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Xinhua

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Xinhua

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Xinhua

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Xinhua

The malaria vaccine would be introduced in April 2025 targeting children aged from six months to five years, said the ministry in a statement.

According to the ministry, for every 10 sick people in Uganda, three have malaria, while for every 10 children below five years old admitted to the hospital, six have malaria and may die. Among every 100 pregnant women, 20 suffer malaria and risk losing their babies and even their own lives.

“The introduction of the malaria vaccine will strengthen the government’s efforts in further reducing the incidence and severity of malaria and contribute to overall childhood survival and reduction of infant/child mortality,” the ministry said.

Data from the health ministry showed that malaria kills between 70,000 to 100,000 people in Uganda annually, mostly pregnant mothers and children.

The life-threatening disease is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of outpatient hospital visits, 15 to 20 percent of admissions, and 10 percent of inpatient deaths.

The malaria vaccine would be introduced in April 2025 targeting children aged from six months to five years, said the ministry in a statement.

Xinhua

Speaking at the farewell ceremony held in the parliamentary building, where he was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame, President Kagame honored Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera ‘s legacy.

The event, attended by senior government officials and family members, included a moment of silence in remembrance of the late colonel.

Reflecting on his connection with Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera, President Kagame recalled knowing him since the 1970s, describing him as one of the first individuals to envision a plan for Rwandans in exile to return home.

Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera’s commitment to Rwanda was highlighted as a cornerstone in the movement that helped Rwandans in exile, from neighboring countries and beyond, return and rebuild their nation.

“I know him well. He played a significant role and sacrificed himself to the best of his ability, just as he did when working with others,” he remarked.

When the Liberation Struggle began, Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera stood with other patriotic Rwandans and contributed significantly to the cause.

Even though he is no longer alive, Kagame said, he lived to witness the impact of his sacrifices and efforts for national unity and progress.

The President emphasized Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera’s dedication, noting that despite external influences attempting to sway him from his mission, he remained steadfast in his commitment to Rwanda’s development.

Kagame expressed gratitude for Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera’s service, urging those present to not only mourn his death but also celebrate his life and legacy.

Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera’s brother, Col (Rtd) Kamili Karege, spoke on behalf of the family, providing insights into his life. He thanked the government for its unwavering support during his brother’s battle with cancer, which he fought for 13 years.

Born on May 20, 1954, in Kayonza District, Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera fled to Uganda with his family in 1962 where he pursued his primary and secondary education.

He later pursued a medical degree at Makerere University and worked in various hospitals in Kenya before joining the National Resistance Army in Uganda.

In 1990, Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera joined the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) during the Liberation Struggle, where he led medical services.

Following the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera became Rwanda’s first Minister of Health.

He also served as the Minister of Education, Rwanda’s Ambassador to South Africa, a senator, and a member of the National Elders Advisory Forum prior to his demise.

Julienne Uwacu, Second Vice Chairperson of Unity Club Intwararumuri, praised Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera’s contributions to national development, stating that his legacy would always be cherished.

His funeral service preceded by a mass at Regina Pacis before he was laid to rest.

Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera is survived by his wife, Anne Numutali, and their seven children.

President Kagame emphasized that Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera remained steadfast in his commitment to Rwanda’s development.

President Kagame paid tribute to Col (Rtd) Dr. Karemera along with senior government officials.

Théophile Niyitegeka

The spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety, Superintendent of Police (SP) Emmanuel Kayigi, said the operations that started last week, target taxi hires or rental cars that have been turned into public service vehicles, school buses that also conduct public transport and regional buses that operate in town service.

'It has been observed that some transport companies or vehicles operate contrary to their transport authorization license and routes, which affects other transport companies and cause disorder. As a result, Police and RURA are conducting operations to enforce this transport policy. So far, 45 vehicles have been impounded,' SP Kayigi said.

He added that rental cars especially 7-seaters have resorted to town service transport.

He said: “Some buses going to the Eastern Province, for example, load passengers going to Remera or Kabuga from Nyabugogo. When they are coming back, they load people in Kabuga or Remera going to Nyabugogo.

“The same goes for buses from the Southern Province, that opt for town service as they approach Ruliba Clays. Some school buses also conduct public transport when they are not transporting students. This affect companies that are licensed to conduct town service transport.”

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) department of Traffic and Road Safety has warned vehicles that operate contrary to the awarded transport license.

IGIHE

'Uyu muhungu arasa n’umunyarwanda' (This boy looks like a Munyarwanda), my only Rwandan classmate, Kazayire, pointed out.

'He is, I know him,' I lied to stop her from further comments, knowing they could be good or bad. Joseph did not respond. He simply continued reading his books as if he had not heard us.

Kololo was one of the largest schools in Uganda, with a population of more than 2,000 students.

To maintain order, 'O' level students were allowed a one-off 40-minute library session. I could tell from his grey trousers that he was an 'A' level student.

