The RwandaTRACnet, a bilingual dynamic information technology system that uses cell phones, text messages and sophisticated database to collect, store, analyze and disseminate critical program information, drug distribution and patient information related to the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS was announced the winner of the 2007 African ICT Achievers Award on November 17, on the same event, at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

President Kagame was awarded with a Lifetime Achievers Award for his commitment to the proliferation of the ICT industry in Rwanda and across the continent, as well as promotion of the use of technology within governments for better service delivery to citizens.

The competition was organized by the ForgeAhead and the South African department of Communications under the theme “Making the African Century a Reality”, The 9th Africa ICT Achievers Award was contested by 300 participants of whom 43 were selected from 20 African countries.

According to the director general of Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC) Ms. Anita Asiimwe, on the event of the 9th annual Africa ICT Achievers Award, TRACnet system was awarded as one of the top seven public sectors embracing ICT in Africa in 2007 and TRAC as an institution was awarded with the overall winner of the top ICT organization Award.

TRACnet was developed by voxiva in 2003 to speed up service delivery to the people living with HIV/AIDS. The system was funded by the .US. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) being used by 400 health care professionals in all 155 health centers that offer retroviral therapy to more than 44,000 Rwandans.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Government of Rwanda and Dubai World on September 26 sealed the deal that will put the country at a higher pedestal in the East African region.

The minister of state in charge of industry and investment promotion in the ministry of commerce, industry, investment promotion, tourism and co-operatives Mr. Vincent Karega signed on behalf of Rwanda while the vice president and prime minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai Mr. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed for Dubai World.

During an interview with East African Business Week at her offices in Kigali on October 2, the deputy director general in charge of investment promotion at the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA) Ms. Clare Akamanzi said this initiative from a single source has superseded their 2007 expectations.

“This is very exciting and a major development for the country. Each of the projects on their own is big. This has enabled us to surpass our 2007 target. Our target for investments this year was $229million.”

The Dubai World has pledged to increase its investment portfolio. In a press statement sent to Business Week, the chair of Dubai World Mr. Ahmed Bin Sulayem said, “This is an important strategic deal for Dubai World. Rwanda is recognised as the most improved sub Saharan nation. It has come along way in sustainable development, and has a safe environment which still has tremendous potential for growth”.

He added, “The development offers both partners significant opportunity. Construction on the developments will commence in late 2007 and we will open an office in Kigali to manage the existing trading operations, paving the way for increased tourist arrivals who seek quality service and high end experience.”

On his part, Karega revealed that the country is on an unstoppable growth curve. “Our vision for Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation is to position our country as a hub for excellence and quality service. Tourism is a pillar for rapid economic growth within that context. Our policy choice for tourism is to become a high end destination capitalising on unique natural beauty, security, property rights and zero tolerance for corruption.

The MoU states that Dubai World will fully take over the 60-room Akagera game lodge and turn it into a four- star facility. In addition, a joint venture with Government is to be set up to operate the 1,080 Akagera National Park in conjunction with the Rwanda Office for Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN).

The partnership will also see the re-development of the Gorilla Nest Lodge in the breath taking Volcanoes National Park. The giant UAE investment group will set up a creative five-star tented camp in Kinigi, northwestern Rwanda.

The Dubai World will also fully take over the $7.2million (Rwf3.99) Nyungwe Eco-lodge that is being constructed by ORTPN. The Arab group is to also build a new upscale 150-room hotel at the up market Kigali Golf Course in Nyarutarama. It will also re-develop the 18 hole golf course and the golf and country club as well as building town houses and villas.

The National Park’s tourism office said that 25 units are to be constructed to end the major accommodation challenges that heve been faced by Nyungwe primate park since its declaration in 2005.

While making a presentation on the concept of the Eco-lodge, the architect, Rihal Sandeep, said the form of the building model will resemble ‘nests suspended in trees’ with awesome views of the forest and tea fields. He says the building will host a presidential suite, luxury villas, a forest, tea villas, tree houses and a nature centre.

Other facilities will include; a library and view tower, reception, kitchen, dining, fitness centre, and quarters for staff.

“The construction of the eco-lodge is timely as it will address the accommodation problem in Nyungwe. It will be an important milestone in our efforts towards improving the tourism experience in all our national parks while increasing tourists’ length of stay as they discover Nyungwe’s awesome treasures”, said Hon. Protais Mitali, the current Minister of Tourism.

