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The teams comprise 63 young software engineers from diverse backgrounds who will be working in groups of two to four, with strong determination to leave their mark in the ever-evolving world of technology.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the hackathon at the Irembo Campus in Nyarutarama, Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the 48-hour competition aims to identify talent and create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in society.

'We want to increase the capability of having doers in the IT ecosystem—not only people who can come and talk about AI, but people who can build things that have a real impact in the community,' Djomga stated.

Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the 48-hour competition aims to identify talent and create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in society.

Djomga noted that the 20 teams participating in the contest were selected from a pool of more than 130 teams who expressed interest in the competition.

In under 48 hours, participants, hosted at two Irembo campuses, are expected to harness the power of artificial intelligence and build functional, AI-driven applications to create innovative solutions for public services, healthcare, education, customer service, agriculture, financial inclusion, and cybersecurity, among other fields.

In developing practical AI solutions, the participants will leverage large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies. Teams will also have the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, will provide access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI models for voice-enabled applications.

The teams comprise 63 young software engineers from diverse backgrounds who will be working in groups of two to four.

Coding for the project kicked off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and is expected to close at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday when the participants will submit their projects. Thereafter, presentations of the solutions to a panel of distinguished judges will commence and conclude by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the unveiling of the top innovators.

According to the organizers, the judging criteria for the AI Connect Hackathon will focus on four key areas:

First, impact —judges will assess the project’s long-term potential for growth and its ability to improve people’s lives. Second, creativity —the originality and innovation of the AI application will be evaluated. Third, technical implementation —the quality of the technology’s execution will be taken into account. Finally, presentation —the team’s final pitch will be judged on how compelling and clear it is.

The winning team will receive a cash prize of RWF 5 million and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025. Second- and third-place teams will receive RWF 2 million and RWF 1 million, respectively.

Besides the cash rewards, all participants will benefit from invaluable exposure, networking opportunities, and potential internships with event sponsors like the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).

Besides the cash rewards, all participants will benefit from invaluable exposure, networking opportunities,

Patrick Rusimbi, a fourth-year Information Technology (IT) student at Adventist University Central Africa, expressed his excitement, stating that the facilities and resources provided by partners, including Groq API, will help him bring his long-harboured idea to life and possibly secure funding and other assistance to scale it up to have a worldwide impact.

'I have had my idea for the last six months. I have been yearning for an opportunity to bring it into being. When I saw this hackathon, I saw an opportunity to build something that no one has seen before,' Rusimbi told IGIHE.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The report suggested that the majority of the 82.2 million people live in the IGAD region, with 54.7 million in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia.

“Conflict remains the dominant driver of East Africa’s food crisis, with about 39 million people across the IGAD region facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Conflict has resulted in critical destruction of infrastructure and main sources of food and income, aggravating the already dire food security conditions,” the agencies said.

Food insecurity in the area is also worsened by climate shocks and hazards.

The institutions found that extreme weather and climate change like floods and droughts, which are now more severe and frequent, have become major drivers of food insecurity.

The IGAD member states, namely Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, are home to over 29 million displaced individuals, mostly in Sudan, as a result of both conflict and climate-related risks, the report noted.

The food security situation may deteriorate as the region is expected to experience below-average rainfall during the October-December season.

According to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center, La Nina, associated with drought conditions in the eastern Horn of Africa, will likely emerge in late 2024 and persist through early 2025.

Xinhua

According to Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) statement, Admiral Mangrasse commended the progress made over the past years since Rwanda Security Forces deployed to fight terrorists.

He appreciated the strong partnership between Rwandan Security Forces and Mozambican Forces which brought peace and stability and enabled thousands of displaced persons to return to their homes in Cabo Delgado Province.

Both sides discussed the progress registered so far in the joint effort to uproot terrorists from their strongholds and hideouts in the last three years since the first deployment of Rwanda Security Forces in Cabo Delgado Province in July 2021.

