The affected section of Nyungwe National Park is located in Muganza Sector, Nyaruguru District.
The findings were announced by Nyaruguru District Mayor Dr. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka on the evening of September 4, 2026, following a fire that had burned in the park for more than a week.
The fire was eventually extinguished through joint efforts involving local residents and security organs, including the Rwanda National Police and Rwanda Defence Force, as well as staff from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Speaking to IGIHE, Mayor Murwanashyaka said preliminary investigations had established that the fire was started by a resident who had entered the park illegally to harvest honey.
The suspect is currently being investigated, although the mayor declined to disclose his identity, saying the case was still under investigation.
'It is still under investigation,' Mayor Murwanashyaka said.
The mayor urged residents to comply with the law and avoid activities that could put protected areas at risk.
He also called on the public to take precautions against fires in general, warning that wildfires can cause significant damage to the environment and other resources.
A beekeeper illegally harvesting honey has been blamed for a fire that destroyed 29 hectares of Nyungwe National Park in Nyaruguru District.
The deal highlights Nvidia's growing interest in open source artificial intelligence, as the chipmaker looks beyond its powerful processors and expands its role in the software and platforms that support AI development.
Hugging Face has become an important platform for AI developers, researchers and companies by providing a place where users can share and access AI models, datasets and applications.
The platform has more than 18 million developers and 200,000 companies, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
It hosts millions of AI models and datasets and has become one of the most widely used resources for developers working with artificial intelligence.
Despite the acquisition, Nvidia said Hugging Face will remain an open platform.
It will continue supporting different cloud computing providers and various types of AI accelerators rather than being limited exclusively to Nvidia technology.
This approach is significant because many AI developers and businesses increasingly rely on open source models that they can modify and adapt for their own needs.
It also offers an alternative to depending entirely on proprietary AI systems operated by companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Nvidia has also committed $1 billion to retaining Hugging Face employees as part of the transaction, according to the AP report.
The acquisition comes as Nvidia continues to benefit from the global AI boom. Its graphics processing units, or GPUs, have become essential infrastructure for training and running advanced AI models.
The company has increasingly expanded beyond selling chips, investing in software, cloud computing and other technologies designed to support the development of AI systems.
The Hugging Face deal also comes at a time when the AI industry is facing growing questions about the cost of developing increasingly powerful models, their environmental impact and the potential effect of automation on jobs.
Hugging Face itself has recently faced security concerns after AI-related systems were hacked, highlighting the growing cybersecurity challenges facing companies operating in the AI ecosystem.
The acquisition would give Nvidia a stronger position in the software side of artificial intelligence while giving Hugging Face access to Nvidia's enormous resources and technological ecosystem.
Nvidia's shares rose nearly 2% following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism about the potential of the deal.
Nvidia plans to acquire AI platform Hugging Face for $13 billion as it expands its presence in open-source artificial intelligence.
Bonnethead sharks, scientifically known as Sphyrna tiburo, are small relatives of hammerhead sharks and are recognized by their distinctive shovel-shaped heads.
They are the only shark species currently known to show clear differences in head shape between males and females.
Adult male bonnethead sharks typically have a more pointed head, while females tend to have a smoother and rounder shape.
Scientists had previously suggested that the pointed shape in males developed when they reached sexual maturity.
However, a new study has found that the process is more complicated.
Researchers discovered that young bonnethead sharks of both sexes initially have relatively pointed heads.
As the sharks grow older, their heads gradually become rounder, with the change being much more pronounced in females.
The finding challenges the idea that males develop their pointed heads as a result of reaching sexual maturity.
The researchers also investigated whether differences in diet could explain the different head shapes.
They studied bonnethead sharks from Biscayne Bay and Tampa Bay in Florida and found that the two populations fed within different food webs.
However, males and females living in the same area generally relied on similar food sources.
This suggested that differences in diet or feeding behaviour were unlikely to be responsible for the differences in head shape.
Between May 2022 and May 2023, researchers sampled 105 bonnethead sharks in Biscayne Bay and another 39 in the Tampa Bay region.
They measured the sharks and photographed their heads before releasing them. The researchers later analyzed the photographs to measure the curvature and shape of the sharks' heads.
They also examined muscle samples from 137 sharks for carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures.
These chemical markers helped researchers understand the sharks' positions within local food webs and identify differences between populations.
Although the study ruled out diet as the main explanation, scientists still do not know exactly why the sharks' head shapes change differently between males and females.
