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The move signals a potential shift in the country’s internet landscape, with Starlink promising high-speed, low-latency connectivity, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, provides internet through a network of low-earth orbit satellites, offering faster speeds compared to traditional fiber and mobile networks. The service is particularly beneficial for rural communities where infrastructure challenges have made reliable internet access difficult.

With Uganda’s growing digital economy, Starlink’s entry could enhance e-learning, e-commerce, telemedicine, and remote work, bridging the gap between urban and rural internet accessibility. The UCC requires all telecommunications providers to obtain a license before offering services in Uganda.

Starlink’s application will undergo technical and financial evaluations to ensure compliance with national regulations. If approved, the company will join other internet service providers in expanding Uganda’s digital connectivity.

While Starlink’s technology is promising, concerns remain about pricing, accessibility, and competition with existing providers. The service has been known to charge higher installation fees, which could limit adoption among lower-income users.

However, industry experts believe Starlink’s presence will increase competition, potentially driving down internet costs and improving service quality across Uganda. As Starlink awaits regulatory approval, Ugandans are eager to see how the service will transform internet access in the country.

If licensed, Starlink could play a key role in enhancing digital inclusion and supporting Uganda’s vision for a more connected future.

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, has officially applied for a license from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to begin operations in Uganda.

IGIHE

When I first arrived at Lenovo’s innovation centre in Beijing, I expected to see the usual: rows of laptops, desktop computers, maybe a few advanced servers. That’s the Lenovo most people know—a global leader in personal computing.

After all, this is a company that operates in over 180 countries and regions, has offices in 60 different locations, more than 30 manufacturing facilities, and brings in an annual turnover of 56.9 billion US dollars. It ranked 248th on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2024, and its name is often linked with reliable business laptops or gaming PCs.

Behind its familiar image, Lenovo is rapidly evolving into a global tech powerhouse.

But the Lenovo I encountered was far beyond what I imagined. It felt like stepping into the future. Behind the familiar brand is a powerhouse of innovation driven by over ten thousand engineers, scientists, and researchers. The company runs 18 global research and development bases and has recently established four new AI innovation centers. And what they’re building goes way beyond laptops.

One of the most surprising things I saw was Lenovo’s smart car project. This is not just a car—it’s a moving intelligent system. The vehicle is designed with smart, transparent windows that do more than just let you look outside.

As you drive past a building, you can tap on the window, and information about that building pops up instantly. Want a picture with it? The car lets you take one without ever stepping outside. It’s fully autonomous and equipped with AI services, a computing platform, display sensors, an entertainment system, intelligent solutions, and an advanced automotive operating system. It combines hardware and software in ways that make the entire experience smarter and more interactive.

Then there’s Lenovo’s Age Computing Empower smart branch platform, which is changing how banks and service branches operate. Traditional strategies can’t keep up with the current pace of technology. Lenovo’s solution integrates AI with cloud and edge computing to enable unified management.

Lenovo’s Age Computing Empower platform is transforming traditional bank branches into intelligent, AI-driven service hubs.

In places with multiple branches, the system can analyse video and image data in real time, producing insights for monitoring, marketing, analysis, and even customer care. It’s all handled by a single system that also tackles network latency and data security. It can run multiple AI models at once, including computer vision, natural language processing, and video rendering, all supported by multiple cameras.

Another innovation I saw was the Daystar Bot GS. Despite its name, it’s a six-legged robot. Unlike wheeled or four-legged robots, this one is built for tough terrain. Its design allows it to move smoothly and steadily in rough environments. It can carry up to 80 kilograms and operate at speeds of up to 1.6 meters per second, though 1 meter per second is ideal for stable performance.

It’s 102 by 72 by 60 centimetres in size and weighs 68.5 kilograms. It’s equipped with LIDAR sensors and PTZ payloads, and has an IP66 protection rating, meaning it can function in harsh conditions. The robot runs on a 1 kWh lithium-ion battery, charges fully in three hours, and reaches 70 percent in just 100 minutes with quick charging. It’s designed for industries that need smart, mobile data collection systems in challenging environments.

Lenovo is also pushing forward in computing infrastructure. Their ThinkSystem SR9250-V3, powered by 8th and 4th generation Intel Xeon processors, is designed for industries that demand high performance and advanced computing capabilities. It supports heavy digital workloads and represents Lenovo’s continued dominance in enterprise-level technology.

