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APRIL 2016 ISSUE 63

Kigali Public transport to go cashless

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HIGHLIGHTS

To Total revenue increased by 9.5%, attributed to both product mix and growth in soft drinks volume. Total sales volume increased by 7.6% of which beer grew by 5.3% and soft drinks by 14%. The increase in both beer and soft drinks volume comes on the backdrop of an investment drive that has seen Rwanda’s oldest brewery and market leader of the beverage sector inject over US$40 million in both its Gisenyi based brewery and the soft drinks plant in Kigali. The investment among others aimed at furthering the automation of the production process while specifically in the case of the brewery in Gisenyi, BRALIRWA invested in increasing its storage and fermentation capacities.

BRALIRWA

CONTENTS

38 RWANDA REVENUE AUTHORITY 52 TURKISH AIRLINES

7 EDITORIAL Awaiting WEF gains

10 AC GROUP Kigali public transport to go cashless

12 NCR SCI GROUP NCR FRANCHISE creating a strong footprint on the East African IT landscape

14 BRD Strategic Plan 2016-2020

18 NAKUMATT staff pay tribute to genocide victims at Gisozi memovrial site

20 URWEGO OPPORTUNITY BANK The people’s bank

22 ABG The New 2016 TOYOTA HILUX Unrivalled Toughness, Untouched Legacy

24 RBA Technological innovations push Rwanda’s banking sector growth to 20%

26 SAHAM Pan African Leader in Insurance

28 AESG AFRICA ENERGY SERVICES GROUP

30 RSE At 5 years the Rwanda Stock Exchange

fast becoming Africa’s stock market of choice

32 MOBICASH Disruptive Technology for Rwanda

36 SERENA HOTELS scoops 12 major coveted awards the 2016 World Travel awards in Zanzibar

38 RRA Promoting domestic and foreign investment through a simplified taxation system

42 BRALIRWA posts strong performance in 2015

44 BRALIRWA commemorates genocide victims affirms its position against genocide ideology

46 BSC Providing affordable high quality internet services

48 KPA guides traders on new maritime regulations

50 KPA advises traders on Mombasa port handling procedures as part of easing business

52 TURKISH AIRLINES offering the best in-Flight Catering

42

Ruliba Clays 2

Turkish Airlines 3

Airtel Rwanda 5

Hotel Des Mille Collines 6

Paint House 8

Crown Paints Rwanda 9

Davis & Shirtliff 17

Nakumatt Supermarket 19

Saham Assurance 27

Mobicash 33

Mount Meru Group 34

Safintra 35

JSI Rwanda 37

Tractafric Equipment 47

CHIC Limited 53

Engen Rwanda 54

Popconn Rwanda 55

Tigo Rwanda 56

Advertisers

APRIL 2016 ISSUE 634

COVER PAGE Kigali Public transport to go cashless

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA

14

www.hope-mag.com 7

TEAM

Albert NdataArmand MugangaBenigne MugwanezaGahima VitalManzi JosephMatthew RwahigiMurangira JanetRumanzi AbrahamSandra NyakatoSharon UmunyanaShema LeonardRebero Daniel

DESIGN & LAYOUTDani K.

PUBLISHED BYHope Magazine Ltd,

ADVERTISING & GENERAL INQUIRIES

P.O. Box 6176 Kigali-Rwanda

+250 788 524189 /+250 788 [email protected]: hope-mag.com

COPYRIGHT 2013

Reserved by Hope Magazine Hope Magazine a monthly Magazine is published by Hope Magazine Limited. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of Hope Magazine.

Care is taken to ensure accuracy, Hope Magazine assume no liability for error or omissions in this publication. All Advertisements are taken in good faith, opinions and views contained herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. All copyrights and trademarks are recognized. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission by Hope Magazine. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts with the purpose of fair review. © 2013

Awaiting WEF gains

The world political and economic landscape has, in the recent past, witnessed a lot of changes that have been fuelled by a fusion of technologies. It is important for the developing world to strategically position itself so that it is not swallowed by blurring lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres creating the fourth industrial revolution. If, for example, technological

innovations are meant to create efficiency and minimize labour costs by employing as few people; how does this rhyme with our commitment to creation of off-farm jobs and addressing unemployment challenges? How do we achieve the former without compromising the latter?

The World Economic Forum (WEF) comes to Kigali at a time when the continent is experiencing low global prices for major commodity exports, currency devaluations, biting debt as well as geo-security threats that have weakened growth in some countries. This calls for more efforts to underscore the urgent need for economic diversification if sustained inclusive growth is to be registered. In this context, Africa’s leaders need to pursue new approaches to ignite structural transformation. WEF provides this platform.

Under the theme Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation, the 26th World Economic Forum on Africa brings together regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to discuss digital economy catalysts that can drive radical structural transformation, strengthen public-private collaboration on key global and regional challenges, and agree on strategic actions that can deliver shared prosperity across the continent. We as Rwandans, are expecting to get the resolutions from the WEF implemented and permeating to every ordinary person, elite and peasants alike.

We appreciate your feedback. Please keep sending more on [email protected] or visit www.hope-mag.comto post your comment on any published story. We shall pick it and respond to you asap!

Jasbir Singh Managing Director

CROWN PAINTS welcomes you to the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM on Africa. We wish you a colorful stay.

Today, with the Tap&Go card by AC Group, one no longer has to spend hours queuing at the bus stop or tussle it out for change with bus conductors. The card-based automated fare collection

system for public transport in Kigali was launched

last year and has since replaced the use of cash on public transport buses. The city’s three bus operators, Kigali Bus Services, Royal Transport Services and Rwanda Federation of Transport Companies (RFTC) have all embraced the system and AC Group is looking to get the entire city public transport entirely cashless by mid-this year.

So how did it all start?Patrick Buchana, the founder and chief executive officer of AC Group, told the Hope Magazine this month that being a smart card solution provider in Rwanda, they looked for the pain points in the transport system and found that bus operators were losing up to 40% of their revenue to fraud due to cash handling on buses. “For very long, bus operators couldn’t properly monitor how many people have actually moved on the bus that day without an automated system and faced a lot of fraud with cash exchanging many hands before getting to the operators,” he said and continued, “Passengers also faced a lot of delays at bus stops without a proper bus fleet management system in place.” He said they sat

with the bus operators and tried to find a lasting solution to these problems. “The solution we are providing is tailored to fit our local market which we have done well in collaboration with all key stakeholders (Government, the commuters and the bus operators),” Buchana noted. “When we were building the smart transport solution that we have today, we were majorly focusing on giving a commuter the best public transport experience.

AC Group spent a lot of time on the pilot trying to provide a better reliable and customized urban transport system, which in turn makes the Kigali c ity have faster, more effic ient traffic management, improved traffic flow and faster commutes,” he said. AC Group has a very competent team that is working on the system components, the software and the on ground operators. Buchana and his team carried out a pilot for eight months that helped them understand what they were dealing with and how to overcome certain huddles. Today, more than 70,000 commuters have the Tap&Go cards and Buchana noted they are targeting at having more than 120,000 by the end of this month.

AC Group, a technology company that is providing smart transport solutions in Rwanda is fast revolutionising the transport system in Rwanda.

Kigali public transport to go cashless


How does one use the Tap&Go?With Tap&Go, one purchase a card, tops it up from any of AC Group’s mobile agents in the taxi park and at bus stops or any e-Sale agent that sells cash-power in neighbourhoods. Soon, Buchana said people will be able to top it up using mobile money, Tigo Cash and Airtel Money as well as mobile banking. With the card topped up, one can board in half the time they used to board previously and enjoy a more efficient transport system. To date, there’re over 200 Automated Fare Collection (AFC) machines fitted in the public transport buses.

What happens to the bus conductor?It is hoped switching to a card-only system, will not only improve efficiency on Kigali’s public transport but help operators recoup the money lost with traditional cash payments. However, part of the fears of many is that many conductors, employed by the bus operators are losing their jobs because the new system removes the need to hire bus conductors. Buchana has a counter argument to this. “The conductors haven’t been laid off. Instead we are re-training and hiring them as Tap&Go inspectors, many of whom operate on streets and at bus stops throughout Kigali.”