Before the intervention of Rwandan troops , terrorists had claimed the lives of 3,000 civilians, and more than 800,000 people had been displaced. The insecurity had also brought all development projects in the insurgent-controlled areas to a standstill.

Over the past three years, the Rwandan security forces, in collaboration with Mozambique’s armed forces, have made significant strides in dismantling the Al Sunna Wa Jama (ASWJ) terrorist group from their strongholds in Mocimboa da Praia and Palma. This has allowed a substantial number of internally displaced people to safely return to their villages.

Rwanda and Mozambique have enjoyed vibrant relations for many years, with cooperation agreements spanning various sectors, including security, trade, and investment.

Military leaders from both countries have reviewed gains in anti-terror operations.

Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) Joint Task Force Commander, Maj Gen Emmy K Ruvusha received Mozambique Armed Forces Chief of General Staff (CGS) Admiral Joaquim Mangrasse, on September 27, 2024 met in Pemba, Cabo Delgado province.

A group photo was taken following the visit.

IGIHE

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting Rwanda via his X account, stating, “Rwanda’s Ministry of Health has reported cases of Marburg. WHO is scaling up its support and will work with the government of Rwanda to stop the spread of the virus and protect people at risk.”

On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Ministry of Health confirmed cases of MVD and announced heightened measures to prevent further transmission of the virus.

In a statement, the ministry reported that the disease, which causes severe haemorrhagic fever, has been confirmed in “a few patients in health facilities across the country,” and that investigations are underway to identify the source of the infection.

The ministry has urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, vomiting, muscle pain, and stomach aches to contact the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) via its toll-free number 114 or visit the nearest health facility.

Marburg virus disease, part of the same viral family as Ebola, causes severe haemorrhagic fever, leading to multiple organ failure and, in many cases, excessive bleeding. The virus can affect both humans and nonhuman primates and is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans.

According to WHO, initial human infection with the Marburg virus typically occurs after prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by colonies of Rousettus bats, which are natural carriers of the virus.

Once a person is infected, the virus can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids from an infected person, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials, such as bedding and clothing.

The virus was first identified in 1967 in the German city of Marburg, during an outbreak linked to laboratory work involving African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.

Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.

WHO has pledged support for Rwanda’s efforts to control Marburg virus disease.

IGIHE

Launched on September 27, 2024 by GAIN Rwanda in collaboration with National Child Development Agency (NCDA), academic institutions like the University of Rwanda, the University of Global Health Equity and others, the Network will provide research-based evidence to advocate for policy and legislative reforms, as well as to promote collaborative efforts to address malnutrition in line with Rwanda’s NST2.

The University of Rwanda will take the lead in this initiative, working alongside researchers from various higher learning institutions with the support of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) and partners like UNICEF and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Rwanda.

The SUN Academia platform was launched on September 27, 2024

Silver Karumba, GAIN Rwanda Country Representative, stated that the Network’s core mandate is to generate, share, and apply evidence-based knowledge while building capacity both horizontally and vertically. This effort aims to inform effective nutrition actions, policies, and programs, ultimately improving the health and nutrition of Rwandans.

'The Network will foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and nutrition practitioners, bridging the gap between theory and practice to enhance nutrition interventions,' he said.

Karumba further explained that by involving academic institutions, the Network will build the capacity of local professionals and students in nutrition, ensuring a pipeline of skilled personnel to advance Rwanda’s nutrition agenda.

Rwanda joined the SUN (Scale Up Nutrition) movement in 2011, focusing on the critical first 1,000 days of life to eliminate stunting. Launched in 2010 due to a growing global recognition of malnutrition as a fundamental development challenge, the SUN Movement has since gained traction, with many countries committing to reducing malnutrition by aligning national nutrition priorities and scaling up nutrition initiatives equitably and sustainably.

Silver Karumba, GAIN Rwanda Country Representative speaking at the launch. H said that the Network’s core mandate is to generate, share, and apply evidence-based knowledge.

