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This event aimed to honor the hard work and commitment of ISCO security guards, who play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of BK’s smooth operations. Their dedication not only protects BK assets but also significantly contributes to a positive customer experience. The event provided a platform to formally acknowledge their contributions and celebrate their achievements.

The day commenced with a warm welcome and introduction by BK’s culture team, setting a festive tone for the event. Attendees enjoyed a hearty breakfast, followed by interactive sessions focused on customer experience best practices. These sessions were designed to refresh and enhance the guards’ skills in providing exceptional service to BK’s customers.

One of the highlights of the event was the recognition ceremony, where the top 10 ISCO security guards from various branches were honored for their exemplary performance. This gesture was a token of appreciation for their dedication and hard work.

The event featured engaging speeches from members of BK’s senior management, including Joseph Gondwe, Chief People and Culture, and Sarah Mutawogora, Head of Culture Transformation.

Their addresses highlighted the importance of customer experience and the invaluable role that security guards play in achieving BK’s goals.

'We appreciate the work that you do, providing security for our bank and being the first faces our customers see when they come to get our services. You are our front officers and true BK ambassadors,' said Joseph Gondwe, Chief People and Culture at Bank of Kigali.

ISCO’s senior management also took the stage, expressing their gratitude to BK for organizing the event and reaffirming their commitment to ongoing collaboration. The Director of Security Services, Ruhinda Charles, thanked BK for the amazing gesture of sharing Umuganura festivities with ISCO, noting that BK has many shareholders but chose ISCO to celebrate with them.

'Looking at the 30 years we have worked with BK, we have had the best collaboration, and this gesture today shows that we are going to continue to work together and reach more milestones with our collaboration,” he said.

The Human Resource Manager, Eric Muzungu, who was also present mentioned that ISCO prioritizes not only their clients but also their staff. He acknowledged the various challenges faced and the importance of recognizing and supporting their team.

This celebratory event is not just a one-time celebration but part of a continuous initiative to enhance customer experience and recognize the efforts of those who contribute to BK’s success.

Plans are already underway to extend this initiative to upcountry branches, ensuring that excellence is celebrated and encouraged throughout the organization.

The Umuganura event was a heartfelt and impactful celebration of the ISCO security guards’ dedication and hard work.

Bank of Kigali Plc. hosted the Umuganura fête on August 4th, 2024, at ISCO Headquarters.

This celebratory event is part of a continuous initiative to enhance customer experience and recognize the efforts of those who contribute to BK’s success.

Attendees enjoyed a hearty breakfast, followed by interactive sessions focused on customer experience best practices.

One of the highlights of the event was the recognition ceremony, where the top 10 ISCO security guards from various branches were honored for their exemplary performance.

IGIHE

Dr. Francis Habumugisha, the CEO of Mega Global Link, stated that the expansion aims to provide Canadian residents with easy access to products from around the world.

The first branch of the online market was recently opened in Rwanda and offers a variety of supplements, fitness equipment, and other services.

According to the CEO, the company plans to open offices in Toronto to expand its reach and help people invest using technology.

He highlighted that customers will be able to make their orders on the e-commerce platform and the products will be delivered promptly.

“Mega Global Market offers seven health products essential for men, women, and children to prevent diseases and assist those who are already sick. These products come from our various factories in China, America, and India,” the CEO explained.

The market also features seven types of fitness machines, including those that stimulate dormant body parts, stretch the spine, and provide massages from the feet upwards, among others.

“All of this is to promote better health, helping those with back pain and frequent illnesses. These products, previously available only in a store in Kigali, will soon be available in Toronto and New York City for easy access.”

The equipment will be shipped from China, America, and India.

Dr. Habumugisha mentioned that people can engage with Mega Global Market in various ways, including becoming customers of their products and services.

Another way to work with them is by representing them. You can invest money to take charge of one of the cities in Canada, receive products, supplements, and machines from their factories, and have them delivered under your account with your name, depending on your capacity.

He confirmed that they can also offer products to individuals with a gradual payment plan.

The Mega Global Link CEO also highlighted seven other services offered by the company, including assisting those who wish to study in different countries like America, Canada, and Europe; helping those who want to travel, work, or relocate in general.

“These are services needed by everyone. We used to assist you with these services without having offices in those countries.”

The employment matching service, previously available only in Europe, will now also be offered in Canada and the USA, as they will have offices there as well.

The first branch of the online market was recently opened in Rwanda and offers a variety of supplements, fitness equipment, and other services.

