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'Abanyabuzare ba Gicumbi muriyo? Muriyo njye? Mwebare kwija, nashemererwa kubareba omubwingi,' he said, throwing everyone into prolonged laughter and excitement.

This is translated as, 'How are you my relatives from Gicumbi? I hope you are well. I am happy to see you today in large numbers.'

Rwanda shares a border with Uganda at Gatuna (Gicumbi district) and Rukiga is the local language used in Kabale, the border town on the Ugandan side.

While in Gicumbi, Kagame held an interactive discussion with various content creators at Mulindi, where RPF and its army wing, RPA, were headquartered during the liberation struggle in the 1990s.

He later hit the campaign trail where he thanked supporters for tirelessly participating in the development of their district.

Kagame told the gathered residents, mainly from Gicumbi, Rulindo, and Burera districts how he had fondly missed them and thanked them for coming out in large numbers to support him.

He reminded them that on July 15, 2024, there would be the task of electing the President, he had all his hopes in them to make the right choice.

The incumbent head of state explained to the residents that the elections signify the continued journey of building Rwanda for the past 30 years, which is based on maintaining the security of this country.

He said, “Building ourselves starts with security, protecting what we build and protecting our people. Development is based on good ideas and governance that leaves no one behind. In the politics of the RPF and the other political parties we work with, we leave no one behind and invite everyone to participate in activities that promote personal and national growth.”

Kagame noted that poverty, ignorance, and disease had ended with those who had destroyed the country many years ago, stressing that the youth, in particular, had a very crucial role in building the country.

He implored them to work together to bring Rwanda to the level of development of advanced countries.

He recalled being in Gicumbi while leading the struggle to liberate Rwanda that began in 1990, thanking them for sticking to the true principles of good governance.

'You are building the city, and I have been told that most of you are engaging in modern farming. But let me tell you, the best is yet to come! That is where we are headed,' he said.

In his keynote address, Kagame told the people of Gicumbi that the development they desire is within reach, thanks to their cooperation, strength, intelligence, and knowledge, especially from the youth.

The residents also responded in the affirmative. “We are Kagame’s lions and forever we shall be,' they chanted.

A resident of Gicumbi and member of the RPF Inkotanyi, Mukarwego Alphonsine, conveyed greetings from fellow parents to the Head of state, who responded in acceptance assuring them of his commitment to move the country forward.

He said, “You will not lack anything from us. You have worked hard, after that voting day, kindly invite me back and I will not hesitate. I will come back to celebrate with you. The bond we together remains the same.'

Over 250,000 residents gathered to hear from the President and all of them left overjoyed and excited.

During his campaign on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, RPF Inkotanyi Presidential candidate Paul Kagame threw supporters into prolonged exuberant excitement and laughter when he started addressing them in Rukiga, a local dialect used in Uganda.

Sam K Nkurunziza

Ministers drawn from eight EAC member states were in Zanzibar for a three-day retreat to deliberate on ways to foster sustainable peace, enhance security cooperation, and strengthen relationships among partner states. Rwanda was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and the Minister of State in charge of Regional Cooperation, James Kabarebe.

The ministers expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has escalated tension between the DRC and Rwanda.

The two countries have been at loggerheads in recent years over accusations of supporting armed groups to destabilise each other’s territories. The Rwandan leadership has often questioned the DRC government’s support for the FDLR militia which comprises remnants of the Interahamwe group that perpetrated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. On the other hand, the DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 militia, claims the government has refuted.

At the conclusion of the retreat, the ministers issued a joint statement acknowledging that the viable path to sustainable peace and security in eastern DRC is through a political process. They recommended the convening of a summit of the EAC heads of state to breathe new life into the EAC-led Nairobi peace process.

The Nairobi peace process focuses on resolving internal conflict in the DRC, exacerbated by armed groups including the M23 and FDLR. It aims to achieve peace through dialogue between the DRC government and these armed groups operating in the eastern part of the country.

On the other hand, the Luanda process, led by Angolan President João Lourenço, aims to address the external dimension of the conflict, fueled by the militia counter-accusations. The initiative aims to promote the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

As part of efforts to resolve the DRC-Rwanda conflict, foreign ministers from both countries agreed to meet at the earliest opportunity to address the interstate dispute in line with the EAC partner framework.

