FERWACOTAMO: Motorcycles to facilitate transport in Rwanda

FERWACOTAMO

Motorcycles to facilitate transport in Rwanda

FERWACOTAMO is an umbrella organization for 243 motor taxi cooperatives, with over 78,000 known members. The federation started in 2010; just a year cooperative movement in Rwanda was transformed. The federation came in as a solution to enhance the skills and capacity of motor tax services providers in the country. Motor Taxi transport is affordable and most used form of transport across the country.

FERWACOTAMO is made of eight major associations, which includes; UCOTAMOS G.M.T.C.U UCOTAMOKI UCOOMONO UNESCOM

Ntaganzwa Celestin, president of FERWACOTAMO.

THE NATION MAGAZINE N.U.C.M.T, N.M.C.U UCOTMRU FERWACOTAMO members testify that there is nothing more than the stability of Rwanda that they attribute their success.

“In the beginning the federation started with 3800 motorcycle riders who were working together as an

association, later when the system of operation became informal, the members decided to form the federation,” says Ntaganzwa Celestine, president of FERWACOTAMO (pictured insight). According to members of FERWACOTAMO,

unlike before, they now get enough resources to service their motor cycles, buys fuel and save the balance to take care of their families including; paying rent, buy food, clothing and cover their medical insurance, and other expenses. The federation has registered a number of achievements including getting a remarkable increase in the income of its members. The motorcycle transport in Rwanda has become a very constructive career to be proud of by the undertakers. Through its efforts to be more formal, the federation has managed to secure an own home for address that belongs to the member cooperatives. The premises have a well furnished office with space for meetings that is large enough for their office needs. In a way to move with the fast pace of development in the country, the federation is building a new home comprising of a 3 storied modern commercial building in Gisozi.

In a further development, the federation within its strategies is set to diversify its activities in business. Through the association named Twigire Bamotari where members have contributed money to a tune 40 million which they are going to invest into motor cycle selling business. “This is greatly going to change the lives of the members since their incomes will have to definitely increase more.” Celestine says.

Meanwhile, apart from generating high revenues, the motor taxi industry is also involved in social activities such as Umuganda (community work). It is believed that, when all the members of the association take part in the exercise, their work is valued at Rwf100 million every year. Besides, motor taxi operators also facilitate government institutions to spread their campaigns across the country.

Moreover, in order to fulfill its mission of motor tax professionalism in Rwanda, FERWACOTAMO set different development objectives. It embarked on members’ education, and continuous training, so as to improve efficiency. More so, to strengthen cooperative members to improve transport services, and assist cooperative in administration, and management.

Convention Centre, Rwanda's mega Complex

Friday, July 8 was a day to remember in history when residents of Kigali, but Rwandans in general, as the day the facility that is now billed one of the capital’s greatest landmarks, the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), was inaugurated.

According to the Newtimes Publications, Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the complex, President Paul Kagame acknowledged that although the project had encountered multiple failures, the Rwandan spirit of perseverance had led to success.

The President also said that the building is a “true testimony of the Rwandan spirit and noted that we failed not once, not twice, may be three times, but on the fourth attempt we succeeded.”According to him True to Rwandan spirit, we failed many times but we have succeeded many more times than we have failed that’s why we keep learning from our failures and finally succeed.

The President also said that the final success of the project, was prompted by many factors, including the opportunity to

host the 27th African Union (AU) Summit, in Kigali.

Kagame thanked the AU Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, who was also in attendance, and the entire commission for trusting

“Rwanda’s spirit” and choosing Rwanda to host the AU Summit.

Kagame attributed the completion of the Kigali Convention Centre to the pressure of the opportunity to host the AU Summit.

Constructed on 12.6-hectare piece of land in Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District, the Kigali Convention Centre is one of the largest in the region with a capacity to host more than 5,000 participants. Valued at over $300 million (about Rwf223 billion), the project is owned by a consortium of investors, including the Government that is represented by Prime Holdings, Rwanda Social Security Board, Crystal Ventures Limited and Rwanda Investment Group while the holding company is Ultimate Developers Limited.

The facility is currently operated by international hotel chain, Radisson Blu, under a brand name, Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre, Kigali. The facilities include the main auditorium that can host up to 2,500 people, plus several other meeting rooms, as well as an office park,the five-star Radisson Blu hotel with 292 rooms. These include 209 standard rooms, four accessible rooms, 68 business rooms, five junior suites, five diplomatic suites, and one elegant royal suite.

KIGALI MARRIOTT HOTEL

An upscale to Rwanda’s hospitality industry

Kigali city’s skyline was set to a major boost as Marriott hotel Kigali was officially opened and inaugurated on……….. The fivestar hotel was opened during a dedication ceremony held at the hotel located in the heart of the city of Kigali. The day’s event saw local and international guests celebrate the entry of the world’s largest hotel chain into the Rwandan market.