Researchers believe swimming performance or changes linked to reproduction could provide possible explanations.
Future studies may examine how head shape develops during embryonic growth and whether different head shapes provide swimming advantages at different stages of life.
The researchers also plan to study bonnethead sharks from other areas to determine whether similar patterns occur across different populations.
A bonnethead shark, a small relative of hammerhead sharks, known for its distinctive shovel-shaped head.
Stella made the appeal in a social media post, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support shown to her family while also criticizing what she described as insensitive comments and misinformation circulating online following Dolly's death.
Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer.
Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, musicians and public figures around the world.
Stella said the family has been deeply touched by the genuine love and respect shown to Dolly, but acknowledged that dealing with grief while facing public attention has also been difficult.
She particularly raised concerns about the spread of artificial intelligence generated content and other misleading material online, saying such content has added to the pressure faced by the family during their period of mourning.
According to Stella, Dolly had always chosen to focus on positivity rather than becoming involved in divisive political discussions.
She said her sister deliberately avoided political commentary because she did not want to contribute to negativity.
Stella described Dolly as a compassionate and kind person whose approach to life was reflected in both her music and the way she treated others.
She urged people who admired Dolly to honor her memory by embracing the values she represented, including kindness, tolerance, respect and empathy.
Stella also encouraged people to spend less time seeking validation online and instead focus on meaningful interactions and supporting those around them.
The message comes days after Stella had shared another emotional tribute to her sister, recalling their close relationship and the private moments they shared away from Dolly's global fame.
She previously described Dolly as one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people she had ever known. Stella also revealed that Dolly remained concerned about helping others even during her illness.
Dolly Parton, whose career spanned decades, became one of the most influential figures in country music through songs including Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You.
Beyond music, she was widely recognized for her philanthropy, particularly through the Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library.
Her family has continued to encourage people wishing to honor her memory to support causes connected to her legacy.
For Stella, however, honoring Dolly goes beyond remembering her achievements. She wants people to reflect the kindness, compassion and generosity that she believes defined her sister's life.
Stella Parton asks the public to show compassion as her family mourns Dolly Parton
The report shows that divorce-related cases remained the most common category of civil cases, rising from 2,674 cases in 2024/25 to 6,799 in 2025/26.
Of the cases recorded in 2025/26, 5,980 were filed at first-instance courts, a figure the Judiciary says corresponds to the number of families that sought divorce at that level. During the first six months of 2026 alone, courts received 3,620 divorce-related cases.
Other major civil cases included disputes over immovable property, with 1,866 cases; breach of contracts and obligations, 1,081; civil registration matters, 815; and disputes involving movable property, 244.
Meanwhile, data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show that 4,479 divorces were registered in civil records in 2025. Of these, 2,629 involved couples who had obtained divorce through the courts and subsequently registered it.
Kigali recorded the highest number of registered divorces at 1,820, followed by the Southern Province with 920, Eastern Province with 820, Northern Province with 520 and Western Province with 339.
NISR said couples who had been married for five to 14 years accounted for the largest share of divorces recorded in 2025.
Lawyer Marie Louise Mukashema recently told IGIHE that common factors behind rising divorce cases include disagreements between spouses, property-related conflicts and lack of honesty. She said families should play a greater role in resolving marital disputes before couples turn to courts.
'Traditionally, when people got married, it was considered a union between two families. When problems arose, instead of taking them to social media or making them public, they were resolved within the family.
'I think the problem today lies within the family, and parents and children have a major role to play in understanding the value of family as children grow up. That is where the solution lies, because people seeking divorce no longer take such matters to their families as they used to in the past,' she said.
Lawyer Maurice Munyentwari said mutually agreed divorces have also increased, with couples often choosing to separate without disclosing the reasons for their decision. In contested cases, he said, common complaints include domestic conflict, harassment, violence and exclusion from family property.
Rwanda's 2024 law governing persons and family provides for a Family Council to oversee family welfare, protect members' interests and help resolve family disputes. However, the ministerial order required to establish its composition, responsibilities and operations has not yet been issued.
Rwanda's courts received 6,799 divorce cases during the 2025/26 judicial year,
Mukantaganzwa said the decline was partly attributed to the use of restorative justice, which focuses on resolving disputes through mutual agreement between the parties.
She made the remarks on September 4, 2026, during the official closing of the 2025/26 judicial year in Kigali, where the 2026/27 judicial year was also officially launched.