Then there’s the vision: 'Smarter AI for All.' Lenovo wants artificial intelligence to be accessible, fair, and useful to everyone. Whether in homes, businesses, or public institutions, the company is building systems that are inclusive and easy to use.

One example is their 3D display laptop that lets users control objects on the screen using just their fingertips. You can rotate, move, or examine objects from any angle, all with simple hand gestures. It’s more than interaction—it feels like you’re shaping the digital world with your hands.

Lenovo’s 3D laptop display lets users manipulate objects in real-time using only finger gestures.

They’ve also developed 3D and 5D laptops, high-performance gaming devices, and a unique dual-screen laptop that features both a standard display and a second screen where the keyboard usually sits. A physical keyboard can still be attached, offering flexibility for different users.

Lenovo’s high-performance gaming devices are built for speed, power, and immersive gameplay.

On top of that, Lenovo is working on automated kitchen systems, smart living rooms, and even AI-powered beds. These innovations are not science fiction—they’re real products designed to fit into modern homes and lifestyles.

Lenovo’s automated kitchen system blends robotics and AI to transform how meals are prepared.

What I saw at Lenovo’s innovation center changed my understanding of what this company truly is. It’s not just a laptop brand—it’s a technology giant that’s reshaping how we interact with the world. Lenovo is building a smarter, more connected future.

Inside Lenovo’s innovation center in Beijing, expectations of a traditional tech brand quickly fade.

In Lenovo’s smart bedroom, AI-powered beds adjust to your sleep patterns and comfort preferences, transforming rest into a personalized, tech-driven experience.

From 5D laptops to dual-screen models, Lenovo is experimenting with hybrid designs that adapt to users’ needs.

Built with an advanced OS and autonomous driving capabilities, the smart car integrates Lenovo’s full stack—from hardware to cloud.

‘Smarter AI for All’ is more than just a slogan—it’s Lenovo’s vision to democratize intelligent systems across industries.

With AI-enabled glass and transparent, touch-sensitive windows, the smart car seamlessly blends interaction with information.

The six-legged Daystar Bot GS navigates complex terrain while carrying up to 80 kg, making it ideal for industrial data collection.

Smart homes meet Lenovo’s AI innovation in this intelligent living room.

Lenovo’s smart car prototype redefines everything we know about in-vehicle technology.

Christian Mugisha

Accompanied by Senator Evode Uwizeyimana and MP Alice Muzana, Kazarwa praised the Rwandan community in Congo for their unity and commitment to upholding Rwandan cultural values.

During the discussions which focused on the diaspora’s role in advancing Rwanda’s progress, she highlighted how significant it is that Rwandans living abroad are playing an active part in national development.

'We thank you for remaining loyal to Rwanda, for defending and promoting it wherever you are. You are the Sixth Province of Rwanda, an extraordinary province, but one rooted in unity and development. Keep striving for excellence,' Kazarwa said.

Members of the community in Congo Brazzaville described the ways they are contributing to national development, including paying health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) for vulnerable citizens, participating in the BRD-led Cana Challenge initiative, and supporting school feeding programs like Dusangire Lunch.

During the meeting, attendees were also briefed on the functioning of the Rwandan Parliament, including its core responsibilities: lawmaking, government oversight, and citizen representation.

Senator Uwizeyimana and MP Muzana emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in governance and encouraged diaspora members to continue participating meaningfully in Rwanda’s development efforts.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Gertrude Kazarwa, has commended the continued contributions of Rwandans living abroad to the development of their country.

The Rwandan community expressed deep appreciation for the visit by their parliamentary representatives and showed a strong willingness to keep contributing to Rwanda’s reconstruction through economic, cultural, and intellectual means.

This meeting took place during the Speaker’s official visit to Brazzaville, where she was attending the 16th Conference of Speakers of Francophone Parliaments.

According to the National Bank of Rwanda, the diaspora’s financial contributions to the country continue to grow. In 2024, Rwandans abroad sent home $502 million, compared to $505 million in 2023. This upward trend has been consistent.

In 2020, $274 million was contributed by Rwandans abroad while in 2022$ 461 million was collected.

The meeting took place during the Speaker’s official visit to Brazzaville.

Senator Evode Uwizeyimana emphasized the importance of citizen involvement in governance.

MP Alice Muzana, Kazarwa praised the Rwandan community in Congo for their unity and commitment to upholding Rwandan cultural values.

IGIHE

Speaking on the implementation of the 2013 Peace and Security Cooperation Framework, at the UN Security Council, Kayinamura highlighted the FDLR’s destabilizing role and urged the international community to take decisive action to neutralize the group and address the root causes of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Kayinamura emphasized that the FDLR, despite over 20 UN Security Council resolutions condemning its activities since 2003, remains a significant security threat.