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The government’s decision to implement this change aims to reduce the high costs previously incurred by sending patients abroad for treatment. Instead, the focus has shifted to establishing these medical services locally.

This initiative has been achieved by bringing in experts from abroad to treat patients in Rwanda and to train Rwandan doctors, enabling them to perform these procedures independently in the future.

Figures from the Ministry of Health show that in 2018, the government provided financial support amounting to $402,900 for those seeking kidney transplants abroad.

In 2019, the amount was $278,900. The expenditure increased to $681,900 in 2020, $1,363,800 in 2021, and $2,727,800 in 2022. However, there has been no financial support allocated for such treatments abroad in 2023 and 2024.

Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana, the Head of the Department of Health Workforce Development at the Ministry of Health, told IGIHE that in addition to kidney diseases, Rwanda now offers treatment for cancer and heart diseases, reducing the need for patients to seek these treatments abroad.

“There are treatments and surgeries for heart conditions in both children and adults performed in Rwanda, aswell as cancer treatments. Currently, liver diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, hormonal diseases, prenatal conditions, and women’s health issues are also treated in Rwanda,” he said.

Dr. Nkeshimana emphasized that these diseases are treated in Rwanda by both local and international specialists, who also train students for three to four years. The goal is that in the near future, Rwandan doctors will handle these treatments independently.

“There are also 15 new courses starting in September, including training for respiratory and critical care,” he added.

Dr. Nkeshimana affirmed that the country’s strategy is to eliminate the need for Rwandans to seek treatment abroad by building local capacity, which has significantly reduced the number of patients traveling abroad for medical care.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that Rwanda has topped funding kidney treatments abroad.

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In recent years, the Rwandan government has significantly intensified efforts to improve healthcare services within the country. A key focus has been on strengthening hospitals to provide high-level care, ensuring that diseases previously requiring treatment abroad, such as cancer and kidney ailments, can now be treated within Rwanda.

Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana, Head of the Department of Health Workforce Development at the Ministry of Health, explained the strategy in an interview with IGIHE.

He emphasized that many medical programs previously necessitating foreign study are now available in Rwanda, allowing for comprehensive domestic training.

“Many programs that used to require students to study abroad are now available in Rwanda. We have the capacity to provide domestic training,” Dr. Nkeshimana stated.

“However, for collaborative purposes, there are still instances where foreign countries offer opportunities to train our students. For example, we have doctors training to become specialists in various fields here in Rwanda. For those we cannot accommodate, some countries take them on for training.”

Dr. Nkeshimana highlighted that the government is reducing the number of students sent abroad due to the issue of non-returning students.

“We sent some students to Canada, and they all stayed there. There are others from the University of Rwanda who were supposed to return and lead different medical departments but chose not to come back. This dishonesty is why we support domestic education, as they may face temptations while studying abroad.”

Efforts are also being made to enhance the capacity of various hospitals to become teaching hospitals, providing places for doctors to gain practical experience.

“The resources invested in those who study abroad can be used to train them here, yielding more benefits,” Dr. Nkeshimana noted. “We are building hospitals that will also serve as teaching hospitals, which significantly improves service delivery.”

Rwanda aims to increase the number of graduates from medical, nursing, and midwifery schools from 2,000 to 8,000 annually. This ambitious goal ensures a steady supply of well-trained healthcare professionals to meet the country’s needs, reinforcing Rwanda’s commitment to improving its healthcare system and retaining its homegrown medical talent.

Efforts are also being made to enhance the capacity of various hospitals to become teaching hospitals, providing places for doctors to gain practical experience.

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Irembo, in a recent statement, indicated that the partnership aims at empowering local talent thereby propelling Rwanda to the forefront of digital innovation.

The two institutions are collaborating on an ongoing internship program that comprises 28 interns, 16 of whom are from the prestigious coding academy.

Beneficiaries of the internship partnership between Irembo and Rwanda Coding Academy.

Irembo, responsible for building and maintaining the government’s one-stop service portal, said that the cohort of interns who joined the company in March 2024 is the largest so far.

The company praised the interns for the significant strides made over the last several months, which include building and testing more than 100 services on top of the IremboGov technology portal.

'Their efforts have substantially accelerated the delivery cadence of new services and further positioned IremboGov as the one-stop portal for government services,' the statement reads in part.

Irembo noted that the interns have also contributed to advancing the company’s AI initiatives through successful experimentations. These include chatbots to answer questions about IremboGov services, assistants to improve developer productivity, and natural language processing for analytics.

