Weekly review

Rwanda named top tourist destination Rwanda was named among the top five Tourist destinations during the 2011 Wanderlust Travel Awards. The ranking was based on a worldwide online poll conducted by British travel magazine, Wanderlust. Following the annual poll that attracted votes from over 2,000 readers of the magazine, Rwanda was the only African country listed among the top five. In a contest that was topped by Burma/Myanmar with 97.14%, Rwanda came as the top African emerging destination in 5th position with 93.68%, ahead of Ghana, which was ranked 6th with 93.33%, Malawi in 8th with 89.33 and Libya in 9th position with 88.57%. The magazine noted that despite Rwanda’s bitter history, the country is “firmly back on the travel map.” Rwandan nationals detained in Uganda Ugandan security authorities are holding two Rwandans over “charges” that the Police have declined to reveal The New Times reports.” What I can confirm to you is that Police detained them, but I cannot readily tell which charges they are accused of,” Judith Nabakoba, the Uganda Police spokesperson told The New Times in an interview on Friday. The arrested individuals are currently detained at the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in Kireka, a Kampala suburb. According to media reports, the detained persons are Levi Rutangungira and Herbert Twagiramukiza. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, said that his office was aware of the case but is yet to get details. Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, said that he did not have any information regarding the case. Ntaganda sentenced to 4 years in jail The leader of a faction of PS-Imberakuri, Bernard Ntaganda, was on Friday handed a four-year jail term by the High Court, on charges of organizing an illegal gathering. He was found guilty of threatening state security and inciting ethnic divisionism. Prosecution had earlier suggested that Ntaganda get a much higher sentence of 10 years and two months. Shortly after the verdict was announced, Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga, told reporters that “we believe we had a good case based on the evidence. People who hide under the banner of politics to send us back into the kind of politics we have been fighting against, will not be tolerated,” he warned. Over 3,000 FDLR militia repatriated since 2009 Over 3,000 members of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) militia have returned home since the beginning of Umoja Wetu operations in January 2009.FDLR is a group composed of remnants of the former Rwandan army (ex-FAR) and Interahamwe militia responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. According to the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), the rebels who were repatriated, came home with close to 3,500 dependants, mainly wives and children. Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije, an RDRC commissioner, said that an additional over 10,000 (rebels and dependants) were received by the Ministry of Local Government, over the last two years. Legal partnership to enhance Africa’s negotiating power President Paul Kagame has said that the newly created partnership between the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) and the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) will enhance the continent’s position when negotiating international commercial contracts. The President was speaking at the launch of the PALU-ALSF Capacity Building Project, that will build the capacity of lawyers in both the private and public sector, to enable them undertake complex international commercial contracts and negotiations, as well as take on creditor litigation. The AfBD President Dr. Donald Kaberuka also reminded the lawyers that their profession is very vital today, both in Africa and at the global level, with the global economic landscape changing by the day. Kirabo named Governor of Eastern Province The outgoing Mayor of Kigali City, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, has been appointed Governor of the Eastern Province. She replaces Dr. Ephraim Kabaija. This was disclosed after Friday’s cabinet meeting, which also announced major changes in top government and diplomatic positions. Ends