2009 October

Archive for October, 2009

Doing business in Rwanda

October 5th, 2009 | Author: Myrwa

The World Bank’s Doing Business Report declared Rwanda a top business rformer this year. Rwanda has jumped 72 places to become the 67th (last year it was 139th) out of 183 countries in the World Bank Doing Business report 2010. It was also named the best reformed country (183 Countries).

Since 2004, Doing Business has been tracking regulatory reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business. Despite the challenges presented by the financial crisis, the number of reforms hit a record level this year. Between June 2008 and May 2009, 287 reforms were recorded in 131 economies, 20% more than the year before. Reformers focused on making it easier to start and operate a business, strengthening property rights and improving the efficiency of commercial dispute resolution and bankruptcy procedures.

Please log onto http://www.doingbusiness.org/ to get the full report and also measure us against all other countries. Your comments are welcome.

Posted in Business | No Comments »

Reforming Rwandan business Laws

October 4th, 2009 | Author: Myrwa

Reforming Rwandan business laws (rescheduled event)

Series: The Common Law Community in the 21st Century lecture series

Event Type:

Lectures
Speaker(s):: Justice Sam Rugege, Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of Rwanda
Date:: Thursday October 8 2009
Time:: 6:00 PM
Location:: Room A130, College building, City University London, 280 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PB
Map
Note:: Registration 18:30, Lecture 19:00, Refreshments 20:00
Contact:: Places must be reserved in advance. To reserve your place please click the link above.

Registration 18:30, Lecture 19:00, Refreshments 20:00 Rwanda is a small country that has had a disproportionate measure of troubles including genocide. However, in the last few years it has emerged as one of the most stable and promising African countries, both in terms of economic growth and good governance.

eventsrsvp@city.ac.uk

http://www.city.ac.uk/events/2009/10_oct/081009_Rugege.html

Event created: Monday, August, 10, 2009

We are now delighted to be able to run this previously cancelled event.

Reforming Rwandan business laws

Rwanda is a small country that has had a disproportionate measure of troubles including genocide. However, in the last few years it has emerged as one of the most stable and promising African countries, both in terms of economic growth and good governance. It now has a modern constitution that entrenches democracy and the rule of law. This lecture will address the ongoing reforms of business laws, such as the amendment of the Civil Procedure Code introducing faster procedures in commercial matters, the Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation laws and the Companies Act. Rwanda is looking more and more to the common law and Judge Rugege will detail the emergence of Rwanda’s effectively bijural system.

He will also address the reforms in the business environment, including arrangements for dispute resolution, both through the commercial courts and through ADR, as well as the institutional framework for private investment and the ease of doing business in Rwanda.

Justice Sam Rugege is Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of Rwanda.
He was educated at Makerere University in Uganda, Yale Law School in the United States of America and Oxford University in England where he obtained the LLB, LLM and D.Phil. degrees respectively.

After starting his law career as a lecturer at Makerere University, he then taught at the National University of Lesotho and University of Swaziland, rising to the position of Associate Professor. During 1995, as Visiting Scholar at Cornell Law School, he taught African Law.

His last teaching post before being elevated to the bench was in Cape Town, South Africa, as Professor of Law at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

Justice Rugege was appointed to the Supreme Court of Rwanda in 2004. Since 2005, he is also the Principal Judge of the First Instance Division of the Court of Justice of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The Common Law Community in the 21st Century lecture series examines the continuing international importance of common law in the 21st Century.

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Diaspora girl shares her experience of Ingando

October 3rd, 2009 | Author: Myrwa

My name is Diana Mbabazi Sentenga. I wanted to share my experience of two weeks in Ingando with other young people in UK. We were 6 of us who attended plus one who attended last year.

So what did I learn from the two weeks spent in the Ingando?

Apart from the drills and exercises which were good for our health I can proudly say that the two weeks made a lasting impact on me.

