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After leaving street vending, these women formed three cooperative groups—Inkingi Rugando, Tugane Heza, and Terimbere Mutegarugori—to improve their livelihoods.

Together, they saved money to build a small market in Rugando.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Rotary Club Kigali Seniors handed over the Frw2.8 million donation to support the women’s development efforts.

Aimable Rumongi, the president of the Rotary Club Kigali Seniors, shared that they were inspired by the women’s initiative and decided to offer financial support to help them expand their businesses.

'We decided to support these women after learning about their determination to leave street vending behind. Initially, we thought of covering their community-based health insurance, but later decided it would be better to support their business ideas, allowing them to become self-reliant and pay for their own health insurance,' said Rumongi.

He added, 'These women currently sell fruits, vegetables, and charcoal, and they even have ambitions of importing goods from Dubai. Beyond this donation, we will continue offering guidance to ensure they manage their businesses effectively.'

Ayinkamiye Judithe, who leads two of the women’s groups, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that it will significantly increase their capital.

'This support will make a real difference. Previously, members received small amounts of money from our savings due to limited funds. Now, with this contribution, each member will receive more substantial amounts to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods,' she said.

The women, who invested Frw7 million to build their market in Rugando, faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted their operations. The Rotary Club’s support is expected to play a crucial role in reviving their businesses.

Bernard Bayasese, Executive Administrator of Gasabo District, praised the Rotary Club’s generosity, emphasizing the importance of community support in fostering development.

'I appreciate Rotary for helping these mothers. Progress comes from lifting one another up and aligns with the government’s policy of finding homegrown solutions,' he said. He also encouraged the women to continue working in groups, as it increases their chances of receiving assistance.

Rotary Rwanda consists of 12 clubs, including Rotary Club Kigali Seniors and others such as Rotary Club Kigali, Rotary Club Butare, and Rotary Club Kigali Mont Jali.

Rotary International is a non-profit organization engaged in charitable work globally, focusing on supporting vulnerable communities, providing access to clean water, fighting epidemic diseases, and contributing to social welfare initiatives.

Rotary Club Kigali Seniors handed over the Frw2.8 million donation to support the women’s development efforts on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.

Participants of the event in a group photo.

Aimable Rumongi, the president of the Rotary Club Kigali Seniors

Bernard Bayasese, Executive Administrator of Gasabo District, praised the Rotary Club’s generosity.

Ayinkamiye Judithe, heading two of the women’s groups, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that it will significantly increase their capital.

IGIHE

For instance, a 2012 Kia Sorento with a 3.3-liter engine, which was valued at $26,399 when imported in January, now has an estimated value of $28,838.

Similarly, a 2012 Kia Sportage with a 3.5-liter engine, previously valued at $25,139, has seen its price jump to $29,260, representing an increase of over $3,000.

This rise in car prices inevitably affects the taxes owed, as taxes are calculated based on the vehicle’s current market value and its age.

To provide a clearer picture, consider a 2012 Kia Sportage that is assessed as being 12 years old when it arrives at customs in Rwanda.

While its initial value was set at $25,139, tax authorities previously valued it at $5,027, considering depreciation. Today, when the same vehicle arrives at customs, its value is calculated at Frw 8,415,408 (Rwandan Francs).

This value is then used to calculate the tax, which amounted to Frw6.2 million, bringing the car’s total value to Frw14 million. With the current pricing, the car is now valued at $29,260, and its tax will be Frw 7.6 million, meaning an increase of approximately Frw 1.4 million.

This pattern is consistent across nearly all vehicles, with price increases observed in comparison to the values calculated earlier in the year. These new prices were implemented on September 3rd.

A notable example of this trend is a popular car in Rwanda, the Mercedes Benz C200 from 2014 with a 2.0-liter engine.

Earlier in the year, this vehicle was valued at $24,629, but today, its price has soared to $37,000, reflecting an increase of over $12,000.

Other vehicles have experienced similar increases. For instance, the price of a 2011 Benz C200 with a 1.8L engine and 4WD, which was previously valued at $24,464, has now risen to $32,166.