If he was a Munyarwanda, he must have been new because we made efforts to get to know each other. As fate would have it, we ended that evening in the same dormitory, West 4 at Bugolobi Hostel, and our friendship began.

I have deliberately avoided prefixing my memories and tributes with his several well-deserved titles—not out of disrespect but for several reasons.

One is that they were all titles he merited, but it’s difficult to use them all. Should I simply call him an old friend, Mudaheranwa, as we fondly called him? Many non-Kinyarwanda speakers found it difficult to pronounce this name.

I remember someone asking, 'Is that a name or a sentence?' Should I call him Doctor, Honorable Minister, Ambassador, or Senator? By the way, another important role and title rarely mentioned is 'Member of High Command,' as he was a member of the RPA High Command during the liberation struggle.

Back to our youthful days in high school: befriending him was an adventure filled with laughter, mischief, and unconditional love. He wasn’t just one of my best friends but also a confidant and partner in several activities—some of which I dare not write about.

When we first met, he had just come from a rural school and knew very little about Kampala, Uganda’s capital.

He trusted me to show him around, introducing him to the different corners of the city: where to shop for discounted clothes and which old women in the neighboring slums sold cheap hot meals and local brews, often on credit.

He often gave me undue credit, claiming that I made him a doctor. His equally jolly wife, Anne, would tell me how often she heard that claim. It goes back to his final high school examination.

Like many students, he had doubts about which university course to apply for. As his close friend, I insisted he put medicine as his first choice. Seeing my persistence, he handed me his application form and said, 'Here, just put what you want.' I initially thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. I filled in MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) as his first choice.

That was the extent of our camaraderie and trust: he could entrust his junior to determine his future career! The rest is history. He passed, went to medical school, and became Dr. Joseph Mudaheranwa Karemera. He has credited me with this decision many times over.

With the exception of that post-exam doubt, Mudaheranwa, as we fondly called him, had the instinct and courage to prioritize tomorrow’s greater cause over today’s comforts.

I vividly remember when, as a refugee in Kenya, he abandoned a very lucrative job as Chief Medical Officer of a private hospital, earning more than three times the normal remuneration of a doctor, to pursue a master’s degree in gynecology at the University of Nairobi.

Everyone who cared tried to convince him that even with the master’s degree, it would be difficult to find a job that paid as well as what he had. But his mind was made up. Having failed to convince him, we joked that he must like the opposite sex so much that he chose gynecology!

Soon, he abandoned the post-graduate course to join the Uganda National Resistance Army (NRA). From Kenya, instead of staying in a hotel he could afford or with military officers, he stayed in my room at Makerere University’s Complex Hall.

Our high school friendship remained intact. When he told me he was leaving his studies to go 'mu Kichaka' (into the bush), I thought it was just his humor. But again, he had seen that only through military training could we liberate our homeland.

I could write on and on about my experiences with this departed comrade—a doctor, a member of High Command, a cabinet minister, an ambassador, a senator, and above all, a husband, father, and grandfather. Fifty years of friendship is too long to capture in a few pages.

Let me pause. For those who were with us in high school, do you remember how, despite being a scientist, he loved to quote literature books? One of his favorites was Shakespeare, especially Marc Antony’s speech at Julius Caesar’s funeral: 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears…'

Joseph had memorized the entire speech.

'I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones…'

He loved that quote. But no, Joseph, I refuse to accept it in your case. I promise you that the good you did will live on for many years. It lives in the liberation struggle to which you contributed.

It lives in the fact that our children and grandchildren will not grow up stateless, as you and I did. It lives in the fact that, as Minister of Education, you initiated the Rwanda National Examination Council, ensuring Rwandan students were admitted to schools transparently.

Like Antony’s final words: 'Bear with me; my heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it comes back to me.' That is the same for me, Joseph. My heart is in that coffin with you until it comes back.

This week, we come together to celebrate your life, a journey we all take, some sooner than others. Your spirit will live on in our memories and the love we shared.

The memory I cherish most was his unwavering optimism—even during tough challenges, like in the bush when the medical team he led had no anesthesia. He remained resilient, finding light in the darkest of moments and being a pillar of strength for us all.

As we bid farewell to this fallen hero, let us remember the memories we shared. Though he may no longer walk beside us, his spirit will live on in our hearts forever.

To Anne, Numutari Karemera: remember the good times we shared before you became husband and wife. Let his passing not end our friendship. Though I may not have much to offer you and your children, count on me for moral support.

Details about the death of Col (Rtd) Joseph Karemera emerged on October 11, 2024.

Mweusi Karake

The trial, the first of its kind globally, is being conducted in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). It involves testing the safety and efficacy of two treatments: Remdesivir, a drug already used to treat COVID-19, and MBP091, a special antibody designed to fight the Marburg virus.

According to WHO, the trial is the result of two years of work by nearly 200 researchers, developers, Ministry of Health officials, and global partners, including representatives from 17 African countries at risk of filovirus outbreaks, such as Ebola and Marburg.

