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The in-kind donations were mobilized as per the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and under the supervision of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council.

The aid collection was organized by the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, with the participation of more than 4400 volunteers from various nationalities who packed 10000 baskets of supplies.

Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman, Board of Directors, the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, stressed the depth of the historical relations between the UAE and Lebanon, which, he said, has been evident today in the wide public participation in the activities to collect humanitarian relief aid for its people facing the crisis.

Al Mazrouei has also referred to the spirit of human solidarity that marks the diverse segments of the UAE society consisting of a wide variety of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities who rose to the occasion to extend a helping hand to the people of Lebanon in their difficult circumstance.

Around 24 donor and volunteer organizations participated in the activities of collecting relief aid at the cruise terminal in Abu Dhabi Ports. They are the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

Others include the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, the Ahmed bin Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Dubai Humanitarian, Dubai Cares, Sharjah Charity Association, the International Humanitarian City, the Big Heart Foundation and the Emirates Foundation.

Other volunteer organization involved in collecting the relief are the UAE Volunteers Foundation, the Sharjah Centre for Voluntary Work, the Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi Foundation for Humanitarian Work, the Fujairah Charity Association, the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, the International Charitable Works Organisation, the Emirates Charity Association, the Sharjah Charity House, the Dar Al Ber Society, the Dubai Charity Association, and the Day for Dubai.

‘UAE stands with Lebanon’ will run until October 21st.

EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY

IGIHE has learnt that Rees Kinyangi Lulu was taken into custody on October 2, 2024, in connection with misappropriated funds linked to Nobilis Hotel, a property owned by Sonarwa.

He was arrested along with the hotel’s accountant, Aisha Uwamahoro.

Their arrest was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, who stated, “It’s true. They are being investigated for embezzlement and the mismanagement of public assets.”

The case has been forwarded to the prosecution, although investigations are still ongoing.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sonarwa General Insurance, Rees Kinyangi Lulu, has been arrested.

IGIHE

The vaccines were delivered on Saturday, October 13, 2024, by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, which sent an initial shipment of 700 Marburg vaccine doses on October 5, nine days after Rwanda declared its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus.

The Ministry of Health rolled out vaccination efforts targeting frontline health workers on October 8.

The Sabin Vaccine Institute stated that the single-dose Marburg vaccine is being administered in accordance with clinical protocols reviewed and approved by Rwandan ethics and regulatory authorities.

The U.S.-based institution is currently conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for vaccines targeting both Marburg and Sudan ebolaviruses. As part of MARVAC, a WHO-coordinated consortium focused on developing vaccines for the Marburg virus, Sabin’s vaccine development is supported by BARDA, which has allocated $235 million to fund research and development for the filoviruses.

Rwanda has so far confirmed 61 cases of Marburg virus, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.

The virus is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

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.

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 Ministry of Health rolled out vaccination efforts targeting frontline health workers on October 8, 2024.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

By planting 100 trees, club members and other members of the local community on October 13, 2024 concluded the second phase of his ambitious tree-planting project.
This was organized at Groupe Scholaire du Mont Kigali popularly known as APACE in Munanira cell, Nyakabanda sector in Nyarugenge district.

This initiative, aimed at both nourishing the community and preserving the environment, saw enthusiastic participation from school children who were invited to take part in the exercise and learn about the benefits of tree planting.

Rotary Club of Kigali-Karasimbi members were joined by colleagues from sister clubs across the country

Addressing the young participants, the current president of the Rotary Club of Kigali Karasimbi, Satish Kumar, explained the vision behind the project;
'We started thinking about a project to have a plantation of 500 fruit trees and then founded a committee to identify a suitable location in Kigali where the local population can benefit while also supporting the environment,” he said.

Kumar highlighted that the club ultimately chose Nyakabanda as the ideal locations, confident that these efforts would contribute to both the health of the community and environmental preservation.
The tree-planting initiative extends beyond providing nutritious fruits like mangoes, oranges, and avocados. It also plays a significant role in supporting environmental sustainability.