The ceremony was attended by judges and other officials from the justice sector, including representatives from the Ministry of Justice. The previous judicial year ended on June 30, 2026.
Mukantaganzwa said courts across Rwanda began the 2025/26 judicial year with a backlog of 54,278 cases that had been carried over from the previous year.
During the year, the courts received 109,417 new cases, bringing the total number of cases that needed to be handled to 163,695.
Of these, 123,027 cases were concluded, leaving 40,668 cases pending as the new judicial year began.
This means that the backlog from the 2024/25 judicial year, which stood at 54,278 cases, declined to 40,668 cases, representing a reduction of 25.1%.
Among the cases concluded during the year, 109,555, representing 89%, were heard on their merits, while 13,472, equivalent to 11%, involved hearings on provisional detention and release.
The 13,472 cases involving provisional detention and release concerned 17,086 individuals. Of these, 9,093, representing 58%, were ordered to remain in provisional detention.
Another 4,294 people, equivalent to 25%, were granted provisional release, while 2,889, representing 17%, were released subject to conditions they were required to comply with.
The judicial year ended with the justice sector having made progress toward its goal of strengthening restorative justice, which contributed to an increase in the number of cases resolved through this approach.
'We are pleased that the number of cases resolved through this approach reached 19,888, up from 15,012 in the previous year. This represents an increase of 4,876 cases, equivalent to 32.4%,' Mukantaganzwa said.
She said the increase demonstrates progress in delivering fair justice by ensuring that cases are resolved in a timely manner.
The number of cases that had remained pending for more than six months also declined. At the end of the 2025/26 judicial year, there were 17,663 such cases, compared with 26,862 in the previous judicial year.
This represents a decline of 6%.
The reduction was also reflected in the average time cases remained pending before being heard. The average waiting period fell from six months in 2024/25 to four months during the year that ended.
However, Mukantaganzwa acknowledged that cases remain pending and said the goal is to continue reducing the backlog in order to strengthen the delivery of efficient justice.
'The goal is to continue reducing the backlog so that it does not exceed 30% by 2028/29,' she said.
She noted that some courts, particularly the High Courts and courts in the City of Kigali, continue to have a high number of cases. This affects the amount of time litigants have to wait before their cases are heard.
Supreme Court President Domitilla Mukantaganzwa said the backlog of court cases declined by 25.1% during the 2025/26 judicial year.Judges attend the ceremony marking the end of the judicial year and the launch of a new one.
Held in Kinigi under the theme 'Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,' the annual ceremony brought together conservationists, business leaders, sports personalities, artists, philanthropists and public figures from Rwanda and around the world.
The tradition, inspired by the Rwandan practice of naming newborn children in the presence of family and community, has become one of the country's most prominent conservation events.
This year, the 22 names brought the total number of gorillas named through Kwita Izina since it became an annual event in 2005 to 460.
Here are the stories behind the names and the people who gave them.
Ishakwe – determination
Born on April 1, 2025, to Inkubito of the Muhoza family, the female gorilla was named Ishakwe, meaning 'determination.'
The name was given by Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman set to lead the organisation in its 50-year history.
The name reflects the resilience required to protect the mountain gorilla population and sustain conservation gains for generations to come.
Umukondo – a starting point
Born on June 20, 2025, to Muhabura of the Izuba family, the male gorilla was named Umukondo, meaning 'navel' or 'starting point.'
The name was given by Dominic Barton, Chairman of Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments and former Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company.
The name evokes a beginning, fitting for a young gorilla at the start of its life and for the continued journey of conservation.
Shikama – stand strong
The male gorilla, born on July 3, 2025, to Turimaso of the Susa family, was named Shikama, meaning 'stand strong.'
Its namer, Paul Danforth, President of CAA Sports, chose a name that speaks to strength and resilience.
Inkera – traditional festivity
Born on July 31, 2025, to Isangano of the Pablo family, the male gorilla was named Inkera, meaning 'traditional festivity.'
The name was given by Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, CEO and majority shareholder of Atlético de Madrid and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.
The name captures the celebratory spirit of Kwita Izina itself, where conservation is marked through ceremony, culture and community.
Rugamba – the fighter
Born on September 8, 2025, to Gwaneza of the Hirwa family, the male gorilla was named Rugamba, meaning 'fighter.'
The name was jointly given by Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, and his wife Anita Dravec.
Elsewedy Electric has been involved in Rwanda's electrification efforts, adding another dimension to a name that speaks of strength and perseverance.
