Rwanda Dispatch - Issue 40 by IGIHE Magazine

ISSUE 40:JANUARY 2012

OUT S E M CO NOW

E C I TAWM O N T H

The year 2011

people who mattered

Editorial Cover Story

PEOPLE WHO MATTERED Over the course of the year, a number of people have made the news more often than others while others have got assignments that considerably increased their influence and public profile. Particular events, scandals, historic moments and even dramatic deaths make certain people stand out.

HABUMUREMYI PIERRE DAMIEN: He was sprung from the little heard of job as a representative to the East African parliament to become Education minister. A few months later Habumuremyi was a surprise appointment to succeed Bernard Makuza as Prime Minister. He has not been on the job long enough to impose his ways on government but with his sudden rise to leader of government business, Habumuremyi has indeed eaten big in 2011. KARENZI KARAKE: The influential position of head of National Intelligence and Security Services [NISS] changed hands at the same time with other top spy chiefs. Major General Karake’s posting makes him one of the people who move things in this country. MUSA FAZIL HARERIMANA: An improbable fellow, the Internal Security minister and head of the obscure Ideal Democratic Party [PDI] gets his point for kick-starting debate on succession issues come 2017 and in particular whether the Constitution should be amended to allow a possible third term for president. INGABIRE VICTOIRE: Despite spending the whole year incarcerated at 1930 prison, Ingabire nevertheless remained in the news. Her criminal trial at the High Court facing a range of charges was a marathon one and is far from conclusion guaranteeing that she will be in the news in the New Year. KAYUMBA NYAMWASA: The military court-martial sentenced the exiled former army general to 24 years in prison after trial in absentia. Alongside other exiled individuals Karegeya, Rudasingwa and Gahima, Kayumba was convicted of forming a terrorist group, undermining public order etc. The trial of people accused of shooting Kayumba in an assassination attempt started in South Africa.

PAUL KAGAME: The leader of Rwanda saw his reputation as an international statesman reaffirmed as he delivered keynote speeches at major forums. Notably, President Kagame campaigned for Africa’s dignity and end of dependence on aid and crucially rebuilt

Continue working for progress in 2012

Cover Story

THE YEAR 2011

relations with Uganda. Overseeing the most stable economy in the region in a period of inflationary pressures and global uncertainty underscored competent management. On the other hand, his critics didn’t miss any opportunity to rile against his rule.

INTERNATIONAL YOWERI MUSEVENI: A landmark state visit by the Ugandan president was a major event of the year and this most important bilateral relation between Rwanda and Uganda was put on a much improved footing ending years of mutual suspicion. Domestically, Museveni faced a tumultuous year with his long grip on power looking shakier than ever with inflation, strikes, corruption scandals, energy shortages etc proving a challenge. NICHOLAS SARKOZY: Given France’s historical role in Rwanda and the nature of relations, President Kagame’s visit to Paris was a significant event in the year. President Sarkozy’s apparent willingness to push forward the previously strained relations is a boon. Beyond Rwanda, Sarkozy got points by helping topple Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast and leading NATO in bombing Gaddafi’s regime to smithereens. SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT: The SPLA leader presided over the birth of the world’s newest state. The right to self determination of the people of South Sudan was one of the last remaining major causes in Africa and that they did in a referendum in February voting for independence. Salva Kiir’s calmness and diplomacy remains at the core as the new state finds its footing. COL. GADDAFI MOUMMAR: Of all the specifics of the Arab revolution, Rwanda and sub Saharan Africa was most captivated by what happened to Col Gaddafi. For years, the eccentric dictator had mesmerized Africa with his push for a single African government and flaunting a lot of wealth in the poor countries. However, the rebellion against his regime left the African Union flatfooted. His capture and death was a dramatic as the man himself and a big

lesson to other long serving rulers. OSAMA BIN LADEN: America’s Barack Obama declared victory when the decade long manhunt came to an end when navy seals stormed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. Throughout the year several other top Al Qaeda terrorist leaders were killed. DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN: The sex scandal of the year ruined the French economist’s career. Strauss-Kahn act with a maid Nafissatou Diallo at a New York hotel collapsed his chances of becoming the next French president and he quit as IMF chief. KIM JONG IL: Just because he died, he made impact with Time magazine calling it ‘a nightmare before Christmas’. The ruler of the world’s only communist dynasty, a secretive nuclear seeking country was mourned by mass public wailing. JULIAN ASSANGE: Wikileaks, the whistle blowing website had unprecedented impact as it unveiled hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables many gossiping on almost anything anywhere America has an embassy.

KATE MIDDLETON: In April, second in line to the British throne Prince William wed commoner Catherine Middleton in a televised ceremony watched by a billion people worldwide. The new princess has since become a major fashion trendsetter. STEVE JOBS: Having masterminded Apple’s rise to one of the world’s biggest companies and its wonder gadgets, it is his death that made Steve Jobs even more re-known. Apart from many learning news of his death on gadgets he created, even those who haven’t used an Apple heard the eulogies.

NTAWUKURIRYAYO DAMASCENE: One of the most visible individuals on the political scene in Rwanda, Ntawukuriryayo’s election as Senate president, the country’s number two job, is a befitting career climax.

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Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Page 14 -15 Local Briefs 3 News 5 Presidential News Recap 8 International Briefs 10 2011: A momentous year 11 People who mattered in 2011 14 Rwanda Governance Month 17 Umushyikirano 19 EAC travel documents 20 Kenya in Rwanda 23 RCAA in plans to upgrade Kigali International Airport 35 RwandAir 40 Carnegie Mellon University 42 Doing Business Reforms 45 Business 48 E-Banking 51 The Congo-Nile Trail 61 Art, Music, Culture & Film 68

he World ushered in the New Year with the expected celebrations and moments of reflection. The ended year of 2011 was dominated by Western economic issues like the Euro zone debt crisis that continue to threaten the health of the global economy and the revolutionary protests in some parts of world particularly the Arab Spring, will not be forgotten. In contrast Rwanda had a particularly good year compared to our neighbours and the global economic context. By year end, inflation was contained at 7.4 percent in comparison with a regional average of 20 percent while the economy grew by 8.8 percent. This level of macroeconomic stability is impressive and is expected to continue in the New Year. As President Kagame said in his New Year message, in 2011 Rwandans worked together and achieved a lot in the economy, social sector, good governance and justice sector and generally in national development. The President reiterated his call for self- reliance and given the achievements of the past year, one has reason to believe the country is on course to achieving that. Home grown solutions remain at the core of the progress and it can only get better. These include people’s involvement in activities of general good like building schools and helping the needy. With this progress so far, it is pertinent therefore that all people continue working for progress in all spheres of human endeavour. In this every individual has a responsibility.

Dispatch Team Publisher ⎢Shema K. Luyombya Consulting Editor ⎢Oscar Kimanuka Political Editor ⎢Gonzaga Muganwa Finance ⎢Janet Nankinga Marketing⎢James Nshimye

To express views write to:

Writers ⎢George Mangula, Angela Mutoni,Janet Nankinga Photography ⎢Brandfix, Production ⎢Sserunkuma Moses, Design and Layout ⎢Brandfix Ltd.

P.O Box 7082 Kigali, Rwanda Tel: 0788304066, 0788352233 dispatchmagazine@yahoo.com,

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Letter to the editor

Quotes Letter of the month Sudan should think twice Dear Editor, Sudan has been under international spotlight for years for all the wrong reasons. The cessation of the new state of South Sudan that went with a considerable size of human resource and oil fields that previously benefited Khartoum have made the situation worse. Khartoum is also continuously getting isolated by the international community because of its alleged involvement in acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. The violation of human rights caused the International Criminal Court to issue an international arrest warrant against President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir. Much as some of the African Union leaders said they would not arrest and hand one of their own to the ICC, the Kenyan High Court ruled that Kenya as a signatory to the ICC, would arrest the Sudanese leader should he set foot in that country. The court’s decision has caused a diplomatic row between the two countries with Sudan promising

The current position Rwanda holds in the Sub-Saharan region in competitiveness as revealed by the 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness Report.

76,000,000:

sanctions against Kenya, having expelled the latter’s ambassador. Part of these is a ban on airlines using Sudan airspace to and from Kenya, expelling Kenyan citizens from Sudan and closing their businesses. However, Sudan should be told that the measures won’t work as the country is not an island. What would happen for example to Sudan if other countries decided to close their airspace to its aircrafts? More so, Sudan which has applied to join the East African Community should not be doing so especially if it wants the support of Kenya, the bloc’s economic power that was actually at one stage trying to persuade other partner states like Uganda and Tanzania, opposed to Sudan entry into the bloc, to reconsider its application. At the moment, South Sudan stands higher chances of joining the bloc, which should make Sudan resolve its current stalemate with Kenya immediately. SULAIMAN KAREGEZI, KANOMBE KIGALI

17,000,000:

Money in US Dollars that is expected to be invested by Government in the infrastructural upgrade of Kigali International Airport.

Money in US Dollars the UK Department for International Development announced it would extend to Rwanda in the current fiscal year to support the agricultural and education sectors.

50:

The number of Ugandan Members of Parliament who were in Rwanda to learn about the country’s gender and equity budgeting.

Time set during a recent security meeting in Rwempesha Sector, Nyagatare District for bars to close as one of the meaures to curb criminal activities during the festive period.

The percentage of the national demand for fish produced in Rwanda.

10:

2 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

“I have learned more, visited the country and met with Rwandan people, I must say how much I have come to appreciate and understand why this recommendation was clearly right for Visa.” Elizabeth Buse, Visa President, Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, while announcing a collaboration with the Government to enhance an electronic financial system in Rwanda.

“It is good to see such a government with a strong vision and with energy and enthusiasm to achieve the set targets.” Donald Brown, DFID’s Acting Director for East and Central Africa, while announcing in Kigali the department’s support of US$76 million to Rwanda to implement programmes in education and agricultural sectors in the 2011/12 financial year.

“Rwanda and Kenya have led the way to remove the requirement of work permits and we want to see other countries follow suit because it is mutually beneficial.” Kenyan Prime Minister Laila Odinga while briefing the Press on December 7, at Village Urugwiro after meeting President Paul Kagame.

“I congratulate President Kagame for the progress made in food production in this country due to the heavy investments made. Rwanda was among the first countries to have a funding of US$50 million after presenting its programme and this is indication of the quality of the Rwanda’s agricultural programmes.” Dr. Jacques Dour, talking to journalists after bidding President Paul Kagame farewell as his term in office as FAO Director General comes to an end.

“There is no political space bigger than this. The only space lacking is the one constantly occupied by nonsense from the outside; from the teachers of political space, the very same ones who give space to murderers of our people.” President Paul Kagame while speaking at the recently concluded National Dialogue.

Local Briefs UN extols Rwandan women The UN report on volunteerism has lauded Rwandan women for their efforts in the country’s economic development and restoring peace after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The report, “State of the World’s Volunteerism Report” was launched on December 5 at the UN General Assembly in New York to commemorate the International Volunteer Day. Apart from peace efforts, the report commends Rwandan women for establishing Saccos to finance income generating activities. Volunteerism, the report says, makes significant efforts to peace and social development. Rwanda presently hosts about 40 UN volunteers.

Police in East Africa top corruption Index

A survey carried by Transparency International (TI) in East African region has ranked police institutions are the most corrupt. The survey carried out between 2010 and 2011 in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi and Uganda put the police ahead of the judiciary and customs departments with 47 percent, 40 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Other areas were registry and permit services, medical services, revenue bodies, utilities and education systems. The report says 50 percent of people interviewed by TI reported to have given bribes in the last 12 months. The findings have raised concerns given that the police and the judiciary are viewed as key institutions in the fight against corruption in these countries. But others argue the police and judiciary could do a better job in most countries if they were well- remunerated more so, to meet basic needs of their families.

Biruta appointed new Education Minister Former Senate President, Dr. Vincent Biruta, was among the three Cabinet ministers sworn in recently by President Paul Kagame at Parliamentary Buildings in Kigali. Biruta, who had previously served as a minister, now heads the education ministry, replacing Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi. Others sworn in include the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Agnes Kalibata and new Youth Minister Philbert Nsengimana. During the ceremony, President Kagame said the youth ministry would faciliate the Rwandan youths to grow into useful citizens, who are the country’s future.

Prof. Rugege new Supreme Court President President Paul Kagame recently officiated at the sweaing in of Prof. Sam Rugege who replaced Aloysea Cyanzaire as the Chief Justice of Rwanda. Cyanzayire’s eight-year term as Supreme Court President since December 2003 came to an end. Prof. Rugege has been deputising Cyanzayire. The Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, Zainab Sylvie Kayitesi is the new Deputy Chief Justice. other key appointements include Valens Munyabagisha, now Permanent Secretary in the Ministry

of Internal Security, who replaces Penelope Katarama, now a senator. Former Vice Rector of Kigali Institute of Education, Dr. James Vuningoma was appointed Executive Secretary of the newly established Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture. Regis Gatarayiha was confirmed as Director General of Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority whereas Yusuf Murangwa is the new Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, replacing Dr. Diane Karusisi.

Nigeria to open consular office in Kigali

Kigali receives new foreign envoys

The Government of Nigeria will open a consular office in Kigali as bilateral relations between the two countries increase. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Joseph Habineza, recently told the media that he had met an official from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the issue that would make Rwandans and businessmen operating in the country to acquire Nigerian visas here in Kigali. Previously, Rwandans had to apply for the visa in Kampala, Uganda, an issue Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said would be worked during his official visit to Rwanda mid this year. With the launch of RwandAir flights to Lagos, more Rwandans are expected to travel to the West African country for business.

New heads of diplomatic missions formally presented their credentials to President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro on December 6, 2011. The envoys included Raul Fernando Barrientos Lara of Dominican Republic, the Canadian High Commissioner based in Nairobi, Kenya, Amb. Yahya Bin Issa Al-Bakri of Oman based in Dar-es-salaam, Amb. Habib Muhfud A. Boukheris representing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and based in Kampala, Uganda and Marek Libricky, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia representing the Czech Republic. Speaking to the press at various intervals, all diplomats pledged to boost relations between Rwanda and their respective countries, including enticing investors to do business in Rwanda.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Local Briefs Universities asked to deliver quality education The minister of Primary and Secondary Education Mathias Harebamungu has advised private universities and other institutions of higher learning to deliver quality education if they are to contribute to the country’s development. The minister made the remarks recently while officiating at a gathering of private education institutions organised under the umbrella of Rwanda Association of Private Institutions of Higher Learning (ARIPES) held at the Independent Institute of Lay Adventists of Kigali (INILAK) in Kigali. The representatives of the institutions were meeting to disseminate the association’s research findings on poverty reduction in the country.

Gender officials commit to GBV fight

Muhanga District Legal Advisors on Gender and Social Welfare pledged their commitment to fight sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) through educating families and communities. The officials, who said they would this through sensitisation of families and communities, agreed that if it is fought, it would lead to communities focusing more on social and economic development. The officials made the recommendation during a training workshop on Family Law that attracted over 40 participants from all the country’s 30 districts. The training aimed at identifying community based solutions to SGBV. It was sponsored by CARE International and the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion. CARE International representative, Jeannette Uwamariya, said that the objective was to equip officials with skills on Family Law and issues on SGBV.

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News B Y D I S PAT C H R E P O R T E R

Continent’s regional blocs Launch Five-Year Climate Change Initiative

COP17 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban

The East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) recently launched a joint five-year Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. The programme was launched at a high level event on the sidelines of the COP17 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa. The launch was also attended by the Norwegian Deputy Minister of State, Ministry of Environment and International DevelopmentHon. Arvinn Gadgil; the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary and Special Representative on Climate Change- Hon John Ashton, COMESA Secretary General of- H.E. Sindiso Ngwenya and EAC’s Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Mr. Jean Claude Nsengivumva, among others. The Programme, an initiative of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite, aims at harmonising climate change programmes by the three regional blocs and address the impact of climate change in the COMESA-EAC-SADC region through successful adaptation and mitigation actions to enhance economic/ social resilience. The programme focuses on

increasing investments in climate resilient and carbon efficient agriculture and its linkages to forestry, land use and energy practices by 2016. The programme has received U$20 million funding from the Royal Government of Norway, the European Union Commission and UK’s Department of International Development (DfID), signifying an exemplary partnership between Africa and Europe on climate change. In his statement at the launch ceremony,

climate change in the region. “The three RECs comprising the Tripartite will synergiae on their respective comparative advantages that include: mainstreaming climate change in national and regional policies and strategies; climate resilient and climate smart agriculture; vulnerability assessment and disaster risk reduction approaches; and climate change policy negotiations to provide African solutions to climate change,” Mr. Nsengiyumva said. He highlighted EAC’s key achievements in the area of climate change over the last few years which include: approval of the EAC Climate Change Policy and issuance a Declaration on Food Security and Climate Change by the EAC Summit; the establishment of the EAC Climate Change Fund and Climate Change Coordination Unit at the EAC Secretariat; as well as the development of a Regional Climate Change Position as input into the African Common Negotiating Position on Climate Change. The 17th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the seventh Session of the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol commonly known as COP17/ CMP7 kicked off on 28 November 2011 in the South African city of Durban and concluded on 9 December 2011. The objective of the Conference was to bring together Parties to the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol to find long-term solutions to address climate change through a shared vision comprising of a balanced package of mitigation and adaptation measures supported by technology, finance and capacity building

The three RECs comprising the Tripartite will synergiae on their respective comparative advantages that include: mainstreaming climate change in national and regional policies and strategies; climate resilient and climate smart agriculture; vulnerability assessment and disaster risk reduction approaches; and climate change policy negotiations to provide African solutions to climate change.

