Two killed in grenade explosion

At least two people died and 18 were injured when a grenade exploded Tuesday evening in Marembo village, Nyabisindu cell in Remera, Gasabo District. The explosion happened at around 6:40pm. The injured were immediately rushed to various hospitals in Kigali, including  Kibagabaga, Kanombe  Military Hospital, Kacyiru police Hospital  and the University Teaching  Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) the police spokesperson Theos Badege, said that more details will emerge as investigations continue.

Public welcomes new travel documents

Residents of Nyagatare, Muhanga and Gatsibo have welcomed the issuance of a new electronic travel document, commonly known as Laissez-passer. On Tuesday the office of Immigration and Emigration launched the official issuance of the ultra modern Laisser-passer that will enable residents to even travel to the newly established Republic of South Sudan. The document has validity of two years. According to Fred Bayingana the head of Immigration and Emigration Nyagatare and Gatsibo Districts, the new travel document will facilitate Rwandans to freely extend their travel to six countries, including South Sudan. The new document will supplement the ordinary passports which have a validity of five years.

New Year babies

At least ten babies were on New Year’s Day delivered in four main hospitals around Kigali City, six of whom were girls. Muhima Hospital registered the highest number of births with four girls and three boys. King Faisal only had one baby born on the first day of the year.

Forbes lists Kagame among top African personalities

President Paul Kagame has been named among the 2011 personalities by the Forbes Africa Magazine and among the 70 most powerful people on the planet. According to December 2011-January 2012 edition, President Kagame is named along with 20 other most influential African personalities. Prominent on the list are noble laureates, activists, politicians and economists.     Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, emerged as the most powerful person in Africa. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Pedro Veron Pires, former President of Cape Verde, the late Professor Wangari Mathai, Nobel Prize Kenyan environmental and political activist also features on the list. Kagame was named in the list due to the fact that he spearheaded Rwanda’s transformation after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi which has led the country to become one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

Multimedia academy to open next month

The Africa Digital Multimedia Academy, which is supported by Pixel Corps, US-based digital media firm, will next month open its doors, according to a top official at the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) based in Kigali. The academy will focus on quality video and film production, basic production skills such as computer graphics, shooting/editing, and audio lighting. The school will be located in the structure of Kigali Insititute of Science and Technology (KIST) the government will fund the academy, while Pixel Corps will provide the requisite technology.

FDLR rebels kill 39 Congolese

The New Year started in distress for Congolese civilians as militia members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) butchered at least 39 people while 13 others were injured, between Monday and Wednesday, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The latest attacks took place in the villages of Luyuyu, Ngolombe and Kishenya in the locality of South Bamuguba in Shabunda, South Kivu Province. The DRC Armed Forces, FARDC, are reportedly strengthening their presence in the areas as remote villages have been targeted by the militia since the beginning of January. FARDC Spokesperson in South Kivu, Lt. Col. Vianney Kazalama, told The New Times on Thursday that the militia killed many civilians and fled to the surrounding Shabunda forest. For the past 17 years, FDLR, which is composed of some elements responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, has a history of attacking civilians, killing, raping, pillaging and disintegrating families in the DRC. The continued slaughter of i
nnocent civilians comes just days after the release of FDLR leader Callixte Mbarushimana by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

NGO to train needy families in health, business

A pro-poor organisation, Francoise Xavier Bagnoub (FXB), is about to complete a vocational skills project for 80 needy families in Rubavu District. FXB, which supports poor people such as orphans and widows, has so far assisted over 320 families to develop skills in health, education and business development, among others, over the last three years. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), contributed over Rwf 100 million for FXB’s project last year. Berthilde Muruta, the head of FXB branch in Rubavu said that the targeted beneficiaries are orphans who enrolled in both vocational and secondary schools. FXB operates in the districts of Rubavu, Muhanga, Nyamagabe and Kigali.

Governance Month to address public concerns

The Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, has said that the Governance Month will tackle all the matters and complaints raised by ordinary citizens in their respective communities. He made the remarks while addressing journalists about the target audience, opportunities, objectives, activities and the outcomes of the Governance Month. The programme that kicked off on December 13 assesses and strengthens good governance through service delivery and demands of ordinary citizens that need further improvement. Musoni said that whenever the Head of State visits several areas of the country, citizens always raise many complaints regarding their social affairs, disclosing that the exercise will look into such concerns and find possible solutions. The Minister added that during the period, much emphasis will be put on raising awareness among citizens on other key governance related issues such as transparency and accountability, anti-corruption mechanisms, savings culture, among others.

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