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Minister rallies grassroots support for EAC protocolsThe Minister for EAC affairs, Monique Mukaruliza, had a week long tour to check on the progress at the country`s border districts in the implementation of the EAC protocols.She said her tour was to assess and make sure that EAC agreements like the Customs Union are implemented right from the lower administrative units.Mukaruliza noted that this will also help in identifying how the local population has benefited from the integration as well as challenges.The Customs Union protocol to which the EAC member states are signatories aims at simplifying cross-boarder trade to boost it amongst the members.Among the areas the Minister visited is Ruhuha Market, at the Rwanda-Burundi border which attracts 650 Rwandan traders and 5,000 buyers from the two countries.Ministry earmarks 26% of budget to SMEsThe Minister of Trade and Industry, François Kanimba, said that his Minister will invest a lot in development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).Together with other officials from his ministry, Kanimba was defending the minister`s budgetary allocations before a parliamentary committee urging that this will create jobs and increase tax base. The proposed budget indicates that out of the ministry`s Rwf 18 billion, 26 per cent is allocated to SMEs. SMEs account for 98 per cent of the country’s business community.The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Emmanuel Hategeka, said that more efforts would be put in Hanga Umurimo programme and SME clustering development.Hanga Umurimo programme was launched last year, staging business competitors that saw 10 winners a financial support to start business. The next phase, which will get underway during upcoming fiscal year, is to scale up this programme. He said that 40 best business plans will be supported in every district. Mugesera’s lawyer skips courtGenocide suspect Leon Mugesera, appeared before the High Court. He was challenging a decision that was taken against by Nyarugenge Intermediate Court against his request to further delay his trial.Mugesera appeared with out his lawyer and during his appearance; he said that he had expected to meet his attorney at court. He had last appeared before the Nyarugenge court on May 24 when he asked for a two months to scrutinize his 240 page case file. His request was turned down that he had delayed the case long enough. Mugesera said that his lawyer knew he would appear in the High Court but informed him he would not be present.Mugesera told court that he would not stand trial until he gets his lawyer. This was the first time he appeared without his lawyer.When his lawyer Donat Mutunzi was contacted by phone, he refused to comment about his absence in the High Court.Best girl students conclude IT course23 girls graduated in a computer training course. The course is reward to this group after performing well in last year`s senior six examinations. The girls are part of many who are rewarded annually by Imbuto Foundation under a campaign aimed at promoting education of the girl child. Imbuto Foundation is an initiative under the Office of the First Lady Jeannette Kagame.The girls, who completed their high school last year and are waiting placement into various institutions of higher learning, received a three-week computer training at Tumba College of Technology (TCT).The Deputy Director General of Imbuto Foundation, Nina Shalita, said the training was essential especially in today`s ICT world. She noted that it is necessary to keep and move at the rate of development.FDLR must disarm–USThe US called on the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), fighters and dependents to handover themselves to the Congolese or UN authorities for disarmament and repatriation.The United States in its statement on the current situation in eastern DRC, it reiterated its support for the international community’s comprehensive approach to disarming and demobilising the FDLR.FDLR is largely composed of militia and former government soldiers (ex-FAR) responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as a spate of atrocities against civilian populations in eastern DRC.Military hospital lab gets 4 Star rating The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranked Rwanda Military Hospital laboratory 4-star status in one year.The laboratory equipment of Rwanda Military Hospital has risen from one star to 4-star status, within a period of one year.An assessment by WHO found out that the laboratory has everything on the checklist for hospitals thereby wining the status. The assessors included officials from American Society of Clinical Pathology. After receiving the results from the team, the ministry of health confirmed the laboratory as a four star.Among the items on the checklist included equipment, management reviews, client management and customer care, internal audit, facilities and safety corrective action and others.In 2010, the facility was at 0 star in 2010 but has grown tremendously due to the efforts of the management and staff. 340 public servants dragged to courtA report released by the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), indicate that 342 civil servants were dragged to court.The officials caused massive financial losses to the government through fraud, illegal awarding of tenders and mismanagement of public assets.The report says that these are part of 418 cases that are supposed to be investigated by NPPA, as indicated in the Auditor General`s report for 2007 to 2010. Officials include financial controllers, heads of institutions and those in tender committees.Martin Ngoga, the Prosecutor General, said some of the officials taken to court are still in service, pending action by higher authorities.