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EAC week focuses on integration awareness Cyanika One Stop Border Post In the offing Rubavu-Goma to have One Stop Border Posts
The Ministry of East African Community (MINEAC) from 17 to 21 November 2014 conducted the fifth EAC week aimed at creating awareness and sensitization among Rwandans and other stakeholders. The EAC week was conducted under the theme “EAC Regional integration: Benefits and Opportunities.” During the week, different activities were conducted, including meeting the press and the breakfast meeting with the Rwandan business community. Since Rwanda joined the EAC in 2007, she has immensely benefited from the regional bloc. Plans are underway to construct One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Cyanika border in northern Rwanda to facilitate rapid movement of persons and goods using the border. The Minister for East African Community Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza in December 2014 visited the border to assess the implementation of some of the regional projects like the use of IDs as a travel document and she was impressed. “Most of the initiatives like the use of national identity cards to travel, single tourist visa are working here and we are impressed,” she said.
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The fourth East African Astronomy workshop, sponsored by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, was hosted by the University of Rwanda in Kigali City between June 30th and July 4th 2014. The workshop concerned with the status and the development of astronomy research in East Africa. The workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity in astronomy in the region; to train upcoming scientists and to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and sharing of resources in East Africa. The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on 19 December 2014 elected Rt Hon Dan Fred Kidega as the new Speaker. Hon Kidega became the fourth Speaker of EALA, replacing Rt. Hon Margaret Nantongo Zziwa who was removed from Office. Hon Kidega was elected unopposed after his main contender, Hon Chris Opoka- Okumu stepped down. The two were the only ones validly nominated. In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker pledged to uphold the dignity of the House at all times and to apply the Rules without fear or favor. “You will note that as a House, we have a big and challenging task ahead of us to legislate and represent a Community whose activities and Membership is expanding fast,”Hon Kidega said.
MINEAC trains journalists on EAC integration
Rwandan journalists believe that they have a responsibility to ensure that Rwandans understand the significance of East African Community (EAC) integration. Though most of the local journalists have not yet prioritized reporting on EAC integration, they are ready to embark on analytical reporting looking at the impact of the regional integration on Rwandans and the economy. The Ministry of East African Community (MINEAC), the coordinating institution of Rwanda’s integration into the East African Community, recently organized a training workshop for the Rwandan journalists to equip them with the knowledge to report on the EAC but also share information on the achievements of the integration process since Rwanda joined the EAC in 2007. Over 70 members from the media fraternity undertook the intensive training delivered by MINEAC’s communications specialists and other experts from the same ministry. “I hadn’t given much attention to integration matters before. It’s a good initiative to train journalists because when we are knowledgeable we pass correct information to the society. I can now be able to report comprehensively on regional issues,” Murenzi Geofrey, a freelance journalist based in Kigali said during the workshop.
University of Rwanda hosts East African astronomy workshop
Travelers from Rubavu, western Rwanda to the Congolese town of Goma will now find it easier to cross from one side to another after construction of One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Rubavu-Goma border was launched mid December 2014. Funded by the Howard G. Buffet Foundation to the tune of Rwf6 billion, the modern border facilities which will be shared by Rwanda and Congolese immigration and customs officers are expected to ease movements of persons and cargo thus facilitating commerce between the two neighboring countries. Howard Buffet, an American entrepreneur mogul and a philanthropist laid a foundation stone at La Corniche border also known as Grande Barrière in Rubavu to mark the beginning of construction works of the border buildings.