EAC Deputy Sec. General Mr. Jean Claude Nsengivumva

EAC Deputy Secretary General Mr. Jean Claude Nsengivumva applauded the joint efforts by EAC, COMESA and SADC through provision of leadership to collectively respond to

to curb emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change that largely borne by developing countries.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

News BY GEORGE MANGULA

Rwanda hosts the maiden TVET expo in Kigali

A weeklong trade fair for products of companies, training institutions and other stakeholders involved in the promotion of vocational and technical skills in the country recently took place at Gikondo Expo Ground, Kigali, alongside a symposium whose theme was “the involvement of partners in the implementation of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system”. The expo showcased skills development in Rwanda, products and services. Jointly organised by the Private Sector Federation (PSF) and Workforce Development Authority (WDA), the trade fair provided a platform for the promotion of TVET system in Rwanda, bringing together stakeholders, including; private companies, training institutions, development partners that are mainly engaged in skills development. It was the first ever exhibition that specifically showcases technical works in Rwanda. At the expo, TVET service providers exhibited programme packages to woo students as well as share experiences and best practices. A number of private companies were incolved in exhibiting, marketing and selling products with unique innovations and technical expertise. According to the organizers, the aim of the expo was to educate and sensitise people

The expo is multisectoral, organised under; hospitality and tourism, construction and building services, ict, technical manufacturing and services, agriculture and food processing, art and craft, beauty and esthetics, renewable energy and water management. A total of about 120 exhibitors took part in the expo. on the value of TVET, especially in fighting the negative attitude held by parents and students towards it. TVET system is elaborated under Private Public Partnership (PPP). Overall, key issues raised at the symposium centred on limited awareness about TVET programme which causes poor mindset. Participants resolved to strengthen public awareness and partnerships under TVET. Key institutions, including PSF, WDA, GIZ (German Agency for International Coopera-

6 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

tion) and representatives of Blackburn College from the UK presented to participants the progress of the TVET programme. PSF acting CEO Yvette Mukarwema said the symposium was intended to discuss ways of enhancing skills development in Rwanda, adding that it presented opportunity for the over 200 participants to network and share business experiences. The expo is multi-sectoral, organised under; hospitality and tourism, construction and building services, ict, technical manufacturing and services, agriculture and food processing, art and craft, beauty and esthetics, renewable energy and water management. A total of about 120 exhibitors took part in the expo. TVET is one of PSF’s annual flagship events jointly supported by WDA. The programme involves several components, including the “internship programme” which involves placing TVET graduates in companies and public institutions for at least six months to acquire employable skills. Highlighting the TVET achievements, Mukarwema reported that at least 250 graduates are placed under the internship programme annually while about 60 per cent of those eventually get permanent jobs in those institutions. She added that through the partnership between Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC), PSF and KIST, the interns under the TVET systems are now placed in companies abroad, especially within the East Africa Community member states. “So far, we have placed 30 interns in reputable companies in Kenya,” She said, adding that PSF will soon establish private centres for skills development. All the financial support required to run TVET programme at PSF is provided by the Netherlands Embassy in Rwanda. Jerome Gasana, the Director General of WDA said: “The Government through WDA partnered with PSF to provide a strategic response to the skills development challenges facing the country across all sectors of the economy.” The 2008 skills audit identified that capacity gaps in Rwanda’s labour force recommended for TVET promotion and Government has been implementing the recommendations through establishment of training institutions such as Integrated Polytechnic Regional CollegeKigali (IPRC) where students undergo practical training in the areas of civil engineering, ICT, mechanical engineering, electronics and electric engineering, among others.

News

Rwanda signs pact with Republic of Congo Brazzaville

17 December: Police officers complete Special Forces Course

329 Police officers, completed a gruesome four months Special Forces training in Nasho sector, Kirehe District. Course participants were taken through and mastered drills such as laying and beating ambushes, freeing hostages, individual tactics and self defence as well as shooting. During the pass-out ceremony, the officers demonstrated skills in self defence and use of a variety of objects to fight the violent criminals. The Inspector General of Police Emmanuel K. Gasana lauded the course participants for the discipline and commitment shown during training. 16 December: RNP urges motorists to use roads responsibly

Rwanda and Congo Brazzaville recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fishing industry. Agriculture minister Agnes Kalibata signed on behalf of the Government of Rwanda while Hellot Matson Mampouya, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture signed on behalf of the Congo Brazzaville Government. The MoU comes at a strategic time after President Kagame hosted President Denis SassouNguesso last month, vowing to strengthen ties between the two nations. The MoU allows Rwanda to share its expe-

riences in cage and tank fisheries while also helping to improve imports and exports in both nations. Rwanda is growing rapidly in the area of fresh water fish but as a landlocked country, it lacks access to salt-water fish that Congo Brazzaville has in abundance. This makes a relationship mutually beneficial, as the two countries can supply what the other lacks. Rwanda is expected to increase fish production following the adoption of various mechanisms and strategies. Rwanda currently produces 50 percent of the national demand but Minister says the country should be able to meet the demand in the course of next year.

Blow as microbicide gel fails to deliver A trial of a vaginal microbicide gel against HIV/AIDS was recently stopped as early data revealed that it had failed to reduce HIV infections. This comes as a surprise as a previous trial of the same tenofovir gel, CAPRISA 004, found it reduced the risk of HIV infection by 39 per cent. Researchers running the Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE) trial announced on 25 November that the gel worked no better than a placebo in around 2,000 women in trials in South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. “[The gel] didn’t work a little bit. It just flat out didn’t work,” Sharon Hillier, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, United States, and head of the Microbicide Trials Network, which is conducting VOICE, told Science NOW. Researchers suspect the VOICE trial may

have failed because of a lack of adherence. “We’ve always worried that taking anything every day was going to be hard slog,” said Hillier. “It’s hard to do something every day for something you don’t have yet.” Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), who led the earlier trial and who recently won an award for his work on tenofovir gel, said in a statement: “These results were totally unexpected as there is good evidence from laboratory research, animal studies and human trials showing that tenofovir gel prevents HIV. However, science does not always produce the answer we hope for.” The task now is to compare VOICE and CAPRISA 004 trials to find out what went wrong, said Connie Celum, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, United States.

The Traffic Police Unit at Rwanda National Police recently called on all road users to be responsible while using the roads during the festive season. During end of year festivities, accidents tend to rise as people become over excited and do all manner of traffic violation leading to injuries and in extreme instances death as a result of road accidents. 15 December: RNP urges the youth to refrain from drug and alcohol abuse

Rwanda National Police together with other partners has called on the youth to abstain from drug abuse. The message came after the conclusion of the three week Itorero which attracted over 36000 A-level students across the country. Addressing students at Nyamirambo Stadium, The minister of Youth Jean Filbert Nsengimana noted that the number of youth involved in drug abuse was alarming.The effects of drug abuse are numerous and far reaching. 14 December: IGP urges female officers to uphold values

Female Police officers were urged to always uphold their dignity and live by their values during a two day workshop that brought together Female Police Officers (FPO) working from different parts of the country. Presiding over the workshop, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana urged policewomen to be characterized by Rwanda National Police values as they are the blue print which guides every police officer. For more Information, visit:www.police.gov.rw

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

President’s Message

President KAGAME’s end of the year message to the Nation Fellow Rwandans; Inhabitants of Rwanda; Friends of Rwanda; On my behalf and on behalf of my family and Government, I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year. Last year, we worked together and achieved a lot in various facets of our country’s development: in our economy, social sector, good governance, and in the justice sector. I wish to convey my gratitude to you for that. This way of working together, based on our development plan, is what has brought our country this far and should characterize all our future actions. We should all be encouraged by the good level of economic growth that we have attained and the impact this has had on all Rwandans, irrespective of where they live. Despite the global economic turmoil, our economy grew by 8.8% and inflation was contained at 7.4% in November last year, when inflation levels in other parts of our region were around 20%. We also managed to maintain our monetary stability. We should also be pleased that we have continued to make it easy to do business in Rwanda. In the last three years, we moved from 143rd position out of 183 countries to 45th in the world and 3rd in Africa. Programmes that aim to uplift the needy in our society are ongoing and have benefitted almost all of them. We shall intensify them and ensure that they reach everyone as soon as possible. We will achieve this by building on the solid foundation of peace and security in our country. We will work on ensuring an environment where all Rwandans will be able to create their

8 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

own employment or get jobs in order cater for themselves and their families; where those in agriculture are self-sufficient and even produce for markets. Those in need of medical attention will have easy access and all Rwandan children will be able to go to school. I take this opportunity to thank all Rwandans, including our army and police, who participated in building classrooms for the nine and twelve-year basic education programme. I also wish to thank all Rwandans for their continued confidence in each other and in our governance institutions. This is part of the ongoing development process in our country. We should endeavour to promote homegrown solutions to our challenges drawing first from our own means and capacity so that this becomes part and parcel of our culture. This will surely earn us the dignity that we deserve. Let me also say that in the last year, we continued to build good diplomatic relations with other countries, starting with our neighbours, the rest of Africa, Europe, America, Asia, and others. Fellow Rwandans; Friends of Rwanda; Let me conclude by reiterating that we have made good progress. Let us start the new year with renewed energy, determined to work even harder and smarter, and with resolve to be permanently self-reliant. This is my wish for all Rwandans in the coming year. Once again, I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year, full of blessings and actions that advance our development.

Presidential News Recap B Y D I S PAT C H R E P O R T E R

President Kagame at Samsung Electronics and KISA

President Kagame ended his three-day working visit to South Korea by visiting Samsung Electronics plant and the Korean Internet and Security Agency (KISA). Samsung Electronics is a global multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. President Kagame, led by the company’s officials toured the different departments of the firm and watched a presentation of the range of products manufactured at the firm. The President also toured the Korean Internet and Security headquarters (KISA), a government agency established in 2009

to develop the national Korean information security, national internet and foster international cooperation in ICT and broadcasting. Patrick Nyirishema, Head of IT at the Rwanda Development Board, who was part of the delegation, says the visits to the two giant firms were strategic for Rwanda as an aspiring regional ICT hub. The visit to KISA, officials said, would create a partnership with South Korean counterparts to help Rwanda put in place measures and systems for cyber security. South Korea, in partnership with Government, has already established ICT initiatives especially in the education sector..

President Kagame says new Chief Justice should do better President Kagame recently officiated at the swearing-in of the new Chief Justice, Prof. Sam Rugege and Deputy Chief Justice, Zainabo Kayitesi. In his address, President Kagame commended the outgoing Chief Justice, Aloysea Cyanzaire for presiding over reforms in the justice system, but added that the new Chief Justice, who has been part of the country’s judicial transformation process, should aim to do even better. The Head of State said Rwandans had high expectations of the Supreme Court

and they should be able to get the services they deserve from the court. “All Rwandans, from all backgrounds should be able to access justice; it should not be a preserve of only those who can afford it. Our justice system should give us hope and pride, both locally and internationally,” he added. President Kagame pointed out that due to massive reforms in the justice system, many outstanding cases had been cleared and court premises around the country rehabilitated and new ones constructed, giving hope to Rwandans.

President Kagame discuss EAC affairs with Kenyan Premier

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently met President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro and disclosed to the media that they had discussed some of the pertinent issues of concern in the East African Community (EAC), including the urgent need to remove the work permit requirement among citizens within member states. “Rwanda and Kenya have led the way to remove the requirement of work permits and we want to see other countries follow suit because it is mutually beneficial,” Odinga who had gone to brief the President on the recently concluded conference on unlocking the economic potential of the EAC said. Also under discussion was the non-tariff barriers to trade and the progress made in improving communication in the region. He noted that there was need for partner states to remove the non-tariff barriers and facilitate movement of goods and labour. Businessmen in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, the landlocked countries of the EAC, have lamented about the non-tariff barriers existent in Kenya and Tanzania that make the cost of doing business high. Regional security issues especially Kenya’s incursion to Somalia against the Al-Shabaab militants also featured prominently.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

International Briefs

Pope Calls For World Peace, End To Violence In Syria

Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in his Christmas message Sunday, an appeal for peace that was challenged by deadly attacks on two Nigerian churches. Benedict delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” speech (Latin for “to the city and to the world”) from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking a sun-drenched piazza below, before thousands of jubilant tourists and pilgrims,

and hundreds of colorful Swiss Guards and Italian military bands. The 84-year-old pope, fresh off a late-night Christmas Eve Mass, said he prayed that the birth of Jesus, which Christmas celebrates, would send a message to all who need to be saved from hardships. He cited refugees from the Horn of Africa and flood victims in Thailand, among others, and called for greater political dialogue in Myanmar, and stability in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa’s Great Lakes region. He said he prayed that God would help the Israelis and the Palestinians resume talks. “May he bring an end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed,” he said. The Vatican has denounced the deadly Christmas Day attacks on Nigerian churches as a sign of “cruelty and absurd, blind hatred” that shows no respect for human life. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi said the Catholic church was praying for all Nigerians confronting “this terrorist violence in these days that should be filled with peace and joy.”

English continues to be the number one language for international business and succeeding abroad, according to English language training company TalktoCanada. According to a study by Language Monthly, there are 115 countries that use English as a main language. This number far outperforms French, which ranks second with 35 countries. The combined population of countries using the English language is nearly 5 billion. “Companies entering the international business world discover quickly that competition is intense and challenging if your staff do not master English. Whether you are selling to customers abroad, entering a joint venture, or managing foreign staff, it is critical that your staff undergoes some form of English training to succeed,” says Marc Anderson, Managing Director of TalktoCanada.com. Even China, with its population of 1.1 billion, is embracing English as a necessity to compete internationally. According to Premier Wen Jiabao, more than 300 million Chinese are presently studying English. There are currently 326 million English-speaking users on the Internet (28.9%), and 166 million Chinese (14.7%).

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10 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

A C C E P T E D

H E R E

2011

A momentous year B y dispatch w riter

The most unique thing about Rwanda in 2011 is that the economy remained stable amid regional and global chaos. Achieving growth of about 7 percent and keeping inflation in single digits was a great achievement. In addition to this, evidence emerged that investments into the country and within picked up steadily a sign of confidence about future prospects.

At the beginning of the year, the Military Court convicted four exiled former ruling party RPF top officials to lengthy jail terms. Kayumba Nyamwasa and company were sentenced to twenty and plus years each in prison at the conclusion of their trial in absentia for alleged crimes including defaming the president, inciting ethnic divisions, forming a terrorist group and undermining public order. FDU-Inkingi leader Victoire Ingabireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s criminal trial raged from September and was unconcluded by the end of the year making it one of the longest trials with political connotations. Other oppositionists like Theogene Rudasingwa remained in the news with wild allegations against the government at any given opportunity.

Theogene Rudasingwa

The Bank of Kigali initial public offer at the Rwanda stock market with government privatizing its stake and its oversubscription showed the availability of capital to harvest. Different data showed continued improvement in the general welfare of the citizens. Doing business reforms continued to improve the investment climate.

Musa Fazil Harerimana

Politically the year was not as dramatic as the preceding one which had been dominated by the presidential election. The critical opposition that had emerged in the previous year failed to take root with evidence of failure to achieve grass root structures but remained only in issuing media and internet statements.

In the critical area of press freedom, cabinet introduced reforms aimed at advancing further media practice with various law amendments sent to parliament noteworthy of which is a policy move towards media self -regulation. Both in Rwanda and abroad, debate continued on the extent of political participation and civic freedoms in the country. The third term debate kicked off in earnest with Interior security minister Musa Fazil Harerimana declaring support for amending the Constitution to scrap the two term limit. This is apparently to allow President Kagame to stand again in 2017 however the president has expressly stated that he has no intention of contesting again

Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012 â&#x17D;˘

Round-up

President Paul Kagame and President Museveni , during his visit visit to Rwanda

Karega got diplomatic postings while Agnes Binagwaho took over the health ministry. New entrants into cabinet included Vincent Nsengiyumva, Venantia Tugireyezu, François Kanimba while Claver Gatete became Central Bank governor. In later appointments Jean Philibert Nsengimana was named Youth minister and Dr Biruta Vincent became Minister of Education one of the more demanding portfolios at present.

but could serve the nation without necessarily being president. This third term and presidential succession debate is expected to continue for the next several years and will be interesting because different actors seem to differ in positions. In February, elections to local government offices where held largely passing smoothly. New district mayors were being elected only for the second time since decentralisation reforms that mapped new governance territories. Most prominent was the election of Fidele Ndayisaba as mayor of Kigali city. In April, Richard Sezibera was named as the Secretary General of the East African Community. Previously Health Minister and seasoned diplomat, Sezibera was hailed as a competent representative of Rwanda at this crucial secretariat. Not surprisingly, major changes took place in government with many top leaders moving around. A cabinet reshuffle in May

The expiry of the first Senate in October led to a smooth election and appointment process. JD Ntawukuliryayo became Senate president.

Dr. Vincent Biruta

saw several long serving ministers sent to ambassadorial postings and new faces enter cabinet. Charles Murigande, Joseph Habineza, Solina Nyirahabimana, Vincent

12 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Bernard Makuza’s long service as Prime Minister to be replaced by Habumuremyi Damien a surprise choice. Habumuremyi rose just a few months after being appointed Education Minister. In July, long serving Intelligence chief Col. Emmanuel Ndahiro was replaced by

Round-up Maj. General Karenzi Karake as head of NISS while Brig Richard Rutatina became head of Military Intelligence J2. Maj. Patrick Karuretwa became the security advisor to the president. The end of Aloysea Cyanzayire’s term as Chief Justice in December saw the appointment of Prof. Sam Rugege as the new top judge deputized by Zainabu Kaitetsi. In this year President Kagame rarely travelled within the African region with a few exceptions like going to meet President Pierre Nkurunziza at Burundi border and later to Uganda this December to receive a Lifetime Achievement award. Another landmark in the year was the visit by President Museveni to the country lasting five days and fully ended any lingering suspicions about how Uganda and Rwanda relate. In September President Kagame travelled to Paris, France in a landmark visit a significant in improving relations. Like an earlier visit to Chicago where a successful Rwanda day was held, the president was received by ecstatic Rwandans in Paris. President Kagame’s international credentials remained steady addressing major international conferences like the High level forum on Aid in Busan, Korea and hosting the ITU Broadband conference in Kigali in September. Global economic crisis, revolution and protest

What made 2011 momentous was even across the globe rather than anything particular to Rwanda. Worldwide the year of 2011 was dominated by the Arab uprising and the economic debt crisis faced by the previously dominant Western world. Beginning in Tunisia a wave of uprising saw the fall of Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Col Gadaffi of Libya and promised departure of Abdullah Saleh of Yemeni. Gaddafi’s lynching by a mob that got him with help of NATO bombs is probably one of the biggest dramas of the year. In Syria, the Assad clan brutally hangs on despite continued mass protest and rebellion. More than anything the Arab revolution underscored the new world order of

Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila Between His Wife and Mother at Campaign Rally

increased influence of social media and continued decline of American power. While uprisings succeeded curtsey of the rise of young secularists, the Islamist parties won election into office in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt while Islamists are thought has a major presence in the revolutionaries that toppled the Gaddafi clan in Libya. Economically, as China, Brazil, India etc and to some extent Africa rise, Europe limps on and America is hardly the superpower the world has long known. Interesting times indeed, the debt crisis marked out the role of German and its leader Angel Markel as the most influential in Europe. The leaders of Greece, Spain and the ever controversial Silvio Berlusconi in Italy lost power as a result. The US public debt was a major source of dispute as President Barack Obama haggled with Congress on how to reduce it. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was finally got when US navy seals stormed his compound in the Pakistan town of Abbottabad. This was seen as a national security boon for Obama who is facing re-election in the New Year. Elections in DR Congo and Uganda were significant both incumbents who have improved relations with Rwanda. The Congo election unsurprisingly was hotly disputed given the logistical chaos that is the country. While Joseph Kabila was confirmed winner by the Supreme Court, opposition stalwart

Etienne Tshisekedi claimed victory and said he was president. In Uganda, despite Yoweri Museveni winning re-election with a big margin, perennial challenger Walk-to work against raising cost of living and runaway inflation. The country’s economic terrain remained dominated by corruption scandals involving senior regime figures this unsurprising given the longevity of the ruling class. South Sudan became the world’s newest state after breaking away from Sudan, a culmination of decades of struggle for the right to self determination. The horn of Africa famine was a dark reminder of how inefficient most of Africa remains despite years of economic growth. The failed state of Somalia continued to be baggage to the region. The weak transitional government claimed control of Mogadishu after African Union peacekeepers kicked out the Al Shabab militia. Kenya sent its army into southern Somalia hoping for a quick operation but by year end was nowhere near accomplishing objectives with troops reportedly not advancing amidst disputes over overall strategy. To crown the momentous year, North Korea’s Supreme leader Kim Jong Il died on December 17th leaving the communist throne his young son Kim Jong- un, a new challenge for world peace with this nuclear weapons seeking opaque country.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Cover Story

The year 2011

people who mattered Over the course of the year, a number of people have made the news more often than others while others have got assignments that considerably increased their influence and public profile. Particular events, scandals, historic moments and even dramatic deaths make certain people stand out.