Umucyo – light
The male gorilla born on October 14, 2025, to Urahirwa of the Ntambara family, was named Umucyo, meaning 'light.'
The name was given by Olivier and Quitterie Granet.
Olivier Granet is Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Kasada Capital Management, an investor in Africa's hospitality sector.
Ngabonzima – the protector
Born on December 28, 2025, to Ukwiyunga of the Segasira family, the male gorilla was named Ngabonzima, meaning 'the protector.'
The name was given by philanthropists Garreth and Nicola Wood, co-founders of Kids Operating Room, a global health charity focused on expanding access to paediatric surgery.
Garreth (far right) named the baby gorilla Ngabonzima.
The name carries a particularly fitting message at a ceremony built around the protection of wildlife and its habitat.
Ikambere – an important place
The female gorilla born on December 5, 2025, to Ntamupaka of the Sabyinyo family, was named Ikambere.
The name refers to 'the important place where you receive your esteemed visitors.'
It was given by Susan Hollern, founder and president of Hope Haven Rwanda, who has worked in Rwanda on education and family transformation since 2011.
Ubukaka – majesty, strength and power
Born on July 28, 2025, to Ururabo of the Humura family, the female gorilla was named Ubukaka, meaning 'majesty, strength and power.'
The name was given by acclaimed Rwandan filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo, whose film Ben'Imana was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Ngoga – courage
The male gorilla born on March 21, 2026, to Ntibisanzwe of the Kwitonda family was named Ngoga, meaning 'brave' or 'with courage.'
The name was given by Francesco Calvo, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, who has previously held senior leadership positions at Juventus, FC Barcelona and AS Roma.
The naming ceremony was marked by tradition, music and celebrations.
Intwarane – fighting for a common goal
Born on January 27, 2026, to Intango of the Muhoza family, the male gorilla was named Intwarane.
The name refers to people fighting for a common goal, a fitting idea for a conservation programme built on collaboration between governments, communities, researchers, rangers, businesses and conservation organisations.
The namer was Mamadou Sakho, former France international and former captain of Paris Saint-Germain, who also played for Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Tarama – socialise
The male gorilla born on July 21, 2025, to Impuhwe of the Humura family was named Tarama, meaning 'socialize.'
The name was given by Mutaz Essa Barshim, the Qatari Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion in high jump.
The name reflects the social nature of mountain gorillas, which live in close-knit family groups.
Igeno – destiny
Born on March 15, 2026, to Tabaro of the Musilikale family, the female gorilla was named Igeno, meaning 'destiny.'
The name was given by Kelly O'Meara, Executive Director of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, which works to advance primate protection and welfare across Africa.
Uruhembe – on the frontline
The male gorilla born on August 9, 2025, to Mbele of the Izuba family was named Uruhembe, meaning'on the frontline.'
The name was given by Neil and Susan McDougall.
Neil McDougall is founder and chairman of DelAgua, which works on clean cooking and livelihoods across Africa.
The name also echoes the frontline role played by rangers and conservation teams who work daily to protect Rwanda's wildlife.
Indahiro – commitment
Born on December 28, 2025, to Bukima of the Musilikale family, the male gorilla was named Indahiro, meaning 'commitment.'
The name was given by Jeanette Uwimbabazi, a Nyungwe National Park ranger recognised for her courage in combating wildlife crime and protecting Rwanda's biodiversity.
Her own conservation work gives particular weight to a name centred on commitment.
Muganura – national harvest
The male gorilla born on March 20, 2026, to Mafubo of the Izuba family was named Muganura, referring to National Harvest Day, a Rwandan thanksgiving celebration.
The name was given by former France and Manchester United captain Patrice Evra, a five-time Premier League champion and UEFA Champions League winner.
Ndongozi – outstanding leader
James Chester, Aston Villa legend and former Wales international, gave a baby gorilla the name Ndongozi, meaning 'outstanding leader.'
Chester, who captained Aston Villa and helped the club return to the Premier League, brought a sporting connection to a name centred on leadership.
Muhuza – the one who brings people together
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and a member of the International Olympic Committee, named a baby gorilla Muhuza.
The name means 'the one who brings people together and connects.'
Lappartient played a key role in bringing the 2025 UCI Road World Championships to Rwanda, the first edition of the competition to be held in Africa.
