National

President Paul Kagame has called on Rwandans wherever they live to desist from divisionism and work towards earning dignity for themselves and the countries they live in. The President made the remarks yesterday while addressing over 3,000 members of the Banyarwanda community and Friends of Rwanda living in Uganda.

HUYE — The National University of Rwanda has conferred honorary doctorate degrees to two prominent politicians and diplomats; Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Amb. Juma Mwapachu, former Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC)

Following his deportation from Canada, Léon Mugesera,  was on Thursday facilitated to call his family and lawyers back in Canada in a bid to search for a lawyer after he turned down the possibility for a local attorney, The New Times has learnt. With his initial appearance on the horizon, Mugesera has now requested the prosecution to grant him a month or two to get his own lawyer, Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said in an exclusive interview yesterday.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has confirmed plans to implement changes to the current gorilla permit rates by 50 percent with effect from 1st June, 2012. Charges for foreign non residents will increase to US$ 750 from US$500, whereas foreigners residing in Rwanda will be charged US$ 375 instead of US$250 to trek the gorillas.

In response to one of the resolutions adopted at the 2011 National Dialogue, regarding reduction of land lease fees, the districts of Kicukiro and Gasabo have set new rates, which are apparently more affordable for property owners.  According to the Mayor of Kicukiro, Paul Jules Ndamage, owners of land in residential areas, which are essentially planned as settlements, will pay Rwf 80 on each square metre annually, down from Rwf 120, which was also the maximum lease fees paid.

President Paul Kagame yesterday arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit scheduled to take place from January 29-30.

An Indian consultant firm, SRI SAI Group, is set to establish an institution of higher learning in the country early this year, according to one of the company’s officials.

HUYE-A total of 3,391 students yesterday graduated at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) 1,070 of them females. The students were awarded Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in various disciplines while a few others received diplomas.