'The interns are cultivating valuable teamwork and problem-solving skills in a dynamic environment under the mentorship of Irembo’s seasoned engineers,' said the statement.

According to the company, the talent and skills shown by the interns reflect the high-quality education and training provided by RCA and the diverse expertise brought in through the professional internship program.

'Their work drives significant progress in Irembo’s projects, demonstrating the powerful synergy between academic learning, professional growth, and real-world application. This collaboration creates a dynamic and productive atmosphere, fostering innovation and excellence in all our initiatives,' Irembo noted.

Patrick Ndjientcheu, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at Irembo, affirmed that the ongoing partnership reflects shared vision to nurture the next generation of African tech peers.

'The interns’ achievements showcase their hard work, dedication, and the innovative spirit that drives us all. We are excited to continue this partnership, creating more opportunities for growth and innovation. Together, we are building a digitally empowered Rwanda,' Ndjientche stated.

Patrick Ndjientcheu is the Chief Product and Engineering Officer at Irembo.

Dr Papias Niyigena, Principal of Rwanda Coding Academy, also lauded the students’ contributions to Irembo’s Innovative projects.

He said the partnership highlights the strength of the institution’s curriculum and showcases students’ exceptional talent and potential.

'By collaborating with Irembo, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for our students to excel and drive technological advancements, ultimately contributing to Rwanda’s growth as a tech hub in Africa,' he said.

Irembo and Rwanda Code Academy are collaborating on an ongoing internship program that comprises 28 interns, 16 of whom are from the prestigious coding academy.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Tau, who refers taekwondo as a family sport, has made a name for herself by being the first taekwondo representative from her country Lesotho to qualify for the Olympics in 20 years. Her father John Tau, who passed away when she was young, was a national taekwondo legend.

The former beauty queen said she is upbeat after months of training, aiming to earn a medal in Paris.

'Everything is possible but it has not been easy to get to the Olympics. It requires a lot of sacrifices but with determination, dedication, prayer and good support, everything is possible,' noted Tau.

Mchezo, a Rwanda-based company which aims to invest in the future of sport and technology in Africa, has worked in partnership with the government of Lesotho in supporting Tau as she prepared to qualify for the Olympics.

Mchezo helped Tau to attend top taekwondo training sessions in Germany and Spain soon after she qualified for the Olympics in the women under 49 kg category.

Tau achieved the feat by winning at the African Qualifying tournament held in Dakar, Senegal over the weekend of 10-11 February 2024.

Her coach Hugo Tortosa, one of the youngest coaches at the Olympics aged just 24, said that her training this week will comprise 'very specific work ahead of the first fight.'

'In taekwondo you can only think about the first opponent because if you do not pass that round you cannot compete further, so we can’t think about other opponents at this time,' Tortosa added.

Mchezo Managing Director Ntoudi Mouyelo said he could not be more proud of Tau.
'From the moment we were first introduced to her to this date, we at Mchezo have never doubted her drive to excel. It was very clear from the beging that she was a cut above the rest, the kind of sports personality anyone can enjoy working with,' said Mouyelo.

About Mchezo:

Mchezo is a company focused on sports and talent development, responsible gaming and innovation with an aim of bringing dreams to life through diverse development projects across the continent.

As the BetPawa brand owner in Africa, Mchezo provides client services by offering a franchise to license holders. Its vision is to ensure compliance, transparency, development of the sector (betting, payments and monitoring) and investment.

About Michelle Tau:

Tau has been part of the Lesotho national team since 2013. She serves as the Female Taekwondo Anti-Doping Ambassador for Lesotho and Africa, a role promoting the importance of athletes staying healthy and drug-free.

As well as being a taekwondo champion, Tau is also a champion for women’s rights and makes it her mission to ensure that every girl and woman has the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves against gender-based violence.

Tortosa and Michelle in Senegal where she attended and competed in the Olympic Qualifiers.

Michelle Tau’s trainer Hugo Tortosa and Michelle Tau in Dakar, Senegal during the Olympic Qualifiers.

Tau during a training session ahead of the Olympics Qualifiers in February.

Michelle Tau’s trainer Hugo Tortosa & Michelle Tau in Dakar, Senegal during the Olympic Qualifiers.

Michelle Tau during one of her training sessions in Spain at the Club De Taekwondo Tortosa.