Komezutsinde – keep winning
Dominique Plewes, CEO and philanthropy leader and founder of SOF Support Foundation, gave a baby gorilla the name Komezutsinde, meaning 'keep winning.'
She was joined by Steven Kouraas, co-namer.
The name carries a message of perseverance, victory and continued progress, echoing Rwanda's conservation journey.
The ceremony welcomed a distinguished group of international personalities from sports, business, conservation, entertainment and philanthropy.
Mpinga – on top
Renowned British nature filmmaker and producer Alastair Fothergill, known for major wildlife productions including Planet Earth and Blue Planet, gave a baby mountain gorilla the name Mpinga, meaning 'on top.'
Fothergill's long career documenting wildlife brought a conservation storyteller's perspective to the ceremony.
Impeta – an award and symbol of recognition
Rwandan gospel singer Israel Mbonyi named a baby gorilla from the Izuba family Impeta.
The name translates to 'an award' or 'a symbol of recognition.'
The choice connects the ceremony to the achievements of the people and institutions whose work has contributed to the recovery of mountain gorillas.
Nkwakuzi – bravery
Kenza Johanna Ameloot, Miss Belgium 2024, named a male baby gorilla Nkwakuzi, a name meaning 'a brave person.'
Ameloot, who has Rwandan heritage, said she chose the name to honour the strength, courage and resilience of the Rwandan people.
She also uses her platform to advocate for children affected by cataracts while championing her Rwandan heritage.
More than names
Beyond the colour, music and star power surrounding Kwita Izina, the ceremony carries a deeper conservation message.
Rwanda's mountain gorilla population has grown to more than 1,060 in the wild across the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem, making the species the only great ape whose population is increasing.
Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva said that when Rwanda names a gorilla, it is making a promise to protect it.
'Because a name for us is more than a celebration. It is a promise,' he said.
That promise, he added, means ensuring that the gorillas have the protection, habitat and conditions they need to grow, thrive and reproduce.
The recovery has come a long way from the early 1980s, when only about 250 mountain gorillas were estimated to remain in the Virunga Massif.
Today, Rwanda is also pursuing a major expansion of Volcanoes National Park, alongside investments aimed at improving the lives of communities living around the protected area.
The newly launched Smart Green Village, an investment of more than $49 million, is expected to provide modern housing, services and sustainable livelihood opportunities for 547 households affected by the park's expansion.
Oyo Nyimba, who died on August 27 aged 34, became king of Tooro in 1995 at just three years old, making him the world's youngest reigning monarch at the time.
His body arrived at Entebbe International Airport aboard a chartered flight, where President Yoweri Museveni joined a group of dignitaries, members of the royal family and mourners to receive him.
Museveni walked to the casket, which was draped in Uganda's national flag and the flag of Tooro Kingdom, laid a wreath and bowed before it.
The casket was later transferred to a military helicopter for transportation to Tooro Kingdom in western Uganda, where mourning ceremonies will be held ahead of his burial on September 12.
The king's death has drawn widespread mourning in Tooro, where he remained a prominent cultural figure despite Uganda's status as a constitutional republic.
'We don't really believe that his majesty is no longer with us, (it is) as if we are still dreaming and I wish it could really be a dream,' said lawmaker Jennifer Mujungu, whose constituency is within the kingdom.
Davis Mugenyi, a member of the royal family who attended the reception at the airport, described the death as particularly painful because of the king's relatively young age.
'It is a painful moment for us… someone who went laughing, someone who had a whole life ahead of him,' he said.
Oyo Nyimba was among Uganda's traditional monarchs whose institutions survived the end of colonial rule and continue to hold cultural and social significance. His accession at the age of three attracted international attention, with images from his coronation showing the young king seated on the throne beneath an oversized crown and royal robes.
Beyond his traditional role, Oyo Nyimba also served as a United Nations ambassador advocating for the fight against HIV and AIDS. The UN joined those paying tribute to him following his death.
The king was unmarried, but Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki said last week that he had left an heir, assuring the continuity of the Crown.
King Oyo's body arrived at Entebbe International Airport aboard a chartered flight. President Yoweri Museveni joined a group of dignitaries, members of the royal family and mourners to receive him.Family members and other officials receive the coffin at Entebbe International Airport.There was a sombre mood as the police escorted the coffin from the plane.Oyo Nyimba, who died on August 27 aged 34, became king of Tooro in 1995 at just three years old, making him the world's youngest reigning monarch at the time.