With over 85 people employed by AC Group so far, Buchana noted that it all about combing efforts to give commuters an all-round experience, every day. “We are heading for a brighter transport system,” Buchana noted. By replacing cash and receipt payments with a contactless card that can be topped by using mobile and bank payment channels, AC Group is contributing towards creating a cash light transport system that in turn contributes towards the building of a cashless society.

Operators speak outCharles Ngarambe, the Chairman of Kigali Bus Services said that the use of smart cards not only saves revenue for them and time for the commuters, but also protects the environment as they no longer print paper tickets littering the city. Anita Mukamusoni, the RFTC Secretary General noted that they are going to start working with AC Group this month and are optimistic the system will create efficiencies for them. “Our goal is to have our passengers save time boarding the buses or looking for change by using the cards,” she said.

AC Group Future prospectsAs the information around us becomes ever denser, access to high quality facts has gained increasing importance.

The government of Rwanda has been a key partner in building cashless and smart city and with their support; AC Group is tending towards building an integrated and intelligent transport system. Bus scheduling and timing, sensors and cameras that are integrated into the fare payment channels are the next in line towards the end of this year and leading towards building a smart transport system that works in Rwanda but also easily exported to other emerging economies and cities.

“AC Group smart transport solution will evolve towards the adoption of new paradigms like, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), and a system-based demand-response approach to optimize the entire transportation system,” Buchana closed.

A lady in the AC Group control room in Kabuga, a city suburb which helps in fleet management

www.hope-mag.com 11

What Tap&Go Users say...

� Martin Karegeya, studentThe smart card really helps me to save compared to using cash to pay for my fare to school. On a daily, I move from my home in Gisozi to Kabeza which would not have been cheap if I was paying using cash. I top up the money on my card every week and get to enjoy the discounts.

� Immaculate Ingabire, Kigali resident

The card helps me in saving time when it comes to boarding the bus during rush hours because those who have cards are allowed to board faster unlike those who don’t have cards and are forced to queue up and pay with cash.

� Djouma Hakizimana, trader

With the card, I don’t have to go through the stress of giving the conductor money to look for change after deducting the fare. I just tap my card of the AFC reader and go.

� Djouma Karegeya, resident

The card has been a real life saver for me in terms of time and money saved when I get to board the buses. And now that all three bus operators in Kigali are using the system, I am able to use my card on any of the buses.


The company which is located in the capital, Kigali, is focused on offering quality ICT professional services and products to all its clients. Since its establishment in Rwanda in 2008, SCIR

has been able to offer services that range from; Banking and Finance, (e-payment solutions), IT Infrastructure (networking), Power Quality & Energy, Printing and Imaging, Software Utilities and Point of Sale Solutions.

With over 200 trusted employees in the region, SCI meets the essential business needs with a well established call center to enhance business line and enable the 24 hour Services support. SCI partners with world leading technology vendors to offer the industries’ best after-sales services and support. Significantly, NCR/SCIR enjoys its status of being an ISO certified company which gives the

company a leeway in harmonizing technical specifications of its products and services, making operations more efficient. The company is able to tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern businesses l ike cyber-security (avoiding fraud and fabrication on our products) and maintenance to international standards.

ATM ServicesNCR/SCIR is crowned for its outstanding contribution to the IT sector; it has laid strategies that aim at building its electronic payment specifically for Rwanda ATMs where immediate need was identified. Today, there are over 2,500 ATMs deployed in the region.

NCR is the leader in automated teller and self service check out machines. The same level of service delivery is executed in the financial sector, retailing, hospitality with the intent of boosting efficiency and reducing time waste at banks, retail outlets, hotels, and any other business service counters.

NCR/SCIR is the leading consultant on the Rwanda cheque standards and has deployed terminals that are pre-certified for international card organizations, like MasterCard and Visa, the first to set up the IT infrastructure at East Africa Exchange Rwanda. In line with the network infrastructure section, the company provides high technology services like voice over internet protocol and video over internet protocol. SCIR has a vision of including automated cheque processing at bank branch counters and off ATMs.

Retail Point of Sale Terminal In general, point of sale solutions system includes a cash register which may be operated on a computer, cash drawer, receipt printer and

even mobile phones and may also include a debit and credit card reader.

Point of Sale solutions in Rwanda have shown great impact on payment systems in the country through the application of ICT in modern business to support Rwanda’s dream for a cashless economy. The system has been embraced by the community, not only in the urban areas but also in the rural Rwanda where someone may transact and effect a payment using mobile money with a cell phone without need to carry physical cash. NCR provides Retail Payment Solutions for; (Financial, Point Of Sale), Always on, Accessible anywhere, Easy, That’s not just, what your shoppers want from

SCI Group NCR franchise creating a strong footprint on the

East African IT landscape

The Service and Computer Industries Rwanda (SCIR) is an ISO Certified affiliate of the American SCI Group that manages the NCR franchise. SCI has sought to augment the local ICT industry through its ICT-related services.

www.hope-mag.com 13

you - it’s what makes your business successful. NCR supports businesses keep up with consumer expectations and manage disparate technologies by providing merchants with a comprehensive and innovative range of services and solutions to eliminate payment complexity and make the consumer purchasing experience seamless and secure, whatever the sales channel or payment method.

NCR satisfies the most demanding expectations of merchants, retailers and banks by bringing a consumer-centric approach to vertical markets (hospitality, retail, vending, banks & acquirers, petrol and transportation…) with payment solutions to cover all points of transactions (unattended, multi-lane, in-store and outdoor, mobile). Verifone is the leader in providing trusted, secure and innovative, payment terminals, global payment as a service, and commerce enablement solutions that create more valuable experiences and rich interactions between consumers and merchants. The company’s products and services include mobile, countertop and Self-service payment devices, software, and web-based gateways.

Clean PowerAll the solutions NCR provides require one essential component, power. However, the key word here is stable and clean power. Reliable distribution, accurate monitoring and control ensure your IT equipments are safe and their steady consumption. NCR takes care of your backup power to handle one PC, office set up, functioning of organizations of over five hundred users or an entire manufacturing plant. NCR range of offering include complete solutions where the entire input power is regenerated from scratch, rendering it next to impossible to get a stray current into the customers’ systems.

Enterprise Solutions

As organizations grow, so does their need for reliable and manageable systems. At Service & Computer Industries [SCI], we specialize in planning and deploying solutions to meet this demand.

We design fa i lsafe systems allowing our customers to concentrate on their core business rather than on their information technology infrastructure. Latest innovations in the field of servers, storage solutions, and disaster recovery have made this possible. Our preferred status with international vendors such as Dell, Microsoft, EMC & Cisco is to ensure that we are at the forefront of innovative technology.

Be it blade servers or terabytes of storage requirements, we have the knowhow to design and implement. However, hardware is only as good as the skillsets available to install and maintain it. Service & Computer Industries (SCI) prides itself on its highly trained personnel, to configure and maintain such complex systems that cannot afford any downtime. Complex systems require management systems.

NetworkingAny information technology solution is only as strong as the foundation it was laid on. We, at Service & Computer Industries [SCI] understand this and cater for it. Be it a network of five users or five thousand, it can perform only as well as its design and workmanship, recognized by our partners Cisco, Systemax and Marshal Tuflex, for our experience and skill sets in this field. We have designed the most complex systems capable of high-speed data access, redundancy failover and security.

Imaging SolutionsNCR provides technologically advanced Dell printers or the reliable Hewlett Packard Printers, or the time tested Xerox printers, Sharp, Zebra the magic card printer among other Network printers, which can cater to hundreds of people at a time, or a personal printer to print your family’s pictures. Tally Genicom printers that can print millions of characters non-stop for weeks continuously. Xerox copiers for every size of paper and requirement, giving you the lowest cost per print in East Africa, the latest series of multifunctional devices catering to your scanning, printing, faxing and copying needs.

Security & Software SolutionsSCI caters for both the physical security as well as data security. Our solutions for physical security comprise of audio/video surveillance over IP networks, biometric access control, and the convergence of these two systems. Our solutions for data security encompass all the three layers of data flow at the basic active device level, by configuring rewalls and switches. At the server level by encrypting the data flow, using the latest algorithms. At the end user level by protecting them from worms, viruses and other such deterrents.