Paul Kagame: The leader of Rwanda saw his reputation as an international statesman reaffirmed as he delivered keynote speeches at major forums. Notably, President Kagame campaigned for Africa’s dignity and end of dependence on aid and crucially rebuilt

14 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Ntawukuriryayo Damascene: One of the most visible individuals on the political scene in Rwanda, Ntawukuriryayo’s election as Senate president, the country’s number two job, is a befitting career climax.

Cover Story Habumuremyi Pierre Damien: He was sprung from the little heard of job as a representative to the East African parliament to become Education minister. A few months later Habumuremyi was a surprise appointment to succeed Bernard Makuza as Prime Minister. He has not been on the job long enough to impose his ways on government but with his sudden rise to leader of government business, Habumuremyi has indeed eaten big in 2011. Karenzi Karake: The influential position of head of National Intelligence and Security Services [NISS] changed hands at the same time with other top spy chiefs. Major General Karake’s posting makes him one of the people who move things in this country. Musa Fazil Harerimana: An improbable fellow, the Internal Security minister and head of the obscure Ideal Democratic Party [PDI] gets his point for kick-starting debate on succession issues come 2017 and in particular whether the Constitution should be amended to allow a possible third term for president. Ingabire Victoire: Despite spending the whole year incarcerated at 1930 prison, Ingabire nevertheless remained in the news. Her criminal trial at the High Court facing a range of charges was a marathon one and is far from conclusion guaranteeing that she will be in the news in the New Year. Kayumba Nyamwasa: The military court-martial sentenced the exiled former army general to 24 years in prison after trial in absentia. Alongside other exiled individuals Karegeya, Rudasingwa and Gahima, Kayumba was convicted of forming a terrorist group, undermining public order etc. The trial of people accused of shooting Kayumba in an assassination attempt started in South Africa.

International Yoweri Museveni: A landmark state visit by the Ugandan president was a major event of the year and this most important bilateral relation between Rwanda and Uganda was put on a much improved footing ending years of mutual suspicion. Domestically, Museveni faced a tumultuous year with his long grip on power looking shakier than ever with inflation, strikes, corruption scandals, energy shortages etc proving a challenge. Nicholas Sarkozy: Given France’s historical role in Rwanda and the nature of relations, President Kagame’s visit to Paris was a significant event in the year. President Sarkozy’s apparent willingness to push forward the previously strained relations is a boon. Beyond Rwanda, Sarkozy got points by helping topple Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast and leading NATO in bombing Gaddafi’s regime to smithereens. Salva Kiir Mayardit: The SPLA leader presided over the birth of the world’s newest state. The right to self determination of the people of South Sudan was one of the last remaining major causes in Africa and that they did in a referendum in February voting for independence. Salva Kiir’s calmness and diplomacy remains at the core as the new state finds its footing. Col. Gaddafi Moummar: Of all the specifics of the Arab revolution, Rwanda and sub Saharan Africa was most captivated by what happened to Col Gaddafi. For years, the eccentric dictator had mesmerized Africa with his push for a single African government and flaunting a lot of wealth in the poor countries. However, the rebellion against his regime left the African Union flatfooted. His capture and death was a dramatic as the man himself and a big

lesson to other long serving rulers. Osama bin Laden: America’s Barack Obama declared victory when the decade long manhunt came to an end when navy seals stormed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. Throughout the year several other top Al Qaeda terrorist leaders were killed. Dominique Strauss-Kahn: The sex scandal of the year ruined the French economist’s career. Strauss-Kahn act with a maid Nafissatou Diallo at a New York hotel collapsed his chances of becoming the next French president and he quit as IMF chief. Kim Jong Il: Just because he died, he made impact with Time magazine calling it ‘a nightmare before Christmas’. The ruler of the world’s only communist dynasty, a secretive nuclear seeking country was mourned by mass public wailing. Julian Assange: Wikileaks, the whistle blowing website had unprecedented impact as it unveiled hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables many gossiping on almost anything anywhere America has an embassy. Kate Middleton: In April, second in line to the British throne Prince William wed commoner Catherine Middleton in a televised ceremony watched by a billion people worldwide. The new princess has since become a major fashion trendsetter. Steve Jobs: Having masterminded Apple’s rise to one of the world’s biggest companies and its wonder gadgets, it is his death that made Steve Jobs even more re-known. Apart from many learning news of his death on gadgets he created, even those who haven’t used an Apple heard the eulogies.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Analysis

Judicial Rage Verdicts at International courts stem fury This December, two International courts delivered verdicts that predictably provoked anger from many Rwandans. On 14th, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, delivered its judgement on the appeals lodged by Théoneste Bagosora and Anatole Nsengiyumva, reversing a number of their convictions and reducing their life sentences to 35 and 15 years of imprisonment, respectively.

Col. Bagosora

On the same day, the Appeals Chamber confirmed the verdict of Dominique Ntawukulilyayo the former Sub-prefect of Gisagara but reduced his sentence to 20 years. Col. Bagosora, the supposed mastermind, having been in custody since 1996 means that he is remaining with less than twenty year in prison. Whereas he is old and will be 89 years at the time of his release, it is exasperating that a real possibility exists that such a ‘kingpin’ of genocide will one day be out of jail. Judges at the International Criminal Court

[ICC] on 16 December 2011 ordered the release of Callixte Mbarushimana from custody. The pre trail chamber ruled that there was insufficient evidence to try the former secretary general of Congo based Rwandan Hutu militia group FDLR. The prosecution’s attempt to stay the release pending appeal was rejected. This provoked reaction from the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a global network of civil society organizations in 150 countries who expressed disappointment ‘as the decision will undoubtedly accentuate their suffering and concerns about their security saying the arrest of Mbarushimana and his subsequent hearings before the ICC had brought great hope to victims and affected communities in the region that justice would be delivered’. The Coordinator of the DRC Coalition for the ICC Andre Kito said that “It is a reality that FDLR forces continue to be very active in the east of DRC, and the grave crimes they are committing against the civilian population have gone unpunished for many years, … it must be also underlined that there are many other FDLR leaders who should also be the subject of ICC investigations, given the ever-increasing number of crimes committed by them against civilians.” The government of Rwanda and genocide survivors groups have also expressed dissatisfaction with some of the decisions by the courts particularly the reduction of Bagosora’s sentence and the release of Mbarushimana. Even President Kagame weighed in while opening the National Dialogue meeting saying those who claim there is no democracy in Rwanda, were the same who are giving genocidiares protection. Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga raised the issue of inconsistencies in jurisprudence.

16 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

This is particularly so given the handling of the Jean Kambanda’s case years ago. The genocide Prime Minister pleaded guilty and cooperated with the prosecution mitigating factors. However he received the maximum sentence with the court deciding that “the aggravating circumstances surrounding the crimes committed by Jean Kambanda negate the mitigating circumstances, especially since Jean Kambanda occupied a high ministerial post, at the time he committed the said crimes”. It would therefore be assumed that given this precedent, mistakes at the first instance would not make the appellant court reduce the sentence because of similar gravity of crimes. But the appeals court saw it differently and dramatically reduced the sentences. Another point is the charge of conspiracy to commit genocide that has turned out to be a legal conundrum. The failure to convict Bagosora and others for conspiracy to commit genocide is also seen as potentially useful to genocide revisionists to claim that there was not planned genocide. However, the court’s supporters counter argue that the mere fact that there are convictions for genocide confirms the planning took place. However, some legal experts argue that judges usually consider the evidence before them and the weight of laws which they follow to determine guilt beyond reasonable doubt and during sentencing. Some analysts have argued that because of lack of documentary evidence it is hard to prove an issue like conspiracy to commit genocide based on testimonies since people who were part of the planning have not admitted much. Other analysts have said that it is hard to prove conspiracy because of lack of documentary evidence. Unlike for the Jewish holocaust, in Rwanda almost no documentation was used in planning the atrocities. For the ICTR, it was always going to be tricky to deliver acquittals given the public view that the individuals charged there were the most high profile genocide perpetrators. In the public eye, the court seemed to slightly redeem itself when on 21st December MRND party leaders Mathieu Ngirumpatse and Edouard Karemera were found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life imprisonment. The MRND youth wing Interahamwe carried out most of the atrocities and the two men were found by the court of being ‘members of a joint criminal enterprise to destroy the Tutsi population’.

Analysis

by L adislas N gendahimana

Rwanda Governance Month: Participatory shaping of Rwanda’s destiny Good governance in Rwanda has become one of her many endearing trademarks, with all the values and pillars thereof accentuated by stakeholders at different levels of leadership. Rwanda experienced, in the past, decades of bad leadership that promoted nepotism, corruption tendencies, divisions and genocide ideology that forced some Rwandans to spend many years in exile and culminated into the genocide against Tutsi in 1994. Since the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi) seized power and stopped genocide against Tutsi in 1994, the new Rwandan leadership resolved to promote good governance, unity and reconciliation especially through decentralization, citizen participation, empowerment, and transparency and accountability. Today, in Rwanda, there are opportunities for all and a stake for everyone. With the current encouraging levels of service delivery, the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and the Rwanda Governance Board/Rwanda Governance Advisory Council

are keenly monitoring and promoting good governance; promoting citizen participation in public policing, as well as monitoring service delivery at all levels. The afore mentioned institutions are mandated with institutional strengthening and coordination, national unity and reconciliation process, promoting peace and security, social welfare and empowerment of the Rwandan population by involving both the private sector and the civil society, hence strengthening local economic development. With that background, the Ministry of local

Government in partnership with Rwanda Governance Board has organized a Governance month from the 05th December 2011 to January 31, 2012 to accentuate the values of participatory involvement. The major aim of this Governance Month is to engage the citizenry about the development issues taking place in the country. The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, officially launched the governance month at national level on December 13, 2011 at Kinihira Sector, Rulindo District in the Northern Province of Rwanda. While speaking at that ceremony, Minister James MUSONI said; “the Government has organized this governance month because we want to make further steps in good governance by enhancing citizen participation in policy formulation and governance for production. We strongly believe that, under the leadership of President Paul KAGAME, good governance is a pillar for sustainable development”. During this month, leaders at different levels, will go throughout all the 30 districts in the country, and stimulate good governance concerns: What are the people saying about service delivery? Are there any issues that require special attention? What do the people appreciate and what do they not appreciate? Leaders will get enough time to listen to the population, learn from them, and come up with suggestions and actionable programs with them. Objectives of the “Governance Month” The Ministry of Local Government and Rwanda Governance Board have organized this maiden governance month to assess how good governance can be strengthened by looking at issues; particularly service delivery and concerns and demands of ordinary citizens that need improvement and open debate between all stakeholders. Strategies will also be adopted to address those issues through collective search for solutions during the process of which citizens and non-state actors (Civil Society Organizations) participation in enhancing and monitoring good governance particularly service delivery will be promoted. The Governance month aims also at rising awareness on other key governance related issues such as transparency and accountability, anti-corruption, saving culture, and finding solutions to people’s problems through governance clinics/screenings as a new innovative part of Mobile School of Governance that promotes demand driven approaches in empowering

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Analysis lower levels of administration in findings solutions local governance challenges. The Mobile School of Governance is an innovation by the Government of Rwanda that will expedite and contribute towards the successful implementation of the third phase of the decentralization policy in Rwanda that started in 2011. The Governance Month will be a comprehensive fact-finding period and working towards evidence-based solutions; that is why various institutions and ministries are involved, from the public, private sector and civil society organizations. Activities to be conducted The activities to be carried out will be emphasizing the enhancement of good governance standards in local governments especially through the Mobile school of governance where citizen awareness and governance for production as well as problem solving will be conducted in all the 30 districts of the country. According to Professor Anastase Shyaka, the Chief Executive Officer of the newly created ‘Rwanda Governance Board’, the Mobile School of Governance was initiated in 2009 and aims at promoting good governance and generating evidence for improved local governance. It will also help in identifying problems through ‘Governance Clinics/screening’ as a new innovation that promotes unconventional methods in problem solving. Governance Clinics/Screenings According to Prof Shyaka, “’the Governance Clinic’ was invented with an aim of creating an interface where the local government and central government officials meet with the people, discuss issues critically and together identify the possible solutions. Therefore, the people participate in getting the solutions and feel confident when they realize that they contributed to the formulation of a policy that has solved the problems within their localities.” During the ‘Governance Clinics’, the citizens will ask any questions of their choice and get instant feedback from the leaders. For those questions and or concerns that will not require instant answers, note will be taken of them and a follow-up made thereafter. Minister James Musoni, notes the importance of clinics and screenings. According to him, “the Clinics/Screenings will have the purpose of receiving and addressing issues and complaints raised by the citizens and tabled before responsible authorities. This innovation will give a new impetus to the delivery of services for the citi-

zens and break all forms of gaps between the leadership and the citizenry countrywide”. The ‘Governance screening’ activities will particularly focus on the governance and service delivery issues, especially in local governments. They will also look at the justice sector, the transit centers—where the street children and other juveniles delinquent are handled before undergoing fully fledged rehabilitation-, and arbitration cases as well as land sector. One of the issues that will be looked at with keen interest is the sluggishness in the delivery of services. It is often said that procrastination is a disease that is eating into the fast and proficient delivery of services. “Through the ‘Governance screening’, the issue of service delivery in local governments will be looked at very critically”, says Prof Shyaka, the head of Rwanda Governance Board. Igniting civic participation and increasing on the level of involvement of citizens in the local government activities will too be brought to the fore. Competitions and debates The Ministry of Local Government in collaboration with Ministry of Sports and Culture have developed a comprehensive program to organize games, sports, cultural dances, songs, poems and debates that will take place countrywide. Of great importance in line with good governance are the debates that are to involve university students and other think tanks, the program which is to be developed in partnership of the Ministry of Education, Local Government and the Rwanda Governance Board. Local communities will be encouraged to debate on governance and community development programs such as the one cow per poor family (Girinka), universal health scheme and universal basic education, press freedom, political space and delivery of services, among others. Activities calendar 5th December 2011: East African Local Authorities Sports and Culture Association (EALASCA) panel on good governance and decentralization at Kigali Serena Hotel; 5th – 9th December 2011: EALASCA Games hosted by City of Kigali; 13th December 2011: Governance month launching ceremony in Rulindo district; 14th – 16th December 2011:

18 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

National Dialogue meeting (Inama y’igihugu y’umushyikirano) held at the Parliament building in Kigali and chaired by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul KAGAME. This national dialogue meeting brings together representatives of different administrative organs and institutions, as well as representatives from grass roots and all vulnerable groups of people and discuss all issues pertaining to the state of governance and wellbeing of the population; 7th – 22nd December 2011: Mobile School of Governance (MSG), governance screenings and clinics in all districts in the country; 23rd – 30th December 2011: Good Governance competitions (Amarushanwa y’Imiyoborere Myiza) at district level and at Provincial level by 7th January 2012 and award of scoops to different best performers; 4th – 12th January 2012: Debates on governance issues in Universities and other think tanks; 4th – 27th January 2012: Governance screening/ clinics in all districts by Stakeholders at National level During the whole Governance Month districts and provincial authorities will conduct the screening in their own constituencies. 30th January 2012: Closing ceremony of the governance month in Kigali. Closing of the Rwanda Governance Month On the January 30, 2012, the Governance Month will come to an end with a High Level Meeting on Governance Assessment and award to the best performers in poems, songs and debates. This Meeting’s primary purpose is to review, and draw time-line and draw actionable programs to improve on areas where weaknesses were found. Indeed, this is the maiden Governance month. It is planned that it will be an annual event because of the intended benefits for both the government and the citizenry that promote decentralization, citizen participation, empowerment, transparency and accountability. Ladislas NGENDAHIMANA is the Public Relations and Communications Specialist in the Ministry of Local Government, republic of Rwanda. email:communications@minaloc.gov.rw

Analysis

B y S taff Writer

Umushyikirano

Participation and accountability taken to highest level While closing the 9th National Dialogue meeting on 16th December at parliament buildings, President Kagame wondered to the effect why critical comments did not come through during the open engagements with the public. “I was asking myself if there was a possibility that the people who called in were being selected or if their messages sent on Twitter and Facebook were being filtered as they came in because I was not hearing all those negative things said about Rwanda, I asked the Prime Minister to make sure that people were not being censored. I got assurances and evidence to prove that the contributions came in uncensored”. This was significant because in an open forum,

this was the time to see if there were genuine concerns by Rwandans themselves that had not been aired out. The pointer being that since no Rwandans used the platform to reiterate part of the negative narrative; it can only be a creation of outsiders. The question of the extent to which Rwandans are participating politically is one of the most salient in today’s Rwanda. The idea is that the Dialogue provides a platform for Rwandans to engage with their leaders directly without any formal procedures. President Kagame described the meeting is a symbol of nation building through a process where all Rwandans have a right to contribute to

the process and play an active role in deciding the path of their country. The 9th dialogue was so far the most open since this constitutional mandated meeting was started. The use of social media platforms Twitter and Facebook in addition to live radio and TV coverage, toll free phone lines and text message contributions allowed as many Rwandans to follow the proceedings. One commentator pointed out that in the United States one would have to pay lobbyists millions of dollars to have access to top leaders that are accessible during Umushyikirano. The editor of Red Pepper publications of Uganda, Arinaitwe Rugyendo covering the dialogue referred to as “it seems to be modeled on the African traditions of open democratic participation in which the community and its elders met to discuss how to progress their village and also hold their leaders to account”. The scope of people openly expressing themselves was highlighted by different callers from upcountry. When long estranged businessman Silas Majyambere talked he appreciated the level of debate and wowed the gathering by declaring his intention to invest up to 10 million dollars. Analysts following the Dialogue continued to debate its influence as a pointer to new models

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Analysis

of democracy where participation is made more direct rather than representative. This is because most classical representative dialogues see a small elite capture all platforms in the name of the rest of society and call it democracy. Like many other successful home grown solutions, Umushyikirano removes the elite barrier and creates direct engagement between the leaders and the led- actually. Some critics have alleged that the Dialogue is limited by the fact that critical opposition voices are not present but his was counteracted by the argument that if their ideas were valid, they should bring them up and see if they hold. Local Government minister James Musoni says that this year’s dialogue showed that generally there is public approval of current policies and things are moving in the right direction and thus calls for consolidation. Indeed throughout deliberations, there was repeated praises for achievements recorded in the messages sent in. However, president Kagame said what is done in Rwanda is for own benefit not for praise. Musoni adds that ideas from dialogue guide prioritizing in national budgeting process while others don’t require means but change in work method and mindsets. ‘We leave the dialogue with a common understanding of where we want to be and build confidence in general public to demand accountability from leaders get

“I was asking myself if there was a possibility that the people who called in were being selected or if their messages sent on Twitter and Facebook were being filtered as they came in because I was not hearing all those negative things said about Rwanda, I asked the Prime Minister to make sure that people were not being censored. I got assurances and evidence to prove that the contributions came in uncensored”. dignity and look for solutions from themselves’. Education minister Vincent Biruta says from the dialogue government gets to hear what the main public concerns like the recurrent issue of quality of education provided. Biruta speaking shortly after the dialogue closed noted that there are steps to ensure education quality like inspection of schools, use indicators like tools used by teachers, curriculum and plans were underway to hold competitions between schools awarding

20 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

the besting and compare with regional countries. Musoni Protais, the Cabinet affairs minister says Umushyikirano does well to promote the concept of ‘one nation one people one vision’. Among the resolutions were that cabinet Ministers and ambassadors will start signing performance contracts [Imihigo] and the country would push for eradication of malnutrition. The dialogue held between 15th and 16th December was themed around dignity.