He says the eco-lodge will facilitate the tourists to complete the primates discovery circuit after having visited the gorillas in Volcanoes Park and other tourism sites in the country.

The eco-lodge will uplift the status of the entire region and has already provided employment to 318 residents of Nyamasheke.

Most of the material used in construction and the interior accessories will be locally sourced, thus benefiting neighbouring communities including artists and weavers whose work will be showcased in the eco-lodge. Upon completion, residents are also expected to provide food sources to the eco-lodge.

The President is will receive the award at an event supposed to take place on Thursday. Kagame is also scheduled to meet the president of the Italian senate, and other Italian government officials. Rwanda removed death penalty law last month.

Even though these two countries have not yet made any official application in order to be incorporated as member states, the bank is at present studying requirements that would see these states included as members.

The chairman of the EADB governing council, Dr. Ezra Suruma who is also Uganda’s minister for finance, planning and economic development alleged that capitalisation of the bank had considerably amplified that there was need to, through overtures to Rwanda and Burundi to join as members.

“We have reviewed the progress in operation and profitability and we are opening our membership reach by inviting our brothers Rwanda and Burundi to join us,” he said.

Dr. Suruma made this communication at a Nairobi hotel last week during the closure of a two day EADB general council meeting, and hinted that the bank was studying the principle and provision of the charter to allow the new members to join.

“We are following the procedure in the EAC and the charter of the bank to include these two countries as members,” said Dr. Suruma.

At the same time the bank approved US$30 million (Ksh2.01billion) for the funding of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in venture capital for the promotion of SMEs within the East African Community (EAC).

He said the considerable capitalisation of the bank enabled it to venture into other income generating activities such as housing and construction which will start by the end of year.

The meeting was attended by Kenya’s minister for finance Mr. Amos Kimunya, Tanzania’s deputy minister for finance Mr. Abdisalaam Khatiba and EADB’s director general Mr. Godfrey Tumusiime.

Kagame made the request while opening a three-day environment conference under the theme ‘International Research Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management’ at Kigali Serena Hotel yesterday.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of both plant and animal life in the world. “The challenge before us is to design and implement strategies to manage the delicate balance between conservation of biological diversity and human development needs,” Kagame told researchers from more than twenty countries attending the conference.

He said that Rwanda has registered some modest success giving an example of Gorilla conservation in the Virunga’s Volcanoes mountain Gorilla National Park. Rwanda Gorilla safaris currently contribute the highest portion foreign exchange in the tourism industry.

“Through the effective fostering of eco-tourism, these unique primates are protected in their natural habitats while ensuring a steady revenue stream for our country,” added the President.

The President remarked that some of the challenges Rwanda faces include lack of required capacities in most of the country’s institutions and weaknesses in scientific research, both in terms of human and institutional resources and called upon Rwandans to think afresh about the biodiversity challenges, presentation them as a profitable venture.

“We must abandon the old paradigm in which conservation was viewed as a governmental responsibility and as a matter of urgency, shift into a new mode of critical thinking and action where the protection of biodiversity is viewed as a profitable business opportunity, for both mainstream enterprise and small businesses,” he stressed.

Dr. Russell Mittermeier, the president of Conservation International lauded Rwanda’s accomplishment in biodiversity conservation, attributing it mainly to the political will.

“The President especially did a good gesture of reinstating Nyungwe Forest as a national park. His personal commitment to this cause is a major stimulant that will lead to better results,” Mittermeier said.

Mittermeier said that Rwanda was better placed to host the first ever conference given her geographic location which is in the Albertine Rift.

Reading the need for money on the two faces, I develop a desire of releasing 1000 francs to contribute to their income since I was not going to buy from them, but had no cash with me only hopes that I would on my return route.

Still seated under the hot sun, these two ladies still saw a charcoal customer in me but since I had got some money now I knew it was a story for me thus moved towards them with a smile on my face and handed Frw 500 hundred note to of the women while the other rushed to pick a khaki paper bag bearing in mind the money was for paid charcoal.

“Oya mama ni mwakire” literally meaning no mama have this, with a lot of excitement they begin blessing me and that’s when a friendly atmosphere is created for me to ask more about their earning from charcoal selling.

One of the women, Chantal Muliisa 28 who lives in the Kimihurura-Rugando says that it’s from this charcoal business that she has managed to educate her four children who are in primary five and four at Ecole De Kimihurura.

She however she adds that there is a big secret in selling charcoal since many people in Kigali demand on charcoal for fuel.