BRD Strategic Plan 2016-2020

To achieve this vision, BRD has articulated four strateg ic themes: Focused Investments and Growth The bank will ensure that it makes investments that are aligned with this strategy and focus

areas. And in order to make investments that are sustainable, BRD will ensure that such investments are profitable and facilitate its growth.

Building strong partnerships In order to achieve its development goals, BRD will use every opportunity to build strong and varied partnerships.

An expanded and refocused mandate to Enhance socio-economic development

Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) has set a new course as a purely development focused national development bank. The new vision to “accelerate broad based, sustainable economic transformation and prosperity creation” makes this new mandate clear.


BRD officials together with Inkundamahoro members inspecting the commercial bulding under construction

Maximize Development Impact At the center of everything that the bank will do is the idea that it must facilitate and generate development impact, in Rwanda and the region. BRD will ensure that this strategic objective is embedded in all its interventions.

Increased resource mobilization In line with the expectations around its development mandate, BRD will more mobilize resources to fund this ambitious strategy. The bank’s financial resources will always be a small fraction of the financing needs of Rwanda’s transformation. The bank will explore options for attracting more investments from new funders and

BRD CEO adressing members of the press after a tour of Inkundamahoro building

www.hope-mag.com 15

donors, including DFIs, pension funds, impact investors. Building on this new vision, a new mission and clear priorities centered on five priority sectors have been articulated. These will all be driven by embracing a set of five fundamental values:

Pragmatic: BRD will catalyze development finance while keeping a business mindset.

Focused: BRD will focus on key high impact flagship interventions since the needs are many but resources are few.

Innovative: BRD will structure interventions to achieve more impact with fewer resources.

Engaged: BRD will deliberately share new direction and manage expectations of internal and external stakeholders.

Inclusive: BRD wi ll del iver broad based development for all Rwandans especially those underserved by commercial banks and a special focus on women and youth. The Banks’s new mission will be achieved by focused interventions in five priority sectors.

BRD's Kanyankole (2nd right) poses for a group photo with Atlas Mara co-founder Bob Diamond (3rd left) and other officials after the Atlas Mara -BRDC take over last year

Some of the 14 housing units put up in Musanze district

Alex KanyankoleBRD Chief Executive Officer


An employee at trust industries using a cutting machine to size toilet papers

Gahanga steel and hardware market

Mr Silver Karera the chairman Inkundamahoro adressing members

of the press after the tour of BRD officials from their building

Appreciating clients; BRD's Aisha (R) hands

over a gift to one of the bank's clients during

the customer service week last year

These will include investments to: accelerate export development catalyze agricultural financing promote affordable housing manage and facilitate financing for education loans, and Increase investments in energy development.

BRD will address these priority sectors by embracing a: pragmatic, focused, innovative, engaged and inclusive approach that prioritizes women, youth and other

entrepreneurs in key priority sectors

General lending conditionsThe main conditions for obtaining the Bank’s financial backing include:

A feasibility study for the project (technical and financial).

Adequate technical capacity in the field of the project for which finance is being sought

Capacity to manage the project

Adequate market share to ensure a good turn-over level and project profitability

A minimum participation by the promoter varying between 30% and 50% of the cost of investment according to the size of the project.

For expansion projects, the contribution of the Bank can represent the totality of the necessary investment.

underserved groups.

Highlight:

Vision A world class finance institution focused on accelerating Rwanda’s economic transformation.

Mission To be a trusted strategic partner for Rwanda’s development by avail ing financial and advisory services to impactful

Ministry of trade PS, Emmanuel Hategeka (C) hands over a prize to BRD's CEO, Alex Kanyankole (R) back in 2014 for the bank's

role in supporting private sector development

Among commemoration activities conducted by Nakumatt staff, i nc lu d e d a 3 0 0 - me t e r wa lk towards the memorial site, as gesture to sensitize the public on

the importance of commemoration and valuable

lessons to be learnt such as denying genocide ideologies and enhancing unity and growth for the country. Upon arrival at the memorial site the employees laid wreaths of flowers at one of the grave sites, before taking a tour within the Gisozi memorial site, which has about 250,000

bodies buried as a consequence of the genocide. Speaking on behalf of the staff Josephat Karimi, Nakumatt’s chief supervisor encouraged that commemoration activities should be conducted throughout the year.

“I advise anyone who is in Rwanda or visiting to take a tour to either of the genocide memorial sites within the country, in order to understand better the effects of ethnic wars and how they can be avoided. This visit to me is an eye opener and I don’t wish this kind of merciless killings to happen anywhere in the world,” he remarked.

His colleague, Jean Paul Mpurukundo a sales representative added that, visits to genocide memorial sites are very educative especially to the post genocide generation. “I encourage people, either young or old to visit these memorial sites, since there are various distractions especially from genocide deniers abroad. We should always be vigilant and firm to discourage any theory or act that aims to lessen the history of ethnic war in this country,” Mpurukundo said.

Nakumatt has been operating in the country for about six years now, and each year they have been taking part in genocide commemoration activities, including assisting some of the survivors of the war .

Nakumatt staff pay tribute to genocide victims

at Gisozi memorial siteLast month, select staff of Nakumatt’s two branches in Rwanda paid homage to victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi sector.



The bank, which acquired its banking license in 2007 extends its financial services footprint to all Rwandans, especially those at the bottom of the financial services pyramid; the unbanked and under banked. By

maintaining its MFI status and developing the commercial banking arm, Urwego is today rated as a bank that meets the needs of all kinds of people, thus its slogan as a bank for all. The bank is walking the talk and developing new products and services to meet customers

from all walks of life. When the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Tineyi Mawocha shares his and the Urwego team’s targets of not resting until the bank has at least a million active accounts, one has to think twice before objecting.

Urwego Opportunity Bank Head quarters in Kigali

Urwego Opportunity BankThe people’s bank

Established in 1997 as a purely Microfinance Institution (MFI) that was mostly popular among women at the time, Urwego Opportunity Bank is definitely Rwanda’s bank for all.

www.hope-mag.com 21

Mawocha says the plan is to expand through sett ing up more physical branches and harnessing the power of technology to bank and the entire population.

Today, Urwego has 14 branches and plans to increase its presence across the country in the course of the year. On the mobile based banking technologies, it is already leading the league on Visa Incorporated’s M-Visa M-Hose platform with over 50,000 active subscribers, outnumbering all other financial institutions on the product.

In similar efforts to harness the power of mobile technology, Urwego signed a partnership with the country’s second largest telecom in terms of subscribers, Tigo Rwanda to provide the first mobile phone-based bank-managed sav ings account dubbed Tigo Sugira.

W i t h T i go S u g i r a j u st l i ke M - H os e, the benef i ts a customer en joys are unimaginable as they have unprecedented convenience of their money at the bank being available to mobile wallet too. This means that no matter what one chooses to use, bank or Tigo Cash, they have all their cash just a click away.

Currently, Urwego, which is Kinyarwanda for ladder in other words the bank that offers customers a ladder to climb onto and reach ones dreams, counts over 400,000 active accounts, has an asset value of over Rwf 19 billion, and a loan portfolio in the range of Rwf 11billion.

Mawocha recently explained that being underbanked in Urwego’s perspective is having a bank account but with limited access to financial facilit ies. “Urwego targets to give such people across Rwanda an opportunity to be fully served,” he said. “My approach which is the broader Urwego approach to banking is simple; understand the customers’ needs and satisfy them by being very close to them.

From our perspective as a bank built on the Christian values as demonstrated by Jesus, every one of our customers is considered a brother or sister irrespective of their religious beliefs or any other factor. This principle which is taught to staff and demonstrated in all our activities has a major influence in the banking services that we provide,” Mawocha noted.

He added that the bank has a tradition called the CEOs tour, held every six months and involves the bank’s top manager visiting customers across the country to get a feeling of their needs and ensure that the bank does not lose main reason of Urwego’s existence of serving the people.

Maintaining MFI and commercial bank status

Maintaining the MFI and commercial bank status is a deliberate choice the bank made with the desire to serve our customers better. As Mawocha put it, as an MFI, there were some services they could not offer to our customers yet they required them and thus those who would be in this category were always passed on to other financial institutions.