Response B y mineac

EAC travel documents

ment; persons in transit through the territory of a Partner State; persons who are admitted as students in training establishments in a Partner State; and persons entering a Partner State for any other lawful purpose other than as a worker or as a self-employed person.

Dear Editor, In reference to the Letter of the Month in your issue of Dec 5-15th, 2011, The Ministry of East African Community is pleased to write in response to this letter by Alphonse J.Claude of Nyanza under the title SOMEONE EDUCATE ME ABOUT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS”.

What are travel documents? The standard travel documents within the EAC Partner States include: Passports; any valid travel document recognized by a partner state law; Interstate Passes; electronic national identity cards for Partner States which will have agreed to use it as a travel document. In the case of Rwanda, the Standard Travel documents are national Passports, laissez-passer and border pass (only for Rwandans residing near borders) the law provides for other types of travel documents. Rwanda is the only EAC Partner State that has a machine readable ID other partner states have projects in place working on such IDs to ease free movement of persons in the community. Rwanda is willing to use the national ID as a travel document once other or any of the Partner States issues such IDs to her citizens. Rwanda has reaped from the EAC integration in various ways; all goods originating from EAC member states pay 0% on import duty as long as they possess a certificate of origin; Taxation on transport of goods coming from Mombasa, Dar es Salaam or from any other point of entry within the territory of a Partner State was removed; and fees were removed on heavy trucks transiting across borders in EAC. The free movement of factors of production has widened the market within the community which makes the existence of monopolies more difficult. Rwanda’s membership in EAC has increased opportunities for employment, investment and productivity because of increased competition and market. With liberalisation of services sector, East Africans are free to acquire quality services from anywhere in the Community at a reduced price, be it medical, legal, education, among others. However, there are challenges such as low levels of awareness of citizens on integration, but The Ministry of EAC has embarked on a countrywide sensitization campaign to raise awareness of Rwandans on integration benefits and impact of EAC to Rwanda’s development. Thanks to Mr Jean Claude for the brilliant question raised, we hope that your concern has been addressed. For more information, contact us through our email address: mineac@mineac. gov.rw or visit our website: www.mineac.gov.rw or the East African Community website: www. eac.int.

The travel documents fall under the EAC Common Market Protocol which was signed on 20th November 2009 and implementation began on the 1st July 2010.The Common Market Protocol is made of Seven freedoms and rights: Free movement of Persons, Free Movement of Goods, Free Movement of Labor (Workers and Self -employed persons); Free Movement of Services, Free Movement of Capital, Right of Establishment and Right of Residence. What does free movement of persons mean? The free movement of persons means entry of citizens of a Partner State into a territory of another Partner States without a visa, free movement within the territory of other Partner States; stay in the territory of other Partner States; freedom of citizens of a Partner State to exit the territory of other Partner States; and protection of citizens of Partner States while in the territory

The free movement of factors of production has widened the market within the community which makes the existence of monopolies more difficult. Rwanda’s membership in EAC has increased opportunities for employment, investment and productivity because of increased competition and market. and a free pass valid for six months, but renewable at free of charge. Who are allowed to move? Beneficiaries of the free movement of persons are visitors; persons who seek to enter a Partner State for the purpose of medical treat-

Rwanda Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢ December ⎢ January 2011 2012 ⎢

Banana Republics by gon z anga mugan w a

Africa’s rise and its noxious politics So, the world is beginning to believe Africa is on the brink of economic takeoff if all goes well. Major media finally acknowledged one fact, that Africa’s future is now and it is the only remaining virgin investment destination. In a recent edition, The Economist magazine regrets having labelled Africa a ‘hopeless continent’ a decade ago and now wrote cover stories declaring Africa rising. At the beginning of December, Reuters quoted the chief investment officer at Russia’s Renaissance Asset Managers saying that Investors should forget China and park their money in sub-Saharan Africa if they wish to benefit from the growth in emerging markets. Plamen Monovski said “Africa reminds me of China back in 1999. If you missed China then, don’t do that now, it’s the last place in the world that is due for that rapid change and advancement.” The reasoning is that Investors should turn to Africa where equities are trading at “exceptionally cheap” levels as the continent is benefitting from Chinese demand for natural resources as well as investments by the Asian giant. There are various reasons for the new optimism about Africa. Issues like end of most wars, better macroeconomic management, commodity boom, more effective control of disease like malaria and AIDS, some sort of democratic elections, end of apartheid in South Africa, trade with new powers like China, India, Brazil and intra Africa trade. A middle class is emerging and therefore a vast market–and sub Saharan Africa is beginning to attract interest from some of the world’s largest banks and corporates. One thing that has changed is that a number of governments take development seriously and capable of good macroeconomic management to sustain growth for a long time. Throughout there is a comparison with Asia’s takeoff and talk of ‘African lion economies’ replacing the Asian tigers. However Africa has its own uniqueness the situation remains precarious to the extent that a small change in circumstance can change one’s livelihood- we remain on the edge, to say the least.

One sticky issue while referring to the limits to optimism about the continents economic take off, political practice is tricky. In many African countries the contestation for political office remains nasty even during this age of regular democratic elections. The most recent vote in the DR Congo remains contested by opposition even after the inauguration of Joseph Kabila for a second term. Long serving rulers in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Cameron, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Congo- Brazzaville etc remain entrenched in power most running seemingly family -clique regimes. Through corruption and nepotism, the ruling families have expropriated a considerable percentage of the national wealth. In this case, the growth may not lead to tangible improvements in the lives of the majority of citizens but the elite. Interestingly these pseudo- dictatorships include some of the fastest growing economies

the two countries are some of the highly disciplined and development oriented but the international narrative is that they brook little dissent. This could be a subject for political economists to study looking at whether it is better to have firm authoritarian like leaderships that move in the right direction or prefer a freewheeling vibrant democracy that largely only benefits the political and business class while the voters just get crumbs in form of bribes during election time. The lack of a definitive political settlement in many countries undermines long term optimism and therefore discourages certain investments. Therefore, it is pertinent for the continent to have a conversation on whether development can as well happen in spite of limitations in political progress or change in some countries will be a necessity before we can dream of our great chance? Infrastructure development remains below what is needed for rapid economic expansion. For example in the east African region, there is acute need for a railway network but investment hardly surfaces. The main talking point is the proposed 1600km of railway to cost above 5bn dollars involving Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo but the extent of urgency and mobilisation for needed resources by the countries is suspect. Whereas many children are now getting some form of basic education, the ability for those children to remain in school long enough and the quality of education received is subject for debate. The other challenge is that while Africa did not suffer extremely from the global economic crunch due to its relative isolation, it cannot be taken for granted that shocks like the ongoing European debt crisis won’t have effect. Given the volatility in prices for commodities due to the global crisis and the role of remittances to some

Africa reminds me of China back in 1999. If you missed China then, don’t do that now, it’s the last place in the world that is due for that rapid change and advancement. some driven by oil discoveries others by earlier good macroeconomic policies. The presence of noxious regimes allover means that the opportunity for takeoff could be derailed by the politics. The Economist names Ethiopia and Rwanda as two countries which have got economic development right but have become politically noxious. This is interesting because the governments of

22 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

countries, all is not well. This column has always believed that African is not a hopeless continent; it is only a matter of time that it rises to its rightful place as the best place to live on earth. Important for Africa to catch up, it has to run as the rest walk i.e. achieve double digit growth. Email: Muganwa@gmail.com

Kenya in Rwanda B y r w anda dispatch team

Beyond the benefits of the East African community, Rwanda and Kenya enjoy good relations with instances of diplomatic alliance. Economically, Kenyan businesses are getting more visible in Rwanda with interests in education, banking, supermarkets, hospitality etc. Kenyan professionals are active in many fields ranging from teachers, medical workers, bankers to engineers. The common waiver of work permits makes this cooperation a highly progressive one in Africa. The cultural exchange and influence in the two countries is visible and expanding. Kenyan run hangout and entertainment spots are some of the most popular in Kigali with their popular cuisines and drinks attracting many. It is undeniable that the Kenyan influence is livening up the social scene in this beautiful city.

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012 â&#x17D;˘

Kenya in Rwanda A strong cooperation between sister countries Over the years, Rwanda and Kenya’s sisterhood has grown steadily impacting positively developmental areas related to trade, capacity building, security etc. The Kenyan High Commissioner designate to Rwanda Rose Makena Muchiri says that even more cooperation between her country and Rwanda is possible as a way to spur the region’s integration process. Addressing Kenyans and friends at the 48th Independence Day (Jamhuri) celebrations held at her residence, Muchiri commended the collaboration especially those that are development-focused. She explained that Rwanda and Kenya are like sisters. “It is a high time everyone feels at home especially local traders whom I assure we’re yet to eradicate non-tariff barriers that have been a challenge to their business. At the moment tough measures are being enhanced to punish those demanding bribes, for instance.” In order to further improve the flow of information, there is a Rwanda-Ke¬nya Business Association (RKBA) which was created to enhance collaboration among business¬people from both countries. According to RKBA chairman Edgar Ogao, through joint efforts the two associations have made available information on trade op¬portunities in Kenya and Rwan¬da. In addition, they also assist entrepreneurs who experience trade-related problems in one of the two countries. For instance, Ogao cites a case where Rwandan traders discovered that products they had bought in Nairobi were counterfeit; here, the association did not only help them to recover their money but also linked then with authorized dealers who have legitimate products.

President Paul Kagame with Raila Odinga, the Kenyan Prime Minister

“It is a high time everyone feels at home especially local traders whom I assure we’re yet to eradicate non-tariff barriers that have been a challenge to their business. At the moment tough measures are being enhanced to punish those demanding bribes, for instance.”

Working permits waived A significant step forward in cooperation is the abolition of work permits for Rwandans able to find employment in Kenya. The Kenyan government took the initiative after Rwandan President Paul Kagame removed permits for professionals from the East African Community wishing to work in Rwanda. However, other members of the EAC have not yet scrapped the permits. In Kenya citizens from other EAC members, save for Rwanda, are required to have work permits.

Rose Makena Muchiri, Kenyan High Commissioner to Rwanda

Boniface Mutua the local chairman of Kenyan association noted that his members were enjoying a good relationship with the government of Rwanda with officials normally participate in their gatherings. Currently, more than 30 Kenyan companies have been approved by the Rwanda

24 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Development Board while more than 3,000 Kenyans are recorded to be living in the country. Mutua commends members for being cooperative particularly in taking part in some of the government’s initiatives like the monthly communal cleaning (Umuganda),

Kenya in Rwanda something that strengthens the relationship. Meanwhile he has embarked on a campaign encouraging Kenyan companies based in the country to offer contributions meant to support the vulnerable during the festive season. In 2012, the association ‘All Kenyans in Rwanda’ (AKR) together with similar associations from the region, will select a project meant to eradicate poverty in Rwanda, later the same will be replicated in poverty stricken areas in the region. “So far we have talked to some officials from East African member states and they have agreed to the cause. We should start working as a team to achieve big,” Mutua advised.

Joint initiatives So far several cooperation agreements have been signed between the two countries. Rwanda and Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding seeking to strengthen cooperation on co-operative technical assistance and development between the two countries. The agreement was in recognition of the potential for extensive economic, social and educational co-operation between the two countries in the co-operative sector and the need to tap capacities and opportunities in the cooperative sector in a more focused and comprehensive manner. Among of the key objectives of this MoU, was to enhance capacity building for the co-operative movement and Staff in Rwanda; to provide technical Experts and Cooperation in specific areas; to offer co-operative training facilities to the Republic of Rwanda; to second staff to work in Rwanda and in Kenya, and promote income generating ventures between the two countries. The scope of co-operation between the parties, envisaged include others fields under cooperatives such as trade promotion, tourism, agriculture, finance, livestock, food stuff, consultancy, research and development, investment and any other areas that may be agreed upon from time to time.

Military cooperation The cooperation was also extended towards capacity building for local military officers, in this respect Kenya and Rwanda also signed a Memorandum of

Nakumatt gave shopping vouchers to the needy during the festive season

The Kenyan community living inRwanda has a target plan of planting over 5000 trees in Gasabo at Nduva cell of Nyacyonga area

Understanding (MoU) in order to widen defense and military cooperation between the two countries.The new agreement is more flexible and will allow other areas of cooperation in defense matters other than training.

The agreement enables the two Armed Forces to enhance their capabilities and perform their duties through cooperation. This was also meant to strengthen East Africa Stand by Force which has an aim to enhance security in the region.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Kenya in Rwanda

By all means, deepening and developing Rwanda’s retail scene has been our single most contribution to the development of the Rwandan economy. Such deepening and development also covers the attraction of our international suppliers to also establish a local presence to enable them efficiently serve our needs. Deepening and developing the retail sector also means we’ve played a key role in skills transfer through the training of local staff to manage operations locally.

What category of products does Nakumatt offer to its customers?

Nakumatt entertains its clients with X-Mas Carols

Give us a brief background to Nakumatt’s launch into the Rwandan market? As a regional retailer, Nakumatt first ventured into Rwanda in 2008 following the acquisition of the former City Market Supermarket based at UTC Mall in the heart of Kigali City. By all means Nakumatt’s entry into Rwanda was as a result of sustained external investment marketing by the hardworking executives at the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA). Our venture to Rwanda was the first regional expansion program Nakumatt Holdings undertook. Our feasibility studies, confirmed that Rwanda provided and still provides, a conducive investment environment. We therefore duly moved to establish a presence in Kigali leading to the opening of our first supermarket store-Nakumatt City Centre at UTC Mall in 2008. Since then, Nakumatt has enjoyed sustained growth and support from the

people of Rwanda and all the government agencies. With such support, we have managed to open our first hypermarket at the new Kigali City Tower complex.

Nakumatt has been in Rwanda for some time, now. What would you say has been your contribution to Rwanda’s economy? Our corporate mission in all the countries we operate in East Africa is to facilitate lifestyle growth through the provision of world-class retail services and solutions. Since 2008, we are proud that we have helped deepen and indeed develop Rwanda’s retail scene. We have unveiled worldclass stores stocking a variety of consumer products at affordable prices. Today, our customers enjoy shopping in an ambience that is benchmarked against the best stores in Nairobi, Dubai or even London. Our customers are today able to access international brands conveniently right at their doorsteps.

26 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

At both Nakumatt City Centre and Nakumatt Kigali Tower, our customers enjoy a wide range of retail products.These include household products, food items, beverages furniture, clothing items and electronic items. Besides these products, we provide value added services such as the popular Nakumatt Smart Card Loyalty program, Gift Vouchers and maintain a one-price policy across the two outlets.

Does the Supermarket work with local suppliers such as farmers in its business? Yes, we have been working closely with local suppliers. Our main focus area has been on raising quality standards through proper packaging and product design. Given our target market and mix of both local and international products, we have been actively assisting local suppliers to meet international standards. Today, we have local suppliers who provide us with Rwanda coffee that is properly packaged and sold even at our stores in Nairobi and Kampala. We have also assisted all our suppliers to adopt world-class retail standards such as product listing on barcodes. Across our operations in East Africa, we

Kenya in Rwanda do not deal directly with farmers, as we prefer to deal with value adding entrepreneurs. Such entrepreneurs deal with farmers at the farm gate buying the produce, processing and delivering for sale quality products.

What category of Rwandans is Nakumatt employing? Nakumatt Rwanda employs a cross section of Rwandese people with diverse skills. We are an equal opportunity employer. We also reward exceptional performance with Rwandese staff enjoying equal growth opportunities within then region just as their Ugandan or Kenyan counterparts.

Has Nakumatt offer training skills to Rwandan employees, given the lack of skills in customer care?

Nakumatt supports a mother who gave birth to 3 babies at Kibagabaga hospital

Yes, since 2008, we have invested heavily in training our Rwandese staffers locally and even in Nairobi. Today, we look back with pride at the success achieved in less than four years and reckon that Nakumatt must be one of the leading Rwandese enterprises with a superior level of customer care. All our shop floor staff are Rwandese and I am sure you’ll agree with me they deliver world-class customer care services.

What advantages does one gain from shopping at Nakumatt? Shopping at Nakumatt provides you with a five star advantage. At Nakumatt, we provide you with the advantage of Quality, Value, Service, Variety and lifestyle up-liftment for all our customers.

As a regional supermarket, what challenges are you facing here in Rwanda as your business grows? Within the last few years, we have managed to surmount most of the challenges. The advantages of investing in Rwanda are the fact that we have proactive, accessible government investment agencies. The investment policies maintained by President Kagame’s government are consistent with our expectations and are by all means commendable. Just like in Kenya or any other growing

Parting with needy on christmas Day at Nakumatt

country within the region, our only challenge for growth is the availability of new shopping malls. We do not invest in property development and operate from leased facilities. These means our growth is highly dependent on the availability of suitable facilities such as UTC Mall and Kigali City Towers.

Apart from the main point in Kigali do you have future plans to set up other branches? Yes, we have standing plans to expand our services by opening stores upcountry.

However, such plans have been slowed down by lack of suitable facilities. We are however engaged in fruitful talks with some prospective local property developers to address this challenge.