“You know many homes rarely use firewood so charcoal is on demand here. There are no customers at this time of the day, many having finished their cooking but by evening they will be surrounding this place in need of charcoal,” Muliisa says.

Asked if she is happy with the business, Muliisa says that of all the businesses ventures she has tried, the charcoal business has earned her a lot and she does not regret. She said that she has been able to clears big debts and paid school fees for her children and young cousins in primary six.

“Since we are few charcoal sellers in this particular area all money comes to us. We earn a lot because all the charcoal we bring gets finished in the evening of the same day and very early we shop for more from Nyabugogo” Muliisa adds.

Her colleague Anonciata Umutoniwase is not married but takes care of her elderly parents since she is the youngest and the only surviving child in the family after the 1994 Genocide.

Umutoniwase aged 26 says that she cannot give up selling charcoal because it has helped her solve many problems.

“You can’t believe that I began selling charcoal three years after the Genocide, (1997) when I was considerably young but it is through this business that I have managed to rent a big house for my parents and their close relatives. At first I thought life had come to an end because by that time I was the youngest and all my brothers and sisters had been killed, it was a friend that gave me the idea of selling charcoal believing that the business would help me out since it is always on demand especially here in Kigali,” she said.

Umutoniwase has seen her business expand for last ten years; she has been able to employ other people who include Muliisa her partner at this particular point while there are other similar businesses across Kigali in areas like in Kabeza, Kanombe and Kimisagara.

Umutoniwase is not about to marry since she wants to first own a house then can think of marriage.
Finding out that there are bosses even in charcoal business is amazing but this boss is dressed just like her employee. When asked as why she has to dress and sell the charcoal her self, Umutoniwase said that she has mastered the selling language that she cannot afford to sit by and watch other people sometimes failing her business.

“When you want money you have to bow even when you are a boss I don’t mind who says what, provided I leave for home with enough money. We enjoy this work because we earn a lot and understand each other” says Umutoniwase.

Among the challenges faced by these charcoal sellers is the fact that during rainy seasons the charcoal gets wet and very few people manage to access their place of work which is a distance from residential houses.

“When it rains everything comes to a stand and we can’t sell like on the sunny days, infact it is hard to find customers who cannot endure the rain.

We make more money when it shines than when it rains” says Umutoniwase.
These two women are satisfied with the charcoal business. Whereas the passersby may look at them with sympathy and think they are desperate, poor or leading a miserable life. It’s not until you approach them that you will know how they rejoice in their business.

Charcoal selling has done these ladies well and so far they seem satisfied with the charcoal business because they earn over 40,000 francs from all their small branches around per day.

By PATIENCE UWITONZE
Rwanda Travel and Safari Guide

During a function held at the Hotel des Mille Collines, the marketing and communication manager of bcr, Mr. Hannington Namara announced the introduction of phone banking to the country.

“This is the first of its kind in the banking industry in the country. People in the diaspora can now call the bank and get real information on their account without having to go through a relative or a manager who might be busy,” he exposed during the press conference.

This innovation of voice over phone will aid in of the banking services including cheque request, transaction inquiries, balance inquiry, product information and account opening information. This service is to reduce on the hassle of going to the bank physically on issues concerning one’s account.

Subscribers to Rwandatel will dial 227 while those using MTN will dial 3227 and this will be free facility to all account holders in this bank.

Rwanda’s bank of the year 2006 according to “The Banker magazine” and “Financial Times” of London has initiated this first step in technology banking and hopes to advance up to sms and internet banking.

“The service will be available from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays. If a client calls after 8pm, they can leave a message and we will get back to them later,” said Ms. Vivian Kayitesi the call centre manager.

For privacy requirements, each client will be required to field a secret question and answer in addition to the system generated personal identification number or PIN code.

Rwandair Express CEO Manzi Kayihura said the two qualified out of five international carriers that had shown interest.

“We have just completed a bidders’ conference and the privatisation process should be completed by the close of the year, “Kailua told Reuters in an interview.

“We are not necessarily looking for the highest financial offer but a strategic partner who has a commitment to add value, expand the network and experience to grow the airline.”

An additional 40 percent of shares will be awarded to a local investor, he said, while the government will take possession 20 percent.

As well as operating internal flights, the five year old Rwandair Express flies daily to Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. It also flies to Tanzania and Johannesburg, South Africa, three times a week.

Landlocked Rwanda has immense plans to turn into a limelight for flights in Africa’s Great Lakes region, Kayihura uttered. “Any strategic partner must be able to advance this vision, and if we fail to get one in this round then we will wait.” This step will help to improve the quality of services offered on flights to Rwanda.