“We wanted to be able to meet our customer’s needs every step of the way and for all. On the other hand, being a commercial bank alone would mean that there are some customers at the lower end of the market whose needs would not be met as required. By having both sides as part of the bank’s operations, the bank is

capable of reaching customer and meeting their needs, which in fact is what distinguishes it as a “Banki ya bose” (a bank for all).

Affordable lending ratesThe other thing to note is that despite a need to make a profit and therefore make the business model of our operat ions sustainable, Urwego’s shareholders are not entirely profit driven but are transformation oriented.

“Our biggest profit is in how many lives are financially transformed by our services thus our rates are also tailored in a similar manner,” noted Mawocha. He said that their lending rates are determined by various facts and circumstances surrounding each specific request.

In addition to expanding branch the network and the growing mobile based bank services, Urwego has 31 sales offices in each of Rwanda’s major urban centres, boasts a total of 18 ATMs from which withdraws can be made at any time and over 200 agents distributed in each corner of the country. With this reach and the ambitions the Urwego team exhibit, there is no doubt the bank is out to make an impact and is a rising star to watch in the Rwandan financial sector.

Tineyi Mawocha, CEO Urwego Opportunity Bank

Our biggest profit is in how many lives are financially transformed by our services thus our rates are also tailored in a similar manner,” noted Mawocha. He said that their lending rates are determined by various facts and circumstances surrounding each specific request

Please feel free to contact us on our toll free number 5151 if you need any further information or visit our nearest branch.


� 1968 - 1st Generation

IntroductionHilux was born after Toyota implemented a full model change of its Brisk amodel. The name Hilux comes from a combination of the words HIGH and LUXURY

� 1988 - 5th

Multi-use Market GrowsD u e t o i t s po p u la r i t y, H i lu x wa s exported to 140 countries. The image of the new Hilux was powerful, tough and comfortable, with an emphasis on enhanced performance, utility and durability.

� 1972 - 2nd

Global ExpansionCompletely new style, greater safety and maintenance-free proofing, strengthening of braking performance. Selected “Pickup Truck of the Year” in 1974 by US magazine.

� 1997 - 6th

Passenger-car UseBecame the world's best-selling small pick up. Hilux was redesigned to be tough and sporty with significant attention paid to the cabin, exterior styling, ride comfort and safety.

� 1978 - 3rd

Launch of 4WD ModelThe first stylish 4WD, and the first rear-wheel drive with diesel engine. This Hilux also featured a double cabin with front and rear bench seats.

� 2004 - 7th

Global Model EvolutionCore models were produced locally in 12 countries or regions and sold in approx. 170 countries around the world. In 12 years, Hilux has achieved cumulative sales of over 500,000 units.

� 1983 - 4th

Launch of 4WD ModelThe first stylish 4WD, and the first rear-wheel drive with diesel engine. This Hilux also featured a double cabin with front and rear bench seats.

� 2016 - 8th

Introducing the New HiluxA New Era for Pickup, Every Inch a Hilux

This could not be truer than in Africa, where its legacy lives on, after a decade in the making the all new Toyota Hilux, is now available in our market. Within the light commercial vehicle segment

(LCV), customers have come to expect quality, reliability and durability when they purchase a Toyota, in addition when they purchase a Hilux they know that toughness and performance is included in these expectations. The new Toyota Hilux continues to exceed expectations and places new emphasis on comfort, convenience and design. The pickup of today needs to fulfil a multi-purpose role, and not merely be a 'jack of all trades' but in fact a 'master of all'.

The HistoryOne of the longest model names in our market, the Hilux has been on sale forgeneration.

Meet the New Hilux Toyota's goal with the new Hilux was straightforward; increase overall comfort and refinement, and make the legendary pickup even tougher. The key focus were:

�Design Perhaps the most striking feature of the new Hilux is the advanced exterior design. The design team concentrated on creating a vehicle that would project a tough stance, whilst also exuding a sense of innovation and refinement, in order to evoke a more emotional connection.

At the front, a prominent grille with strong horizontal bars extends towards the wrap-around headlights, creating a powerful, unified look. The protruding, integrated fender flares add to the rugged appearance. Viewed from the side, muscular wheel flares perfectly tie in with the strong virtual line which flows from the front, to the rear of the vehicle. The sloping

rear side window and cabin silhouette form a visual parity with the slanted rear design. The slanted theme is further reinforced by the strong design line which harmoniously flows from the rear combination lamps to the side profile.The cab roof has been carefully shaped to improve both its styling and practicality. It now features an aerodynamic 'pagoda'-style V- shape which helps channel air over the roof and off the sides of the vehicle, rather than into the deck area, preventing turbulence and

� InteriorThe interior design of the Hilux sets new standards for a light commercial vehicle. The same design ethos of tough and advanced was used to create an interior that combines ruggedness and practicality with innovation and design.

Taking centre stage in the interior theatrics is the new high-tech touch screen audio system available on the 3.0L Double Cab models, which seems to 'float' from the centre of the dash. Featuring a flat-panel design, flick operation and capacitive touch technology, the advanced audio

The New 2016TOYOTA HILUXUnrivalled Toughness, Untouched Legacy

The Hilux legacy is legendary. Since its introduction in 1969, the model has etched an enviable reputation for itself across the globe, where its durability, strength and outright quality, has entrenched itself in the hearts of its owners.

www.hope-mag.com 23

system is a marvel. The driver instrumentation follows suit with higher grade models receiving a full colour 4.2” TFT multi-information display, with easy-to-read displays and powerful shapes, all adding to the advanced toughness theme. The driver is able to access a raft of information, at the touch of the four-way directional buttons mounted on the newly designed steering wheel. The steering wheel makes use of a strong horizontal spoke design, to harmonise with the rest of the interior and features rake and reach adjustability, as well as thumb rests and a thicker rim, to provide superb comfort and feel.

All Hilux models are fitted with tough and durable patterned black seat upholstery tailored to their usage. All designs offer excellent durability without compromising on design and a sense of quality. Workhorse models focus more on robustness whilst mid-grade and high-grade models pursue a feeling of luxury and modernity. The overall execution of the interior is that of high quality, innovative design and user friendliness. Comfort and convenience were strong influencers in the interior design and as such, the Hilux is equipped with additional storage areas and features to improve usability.

Improved PackagingThe driver's seat hip point has been raised by 10mm and the height adjustment range increased by 15mm. Offering occupants head and shoulder room increases of 8 and 19 mm respectively, the front seats feature a new frame structure with a longer, amply padded seat cushion optimised to provide great comfort. The door pockets will comfortably stow 1 litre plastic bottles with a host of cup holders and convenience hooks, as well as shopping hooks affixed to the rear of the front seat on Double cab high-grade models.

Foundation of ToughnessThe all-new frame, which is designed to combine improved handling, ride comfort, NVH (Noise/Vibration/Harshness) performance and collision safety with outstanding durability in even the most extreme driving environments. Improvements include 30mm thicker side rails and cross

members which deliver 20% greater torsional rigidity whilst also increasing durability. The number of connection points from chassis frame to upper body has been increased, accompanied by a 45% increase in spot welds (from 268 in the previous generation to 388). Contributing to the durability of the new model is a new heavy-duty under-cover with additional reinforcement and increased thickness. The body makes use of higher tensile steel sheet (up to 590MPa). This achieves greater body strength while reducing weight.The more rigid chassis frame and new body serve as the foundation for the completely revised suspension, delivering superb all round performance.

Absorbing the ElementsA new rugged suspension package has been developed, which addresses the need for both outstanding ride comfort and durability. The Hilux utilises a double-wishbone front suspension design and leaf-spring type suspension with twin shock absorbers in the rear. The length of the leaf spring has been increased by 1,300mm to 1,400mm, suppressing road surface vibration moving the attachment point 100mm forwards and lowering it by 25mm contributes to enhanced steering stability.

The steering column has been redesigned to reduce the transfer of vibration from the road surface, and the hydraulic power steering system has been fine-tuned to offer improved steering feel. Newly added telescopic adjustment forms part of the more lifestyle orientated models.

Off-road AdventuresFor buyers venturing off-road, the new Hilux is naturally available in part-time four-wheel-drive derivatives. A highlight of the new system is the electronic rotary 4WD switch housed within the dashboard, which replaces the previously employed 'second gear lever', offering greater ease-of-use as well as contributing to a 'cleaner' interior design. Using the 4WD change-over switch, the driver can select between 2WD, 4WD and 4WD with low range.