What social responsibility activities is Nakumatt involved in? Nakumatt is engaged in a range of social responsibility activities. We are an active member of the Rwanda community, supporting various community initiatives in such sectors as health, education, culture and environment.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Kenya in Rwanda

A Kenyans’ Life in Rwanda With the introduction of East African Community, many Kenyans have left for ‘Weru wa thatheso’ greener pastures to Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Thousands of Kenyan graduates, masters and PhD holders are jobless due to stiff competition in Kenya more than any other country in East Africa. This led to the introduction of jua Kali life, hot sun life. This is a real survival type of life where one does any blue-collar odd job. There is unconfirmed rumour that the country with thousand hills and mountainous gorillas has many job opportunities. Therefore many Kenyan I included crossed the land of matooke, land of Kabaka and came to Rwanda as a result of a common saying that a man prospers in a foreign country more than when he is at home. For those who travel by road are greatly surprised to find their usual packing paper popularly known as Juara plastic paper bag torn into pieces at Rwandan border because they never admitted in the land of thousand hills On arrival at Kigali city one is greeted by a growing but very clean town that is almost zero in corruption. There are very few varieties of food. Back at home, As a Kenyan living in Rwanda, i must confess that I miss nyama choma and special ugali accompanied by ‘sukuma wiki’ though there are as different types of food as the number of the regions in Kenya, e.g. githeri, mukimo, muthokoi, omena etc. Language barrier is evident since most of the locals speak French and Kinyarwanda. Most radio, stations and newspapers use Kinyarwanda. The locals are very understand, accommodative, and work together for common goals e.g. umuganda, general cleaning exercise for everyone. Kenyans like Rwandese rich cultural dances and colourful weddings. However, the month of December in Rwanda is not exiting as in Kenya. You would not need to be told that someone is a Kenyan in taxis here in Rwanda because you will find them looking at their

watches wondering why a bus conductor had to wait until the passenger alight so that he can demand for his share. Some passengers will deliberately give 5000rwf and he takes more than ten minutes looking for change.You will also know a real Kenyan for he will start alighting about three hundred metres before the stage. Another thing that is so unique is that the drivers wait for passengers to sit. A real Kenyan will consider it as a waste of time because back at home, the drive would wait to see that the last foot bids good bye to the road. When friends and relatives call to enquire of their security in Rwanda they would tell them that they are 10 time secure than them since there is no geta. This when system when a thief gets your neck so that he can

get all worldly possession from your pocket. If you have never come to Rwanda you may not understand. Every day at 4PM army and police spread strategically to ensure that there is safety. On passing near a bank this real Kenyan will wonder whether this was a section of heaven where people walk with money in their hand as if they were ordinary papers. They also wondered why an ordinary watchman should own a gun. Most of the Kenyans wonder how on earth Rwanda a land locked country can have fast growing Economy despite lack of natural resources and how taxes are well used. They envy how mafaranga is beating Kenyan Shilling in the economic race and how commodities have stable prices with no hacking of prices. Concerning rent most of the Kenyans living here in Rwanda say that they are relatively expensive since many are used to staying in self container rooms, not self contained.This is a single room that contains everything in it. Back at home they live in flats that are more economical and they wish investors would contracted many flats. Kenyans have really enjoyed the good will and trust the locals have in their ability and also their aggressiveness in their work, for example in a certain school the proprietor hired more than 80% Kenyan teachers. This is evident in Rwandan government when they sourced more than 2000 teachers from Kenya. The Kenyan Embassy holds meetings with Kenyans to discuss issues partaking to their stay in Rwanda. The organization of Kenyans living in Rwanda is doing a lot to unite Kenyans and to bring them together. They organize meets at the last Saturday of every month. By Samuel Irungu Njau (Mount Kenya Univeristy- Kigali)

Kenyans have really enjoyed the good will and trust the locals have in their ability and also their aggressiveness in their work, for example in a certain school the proprietor hired more than 80% Kenyan teachers. This is evident in Rwandan government when they sourced more than 2000 teachers from Kenya.

28 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Kenya in Rwanda

Mount Kenya University MKU Kigali Campus: Contributing to human resource development in Rwanda Mount Kenya University (MKU) has been described as the fastest growing private university in the Eastern African region with centres for open, distance and e-learning to help students in the Eastern access university education through effective and efficient learner support services. In recognition of Kenyan companies and institutions contributing to Rwanda’s economy, Rwanda Dispatch approached management at MKU Kigali Campus to update the public on how the university with ten campuses, five in Kenya, is preparing itself to provide quality education to Rwandan students at Certificate, Diploma, Degree and masters levels. Below, Samuel Gicharu, Board of Trustees Representative, among others talks to Rwanda Dispatch about MKU Kigali Campus and plans to establish a fully-fledged institution.

Establishment of MKU Kigali Campus

Carrying about 1200 students today, both full-time and part-time and attending lectures during day, evening and weekends, the campus needs expansion, particularly a permanent home. MKU has acquired land (2.3 acres) in Kicukiro District Centre where three modern structures will be set up. The structures, including Tuition block for lectures, administration block and library will be done in three phases and will cost the university USD 150 million. Management is waiting for Kigali City Council to grant a construction permit so that work begins. With the funds available, it is expected that the construction of the state-of-the art five-floor Tuition Block will be completed in four months to accommodate the growing number of Rwandan students interested in joining MKU Kigali Campus. The completion of the three structures will be followed by the establishment of other facilities like halls of residence and an ultra-modern hospital.

The university first had a presence in Rwanda through collaboration with Rwanda Tourism University College where the latter has been offering the MKU Business and Information Technology degree programme and other short programmes to students. But When it became evident that the demand for both skills training and degree level education in Rwanda and education products of MKU was increasing but could not be served effectively through the existing collaboration, the university last year established directly MKU Kigali Campus in the Rwandan market to meet the growing demand, having been cleared by Ultra-modern laboratories Already, MKU Kigali Campus has invested the Ministry of Education and the National in laboratories in Kicukiro where students Council for Higher Education. MKU Kigali Campus investment projects of pharmacy and clinical medicine do Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Kenya in Rwanda their practical. However management plans to construct ultra-modern laboratories expected to cost Ksh.50 million. This will solve the current challenge where the institution is importing some of the apparatus from the outside. Efforts are also underway to establish a radio station as the university plans to introduce Bachelor of Mass Communication.

highest quality service possible. To realise this objective, the university management is well positioned given its compliance with all requisite quality performance standards and its rounded monitoring systems.

Employment creation

MKU Kigali Campus has contributed to the creation of both direct and indirect jobs in Rwanda. The Campus has recruited Rwandans both as academic and support Investment in academic staff To build the capacity of its academic staff, staff. MKU has developed a staff development policy whose objective is to institution- Achievements Recently MKU Kigali was recognised alize staff training, promote staff capacity building and equip staff with relevant competencies and skills, to enhance staff development and upward mobility and to build a highly competent and skilled labourforce. The university has set funds aside in its yearly budget for staff development. When deemed necessary the university gives scholarships to staff to study PhD and Masters Regardless of the campuses where they teach, the university’s academic staff are employed on merit and have to have required qualifications. In Rwanda, we are happy that the National Council for Higher Education has been coming to assess our staff to ensure we provide quality services.

by Kicukiro District as the fastest growing private institution in the city and best in Customer care. But MKU Kigali intends to recognise the Ministry of Education the support given to the institution. MKU Kigali together with other partners hopes to get involved in programmes that contribute to society, supporting the poor. In conclusion with focus on science and technology MKU through its campuses offers an-all round education as it endevours to develop well trained manpower, equipped with technological scientific knowledge and capacities from Certificate, Diploma, Degree and post-graduate courses.

Some of the courses Just like the mother university MKU, academic programmes offered MKU Kigali Campus are developed through a participatory process involving regulatory bodies and industries to ensure high quality and relevance training. Some of the courses being offered are: Bachelor of Business Information Technology, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and soon Bachelor of Nursing will be introduced. Most of the students at MKU Kigali are on Masters Programmes such as International Relations, Information Technology, Business Management, Executive MBA and Human Resource Management.

Ensuring quality assurance All MKU campuses have a duty to contribute effectively to nurturing of a holistic individual development by improving its services, products and processed ensuring that students receive the

Courses offered Bridging Programmes Languages i.e English, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, French among others Post-graduate Programmes Proposed: (PhD) - Business Administration Master of Business Administration (MBA)  Master of Public Administration & Management Master of Governance and Ethics  Masters in Public Health(MPH)  International Executive Masters in Business Administration (IEMBA) Masters of Information Science Masters in International Studies Proposed: Masters in Conflict Management Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration

30 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Undergraduate Programmes Bachelor of Business Management   Bachelor of Commerce  Bachelor of Information & Communication Technology (BBICT)  Bachelor of Public Health Bachelor of Environmental Science Bachelor of Arts - Public Administration Bachelor of Communication & Mass Media  Bachelors of Medical Labaratory Services Bachelor of Pharmacy  Diploma Programmes Diploma in Pharmacy   Diploma in Medical Labaratory Services  Diploma in Clinical Medical and Surgery  All Arts related Diplomas Diploma in Journalism and Mass Media  Diploma in Sales & Marketing  Diploma in Banking and Finance  Diploma in Information Science among others

Kenya in Rwanda

B Y dispatch w riter

Kigali Serena Hotel Leading the way of Hotel and Restaurant Industry in Rwanda

Kigali Serena Hotel is the number one hotel in Rwanda offering the best services that any high-end client can think of. Located just 10 kilometres from Kigali International Airport, the five-star hotel which is part of Serena Hotels chain in East Africa, is Rwanda’s best destination for accommodation, conferences and other activities such as product launches. Rwanda Dispatch interviewed the Country Manager Charles Muya about the hotel’s contribution to Rwanda’s economy and now reports. Brief background Kigali Serena Hotel is four years in Rwanda having taken over Kigali Serena Premier Hotel in 2007 and went ahead to takeover Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. In the

next 2 - 3 years management hopes to run 5-6 hotels given the conducive investment climate that exist currently in the country. Contribution of Serena Hotels to Rwanda’s economy

Serena hotel is one of the best taxpaying institutions in Rwanda and was recognised by the Rwanda Revenue Authority for being the best taxpayers in Rwanda. In addition 99 percent of the foodstuffs and vegetables used by Serena Hotels in Rwanda are bought locally from the Rwandan farmers and producers. We also have an arrangement with local farmers where we have given them seedlings. They are able to grow and supply vegetables to the hotel, including those that were not grown here before. As far as employment is concerned, Serena Hotels in Rwanda have human capital of more than 500 people. Rwandans have started taking over senior jobs after undergoing training. We will continue to recruit and train more Rwandans as we expand.

Capacity building Kigali Serena Hotel has prioritised training of its staff. For example we have sent two to Kenya and France for training. In January a top Chef from France will train our staff and we shall invite other

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Kenya in Rwanda chefs from nearby hotels to come and learn. We also have a team of trainers from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda who come to train our staff whenever need arises. Further, we have engaged Crestcom to train local managers and staff. Casbora, another Rwandan company has been training our staff for one year in customer care from January up to now. Serena Hotels have international exposure and has been sending there managers to learn best practices. To note also is that Rwandans are taking up senior positions at our hotels. For example, the Deputy Country Manager is Rwanda, the Chief Chef at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is Rwandan and the Sales and Marketing Manager is Rwandan. In the next on year we expect to get other two managers who are Rwandan. The intention is to empower local Rwandans to take over the mantle of leadership at the hotel. We happy that there is a lot of enthusiasm within Rwanda to take up higher positions in the hotel.

Serena’s status as 5-Star Hotel First of all the status of Serena Hotel as a 5-Star Hotel in Rwanda betters the country’s image on the world tourism map as tourists come knowing they will find better accommodation. We are adding more rooms to accommodate visitors. The status also attracts international events and conferences as we have witnessed in the recent times. We hope to add on more rooms for accommodation and conferences as Rwanda positions itself as the region’s conference destination. However it is important that we encourage the upgrading of hotels in Rwanda so that they provide better services to visitors. Economically, further the status of Serena Hotels as a 5-Star has contributed to the rising number of tourists who end up spending money on the services and products available on the local market. Tourists also provide foreign exchange to the country thus improving on foreign reserves.

gain skills and best practices. Through the the Kenya-Rwanda Business Association we are also pushing for Kenyan government to charge Rwandan students studying in Kenya the same fees they charge Kenyan students . We are also lobbying for Kenyan government to give grants to four Rwandan students to study in Kenya as both countries have bilateral relations within the East African Community.

Other endevours

Corporate Social Responsibility

Serena Hotel under Hotel and Restaurant Keepers Association partnered with their counterparts in Mombasa to have some of its employees posted in their hotels to

gorilla naming ceremony to boost conservation and sustainability of the environment. We also sponsor golf tournaments, participate in Umuganda, helping Genocide orphanage by providing food stuffs, beddings, training and hiring competent ones. We also give assistance to Genocide Memorial Sites every year, primary school for the needy every year and the cycling competition every year.

Serena Hotels in Rwanda participate in a number of community events such as being part of the sponsors of the Kwita Izina, the internationally recognised

32 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

Challenges The major challenge are the skills. We need to provide more skills to our staff especially in customer care as they serve clients. Bad also is that some of the staff we train are taken by other hotels which works to our disadvantage since we invest a lot of resources in training them. Future developments in Rwanda We have found six areas where we would want to invest in. This includes talking to people we want to partner with. The total outlook of Serena doing business the near future is bound to change given the conducive investment climate, good governance and hospitable people.

Kicukiro Main Road. P.O. Box 4879, Kigali - Rwanda . Tel: +250 788 302005 Email:rw_raghwani1@yahoo.com, rw@raghconst.com . www.raghconst.com

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Kenya in Rwanda

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

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Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

RCAA in plans to upgrade Kigali International Airport With Rwanda’s skies becoming busier with passenger and cargo aircrafts leaving and landing at Kigali International Airport (KIA) everyday, increasing capacity to handle such is important. The Airport is realising the positive changes as the Government through Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA), the regulator of the local aviation industry, works and innovates to ensure that the country realises its dream of becoming a regional hub for air transport operations in the near future. In an in interview with Rwanda Dispatch, the Director General of RCAA, Dr. Richard Masozera, revealed that the Government has earmarked USD 17 million to upgrade the airport facilities most especially the airport terminal expansion to serve passengers better in line with the ever-changing international aviation standards. Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

Apart from the national carrier RwandAir, other airlines operating passenger flights at Kigali International Airport include; SN-Brussels, KLM, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Uganda and Emirates Airlines which began cargo flights two months ago.

36 â&#x17D;˘Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

he facelift, according to Dr. Masozera, is in line with the authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to make Rwanda a regional hub for air transport operations, by ensuring aviation safety and security, providing a conducive airport environment, with an aim of promoting tourism and trade for sustainable economic growth but also ensuring that RCAA is a trusted regulator and reliable service provider.

Why the USD 17 million investment The need for expansion and improvement in the facilities and services at

Kigali International Airport lies in the fact that more and more airline companies, regional, international have picked interest to carry out operations at the airport. For example, three years ago, the airport used to receive between 100-150 passengers in the terminal per hour during peak hours. The numbers have changed tremendously that the terminal now receives up to 500 passengers at peak hours due to increased number of airlines operating at the airport. With more airline companies expressing their interests to operate at the airport, plans to provide more facilities like expanded duty free shops, business lounges, restaurants,

washrooms, book stores, luggage belts, and check-in decks are underway. For instance RCAA plans to double the number of checkin desks from the current 8 to 16. More, space for arrival areas is to be increased including providing more luggage belts to handle about 150 bags from the current 80 bags. The departure and arrival areas will be separated. The intention is to provide an International Air Travel Association [IATA] C level service. What more? In its face-lifting plans RCAA will introduce elevators to cater for the handicapped, the heavy and the elderly. Further, RCAA plans to buy more equipment like

Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012 â&#x17D;˘

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority

pushbacks and stare cases to ensure efficient use of available space, serve more planes at the same time, hence saving valuable time. More, aprons are to be improved to accommodate more aircrafts.

Airlines operating at Kigali International Apart from the national carrier RwandAir, other airlines operating passenger flights at Kigali International Airport include; SN-Brussels, KLM, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, Air Uganda and Emirates Airlines which began cargo flights two months ago. All these have increased their frequencies due to the increased number of passengers between Kigali and other destinations. For instance in 2008 the airport received 276000, 320,000 in 2009, 350,000 in 2010 and 400,000 passengers are expected for 2011. These figures to a great extent have been boosted by huge investments in RwandAir which now operates 13 routes

RCAA also does regular inspections on service providers at the airport including meteorology department, air traffic control centre, planes and record of pilots to ensure that they adhere to laws and standards that govern the aviation industry. from the first four. But also cargo flights in and out of the airport have increased. The airport handles 200 scheduled schedules per week which is a very significant increment compared to two years ago when there were only 40-60 flights per week. Most airlines operating here have increased flight frequencies.

More airlines that have expressed interest The ever-increasing flights in and out of

38 â&#x17D;˘Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012

Kigali International Airport have attracted more airlines from Africa, Europe and Middle East. For example South African Airways in January, Turkish Airways in April and Qatar Airways intend to launch their operations next year. The airlines would want to tap into the opportunities as Rwanda positions herself as a regional tourism, conference and investment destination. A private firm- Tempus jets/Orion Air is also interested in having their operations at the airport to serve the African region.

Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority Safety and Security at the airport RCAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facelift plans also have taken into consideration security matters at Kigali International Airport. RCAA is going to provide a security barrier and invest more in security equipment (scanners) and human resource development. A number of staff have undergone training in certain security operations and applications such as air navigation radar operations for flights both in and out of Kigali International Airport. Under the new plans more space will be provided for car parking. Currently the car park is so close to the airport terminal and as such has created a security concern. The redevelopment will ensure that cars park at a further distance from the terminal. RCAA also does regular inspections on service providers at the airport including meteorology department, air traffic control centre, planes and record of pilots to ensure that they adhere to laws and standards that govern the aviation industry. More, RCAA has established an Area Control Centre at the airport with a new modern radar system to boost air traffic control operations. The system will improve safety and security and people are being trained in air control services. However, passengers should know that the prohibition of certain cosmetics and other liquid items are for their own good and security. It is the responsibility of RCAA to ensure that passengers leaving and entering the airport are safe and secure. The upgrading of the airport is expected to be completed in 2013 or much earlier.

Internal flights The number of passengers on daily internal flights has increased. Plans are under way to increase the length of both runways at Kamembe and Gisenyi (Rubavu) airports so that they can receive more passengers. A study is to be commissioned to that effect.

Latest on proposed Bugesera International Airport The development of Bugesera International Airport as a regional hub is still on track. Governments plans to develop this airport through a public private partnership. Currently RCAA, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Infrastructure and Rwanda

Development Board are in the process of evaluating financial bids submitted by a number of competent firms. The end of this process will help Government move to another level. The airport is likely to take five or more years to be completed given that it is a huge investment.

Human Resource Strategy RCAA has a comprehensive human resource strategy aimed at professionally developing its staff and establish a scheme to retain them given the high competition in the industry.

Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2012 â&#x17D;˘

observing the International Civil aviation day

RwandAir spreading wings to serve

the region and beyond Starting as almost a virtual airline two years ago and operating two leased aircrafts, RwandAir, a national carrier, has today emerged as one of the region’s popular airlines, growing its fleet of jets, including the latest two Boeing 737-800NG acquired in August and October this year to serve the increasing number of passengers flying between Kigali International Airport and other international destinations. As part of the celebrations to mark the International Civil Aviation celebrations held on December 7, Rwanda Dispatch talked to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, John Mirenge to dig out the latest there. In detail we bring

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢January January 2012 2011 40 ⎢Rwanda

you the wonderful journey of the airline that now is ranked number three in the Eastern Africa region behind Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airways. According to Mirenge, RwandAir started operations as a joint venture in 2002 mainly as a virtual airline under the name RwandAir Express. It was using two leased aircrafts, leased crew, and leased cabin staff. The airline had no capacity to operate as a full-fledged airline. The beginning was further not easy as there was no capacity in the company at the time even to maintain the aircrafts.

RwandAir Express becomes RwandAir In 2009 RwandAir was registered as a national carrier when Government took a decision to modernize it and align it to both the country’s Economic Development and Poverty Eradication Strategy [EDPRS] and Vision 2020 which aim at positioning Rwanda as a servicebased economy. RwandAir Express which was operating unreliably due to limited aircrafts and flights had created the problem in terms of accessibility to some passengers. Moreover, most airlines which were operating in Kigali at the time could only make flights to and from Kigali when they felt it was profitable, therefore inconveniencing passengers. It became an issue that the Government of Rwanda had

observing the International Civil aviation day

to acquire more planes, serves Kamembe and Gisenyi airports.