The EAC also stated that the ministers of Rwanda and Burundi had agreed to meet by October 31, 2024, to discuss issues affecting their bilateral relations, which resulted in Burundi shutting its border with Rwanda earlier this year. President Évariste Ndayishimiye accuses Rwanda of backing the DRC-based armed group Red Tabara against his government, claims the Paul Kagame-led administration has refuted on several occasions.

Meanwhile, the EAC ministers also appreciated the humanitarian truce negotiated by the United States of America and recommended that the truce be extended indefinitely.

Ministers drawn from eight EAC member states were in Zanzibar for a three-day retreat to deliberate on ways to foster sustainable peace, enhance security cooperation, and strengthen relationships among partner states.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Speaking ahead of his campaign rally in Gicumbi District, the RPF-Inkotanyi Presidential candidate disclosed that it was the Late Fred Gisa Rwigema who was supposed to be sent to the US for military training. Kagame was meant to go to Nigeria.

Ugandan authorities had picked Fred for the opportunity but it coincided with an existing plan by Rwandan refugees serving in the Ugandan army to initiate a liberation struggle in the early ’90s.

As then, Rwigema decided to decline the opportunity and preferred to stay behind to lead the newly formed military wing of the RPF with a sole aim of toppling the Genocidal regime of the Juvenal Habyarimana.

'That’s how I ended up going to the US,' Kagame said during the interaction with various content creators at Mulindi, where RPF and its army wing, RPA, were headquartered.

Several Rwandans held senior ranks in the military at the time and the Ugandan authorities plotted to send them for training in different countries as part of what President Kagame termed as a plot to destabilize their mission to liberate their own motherland.

'It was not me who was supposed to go for that course. I remember even when I arrived, I had to change the documents because everything was registered in Fred Rwigema’s names,' he disclosed.

'When we started organizing, the Ugandans got to know about it. We were doing it discreetly and even encouraging Rwandans from other parts to join the army. Some of us had had the opportunity of being part of the struggle from the beginning,' he recalls.

According to him, the Ugandan system wanted to disorganize their initial plan by sending the top four Rwandan commanders to attend courses outside the country.

Apart from him and Rwigema, Kagame said, “Peter Baingana was destined for Russia while Chris Bunyenyezi was supposed to be sent to some other place but we all agreed to go by our initial plans otherwise we would have to wait for another five years or something,'

He noted that when his group got to know about it, they decided to act fast. 'I talked with Fred and encouraged him not to go anywhere.'

After declining the offer, Rwigema had to be replaced with Kagame.

“Of course, it created a bit of trouble but in the end, he was told that since he had rejected, then I had no choice but to go. They said it had to be either him or me,' he recalls.

To Kagame, this was a clear indication that authorities in the Ugandan army wanted the two separated. They thought if they got rid of one, they would create problems for the other.

'I went back and told Fred that our secrete plans had been discovered. So to avoid a possibility of going to jail, I just accepted the offer otherwise I also did not want,' he reminisces.

He further encouraged Rwigema to go ahead with the plans, promising to find his way back once the implementation stage came.

Unfortunately Rwigema died on the second day of the liberation struggle on October 2, 1990.

His unfortunate death Rwigema forced Kagame to cut short his training in the US and returned to take on the mantle as the leader of struggle.

The RPA forces settled at Mulindi in Gicumbi District, where they established their base. It was at this location that Kagame and the content creators toured and held a conversation ahead of the RPF Inkotanyi presidential candidate’s campaign in the area on Tuesday July 9, 2024.

As a matter of fact, prominent RPF Inkotanyi politicians and senior RPA military officers all stayed at Mulindi during the liberation struggle.

During Tuesday’s engagement, Kagame described an emotional incident when he stayed with his firstborn son, Ivan, in the house for about a week to bond with him.

'When Habyarimana’s plane crashed, the boy was here with me,' Kagame recalled.

All the strategies and meetings that helped the RPA liberate Rwanda, and the ideas used in the Arusha peace talks, were conceived in the area famously known as ‘Umulindi w’Intwari’.

When the Genocide against the Tutsi began on April 7, 1994, it was from this area that the RPA forces emerged to stop it, making Gicumbi among the first districts where RPA forces halted the genocide.

To preserve the liberation history, the National Liberation Museum Park was established at Umulindi w’Intwari to honour the RPA’s fight.

