Rwandans in UK.com

This was revealed by the Executive Director of Higher Education Council, Prof Geoffrey Rugege, at a cocktail organized over the weekend to celebrate successes achieved through Rotary in Scotland University Scholarship scheme (RUSSR) program.

This was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosemary Museminali, who hailed the program for contributing to Rwanda’s development. She congratulated the students for their achievements as well as positively representing Rwanda abroad.

Museminali noted that RUSSR scholarships have contributed, and are continuing to contribute, enormously to Rwanda’s resource base, particularly in terms of capacity building in the areas of science and technology that is crucial in achieving Rwanda’s vision 2020 of creating a knowledge-based economy.

Since it was initiated in 2003, RUSSR has supported over 70 Rwandese students, who upon return, have been deployed in Government, civil society and private sector.

Representing the students, Rosemary Mbabazi, commended the government and the Scottish Universities for providing such an opportunity

The event also saw the announcement of an Alumni body that will consist of post-graduate students from Scotland.

RUSSR, conceptualized and developed by Rwanda’s Honorary Consul in Scotland, Prof. Gerda Siann and Prof. Julian Siann, seeks to revitalize Rwanda by improving access to education and ensuring provision of skills to helping development of the economy.

Reported by the New Times

Horizon to construct ‘One Dollar Campaign’ complex

The two-storey blocs whose initial drawing plans have already been done by the Engineering Regiment of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF),  will have one administrative block  while the other 6 will serve as hostels-with each housing about 100 people, complete with a shopping mall, saloon, cyber cafe, entertainment hall, swimming pool as well as a multi-purpose exhibition hall.

“What is remaining now is to set up an Executive Secretariat which will be chaired by an experienced Project Manager who will oversee the fund and the construction work. He or she will be based within the Association of Student Survivors of the Genocide (AERG),” Foreign Affairs Minister, Rosemary Museminali, told an Inter-Ministerial meeting last week.

According to Museminali, a Governance Advisory Board of the Fund will be set up to monitor and advice on the progress of the activities and it will consist of members from her ministry, MINADEF, Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), the Diaspora Directorate (RDGN), AERG, AEGIS TRUST and will be placed under the leadership of local government ministry (MINALOC).

“Construction work will start soon. It was agreed that Horizon takes on the construction activities because RDF and MINADEF have responded very positively to the ‘One Dollar Campaign’ and they have known experience in Construction work,” she explained.

According to records, in the last 6 months, over Rwf1.24bn has been collected, and the campaign which ends December 15, targets Rwf 1.5bn.

So far the biggest contributors, the Unity Club, consisting of current and past leaders with their spouses, leads with a contribution of over Rwf 395m followed by the Rwandan Diaspora with over Rwf 196m.

Soccer matches organised by the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) raised over Rwf 81m while local government contributed over Rwf 80m.

The Association of Religious Groups has contributed over Rwf 54m while the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) has contributed over Rwf 41m.

According to Robert Masozera, the Head of the Diaspora Directorate at MINAFFET (RDGN), the Task Force is meeting on Wednesday to choose the most qualified Fund Manager among the many applicants.

“We want the activities done in the most transparent way possible-there won’t be any question marks on the management of the fund.” Masozera made the assurance in an interview with The New Times.

Reported by the New Times

Gov’t to ease property acquisition for the Diaspora

BY EDMUND KAGIRE

The meeting aimed at streamlining the process, especially within Kigali City, and take advantage of the massive demand for housing and property by Rwandans living abroad and increase their interest to invest in the country.

Addressing the stakeholders, who included Kigali City authorities, real estate developers, property consultants and banks, the Director General of DGD, Robert Masozera, said that Rwandans in the Diaspora have shown interest and potential to invest and acquire property in the country, but get frustrated by the process and lack of adequate information.

“They send us requests all the time, but what they lack is the facilitation to acquire housing plots or information on finished houses or who they should consult if they want to develop property.”

“They also don’t know the sources of financing or even how they can transfer their money to Rwanda for financing construction of their real estate, and I think any financial institution can tap into such an opportunity,” Masozera said.

During the meeting, stakeholders developed a framework that will facilitate and make it easy for the Diaspora to acquire land and housing without any problems while financial institutions also agreed to provide ‘special mortgage products’ that will encourage them to acquire property back home.

Kigali City Council officials noted that before coming up with any policies, there is a need for commitment from both sides; because at times the Diaspora have taken advantage of the offer to acquire land which they later fail to develop.

Vice Mayor, Alphonse Nizeyimana, citied about 52 plots of land that were given to Diaspora members who had promised to develop them but later reneged on their promise.

Developers like the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR), DN International and Real Contractors, noted that their housing units located in Gaculiro, Kabuga, Masaka and Rusororo are designed to suit the needs of the Diaspora and promised to avail all necessary information through the Diaspora Directorate

Among other things, it was agreed in the policy guidelines that banks also streamline the financing process to enable Rwandans in the Diaspora access credit facilities while construction companies and property consultants were also advised to cash-in on the huge potential.