The naming is also intended to confirm the successful conservation and protection programme with a principal objective of removing the mountain gorilla off the endangered species list.

This year’s gorilla naming ceremony was passed under the theme “Caring for Wildlife Concerns us All” which took place in Kinigi, Musanze District, Northern Province.

Chantal Rugamba, the Director General of ORTPN, attributed the successful conservation and Kwita Izina ceremony to the joint commitment by the local community, researchers and several partners.

This was the third year for Rwanda to hold the gorilla naming ceremony, and Ragamba noted that “Kwita izina seeks to put on record the milestone Rwanda has registered in conservation of wildlife and in particular the mountain gorilla.”

While officiating the Kwita Izina, president kagame said that the promotion of tourism and conservation of mountain gorillas in volcanoes National Park will only be successful with the participation of the community. “There is need for every Rwandan to play a role in the promotion of tourism, in conserving environment and in promoting yourselves by providing items and services that you can sell to tourists so that they feel at home whenever they are in the country,” added the president.

Kagame called upon everyone to put value to tourism because it supports many people’s standards of living and as such asset, “You are charged with the responsibility to keep gorillas safe by offering the necessary security.” He added that though crafts can be used to represent the country, Gorilla trekking safaris are also an important source of income to the neighboring community.

“The context of our presence here has significance beyond the recognition of these young national treasures,” Kagame said before mentioning factors including successful conservation and the post conflict resolutions that are development oriented.

The President remarked that the Rwanda had begun getting peace and stability signals and that tourism has been a vital economic driver of the country’s economy. He advised that conservation and tourism should be treated with equal strength.

The colourful ceremony attracted over 600 gevernment officials officials, the private sector, regional and international organisations, and saw 23 baby gorillas receive names.

The ceremony was brightened by many rich cultural dances, music, drumming but the highlight was a moving poem from a 13-year-old Marie Aline Uwayezu.

The previous gorilla naming ceremonies and fundraising raised $2 million (about Frw1.1 billion). From this fund, the community has been provided with schools, hospitals and water tanks.

This year’s Kwita Izina ceremony was followed by a fundraising function at Kivu Sun Serena Hotel, projected to raise US$1.5million (about Frw825 million). Rugamba said that this year’s priority projects include installing an electric fence around Akagera Park, a community commercial complex in Kinigi for craft selling and the resettlement of the community evicted from gazetted zone and tea planting regions around Nyungwe National Park are also among the priorities.

The tourism sector of Rwanda recorded $33million (about Frw18.2 billion) last year as revenue against the target of US$31million (about Frw 17 billion), which made the sector the country’s third most foreign exchange earner.

By Grace

She said all this during a Crafts Fair Exhibition that attracted about fourteen Self Help Projects, at the American Club last Saturday.

The U.S. Embassy, which funds Women for Woman, is also aiding Self Help Projects in the country in form of labour, cash and raw-materials, advice among others to improve household incomes that boost the standards of living of women. Since most of these projects are community based and locally administered groups like orphans, widows, street children, and orphans, benefit from these projects.

The fair was decorated with African crafts, such as necklaces, crotched bags, shoes, pottery, necklaces, handmade toys, fabric bags, table mats, children’s bathrobes and many more. The exhibition for Rwanda arts and crafts was considered a successful by the U.S Embassy Commercial Officer, Daniel Stoian.

The Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi, Paul Kagame and Pierre Nkurunziza respectively, signed the EAC Accession Treaty in Kampala, Uganda, on June 18 that ushered their countries into the regional bloc.

Rosemary Ruseminari, the State Minister for Cooperation, was in both House chambers to support the bill. She put emphasis on the advantages Rwanda would acquire as a consequence of its accession into the regional bloc that originally embraced only three countries.

However, the MPs are hitherto to study the details of the EAC treaty closely, a task to be done within 12 months as mandated by the existing constitution.

Rosemary also noted that the East African Community would advance regional security, collaboration, liberty of movement of people and labour in member states. Concerning the EAC Political Federations scheduled for 2013, she called on the MP’s to entrust their time to issues pertaining to the community.

Hanna is also going to carryout a comprehensive documentary about safari or tourist attractions in Rwanda like the golden monkeys, chimpanzees, birds, landscapes in addition to the Kwita Izina event.