In addition to the treatments, Rwanda recently rolled out vaccinations for frontline health workers and high-risk individuals.

So far, over 700 vaccine doses have been administered. The first batch of 700 doses, provided by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, arrived just nine days after the outbreak was declared. A second shipment of 1,000 doses followed on October 13, 2024.

Since the outbreak was confirmed late last month, Rwanda has reported 62 cases and 15 deaths from over 4,000 tests conducted. Minister of Health Sabin Nsanzimana has been providing daily updates on the outbreak.

According to the minister, all new confirmed cases have been within the hospital cluster in Kigali and their contacts, and all are under isolation and treatment. There is no evidence of community transmission.

The Marburg virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever, is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding.

To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.

The clinical trial for Marburg virus disease treatment, the first of its kind globally, is being conducted in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The win was a much-needed boost, as Rwanda aims to claim a spot in the tournament after several setbacks in the qualifying rounds. With goals from Nshuti Innocent and Captain Bizimana Djihadi, scored just two minutes apart, the victory was a testament to Amavubi’s fighting spirit and their refusal to bow out.

The game started on an intense note with Gilbert Mugisha attempting the first shot for Rwanda in the second minute, though it was comfortably saved by Benin’s goalkeeper.

By the 7th minute, Emmanuel Imanishimwe also tried his luck, but once again, Benin’s Souke Marcel was up to the challenge, catching the ball effortlessly.

Despite several promising opportunities and set pieces in the first ten minutes, Amavubi struggled to capitalize on these chances. Missed opportunities, particularly by forward Gilbert Mugisha, left fans frustrated as the team worked to find its rhythm.

In the 25th minute, a foul against Imanishimwe earned Rwanda a free kick, but the effort yielded no result. The first half saw Amavubi dominate possession, especially in the final 15 minutes, keeping Benin on their back foot and forcing the game into their half.

However, Rwanda’s dominance wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard. As the half drew to a close, Niyigena Clement received a yellow card, and Benin delivered a crushing blow with a goal from Andreas William in the 43rd minute.

His perfectly placed shot put Benin ahead, sending the teams into halftime with a 1-0 score line in favor of the visitors. Rwanda’s hopes of qualifying seemed to fade as the first half ended with that narrow lead for Benin, but the second half told a different story.

Determined not to let the AFCON dream slip away, Amavubi came out stronger. The pressure mounted, and in the 75th minute, Nshuti Innocent brought the home crowd to life by scoring the equalizer with a tap in shot.

The excitement in the stadium was palpable, and the fans’ energy only grew when, just a minute later, Captain Bizimana Djihadi stepped up to take a penalty, coolly converting it in the 77th minute to give Rwanda the lead.

The thunderous celebration that followed saw top government officials acknowledging the team’s performance. The fans erupted in jubilation as Rwanda turned the game around in an extraordinary two-minute burst.

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with the crowd throwing their full support behind the team as they held on to their slim lead.

Benin fought back fiercely, pushing for an equalizer in the final minutes of the game. However, Rwanda’s defense held strong, with Fiacre in goal making critical saves to deny Benin any chance of leveling the score. In the four minutes of added time, Amavubi managed to resist Benin’s efforts, securing a well-deserved victory.

The tension wasn’t only on the field. After the final whistle, officials from Benin expressed their frustration with referee Andofetra Rakotojaona, accusing him of questionable decisions, especially regarding the penalty. Security had to intervene to escort the referee off the field safely, but the controversy did little to dampen Rwanda’s celebrations.

In the other Group games, the fate of some teams remained uncertain. Nigeria, scheduled to play Libya, faced complications upon their arrival. With no clear directives from the hosts, Nigeria decided to retreat after just a day. CAF later confirmed the postponement of the match, stating in an official release.

'The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifier fixture between Libya and Nigeria will not take place as scheduled tonight. The matter will be referred to competent CAF bodies,' CAF said.
After the match, Rwanda’s head coach, Torsten Frank, spoke about the challenges his team had faced and praised the players for their resilience.

'You see the quality of the other players. I told my players, I told them our opponents are five times better than us, but good enough our boys used their body physique to protect the ball. They knew that the higher you come, the better if you know your opponent,' said Torsten.

He continued, 'I’m happy about the result, and I had told them to utilize any empty space. I was especially happy with the boys in the second half. Nshuti did a great job today, and the way he was protecting and saving the ball was very impressive.'

With this vital win, Rwanda’s dream of qualifying for AFCON 2025 is alive and well. The team’s ability to turn the tide in such a crucial match serves as a beacon of hope for the remaining games in the qualification campaign. Amavubi Stars have shown that, despite the odds, they are determined to fight until the very end.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Mubarahk Muganga was ecstatic as he cheered his beloved Amavubi.

Photo Credits: Herve Kwizera and Claude Kasiro

Sam K Nkurunziza