A 2003 Toyota Rav4 with a 2.0L engine saw a price increase from $18,229 to $19,113. The cost of a 2013 Kia Cadenza/K7 with a 2.0L engine jumped from $25,074 to $26,714, while the price of a 2013 Kia K5 with a 2.0L engine surged from $18,991 to $24,317.

Similarly, a 2013 Hyundai Tucson with a 2.0L engine increased from $18,802 to $22,814, and a 2013 Toyota Camry with a 2.5L engine rose from $20,535 to $24,317.

The sudden increase in car prices has sparked concern among car dealers in Rwanda, especially for those who have vehicles already in customs.

The new prices apply not only to newly imported cars but also to vehicles already awaiting clearance.

One car dealer shared their frustration, saying that the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has insisted that the new prices must be adhered to, even though they were unexpected and many dealers were unprepared.

The dealer pointed out that if someone had ordered a car with a specific budget in mind, they would now find that the taxes they anticipated paying have changed.

Another dealer shared an example, noting that they had ordered a car expecting to pay Frw 13 million in taxes, only to discover that the tax had increased to Frw 20 million.

In response to these concerns, the Rwanda Revenue Authority has clarified that the changes in car prices are normal and legal adjustments aimed at aligning prices with current exchange rates.

According to Jean Paulin Uwitonze, the Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communication at RRA, the fluctuations in car prices used for tax calculations are primarily driven by changes in exchange rates and increases in sea freight costs, which are factored into the calculation of customs duties.

The RRA regularly reviews vehicle prices to ensure they match those provided by manufacturers, and that taxes are calculated accurately based on the latest market values.

Car prices soared in Rwanda effective September 2024.

IGIHE

Speaking during a virtual meeting attended by the Rwandan Health Minister and journalists on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Dr. Kaseya lauded the measures put in place by the government, stating that there is nearly zero risk of Rwanda spreading the disease to another country.

“It’s almost zero risk. I say ‘almost’ because we cannot say 100% for sure, but I can say that there is a 95% certainty that there is zero risk for Rwanda spreading the disease out of Rwanda. The mechanisms they have put in place to monitor contacts mean no contact can fly out of Rwanda. This is amazing because they are monitoring these contacts on a daily basis,' the Africa CDC boss stated.

Dr. Kaseya said recent reports showing zero new cases and fatalities were encouraging, even as the fatality rate remains low at 22% compared to previous outbreaks in other countries.

'I have to say that the outbreak in Rwanda is controlled. Yesterday, I was amazed to receive a report indicating that there were zero new cases and zero deaths. It means we are expecting to see Rwanda out of this outbreak very soon,' Dr. Kaseya noted.

'The case fatality rate is 22%. Let me remind you that in 2023, during the outbreaks we experienced, the case fatality rate was more than 65%. If we go back to 2022, the case fatality rate was more than 80%,' the Africa CDC boss explained.

'You can compare that and confidently state that Rwanda is putting in place all necessary mechanisms.'

At the same time, Dr. Kaseya condemned a recent travel advisory issued by the United States, insisting that any decisions taken must be guided by scientific facts to avoid spreading panic.

'The decision taken by the US government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,' he stated, adding that Rwanda had implemented satisfactory measures to contain the spread of the disease.

'Today, by issuing a Level 3 advisory, we are creating a panic mode—an unnecessary panic mode—in Rwanda, in other regions, in other countries in the region, and also in the world,' he protested.

He noted that the US authorities had committed to consulting the Africa CDC before taking such steps in the future.

'We think this is so disrespectful for us. I conveyed this clear message to the US senior officials. But more importantly, we agreed on a way to move forward. I believe I received their clear commitment that in the future they will not make such decisions again without consulting us,' he added.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had Monday, October 8, issued a level 3 travel notice for the country and said next week it would begin screening travellers who have recently been in Rwanda.

In the briefing, Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana stated that Rwanda is making significant progress in vaccination efforts and monitoring to prevent the further spread of the outbreak.

“So far, we’ve already vaccinated more than 200 people. There are others being vaccinated. We initially received 700 doses for the most at-risk groups. We expect this to protect those in treatment centres, as well as in the departments of these hospitals that have been most affected for healthcare workers, and the contacts of confirmed positive cases, which is known as ring vaccination,' the minister stated.