Increasing passenger numbers More and more passengers are travelling with RwandAir in and out of Kigali International Airport. Last year the airline carried 600 passengers a month and the number has increased to 20,000 a month this year and still increasing. The airline accounts for 40 percent of the increased traffic at the airport, an achievement management is proud of as they work to serve the nation and the region. With an investment of about USD 150 million in fleet expansion, the airline has embarked on building a critical mass of passengers to help it grow further. For example more destinations are being planned for Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Sudan.

Partners and networks

to work on if the country was to become a regional hub for tourism, investment and aviation. Efforts included boosting RwandAir so as to provide efficient and reliable flights for the increasing passengers at the airport.

Acquiring state- of -the art aircrafts RwandAir has embarked on a fleet acquisition plan with the future in mind. The airline has and continues to invest in safety, technology and efficient planes. The airline today boasts of a fleet of two Boeing 737-500 (102 seater) acquired on dry lease, two CRJ200 and a leased Bombardier Dash - 8100 used for domestic flights. In August and October 2011, RwandAir took delivery of two Boeing 737-800 (154 seater) NG planes from Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle USA. The seating plan is designed for passenger safety, privacy and a feeling of spaciousness. RwandAir serves most East African Community capital cities with daily flights. It also serves some more cities in Africa. The current destinations include Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Dar- es Salaam, KilimanjaroArusha, Johannesburg, Brazzaville, Libreville, Dubai, Lagos and extending wings to Abuja. We have code share agreements with SN Brussels on the Kigali-Brussels Sector and Ethiopian Airlines on the Kigali-Addis Ababa Sector. For internal flights, the airline with plans

RwandAir works with various partner airlines to offer improved network and service benefits to our customers. The benefits include connecting flights through code share arrangements, access to more airports and hubs worldwide, Seamless travel experience up to final destinations, availability of more combined fare products and commitment to high service standards that come with our partners’ brand reputations.

Code Share Partners RwandAir has a code share agreement with Brussels Airlines on the Kigali – Brussels Sector, Ethiopian Airways on the Kigali – Addis Ababa Sector, Air Uganda on the Kigali Entebbe Sector. For connections into Tanzania, RwandAir flies to Kilimanjaro offering connections to the rest of the country in code share with Precision Air. RwandAir also has interline agreements with Kenya Airways, KLM, Air France, Delta, Air Tanzania, Kingfisher, Southern China Airlines, Oman Air and South African Airways.

Capacity building and human resource As the airline grows, it has at the same time embarked on capacity building among its staff. Some are training as first officers in Africa and US. More Engineers are being trained while others are on job training. Staff in other departments like customer care, marketing and communication, load controllers and dispatchers are under continuous skills upgrade. Mirenge says this is important as RwandAir strategises to compete favourably in the regional and global aviation industry.

Our Fleet RwandAir has embarked on a fleet acquisition plan with the future in mind. We go about this by investing in safety, technology and efficient planes. To learn more about our fleet (current and planned), view a model or class of aircraft from the list below. Our seating plan is designed for safety, privacy and a feeling of spaciousness as you travel with us. Boeing 737-500 Seating Capacity

12 Business, 80 Economy Class

Cargo Capacity

23.3m3

Overall Length

31.1m

Wingspan

28.9m

Overall Height

11.1m

Cabin Width/Height

3.54m/2.20m

Max. Takeoff Weight

133,210lb

Cruising Speed / Max. Speed

Mach 0.74 / Mach 0.82

Bombardier CRJ-200 Seating Capacity

50 Single Cabin

Cargo Capacity

n/a

Overall Length

26.77m

Wingspan

21.2m

Overall Height

6.22m

Cabin Width/Height

2.18m/1.85m

Max. Takeoff Weight

53,000lb

Cruising Speed / Max. Speed

Mach 0.71 / Mach 0.81

Bombardier DASH-8 100 Series Seating Capacity

37 Single Cabin

Cargo Capacity

n/a

Overall Length

22.25m

Wingspan

25.89m

Overall Height

7.49m

Cabin Width/Height

2.51m/-

Max. Takeoff Weight

36,300lb

Cruising Speed / Max. Speed

- / 310mph

The new Boeing 737-800NG Seating Capacity

16 Business Class - 51’ pitch, 138 Economy Class - 31’ pitch

Cargo Capacity

21.4 - 52.0m3

Overall Length

39.5m

Wingspan

34.3m

Overall Height

12.5m

Cabin Width/Height

3.54m/-

Max. Takeoff Weight

155,500lb

Cruising Speed / Max. Speed

809.5kph / -

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2011 2012 ⎢

Carnegie mellon university

“I do believe this is evidence of the changing tide in global partnership, one that I am happy to personally associate with. The Carnegie Mellon Campus in Rwanda will...develop tha skills for innovation and entrepreneurship which will take our nations forward.” - President Kagame

Here to contribute to East Africa’s ICT development

arnegie Mellon University, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, has embarked on an exciting opportunity to transform graduate education in Rwanda and the East African region. With a history of excellence in higher education and as a global thought leader in technology innovation, Carnegie Mellon is the first U.S. research institution offering degrees in Africa with an in-country presence. Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R), is introducing new models of education, research and development, and the commercialization of ICT in a region booming with opportunities. CMU-R is offering a Mas-

ter of Science degree in Information Technology (MSIT) with a multidisciplinary curriculum that strikes a fine balance between technology, business, and innovation, preparing the next generation of IT leaders and innovators in East Africa. The courses at CMU-R are expected to challenge students to examine trends and strategies in the dynamic ICT industry within the East African context with a focus on technologies for emerging markets. The courses further target both mid-career professionals and recent graduates with strong background in technology. Rwanda Dispatch talked to the university’s Associate Director, Professor Michel Bezy at CMU-R Head Office in Kigali

42 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

and now brings the readers topics discussed. Below are the details.

Background In October 2007, the Connect Africa Summit was held in Rwanda and attended by several African heads of state, the president of the African Development Bank, the secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union, and the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT led by the chairman of Intel. During this summit, they recommended the establishment of five centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Africa that would support the development of a critical mass of information and communications technology (ICT) skills required to achieve a knowledge-based economy. This network of CoEs would be strategically placed in each sub-region of Africa to serve the respective communities. Rwanda is spearheading the initiative for the East Africa region. To fulfill this ambitious goal, the Government of Rwanda has strategically targeted CMU, a world leader in higher education.

Carnegie mellon university CMU’s College of Engineering regularly ranks among the top of its peers in the nation and the world for engineering education and research. CMU has been ranked sixth in graduate engineering by the latest U.S. News and World Report and sixth in the world for engineering and technology by the London Times Higher Education.

CMU-R’s course offerings CMU will establish and operate Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda (CMU-R) based in Kigali as a degree-granting program of CMU. CMU-R will recruit and admit students in accordance with the same standards and policies applied to applicants at CMU. CMU-R will offer the following CMU degrees: Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) and Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MSECE). The MSIT will be the first degree delivered beginning in August 2012. CMU-R will also be offering a series of professional development courses running January – May of 2012. The MSIT curriculum will be delivered in English and will consist of the following main components: the core courses, program courses, electives, a master’s practicum and an internship. The core courses establish the necessary background and a common competence level, the program courses allow students to specialize and the elective units

Predeep K. Khosla, dean of college of engeneering-CMU meeting with president Paul Kagame

give students flexibility and breadth in their coursework. The internship will take place in enterprises located in Rwanda or neighboring countries. Finally, the capstone experience is the project practicum, which requires students to apply their knowledge and skills to solve a real-world problem from the region. While CMU-R is open to students from

all countries, it will primarily target students from the East African community and among the applicants qualified under CMU standards for admission, admissions preference will be given to Rwandan citizens.

Applications are open online at www.cmu.edu/rwanda Other functions of CMU-R CMU-R will operate in coordination with the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Ministry of Education to assure consistency with the country’s National Information and Communication Infrastructure Plan, as well as the National Skills Development Program. Together we will develop an innovation incubator, an advanced practical training program, an executive education program and a mobility research center. CMU-R through its programs will enable some of its students create jobs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help a young nation develop its scientific edge in a fast-paced world where global economies have no boundaries or borders.”

“CMU is going to help transform Rwanda into an IT hub. Attending CMU gave me the competitive skills to compete successfully in a global marketplace.’’

Bruce H. Krogh, a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at CMU and Director of the new CMU-Rwanda program.

Benjamin Mushabe, a 2010 CMU alum,Director of IT at Digitech Solutions Ltd.

Location While waiting for the construction of the campus, the Government of Rwanda has allocated the 4th floor of Telecom House in Kigali to CMU-R as a temporary facility. The new campus will be built in the new Free Trade Zone. Construction of the new campus is being funded by the African Development Bank and is expected to take two to three years.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

Brilliant Minds Wanted

The College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is one of the world’s top engineering schools and is now offering degrees in Rwanda. • Globally, Carnegie Mellon Engineering is ranked 3rd for research and 4th for teaching in the London Times Higher Education World University Rankings. • Our master’s and Ph.D. programs are some of the most sought-after opportunities in education. • Our leading-edge research allows us to tackle important, technology-oriented problems and improve the lives of people worldwide. • Students work side-by-side with expert faculty and industry researchers. • Our culture encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.

www.cmu.edu/rwanda

44 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

D oing Business series

RDB 2012 DOING BUSINESS REFORMS

rdb - one stop centre partnership:

redefining planning and construction BY MUHIRE HERBERT

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2011 ⎢

Doing Business S E R I E S

One good turn, they say, deserves another one. In Rwanda, we say, one good deed breeds and feeds into another one. The issuing of construction permits in Rwanda has continued to be friendly to the potential builders and as a result the construction industry in the country has registered unprecedented rates of growth both in numbers and the quality of building units erected.

A RDB is at the forefront of reforming the business environment to make it easier. John GaRa, CEO RDB.

ccording to Dr Donna Rubinoff, the Senior Advisor to the City of Kigali in Urban Planning, the issuing of permits takes place at two levels; the large establishments such as commercial buildings, big residential houses, hotels and industrial complexes of which permits are issues by the Kigali One Stop Center, at Nyarugenge. In addition, the team issues permits for all buildings of two levels and above and sites where 100 people

46 â&#x17D;˘Rwanda Dispatch â&#x17D;˘ January 2011

are to be accommodated. The team is also charged with handling sites of 1000 meters squared. The small single family projects are assessed at district land bureaus. With the intervention and technical advise of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the One Stop Center was established in May 2010 to organize and undertake the commitments of the client charter which spells for 7 days for preliminary construction permits and 30 days fro the final permits.

D oing Business series Districts have continued to handle small and single family projects. Beginning January 2011, management systems reforms were introduced to ensure better monitoring and avoid falling behind in any of the commitments as spelt out in the clients charter which translated into 100% delivery by June 2011 on the said commitments. “Even the challenges that were met at the district level have continued to be addressed. Working with RDB and World Bank, there was a thorough analysis of reform needs, and a report submitted in August 2011 harmonises activities enabling districts to take the same procedures across board,” observes Dr Rubinoff. A training manual for the land bureau officers has been developed and is expected to revolutionalise construction permits. The World Bank has supported the One Stop Center to acquire a software, the Construction Permit Management Information System, at a cost of $180,000 which will be adapted to suit the Kigali needs. The system will be web-based and will enable the application for construction permits online. At a later stage, it will be integrated with the Geographical Information System. It will be easier for the construction permit payments to be effected using a Visa card or Mobile Banking systems. According to the work-plan, the installation and getting operational will be complete by April 2012. It is also planned that at a later date, the Construction Permit Management Information System will be integrated with the National Land Center so that land registration documents can easily be accessed,

Piron Coralie, the Chief Executive Officer Thomas and Piron Grands Lacs, a real estate development and construction company in Kigali, says that the construction terrain in Rwanda provides more opportunities than challenges. “It is very easy to get information from one point. When you are inquiring about the suitability of your project, vis-àvis the Kigali master plan, getting connected to electricity grid and telephone landline, you get all the forms and fulfill the required procedures in a single place. “This really saves us a lot of hassle, time and money. Once the construction is complete, getting connected to the water grid provides no challenges as all activities are catered for by the EWSA” enthuses Ms Piron adding that even the flat fee of 5% levied on building and construction materials is a big plus to ensuring a growing construction industry. Karisa Benon the Urban Planner, Urban

“This really saves us a lot of hassle, time and money. Once the construction is complete, getting connected to the water grid provides no challenges as all activities are catered for by the EWSA” Piron Coralie, the Chief Executive Officer Thomas and Piron Grands Lacs

reducing the time and hassle, as well as the cost, making doing business more efficient and the volume of construction business expected to increase over time and space. The Investment Climate Facility will be supportive in ensuring the implementation of the system.

Planning and Construction Unit, OSC, Kigali City, says the progress so far registered is worth the efforts. “At first there was no client Charter, no tenets of observing the timeline, all projects were handled by districts and some errors were bound to happen. On the whole service delivery was poor, there

was no guiding tool and the checklists were missing at all implementing outlets.” Karisa adds that the pre-consultation services have been of great help to all the potential builders. “Pre-consultation is such a great leap in systematic planning for the urban land-use. People used to spend a lot of money on clearing the land, paying surveyors, architects and civil engineers, only for the land on which they had spent too much turning out to be a reserve for a different activity. So the pre-application consultation today is such an important aspect as people get abreast with the zoning against the background of the Kigali Master Plan.” The writer, HERBERT MUHIRE is the Communications Consultant Doing Business Unit, RDB Email:doingbusiness@rdb.rw

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2011 ⎢

B Y D ispatch reporter

Country’s largest brewer gets new boss The country’s largest soft drink and alcoholic beverages manufacturer, Bralirwa, has a new official at the helm. Mr. Jonathan Hall was named as the new the Managing Director, effective January 16, 2012, replacing Sven-Erik Piederiet, who left for a new assignment. Hall was the Managing Director of Heineken subsidiary Windward and Leeward Brewery in St. Lucia. Hall previously held various senior management positions in the Asia Pacific and Western Europe regions. He brings with him a substantial experience that Bralirwa will utilise to strengthen its performance and position as the local market leader. “I take this opportunity to wish the best to Sven with whom I had the great pleasure to work for the past four years. Throughout his successful career at the Heineken Company, Mr. Piederiet has always made a significant contribution and positive difference to our business,” Hall said. Under his leadership as Managing Director and General Manager, Piederiet significantly improved Bralirwa’s performance and substantially increased shareholder value.

Jonathan Hall career highlights

Rwanda Stock Exchange with a solid strategy to continue its growth and value creation. He also made Bralirwa a socially-responsible corporate citizen, supporting many local initiatives in sports, entertainment among others.

I would like to thank Sven for his dedication, passion and his professionalism. We also take this occasion to welcome Mr. Jonathan Hall to the Bralirwa Ltd family and our wonderful country, Rwanda. We are confident that he will bring the best of his experience and motivation. Mr. Jean-Paul van Hollebeke, Chairman of the Board of Directors

The outgoing MD is credited for transforming Bralirwa into a modern, dynamic, consumer-oriented, highperforming company, now listed on the

our wonderful country, Rwanda. We are confident that he will bring the best of his experience and motivation”, said Mr. JeanPaul van Hollebeke, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Piederiet is expected to become the new CEO of Salentein Argentina, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he would be in charge of three business units of the company including fruit, wine, and agriculture. Piederiet was Managing Director and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bralirwa since June 2011. Prior to this position, he was respectively Bralirwa Ltd General Manager from January 2009 and Finance Director since 2007. Before his posting to Rwanda, he had held senior management positions within the Heineken Group in the Netherlands, Panama and Egypt.

“I would like to thank Sven for his dedication, passion and his professionalism. We also take this occasion to welcome Mr. Jonathan Hall to the Bralirwa Ltd family and

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 48 ⎢Rwanda

2007- Present: Managing Director, Windward and Leeward Brewery, St Lucia, West Indies Marketing Director, Heineken Ireland 2003-2004:Project Manager, Brewery Project in Puerto Rico (9 months) Marketing Director. Pt Multi Bintang, Jakarta, Indonesia Group Marketing Director, Asia Pacific Breweries, Singapore Pre Heineken employment London International Group -General Manager, Jakarta, Indonesia 1988-1994:British Petroleum-General Manager, BP Solar, Jakarta Indonesia (1990-1994), Pakistan (1989-1990) 1986-1988: ICI Agrochemicals, Africa 1979-1986: In Africa: CDC, OXFAM/WFP, International Red Cross and Deloittes. In East and Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, East Africa and SADCC countries, Sudan). 1974-1978: City of London- Investment

Business BY GEORGE MANGULA

Rwanda joins Africa’s best in global competitiveness

Rwanda emerged third behind South Africa and Mauritius in Africa in global competitiveness, a 2011-2012 Global Competitive Report says. The report, which places the country at 70th globally also indicates that it made positive strides. The report ranks South Africa and Mauritius 50th and 54th respectively. In 2010-2011, Rwanda was ranked 80th by the same report. The country beats its East African neighbours Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda that were ranked 140th, 102nd, 120th and 121st, respectively. Jennifer Blanke, Lead Economist and Head of the Centre for Global Competitiveness and Performance, World Economic Forum, says the rise to the current rank reflects efforts in recent years to improve the country’s productive potential. The report published by theWorld Economic Forum since 2005, adds that Rwanda’s strong

and well-functioning institutions, low levels of corruption, security, labour market efficiency, and the relatively developed financial markets, have ensured that the country moves up in the global competiveness ranking that considers 142 countries. However, the report notes: “The greatest challenges facing Rwanda in improving its competitiveness are the state of the country’s infrastructure, its low secondary and university enrollment rates, and the poor health of its workforce.” Reacting to the report Ministry of Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba said Government had initiated various programmes in the small and medium enterprises sector, transport, financial sector and energy is of the view that these will help improve the country’s position after some time. He says Government realises the challenges posed by inadequate energy and the fact that the country is landlocked. The CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, John Gara says his institutions will work towards improving the weaker areas identified by the report. The report identifies limited access to finance, inadequate educated workforce, tax rates, poor infrastructure, among others as challenges to doing business in Rwanda. The report that saw Switzerland retain the number one position, rates countries basing on pillars such as: Institutions, Infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technology readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation.

Local women entrepreneurs advised on copyrights The Rwandan women entrepreneurs have been urged to copyright their products if they are to fully benefit from them financially. The call was made by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Registrar General, Louise Kayonga, while speaking at a recent symposium for women entrepreneurs and inventors in Kigali. The symposium was organised by RDB in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Office

(WIPO), a UN agency responsible for the protection of intellectual property in the world to encourage creativity and innovations by ensuring that owners and not counterfeiters benefit. WIPO’s Joyce Banya said that Intellectual Property was one f the key industries in the 21st Century, urging Rwandan women especially those in art, design and crafts to take the opportunity and register their copyrights.