Marriott International became the largest hotel chain in the country at the conclusion of the deal that saw them acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts to a tune of $13 billion. Starwood is the parent firm of Sheraton Hotels and a host of other brands lifted Marriott with over 30 hotel brands, 5,800 properties and 1.1 million rooms in more than 110 countries.

“The hotel chain’s interest in Rwanda was based on the country’s economic transformation, and it’s positioning of information and communication technology,” says Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive of Marriott International. The Kigali Marriott Hotel itself has 254 rooms and 10 conference halls.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rwanda

Development Board (RDB), Francis Gatare applauded proprietors and the management of the hotel for constructing such a remarkable hotel.

“Even big dreams and courage require financing. I know that you have had very strong backing of financials that have believed in your dream and continue to

believe in the contributions that you make to the economy of our country and especially to the landscape of this city,” Gatare said.

He also thanked the banks which supported the construction of the hotel and urged them to continue investing in different strategic investments which continue

to make the country’s economy grow and prosper.

He thanked the contractors like ROKO and others who also dedicated their time and expertise to the construction of the hotel.

“The winners of this entire project are Marriott for picking Rwanda as the

first place in sub-Sahara Africa to open Marriott hotel. You made a wise decision to partner with our country and government in establishing the first Marriott hotel to provide high quality services that this hotel has become synonymous with. We can only pledge you that as a country and government we will continue to be available to partner with you in providing the best service we can to the guests that come to our country,” Gatare said.

About the hotel’s role in closing the unemployment gap and job creation, Kigali Marriott Hotel is creating 500 jobs and has already partnered with Akilah Institute for Women to recruit and train Rwandan women for supervisory positions at the hotel. The establishment is timely in the lives of those who are to be employed at the hotel and an opportunity for them to make a difference. “As you take on the management service of the guests that visit the hotel they should be of quality. As employees and management of this remarkable hotel, I want you to remember that as a country and as the world we will be expecting nothing better than the best. This means that this is a unique opportunity for you to provide impeccable service that our country and especially the hospitality industry will always be known for,” he underscored.

Peter Mukulu, the Director of sales and sales at Marriott hotel Kigali said; “It’s been a long journey and we are glad that we have reached here.”

He thanked the government of Rwanda at all levels for the immense support given to them during the construction period.

“As you know this hotel hosted guests during the World Economic Forum which took place in Kigali earlier this year and through this process, the hotel management has received many acknowledgements from the guests not only for the services they were given but even for the property they stayed in and that’s what we are dedicating today,” Mukulu said. Marriott first announced its entry into the Rwandan market in 2010. The hotel has 254 rooms and 10 conference halls. Marriott Group is one of America’s largest hotel chains.

Gahanga Stadium to upscale Rwanda’s Olympics

The construction of the long awaited state-of-the-art Gahanga Olympic Stadium will kick off this year, according to information from Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), who have been contracted by the Government to execute the multi-million dollar project.

Speaking to Times Sport at the RHA headquarters in Kacyiru, Eng. Didier Sagashya, who is also the Director General at the same institution confirmed that the Gahanga Olympic stadium project is going to kick off and design concepts have are already developed.

Sagashya said, “We have developed the concepts and the next step is the feasibility study. Our plan is to make sure that the stadium together with the construction of the Rwanda International Exhibition Pack can fit on the same piece of land.”

“We are going to meet with the Ministry of Sports and Culture and other partners so that we can discuss about the project designed concepts,” he explained. The project will be funded by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Sports and Culture, Private Sector Federation (PSF), who have already mobilized funds. The Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Emmanuel Bugingo admits, “We gave the responsibility to Rwanda Housing Authority to come up with the concepts and to find other partners before the project begins.”

Gahanga Stadium to upscale Rwanda’s Olympics

Meanwhile, Gerald Mukubu, the chief Advocacy officer at Private Sector Federation, explained that, “We are going to have a meeting with RHA to discuss the two designed concepts. The next step will be the feasibility study, which is likely to begin at the end of February or the beginning of March.” Regarding the estimated total cost of the project, he said, “The estimated budget of the whole project is around US $120m with the rate of inflation taken in consideration. US $60million will be spent on Olympic stadium while $50 million will be spent on the exhibition park.” “The project will occupy 55 hectares of land and we were given ago ahead by the government so that the land can be used in the best way possible for the project to meet the international standard,” Mukubu stated.

In June 2014, the government of Rwanda shelved plans to construct the modern 40,000 sitter stadium project by cancelling an agreement that had been signed with the Turkish construction company, Bibilax Ltd because faults were detected in the architectural designs.

When finalized, the Olympic stadium will not only serve as a football ground but it will also include of other facilities like the athletics track and field, along with hosting other sports facilities like the Olympic swimming pool and gymnastics facilities. The New Times

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