'By planting more trees, we are not only providing oxygen but also future products like timber when the trees are ready for harvest. Additionally, deep-rooted trees help control soil erosion, particularly during heavy rains, by retaining the topsoil essential for agriculture,' Kumar noted.

Club members were joined by the public

The overall goal of the Rotary Club’s initiative is to plant 500 fruit trees in phases. This recent event follows the first phase, which took place on March 23, 2024, when 106 trees were planted in public spaces within primary and secondary schools.

The project is also supported by the Ministry of Environment, the High Commission of India, and external initiatives championed by Indian Prime Minister Modi.
'This is a good project, and we are also promoting a cultural tradition where individuals are encouraged to plant a tree in honor of their mothers, an idea further supported by the Prime Minister,' Kumar said.

Beyond local support, the project aligns with Rotary International’s broader mission of promoting community service and sustainability.
'We collect contributions from our members, some of which go to Rotary International, and use others through the Rotary Foundation to support worldwide initiatives. In projects like these, we also receive donations and services from sponsors, in addition to periodic annual contributions from our members,' Kumar added.

Founded on March 23, 2022, Rotary Club Karasimbi operates closely with its parent club, Rotary Club Virunga, and other associated clubs such as Rotary Club of Kigali Cosmopolitan, Rotary Club of Butare, and Rotary Club of Musanze, among others.

School Going Children participated in the tree planting exercise

During the event, Shaffy Kubwimana, a representative from Nyakabanda Sector, spoke about the importance of partnerships between non-governmental organizations and local authorities.
'The collaboration between NGOs and local authorities provides crucial support to various social welfare programs. By complementing the government’s budget, these collaborations help fast-track the execution of programs that uplift the well-being of our citizens,' he said.

With two phases now complete and more trees to be planted, the Rotary Club of Kigali Karasimbi continues to lead the way in creating a healthier, greener, and more sustainable future for the communities of Nyakabanda and Kimisagara.

Rotary Club of Kigali Karasimbi, Satish Kumar explained the vision behind the project.

Sam K Nkurunziza

The outbreak entered its third week on Saturday, October 12, 2024, following the confirmation of the first-ever cases in several health facilities in the country on Friday, September 27, 2024.

So far, the country has recorded 61 cases, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.

The Ministry of Health has been at the forefront of the response, implementing measures to contain the spread of this deadly hemorrhagic fever and protect public health.

The Ministry attributes its success in keeping cases and fatalities low to the establishment of a National Response Workforce. This multisectoral team is tasked with executing strategic objectives to manage and control the outbreak, minimizing transmissions and fatalities while protecting the health and dignity of communities across Rwanda.

According to the Ministry of Health, the National Response Workforce is organized into clusters, including communication, diagnostics, surveillance, evacuation, procurement, case management, strategic information, psychology, resource mobilization, operations, a call center, mobile vaccination clinics, and treatment facilities.

Currently, the response team is engaged in decontaminating infected areas, providing treatment to patients in designated centers, and addressing public concerns through the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) emergency number 114. Additionally, psychological experts on the team are tasked with offering counseling and psychosocial support to survivors and their families, aiding in rapid reintegration and combating stigma.

Currently, the response team is, among other activities, engaged in decontaminating infected areas.

During a visit to Rwanda on October 8, 2024, the Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, commended the country’s rapid and effective response to the Marburg outbreak. Dr. Kaseya lauded Rwanda’s efforts to contain the virus after touring the Marburg Command Post and meeting with Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana.

'Impressed by Rwanda’s swift, proactive response. The Africa CDC stands firmly with Rwanda, committed to safeguarding lives and stopping the spread,' Dr. Kaseya stated.

Following his visit to Kigali, Dr. Kaseya also condemned the decision by the United States government to issue a travel advisory against Rwanda over the Marburg virus outbreak, terming it unfair.