By joining SUN, Rwanda aims to leverage global resources, technical expertise, and partnerships to enhance nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific initiatives.

Existing SUN platforms, such as the SUN Government platform (coordinating multi-sectoral efforts across ministries), the SUN Civil Society Network (focused on advocacy and community-level implementation), and the SUN Business Network (engaging the private sector in nutrition), the SUN Development Partners Platform, and the SUN UN platform will complement the newly established SUN Academia Network, which has been the missing piece for the country to fully comply with all functional SUN platforms

Gilbert Mutuyimana, Deputy Director General at NCDA, noted that this launch is a significant milestone in supporting the country’s commitment to achieving national nutrition targets and international frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He expressed optimism that academic institutions can contribute to developing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of nutrition programs, thereby improving accountability and facilitating continuous learning and program refinement.

'Academia will play a vital role in these commitments by providing research-driven insights and monitoring the progress of nutrition interventions,' he observed.

Gilbert Mutuyimana (C), Deputy Director General at NCDA noted that this launch is a significant milestone in supporting the country’s commitment to achieving national nutrition targets.

Sam K Nkurunziza

Reliable sources have confirmed to IGIHE that Kayumba traveled to Kinshasa this September and met with leaders of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

This follows Tshisekedi’s earlier public statement that he was willing to collaborate with anyone committed to overthrowing Rwanda’s government.

Kayumba Nyamwasa, founder of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), played a major role in creating the P5 coalition, a group of terrorist organizations with the shared goal of threatening Rwanda’s security.

This coalition initially included groups such as Amahoro PC, Kayumba’s RNC, Victoire Ingabire’s FDU-Inkingi, a faction of PS-Imberakuri led by Bernard Ntaganda, and PDP-Imanzi. However, internal divisions soon surfaced, weakening the coalition’s impact.

The RUD-Urunana terrorist group, responsible for a deadly attack in Musanze in 2019 that claimed 14 civilian lives, was also part of this coalition.

Kayumba’s long-standing connections with Theoneste Misago, an FDLR operative in Southern Africa, and Alphonse Munyarugendo, based in Mozambique, remain strong. These ties have been further bolstered by support from Etienne Mutabazi, a former spokesperson for the RNC who served in Habyarimana’s army.

Mutabazi, who held a key role in the RNC’s Legal and Ethical Conduct Commission, publicly stated in 2022 that the FDLR poses no threat to Rwanda.

Despite this claim, sources reveal that Kayumba continues to maintain contact with Maj. Gaston Iyamuremye, alias Victor Byiringiro, the current leader of the FDLR.

Under Kayumba’s latest plan, Misago coordinates FDLR activities, recruits new members for the terrorist group, and raises funds for their operations.

Alphonse Munyarugendo, known as “Monaco Dollar,” plays a crucial role in this plot. A former member of Habyarimana’s army who joined in 1989, Munyarugendo runs businesses in Mozambique and remains deeply involved with the FDLR.

His brother, Col Anatole Nsengiyumva, was convicted for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Munyarugendo himself was responsible for heavy artillery at Kanombe military barracks in 1994 and later served in the DRC’s army, FARDC, overseeing operations in Pweto.

Tshisekedi’s broader plot against Rwanda

Kayumba Nyamwasa’s trip to Kinshasa is part of a broader plan by President Tshisekedi to destabilize Rwanda, a goal he has publicly stated multiple times.

In December 2022, Tshisekedi met with Congolese youth and expressed his desire to support efforts to overthrow the Rwandan government.

'Rwandans are our brothers and sisters. They need our help to liberate them… from leaders holding them back,' he said.

Since then, Tshisekedi has ramped up his support for Rwandan subversive groups, including providing platforms for the FDLR and lending support to exiled figures like Eugène Richard Gasana.

Gasana, who has assumed a coordinating role among these groups, is reportedly working closely with Tshisekedi in this destabilization campaign.