New Youth minister urges youth to be innovative The new Minister of Youth, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, has asked the youth to be ambitious and innovative by starting up small businesses to develop themselves. The minister made remarks recently while officiating at the award giving ceremony for the winners of the Business Plan Competition 2011 held at Serena Kigali Hotel. Over ten participants, who presented best business ideas received cash prizes to grow and start their businesses. Winning business plans were in the areas of technology, media, agriculture, and energy ICT and home services. Nsengimana said he would continue to work with organisers of the competition such as National University of Rwanda, Spark and Bid Network, among others to provide the youth with business skills. Over 700 applications were received in the contest from which 150 were selected for training in business plan writing. The winners were selected from the latter after a month’s training programme. Nsengimana said it was important for the youth to join Saccos to access finance.

Bus firm’s passengers to pay less All passengers using the Kigali Bus Services (KBS) will only have to pay for the distance travelled. The transport firm intends to do inaugurate a modern card system dubbed “Twende System”, that charges RwF.20 for a kilometre travelled after a recent agreement between it and Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Company. The new development comes as good news to passengers who have often complained of the flat rate of Rwf.250 charged by the firm regardless of distance covered. But the system that cost about USD100, 000 is only available in the 20 new 80-seater buses. The system is being experimented by Taptopay. KBS officials said that the machines are programmed to deduct a maximum of Rwf300 from a passenger regardless of the mileage they have covered. Officials add that the company will continue improving their services as competition increases. Currently, KBS offers its services up to 10:00PM when most of other service providers have closed business.

Rwanda Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 ⎢⎢

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 50 ⎢Rwanda

E-Banking B Y dispatch w riter

E-banking

Fostering financial inclusion in Rwanda In line with the Government plans to integrate the use of ICT across all the sectors of the economy, the National Bank of Rwanda is leading the integration of ICT in the booming financial sector. Most of the IT solutions being employed in Rwanda’s banking sector include: the installation of automatic teller machines, Internet banking, mobile banking and other solutions. The two telecom companies- MTN Rwanda and Tigo Rwanda also offer mobile money transfer solutions to their subscribers and the latter are able to transfer, receive and make payments for airtime and power. The initiatives, as recently said by the Central Bank Governor Claver Gatete are aimed at creating a cashless economy where money is kept by banks instead of remaining in the hands of the public. E-banking as it is known will further make more money available to the banks to lend.

Transact business worldwide The e-banking is also aimed at facilitating Rwandans to transact business wherever they are in the world. And this is where Internet Banking and International credit cards come in handy. Locally already most Rwandans on internet and mobile money networks transact business anywhere in Rwanda as long as they have money on their accounts. The Government of Rwanda in partnership with Visa International has embarked on the process to link local banks’ ATMs owned by various local banks to Visa’s global network to facilitate easy and faster electronic transactions clients while in the country or abroad. Visa is a global technology payments company that operates and most secure payments network in the world. Under the partnership both parties will work to ensure internationalization of the many ATMs now in the country.

The partners will develop localized solutions to extend access to financial services and electronic payments, helping drive economic growth and financial inclusion by migrating from cash to electronic payments. But to bring the masses and their money into the country’s financial system, Elizabeth Buse, Visa Group President, Asia Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, says there is need to lay the required infrastructure for electronic payments, promote electronic payment innovations and build capacity among the banks and their clients. The partnership will promote

network to Visa’s global network, opening up access to more than 15, 000 banks and nearly two billion payment cards and working with local merchants and banks to expand card acceptance nationwide. By enabling eCommerce and online payment solutions, the project aims to help Rwandan businesses gain access to international customers like inbound tourists.

Innovations The two partners will deliver technologies and programmes that will include; a mobile banking programme designed to reach the under-served, thus those Rwandans who do not yet have access to formal banking services. And they will work to implement new electronic money transfer services to reduce the cost and time of international money transfers from overseas.

Capacity Building The third area of collaboration concerns capacity building initiatives including; increasing financial literacy where Visa will develop Rwanda-specific financial education programs designed to teach Rwandans the fundamentals of personal finance, including budgeting and saving. For example students at the School of Finance and Banking are testing a Rwandan version of Financial Football, an online game

The e-banking is also aimed at facilitating Rwandans to transact business wherever they are in the world. And this is where Internet Banking and International credit cards come in handy. among others countrywide use of electronic payments such as issuance and acceptance of credit cards and localizing clearing and settlement services. The partnership between Government of Rwanda and Visa is structured around three core areas:

Basic Infrastructure First area of collaboration is the laying of the foundations for electronic payments, by installing the basic infrastructure requirements to enable country-wide use of electronic payments. The programme will involve: connecting Rwanda’s ATM

developed by Visa and used by millions of people around the world. Further Visa will work with government to support professional training and development for banks and other financial service providers. Best practices will be passed on in marketing, risk management and other areas of the payments industry such as Visa Rwanda Ubumenyi series. And Visa will also work with the Rwanda Development Board to offer internship programmes to enable promising young students the opportunity work directly in Visa to gain exposure to the payments system.

Rwanda Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 ⎢⎢

E-Banking B Y dispatch w riter

KCB Rwanda: Serving and growing customers

With internet banking, they can transact their accounts from any part of Rwanda and the world. KCB works with cooperatives and non-bank financial institutions as agents for money and transfer services such Western Union and Moneygram. This arrangement accesses its clients ease services.

Products/services KCB Rwanda is pursuing a universal banking strategy that offers all solutions to the entire customer spectrum in line with the vision of being the preferred financial solutions provider in Africa with global reach. For lending, The bank offers a wide range of services including transaction accounts,savings acconunts,fixed depost loans, and custody services which help its clients buy and sell shares on the Rwanda Stock Exchange.

Mortgage business The mortgage business in which KCB has over 50 years experience, has been attractive to customers given that Rwanda needs 20,000 to 25,000 residential houses per year but only 3000 are provided. The bank plans to focus on affordable housing and has set aside Rwf 7billion to halp narrow the housing deficit in Rwanda.

Lending policy

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group is regarded as a true East African bank owned by East Africans, with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Rwanda and soon Burundi. KCBN is also the largest bank in the region in terms of capital, branch network and asset base. Rwanda Dispatch talked to Gloria Nyambok, KCB Rwanda Head of Business, about the banks progress in Rwanda. Details follow:

KCB Bank offers loans for a wide range of purposes including infrastructure, energy, trade and commerce, construction, mortgages, asset financve, agriculture and personal loans. KCB operates a needs based loan policy in its lending programmes whereby if customers need the support of the bank, we work with them to design solutions that fit their requirements. KCB Rwanda has an agreement with farmers in Karongi District to help increase production. The bank has already handed over Rwfs 150 million to rice growers through their cooperatives.

About KCB Rwanda

Supporting clients to grow

KCB Rwanda is a subsidiary of Kenya Commercial Bank Limited which is a company that is publicly owned and quoted in the Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam and Kigali Stock Exchange. KCB Rwanda opened shop in Rwanda in December 2008. KCB Rwanda so far has 9 branches. Four branches are located in Kigali- Avenue

de la Paix, Kimironko, Nyabugogo and Remera and the other five in the districts of Musanze, Rubavu, Muhanga, Huye and Rusizi and with plans to expand countrywide through branch network and nonbranch customer outreach or agents. KCB offers customers convenient facilities that help them to transact on their accounts via internet and mobile phones.

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 52 ⎢Rwanda

KCB Rwanda supports customer associations by way of facilitating them to interact, share ideas and experiences as well as engaging them in platforms that make them understand and operate their businesses better. For example the Biashara club facilitates Businessmen across the region to meet and share experience and

E-Banking best practices.This year some Rwandan businessmen participated in a trip to china which was organized by the club. The bank has a mortgage club for Estate developers across the region. In addition KCB Rwanda works together with other partners like the International Financial Corporation (IFC) to propagate business education and best practice such as the SME toolkit training, a business management system that IFC has designed and we have helped in funding part of the training costs as way of promoting entrepreneurship in Rwanda.

Corporate Social Responsibility KCB Group has a foundation involved in Corporate Social Responsibility engagements across the region. All KCB Group entities contribute to the foundation in accordance with how much profit a country has made at the end of every year. In 2011,The KCB Foundation allocated a total of Rwfs 47millions for Corporate Social Responsibility activities. The bank’s five key thematic areas are: Education, Health, Environment, Enterprise development and humanitarian aid. On environment they have an agreement with Gasabo District to plant trees. In the past three years they planted about 6000 trees. KCB has also plantee 18000 trees on Ruba Hill in Kigali this year. In education we have built a computer lab, given computers and provided water tanks to schools. We have introduced a scholarship programme in partnership with Ministry of Education where we will sponsor best untrained teachers to do a three-year diploma course. KCB has given scholarship to 30 teachers, one per district. In three years KCB will give 90 sponsorships. In partnership with RDB + SFB, we supported the training of trainers programme for the Business Development Centre (BDC) Managers. 30 managers are undergoing this training. The BDC managers have a target to train 5000 busineses across Rwanda As part of humanitarian intervention, KCB recently donated 1000 iron sheets worth 6.5 million to the vulnerable families in Muhanga District in support of the government programme to eradicate grass-thatched houses in Rwanda. KCB intends to work closely with the district to identify more areas where it can support

On environment we have an agreement with Gasabo District to plant trees. We have planted about 6000 trees. KCB has also planted 18000 trees on Ruba Hill in Kigali. as a bank towards caring for communities. KCB is looking at how they can sustain these programmes. As part of future plans, KCB in partnership with other stakeholders will work on the project for financial inclusion where

the unbanked in the rural areas should be brought into the financial system, continue with the social responsibility activities and work to enable Rwandans acquire affordable housing by offering affordable mortgage loans.

Rwanda Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 ⎢⎢

Banque Populaire du Rwanda popularizing e-banking in Rwanda

anque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) like the name goes probably is the most popular commercial bank in the country with the largest number of clients and network of branches spread across the country and has embraced the Government vision of establishing a cashless economy by encouraging e-banking. To give better services to the increasing number of clients, BPR has taken opportunity of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) such as ATMs and Mobile banking. Richard Ndahiro, BPR’S Head of Marketing and Product Development, says the bank which pioneered mobile banking in the Rwandan market is now on the fourmonth campaign dubbed “Simbuka na Banque Populaire” to sensitize and educate the public on the importance of using ICT

January 2012 2011 54 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ December

innovations like mobile banking, ATMs (QuickCash) and the recently launched Izi cash. Izi Cash was introduced lately on BPR mobile banking to allow BPR clients send money to a none BPR client, even to the unbanked. The money is withdrawn from a BPR ATM without need for a card. The main aim of this campaign is to teach people how to use the new e-banking products. To avoid the long queues in banks, Ndahiro says, clients can use mobile banking (use of mobile phones) to get account information, pay quickly for services such as electricity bills, airtime, Dstv and Star TV subscription. This he, says is much more cost-effective to the client who saves time and to the bank. BPR’s ambition is to turn mobile banking into a lifestyle where people can do most of their payments on mobile. This could include, payment of school fees, taxes, insurance, common purchases among others. Negotiations with various partners to make such payments feasible are underway. Thanks to ICT, BPR is automating all its branches by April 2012. Currently only 150 branches are automated. The bank has provided ATM cards to 86,000 clients doing over 23800 transactions a week. The bank which is a major lender to agriculture and SMEs in the country also hopes to bring the unbanked especially those in the rural areas into the financial system through its ICT banking innovations such as mobile banking which currently has over 110, 000 subscribers. However, Ndahiro notes that BPR will continue to improve accessibility of services, bring onboard more services and do more marketing and sensitization so that the customers are able to embrace new ways of banking. E-banking is convenient and gives the accountholder authority over his account, for these reasons, among others Rwandese are called upon to embrace, for it is becoming a lifestyle.

D oing Business series

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2011 ⎢

E-Banking B Y dispatch w riter

Bank of Kigali: Scaling up e-banking services in Rwanda

The Government of Rwanda has embarked on a journey to modernize the local financial sector as part of the efforts to establish a cashless economy in which people can carry out financial transactions using information and communications technologies. Financial institutions have joined Government on this journey by introducing e-banking services to serve their customers better. One of the banks that are now investing heavily in e-banking services is Bank of Kigali (BK), the largest commercial bank in the country by assets, loans, deposits and shareholders’ funds. Rwanda Dispatch recently held a brief interview with Yvon Gilbert Nishimwe, BK’s Electronic Banking Manager. Below are the details of the e-banking development in the institution. Basically Bank of Kigali started e-banking in 2004 with the introduction of cash advance services whereby the bank was using Point of Sale machines to serve people who had Visa or Master Cards. But with the introduction of the national switch (Simtel) BK started issuing cards and deploying ATMs in 2005 though the cards could not be used internationally at the time as they were meant to be

used locally. In 2006 BK started the project of deploying point of sale machines that accept Visa international cards. Currently, more than 200 POS are deployed in restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. Late in 2009 BK started a project to issue Visa international cards and having all BK ATMS accepting Visa International the cards. BK has 26 ATMs that accept Visa Inter-

Further BK was the first bank in Rwanda to introduce internet banking in the local market in 2005. In 2009 BK started SMS/ Mobile product. More than 30,000 customers has subscribed to the mobile banking platform in less than a year. Soon, BK ATMs will start accepting other international cards such as China Union Pay, Discovery Cards and American Express. BK wants to have all customers do transactions conveniently while at home, office and other places as long as they are connected to the internet. BK customers can now use e-banking to buy utilities like airtime and cash power or make transfers from one account to another. With ATMs, mobile banking, internet banking, customers have 24-hour access to their accounts and can access account information easily. But it also reduces long queues at the teller points. Despite the successes, some challenges exist as we embrace new e-banking technologies. One of them is that sometimes the stability of the connectivity in the telecom companies goes down which affects transactions. But also the fact that some customers are not able to use the technologies slows down the processes. But through its customer care department, BK educates and trains its customers on how to use the new e-banking products. In the nearest future, BK will introduce ATMs that are able to accept deposits. With these machines, customers don’t have to come to the bank to deposit money physically at the counter. In addition, BK has enhanced its mobile banking platform whereby smart phone users can download an application to their mobile phones and be able to do transactions such

BK wants to have all customers do transactions conveniently while at home, office and other places as long as they are connected to the internet. BK customers can now use e-banking to buy utilities like airtime and cash power or make transfers from one account to another. national cards. By end of 2010 BK had completed this process and has now issued 25,000 Visa cards that can be used internationally. The bank expects to issue more than 35, 000 in the market by end of the year. BK has issues about 10, 000 Zipp cards and has as well issued about 9000 local ATM cards using the R-switch.

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 56 ⎢Rwanda

as transfers, checking account information, buy electricity, Airtime top up…etc. BK has been the first bank in the Rwandan market and the region to introduce this product. As the Government embarks on the modernization of the financial sector, BK will continue to bring onboard more e-banking technologies to serve customers even better.

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Business B Y dispatch w riter

NCR: Providing IT solutions for a modern financial system in Rwanda

made after identifying a niche that could be served through enhanced service offerings based on experiences in other regional and global markets and the local market dynamics at the time. This means that the driving force of the company is to offer continuously improving quality service and cutting edge technologies to our clients and this is achieved through training and skills transfer programmes to build local capacity-in addition to external expertise-and this naturally translates into an always improving suite of products and services offered. In this regard, clients can expect mutually beneficial partnerships in choosing NCR services and solutions.

Partners and clients NCR has worked with in Rwanda

Branch Effectiveness Modeling (BEM)

Rwanda is a country that is adopting very fast the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in many sectors including integrating them in the financial sector as the Government embarks on the journey to establish a cashless economy for easy and cost-effective business transactions as well as boosting the business environment. One of the companies that has been providing IT solutions especially in the financial sector in Rwanda’s financial sector is SCI/NCR. Rwanda Dispatch talked to Austin Bareme, Country Manager about its services. Details follow:

About SCI/NRC SCI/NCR core business is information technology solutions including, but not limited to, self-service and payment entailing the deployment of electronic retail payment infrastructure that facilitates institutions avail their services to existing/potential clients over a wider geographical area with a lower upfront capital investment and subsequent administrative overheads than the traditional brick and mortar method not to mention the

convenience offered to customers through 24 hour access to their savings and quicker service. In addition to the above, IT solutions like enterprise, personal computing, network infrastructure, software, security, imaging and power also fall under the SCIR product portfolio. The company began its Rwanda operation in 2008.

NCR operations in the world NCR is the leading global provider of payments, assisted and self service solutions with over 47 years of experience and has been the global number one manufacturer of ATM’s for more than 22 consecutive years. NCR has a presence in all of Africa through distributors and branches. Regionally, SCI has a presence in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Southern Sudan providing similar services as are being availed in Rwanda.

Why the local financial sector should use NCR services and solutions The decision to set up in Rwanda was

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 58 ⎢Rwanda

In Rwanda we are partners with six of the larger financial institutions majorly in retail electronic payments and IT infrastructure. This represents a majority of the financial industry plus we do have clients in the services and hospitality sector as well. We believe our clients are satisfied with our service offering and we will always seek to improve this not only at their instigation but also from developing trends internationally and how these would fit into the local context.

Social responsibility program in Rwanda As inferred above, we are in the process of formulating programs for vocational training to pass on vital skill sets to the ever increasing number of individuals who are graduating and are lacking in practical/ on the job experience. This allows them improve their skill set and value offering to potential employers or start their own ventures.

The cost of NCR services The cost of products and services offered are extremely competitive taking into consideration the quality, backing and experience in these fields. The fortunate scenario with the Rwandan market is that there are minimal price distortions caused by below grade products due to the efforts of government regulatory institutions like the bureau of standards and revenue authority which has the effect of protecting consumers from substandard goods.

Experience a new world of interaction

- ATM's - Point of Sales - Financial Kiosks - Transaction processing

- Cheque Printing - Automated Cheque Processing - IT Infrastructure

NCR Branch Transformation Solutions Helping you deliver service and sales equilibrium in your branches

Plot 1231, Avenue de la Paix, Kigali - Rwanda . Tel: +250 788 300480 . Mob:+250 728 300480 Email: sales@scirw.org and abareme@scirw.org

www.scirw.org . www.scir.com Rwanda Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 ⎢⎢ 59

⎢Rwanda Dispatch Dispatch ⎢⎢ January January 2012 2012 60 ⎢Rwanda

The Congo-Nile Trail

An exceptional lifetime adventure

BY MANGULA GOERGE

Biking by Lake Kivu on the “Congo-Nile Trail’, 227 kilometre long, is the rarest experience a tourist, whether biking, riding or moving in a taxi can have in this part of the world. At 1463 metres above sea-level, the spectacular trail snakes in and along the undulating, hilly landscape, repeatedly leaving and returning to the lake’s shore. Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

hiking

biking

4x4 driving

The Congo-Nile Trail

he Congo Nile Trail experience is an all inclusive spectacular expedition from the northern Lake Kivu shores to the southern part through the famous Congo Nile Divide watershed that is suitable for a wide range of fitness levels. The 227 kilometres long trail offers the rarest experience to the adventurer, whether biking, hiking or 4x4 driving in this part of the world. At 1,463 metres above sea-level, the spectacular trail snakes along the undulating, hilly landscape, repeatedly leaving and returning to the lake’s shores. On my expedition, I drove and trekked to experience the trail. Cyclists and bikers, I am told, can have the same experience or even more. However, it is highly recommended one takes safety measures before beginning a ride. The trail is divided in to sections and planned for ten days with one day designated for resting. However, one can make his own programme depending on one’s budget and time. But it is appropriate to take a camera with you to capture memorable photos, beautiful sceneries and wildlife, coffee, tea and banana plantations, swimmers at beaches, market days, fishers, waterfalls, trees, children, playing among others. The trail sections differ in terms of distances and altitude. For those not on the know, it can be very chilly during the night and carrying with you a jacket is desirable. Similarly, you need tough footwear to mavouvre the rocky terrain. That done, I take you through the different sections of the trail, but as earlier mentioned, the choice is all yours. Below is a synopsis of the ten day adventure as you hike, bike or drive around the lake.

