Weekly review

NISR gets equipment for National census The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), on Thursday, received Geographic Information System (GIS), equipment that will be used in data gathering during the forthcoming National Census. The equipment, worth approximately Rwf 137.6m, was handed over to the institute by UNFPA during a ceremony that was held at NISR headquarters. The 4th National Census is slated for next year. FDLR looting mission foiled The UN news service Wednesday revealed that peacekeepers in the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) had prevented suspected members of the FDLR from taking their loot after an attack on the South Kivu town of Mwenga, early Tuesday. According to reports, a town priest informed a UN official of the attack at about 1 a.m. when the attackers had entered three houses, looted household property and forced five people, including a woman, to carry the goods on their heads. In a related development, the UN troops in eastern Congo are reported to have rescued six Congolese police officers kidnapped by Mai Mai rebels. Five suspected armed robbers arrested Police early in the week arrested five people who they believe have been ransacking villages in Kayonza, Ngoma and Kirehe districts in Eastern Province. One of the suspects, nicknamed Kazungu, was arrested after a stolen phone police was tracking turned out to be the one he was using. He and other suspects were discovered in Kayonza, in a house they were renting. According to the police, the suspects were allegedly robbing residents using an AK47 sub-machine gun. The five are believed to be part of a larger ring of robbers wanted for a string of violent armed robberies in the region. 370 hectares in the city still undeveloped - KCC Over 370 hectares of land acquired by real estate developers in various parts of Kigali City has not been utilized, despite a six-month deadline issued by the City Council. In an interview, Bruno Rangira, the Kigali City Director of Media and Communication, said that the biggest chunk of undeveloped land is owned by the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR) and the Housing Bank of Rwanda (HBR). Rangira, also noted that there are still big chunks of land owned by the government in Kigali City which should also be developed. Among these are the current traffic police premises, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs which currently hosts the city headquarters, former headquarters of the office of tourism (ORTPN) and land in Upper Kiyovu, all in Nyarugenge District. Swiss delegation here Members of the advisory committee of the Swiss International Development Cooperation (SDC) are in the country to assess several projects supported by their organization. A press statement from SDC, indicates that the 12-member delegation is also in the country to witness the progress brought to the population by three SDC-funded projects. The advisory committee’s main task is to advise the Swiss Federal Council and various federal agencies, including SDC, on how to ensure effectiveness of the projects they fund. The SDC is the agency responsible for international cooperation within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of the Swiss government. With other offices of the Swiss Confederation, SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of Switzerland’s development cooperation and humanitarian assistance across the world. WFP boss impressed by Rulindo watershed project The World Food Programme Regional Director, Mustapha Darboe, on Thursday hailed the transformation of the former eroded, barren hills of Rukozo and Cyungo in Rulindo District into terraced farmland. He said this during his visit to a watershed management project in Rulindo, where WFP constructed radical terraces on 240 hectares. The watershed management project contributes to the efforts of fighting against run-off erosion and by doing so, has increased the soil fertility. According to the farmers and local leaders, the project has a huge impact in their community. Ends