The approach was highlighted by CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr. Sandra Milach during a press briefing on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, where she outlined how research is being connected to practical interventions in Rwanda's food system.
Milach explained that CGIAR is working closely with the Rwandan government on school meals, using evidence to determine how locally available foods can contribute to healthier diets while keeping meals affordable.
'We know what it takes to do a healthy plate, but can we afford it?' she posed on Wednesday, highlighting affordability as a central consideration in efforts to improve nutrition.
The work involves examining Rwanda's food supply, determining what a nutritious and affordable plate should contain and generating evidence that can inform government policy and programmes.
According to Milach, aspects of the school meals programme are currently being implemented in about 195 schools and have reached more than 300,000 children.
She noted that the benefits could extend beyond nutrition, as healthier school meals can support education by helping children remain in school while contributing to their overall wellbeing and, ultimately, the country's economic development.
The initiative also seeks to connect demand from schools with local agricultural production, including the cultivation of nutrient-rich crops such as high-iron beans.
Through the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA), CGIAR supports efforts to make high-iron bean varieties available to school gardens and local farming communities, linking research on nutrient-rich crops with food production and school meals.
CGIAR Director of Scaling for Impact Dr. Tim Krupnik pointed to high-iron beans as an example of how school feeding can be used to strengthen an entire agricultural value chain.
Rather than viewing school feeding simply as the delivery of food to children, Krupnik explained that the approach can create a reliable market for farmers producing nutritious crops, allowing food to move from farms through the value chain and onto school plates.
'It's not just about the supply of food to schools to provide more nutritious meals; it's about utilizing that as an opportunity to go the whole way back to a farm,' he remarked.
According to CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr. Sandra Milach, aspects of the school meals programme are currently being implemented in about 195 schools and have reached more than 300,000 children.
Closing the gap between research and farmers
The Rwanda example forms part of a wider shift within CGIAR towards ensuring that agricultural research is designed with its eventual use and scale in mind.
Krupnik pointed out that Africa does not lack agricultural innovations. The greater challenge, in many cases, is taking proven technologies from research and development into widespread use by farmers.
Researchers, he argued, need to consider from the outset whether farmers and businesses will have access to finance, whether there will be sufficient market demand and awareness, and whether an innovation is suited to different groups, including women and young people.
'If scientists develop an innovation without thinking about how they would drive it into scale later on,' he cautioned, 'the innovation and research stage' can fail to address the obstacles that emerge when the technology reaches the market.
The CGIAR Scaling for Impact programme is intended to address those gaps by assessing whether an innovation is ready, identifying suitable partners and establishing links with private-sector investment before technologies are pushed towards large-scale adoption.
For Rwanda, the school feeding initiative provides an example of how research can be connected to nutrition, agriculture and education rather than remaining within research institutions.
Rwanda's approach to agricultural recommendations
CGIAR's Head of the Liaison Office for Africa, Dr. Namukolo Covic, also singled out Rwanda's approach to implementing recommendations emerging from agricultural reviews.
Covic noted that the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) process includes biennial reviews that identify areas where countries are making progress and where bottlenecks remain.
The challenge, she observed, is that countries often identify these obstacles but fail to invest in addressing them.
Rwanda, however, stands out in the process because its joint review mechanism brings recommendations back into the country and brings different sectors together to determine how the identified challenges can be addressed.
'What we have seen, though, is that those countries that actually take those recommendations and go and act on them have actually done better,' Covic remarked.
She stressed that African countries also need greater investment in agricultural research. Countries have long been encouraged to commit at least one percent of their agricultural gross domestic product to research, but investment remains well below that level across the continent.
Research, she argued, should also receive predictable, long-term funding rather than being treated as a one-off intervention because agricultural challenges are constantly changing.
Climate change, in particular, means that innovations that work today may not necessarily remain effective in the future, creating a need for a continuous pipeline of research and technologies.
From farms to school plates
The focus on high-iron beans illustrates the broader effort to connect agricultural science with practical food and nutrition outcomes.
By linking nutrient-rich crops with school meals, the approach has the potential to address several challenges at once: improving children's diets, creating markets for farmers and strengthening demand for locally produced food.
For Rwanda, the 195 schools and more than 300,000 children reached by the programme offer a significant platform for testing how research can inform food policy and translate into outcomes beyond the laboratory.
Milach maintained that the wider objective is not to identify a single innovation capable of solving Africa's food challenges, but to apply a systems approach that brings together research, farmers, markets, government and private investment.