The annual gorilla-naming ceremony is aimed at promoting Rwanda tourism to the world, and to increase public support for protection and preservation of the endangered spices in the whole world. With this, the Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) of Rwanda has decided to extend Kwita Izina programme to other primates other than gorillas alone.

Upon his arrival at Kigali International Airport, Hanna disclosed that the designed documentary will be screened on DSTV’s discovery channel, where the programme is watched by over a million people worldwide. He added that, “Every time I go public on television in my country [USA] I say something good about the rising Rwanda, especially on tourism. And here we are talking about 40, 000 people watching.”

Chantal Rosette Rwigamba, the Director General of ORTPN confirmed: “We are indeed glad that Hanna has pledged to broadcast live for one hour—free, on discovery channel a documentary about Rwanda tourism.”

This year’s Kwita Izina gorilla naming event, with the theme, “Caring for Wildlife concerns us all”, will witness the naming of 23 gorillas. Rosette said: “We shall celebrate the efforts of all those that have contributed to the wildlife welfare and its conservation. Indeed, that is why many world conservationists like Jack were invited. Others are coming. This is just the first arrival.”

When asked what needs to be done to push Rwanda tourism sector to higher levels, Jack Hanna advised; “Increase animal population especially in Akagera National Park. Also ensure that the Park has variety of animals,” and also promised to work together with Rwanda in achieving this.

He urged Rwanda to diversify safari attractions to increase period of stay of tourists, “for it is a sure way of making more revenues.”

Hanna also came with Nick Baird as part of his crew, who is the Director of Public Health Services at America’s First Responses Solutions a full-size American firm providing value-driven technology solutions to public and private sectors.

Nick said: “Rwanda, a country with meager resources should be proud of its good leadership, for it is the main reason to its numerous success stories like fighting HIV/AIDs,” as he celebrated his first visit to the country.

Hanna owns a multi-million country safari lodge in Kinigi, Northern province, where he stays whenever he visits the country.

A Part of the new aviation rules that were issued to the airport by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), requires the flight passengers not to pack all liquids including water, gels, pastes and aerosols, in hand luggage. However, the rules also advise on the use of transparent polythene bags which were lately banned in the country.

CAA Director General, Joshua Mbaraga reported that the new aviation rules, devised as a security measure against terrorism, were adopted at Rwanda’s airports this month. “Yes, we have introduced new airport rules as issued by ICAO,” he said lately. The rules oblige passengers who desire to bring the abovementioned liquids in their hand baggage to place them in re-sealable transparent containers of certain proportions or polythene bags, that can carry materials of not more than one litre in capaciy. He supplemented that they were ready to implement the rules without compromising the prohibition on polythene bags

Superintendent of Police Egide Ruzigamanzi, the head of police at Kigali International Airport, said that the liquids are to be screened within the transparent packages, and passengers can place them back in their hand baggage after. However, some items like medication (carrying clear inscriptions) and baby foods are exempted from the requirement. Therefore, the Airport management requested for collaboration from passengers.

Isaac Kamali was arrested on Wednesday by US security in Washington D.C., from Lyon, France, traveling on a French passport.

Reliable sources in France reported that, after being identified as one of fugitives that participated in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, Kamali was intercepted and detained under US custody. They added that, “Kamali was arrested on his way to the US from France and he is still in the hands of the Americans.”

The Foreign Affairs minister Dr Charles Murigande, also confirmed the news saying that “It’s true he was arrested because we (Rwandan government) issued a red notice for his arrest to all governments. He is someone who committed serious Genocide crimes.”

“The next step does not depend on us. For us, we pray that he is extradited to Rwanda but that possibility is complicated by the fact that Kamali holds a French passport. Maybe as we talk now, Paris has intervened to secure the release of their beloved citizen.” alleged the minister when asked what was to happen now that the fugitive was under arrest.

The lack of a signed extradition treaty between US and Rwanda may make the negotiations more complex however Isaac Kamalis crimes may be solved using the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide which is above the other treaties.

“The Convention is clear; it commits all member states to ensure that Genocide perpetrators are brought to book, and in this case, we think it (the Convention) will supercede any other consideration,” Murigande.

He also added that, “Considering the existing excellent relations between Rwanda the US and our close collaboration in judicial matters, we are hopeful that the US government will extradite him to Rwanda to be answerable for his Genocide crimes.”

Rwandan embassy in Washington D.C. had already started engaging the US authorities with regard to extraditing the suspect.

However, contacted for a comment yesterday, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of the US, Brian George, said that he was not aware of the arrest. “I haven’t heard any information on that. I will have to confirm first.”