My perspective of Rwanda changed-The lectures (despite my poor performance due to language constraint) brought in me a certain surge of patriotism. I now look at myself as a Munyarwanda girl-not as a country of my parents.
The lectures inspired in us the necessity to not only to be proud of our motherland but also be part of its development- in terms of skills, investments and publicity wherever we are.
I now feel rightly as an Ambassador of Rwanda- who has to defend and promote the values of Rwanda wherever I am.
There is a need in me and those of us growing up in the Diaspora to learn not ONLY the language but culture of our roots. (May I point out to those like me growing up in the western world to take seriously our parents when they want us to learn and speak KINYARWANDA- wait and see when you go to Ingando!!!-). I can’t emphasize enough the issue and importance of the language. Its also important to learn the National Anthem (you can find the words and the tune on YouTube.
Ingando can be a forum to meet other young people studying and growing up across the globe, apart from 6 of us coming from the U.K, we had people studying all over – some from China, USA, Canada, Europe and a sizable number from the rest of Africa.
I will tell you something else we met the President- His Excellency Paul Kagame- he was kind to us and decided to speak to us in English- so no one would be left out!!! You now understand why I’m proud of him.
At the end of the course you get a Certificate of Participation.
I’m setting up a website to promote Ingando-targeting especially Rwandan young people growing up in the Diaspora.
Who qualifies to come to the Ingando? If your parents or even one of your parents has the Rwandan origin then you qualify to attend- that’s how I understood it. You must also have completed high school or studying in a University outside Rwanda, between the ages of 15-25.
You also given guided tour of key sites in Rwanda (although this time round we did not get to see many-hopefully it will be incorporated in future).

There is a lot I can proudly say about the civic education – Ingando -what I strongly feel is that we as a Rwandan community in UK and elsewhere need to put our young people together, we need to know each other, plan events and collectively network with each other, support each other and be identified and proud of our motherland- Rwanda.

It’s my hope that one day through our embassy in London or Rwandan Community UK we shall as young people get to meet the President- he is such a serious person interested in the young people growing in Diaspora and how we can be integrated in Rwanda development.

I have developed a simple website -(still developing it)- http://www.rwandandiasporayouth.org/

Posted in Diaspora News | 5 Comments »

Miss Rwanda Beauty Contest

October 2nd, 2009 | Author: Myrwa

Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) has announced the revival of Miss Rwanda beauty contest, 17 years after it was last held.This was confirmed yesterday, at a press conference held by Rwandatel, the main sponsor of the 2009 contest.It was revealed that the telecommunication company will organise, coordinate and co-sponsor the beauty contest.

The search for Miss Rwanda started yesterday and registration will end on October 15.The search will cover the entire country, with registration points being set up in all the five provinces; Rwamagana, Musanze, Huye, Karongi, and Kigali City.

Contestants from each region will be brought to Kigali to compete in the finals.Criteria for the contestants have been set in accordance with Miss World standards, according to the organizers.These include being a Rwandan citizen of 18-25 years of age, at least 1.7 metres tall, morally upright, and with good public speaking skills. The contestants will also be judged based on the aspects to do with catwalk, confidence, eloquence and intelligence.

The 20 finalists will undergo a month-long training and the final competition will be held in Kigali, on December 19. Prizes include, a car and a trip to the Miss World pageant for the winner, cash prizes for the first and second runner-up and a host of other prizes.

In his remarks, the Minister of Culture and Sports Joseph Habineza said he was “happy to be associated with this new initiative to organise the Miss Rwanda beauty contest.” Flanked by the former CEO of Rwandatel Patrick Kariningufu, Habineza said that the pageant is a celebration of Rwanda’s beauty as well as cultural pride. “Rwandatel is honoured by the confidence the Ministry has placed in us to host an event of this magnitude, for the first time in over 17 years,” Kariningufu said.

Meanwhile, a committee to manage Miss Rwanda will be put in place to ensure that the winner of this contest adheres with the set rules, behaves in a manner expected of beauty queens and to ensure that the institution of Miss Rwanda is respected.Rwandans in the Diaspora will also be allowed to participate in the contest, but they will have to register from within Rwanda.ys among others.