Last year during the East African military games held in Kampala, Uganda, Rwanda was selected to host the 2009 Games. Times Sport’s Bonnie Mugabe talked to Rwanda Defence Forces’ Spokesman Major Jill Rutaremara ahead of the East African Community Armed Forces Sports and Culture Week. Below is the interview:

TIMES SPORT: Last year, Rwanda was selected to host the East African Community [EAC] Armed Forces Sports and Culture Week. Has this been confirmed and if so when will the event be held?

Jill Rutaremara: Yes, it has been confirmed. The East African Community Armed Forces Sports and Culture Week will be held in Kigali from 13 to 25 June 2009.

TIMES SPORT: Could you please shed some light on the background of these military games?

Jill Rutaremara: There is an EAC Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Defence.

The memorandum defines 4 broad areas of cooperation: military training; joint operations; technical assistance; and visits and exchange of information.

Sports competitions and cultural exchanges fall under the area of visits and exchange of information. It is under this framework that the Armed Forces Sports and Culture Week will be held in Rwanda.

The hosting of the event usually rotates among the EAC Partner States.

TIMES SPORT: You have referred to this event as a "Sports and Culture Week” yet it will run for almost 2 weeks. Why do you use the word week?

Jill Rutaremara: Sometimes you have to stick to terminologies that are officially used until they are changed by competent organs. It is not only a question of English language.

For instance, some people talk about EAC ‘Member States’ and yet they are referred to as EAC ‘Partner States’ in the EAC Treaty. You may argue that this does not make any difference but it does.

Similarly, the issue of ‘Week’ has a historical background. Initially the event used to last for a week and this has now changed. The word week may in future change to fortnight.

Who knows? All that I know is that there are suggestions to change the word week to make it more relevant. That is why I have been using the word ‘Week’ and ‘Event’ interchangeably although I know that ‘Week’ is more formal and appropriate in the EAC language.

TIMES SPORT: When you talk of EAC military event it sounds as though this will be a very big event. Who will fund it?

Jill Rutaremara: The event will indeed be a big one. The government of Rwanda and in particular the Ministry of Defence will meet all the expenses for accommodation, feeding, receptions, and local transportation of all participants and delegation officials as well as the cost for prizes, trophies and certificates.

TIMES SPORT: Major, what is the budget estimate for this big event?

Jill Rutaremara: It is a sufficient and affordable budget that will cover the event creditably well.

TIMES SPORT: For the benefit of sports fans, what sports disciplines will be on show?

Jill Rutaremara: There will be five sports disciplines: Football, Athletics (Cross country), Boxing; Handball, and Netball.

TIMES SPORT: How many participants do you expect to take part in the two week long event?

Jill Rutaremara: A total of 490 participants and officials from the 5 EAC Partner States are expected to participate in the event.

TIMES SPORT: This looks like a budgetary burden to Rwanda. What do you expect to achieve from these games?

Jill Rutaremara: The hosting of this event definitely has financial implications but it is worth undertaking. And the benefits do not have to be financial.

The objective of this event is to enhance solidarity, comradeship and to build confidence among the Armed Forces of EAC Partner States.

The event is also intended to promote sports and physical education among the Armed Forces as well as the culture of peace through fair play.

The RDF and the Ministry of Defence also believe that the event will enhance the positive image of Rwanda as well as Defence diplomacy.

Mark you, there is also an element of culture. It is not only sports. That is why it is called Sports and Culture Week.

The event will therefore offer an opportunity for our fellow brothers and sisters from EAC Partner States Armed Forces to learn something about Rwanda’s rich but tragic history as well as the progress that the country has made since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

This is part of regional integration. In terms of economic benefits, the event will promote business in Rwanda through advertisements and publicity using various promotional channels.

The event will also offer an opportunity for the members of the private sector to sell their products and services. As I earlier on mentioned, about 490 people will participate in the event that will last for about 2 weeks.

You can imagine how much money you could get if you were in a hotel industry.

TIMES SPORT: How far have you gone in terms of preparations?

Jill Rutaremara: Following the directive by the Chief of Defence Staff, various committees and sub-committees were established and their tasks defined.

The committees and sub committees are now operational. The Budget for preparation phase and conduct of the Event was prepared and approved.

Sports grounds have been identified for   training and for competitions.

Preparations of teams is underway. And external invitations have been sent to the EAC Secretariat and to all Partner States. In short good progress has been made.

TIMES SPORT: Based on what you have enumerated are you confident that the RDF will emerge as the overall winner for the event?

Jill Rutaremara: There is always a competition element in all games. But I want to repeat what I earlier alone hinted on. The spirit in these competitions is not to get the overall winner.

The sports that will be played are in a framework of cooperation, friendship, solidarity and confidence building.

This is why there won’t be an overall winner. No Partner State will emerge as number one.

Trophies and prizes will only be awarded to individual teams that have excelled. I believe that every team wants to excel.

TIMES SPORT: Will all Rwandans be allowed to attend the event?

Jill Rutaremara: Sure. One of the objectives of this event is to entertain people. It is also aimed at bringing the military closer to the people.

The Rwanda Defence Forces is a People’s Defence Force. It is the same people who will directly or indirectly finance the event.

I am therefore on behalf of both the RDF and the Ministry of Defence appealing to the members of the general public to turn up in big numbers during the event and to show their usual hospitality.

EDITOR’S NOTES:
The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organisation of the nations of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community was signed on 30th November 1999 and entered into force on 7th July 2000 following its ratification by the Original 3 Partner States Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18th June 2007 and became full Members of the Community with effect from 1st July 2007.

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