President Paul Kagame’s endeavours to bring prosperity and development in Rwanda continues to obtain international respect; this was in the mind of Sir Kenneth Calman as he awarded a honorary doctorate of laws from Glasgow University on Wednesday to Kagame in recognition of his leadership, and in encouragement of his commitment to nation building and reconciliation in Rwanda.

Kagame is currently on a working tour to Scotland.

The skirmishes in Eastern Congo have not escaped the attention of Rwandan MPs, the legislators have called on the central government to increase Rwanda’s defence budget as a pre-emptive measure against Rwanda’s enemies especially in Eastern Congo.

This call comes at the time when the Rwandan government is in negotiations-as part of the Tripartite Plus Joint Commission (TPJC) to deal with the issue of FDLR and many more bandit groups in Eastern Congo,”

But General Marcel Gatsinzi, the Minister of Defence says, "We prefer to put more emphasis in ensuring peace than fighting wars; that is why we are trying so hard that the Tripartite Plus agreements are enforced,”

Minadef requested for Frw 54.4b from the 2008 budget but they were allocated only Frw 38.8b.

The ministry plans to build a new military hospital and an ambitious agricultural project to supplement food requirements of the army.

Gatsinzi added that RDF soldiers’ families who died in the line of duty in Darfur will receive financial support from African Union (AU) which has set aside Frw56 million for the surviving next-of-kin.

RDF has lost 8 men since their deployment in Darfur.

Poverty-like a terrible epidemic comes with its own samples of worst case scenarios-that could help explain how a certain Perus Mukamwiza, a mother of four children decided to throw away her fifth child in a pit latrine behind the parliamentary buildings last week.

Mukamwiza confessed to police that she suffocated her infant baby before dumping it in a 30 metre latrine.

The body was found in the deep pit latrine, stuffed with faeces and wrapped in rags.

It also had a piece of cloth round the neck, which police officers said is a clear indication that the baby was strangled.

According to residents the baby did not have any physical deformities and was dumped in the wee hours of Thursday night last week.

Mukamwiza reportedly divorced her second married husband only identified as Mundere last year, and neighbours claim they separated when she was pregnant to her dislike.

Her 14-year-old son, Didie Nkurunziza, confirmed the divorce of her mother from a man she married in 1994 after the death of his father, Kizito Nshimiyimana.

Cynthia Akazuba 18, shined brighter last Sunday morning, the day after she beat off a competition from several belles to be named officially the most beautiful woman in the capital city at the inaugural Miss Kigali at Jali Club.

Akazuba received Frw3 million and a get away trip to Nairobi’s Serena Hotel from the organisers of the pageant where Uganda’s songbird Juliana Kanyomozi once again thrilled her huge following in Rwanda.

Miss Kigali which is part of KCC’s centenary celebrations was sponsored by Rwanda’s leading corporate companies including, Serena Hotel, RwandAir, and was graced by the presence of First Lady Jeanette Kagame.

Isimbi was runner up while Jocelyn Murekatete was second runner up.

Kigali city’s 100th birthday will need more than a beauty pageant to be forever stuck in the memories of Kigalians-a new word.

According Aisa Kirabo the mayor, 100 mayors from cities all over the world have been invited to attend centenary celebrations closing on 17th November.

 The 1994 Genocide was sparked off by events at Murambi catholic school when government officials encouraged many Tutsi residents in the area to go to the school compound and were starved and other brutally murdered to death. With the end of the Genocide in July many people in the Southern Province are still stuck in an ideological time warp.

In the most recent past, several Genocide survivors in the Southern Province have been found murdered prior or after giving testimonies during Gacaca court proceedings.

Now legislators have called on mayors in the province to list Fighting Genocide ideology in the area, a priority programme in their yearly budget requests, the MPs are urging mayors to include in their annual budgets reconciliation programmes.

Eight mayors from the Southern Province were last week called to parliament to present the 2008 district budgetary projections.

The recently concluded Connect Africa held in Kigali has began having an impact in Rwanda’s ICT drive. Recently the government announced that it will stop issuing licences to for any one opening a broadcasting business to use digital analog instead of broadcasting as has been the case.

Acting Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency-RURA Diogene Mudenge has revealed plans to introduce digital analog technology which is the most modern package in the telecommunication industry.

Digital analog is expected to increase on the number of television stations in the country. Eng Albert Butare, the Investment Minister said that four digital channels are ready to be rented to investors interested in starting digital broadcasting businesses in the country.

Television was very much in the news with the latest cable television group GTV signing a $6m deal to sponsor the CECAFA senior challenge cup for four years.

GTV’s offer comes after the end of a deal between CECAFA and Ethiopian tycoon Sheik Mohamed that was concluded last year. GTV will for the next four years cover CECAFA matches live on TV and pay for prize money and stadiums.

CECAFA senior challenge cup begins in Dar es Salaam next month where 11 countries in the region will participate.
Also in the news;

The Police force last week fired 129 officers for corruption charges. The fired cops-collected from Traffic and Administrative departments stand accused of cases of receiving bribes, and gross misconduct.

Vangold Resources Ltd is undertaking oil exploration in Western Rwanda at a place known as Kivu Grabben, lying in the western rift valley along the boarder between DR Congo and Uganda.

Eng Albert Butare, minister in charge of investments says exploration will take 18 months at a cost of Frw 650m.

According to experts, Kivu Grabben is part of Albertine Nile in Uganda where Tullow and Heritage oil companies from Canada have discovered huge oil deposits.

In a similar development, Loge Mining form US is also currently exploring the quantity of gold in Gicumbi District.

Ends