IGIHE

In a statement released Monday, July 8, 2024, the Office of the Government Spokesperson said that nothing will stand in their way while trying to find solutions to the global migration crisis.

'We remain committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country,” the government stated.

Rwanda remains unbothered because they have done everything in their means to support the UK in dealing with the crisis of irregular migration despite little appreciation.

“This partnership was initiated by the Government of the UK in order to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK. It’s a problem of the UK, not Rwanda,' the statement reads in part.

Despite the setback and frustration towards Rwanda’s unwavering desire to offer support in solving some of the world’s most challenging problems, the government will not be deterred from showing genuine kindness, empathy, and positive intentions towards others.

“Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis,' the government said.

Recently, the new UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced a decision to terminate the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.

The migration scheme aimed to deter illegal migrants from arriving in the UK via small boats across the English Channel.

The scheme was first announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson following successful negotiations with the Rwandan government. However, the implementation of the policy was derailed by court battles and opposition from the House of Lords, which pushed for several amendments.

Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, had earlier announced that the first flights would depart to Rwanda after the recently concluded polls in which he lost.

This commitment to solving challenges involving immigrants is a testament to the lessons learnt from Rwanda’s history and experiences in which most of its citizens lived many years as immigrants and refugees in other countries due to the insecurity that rocked the country for decades prior to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a statement released Monday, July 8, 2024, the Office of the Government Spokesperson said that nothing will stand in their way while trying to find solutions to the global migration crisis.

'We remain committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country,” the government stated.

Rwanda remains unbothered because they have done everything in their means to support the UK in dealing with the crisis of irregular migration despite little appreciation.

“This partnership was initiated by the Government of the UK in order to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK. It’s a problem of the UK, not Rwanda,' the statement reads in part.

Despite the setback and frustration towards Rwanda’s unwavering desire to offer support in solving some of the world’s most challenging problems, the government will not be deterred from showing genuine kindness, empathy, and positive intentions towards others.

“Rwanda has fully upheld its side of the agreement, including with regard to finances, and remains committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis,' the government said.

Recently, the new UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced a decision to terminate the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda.

The migration scheme aimed to deter illegal migrants from arriving in the UK via small boats across the English Channel.

The scheme was first announced in April 2022 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson following successful negotiations with the Rwandan government. However, the implementation of the policy was derailed by court battles and opposition from the House of Lords, which pushed for several amendments.

Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, had earlier announced that the first flights would depart to Rwanda after the recently concluded polls in which he lost.

This commitment to solving challenges involving immigrants is a testament to the lessons learnt from Rwanda’s history and experiences in which most of its citizens lived many years as immigrants and refugees in other countries due to the insecurity that rocked the country for decades prior to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The financing agreement was signed by Rwanda’s Finance Minister, Yusuf Murangwa, and Italy’s Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto.

The funds will be made available through the Italian Climate Fund, managed by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) bank.

The financing is part of the Italian Mattei Plan’s energy security approach towards Africa and aims to support Rwanda’s National Climate Action Plan and to bolster Rwanda’s climate policy agenda by enhancing its resilience and adaptive capacity to the impact of global warming.

The Ministry of Finance, however, noted that the allocated resources will be made available upon the achievement of policy and institutional reforms that will 'integrate aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation into the policy and regulatory framework'.

The reforms, the ministry added, will be essential to achieve the national targets for carbon emission reduction.

“Rwanda has placed climate action at the core of its development agenda, as evidenced by our National Determined Contributions (NDCs). To effectively implement the mitigation and adaptation measures outlined in the NDCs, financial, capacity building and technology transfer are essential. Therefore, the agreement we have signed today will significantly contribute to this endeavour, estimated at US$ 11 billion,' Murangwa remarked.

The Italian minister, on his part, expressed confidence in the investment addressing primary drivers of climate-related hazards.

“Italy, through the Climate Fund, continues its efforts to create the best conditions for growth on the African continent. With Rwanda, we will invest in planning, which is necessary to address the major climate issues affecting that region,' the minister stated.

The financing is part of a broader partnership involving multilateral and bilateral financing institutions. These include the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which provided a $319 million Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) agreement to Rwanda in 2022. Other partners include the World Bank Group, the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and other European development financing institutions through the Team Europe Initiative.