That approach, she suggested, could help Rwanda and other African countries move from producing agricultural innovations to ensuring that those innovations deliver measurable benefits to the people and communities they are intended to serve.
Dr. Sandra Milach, Chief Scientist at CGIAR; Dr. Namukolo Covic, CGIAR Head of Liaison Office for Africa; and Dr. Tim Krupnik, Director of CGIAR Scaling for Impact, address the press in Kigali on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026.
The ceremony was marked by colourful cultural performances and music, as 22 distinguished Namers from Rwanda and around the world gave names to the baby gorillas.
Among those who took part in the celebrations were former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, alongside personalities from business, sport, entertainment, conservation and philanthropy.
Rwandan gospel singer Israel Mbonyi named a baby gorilla from the Izuba family Impeta, meaning 'an award and a symbol of recognition.'
Miss Belgium 2024 Kenza Johanna Ameloot, who is of Rwandan heritage, named a male baby gorilla from the Umbano family Nkwakuzi, meaning 'a brave person.'
'I am sure he will be the strongest and kindest gorilla in the park,' Ameloot said while announcing the name.
Ahmed Sadek Elsewedy, Chairman of Elsewedy Electric, and his wife Anita Dravec named another baby gorilla Rugamba, meaning 'Fighter'.
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and a member of the International Olympic Committee, named a baby gorilla Muhuza, a name meaning 'the one who brings people together and connects.'
The ceremony also featured an energetic performance by Rwandan music star The Ben and his crew, adding to the festive atmosphere in Kinigi.
The event has become one of Rwanda's most prominent annual conservation celebrations since it was officially launched in 2005. Over the first 20 editions, 438 gorillas had been named, bringing the cumulative number to 460 with the 22 named on Friday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Dr Justin Nsengiyumva said Kwita Izina was inspired by the Rwandan tradition of naming children in the presence of family, friends and neighbours.
'Because a name for us is more than a celebration. It is a promise,' he said, adding that the promise extended to protecting the gorillas, their habitat and the conditions they need to grow and reproduce.
The Prime Minister said the recovery of the mountain gorilla population had taken decades of work involving rangers, veterinarians, researchers, government institutions, conservation organisations, communities and international partners.
In the early 1980s, only about 250 mountain gorillas remained in the Virunga Massif. Today, more than 1,060 mountain gorillas live in the wild across the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem, making the mountain gorilla the only great ape whose population is increasing.
Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, said the 22 births represented hope and demonstrated what sustained conservation efforts, strong institutions, community ownership and international partnerships can achieve.
'Each new birth represents hope,' Afrika said.
He affirmed that Rwanda's conservation approach seeks to ensure that protecting nature goes hand in hand with improving people's lives.
That approach is also reflected in plans to expand Volcanoes National Park by about 3,740 hectares and establish approximately 6,620 hectares of buffer zones to create more habitat for the growing gorilla population.
The government has also launched the Smart Green Village in Kinigi as part of the wider Volcanoes Community Resilience Project. The project is expected to provide modern housing, services and livelihood opportunities to 547 households affected by the park's expansion, with an investment of more than $49 million.
Prime Minister Nsengiyumva said the expansion demonstrated Rwanda's belief that conservation and human development should advance together.
The benefits of gorilla conservation have also extended to surrounding communities through tourism and related economic activities.
Under Rwanda's Tourism Revenue Sharing Programme, 10 per cent of national park tourism revenues is reinvested in communities around protected areas. More than Rwf23 billion has so far supported nearly 1,300 community projects, including schools, health centres, water infrastructure and livelihood initiatives.
Beyond the conservation message, Friday's ceremony offered Rwanda an opportunity to showcase its tourism and cultural heritage to an international audience.
The gathering brought together personalities such as former football stars Patrice Evra, Mamadou Sakho and James Chester, Olympic high-jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, filmmaker Alastair Fothergill, Atlético de Madrid chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Rio Tinto Chairman Dominic Barton.
Other Namers included hospitality investor Olivier Granet, philanthropists Garreth and Nicola Wood, Pan African Sanctuary Alliance Executive Director Kelly O'Meara, Nyungwe National Park ranger Jeanette Uwimbabazi and filmmaker Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo.
For Rwanda, the annual ceremony remains both a celebration of new life in the forest and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with protecting a species once pushed close to extinction.
22 distinguished Namers from Rwanda and around the world gave names to the baby gorillas.