Additionally, a confidential document dated July 26, 2024, and signed by Tshisekedi’s Director of Cabinet, Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, reveals that the DRC government has been in talks with Niger to transfer six Rwandan nationals to Kinshasa.

These individuals were prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for their involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, some having been acquitted or released after serving their sentences.

Among these individuals are high-profile figures such as Sagahutu Innocent, Nzuwonemeye François Xavier, Mugiraneza Prosper, Nteziryayo Alphonse, Ntagerura André, and Protais Zigiranyirazo—key actors in Habyarimana’s regime.

Notably, two of them were senior military officers: Major Nzuwonemeye, head of military intelligence, and Captain Sagahutu, his deputy. Protais Zigiranyirazo, President Habyarimana’s brother-in-law, also held significant power within the regime.

Tshisekedi’s moves to gather and collaborate with these individuals, as well as his ties to various subversive Rwandan factions, highlight his continued efforts to destabilize Rwanda.

Kayumba Nyamwasa, founder of the Rwanda National Congress (RNC), played a major role in creating the P5 coalition, a group of terrorist organizations with the shared goal of threatening Rwanda’s security.

FDLR has been receiving support from DRC to threaten Rwanda’s security.

Kayumba Nyamwasa recently visited Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi’s broader plan to destabilize Rwanda’s security.

IGIHE

In a statement, the ministry said the virulent disease, which causes haemorrhagic fever, has been confirmed among a “few patients in health facilities across the country,” and investigations are underway to determine the origin of the infection.

“Enhanced preventive measures are being implemented in all health facilities. Contact tracing is underway, and cases have been isolated for treatment,” the ministry stated.

The ministry urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, vomiting, muscle aches, and stomach pain to call the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) on toll free number 114 or visit the nearest health facility.

“The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates regularly. The public should continue with their usual activities while maintaining a high level of vigilance and hygiene,” the ministry cautioned.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Marburg virus belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola.

Like Ebola, Marburg causes severe haemorrhagic fever, affecting multiple organ systems and often leading to profuse bleeding. It affects both humans and nonhuman primates.

The viral infection is zoonotic, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans.

“Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies,” a statement on the WHO website reads.

Once infected, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials such as beddings and clothing.

The Marburg virus is named after the German city of Marburg, where it was first identified in 1967.

The initial outbreak was associated with laboratory work involving African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda.

Since then, outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

This modern technological revolution is making significant inroads both in developed economies and emerging markets, addressing unique challenges and unlocking new opportunities.

This article highlights common myths and insights about AI to help you understand its limitations and capabilities.

As AI continues to evolve and integrate into various aspects of business, it’s important to distinguish fact from fiction. Many misconceptions about AI persist, potentially hindering its effective adoption and implementation.

By examining these myths and clarifying the realities, we can approach AI implementation with more realistic expectations and a clear understanding of the technology.

Here are some of the common myths about AI and the realities;

AI is approaching human intelligence

Although it is thought that AI is slowly approaching human intelligence, in reality based on current progress, AI systems operate within narrow domains and heavily rely on the data they are trained with, which limits their ability to exhibit human creativity or fully understand context.

AI excels in tasks involving pattern recognition and data processing, such as image recognition or natural language processing but it struggles with tasks requiring deep understanding and detailed decision-making.

Human intelligence encompasses a wide range of cognitive abilities, including self-awareness and unique experiences, which AI does not possess.

AI is unbiased

AI systems are widely perceived as unbiased but on the centrally, they can actually exhibit biases, often due to the data they are trained on. If the training data contains biases, the AI can inadvertently learn and perpetuate those biases.

This can manifest in various ways, such as providing biased hiring algorithms, facial recognition systems with uneven performance across demographics and search engine results that reflect societal prejudices.

Therefore, developers and users of AI systems must be aware of potential biases and work actively to mitigate them.

