Weekly review

Wikileaks did not affect Rwanda’s standing – Kagame President Paul Kagame, Tuesday, said that the revelations by Wikileaks have not affected Rwanda’s standing, in any way, since there was nothing compromising or unprincipled on the part of the government or the leadership. The President, made the remarks during the monthly news conference held at Village Urugwiro. President Kagame, however, emphasized that the revelations by Wikileaks could not harm the good diplomatic ties with the United States, stating that, though the information leaked was confidential, there were no bad intention on the part of the US government. Rwandan Genocide suspect on trial in Germany The Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga, has commended the ongoing trial in Germany of Onesphore Rwabukombe, a Genocide suspect, saying it’s a good progress. Rwabukombe is the first Rwandan to be charged by a German court for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and his trial began on Monday. Rwabukombe, a former Mayor of Muvumba Commune, currently in the Eastern Province, is accused of murder, Genocide and incitement to commit both crimes. He went to Germany in 2002 and Federal officials first charged him in august 2010 over his alleged involvement in the Genocide. RDRC commissions 350 houses for ex-combatants The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) on Tuesday launched a programme to build 350 housing units for severely disabled ex-combatants. The construction project was launched in Muyumbu sector of Rwamagana district in the Eastern Province where fifty-four housing units are being constructed. The project has also benefited from the Rwanda Defence Forces which provided them with brick-laying machines, trucks and water tanks, while police offered manpower. The New Times ranked among top newspapers in Africa The New Times, has been ranked among the most widely read newspapers from the African continent, with its on-line edition placing at 25th out of the 50 top most popular newspaper websites. The survey was carried out by an Australian based firm, 4International Media & Newspapers (4imn), an international directory and search engine that focuses on worldwide newspapers including 7,000 newspapers ranked by web popularity in 200 countries globally. In a recent release which ranks global newspapers in 2010 basing on the above criterion, The New Times ranked 25th out of 50 top continental papers in which Egypt’s Al-Ahram came first followed by The Times and Mail & Guardian Online (both from South Africa) in the second and third place respectively. RBS bans importation of used underwear The Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) has imposed a ban on the importation and selling of second hand nightwear and undergarments for health reasons, the importation of substandard products and using the country as dumping ground as the reasons. The garments that face the ban include; used night dresses, hospital gowns, ladies and gents’ underwear, brassieres, and vests. The ban comes into effect February 1. According to RBS, the second hand undergarments come from Europe, America, and a small number from some North African countries. Rwanda is a world model - Global Evidence Global Evidence and Policy, an organization that aims at reducing newborn deaths in countries with high-mortality rates, has commended Rwanda’s solid effort towards achieving health related MDGs. The recognition follows the recent ranking of Rwanda as one of the leading countries in allocating high domestic budget to the health sector where it out competed the developed countries. Children rescued from the DRC re-united with their familiesOver ten ex-child combatants were on Wednesday, reunited with their families at Duha Children Rehabilitation centre in Rwamagana District. The children were rescued from the rebel groups fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to David Munyurangabo, a commissioner in the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, the children completed a rehabilitation programme before joining their families. The colourful ceremony was also attended by Maj Gen Paul Rwarakabije, also a commissioner at RDRC and UNICEF officials. Girls perform better The 2010 National Examinations results for primary and O’level were released on Thursday, by the State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Mathias Harebamungu. The 2010 results show an increase in the general performance in both Primary and O’level compared to 2009. In 2010, 82.5 percent of the students who sat for the national exams in primary passed while in 2009, only 68 percent passed. The total number of students who sat for the 2010 national exams in primary was 161,445. In the primary leaving exams, girls performed better than boys, with an average of 52.81 percent. In O’level, 59,182 students sat for the exams compared to 51,795 in 2009.84.88 percent of the total number of students who sat for exams passed. 21.73 percent passed in the first division while the rest are in the second third and fourth divisions. Ends