proved to be indigent,” Ngoga explained.

“The other option, we explained to him, is if he is able to pay for a lawyer of his own choice, and that’s what he preferred. The problem that made us not continue with the interrogations, is that he couldn’t find a lawyer,” Ngoga explained.

“What we understand from the conversation he had with his family is that they promised to get him two Rwandan lawyers and also his Canadian lawyers might be available but he informed us he is not able to get them soon. He needs a month or two,” Ngoga noted.

He said that arrangements were underway to get him a temporary lawyer for the initial appearance.

“We’re looking at the possibility under which a defence lawyer can hold brief so he can appear in court, next week, until he gets a lawyer of his choice. Of course we will not force him into substantive case before he gets his own lawyer, but we can’t skip a criminal procedure either.

“However, if he says he wants his own lawyer, we assume that such a lawyer should be available within a reasonable time because we do not want to hold the system at ransom because of indecision,” Ngoga stated.

Mugesera is in a transit detention facility in Kigali which was put in place specifically to host deportees or “other serious criminals” extradited from abroad, as their cases wait to be heard in the High Court. Such individuals are tried in the High Court at the first instance.

He noted that Mugesera has the right to receive visitors, consult with lawyers and family, among others.

“He has the same rights as any other prisoner in Rwanda,” he said, though he did not state the exact charges Mugesera faces.

“We are not starting from scratch, but we need to understand at the same time that whatever we did, we did it in his absence. I cannot pretend that there is no additional work to be done”.

On the request from some residents of Kabaya – where Mugesera gave the speech from – to have Mugesera tried there, the prosecutor general said, while their plea is understandable, the speech affected the whole nation.

“We are looking into how we can enable the whole country to follow his trial”.

He said the case will be as transparent as possible for the public to follow.

In a 1992 speech in Kabaya, Gisenyi, Mugesera termed the Tutsi “cockroaches” and “scum,” as he encouraged Hutus to kill them and dump them into River Nyabarongo – a source of the Nile – arguing it was a short cut to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), where he claimed they originated from.

By Edmund Kagire, The New Times

Pharmacies to be spread out

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Pharmacies will in the future be required to spread out and decongest from particular localities if a bill establishing regulations on food supplements, medicines, medical devices, poisons, cosmetics, herbal medicine and other related health commodities, becomes law. Presently, most of the country’s pharmacies are mostly located in urban areas.

To boost this, investment opportunities in the sector will be opened up to other interested parties – private individuals and companies – as long as they employ qualified personnel.

The current law only allows authorised or qualified pharmacists to own and operate retail pharmacies.

The new reform was discussed by Ministry of Health officials and MPs in the Lower Chamber’s Committee on Social Affairs on Wednesday as they began scrutinising the draft bill.

According to John Patrick Mwesigye, the Pharmacy Task Force Coordinator in the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Government realised that the present law hinders investment in the sector.

Health Minister, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, told MPs that the move is meant to push investments in the sector to fill an existing pharmacy gap. She said the government does not want pharmacies to be crowded in some areas while lacking in others.

“When this is passed, we will regulate the companies involved. We do not want five pharmacies in the same place. We are going to implement a minimum distance between each one so that they can serve the population better,” Binagwaho said.

While even non-pharmacists will be able to own businesses, only a qualified pharmacist can work at a pharmacy to ensure safe and effective use of medicine.

It was noted that effective regulation and control requires stringent legal mechanisms. At one point, Ignacienne Nyirarukundo, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, wondered whether the move will reduce costs.

Meanwhile, the government is working to strengthen regulatory mechanisms which lack specific regulations, to bring them in harmony   with other East African Community (EAC) member states.

Once passed, it is expected that a specialised national body, to be known as the Rwanda Food and Medicines Authority, will be charged with ensuring that regulations are adhered to. The public entity will be in charge of issuing licenses to manufacturers, importers, exporters and retailers of the regulated products.

By James Karuhanga, The New Times

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