Mchezo MD Ntoudi Mouyelo

IGIHE

The fire started early Monday morning around 5 a.m. All the equipment used in daily operations, including garments, cotton, and other materials, were destroyed in the blaze.

Yves Ntabana, the Head of Corporate Affairs at C&D Products Rwanda, told IGIHE that the factory burned down completely. Everything inside was destroyed, including work tables, machines, fabric storage, and clothing materials.”

The fire was finally extinguished in the morning, although it took longer due to the factory’s large size.

In an interview, Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga confirmed the incident noting that the value of damaged valuables are yet to be determined.

“The fire started on the upper floor, not in the main factory area. The premises were locked, and no one was inside. A lot of property was damaged, but the extent is yet to be assessed. Fortunately, no one was injured, and no neighboring factories were affected. The cause of the fire is still unknown.”

C&D Products Rwanda is one of the leading textile manufacturers in Rwanda.

All the equipment used in daily operations, including garments, cotton, and other materials, were destroyed in the blaze.

Kigali-based Chinese textile factory has caught fire.

IGIHE

The discord reached a new low point on July 30, 2024, marking the end of Bert Versmessen’s three-year term as Belgium’s ambassador to Rwanda.

Jeune Afrique recently reported that Rwanda rejected Belgium’s latest ambassadorial nominee, a move that followed Belgium’s refusal to accept Vincent Karega, Rwanda’s designated envoy to Brussels.This Belgian diplomat had been proposed on December 11, 2023.

Rwanda’s refusal to approve this candidate led Belgium to withdraw the nomination on June 18, 2024. Consequently, Belgium is left without an ambassador in Kigali, and Rwanda has been without a representative in Brussels since Dieudonné Sebashongore’s departure over a year ago.

Despite the embassies’ continued operation, the atmosphere remains palpably tense. Rwanda’s government has accused Belgium of yielding to pressure from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country with which Rwanda has had a contentious relationship.

President Paul Kagame, in an interview with Jeune Afrique in March 2024, insisted that Rwanda would not nominate another ambassador unless Belgium clarified on why it had rejected Karega.

The president denounced Belgium’s actions as unacceptable and claimed they were influenced by the DRC’s demands.

Diplomatic experts suggest that the onus to mend the fractured relationship now lies with Belgium, which first rejected Karega without clear justification.

The strained ties are not entirely new; Belgium’s historical actions during and after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have long strained relations with Rwanda. This historical context, coupled with Belgium’s perceived attempts to exert colonial influence, has contributed to the ongoing tension.

For reconciliation, analysts assert that both political will and mutual respect are crucial. This diplomatic challenge echoes a similar situation from 2015 when Rwanda and France experienced strained relations. During that period, Rwanda refused to accept a new French ambassador until the relationship improved under President Emmanuel Macron.

As the diplomatic impasse continues, the path to restoring harmonious relations between Rwanda and Belgium remains uncertain, underscoring the complexities of international diplomacy shaped by both historical grievances and contemporary political dynamics.

Belgium is left without an ambassador in Kigali, and Rwanda has been without a representative in Brussels since Dieudonné Sebashongore’s departure over a year ago.

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“I am happy to announce that I will be visiting my second home, Rwanda, soon. I will attend Afande Kagame’s inauguration ceremony. It will be, without doubt, the biggest celebration in Africa this year,” Kainerugaba tweeted.

'My love for Rwanda is because it is my cherished homeland. I hold you dear, and may God bless you always,' he added.

The announcement has generated excitement on both sides. One social media user identified as Mwene Munana remarked, “You are welcome home, son of Kampala and Kigali. The long relationship between Rwanda and Uganda has been a beacon of development for both sister nations.”

Gareth Nshuti, a Kampala based businessman echoed the sentiment, saying, “We are grateful and look forward to further cooperation between our countries.”

Kainerugaba has previously played a crucial role in mending the strained relations between Rwanda and Uganda. His diplomatic efforts have been pivotal in restoring trust and fostering dialogue, leading to a significant improvement in bilateral ties.

President Kagame’s landslide victory in the recent elections sets the stage for his continued leadership. His inauguration symbolizes not only Rwanda’s progress but also the deepening ties with Uganda.

Over the past year, bilateral trade between the two nations has increased by 15%, reflecting growing economic collaboration.

Kainerugaba’s visit is seen as a testament to the enduring friendship and partnership between Rwanda and Uganda, promising a future of enhanced cooperation and mutual growth.

Gen Muhozi (right) with President Kagame during his visit to Rwanda in 2021.

Sam K Nkurunziza