PM Makuza reappointed

President Paul Kagame on Monday reappointed Bernard Makuza as Prime Minister. According to the Rwandan constitution, the President has to name the Prime Minister within 15 days of the inauguration and in turn the Prime Minister will work with the Head of State to appoint a new government.

Prior to his appointment as Prime Minister, 49 year old Makuza, who is not a member of any political party, was Rwanda’s Ambassador to Burundi and Germany.

French judges begin investigations

Two French judges together with a team of experts in aeronautics and ballistics this week embarked on week-long investigations into the shooting down of the plane of former President Juvenal Habyarimana and 11 others who were killed in the attack.

The judges; Marc Trevidic and Nathalie Poux, arrived in Kigali last week after the government granted their request to carry out independent investigations into the shooting that took place on April 6, 1994. The outcome of the investigations is expected in March 2011.

Rwanda, Uganda companies to form sales partnership

Rwandan and Ugandan manufacturers are set to meet in Kigali in a bid to bolster their business relations through a solid partnership and platform. The mission, which is arranged through the Market Linked program, will strengthen the cooperation between businesses in the region, and offer business opportunities between the two neighboring nations.

There are at least 60 Rwandan companies that have confirmed their participation in the upcoming conference. A team of 11 companies from Uganda will be in Rwanda from September 20 to 23, 2010 to bolster business relations with their counterparts. 

Kagame hosts C’wealth youth

President Paul Kagame on Tuesday hosted 38 youth from Commonwealth member states at Urugwiro Village. He briefed them about Rwanda’s progress as well as advising them on how to become future leaders. The youth, who have been in the country on a 10-day visit asked President Kagame questions on leadership and the country’s reconstruction process.

The Nkabom Commonwealth youth aged between 18 and 25 from commonwealth member states aim to exchange ideas, develop peace building and development skills, nurture friendships and return to their countries as proactive agents of change.

TIG officials accused of mismanagement

Nineteen former employees of TIG have petitioned the Minister of Internal Affairs, the police and the office of the Ombudsman over mismanagement of the program. They forwarded their complaint after they were dismissed from their jobs.

TIG’s Executive Secretary, Everest Bizimana, dismissed the claims, saying that those who forwarded the complaints were disgruntled employees. He added that he had fired them for failure to meet their job requirements. When contacted, the Minister of Internal affairs Musa Fazil Harelimana, confirmed that there were irregularities within TIG.

TIG is a government agency that oversees community service carried out by people convicted of participating in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

Kagame delivers the 2010 Oppenheimer Lecture in UK

President Paul Kagame this week delivered the 2010 Oppenheimer Lecture at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London,
Speaking on the theme; "The Challenges of Nation Building in Africa – the Case of Rwanda”, President Kagame pointed out that the period between Rwanda’s independence in 1962 and 1994 was dominated by politics mainly based on ethnicity and exclusion, thereby destroying the identity and unity of the nation through conflict.

Previous high-profile speakers at the IISS include President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President Ali Zardari of Pakistan, former President George W. Bush, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Gen. Stanley McChrystal from the United States.

Ends