He accused the group of continuing to recruit, train, and commit atrocities, including sexual violence, ethnic cleansing, and mass killings.

'Now FDR has graduated to being integrated into FARDC [Congolese Army]before your own eyes. This is no longer a secret but a fact based on the reports of the secretary general presented in this council,' he noted, highlighting that the coalition undermines both regional stability and the peace and cooperation framework itself.

The Rwandan envoy was unequivocal in labeling the FDLR an 'existential threat' to Rwanda and the region. He criticized any efforts to entertain or legitimize the group, warning that such actions only exacerbate the conflict.

'Entertaining or legitimizing the FDLR, even tacitly, prolongs the conflict and destabilizes the region further,' Kayinamura declared, calling for the Security Council to enforce its resolutions without selectivity and hold accountable those who support or collaborate with the FDLR and its splinter groups.

He noted that the 2013 framework, designed to end the cycle of conflict in the DRC, has not achieved its goals due to persistent challenges such as ethnic discrimination, armed group proliferation, and impunity. The FDLR’s activities, he argued, are a primary driver of these issues, perpetuating violence and hindering peace efforts.

Proposing concrete steps, Kayinamura called for the disarmament and neutralization of the FDLR as a top priority. He urged the Security Council to ensure full enforcement of its resolutions and to condemn hate speech and ethnic incitement in the DRC, which he said fuels violence and division.

Additionally, he advocated for stronger support for African-led regional processes, such as those led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which he believes offer the best chance for lasting peace.

The envoy also criticized the DRC’s lack of ownership in addressing its internal challenges, accusing Kinshasa of externalizing blame and relying on militias like Wazalendo, which he said violate ceasefires without condemnation.

'Blame games have become their business,' Kayinamura remarked, emphasizing that the DRC must confront its internal contradictions to achieve sustainable peace.

Kayinamura’s address reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to the Peace and Cooperation Framework and its vision of transforming the Great Lakes region into a zone of peace and stability.

He called for genuine accountability, regional alignment, and bold political leadership from the DRC, the region, and the Security Council to eliminate the FDLR and the legacy of genocide once and for all.

'Rwanda looks forward to working with all partners to permanently get rid of armed groups,' he concluded, signaling Kigali’s readiness to collaborate on regional solutions.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, with Kigali repeatedly accusing Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR, a group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

FDLR is viewed as an existential threat to security and peace in the Great Lakes Region.

Rwanda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Robert Kayinamura, called for the disarmament and neutralization of the FDLR as a top priority

IGIHE

He had previously served as the commander of the 34th military region when M23 forces captured the city of Goma in North Kivu Province at the end of January 2025.

At that time, Nzambe, along with several other officers, withdrew from Goma and fled to the city of Bukavu in South Kivu Province, claiming they were 'regrouping' in order to mount a counteroffensive against M23.

Other military officers who faced similar charges of fleeing included Brig. Gen. Danny Tene Yangba, who was an advisor on security to the Governor of North Kivu, and Brig. Gen. Papy Lupembe, the commander of the 11th Brigade.

Senior police commissioners were also implicated, including Ekuka Lipopo Jean-Romuald, former Deputy Governor of North Kivu, and Mukuna Tumba Eddy Léonard. These officials were accused of fleeing to Bukavu using private boats.

Sources revealed that Nzambe died early in the morning of April 16. However, it is not yet confirmed whether he died inside the Ndolo military prison where he was being held, or in a hospital. The cause of death has also not been disclosed.

Details of the legal proceedings against the soldiers and police officers have remained scanty, especially since the Kinshasa Military High Court decided on March 20 to hold the trial behind closed doors, citing national security concerns.

Nzambe and his co-accused first appeared in court on March 13. Their lawyers requested provisional release, arguing that their detention was unlawful.

It is not yet confirmed whether Nzambe (R) died inside the Ndolo military prison where he was being held, or in a hospital.

IGIHE

Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, Director General in charge of Communication and Education at the City of Kigali, made the disclosure during an interview on the Ignite Show.

She explained that the relocation was prompted by warnings from Meteo Rwanda, which indicated that rainfall is likely to increase, posing further risk to lives and property.

Over the weekend, Kigali was hit by continuous rain for nearly two days, resulting in significant damage and the loss of two lives. This situation pushed city authorities to take urgent action to move residents away from dangerous areas.