Providing the DrivePowering the new Hilux continues to be the reliable and proven KD series engines built for Sub Sahara Africa with proper emission control system suitable for fuel condition on ground. Two engine derivatives are available in our markets are the 2.5 litre and 3.0 litre. All of which are powered by 4-cylinder inline 16 valve DOHC (double over-head camshaft), common rail diesel system.

Transmitting the PowerForming the link between engine and the driven wheels, are all-new 5- and 6-speed transmissions.The 2.5L Low version single cab is equipped with 5-speed Manual transmission because of tyre size, final drive / differential gear ratio and engine. The 2.5L High version double and single cab are all equipped with 6-speed manual transmission. The 3.0L double cab is equipped with 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission.

The gear ratios of the new 6-speed manual has been optimised to feature a 10% lower first gear for enhanced low-speed torque delivery, with a 23% higher 'top gear' providing greater fuel efficiency and relaxed high-speed cruising. In keeping with the more leisure-focussed interior, the position of the gear lever has been change and the gear lever has been shortened to provide a slicker (and more passenger car like) shift action and feel.

Safety as a PriorityThe Hilux's new stronger ladder-frame chassis affords it increased deformation resistance, whilst its energy absorption performance has been increased 15% over that of its predecessor. This improves safety performance and occupant protection. The risk of pedestrian injury has also been reduced by the adoption of impact-absorbing structures to the front bumper, hood, fender bracket structure and cowl structure, reducing impact force to the head and the legs of pedestrians during a collision.

Spearheading the passive safety front is a host of Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags. A standout feature is the addition of a new driver side knee airbag on all models. The 3.0L Double cab (including raised body (RB)) models boast a total of 7 airbags comprising driver and passenger, side airbags for front seats only, driver knee and curtain shield airbags one per side and covers both front and rear side windows. The familiar brake control systems; ABS, Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) form the first level of active safety.

Warranty & Service IntervalsAll models are accompanied by a 3 year or 100,000 kilometre warranty (whichever occurs first) with service intervals set at every 5,000 kilometres. Contact Akagera Motors for further information specific to your market.

B.P. 3774, GATUNA ROAD, KARURUMA, KIGALI, RWANDA Mobile: 0784501550 / 0788567270, E-Mail: [email protected]: www.abgafrica.com


Assets have grown from Rwf 24.6bill ion in 2006 to Rwf 482.7billion in 2015. According to the National Bank of Rwanda 2013-2014 financial stability

report, as of June 2014, commercial banks continued to dominate the banking sector with a proportion of 81.2% of total banking system’s assets while specialized banks (microfinance, development and cooperative banks) account

for 18.8% of total banking assets. The banking sector has remained resilient and particularly in Rwanda, the financial sector has been growing by about three times multiple the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Given that GDP has been growing at about 7%, it is safe to say that the banking sector has grown at around 20%. It is easy to see the linkage between economic activities and banking because they both drive each other depending on which

way you look at it. On one part, lending to the private sector creates production, growth and turnover which work backwards in the banking sector. So, we can talk about a very stable and growing sector that is fairly facilitating the economic growth we are seeing today. In terms of stability in interest rates, the public wants to see them go down. There is however notable stability and less volatility, making predictability more apparent.

Technological innovations push Rwanda’s banking sector

growth to 20% The banking industry in Rwanda has been metamorphosing into vitality over the years,

thanks to product innovations, technology advancements and a good stock of knowledge transfer from regional to international professional personnel in the sector.

www.hope-mag.com 25

The big operational changes that have happened in the past year have been entry of new players such Atlas Mara buying Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) and Development Bank of Rwanda, commercial branch (BRD) and Bank of Africa which is coming in through Agaseke Bank which all point to a changing banking landscape. The Chairman Rwanda Bankers’ Association (RBA) Maurice Toroitich says despite the new changes, the dominance of big banks remains a challenge.

“There’s a situation where the top three banks (Bank of Kigali, BRD and BPR) still have a share of almost 60% of the market. So, it’s hoped that as consolidation takes shape, the gap between the big banks and small banks narrows down to create a competitive and an even playing field for customers to access funding on a much larger scale,” he says.

On the innovation front, mobile banking has been a big intervention driven by the developments of mobile banking solutions that Telecoms are advancing like partnerships. Many banks have upgraded their banking platforms to be able to do more transactions through mobile phones which is give rise to branchless banking. Most banks are now profitable which is something very

good especially when you look at the fact that non-performing loans have started to reduce; this has contributed to better performance of banks. However, there’s still a challenge of cyber and fraud cases such as cheque fraud, mobile money fraud-related with telecoms, becoming a big risk as we build businesses relying on technology.

About new products, RBA is about completed cheque truncation system process where banks no longer exchange physical cheque instrument but, instead, doing clearing on an electronic basis with automated payments in the system, reducing the usage of cash in the economy and likely consequences improved liquidity, improved efficiency and ultimately will reduce the cost of borrowing in the market.

Local banking vis-à-vis regional banking

From a product point of view, Rwanda still has some steps to catch up. In terms of technological advancements, Rwanda has taken giant steps with such innovations as mobile banking, internet banking, use of electronic payments and points of sale terminals (POS); these are things that were non-existent a few years back but are now common in many banks. Literally, we are moving towards a cashless economy which Rwanda can achieve quicker than other countries in the region. On a return perspective, banks in the industry are still not doing well. For example, Rwanda banks returns on capital average at about 13% while in region most banks operate between 18-25%.

If you translate that into Rwanda banks operating income costs, they are in the higher regions of 60% when the rest of the region operates from 60% and below. For example, KCB as a group is currently operating at 47% whereas KCB Rwanda operates at 67% for cost to income ratio which means that the cost of doing business is much higher in relation to the revenue that is being generated. So, it has to do with efficiency and the cost of doing business and that is reflective of the economy because most banks earn 70% of their income from interest. Yet in other banks in the region, banks earn like 40-45% of their income from other things.

Interest rates Interest rates and loans are funded by cash from deposits of people’s money. Banks don’t have any money but only intermediate by getting money from somebody else and lend it. But when the supply of money doesn’t match the demand for credit, there’ll always be that gap because the saving culture is still low. Secondly, there’s lack of access to long term loans. Most people in the economy save for short term in current accounts which is withdrawn the next day, creating a very high funding risk. This is why banks will always charge a slightly higher premium because if they run out of funding, then you have to have the capacity to pay a higher price to get the funding for the loans.

However, the good thing is that they are stable because if you looked at interest rates in Kenya, interbank rates are at 21%, in Rwanda they are at 4%. Lending rates in Kenya are at 25%, in Rwanda they are around 15-16%. In East Africa or even Africa, the lending rates are still low. In South Africa which had the best lending percentage now stands at 14-15%.

Most banks are now profitable which is something very good especially when you look at the fact that non-performing loans have started to reduce; this has contributed to better performance of banks.


Saham insurance, in partnership with Saham Assistance, has already made the most of the opportunity the market offers and provides clients with an assistance service, a first for sub-Saharan

Africa,” says Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Deputy CEO for Finance and Operations.

At the heart of the Group’s work, the insurance arm represents a h istor ic p i l lar of i ts development in Morocco, as well as West and Central Africa. The insurance business in Africa has seen steady growth thanks to the success of an ambitious and deliberate acquisition strategy.

This includes the Colina Group (1st insurer of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA) zone, with a presence in 13 countries in 2010), and of GAAS, the leading, private insurer in Angola and also present in Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria. The momentum of this expansion was made possible by setting up subsidiaries in high growth potential countries such as Niger and Congo in 2014.

In the Middle East, Saham Finances established a presence through LIA insurance, a major player in Lebanon. To optimise the reinsurance needs of its subsidiaries, Saham finances created in 2013 Saham reassurance, a reinsurance company which aims to share the best underwriting practises.

Today as a truly pan African leader, Saham Assurance relies on a network of over 650 agencies and distinguishes itself through it’s primarily client based strategy. According to the distribution of written premiums, Morocco is the first contributor to the insurance arm of Saham Finances with 48 per cent, followed by Angola 17 per cent, the Ivory Coast 11 per cent and Lebanon at 10 per cent.

