Weekly review

Rwanda to benefit from the Northern Corridor fund Rwanda is set to benefit from regional funding to expand and interconnect key regional transport corridors in a bid to increase intra-trade among Common Market for Eastern southern Africa (COMESA) member countries. The fund is part of three signed programmes between the European Union (EU) and COMESA to facilitate the bloc’s economic integration process. The 10th European Development Fund (EDF) worth Euro 45 million will connect Kigali-Gatuna, and the Rwanda-Uganda Northern corridor. Prosecution seeks 35-years sentence for Kayumba, Rudasingwa Military prosecutors, on Monday, requested the Military High Court to sentence Lt.Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and Maj.Theogene Rudasingwa to 35-years each in prison. The Kanombe based court, presided over by Brig.Gen Peter Bagabo, has set the ruling for January 14. Prosecutor, Capt. Fidel Mubirigi, added that Nyamwasa, Rudasingwa, Patrick Karegeya and Gerald Gahima, jointly face six charges including threatening state security, undermining public order, promoting ethnic divisions, and insulting the person of the President of the republic. The prosecution pushed for a 30 years sentence for the four and extra five for Nyamwasa and Rudasingwa, for deserting the Army. It also wants the duo dismissed with disgrace from the army. Umurabyo Journalist appear in court Two journalists of the controversial weekly tabloids Umurabyo, Agnes Nkusi Uwimana the editor and her co-writer, Saidath Mukakibibi were on Wednesday charged before the high court with threatening state security by publishing material with an aim of inciting public disorder and creating ethnic divisions. The duo arrested in July last year and subsequently denied bail, pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution asked court to sentence Uwimana to a total of 33 years in prison for all the crimes and a fine of Rwf 800,000. On the other hand prosecution asked court to sentence Mukakibibi to 10 years in prison for threatening state security and 2 years for promoting ethnic divisions as well as a fine of Rwf 200, 00. The verdict will be read on February 4. Ntaganda case kicks off The case involving the embattled leader of a faction of PS-Imberakuri, Bernard Ntaganda, and six other people kicked off on Thursday at the High Court despite two of his co-accused being absent. Ntaganda, who was denied bail by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, is charged with organization of a terrorist group, threatening state security and inciting ethnic divisionism. He is also accused of organizing an illegal gathering. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the two who were absent, Theobald Mutarambwira and Martin Ntavuka escaped to a neighboring country. The two, who had been arrested in separate incidents, had been released on bail before they escaped. In the case heard last year by the Nyarugenge Court, Ntaganda was denied bail on grounds that the charges he was facing were of a serious nature. 5.4 Million to vote in grassroots polls The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has released tentative figures of registered voters who will cast their votes in forthcoming local leaders’ elections, which indicate that, 5,417,886 people have so far been registered. The elections are scheduled to take place between February and March and according to the Executive Secretary of NEC, Charles Munyaneza, the number is expected to either decrease or increase, after the updating of the lists. The first phase of elections will be held on February 6, and Rwandans will be electing their leaders at the village level (Umudugudu). The local leaders’ elections will be followed by those of special categories including representatives of the youth, women and the disabled who will be elected from the cell to the national level. Rukarara Hydro Project completed Rukarara Small Hydro Power Project has been fully completed at a cost of $23.5m, injecting between 2.5MW to 6MW into the national electricity grid. In an interview with The New Times, the State Minister for Energy Eng. Colletha Ruhamya, said that the plant located in Nyamagabe District in the Southern Province, started producing electricity in December last year. The power generated from the plant is connected through a newly constructed 8 km single circuit 30 KV transmission line directly to an existing Medium Voltage line to the national network. At its designed maximum capacity, the power plant can contribute about 11% of the total national capacity. Ends