As of Thursday, October 10, 2024, Rwanda has confirmed 58 cases, 13 deaths, and 12 recoveries.

Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. As the disease progresses, it can lead to severe haemorrhaging, organ failure, and shock.

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.

Speaking during a virtual meeting attended by the Rwandan Health Minister and journalists on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Dr. Jean Kaseya lauded the measures put in place by the government, stating that there is nearly zero risk of Rwanda spreading the disease to another country.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health agency of the United States, issued a Level 3 travel advisory on Monday, October 7, 2024, urging its citizens to reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda due to the Marburg outbreak.

Speaking during a virtual meeting attended by the Rwandan Health Minister and journalists on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Dr. Kaseya said that decisions during the ongoing outbreak must be guided by scientific facts to avoid spreading panic.

'The decision taken by the US government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,' he stated, adding that Rwanda had implemented satisfactory measures to contain the spread of the disease.

'By issuing a Level 3 advisory, we are creating panic—an unnecessary panic—in Rwanda, in other regions, in neighbouring countries, and even globally,' he protested.

Dr. Kaseya noted that US authorities had committed to consulting the Africa CDC before taking such steps in the future.

'We think this is disrespectful to us. I conveyed this clear message to US senior officials. But more importantly, we agreed on a way forward. I believe I received their clear commitment that in the future they will not make such decisions again without consulting us,' he added.

Besides the Level 3 travel advisory, the US government also recently suspended in-person services at its embassy offices in Kigali, allowing its staff to work from home following the confirmation of Marburg cases in Rwanda. The suspended services include American Citizen Services and visa interviews.

In the Thursday briefing, Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana stated that Rwanda is making significant progress in vaccination efforts and monitoring to prevent the further spread of the outbreak.

“So far, we’ve already vaccinated more than 200 people. Others are still being vaccinated. We initially received 700 doses for the most at-risk groups. We expect this to protect those in treatment centers, as well as departments in the hospitals most affected, particularly healthcare workers and contacts of confirmed positive cases, which is known as ring vaccination,' the minister stated.

As of Thursday, October 10, 2024, Rwanda has confirmed 58 cases, 13 deaths, and 12 recoveries.

The Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, has condemned the decision by the United States government to issue a travel advisory against Rwanda over the Marburg virus outbreak, terming it as unfair.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The Rwandan government has denied claims that it concealed information about the outbreak of the Marburg virus in the country, emphasizing that the information was made public as soon as it was received.

Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, made the remarks during a virtual session with journalists attended by the Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

During the briefing, Minister Nsanzimana was asked about reports suggesting that Rwanda had initially concealed the discovery of individuals infected with the virus in the country. In response, the minister stated that the claims were unfounded.

“I would like to clarify that the information suggesting these tests were done earlier and not communicated is not true. The truth is that the tests were conducted on September 26, confirmed the same night, and announced publicly on the 27th. Everything happened within 24 hours, and the process followed international protocol guidelines. So, this is the fact and the truth, just as was done in previous outbreaks,” the minister explained.

He added that Rwanda is currently investigating the source of Rwanda’s first-ever Marburg outbreak which was confirmed on September 27, 2024.

“The process of tracing the origins of the first patient and the virus is still ongoing. In the next few days, we will complete this investigation, along with additional testing such as ELISA and serology. We are combining multiple efforts, including collaboration between One Health teams, epidemiologists, and veterinarians,” he said.

The minister also highlighted Rwanda’s significant progress in vaccination efforts and monitoring to prevent the further spread of the outbreak.

“So far, we’ve already vaccinated more than 200 people, and more are being vaccinated. We initially received 700 doses for the most at-risk groups. We expect this to protect those in treatment centers, as well as healthcare workers in the affected hospital departments, and contacts of confirmed positive cases, in a strategy known as ring vaccination,” he stated.

Dr. Nsanzimana further mentioned that, despite the outbreak, various activities, including meetings, will not be disrupted.