Coffee washing tables in Kinunu. Photo: RAC

Day 1: Gisenyi to Rwinyoni

Here, along with other adventurers, you travel overland to the village of Rwinyoni, past an agricultural community, and northwest of the lake. As we traversed the area, we enjoyed the amazing sunset on the lake shore. The village offers the first campsite where you ca––n observe the nearby features, both natural and manmade. At Gisenyi, you will make out the famous Bralirwa Bay with traditional boats carrying merchandise coupled with the public beach. The base camp at Gisenyi gives you a clear view of both the border towns of Gisenyi and Goma in the DRC. The journey between the two points is estimated at eight kilometres. Day 2: Rwinyoni to Kinunu

Having made the first journey, the next section starts in the morning at Rwinyoni to Kinunu. It is a two hour drive to arrive at the Nkora fishing

village. This point presents us with views of the surroundings; we nonetheless missed fishermen coming back from the custom overnight fishing by about 30 minutes though we find kids playing in the lake. In the area also is the Nkora mini hydropower station that supplies power to the village and other areas. The trail bisects coffee and banana plantations on the lake shores to Kinunu coffee washing station, where there is a base camp situated on lake shore. Here, tourists enjoy chilly

62 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

clear air but at this station, you can obtain the full coffee experience right from nursery bed to the cup. Swimming here is possible which we indulge in. You can as well take a boat to the coffee-rich Bugarura Island that gives you a wonderful view of the lake. Day 3: Kinunu to Musasa

It takes an average of six hours to hike on the lake shores. In the process, you get to interact with

The Congo-Nile Trail

hiking

biking

4x4 driving

the local community and enjoy the surrounding and scenic views including banana plantations and the Kinunu Catholic Church that is located on top of a hill.What’s more, the trail leads to the Bwimana coffee washing station in Musasa. You can also stop for a picnic on the edge of the lake nearby coupled with overnight camping. Day 4: Musasa to Rubengera junction

It’s advisable to wake up early as you will have to trek for minimum of seven hours to get to the Rubengera junction, following the trail between community fields, and crossing River Coko before getting to Kibingo Health Centre. You can have a picnic near Gatunda village whose marketday is on Tuesday. We continue the trail until the main Rubavu-Karongi Road at Mushubati and walk again for almost two hours along the main road to Rubengera. At the Rubengera asphalt junction, taxis to Kibuye town centre are available. There are a number of hotels and guest houses in the town that charge fair rates. Day 5:

This is a day for relaxing. However, one can visit the surrounding beaches and islands, ride a boat or swim. Day 6: Kibuye to Mugonero

After 24 hours of relaxation, this trail will take you an average of eight hours. The expedition that starts at the crossroads to the university on the methane gas road goes along the lake to KibuyeRusizi road. From here, you head to Kamembe before stopping for a picnic at Mubuga village centre. Bikers also have an opportunity to stop for refreshments at Gishyita sector centre. Here you can continue the trail, past Mugonero Health Centre to Kigarama Esperance Orphanage base camp where orphans entertain guests in Rwandan traditional dances. In the area is an overnight camping facility. Day 7: Mugonero to Karengera

The six-hour trail begins early in the morning from the Orphanage camp. Here, bikers can hike back to the main road and then slope down the edge of the lake to Mugonero Market Centre, following the road to Kibingo, before crossing the Kilimbi River bridge which has a scenic view of the community rice field.The trail ends at the second base camp at Karangera Secondary School. But guides say temperatures here can sometimes be high. Overnight camping is possible at the school’s playground. Day 8: Karengera to Kibogora

Along this trail, you get the most beautiful scenic view over the lake which makes this part of the trail the best. Taking seven and 30 minutes along the main road to Kibogora hospital village, bikers and riders can have a picnic at Hanika village centre and then continue to Birembo village. Between Birembo and Kirambo market, visit the Kumbya Peninsula, a Rwandan natural treasure owned by African Missionaries. After Kirabo market on the lake shores, the journey takes about 30 minutes via Kibogora Hospital. You will take a few minutes to Kibogora Guest House base camp for an overnight camping. Day 9: Kibogora-to- Shangi

Departure time for this eight hour trail is 6: 30 am. It leads you to the main road near Tyazo market and leads you to Kagano village where you arrive at 9:00 am and Nyamasheke town centre at 10: am. You can relax at Café de I’Ouest bar restaurant where you can simultaneously enjoy a wonderful scenic view of Lake Kivu islands. Departure time at this point is 11:00 am. You can walk down the eucalyptus plantation via Kagano Secondary School,take the pathway to Shangi and reach Shangi village by 4:00pm. From there, follow the road to Kamembe via Shangi Sector headquarters. Within thirty minutes, the track leads you through a small village to the historical village of Shangi.You arrive at Shangi base camp at 5:00PM. Day 10: Shangi-Kamembe

It is advisable to start this trip early morning as you head to Kamembe where community rice fields along the lake shores are visible.The trail takes you via Nyagahembe River bridge through the wetlands where you cross the Cyunyu Bridge that separates the districts of Nyamasheke and Rusizi. Along this route is Gastsubo village crossroad

where you can stop for a picnic and interact with the local people as well. As an agricultural area, you will see many farmers attending to their farms. On the whole, the Congo Nile Trail is amazing for all it offers. The villagers along this trail are friendly and charming. This is a wonderful for foreign day-trippers. Children can show you where to buy a bottle of water or yellow bananas. More so, base camps provide great meals accompanied by milk, juice from natural fruits on top of original Rwandan coffee and tea.

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

BY TOM TOFIELD

Biking By Lake Kivu on the “Congo-Nile Trail” This wonderful trail was initiated in January 2009 by the Rwanda Development Board Department of Tourism and Conservation, the Dutch development agency SNV and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as part of the Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty Foundation. Hotels, guest-houses and camping sites exist in the area to receive tourists and the trail itself is currently being marked-out with information panels. A number of operators support tourists on the trail, which can be travelled either guided or self-guided.

y personal experiences with the trial are nearly all by bicycle. And for new cyclists, it is highly recommended to wear a helmet and inspect the bicycle before jumping on the back. The undulating landscape, forces you to take things easy, but you need a lot of energy to make it through the day. The seemingly countless climbs, of up to an hour

each, are rewarded by the corresponding downhill, often back towards the lake. When estimating how much time you need to pedal through each stage, base your first estimate on 8 km/h riding time excluding pauses and photo breaks. After a half-day you will be able to plan your following days in such a way to avoid the risk and stress of arriving afterdark. It is also advisable to start early and ride-off

64 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

by 07:00, thus allowing some extra time to repair a puncture or to take a swim! One of the big challenges to cyclists on the trail, is making sure that they have the right amount of water. Too much, and the climbs will become too arduous, too little and we will be making camp at the side of the road that night. The base trail that runs between Gisenyi and Kamembe can obviously be travelled in either direction. By bicycle in the dry season the winds come from the south. So those wanting the wind in the back should start in Kamembe and those who prefer the wind in their face should start in Gisenyi. There are other three sub trials:Pfunda loop; the Gisovu loop and Shangi loop. Alternatively, for those who do not have enough time to travel the whole trail, the following towns and villages also make ideal starting points: N’Kora; Kinunu; Kibuye; Nyamasheke; and Kamembe. They can all be reached by boat from Gisenyi or Kamembe, and Kibuye can also be reached by road from Kigali. The lake-side border-town of Gisenyi is a perfect start- and end-point. The town itself offers everything needed in order to prepare for your journey and its beaches and hotels are perfect for relaxing after the tour. Along with Kivu Beach and the beach at the Serena hotel, there are also a number of small beaches at La Brasserie, Nyamyumba, next to Gisenyi. With no crocodiles, no

The Congo-Nile Trail hippopotamus and virtually no bilharzia, Lake Kivu’s warm, freshwater is perfect for swimming. On the other side of the border from Gisenyi is Goma, DRC. From Gisenyi we can easily make excursions into the DRC to track the gorillas, climb the active Nyiragongo volcano or visit the pygmies. This has recently become cheaper and easier, whereupon DRC tourist visas are available for only $50 when purchased with an ICCN tourist product, such as a permit to climb the Nyiragongo. The visa process takes around 10 days and can be arranged through local tour operators. They will arrange for your visa without your passport. Gisenyi also has an airport, and flights link the two end-points of the trail. Rwandair offers one-way flights between Gisenyi and Kamembe for about $100. The flight lasts around 30 minutes and the planes are big enough to transport boxed bicycles, when organized in advance. Bicycles can also be transported by boat. There are bicycles available for hire and for-sale in Gisenyi, as well as bicycle guides and porters for those wishing to be guided or assisted along the trail.As we ride out of Gisenyi the landscape is breathtaking. There are peninsulas and bays, and isambaza fishing boats with their beams and telescopic poles, and the mountains and volcano on the other side of the lake. We ride through small villages and by fields, and repeatedly back down by the lake from time to time. Rwanda’s coffee explosion is happening on the hill-slopes next to the lake, while the longer established tea-plantations, in particular Pfunda and Gisovu, have taken the higher, cooler land with its increased rainfall. After a few hours riding through the coffee plantations and fields, we see a collection of small islands as we descend back down to the lake and to N’Kora, a unique and locally important market town on the lake’s shore. The predominantly Muslim village of N’Kora developed after the creation of the N’Kora coffee station and has one of the largest beaches on Kivu’s shores. Apparently, however, in the 1960s, when the African rift lakes were at high-water, this beach did not exist! The market is on Fridays and Tuesdays and people from all over come to sell and buy. There is a cattle market, and even the Congolese paddle across the lake on these days. Congolese coffee is bought and dried in N’Kora, and we can often see it laid out on sheets on the beach in the sun, with small children picking-out the unwanted small stones from time to time. After an hour or two pedalling from N’Kora we arrive at Kinunu. From Kinunu village centre we descend to the lake-side coffee washing station, which has rooms and meals available. On the steep track that leads down to the coffee station we can

hiking

biking

4x4 driving

N’kora Market Day. Photo: RAC

N’kora Market day. Photo: RAC

Coffee washing tables in Kinunu. Photo: RAC

Back down to the Lake on the way to Musasa. Photo: RAC

see the Nyiragongo, Kibuye and Gisenyi all in the same view!

People in Kinunu are happy with the coffee explosion, as they have seen their standard of living increase in real terms. They have a lot of work to do during the coffee harvesting periods because the station employs over 2000 workers in full season and operates 24 hours a day! In the village centre we can buy tasty brochettes and bottled water in the restaurant near the cross. So it is a good idea to stock-up on bottled water here. As we ride-out of Kinunu towards Musasa, there is the Kinunu Catholic Church, which is worth visiting. The section from Kinunu to Mushubati through Musasa is one of my favourite rides in Rwanda. It is challenging and rural, and the landscape is amazing. However, it should not be forgotten that for those who wish to make Kibuye from Kinunu in just one day, then you need to be riding-off at the latest by 07:00 a.m. It is a tough, 60 km, day’s ride, that starts with a steep climb up from the coffee station to the village centre. It is worth taking into account that the passage

Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012 ⎢

hiking

biking

4x4 driving

The Congo-Nile Trail

across the river Koko can be very muddy, with slippery soils after rain. After the river crossing, there is a big climb towards Sure and Mushubati, where we join the main Gisenyi-Kibuye road and approach Kibuye, with everything becoming more and more developed. We continue along this road and eventually come to the Rubengera junction, where the tarmac road starts. From here there is still over 20 kilometres to Kibuye and 3 good sized hills. However, we are compensated by some fantastic views over the islands around Kibuye, as the sun sets behind the Congolese mountains on the other side of the lake. Kibuye is a great place to relax, especially if you have come directly from Kinunu. There are a number of lake-side hotels for a variety of prices that suit all budgets. For those who prefer camping, there is also the possibility to pitch your tent on one of the islands that can be reached by a small boat ride. There are no shortage of boats for those wishing to visit Kibuye’s otherwise inaccessible bays and islands. Probably the most famous of all of these islands is Napoleon Island, named after the famous general’s hat.This protected island is home to thousands of bats. We leave Kibuye and join the main, nontarmacked road that continues south to Kamembe. Once again we follow the lake and there are more outstanding views as we ride through Gishyita and come to a small paradise on earth at Kigarama. This paradise is L’Espérance Orphanage and is the brainchild of Victor Monroy, or Saint Victor as I cannot help myself thinking of him. Victor not only has time to listen to the children, the visitors and even me, but he has also created an orphanage that is based on the principle of being self-sufficient. They even make their own soya bean curd! Victor is committed to sustainable eco-tourism, and has a number of exciting projects. One of these projects, is to link Kamembe to Gisenyi by small lake-side tracks, staying on the lake-shore as much as possible. L’Espérance is a great place to stay. After repeated suggestions from my clients, we recommend that you stay for at least 2 nights here, in order to have a whole day to appreciate this place full of positive energy. Camping is possible, there are rooms , eco-showers, and the food is, as you can imagine, fresh and delicious. L’Espérance works on a donation system, where visitors give what they feel, or what they can. After spending some time at L’Espéance there is the possibility of returning back to Kibuye on the Gisovu sub-trail. This trail climbs past the Bisesero memorial into tea plantations on the edge of Nyungwe montane forest. The high-road back

A Campsite on Amahoro Island near Kibuye. Photo: RAC

L’Espérance Orphanage

to Kibuye finishes with a descent of over 1000 metres from Mount Karongi! It is a big ride, and once again, you should head-off early. The base-trail itself then follows the main KibuyeKamembe road through the lake-side market town of Kirambo and onto Nyamasheke, where there are guest houses and hotels. After a few kilometres we leave the dirt-road behind and continue on the tarmac onto Buhinga, where the road intersects with the main road for Urwinka in the Nyungwe national park. Continuing on the main road for Kamembe and close by the Gashirabwoba memorial, we can turn-off the main road onto the historical lake-side Shangi sub-trail, an alternative route to Kamembe. Rwanda’s roads are fun to ride on, even though there are very few flat stretches. We are always either pedalling up or coasting down, and the non-tarmacked, bumpy and sandy tracks, along with the hills means that the bikes get put through

66 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

their paces. They are shaken around, and the brakes and gears work twice as hard as in other countries. Anyone who already rides in Rwanda, knows that outside of the major cities, it is hard or impossible to find simple bike parts such as brake-shoes and cables. In addition, rural-area mechanics may know how to repair a puncture, but may not have worked on dérailleurs and disc-brakes. So, for those travelling unguided, here is a list of recommended bike tools and spare parts: spare inner tube; puncture repair kit; spare gear and brake cables; some oil and a rag; a multi-tool; tyre-levers; a pump; spare chain links and chain tool; and spare brake pads. Rwanda has taken a step in the right direction by choosing to develop the “Congo-Nil Trail”. It is an alternative to the national parks that encourages tourists to extend their stay in Rwanda. Further , the trail, when travelled by bicycle or by foot, is a 100% eco-tourism adventure, where expensive four-by-four vehicles are no longer necessary!

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In an a bid to contribute to promoting a reading culture and growing a knowledgeable population, Rwanda Dispatch, Isonga Newspaper and Igihe.com have joined hands to tell the Rwandan story even better than before. Like Isonga, Rwanda Dispatch now comes out twice a month, while igihe.com continues to give on-the -hour news updates. Get your copy from vendors or read a free copy at your Sector Office or School library next to you. Digital copies are also available on igihe.com to cater for the diaspora.

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Art, Music, Culture & Film b y J ane nank i nga

The beauty of Spoken word Rwanda Several months ago two Rwandan youths, Diana and Betty decided to come up with an idea to show the people of Rwanda how expressionism in form of the written and spoken word can be used to spread ideologies of peace, love, unity and reconciliation while offering entertainment too. They came up with an art of poetry, song, beat-boxing, story -telling and hip-hop where talented people are given a chance to compose and perform their work in front of a live audience. I got the pleasure of attending one of their shows for the very first time, the 10th session, and believe me you, it was an eye-opening experience, because, in a country where the reading culture has not yet caught on this was a very hard stunt to pull off, but pull it off they did. Their shows have garnered a sort of cult-like following every second and fourth Wednesday of the month with many people flocking to Shooters Lounge-bar in Kacyiru, a suburb of Kigali to behold the beauty of spoken word. The crowd consists of young corporate types, a few high school students, professionals and visiting tourists. Spoken word Rwanda has become a staple on Kigali’s social scene and has given a platform to so many talented youths in the country and helped to promote unity and reconciliation

through a dynamic fusion of poetry and music. To quote from their Facebook page ”spoken word Rwanda is all about bringing people together to celebrate the expression of self”, to some this might sound a little confusing until you partake of what is on offer. Their avenues of self expression are limitless, with 3 languages officially accepted for most of the performancesKinyarwanda, French and English. Clearly there is no stopping them because everyone and anyone can be a part of this. I was pleasantly surprised with most of the poems that were done that night and all the nights I have been there ever since, they come out bordering on epic, very beautiful connotations even with my very scarce knowledge of two of the languages used [Kinyarwanda and French], I nod in agreement and laugh along with them as I am bathed in the joy that only poetry and music can bring. It only continues to show that once you are part of the spoken word family it does not matter where you come from or what language you speak- once you get on that stage or become

part of the audience the tower of Babel becomes a myth- one language is understood, the spoken word. One might wonder why I am pouring on the praise but credit should be given where its due and believe me they deserve a hand-clap. For a long time since I moved to Kigali I was looking for a place or an activity to while away an evening after work, a time I could use to learn something new or explore the uniqueness of the different dynamics of culture in the country, until a friend suggested I try out Spoken Word Rwanda, I was wary at first thinking what they could all be about. Once I attended one of the shows, the art side of me that had lain dormant for sometime was suddenly resurrected, I was inspired by the beautiful people I saw and heard from that night and have been writing ever since, [although I am yet to perform any of my masterpieces]. The influx of young performers at each session is increasing, some as young as 16 and 17 and open encouragement from the event organisers is what keeps them coming back. The applause after each performance is deafening though there are those performances that after they are done one is left wondering if they were there at all in the first place, but still, polite applause is heard from the audience. Spoken Word Rwanda, definitely following in the footsteps of so many poetry sessions all over the world is here to stay and to put a stamp on the still developing social scene in Kigali. If you love the arts this is the place to go to, to be inspired and to appreciate the talent and uniqueness that each performance has. They are still taking baby steps but I believe they will get there. Spoken Word is on at Shooters Lounge-Bar in Kacyiru every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Entrance is free.

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68 ⎢Rwanda Dispatch ⎢ January 2012

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