Saham Assistance

“Saham Assistance has the job of helping private individuals, professionals and companies by providing a range of services which focus on proximity. When disaster strikes, we are the first link in an emergency chain and our customers can count on the experience and professionalism of our teams and service

providers to support them through those difficult moments,” says Moulay M’Hamed Elalamy, the General Manager of Saham Assistance. Pan African leader in assistance, Saham Assistance provides for its 6 million clients through a worldwide network of 400,000 service providers and 240 correspondents thanks to the Mondial Assistance Group. Boasting a 30 per cent market share and over 1,000 centers,

Saham Assistance for sub-Saharan countries, with a presence in 12 countries; Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazaville, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. To provide its individual and business customers with efficient and responsive assistance services, Saham Assistance offers a wide range of customized services in health, car, travel and death insurance.

SAHAMPan African Leader

in Insurance

Insurance and reinsurance

The insurance market in Africa is one of the most dynamic in the world and the private sector, in particular car insurance represents one of the main avenues for growth.

Pan African leader in assistance, Saham Assistance provides for its 6 million clients through a worldwide network of 400,000 service providers and 240 correspondents thanks to the Mondial Assistance Group


The AESG strength ranges from high level energy policy and strategy expertise to the hands-on energy profess ionals a l l round energy related matters. The experience

and focus of AESG is more on a wide range of energy systems in the developing world with more emphasis on Renewable energies. The current engagement is more in Eastern and Southern Africa region, looking at expanding to cover other African countries as need arises and as the company grows.

The company engages in the following areasi. Conducting energy studies, energy related research, knowledge and skills dissemination;

ii. Providing consultancy and a wide range of advisory services in energy related domains ranging from renewable energies that include but not limited to Solar, Natural and Methane gas, Biomass and Biogas, Hydro, Geothermal

and Wind, to other forms of energy; more specifically;

Solar: solar photovoltaic systems both for on and off-grid applications, solar thermal systems, solar battery charging stations,

Hydro: hydropower project design, support both on technical as well as business case development level

Wind: wind power development for water pumping, small electricity applications

Geothermal: project ident if icat ion and facilitation, structuring of project agreements, pro ject development and concess ion ing framework, transaction advisory, etc.

Biogas: Biogas and systems planning and implementation, technical assistance for construction and operation, improvement of sanitation systems and installation of biogas devices for cooking, lighting, cooling, and conversion to electricity.

Biomass: Biomass energy systems planning, des ign ing and execut ion. These inc lude gasification, Biomass to electricity, improved Biomass cook stoves (Domestic and Institutional), and improved methods of charcoal production, etc.

Energy efficiency and Energy Security: Energy efficiency for lighting, heating, and buildings, energy audits, etc. as well as energy security in terms of planning for energy supply and demand management systems.

Oil and Gas: PSA and concessions transact ions and bus iness development processes

iv. Carrying out development of policy and strategy on energy related aspects and provision of short term training on energy matters especially to Governments;

v. Providing transaction expertise related to provision of energy supply concessions and power purchase agreements.

AESG is an all Africa based energy company with its head office in Kigali, Rwanda and a branch in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. It is constituted by a group of experienced professionals and experts in different domains of energy.

AFRICA ENERGY SERVICES GROUP

Dr. Albert Butare the Chief Executive Officer Africa Energy Services Grou

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vii. Providing support services on development of bankable energy related projects and mobilization of investment partnerships in undertaking execution of such projects and other related services. These include conducting key studies including but not limited to pre-feasibility, detailed technical, environmental and social impact assessment studies related to energy projects;

viii. Providing and/or facilitating development of strategic approach to increase the rural energy access, including development of baseline surveys for establishment of the priority energy needs and the strategic framework for implementation;

Who are your major clients?

Butare: The major clients of AESG have so far been Governments in a number of countries in Africa focusing more on policy and strategy

polish to respond to the specific needs of the countries.

Energy efficiency and security through supply and demand side management have also been part of the undertakings. As many countries today embark on green growth paths with low carbon footprint initiatives and climate resilience in general, of recent we have been supporting a number of countries on the “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative including developing the Countries’ Action Agenda and Investment Prospectuses.

You spend much of your time in several other countries in the region and beyond, how do you compare Rwanda and these other countr ies in terms of energy generation, transmission and distribution? Being a small country does it place Rwanda somewhere low on the ladder?

Butare: Well, to me, and to others I believe, this should not be the question of the country size, or even the population size. A fair comparison should consider “per capital” energy supply or “per capital” energy access instead. If a country’s population is double or triple of that of Rwanda, and the power generated triples what we produce, still this may not make any difference in terms of per capital access and effectiveness of businesses.

There is an upcoming WEF Rwanda is hosting. Do you think Rwanda may benefit from this event in terms of energy

investments?

Butare: That is my hope. Why? Rwanda has come to position herself as a country that meets most of what an investor would be interested in. In fact, today, I personally get contacted by different interested potential investors on average of more than once every week asking about opportunities for investment in the energy sector. That is only me, I am pretty sure that several others including the Rwanda Energy Group and the Ministry get even more enquiries. So this Forum shall provide a good platform for such discussions to take place.

And, before one goes into the details of the entry point in terms of investment, naturally, knowing that the country electricity access is still less than 40%, the 60% remaining without access shall certainly remain an open opportunity for investment, be it through power generation from different available sources, independent smart grids out there in the rural areas, cross border power trading, etc, or even provision of expertise in different areas of the sector.

Private companies like mine also stand out ready for partnerships with foreign companies to undertake joint activities in the country and/or the region.

Hope Magazine: Is your company eyeing such an opportunity?

Butare: I am sure we will walk away with few interesting business cards at the minimum. Isn’t it how it all begins.

Q&A with Dr. Albert Butare the Chief Executive Officer Africa

Energy Services Group and former Minister of State

In-charge of Energy, Communication

and Water


So why list on RSE?

Celestin Rwabukumba, the RSE Chief Executive Officer says the bourse provides an avenue for local and regional firms to raise long-term development capital that is not costly.

He argues that most of the products provided by the commercial banks are short-term and expensive, which affects the borrower’s ability to expand. There are currently seven firms listed on the RSE, three local firms – Bank of Kigali, Bralirwa, and Crystal Telecom – and four cross-listed counters, Kenya’s Nation Media Group, Uchumi Supermarkets, KCB, and Equity Bank. There are also a host of Treasury Bonds the government issued under its quarterly issuance

program to raise funds for infrastructure and capital market development. Over the past two years, government increased the drive aimed at attracting Rwandans to use the local bourse as an investment vehicle and an avenue for firms to raise affordable development finance through public offerings. The TB issuances and Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) have all been oversubscribed showing that the bourse presents businesses immense opportunities to mobilise funds.

At 5 years, Rwanda Stock Exchange is slowly becoming Rwanda’s platform

of choice for development capital

The past five years have seen the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) grow from a nascent stock market to one that is contending to become

Rwanda’s platform of choice for development capital and much more.

John Rwangombwa (C), the central bank governor rings the opening bell at the RSE as Robert Mathu (L), the CMA executive director and Celestin Rwabukumba (R), CEO of the RSE look on

www.hope-mag.com 31

“The debt market is deepening in that more companies are showing interest in commercial papers among other products we are introducing,” noted Rwabukumba. He said they are also talking to different stakeholders about Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). “In the next few months, we want to be fully automated, very efficient and increase the number of listed companies because we want to be a big player to the economy.

As per this year’s African Stock Exchanges Association (ASEA) theme, ‘We need to stay relevant to the real economy’,” Rwabukumba expla ined. Rwabukumba sa id they want to be the main choice for businesses to raise long term capital. People need to shift from going to the banks for long term finance and come to the stock market because it is cheaper, long term and easier to get.

Automating the RSERwabukumba said the bourse would switch from the current manual trading platform to an automated platform in the next couple of months. This will be a huge move for the RSE whose central securities depository is the only automated infrastructure. “We are looking to automate our trading platform, but we have automated settlement. Only the trading platform is still manual as of now.”