“There are ongoing meetings; for instance, yesterday, I was with the Director-General of Africa CDC at a major conference called Biashara Africa, as well as several other meetings. We are monitoring the outbreak as people come to Rwanda for these gatherings. Measures have been put in place to monitor individuals infected with the disease who are in two hospitals. We see no reason to avoid travel or suspend meetings,” he said.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 58 cases of Marburg, with 13 deaths and 12 recoveries.

Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, made the remarks during a virtual session with journalists attended by the Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Organized by CX Touchpoints Rwanda, the forum serves as a flagship event for customer-centric organizations and leading professionals in customer experience. It aims to bring together key players from both the public and private sectors to learn, network, and reimagine the future of customer experience (CX) in Rwanda.

Customer Service Week is celebrated globally during the first full week of October to honor both customers, the heartbeat of every organization, and the dedicated employees who ensure exceptional service delivery.

In a statement, CX Touchpoints Rwanda said the event offers a platform for senior leaders to unite and share strategies on improving CX across the country.

'This is more than just a meeting—it’s a pivotal moment in transforming customer experiences across the nation,' said the company, which provides customer experience management solutions, training, research, and events.

The forum marks a new era for Rwandan organizations.

Attendees are expected to gain exclusive insights into local customer research, including the first-ever deep dive into Rwanda’s Customer Experience Index (CEI).

Throughout the forum, leaders will explore key factors that influence service quality, with discussions centered on innovative themes such as cutting-edge CX technologies, insights from Rwanda’s CEI, developing customer experience competencies, and performance management strategies.

Other topics include voice-of-the-customer programs to elevate service delivery, reinventing employee experience and its impact on CX, and emerging CX trends. Additionally, participants will explore how product experience (PX) and brand experience (BX) can be used as strategic tools to drive customer loyalty.

The high-impact event features an impressive lineup of senior executives from various institutions, including Olivia Ntambara, Senior Manager of Customer Experience at RwandAir, Liliose Nyinawinkindi, Director of Customer Experience and Service Distribution at Irembo, Christine Teta, Senior Customer Experience Manager at NCBA Bank Rwanda and Fidelis Katangwa, Head of Customer Experience at Access Bank.

Other notable attendees include Francine Umulisa, Head of Customer Experience Management at Bank of Kigali, Dr. Mawo Martin, Sales & Marketing Director at Rwanda Mountain Tea, Belinda Mukunde, Head of Customer Service at DHL Express, Richard Kayibanda, Registrar General at Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Christella Umuhire, Head of Marketing at Sonarwa General Insurance, Kpunsa Mbinkar, Lead Customer Experience Consultant at CX Touchpoints Rwanda, Mirko Buonerba, Senior Customer Experience Manager at Sandsiv and Paulin Uwitonze, Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Services & Communications at Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).

Attendees are expected to gain exclusive insights into local customer research.

During the forum, the business leaders are expected to share their expertise and inspire actionable strategies to elevate customer experience across Rwanda’s public and private sectors.

The forum marks a new era for Rwandan organizations, aligning with the government’s vision for the country to achieve middle-income status by 2035 and high-income status by 2050.

'By prioritizing customer experience, both local and international businesses will create greater value, improving how visitors experience Rwanda and transforming how citizens engage with their government. The ripple effects of enhanced CX will strengthen Rwanda’s economic standing and foster long-term prosperity,' CX Touchpoints Rwanda explained.

Learn more about the event or the company via their website: https://www.cx-touchpoints.com/

Senior executives from Rwanda’s most influential institutions are gathering today, October 10, 2024

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Our mission has always been simple yet profound: to build products that meaningfully improve people’s lives. Reflecting on where we started, it’s clear that we have made significant strides.

From an era when accessing public services required multiple trips to government offices and long waiting periods, we now offer digital solutions that provide many essential services in under 24 hours.

This shift is more than just about digitization—it’s about empowering citizens by making public services accessible and efficient. This digital transformation is built on the belief that public service delivery should be efficient and empowering for citizens to access conveniently and confidently.

Since our founding in 2014, we have been on a journey of continuous improvement, always striving to create a truly digital society. However, our progress has been far from perfect. The road has been filled with challenges, but each one has pushed us to improve, refine our approach, and to better understand the needs of our users.