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 outbreak.

Dr. Kaseya criticized the advisory, insisting that decisions during the ongoing outbreak must be guided by scientific facts to avoid spreading panic.

'The decision taken by the U.S. government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,' he stated, reiterating that Rwanda had implemented satisfactory measures to contain the spread of the disease and that the risk of spreading the virus to another country was 'nearly zero.'

Some of the initial steps taken by the government at the onset of the outbreak included heightened contact tracing, suspending hospital visits, banning wakes and home vigils (locally known as Ikiriyo) for Marburg-related deaths, and limiting burials for Marburg deaths to a maximum of 50 people.

Additionally, all healthcare facilities were directed to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg virus disease, with strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

In recent days, the government has also rolled out other measures to reduce the risk of exporting cases to other countries, including mandatory symptom screening of all passengers departing from Kigali. Furthermore, the government has initiated the vaccination of public health workers and other high-risk groups.

The Ministry attributes its success in keeping cases and fatalities low to the establishment of a multi-sectoral National Response Workforce.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Mboweni passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2024, at the age of 65, after a short illness, according to a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government.

In his message of condolences on Sunday, Kagame praised Mboweni’s contributions to reforming the African Union (AU), stating that his legacy will transcend generations.

'Tito Mboweni was a giant voice for Africa and a champion of continental integration. His counsel was invaluable in the effort to reform the African Union, and in recent years, he dedicated his energy to implementing those reforms as chair of the AU Peace Fund. His legacy will live on for generations to come,' Kagame said in his message to Mboweni’s family, friends, and the people of South Africa.

Mboweni served as South Africa’s Minister of Finance under Ramaphosa from 2018 to 2021. He was an anti-apartheid activist in his youth and served as Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 under President Nelson Mandela.

Mboweni also made history as the first Black Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, serving from 1999 to 2009.

A frequent visitor to Kigali and an early member of the team tasked with reforming the African Union, Mboweni was a close ally of Rwanda. His work on the AU Reforms Steering Committee, led by President Kagame, focused on addressing the urgent need for institutional reforms to better position the AU for achieving its Agenda 2063 vision of inclusive economic growth and development across Africa.

Mboweni’s role extended to serving on the Board of Trustees for the African Union Peace Fund, which was key to financing peace support operations, mediation, and preventive diplomacy efforts. His involvement was instrumental in ensuring strategic governance of the Peace Fund, enhancing the AU’s capacity to manage conflicts and promote peace on the continent.

Ramaphosa earlier expressed shock over Mboweni’s passing, noting that he distinguished himself in strategic roles and was a flag bearer for South Africa’s economy on the global stage.

'We have lost a leader and compatriot who has served our nation as an activist, economic policy innovator, and champion of labor rights,' Ramaphosa said, emphasizing Mboweni’s significant role in shaping South Africa’s future, particularly during the final days of apartheid.

A frequent visitor to Kigali and an early member of the team tasked with reforming the African Union, Mboweni was a close ally of Rwanda.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The accident occurred around 10 PM, as the minibuses were returning from a wedding at Sainte Famille and heading towards Muhanga.

Confirming the accident, SP Kayigi Emmanuel, a spokesperson for the Traffic Police, said the rear minibus collided with a front minibus, causing the latter to veer off the road and crash into barriers.

The officer attributed the crash to excessive speeding by the driver of the rear minibus, particularly as they approached a downhill area.

At the time of the incident, both vehicles were carrying around 40 passengers. While three passengers were killed instantly, 37 others sustained injuries, with six reported to be in serious condition.

The injured were taken to various hospitals, with some sent to facilities in Kigali and others to Kabgayi Hospital. The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Kacyiru Hospital mortuary.

Following the tragedy, SP Kayigi urged drivers to exercise caution on the roads and emphasized the importance of passengers speaking up when drivers make unsafe choices. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured the public that the injured were receiving the necessary medical care.

The accident claimed the lives of three people.

IGIHE