AI will take over people’s jobs

The reality is that while AI does automate certain tasks, it also creates new roles and opportunities such new roles that are emerging to jobs are emerging to develop, manage, and monitor AI systems.

Also, AI automates repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up human workers for more creative and strategic work.

A recent study found that while some routine jobs may be replaced, the overall effect of AI on employment has been positive, with new and more complex tasks arising as companies adopt advanced technologies.

The most effective implementations of AI complement human intelligence rather than replace it entirely.

Only tech giants can use AI for operations

Big tech companies often lead in AI development and its applications are increasingly accessible to businesses of all sizes because quick solutions are now available as cloud services, making them accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

User-friendly AI tools are being developed for various business functions, from customer service to data analysis and the democratisation of AI is gradually allowing businesses across sectors to leverage its benefits without needing extensive in-house technical expertise.

Only tech experts can use AI effectively

Unlike what most people think, numerous user-friendly AI solutions are now available for non-tech experts and many tools feature intuitive interfaces designed for users without technical backgrounds.

Similarly, AI is being integrated into familiar software and platforms, making its use seamless for many professionals. However, while deep technical knowledge is necessary for developing AI systems, using AI-powered tools often requires minimal technical expertise.

AI can think and act like a human

Let no one lie to you that AI can think and act like a human. While AI processes data much faster than humans and excel at pattern recognition, it lacks human-like consciousness.
It’s true that AI can mimic certain aspects of human thinking, such as learning from data and making decisions based on patterns but it lacks the full range of human cognitive abilities, including emotions, creativity, and subjective experiences.

It should be understood that the strength of AI only lies in complementing human intelligence, not replicating it completely.

AI won’t affect my business

Although AI is increasingly becoming essential across businesses, you shouldn’t actually ignore its potential of ripping your business apart.

Many business leaders believe their operations are too specialized or traditional to be impacted by AI technologies, but this is no longer the case.

Companies that adopt AI can improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and gain insights previously unattainable, allowing them to adapt quickly to market changes.

Understanding these realities about AI is important for businesses looking to leverage their potential effectively. By dispelling these myths, we can approach AI implementation with realistic expectations.

Curious about how AI can enhance your productivity and efficiency? We’ve got you covered! CcHUB is thrilled to introduce a 12-module AI for Business Masterclass, launching on 28th September 2024 with a 1-hour session (the first in a series of 12 sessions).

Join this invaluable learning opportunity, where industry experts will share their insights and guide you through practical AI applications for success. Register now on: https://lu.ma/fuzn7chs

The author is the Communications Account Manager at CcHUB.

Kessy Mugabo Kayiganwa

In a statement, the police said the suspect, who was on the list of major drug trafficking suspects, was intercepted at the Grand Barriere border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while crossing into Rwanda on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

At the time of the arrest by officers from the Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) and Border Security Unit, the suspect was found in possession of 40 large bundles of cannabis.

The suspect is said to have created a secret compartment in his car to conceal the narcotics in an attempt to evade security checks.

“On Wednesday, September 25, at around 3:30 p.m., police officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a Congolese-registered vehicle at the Grand Barriere in Kivu village, Nengo cell, Gisenyi sector. The vehicle was transporting 40 large bundles of cannabis, and the driver, who is the suspected rightful owner of the narcotics, was arrested,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the police spokesperson for the Western Region, said.

The suspect was handed over to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau at Gisenyi station.

Investigations indicate that the suspect was on his way to Kigali when he was cornered by the police.

“We believe he was headed to Kigali to supply one of his clients. Operations are still underway to bring all members of this drug trafficking ring to justice,” SP Karekezi said.

SP Karekezi praised the impact of community policing in identifying and arresting drug dealers, as well as dismantling trafficking networks and local retailers.

Cannabis is classified as a severe narcotic in Rwanda, with penalties ranging from 20 years to life in prison.

Investigations indicate that the suspect was on his way to Kigali when he was cornered by the police.

Wycliffe Nyamasege