Regional lawmakers seek ban on polythene

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) want the use of polythene bags, forbidden in all member countries.

They argue that it is the only way to effectively protect the environment. The legislators are in Kigali to discuss the Trans-boundary Ecosystem Bill 2010 of the East African Community (EAC).

If passed, it will enhance the quality of the environment and ensure sustainable utilization of shared natural resources in member countries.

"If the law is passed, it will help to resolve the trans-boundary problems that impact neighbouring countries,” remarked Patricia Hajabakiga, Rwanda’s representative to EALA, who sits on the committee for agriculture, tourism and natural resources.

Kenya has forbidden the use of flimsy plastic bags but they are still being used.

In 2004, the Rwandan government passed a law to get rid of polythene bags. It is the only African country where the ban has been successfully implemented.

UN envoy welcomes start of FDLR leaders’ trial

A top UN official has welcomed the trial, of two leaders of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia that kicked off Wednesday in a German court.

According to the UN News Centre, Margot Wallström, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, issued a statement, applauding German authorities for "having apprehended these alleged perpetrators and for bringing them to justice.”

Wallström said the trial is "a clear sign that there is no safe haven for suspected criminals and that impunity for conflict-related sexual violence is not an option.”

FDLR president Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, his deputy, have been in pre-trial detention since their arrest in 2009. They are accused of masterminding atrocities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

They face 65 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. German prosecutors say that as leaders of FDLR, the two accused are responsible for the crimes committed by the group.

Varsity don in court over grenades

Huye Court of High Instance, this week, remanded a university don for 30 days for allegedly taking part in subversive activities. Court ordered that Lambert Havugintwari and his co-accused, Alexandre Munyentwari, be detained to enable prosecution gather more evidence related to claims that the two took part in activities that could jeopardise national security by smuggling grenades into the country.

Havugintwari, a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda and Munyentwali, an ambulance driver based at Gakoma Hospital, are accused of collaborating with militia groups operating from a neighbouring country to smuggle grenades into the country with the intention of causing insecurity.

Col. Mudenge’s trial postponed

An appeal involving the former head of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) was, on Thursday, postponed. The hearing is scheduled to continue on May 10.

The court heard that Colonel Deogene Mudenge is allegedly undergoing treatment.

Mudenge’s lawyer told court that his client’s medication has side effects that would not enable him to appear in court. The lawyer presented a medical report to validate his case but the Judge ordered for more details.

Mudenge’s woes started in July last year when he was arrested and charged with "gross indiscipline” after allegedly threatening a man in Gasabo with a firearm.

He won the case in the first instance but the victim appealed. Meanwhile, two other men; one from Gasabo and another from Bugesera, have similarly accused Mudenge of assault.

Nine more bodies recovered after DRC boat tragedy

Red Cross officials say that they have recovered nine bodies in Rwandan waters following an accident where a boat carrying over 100 passengers capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) part of Lake Kivu.

Only 15 persons survived the tragedy. Authorities attribute the incident that occurred when the boat that was ferrying passengers from Minova in Goma to Bukavu, to overloading.

The Congolese authorities working with Red Cross Congo have so far recovered 13 bodies which they have taken back to Minova for burial.

Upcountry buses to be restricted to city outskirts

A security meeting in Kigali City has issued a directive that all public transport vehicles commuting to the countryside from Kigali relocate their offices and parking yards from the city centre and operate from the outskirts.

The move that goes into effect at the end of May, aims at decongesting traffic in the city centre. Bruno Rangira, the Director of Communication and Media in KCC, said in an interview that passengers to and from Bugesera District, will use the Kicukiro terminal while those from other parts of the Eastern Province will stop at Remera Taxi Park. Western, Northern and Southern provinces will use the Nyabugogo bus terminal.

Owners of travel agencies, with offices and parking yards in the city centre, have only this month to move to their respective allocated destinations as approved by the security meeting.

By mid last year, both private and public vehicles in the city had risen to 60,000 from 22,000 since 1994, increasing vehicle volumes and causing traffic congestion.

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