'In Nyarugenge District, 385 people have been relocated, most of them from Kigali Sector, with a few others from Gitega, Nyamirambo, and Mageragere,' Ntirenganya said. 'In Gasabo District, we had the largest number to relocate — residents from 10 different sectors — totaling 505 households. So far, 312 people have already moved, and the relocation continues today. In Kicukiro, 35 people were supposed to be relocated.'

She added that the targeted residents include families living in severely risky conditions — such as homes already damaged by rain, houses located below water-absorbing slopes, people living near cracked buildings, and those whose compounds are structurally unsafe and could collapse with further rainfall.

According to the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), 191 people died due to disasters across the country in 2024.

The City of Kigali has begun relocating residents from high-risk zones

IGIHE

'Unlike in the past, the army is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,' Katz stated.”Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” said Defence Minister Israel Katz.

According to Euro News, this stance risks setting back ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza for the release of the remaining hostages.

Israel currently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip after resuming military operations last month. It also maintains forces in parts of southern Lebanon and a buffer zone in Syria.

Palestinians, Lebanon, and Syria consider Israel’s military presence an illegal occupation under international law.

Israel argues that holding these zones is essential to prevent future attacks like the one carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 abductions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas and return the remaining 59 hostages who are still in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Netanyahu also supports a plan, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, to resettle much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what he calls 'voluntary emigration.'

However, the proposal has been widely condemned by Palestinians, Arab nations, and human rights experts as a likely breach of international law.

Israel currently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip after resuming military operations last month.

IGIHE

This year’s event featured 108 senior military officers from 19 African nations, including one from Jordan, who showcased their unique traditions through cuisine, attire, music, and dance.

As he presided over the event on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, RDFCSC Commandant highlighted that culture celebrates unity in diversity.

“Each culture showcased not only the unique identities of our respective nations but also the shared values that bind us together as members of the armed forces and of the global village. In our line of duty, understanding and respecting cultural differences is paramount.

“It enhances our operational effectiveness and strengthens the bonds between us. Culture shapes our behaviours, informs our values, and fosters discipline within our ranks,” said the Commandant.

Lt Col Robert Oumo Odeke from Uganda, representing allied students emphasised that their gathering is a testament to richness of their different cultures.

“Here, we are not just students or officers; but also cultural ambassadors. We represent nations with distinct identities, yet we come together to share, to learn, and to celebrate.

“This diversity should not in any way be taken as a barrier, but rather as a bridge. It is through events like this that we strengthen our bonds and deepen our understanding of one another,' he noted.

The event provided a platform for students to exchange knowledge about their traditions, beliefs, values, and cultural diversity.

Participating countries this year included Rwanda, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Cultural Day remains a cornerstone of RDFCSC’s mission, showcasing the value of cultural understanding in tackling shared challenges and strengthening military cooperation across Africa.

The 12th annual Cultural Day took place on Friday at The Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama.

This year’s event featured 108 senior military officers from 19 African nations, including one from Jordan, who showcased their unique traditions through cuisine, attire, music, and dance.

Brig Gen Andrew Nyamvumba, RDFCSC Commandant highlighted that culture celebrates unity in diversity.

IGIHE

“President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy – driving up prices and threatening jobs,” Newsom said in a statement, adding that “We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let the chaos continue.”

“Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these destructive and chaotic tariffs. America stands to lose too much,” said the governor in a post on X platform.

“We’re taking him to court,” said the governor.

“California is the largest manufacturing state in our union, one of the largest trading partners around the globe. No state will be impacted more than the state of California as it relates to the unilateral authority that’s been asserted by the Trump administration to impose the largest tax increases in modern American history,” he noted.

Newsom pointed out that “In America, forty percent of goods movements in this country come through two ports of entry in California. About 50 percent of that from China itself.”

In the lawsuit, expected to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, California officials will argue that the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited to impose the tariffs, does not grant him the ability to unilaterally adopt those tariffs.

California, also the most populated U.S. state, is the first state in the nation to sue Trump administration on tariffs.

The Golden State is the largest importer among all U.S. states, with more than 675 billion U.S. dollars in two-way trade supporting millions of jobs throughout the state. Mexico, Canada and China are California’s top three export destinations, buying nearly 67 billion dollars in California exports, which was over one-third of the state’s 183 billion dollars in exported goods in 2024, according to the data released by the governor’s office.

California, also the most populated U.S. state, is the first state in the nation to sue Trump administration on tariffs.

Xinhua