week review

More funds flow into Agaciro The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) this week announced a contribution of over Rwf133.9m to Agaciro Development Fund. The dummy cheque was handed over to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning John Rwangombwa, at RDB headquarters.

Saturday, October 06, 2012
Defence Minister Gen. James Kabarebe (3rd left) flanked by RDF senior officers hands a cheque meant for Agaciro Development Fund to Finance Minister John Rwangombwa on Wednesday. The Sunday Times / John Mbanda.

More funds flow into AgaciroThe Rwanda Development Board (RDB) this week announced a contribution of over Rwf133.9m to Agaciro Development Fund. The dummy cheque was handed over to the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning John Rwangombwa, at RDB headquarters. "We are proud as staff of RDB to raise our own resources to contribute to a very important initiative that the Agaciro Development Fund is. We join the rest of the Rwandans in solidarity towards finding solutions to our country’s economic development. We will continue to do our part, not only to promote the Agaciro Development Fund, but also in doing our work in promoting economic development,” the RDB acting Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi, said.Rwanda to get second sugar factory In news this week, it was reported that Rwanda was set to get a second sugar factor amid sugar shortages that push prices higher. The new factory will be constructed in Ntasho in the Eastern Province once a second feasibility study by Mauritius Researchers is complete.Theresphore Mugwiza, in Charge of Industrial Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industry said two studies had been undertaken, including one which revealed that sugarcane growing in the area would be successful. Armed forces make record contribution to AgaciroOfficers and men of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) mid this week contributed the single largest envelop to Agaciro Development Fund (AgDF), amounting to Rwf1.6 billion. The Minister of Defence, James Kabarebe, said the history of monetary contributions from the Rwandan military towards nation building goes way back to the liberation struggle.The RDF contribution brings the Fund’s total amount to over Rwf 20.6 billion in five weeks after its launch.Fake mobile phones to be switched off Government is set to switch counterfeit mobile handsets off the networks, according to Rwanda Utilities Regulator Agency (RURA).Regis Gatarayiha, the Director General of RURA revealed this week that fake mobile phone handsets were affecting the quality of communication and posing a health risk to the users, warning that very soon; they would be switched off.Gatarayiha stated that all unregistered handsets and those with non-authentic International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers are considered to be counterfeit and will soon be disconnected from networks.Lawyer remanded for forging court verdictNyarugenge Intermediate Court (NIC) has remanded a local lawyer to prison for allegedly falsifying court verdicts. Jean Rugendo, a defence lawyer, forged a Nyarugenge Intermediate Court verdict which alleged that the court had ruled in favour of his client, Oscar Kajanagye, in a land wrangle case.Narrating how the court found out about the fraud, the Chief Clerk of the court, Stanislas Sibomana said that, last week, Kajanagye came to the court oblivious of the fact that he had a forged verdict which he wanted it stamped for enforcement.He added that the forged document was signed on August, 10, by a former court registrar who is now in jailed over falsification of court documents.Testifying before court during the pre-trial hearing, Kajanagye told court that Rugendo gave him a verdict claiming that he had won a case. Rugendo convinced Kajanagye that he had got the verdict from the Nyarugenge court.Kagame: Rwandans are better off fighting injusticeThis week, President Paul Kagame called on Rwandans and Africans to denounce the unfairness that has characterized international justice where it is used as a tool to command the direction African countries should take.Freezing aid, suspending aid is injustice. It does not make us compliant, it makes us defiant. The President made the remarks while speaking at the launch of Rwanda’s 2012-13 Judicial Year, held at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kigali, on Thursday. President Kagame noted that powerful and developed countries use aid and international justice to bully the poor and less developed African countries, blurring the line between justice and politics.He pointed out that justice is applied in line with the interests of the powerful countries and not based on the crimes committed. The President called on the Rwandan people to maintain the course of progress and development.