Weekly review

FBI officials call on the PresidentSenior officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who were in the country for the 2011 FBI National Academy Associates’ re-trainer conference, on Thursday, paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. The group commended the level of progress the country has achieved in a short term as well as peace and the stability favourable for fighting crime. They appreciated the country’s leadership for the development as well as the prevailing peace and stability which makes it possible to fight crime. They pledged to continue working with the Rwandan government in fighting trans-national organized crimes in the region and on the continent. Cabinet announces new appointmentsA cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame, on Wednesday, moved six military officers from the Rwanda Defence Forces to the National Police. They are Major Felly Bahizi Rutagerura who was converted to Chief Superintendent of Police, Captains Egide Rekambane, Désiré Gumira, Céléstin Kazungu, Fidèle Mugengana and Kanyamihigo Kagarama will also join the police force at the rank of Superintendent. Second Lieutenant Rose Kampire joins police as Chief Inspector of Police. The meeting also appointed Joseph Kabakeza 1st Secretary at the Rwandan High Commission in Indi, while Evode Mudaheranwa becomes 2nd Secretary at the Rwandan Embassy in Sweden. Over 2000 to get free hearing aidOver 2,000 people will receive the gift of hearing next week through the efforts of Starkey Hearing Foundation, an American-based charity that donates hearing aids in developing countries around the world. The total number of individuals with hearing loss who will receive hearing aids is approximately 2,250 people from all over Rwanda, with over half of that number being children. The recipients of the hearing aids were gathered over the last few months through Rwanda’s schools for deaf children, local hospitals, faith-based communities and other organizations serving individuals with hearing loss. The distribution events will take place in Ruhengeri on March 21-22 and in Kigali on March 23-25. Starkey Hearing Foundation plans to return to Rwanda on an annual basis to distribute hearing aids and continue to give the gift of hearing to Rwandans with hearing loss. Local companies win entrepreneurial awardsTwo green economy entrepreneurs from Rwanda have won the SEED (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development) Award. They were selected for their originality, social and economic aspect, and potential to impact local communities and the green economy. The companies are the Compressed Biogas (CBG), a project operated by Dassy Enterprise, and the Modern Carbonization Programme. SEED Awards are held every year to promote sustainable development through the green economy. This year, 30 innovative start-up ventures in Rwanda, Colombia, South Africa, Ghana, Burkina Faso, China, Kenya, Sri-Lanka, and Senegal were rewarded. According to the Operations Coordinator of the SEED Initiative, Amélie Heuër, the 30 awardees were selected out of a pool of 400 applicants from 60 countries worldwide. Harvard Law students meet KagameA visiting group of 12 students from Harvard University Law School were, on Thursday, hosted by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro. The students, who are in the country as part of their annual African tour, chose Rwanda as a model country to conduct their African study. President Kagame shared with the students the country’s experience. He told them how bad leadership led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and how the current leadership managed to turn things around, elevating the country and its economy to where it is today. The students, who spent a week visiting rural areas, were particularly interested in how the country has managed to get back on its feet after the Genocide. UNAIDS commends Gahaya Links The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, has hailed Gahaya Links for economically empowering women living with HIV. Sidibé was visiting HIV positive women involved in handcraft work at Gahaya Links’ headquarters in Kigali. Sidibé encouraged women to effectively use the skills to profit from the opportunities presented to them. Joy Ndunguste, the founder and CEO of Gahaya Links, attributed the company`s achievements to the commitment of Rwandan women towards poverty eradication. According to Ndunguste, the company currently has 5,000 weavers grouped in 52 cooperatives across the country. Ends