ICTR upholds Rukundo, Kalimanzira convictions

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday reaffirmed the convictions of catholic priest Emmanuel Rukundo, and that of a former director of cabinet in the Rwandan Interior Ministry, Callixte Kalimanzira.

It however reduced the priest’s jail term to 23 years from the 25 years that had earlier been served to him, and reduced Kalimanzira’s sentence  from  the 30 years he was served in June last year to 25 years. Rukundo was arrested in Switzerland in July 2001 and transferred to the ICTR detention facilities two months later. His trial began in November 2006.

Thousands to get electricity in Gicumbi

About 12,000 people in various sectors in Gicumbi district are set to be connected to the national electricity grid. The manager of the national power and water utility, RECO & RWASCO, in Gicumbi District, Gilbert Rubayita revealed this during a meeting at Gicumbi District hall which brought together the parastatal and their clients, to mark it’s Accountability Day.

Ex-combatants to receive vocational training

Over 200 ex-combatants are set to enroll for vocational training, an official from the Rwanda demobilization and reintegration commission (RDRC) has said. Major General Paul Rwarakabije an RDRC commissioner, made the announcement during an exercise to select beneficiaries in Huye District. During the same event ex-combatants who completed vocational training were given various equipments to kick-start their projects.
GBV crimes down

Defilement and rape cases have reduced by 64.9 and 62.8percnt respectively since 2006 according to a police report. The report indicates that 714 defilement cases were registered in the first six months of this year compared to 2,003 recorded in 2006 .150 rape cases were registered in the same period, down from 403 registered five years ago. In the year 2008, 2009 and 2010 the numbers progressively reduced due to both increased community awareness and improved synergy and coordination between the police, prosecution, medical, civil society and local leadership, the report reads in part.

DRC rapes could be added to Mbarushimana’s crimes - ICC

International Criminal Court (ICC) is considering adding recent rape cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to what the detained top official of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) Callixte Mbarushimana, will be charged with. ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, told the French Media on Tuesday, a day before Mbarushimana appeared in a French Court that the FDLR Secretary General is likely to be charged with the rapes of villagers in the DRC.

Meat processing project launched

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in conjunction with Kigali Institute of Science and Technology on Thursday launched a pilot meat processing facility at the KIST premises in Remera. The facility is one of the UN-funded projects of capacity building and skills development for academics and meat processing through demonstration, hands on training and technology transfer services.

The meat processing plant demonstrates minimum standard requirements for meat handling and processing, and is equipped with modern machines, meat additives and packaging materials.

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