According to Nathan Lloyd of DN International, the high cost of housing units in high-end estates targeted by Rwandans in the Diaspora is due to the high development costs because of their ‘all inclusive’ nature.

“As said before, our houses are new and we focus on the Diaspora demand. In terms of the pricing, in our case, we import about 90 percent of our construction materials and this has a bigger effect on the cost and at the same time, our products are demand driven.”

Stakeholders also complained about a number of bills or draft laws on property acquisition and ownership such as the condominium law-some of which have delayed to be signed, passed or published in the National Gazette which hampers the process of acquiring houses or land.

It was agreed that such bills are fast tracked to ease the process while all the necessary information on land and housing will be availed to Diaspora members through the DGD and several websites.

Rwandans in the Diaspora remain one of the leading sources of foreign exchange through remittances and director money transfers. They contributed about $150m in 2008.

Reported by the New Times

NAIROBI – Alpha Rwirangira made history yesterday when he was declared the winner of the third season of East Africa’s premier music competition, Tusker Project Fame in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

The highly-rated young artiste beat a field of 12 contestants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda to emerge from a grueling eight-week stint in the musical academy on top, instantly winning himself Rwf 35m and a one year recording contract with one of Africa’s most famous record labels, South Africa’s Gallo Records.

Gallo Records incidentally has done recording work for Alpha’s late idol, South Africa’s Lucky Dube.
Alpha becomes the first Rwandan and the first male contestant to win the competition since its inception in 2007.

On hearing the announcement, Alpha broke into song and dance as fellow contestants and the audience at the academy feted him with wild cheers and screams.

The budding artiste capped the night by inviting his father on stage to thank him with a hug for the role he has played in his life.

“I would like to say this in front of you and God. This man is the hero of my life. This is the angel that God gave me,” said an ecstatic Alpha.

He said this as he pointed at his humbled parent who was now besides him on stage.

Yesterday’s grand finale saw a fitting end to a two-month long battle of musical talent, personal grit, and human spirit which has seen 11 of his fellow contestants fall away from the tight competition, week after week.

Alpha brings home the enviable record of being the highest finishing Rwandan contestant in the maiden appearance of the country in the regional musical talent competition.

The young humble Rwandan who has consistently been a flag bearer for his country is certainly set to receive a mammoth welcome for his antics in Nairobi especially for the things he said about his country.

“I’ll be one of the people who will make my country develop by helping the people who can not help themselves.”

Rwanda’s newest music prodigy follows in footsteps of previous winners, Kenya’s Valerie Kimani in 2007 and Uganda’s Esther Nabaasa in 2008.

A welcome party is expected to be held at Petit Stade today in the afternoon.

Reported by The New Times:

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14046&article=21046

The fire that ravaged the Magasin El-Shadai started at around 7 pm shortly after the business owner Anita Mukayije had closed shops, according to eye witnesses.

Witnesses said that police initially failed to put off the fire but the situation was rescued by Electrogaz workers who disconnected electricity.

“Had Electrogaz arrived on time the fire would have gutted fewer goods. But when we called them it took them about an hour to get here and the fire had spread,” an eye witness said.

Police said they were still trying to identify the cause of the fire though initial indications pointed to an electric short circuit.

“Some one I even don’t know called me shortly after reaching home that my shop was burning. I left my shop when everything was fine but I was shocked to hear this news,” Mukayije said.

When this reporter reached at the scene on Tuesday morning, there was a heap of the destroyed goods in front of the burnt down shop.

Reported by The New Times

Residents continue to live in uncertainty as projections show that the downpour is yet to come. Authorities are planning to meet humanitarian agencies to come up with precautionary measures and a rescue plan for those affected so far.

“My house was destroyed by this rain that came with heavy wind, and now I have to live with my neighbour, unfortunately this house might also collapse any time when the rain strikes again,” said Rurangwa Kageruka one of the victims.

The district authorities say they are yet to come up with an emergency plan to rescue those who were left homeless by the weekend rains.

“We don’t have any means to help the affected to date, however, we are preparing a meeting with humanitarian agencies to see how these people can be helped in the shortest period possible,” said Pierre Twagirayezu, the district mayor.

As the district ponders on ways of how these people can be helped, heavy clouds continue to engulf Rubavu skies threatening again to wash away crops in Cyanzarwe sector as a result of soil erosion.

Rwanda Red Cross officials told The New Times that their offices are doing everything possible to avail tents and food staff to help those affected.

“We shall by the end of today give them food, soap, blankets and tents. We are waiting for the blankets to arrive from Kigali.We have even written to other organisations like the World Food Programme to intervene,” Jean Bosco Musana of Rwanda Red Cross said.

According to Musana, the worst is still to come, and there is a need to prepare in advance depending on terrain.

Reported by The New Times