The Nairobi Securities Exchange, the Uganda Securities Exchange and the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange all have automated trading platforms. The local exchange is just over five years old, having started in January 2011, but its central depository (e-share file) was fully automated from the beginning. Rwabukumba says the initiative is part of the strategies to make the RSE efficient and more competitive in the region. Rwabukumba said they are working on more initiatives to spur the growth of the local stock market, and help diversify its product offerings.

“We want to use the nature of our laws to make Rwanda the platform of choice for local and regional firms to raise long-term development finance. The platform is ready for not only bonds and shares but also asset backed securities, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other collective investment scheme products. He says a few REITs developers are discussing with CMA on the possibility of listing on the market.

He adds that after putting in place the Rwanda National Investment Trust (RNIT) last year, they are optimistic the trust will launch the first fund very soon.

EAC exchanges’ integration good for local money market sectorCommenting on the ongoing EAC exchanges i n fr a s t r u c t u r e i n t e g r a t i o n i n i t i a t i v e s , Rwabukumba says harmonisat ion is very important to ease movement of capital and skills, and “will definitely benefit Rwanda’s young stock exchange.”

Integration is also essential as it can be an avenue among others to raise capital for regional projects, such as the oil pipeline and the standard railway gauge (being undertaken by the EAC member states), he notes.

Presently, all the four EAC exchanges are working on a project to harmonise regional exchanges’ infrastructure, which is expected to create more interest among East Africans to trade and invest in shares and other financial instruments. Once implemented, investors will be able to buy shares from any exchange across the EAC. It will also make clearing and settlement of transactions across the region easier and more efficient, Rwabukumba noted.

RSE part of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative

Rwabukumba said joining the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSI) last year will see the RSE become a part of the sustainable development model that is being adopted under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. “We were the fourth stock exchange in Africa to join after Mauritius, Nigeria and Ivory Coast which was another milestone for us. It shows that we have been recognised as one of the stock exchanges that is moving in the right direction.

We are learning on how we shall be contributing towards encouraging sustainable investment practises because today’s investors are not only looking for value but responsible investments.” He said they are seeing more eco-friendly investments coming up, tree plantings, woman emancipation among many others.

“It starts voluntarily when we start talking to companies about it because investors will soon not invest in companies that are degrading the environment, using child labour, degrading women or doing things of the like,” he noted. “We want to join the entire world in order to develop our planet sustainably.

Presently, all the four EAC exchanges are working on a project to harmonise regional exchanges’ infrastructure, which is expected to create more interest among East Africans to trade and invest in shares and other financial instruments. Once implemented, investors will be able to buy shares from any exchange across the EAC


Disruptive innovation, a term coined by Clayton Christensen, describes a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market

and then relentlessly moves up market. Patrick Ngabonziza, the founder and chief executive officer of MobiCash Group saw the need to reach to the unbanked and underbanked in the world, offering them mobile electronic wallets using MobiCash that allows them not only carry out basic financial services which include cash-in and cash-out services but also access other value added services.

MobiCash was born out of the need to develop a convenient, secure and affordable payment platform that will address the use of our technology to enable people who are not served by financial institutions to start using financial services without having to access them through traditional bank branches.

By combining our vast knowledge in various IT domains and the experience of our management team in learning and excelling at new technologies, we were able to devise a realistic business model and plan that utilise the convergence of banking and telecommunications technologies.

“We realised what was hampering banks from reaching out to the financially excluded was the fact that people had to walk miles to bank branches from their homes, especially those in rural areas,” he noted in an interview with the Hope Magazine. He added that most banks don’t find the cost-benefit analysis of setting up physical branches in rural areas worth it given the low-value transactions people carry-out yet the banks have to manage their daily operating costs. “This is where we identified the need to use technology, together with banks and mobile network operators, to reach out to those in the bottom financial pyramid,” he said. MobiCash in Rwanda is one practical example

of how ICT-led business models can support both doing business and doing good at the same time. Through MobiCash, the national savings agenda can be pushed as it is already happening, with more money being put into mobile wallets than they are withdrawn. Being agnostic to mobile network operators and banks, MobiCash is keen in complementing each of these stakeholders’ goals in Rwanda attaining a cashless economy by integrating its robust platform with service providers in a way that enables every Rwandan to be in the financial eco-system.

MobiCash has already establ ished a f irm foothold in several Africa countries and has or is finalizing licenses, joint venture agreements with in country partners in Africa and the rest of the world. In Rwanda, MobiCash attained its license in September 2014 to provide mobile financial services to Rwandans. With MobiCash, one can open an account through an agent using only their identification card and biometric features such as photo or fingerprints. Using the now-created mobile wallet, the holder is exposed to a wide range of seamless public and private sector services that remove the burden of queuing in banks.

These include but are not limited to the ability to cash-in and cash-out, send and receive money from loved ones, purchase airtime from the three Mobile Network Operators, pay for electricity, water, pay their DSTV, Star Times and Canal+ subscriptions and most importantly make Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) payments. RRA has made it possible for individuals and businesses to pay their taxes and non-taxes using MobiCash not only seek to creatively expand the tax net but also to eliminate the pain and burden of the business person travelling to the collection point and join long queues just to discharge their lawful and civic duties.

By eliminating the pain points for the tax payer and enhancing the efficiency of collection it makes the tax payer even more productive in order to contribute more subsequently to the development of the country. This has contributed to demystifying taxation and the use of ICT, roped in more payers and helped to champion the national development agenda. Statistics show that in the eight months from May to December last year when MobiCash was charged with collecting revenues for RRA, over Rwf 600 million was collected in taxes and non-taxes using the platform from only three collection points which included an Umurenge SACCO and independent agents.

One can only imagine how much the figure could have been had all the 456 Umurenge SACCOs and more agents/merchants had been enrolled by last year. Ngabonziza only hopes that MobiCash continues to grow and continue being the disruptive technology that provides a cashless eco-system for society to access all their needs of life.

Patrick Ngabonziza

Disruptive Technology for Rwanda

There is so much disruptive technology that is changing lives in the world today. Talk of the introduction of mobile internet or cloud computing, companies such as MobiCash today are taking advantage of various technologies to offer mobile banking services closer to the people, especially the financially excluded.

A mobiCash agent in Nyabugogo, a city suburb aids a client to transact using the platform from his tablet

Serena Hotels bagged top honours with Nairobi Serena Hotel named Africa’s Leading Green Hotel. This is the second time that the hotel has won this award, an acknowledgement of the hotels and the group’s continued commitment to sustainable business practices. In Uganda, Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa won the award for Uganda’s Leading Presidential Suite. And now Guest’s staying at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa can look forward to a whole new experience with the opening of its state of the art golf course facility , 9-hole soon to 18-hole with spectacular views of Lake Victoria.

In Tanzania, Serena Tanzania stands tall with 4 awards, with Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel recognized as Tanzania’s Leading Business Hotel, besides the honour of having ‘Tanzania’s Leading Hotel Suite”. Zanzibar Serena Hotel, in Stone town on the island of Zanzibar is ’Zanzibar‘s Leading Hotel’ and Tanzania’s ‘Leading Boutique Hotel’. In Rwanda, for the 5th year in a row, Kigali Serena Hotel retained its top position as Rwanda’s Leading Hotel. In Mozambique, the Polana Serena Hotel, one of Maputo’s most majestic architectural gems,

won two awards Mozambique’s Leading Hotel as well as Mozambique’s Leading Presidential Suite. Nominated companies for the World Travel Awards are voted online by individuals and travel agents globally on issues such as customer relations, creativity, and quality of service, standards, guest satisfaction, product innovation and business acumen. The results of this are then inspected and reviewed by a group of industry experts. All votes are internally audited to ensure the validity of each individual vote.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Mr. Mahmud Jan Mohamed, the Managing Director said’ It is our staff who make it happen, their commitment to excellence is beyond doubt and management appreciates their continued efforts. We wish to thank all our esteemed clients, business partners and supporters for voting for us and for believing in us. We promise we shall continue to endeavor to lift the Serena Experience to greater heights’

Serena Hotels scoops 12 major coveted awards at the 2016 World Travel awards in Zanzibar

It was a victorious night for Serena Hotels, East Africa’s leading hotel group, scooping 12 awards including the top Award, Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand at the 2016 World Travel Awards held at Diamonds La Gemma dell ‘Est in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Regarded as the “Oscars” of the travel

industry according to the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global tourism and travel industry. We are delighted to announce that we have been voted for, and won:

