One of a dozen army shops of the country
Hundreds of prison warders, wardresses and officers serving with the Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) are latest beneficiaries of the Armed Forces’ Shop (AFOS).
This comes as response to welfare concerns raised by warders (in 13 prison facilities) for years.
One case was in November 2016 when the Director of Huye Prison SP Camille Zuba, raised concerns related to prison staff.
In response, back then, Deputy Commissioner General (DCGP) Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza said “Consultations to allow all Correctional Officers to be members of AFOS have been made and it was successful.”
On January 19th, the cabinet meeting approved the Prime Minister’s Order authorizing Prison Guards to be Beneficiaries of Rwanda Defence Force and Rwanda National Police Shop (AFOS).
RCS senior officers in a meeting
The army shop which sells duty-free goods to the beneficiaries aims at improving the welfare of Armed Forces members and their immediate families.
It was established in September 2012 while its first outlet was opened in August 2013.
The shop provides a list of food items and goods exempted from taxes and duties also offered at prices way lower than the existing market prices in Rwanda.
“By selling duty free goods, we (AFOS) regulate them by fixing monthly quota. However, every beneficiary purchases as per the purchasing power and not necessary to finish the entire quota and no quota is carried forward at the end of the month,” the AFOS website states.
Cashiers at one of army shops
To strengthen AFOS good management, the cabinet also appointed Major General Mubarakh Muganga and Commissioner of Police – CP Vianney Nshimiyimana as Chairman and Vice Chairman of AFOS board of directors respectively.
RCS has currently 13 prison facilities and a rehabilitation centre for juveniles in Nyagatare District.
Making sense of cabinet appointments
With a tight 7-year development agenda, the January 19, 2018 cabinet chaired by President Paul Kagame made other strategic appointments dropping and reappointing new board members and directors.
At the University of Rwanda (UR) former Minister of Education – Dr. Papias Musafiri Malimba was appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Administration- coming as second former minister of education on its management team.
Peace Ababo
He is joining Dr. Charles Mulingande at this institution which brings together 6 colleges, a research Centre peace institute.
Murigande is Deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at UR.
At Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Dr. Ignace Gatare, former Minister of ICT in office of the president was appointed Chairperson of Board of Directors alongside Peace Ababo, Vice Chairperson.
The Media High Council (MHC) now has Dr. Eric Ndushabandi, as board Chair and Astrida Uwera, the owner of Agasaro Magazine as Vice Chairperson.
At Rwanda Development Board (RDB), months after arrest and prosecution of the former Registrar Deo Kimonyo, and his accomplice Yves Sangano, in 2017, the agency has new blood on the registrar’s desk.
Richard Kayibanda was appointed Registrar General (Head of Department) replacing Louise Kanyonga Ingabire now Head of Strategy and Competitiveness Department.
Eugene Mutangana is Head of Conservation Department.
Rwanda Law Reform Commission- now revisiting a new stiffer penalty penal code especially on drug abuse and human trafficking, got François Regis Rukundakuvuga as Commissioner and Karyn Mushinzimana as Legal Research and Reform Division Manager.
As the Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) got John Bosco Sebabi as Chairperson and Francine Uwamariya as Vice Chairperson Board of Directors, and Pascal Nzaramba as Managing Director of RAC; the sector also got Charles Bagabo: Aircraft Accident and Incident Division Manager.
Uwera Astrida
The board was appointed at a critical period when Rwanda is building a new international airport-Bugesera as air traffic with the opening of airspace among African countries.
Meanwhile, Hannington Namara, now Head of Equity Bank Rwanda comes in as Chairperson Board of Directors at Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA) with Diane Uwimbabazi, her deputy to block loopholes in the procurement procedures which have left government losing billions of tax payer’s money according to the 2017 Auditor General’s report.
Hannington Namara
Jonathan Nzayikorera and Jeannette Bayisenge also come in as Chairman Vice Chairperson respectively at the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) Board of Directors.
The formerly embattled government transport company (Onatracom) which was auctioned last year changing to Rwanda Interlink Transport Company Limited (RITCO Ltd) also got Innocent Twahirwa, as Chairperson.
Ritco, by replacing Onatracom, is expected to ply routes other transport operators do not want to cover.
