Weekly Review

Rwanda showcases its splendor in double beauty contests The week ended with a jubilant mood as Rwandans did not only crown their first beauty queen after a period of 17 years but a Rwandan also emerged as miss East Africa in the events that were both concluded Friday night. Bahati Grace who was the youngest of all the 14 contestants in the miss Rwanda beauty pageant emerged winner while Cynthia Akazuba was crowned miss East Africa. Gov’t refutes gay criminalizing reports It was reported that the Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business. His reaction came after international organizations, including rights groups and gay communities across the world raised an alarm in several reports accusing the government of trying to consider a law against homosexuality. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), and Rwanda’s Horizon Community Association (HOCA), recently issued statements demanding that that the Rwandan Parliament withdraws article 217 of the penal code regarding homosexuality. Energy ministers agree to form oil fund Ministers of Energy from different African Union (AU) member countries agreed to establish a continental oil fund that will boost the performance of the sector in Africa. In a meeting they held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the officials responsible for hydrocarbons, also crafted key documents to help develop the energy sector. Yussuf Uwamahoro, the Coordinator of the Energy Sector in the ministry said that once established, the fund will play an instrumental role in controlling price fluctuation of oil products that has rocked the continent. Police constables graduate 1,520 Police constables graduated at Gishari Police Training School after 16 months of training. Thousands of parents and relatives turned up to witness the graduation of their loved ones at the colourful event presided over by internal security minister, Musa Fazil Harerimana. According to officials, this was the 5th pass-out, in the less than ten years the force has existed. Harerimana, advised the new entrants to take the responsibilities that accompany their new status seriously. Malice eating up accountants’ body Mid this week it was reported that malice and fear of competition are some of the cancers eating up the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR) which has resulted into the current bickering that has rocked the new body and threatens to tear it apart. Several members of ICPAR, who asked not to be named revealed that they were completely in the dark about a list of eleven ICPAR certified firms sent to Rwanda Revenue Authority that excluded major international accounting firms. The list signed by ICPAR president, Peter Rutaremara, says the names of approved legible firms were endorsed by the body’s Governing Council. But a source in the council contests this list, saying it was incomplete and sent to RRA behind their back. Rwanda Diaspora in move to eliminate grass-thatched houses Members of the Rwandan Diaspora announced plans to help in the construction of 504 houses in Bugesera district as a contribution to a government campaign to eliminate grass-thatched houses in the country. This was announced early in the week fter members of the Diaspora toured rural communities in the district at the end of the just concluded fourth Diaspora Global Convention in Kigali, the delegation said it would build the houses in Rilima sector, Bugesera district. Kagame calls on youth to champion national development President Paul Kagame early in the week called on the youth and women to take an upper hand in championing development in the country. Addressing thousands of members of Itorero ry’Igihugu, a Rwandan home-grown initiative, at the Amahoro National Stadium, the President said the overall objective of the initiative is to encourage Rwandans to join forces in achieving more development. President Kagame reiterated government’s commitment to strengthen the role of culture and use it in the socio-economic transformation of this country. Mozambique to track genocide fugitives In a move which can be seen as a positive one on the side of tracking Rwandan genocide fugitives the Mozambican Minister of Justice Levi Benvinda said that his country has vowed to offer support in the tracking and apprehension suspects in the country. “We are working together with the government of Rwanda to track these people and bring them to book. If someone is suspected of Genocide, we have to take him or her to court”. Ends