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Umuganda: RNP joins communities in environmental protection activities
Rwanda National Police (RNP), on Saturday, joined communities in different parts of the country in planting trees and other environmental conservation activities.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Administration and Personnel, Juvenal Marizamunda headed about 200 Police officers to join residents of Jali Sector, Gasabo District to plant over 16, 000 trees in hilly areas to fight soil erosion.
They also planted fruit trees in communities and in homes in particular, to supplement the national efforts against poor feeding.
The Deputy IGP in charge of Operations, Felix Namuhoranye also joined motorcyclists and residents of Nyarugunga Sector in Kicukiro District to clear shrubs in Nyandugu gardens.
The RNP countrywide tree planting exercise that started last year is part of its five year plan to plant at least 27, 000 hectares of trees in a period spanning five years – 5, 000 hectares of hilly areas and 22, 000 hectares on agroforestry land. Read more
Why crosswalks colour changed
The pedestrian crossing lines were changed from zebra stripes to red and white as response to road users’ concerns to “increase visibility” but also to “emphasise respect for pedestrian pathways”, the State Minister for Transport, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, said.
While briefing the media, on November 22, shortly after officially kick-starting the countrywide repainting exercise, the State Minister said pedestrians are among the majority victims of road accidents, the change of colour is meant to emphasise on their rights on road.
“Some pedestrians are knocked while recklessly crossing the road. On the other hand, motorists have raised concern that the zebra stripes are not clearer; so we came up with a new idea of increasing visibility at the same time emphasizing the rights for pedestrians by painting red and white,” Hon. Uwihanganye said. Read more
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[PHOTOS]: Rwanda marks ‘Africa Road Safety Day’
Rwanda, on November 18, joined the rest of the continent to mark the ‘Africa Road Safety Day,’ which was set aside to raise awareness against one of the leading causes of death in the world.
Road accidents, according to World Health Organization (WHO), rank 8th among the leading cause of death globally, with an estimated 1.2 million lives lost every year. Majority 60 percent of the accidents occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This year’s continental event marked every third Sunday of November was also set aside in remembrance of road traffic victims and to bring different stakeholders together in raising awareness to prevent fatalities. Read more
Road Safety Week end with call against drunk driving
The week-long road safety campaign to prevent road carnage climaxed on November 23, with a musical concert held at Kicukiro stadium dedicated to raising awareness against drunk driving.
At least1, 064 traffic offenses related to drunk driving were recorded between January and September this year, according to statistics.
The Minister of State in charge of Public Health and Primary Healthcare, Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi reminded the gathering that excessive abuse of alcohol leads to impaired driving.
“Alcohol affects the brain and results are fatal. A drunk driver is dangerous to him or herself, to passengers, pedestrians and other road users,” the State Minister said. Read more
Operations against drug dealers will not wither
Rwanda National Police (RNP) said operations against traffickers and dealers in narcotic drugs “will not wither” and commended the role of the general public in combating the vice.
Police said credible information from the public has facilitated in mapping out trafficking routes, names of drug dealers and possible stores as well as successful operations. Read more
Man arrested trafficking cannabis in jerrycans
A suspected drug dealer, who attempted to traffic cannabis into the country in jerrycans, was arrested in Rubavu District.
Ildephonse Cyambi, 76, was arrested on November 22, at about 3pm at the border point with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, said Cyambi had concealed cannabis in two jerrycans.
“Police officers at the border checkpoint saw Cyambi with two jerrycans, because they are aware of various tricks employed by drug traffickers, they inquired to know what was in the jerrycans only to find they were stashed with rolls of cannabis,” CIP Gasasira said.Read more
Maritime security: 370 bales of smuggled shoes, clothes seized in L. Kivu
A marine unit in Rutsiro District, on November 20, intercepted at least 369 bales of second-hand clothes and shoes that were being smuggled into the country through Lake Kivu.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Elias Mwesigye, the Commanding Officer (CO) for the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Marine Unit, said the merchandise was seized from five Congolese nationals, who were also taken into custody.
The intercepted merchandise smuggled includes 319 bales of used shoes and 50 bales of secondhand clothes locally known as caguwa. Read more
Road accident victims narrate their ordeals
Donat Niyizaba is lying on his sickbed at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali’s (CHUK) accidents and emergency ward covered with bed-sheets. Underneath the white bed-sheets lies a sad story of a youthful man with an amputated left leg.
A resident of Byishyura Sector in Karongi District, he has been bed-ridden for close to four months now. Niyizaba was knocked by a vehicle on the evening of August 8, 2018 as he was returning from work.
“On that fateful evening, I was returning home from a construction site where I worked. While walking on the pedestrian pathway, I was hit by a Fuso truck that was coming from behind…that’s all I can remember,” Niyizaba narrates his ordeal in excruciating pain.
By the time he regained his consciousness, he says, he was lying in a hospital more than 100kms away from his home with an amputated leg and in deep pain.
“I became the victim of the insensible driver. Now I have to start from zero; I feel the doors to my future have been closed…my future is shattered,” he reckons with sadness. Read more