Rwanda’s climate action journey has been quite remarkable as it was one of the first countries to ban plastic bags in 2008 and single-use plastics in 2019. Under the country’s Vision 2050, Rwanda has a bold vision to become a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient economy by the middle of the century.

The government has an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, equivalent to an estimated mitigation of up to 4.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e).

The country’s efforts to limit its contribution to climate change and adapt to the consequences of a warming planet over the next decade are estimated at US $11 billion, made up of $5.7 billion for mitigation, and $5.3 billion for adaptation.

Rwanda secures $31 million funding from ICF

The Rwandan government recently also secured $31 million (approximately RWF 40 billion) to bolster its fight against climate change.

The funding is part of a $61 million investment approved by the governing board of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) under the Nature, People, and Climate (NPC) investment program to support climate change interventions in the Dominican Republic and Rwanda.

CIF said the funding will help address systemic challenges holding back vulnerable populations in the Kaduha-Gitwe corridor and also support the launch of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Bond, an innovative capital market structured bond to promote biodiversity, including endangered chimpanzees. Both projects are implemented by the World Bank and co-financing of up to $283 million is expected.

In the Kaduha-Gitwe corridor, the plan will prioritize the restoration of degraded land and the sustainable management of forests and wetlands.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The pledge translates into the creation of at least 680 jobs per day with a special focus on women and youth, according to the ruling party’s five-year manifesto.

The plan entails a stronger collaboration with the private sector to boost productivity and economic growth over the 2024-2029 period.

Available statistics indicate that the job creation rate has been on an upward trajectory over the last seven years. This is despite the measures put in place to protect the health of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily halted some economic activities.

“By the year 2024, a total of 1,200,000 jobs have been created, representing 80% of the planned target,” the manifesto reads in part.

To achieve the new target, the RPF party plans to continue promoting technical and language skills, improving job market readiness, and supporting entrepreneurs to access capital.

“There will be increased efforts to facilitate small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing capital and enhancing project management skills to create more jobs,” the manifesto adds.

Additionally, the RPF plans to establish a mechanism to increase the number of jobs generated by large projects in various sectors, leveraging existing economic opportunities such as Bugesera International Airport, which is expected to start operations by 2028, Nyagatare Milk Plant, and the newly refurbished Amahoro Stadium.

Other efforts include the creation of a system that would simplify the exchange of information between employers and job seekers.

RPF further commits to promoting and forging partnerships aimed at increasing knowledge and job opportunities in the national, regional, and international job markets through economic diplomacy.

Innovations

The ruling party pledges to improve programs that develop technology and science projects, fostering innovation that creates jobs. The Kagame administration also commits to intensified efforts to create new jobs in cross-border services and the creative industry.

If re-elected the RPF administration also promises to enhance the capacity of professional associations and skill providers (sector skills councils) so that the private sector can collaborate with skill providers to identify and focus on job market needs.

Partnerships between the public and private sectors will also be prioritised to help the youth gain practical experience and learn on the job.

Part of the RPF administration’s plan to create new jobs includes expanding local industries with the output projected to grow by at least 13 percent annually until 2029.

To minimise expenditure on imports, plans are underway to set up a glass manufacturing plant for construction materials and bottles for beverage industries.

Further, the party pledges to increase the capacity of existing industries processing agricultural and livestock products with focus being on adding value to products for both domestic and international markets.

At least three new pharmaceutical industries producing medicines and other medical supplies will be established within the next five years.

Other projects include the establishment of a lithium processing plant to add value before export, alongside improvements in the processing of other valuable minerals like gemstones. A plant for manufacturing ceramics, tiles, and other related products is also among the pledges.

The unemployment rate in Rwanda stood at 12.9 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2024, according to the Labour Force survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).

The unemployment rate dropped by 4.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. NISR said the significant decline brought back the unemployment rate to the pre-COVID-19 estimate of 13.1 per cent.

The latest trend shows that in the first quarter of 2024, one person was unemployed for every eight people in the labour force.

According to the report, gender disparities persist in unemployment, with females experiencing a higher rate at 14.5 per cent compared to males at 11.5 percent.

Furthermore, youth face a notably higher unemployment rate of 16.6 percent compared to adults at 10.3 percent.

Part of the RPF administration’s plan to create new jobs includes expanding local industries with the output projected to grow by at least 13 percent annually until 2029.

Wycliffe Nyamasege