Weekly review

Iwawa pioneers graduate Wednesday, May 18, marked a milestone when Iwawa’s Rehabilitation and Vocational Development Centre rolled out its first graduates since its establishment in February last year. A powerful government delegation led by Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, the diplomatic corps led by the European Union Representative Michel Arrion and French Ambassador to Rwanda, Laurent Contini, as well as parents and guardians played witness as 752 former street children were awarded certificates. 253 completing courses in Construction, 157 in Bee Keeping, 156 in Commercial Farming, 108 in Carpentry and 101 in Tailoring, on top of language skills in English and Kiswahili as well as Mathematics. Speaking on behalf of those students, Allan Kabanda, a former drug dealer, said that the centre helped him abandon his drug habit of 14 years. According to Nicholas Niyomugabo, the Coordinator of the centre, which is run by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Iwawa, has 1,617 students of whom 580 are still undergoing rehabilitation while 1,057 are undergoing skills training. Kagame to appear on MTV youth showA group of young people from African countries, on Thursday, held an interview with President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. It is part of an eight-series show to be aired on MTV Base in July this year. MTN and MTV Networks joined forces in a Pan-African multimedia campaign designed to inspire the youth by connecting them with some of the world’s most influential personalities. The panel of five young people from South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda interviewed the president on some key issues affecting them. Under the theme “MTV Base Meets with MTN”, young people from across Africa, will engage with political, business and cultural leaders. The CEO of MTN Khaled Mikkawi said that the interview would provide young people with the opportunity to engage directly with decision-makers to address some of the key issues that affects them. Other prominent people featuring in the series will be, amongst others; Liberian President Ellen, Johnson-Sirleaf, South African politician and president of the African National Congress Youth League, Julius Malema. ICTR Prosecutor welcomes ex-army chief’s sentenceThe Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) , Hassan Bubacar Jallow, has welcomed the 30-year prison sentence handed down to former Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Augustin Bizimungu, for his involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Bizimungu was convicted on six counts of Genocide, crimes against humanity, murder,extermination and rape and violations of Article 3 commonn to the Geneva Conventions and Additional protocol II (murder; rape, humiliating treatment).Three other former military officers were also sentenced on Tuesday, in the long-running case known as the ‘Military II’ trial. They include former chief of the gendarmerie, Gen. Augustin Ndindiliyimana, former Commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion, Major François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye and Captain Innocent Sagahutu, who commanded one of the squadrons of the unit. Nzuwonemeye and Sagahutu each received a prison sentence of 20 years while Ndindiliyimana was sentenced to time served since 2000, and released. District Executive Secretary held over fraudThe long serving Executive Secretary of Gakenke District, Richard Mberabagabo, and the district accountant, Edward Nizeyimana, are in detention over alleged embezzlement of Rwf 48 million. The two officials were arrested on Wednesday, and transferred to Musanze Police Station before they are arraigned in court. Mberabagabo was seen as a model civil servant, while many of his peers, including his former bosses, were interdicted over related crimes in the past. The money was reportedly withdrawn by the district accountant using cheques and payment orders signed by Mberabagabo and the former Director of Administration and Finance, Clemence Ugiribanga, who is the current Vice Mayor. The District Police Commander, Supt. Christopher Ntaganira, confirmed their arrest and said that ‘investigations are still going on to arrest whoever was involved in the embezzlement”. Nizeyimana, had previously been suspended by the District Advisory Council, but was later reinstated by Mberabagabo. Five die in Lake Kivu boat mishapFive people aboard a boat died and 37 survived with minor injuries when their vessel collided with another boat on Lake Kivu. The accident happened when a boat belonging to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) rammed into the private boat ferrying 43 passengers from Iwawa Island to Rubavu mainland, on Wednesday evening. The victims included parents returning from a graduation ceremony of their children at Iwawa Rehabilitation and Skills Development Centre. The RRA boat was also headed to the Island to pick more people. The five bodies were taken to Gisenyi Hospital mortuary pending burial arrangements. Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden presents credentials Rwanda’s new Ambassador to Sweden and the other Nordic countries, Venetia Sebudandi, presented her Letters of Credence to King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Ambassador met with senior officials at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Sebudandi was accompanied to the Royal Palace by the Second Counselor of the Rwandan Embassy in Stockholm, Evode Mudaheranwa. The Embassy of Rwanda to Stockholm also has jurisdiction over Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Prior to her current posting, Ambassador Sebudandi served as Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN in Geneva, the World Trade Organisation and other International Organisations in Geneva. She was also concurrently accredited as Ambassador of Rwanda to Switzerland. Ends