The Minister of Local Government James Musoni, early this week, pointed out that sports and decentralization, as a form of governance, complement one another in the achievement of good governance. Musoni made the remarks while addressing a meeting on effective decentralization in East Africa which brought together local authorities from the region. Musoni told the delegates that the preference for decentralization had resulted in the country’s transformation from a failed state 17 years ago, to its current standing today.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister in the Office of the President in charge of Kampala Capital City, Kabakumba Matsiko, said local governments are the building blocks of the community, stating that they must be encouraged to participate and strengthen EALASCA. The regional games, have been on for the third year running, assemble various sporting teams from the EAC member states as a way of interaction.

Kagame to receive Uganda’s ‘Life Achievement Award’

President Paul Kagame will, this month, receive an award in Kampala, Uganda for his outstanding contribution towards the empowerment of youth in Africa. The award will be presented to the President during the Young Achievers Awards (YAA), ceremony slated for December 11, in Kampala. His Uganda counterpart, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to attend. The award is given to an outstanding senior citizen who has greatly inspired the young generation to desire for change and a better life, works for it and appreciates the consequences for the processes involved.  The 3rd edition of the annual YAA is expected to draw over 700 delegates, among them activists, philanthropists, and corporate organizations.

Over 70 released from Kibungo prison

72 prisoners in Kibungo Prison convicted for various crimes were early in the week released on parole following a recent cabinet directive granting early discharge of 1,667 prisoners. Several of the inmates’ relatives and friends who attended the event shed tears of joy as they hugged and embraced their family members. According to Ivan Habimana, the Director of Kibungo Prison, most of those released had demonstrated good behaviour. He added that those freed were common law prisoners, adding that most of them had served between four and five years. Habimana noted that the release was an ordinary practice, since Rwandan prisons are correctional centres, where convicts are expected to be rehabilitated and later re-integrate into society.

Nyagatare bars to close by 7pm

Revellers in Rwempasha Sector, Nyagatare District will have to leave bars by 7pm to avoid falling in trouble with local authorities. This was one of the resolutions reached at a recent security meeting, convened to explore ways of curbing crime ahead of the forthcoming festive season.The meeting directed bar owners in the area to always close their business at 7pm. At the meeting that brought together local leaders, village heads were asked to be more vigilant to prevent smuggling of illicit brew through porous borders. Rwempasha connects Nyagatare with neighbouring Ntungamo district in Uganda and is notorious for dealing in the illicit brew.

Police cited as most corrupt in the region

Police forces are perceived as the most corrupt body among six institutions surveyed in each of the eight countries in the eastern Africa region, according to a report by anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI). The Global Corruption Barometer was conducted by the watchdog between 2010 and 2011 in countries that included Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, DRC, Uganda and Kenya. The survey looked at institutions like the police, judiciary, customs, registry and permit services, land services, medical services, tax revenue, utilities and education systems. The corruption prevalence within police ranked 47 percent followed by judiciary at 40 percent and customs departments at 38 percent. The survey aimed at exploring the general public’s views about corruption levels in their countries and their government’s efforts to fight graft. According to the report, 54 percent of people surveyed in the regional countries reported to have paid a bribe in the past 12 months.

 Senator Bizimana elected chair, Amani-Rwanda

The Annual General Assembly of Amani Forum Rwanda, mid this week, unanimously elected Senator Jean Damascene Bizimana, as the new Chairperson of the parliamentary Forum. He replaces Denis Polisi, who has been at the helm of the Forum for the last two years. Bizimana, 49, holds a PhD in Law. He is also a lecturer at the National University of Rwanda. Amani Forum is a parliamentary initiative working to build peace and mitigate conflict in the Great Lakes Region, and has national chapters in at least 10 regional countries.

Six miners perish in landslide

A landslide Tuesday evening at Nyagisozi mining site in Busogo Sector in Musanze District killed six people who were illegally mining wolfram and cassiterite. Five of the bodies have been recovered and one person rescued. The incident occurred at the mining site which had been abandoned by MINECA cooperative, and the site had been blacklisted as dangerous. According to the Sector Executive Secretary, Jean Damascene Iyamuremye, all the victims were residents of Kavumu cell.

Rwandans in Europe on the alert following embassy attack in Paris

The Government of Rwanda is urging the Rwandan community in Europe to be more vigilant following a botched attempt Tuesday night by unknown assailants to set ablaze the Rwandan embassy in Paris, France. An unknown number of arsonists threw Molotov cocktails at the mission’s premises. No one was injured in the attack and the damages incurred during the attack are minor. Calling the attack "unusual”, the Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told The New Times by email that Rwanda contacted the French government, requesting and receiving 24-hour police protection for the embassy. Commenting on the possible motives for the attack, the Foreign Minister said that the French Security services suspect Congolese citizens disgruntled with the recently concluded presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo were behind the attack. During President Paul Kagame’s recent official visit to Paris, some Rwandans were targeted by Congolese citizens living in France.

Ends