When we first partnered with the Government of Rwanda to launch IremboGov in 2015, it was a bold step into uncharted territory. Today, with over 220 services now available online, we’ve made it easier to access services like applying for birth certificates or land transfers.

Yet, we are fully aware that our work is far from finished. Our vision of a truly digital society is an ongoing journey, and we remain committed to continuous improvement. Every day, we ask ourselves how we can do better and bring our users closer to a seamless, reliable digital experience.

Beyond digitizing government services, our focus has been on building trust and creating user-friendly experiences. A vital part of that is IremboPay, a secure payment platform that has transformed how citizens make payments.

Whether it’s through mobile money, bank transfers, or credit cards, our goal has been to ensure convenience and security at every step. But convenience alone is not enough—trust, reliability, and ease of use create lasting value.

Listening to our users is a crucial aspect of delivering these experiences. Their feedback drives our innovation and informs our strategy. Our department of customer experience and service distribution is at the forefront of this, ensuring that every interaction is seamless and that support is always within reach.

Whether through call centers, WhatsApp, social media, or our agent network, we strive to be there for our users when they need us most. We are also deeply committed to building digital literacy through our Irembo academy and other outreach programs, ensuring that we bring our users along with us as we evolve.

We know that the future holds even more opportunities for growth and innovation. As we look ahead, our focus will remain on improving personalization and user experience. We want to create products that not only meet the needs of today’s citizens but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow.

What we’ve learned over the years is that placing users at the center of our work leads to better service delivery while fostering trust and engagement between citizens and their government.

This focus on customers has been essential to our growth, guiding us in creating scalable solutions that serve as a model for improving service. As other nations look toward digital transformation, our journey offers insights into how service-driven innovation can contribute to societal development.

Today, we are celebrating 10 years of Irembo, and we take pride in how far we have come but remain humble about the journey ahead. We know there is still much work to be done, and we are excited about the future.
We invite all Rwandans to join us as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and service delivery, working together to build a more connected, empowered society.

At the heart of everything we do are our users and citizens, who inspire us to keep moving forward. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Liliose Nyinawinkindi

The author is the Director of Customer Experience and Service Distribution at Irembo. She has been a driving force behind Irembo’s efforts to simplify and streamline digital service access for millions of Rwandans.
She leads initiatives that ensure the platform continues to deliver seamless, efficient, and user-friendly experiences to its customers.

Liliose Nyinawinkindi

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a letter to the RCSC on the occasion of its 12th general congress, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

President Xi Jinping has encouraged Red Cross Society of China to enhance humanitarian services

Xinhua

Speaking at the African Continental Free Trade Area Business Forum held in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, Kaseya emphasized the need for Africa to produce its own vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics.

“We are tired. Every time there is an outbreak, we go into panic mode, and we have to start begging the world for vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics. It was the case with mpox, it was the case before with COVID-19, and it is still the case with Marburg,” Kaseya said, calling for decisive action to manufacture medical countermeasures within the continent.

His remarks came amid the ongoing Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Rwanda, where 58 confirmed cases, including 13 deaths, have been reported, according to the latest data released by the Rwandan Ministry of Health on Tuesday.

Despite Rwanda’s robust response to the outbreak, Kaseya criticized the recent travel advisory issued by the United States, which urges its citizens to reconsider travel to Rwanda due to the virus.

“The Level 3 status issued by the United States regarding the Marburg outbreak in Rwanda is unfair and unacceptable, especially for a country that is doing more than any of us. This decision is not evidence-based. I am impressed by Rwanda’s efforts in containing the Marburg outbreak. There is nothing more that can be done that Rwanda is not already doing,” he said.

Kaseya praised Rwanda’s management of the Marburg outbreak, saying, “Rwanda is making us proud as Africans. Rwanda is a model for all of us on how to manage these kinds of outbreaks.”

MVD is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality rate of up to 88 percent. It belongs to the same family of viruses that causes Ebola virus disease, according to the World Health Organization. MVD symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, and malaise, typically developing within seven days of infection.

Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Xinhua