Statement on Cabinet Decisions of 12th September 2017

On Tuesday, 12th September 2017, an Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Paul KAGAME, convened in Village URUGWIRO.

The Cabinet meeting started by thanking His Excellency the President of the Republic for the trust bestowed upon the Government team, and especially welcomed new Cabinet Members and wished them success in their duties. Cabinet Members promised His Excellency the President of the Republic that they will do their best to accomplish diligently the assigned responsibilities.

His Excellency the President of the Republic provided all Cabinet Members, those who have been in Cabinet before and the new Cabinet Members, with guidance which will help them spearhead transformation that Rwandans need and work together towards achieving this common goal. His Excellency the President of the Republic’s message focused on:

– Coordination of each and everyone’s activities under the stewardship of the Right Honorable Prime Minister;

– Communication among themselves;

– Humility and putting citizens first, regardless of being High-Ranking Officials in their Institutions.

1. The Cabinet Meeting approved Resolutions of the Cabinet Meeting held on 30.06.207.

2. The Cabinet Meeting was briefed on the Seven Year Government Programme: A National Strategy for Transformation (NSTP 1/2017-2024), the Cabinet Meeting approved it after some adjustments.

3. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Draft Laws:

– Draft Law approving ratification of the additional Loan agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 22 May 2017, between the Republic of Rwanda and the African Development Fund (ADF), relating to the loan of Two Million Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Units of Account (UA 2,220,000) for scaling up Energy Access project;

– Draft Law approving ratification of the financing agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda, on 17 July 2017, between the Republic of Rwanda and the International Development Association (IDA), relating to a credit of EightySeven Million Six hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 87,600,000) for priority skills for growth program;

– Draft Law approving ratification of the agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 07 July 2017, between the Republic of Rwanda and IDA, acting as an Implementing Entity of the scaling-up renewable energy program under the Strategic Climate Fund, relating to the grant of USD 21,440,000 for Rwanda Renewable Energy Fund Project;

– Draft Law approving ratification of the agreement signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 07 July 2017, between the Republic of Rwanda and IDA, acting as an Implementing Entity of the scaling-up renewable energy program under the Strategic Climate Fund, relating to a credit of USD 27,500,000 for Rwanda Renewable Energy Fund Project.

4. The Cabinet Meeting approved the following Orders:

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the Mission, Functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM); – Prime Minister’s Order determining the Mission, Functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Ministry of Environment (MoE);

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the Mission, Functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Ministry of Land and Forestry (MINILAF);

– Prime Minister’s Order determining the Mission, Functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Ministry of Information Technology and Communication (MITEC); – Prime Minister’s Order determining the Mission, Functions, organizational structure, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Ministry of Youth (MINIYOUTH);

– Prime Minister’s order determining organizational structure, job profiles, salaries and fringe benefits for employees in the national rehabilitation service(NRS);

– Prime Minister’s order determining organizational structure, job profiles, salaries and fringe benefits for employees of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA).

5. The Cabinet Meeting approved the agrément of proposed Ambassadors/High Commissioners designated to represent their respective Countries to Rwanda as follows:

1. Mrs. OLIVER WONEKHA, of the Republic of Uganda, with residence in Kigali, Rwanda;

2. Mr. OUMAR DAOU, of the Republic of Mali, with residence in Kigali, Rwanda.

3. Mr. ADAMU ONOZE SHUAIBU, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with residence in Kigali, Rwanda.

4. Mr. FERNANDO ESTELLITA LINS DE SALVO COIMBRA, of the Republic of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

5. Ms. ALISON HELENA CHARTRES, of the Government of Commonwealth of Australia, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

6. Mr. NGUYEN KIM DOANH, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with residence in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

6. The Cabinet Meeting approved Mr. NICOLA BELLOMO, as Head of European Union Delegation to Rwanda, with residence in Kigali, Rwanda.

7. In A.O.B:

a) The Minister in the Office of the President informed the Cabinet Meeting of the following:

– The 10th National Unity and Reconciliation Week will be celebrated from 1st to 7th October 2017 under the theme “Unity and Reconciliation: Foundation for Sustainable Development”. Major activities during this week include: selecting Abarinzi b’Igihango at the Cell level and celebrating unity and reconciliation achievements. The Cabinet Meeting urged Rwandans to participate in these activities.

– The 2017 International Day of Peace will be celebrated on 21/09/2017 under the theme: “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All”.

b) The Minister of Sports and Culture informed the Cabinet Meeting of the following:

– Rwanda is currently finalizing all relevant documentation relating to the project of inscribing Nyamata, Murambi, Bisesero and Gisozi genocide memorials on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites. The related documentation shall be submitted to UNESCO by 30th September 2017;

– In the just concluded Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally which took place from 7th – 9th September 2017, participants in the rally included members from Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and Zambia. Team Kenya won this year’s edition.

– Rwanda will host the Africa Para-Volleyball Championships from 13th to 17th September 2017. The championships will attract 13 teams in total from Rwanda, Egypt, Kenya, DRC, Uganda, Algeria, Maroc and South Africa. The games are scheduled to take place from Petit stade in Remera.

c) The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning informed the Cabinet Meeting that the upcoming annual Taxpayers’ appreciation Day will be celebrated on 6th October, 2017 in Kigali under the theme: “My Tax, My Development, My Dignity”.

d) The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources informed the Cabinet Meeting of the following:

– Preparations for Season 2018A are going well. Farmer mobilization on land preparation, input purchase and use is on-going through Twigire Muhinzi campaigns across the Districts;

– From the 4th – 5th October 2017 Rwanda will be hosting the Poultry Africa Expo and Leadership Conference 2017 at the Kigali Convention.

e) The Minister of Justice/Attorney General informed the Cabinet Meeting that from 7th to 9th November 2017, Rwanda will host the 11th Biennial Conference of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI).

f) The Minister of State in MINEDUC in charge of Primary and Secondary Education informed the Cabinet Meeting of the following:

– On 8th September 2017 Rwanda celebrated the International Literacy Day under the theme: “The Power of Reading”. MINEDUC and MINISPOC jointly launched the National Literacy Month in Kigali;

– The School Construction Week will be launched on 16th September 2017. Planned activities that will be completed by 31st December 2017, will include replacement and/or renovation of 992 classrooms and 1,344 latrines countywide using unconventional approach.