1 Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand 2016: Serena2 Africa’s Leading Green Hotel 2016: Nairobi Serena3 Kenya’s Leading Business Hotel 2016: Nairobi Serena4 Tanzania’s Leading Hotel 2016: Dar es Salaam Serena5 Tanzania’s Leading Hotel Suite 2016: Presidential Suite @ Dar es Salaam Serena6 Tanzania’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2016: Zanzibar Serena7 Zanzibar’s Leading Hotel 2016: Zanzibar Serena8 Uganda’s Leading Hotel 2016: Kampala Serena9 Uganda’s Leading Hotel Suite 2016: Presidential Suite @ Victoria Resort10 Rwanda’s Leading Hotel 2016: Kigali Serena11 Mozambique’s Leading Hotel 2016: Polana Serena12 Mozambique’s Leading Hotel Suite 2016: Presidential

Suite @ Polana Serena

The Serena Group portfolio of 24 Safari Camps, Lodges, Hotels and Resorts are located in Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique, in some of the most evocative, exotic and enchanting destinations of the world. The Group also offers eleven properties in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.Serena takes pride in the level of personal care and warmth of welcome that they extend to their guests. Each Serena property is designed to complement its environment, while nurturing the landscape, culture and community that surrounds it.

The Serena Group leads the field in East African eco-awareness and eco-policy implementation insisting upon eco-complementary architecture; the use of local materials, skills and labour; waste recycling; pollution-reduction and non-CFC use; solar and wind generation, low energy-use devices and heat recovery systems. The group also hosts a number of revolutionary tree planting and indigenous plant re-stocking projects; butterfly breeding; and turtle-protection projects.

About the Serena Group


SAT PHONE AFRICA +250 786736192, EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.jsintl.net

Established in 2004 as a general construction contractor, JSI currently has six locations worldwide, including Rwanda that service federal and state agencies and private companies. Our main office is in Silver Springs in the United States and services the mid-Atlantic region. JSI also has locations in Hawaii, Afghanistan and Phoenix in the United States. The company’s founder and president, Jack Perry, brings over 30 years of construction experience to the company’s operations with previous experience as an iron worker and in construction management.

JSI RWANDA welcomes you to the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM on Africa.


Creating a good investment climate for both domestic and foreign investors is one of the fundamental factors for

achieving sustainable development in the region.

The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is working very hard by the minute in ensuring that Rwanda becomes a home for investors by putting in place strategies that enable investors to easily establish their businesses in the country and pay taxes in a friendly environment. Since RRA’s establishment in 1998, the institution has embarked on rigorous tax reforms especially by providing favourable tax laws and embracing Information Technologies (ITs)

in tax declarations and payments.

Notably, the automat ion of taxat ion processes has resulted into a reduction in the cost of doing business, paying taxes and increased tax compliance.

Tax incentives by the Government of RwandaIn order to invest in Rwanda, RRA has a number of investment incentives that ensure investors to have their businesses thrive in Rwanda. For example, an allowance of 40% of the invested amount in new or used assets may be depreciated excluding motor vehicles that carry less than 8 people. Also, an investment allowance of 50% is granted if a registered business is located outside Kigali or falls within the priority sectors determined by the Investment Code of Rwanda.

Incentives for exporters If a taxpayer exports commodities or services that bring to the country between US$ 3 million and US$ 5 million in a tax period, he or she is entitled to a tax discount of three percent (3%). If he or she exports commodities or services that bring to the country more than US$ 5 million in a tax period, he or she is entitled to a tax discount of five percent (5%).

Rwanda Revenue AuthorityPromoting domestic and foreign investment through a simplified

taxation system

Richard Tusabe, RRA Commissioner General

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Today, there are a number of online and off-line softwares and technologies aimed at easing every tax payer’s life in and out of the country.

Electronic Billing Machines (EBMs)

To start with, RRA introduced the use of Electronic Billing Machines (EBMs) in 2012 to facilitate businesses pay for their Value Added Tax (VAT), increase tax-payer compliance while reducing the

Goods imported from EAC member countries Goods that fulfill the rules of origin criteria are not subjected to customs duties. This has increased investment and business growth in Rwanda.

The Single Customs Territory The implementation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) in the East African Community (EAC), whereby goods entering the EAC are cleared at the first port of entry (Mombasa in Kenya) along the Northern Corridor and (Dares salaam in Tanzania) along the Central Corridor, is another trade facility that enables faster payment of taxes and duties in Rwanda, allowing goods to be immediately released without any other delays on their way.

As testimony to this, a truck travelling from Mombasa to Kigali that used to spend between 18-21 days now spends only 6 days to reach Kigali, which is a tremendous improvement and a trade facility that has made trade across the region more affordable and enjoyable.

Rwanda Revenue Authority Simplifying Tax Payers’ Lives with E-Payments PlatformsRRA has made a lot of inroads in the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to ease the collection of both fiscal and non-fiscal revenue on behalf of the government over the years.

Single Customs Territory implemented at Mombasa among other Port s

IBM Machine in use

tax collection cost that has always been a factor in developing economies. Today, RRA has so far distributed more than 16,000 EBMs and seen more than 2 million receipts printed.

The Rwanda Electronic Single Window:

Rwanda set the trail blazing for the rest of sub-Saharan Africa with Africa’s most efficient one-stop electronic trade clearance system, a computerized scheme that saves time and money. With the Electronic Single Window, traders and clearing agents say they are making a lot of in-roads towards easing business, thanks to the clearance systems.

The Electronic Single Window system was introduced to allow a single interface for RRA and other stakeholders involved in the clearing of goods like the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Standards Bureau, MAGERWA, the Ministry of Health and airline companies through which clearance of goods is enabled.

The Rwanda Revenue Authority Commissioner General, Richard Tusabe, says with Rwanda Electronic Single Window system, all parties involved in trade and transport can easily lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point. This provides a single interface for Business and links all Agencies to one System this facilitates procedures for issuance of permits from controlling Agencies hence reduces time and cost in clearance process.


In 2013, a systems interface was done among Rwanda electronic Single window, Kenya Revenue Authority system (SIMBA), Kenya Port Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority (Ascyuda World) in order to allow clearance of the goods at the port of Mombasa and ensure seamless and faster clearance of goods at Mombasa and real time exchange of information. The project, supported by Trademark East Africa (TMEA), now has almost all formalities able to be completed on a computer screen.

The Blue channel

This is a facility accorded to compliant taxpayers, which works by not subjecting their consignments to physical and documentary verification during the customs clearance process but rather allows their goods to be cleared faster and followed up with a customs post clearance audit. This cuts down on costs and time lost during loading and offloading of merchandise for inspection at the different warehouses. Other regimes to facilitate business people include; Pre-clearance, a quick release procedure that allows trade facilitation in that declaration can be submitted to Customs and processed before the arrival of goods.

E-filing and e-payment

Here, taxpayers file their tax returns using their office computers or even laptops regardless of whether he/she is in Rwanda or outside on other business trips. In addition, Micro Taxpayers can file and pay their tax returns using their mobile phones under the new technology called M-declaration whereby

they are only required to press*800# on their mobile phones and follow instructions.

RRA’s decentralised taxes software

Further emphasising the ease of collection of district taxes, RRA hasn’t disappointed in delivering a convenient Information Technology (IT) platform for the payment of decentralised

Trucks crossing into Rwanda at the Rusumo border post

Single Window for the Rwanda Revenue Authority Project

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taxes, thanks to its re-known IT advancements which best complement their expertise in the collection of taxes.

Speaking while launching the platform last year, Tusabe noted that the new local government revenues management software will not only increase efficiency and effectiveness in collection of decentralised taxes and fee, but bring more people to the tax net without necessarily increasing tax rates. “I am optimistic that the new software will see the whole system of filing and payment of local taxes and fees automated to simplify the process.

We have adjusted our IT systems in the past to include online declaration and payment options for taxpayers; it is also necessary to introduce automated systems in the payment of local taxes and fees as a means to facilitate taxpayers at all levels,” the Commissioner General explained. To access the platform, taxpayers have to log in to RRA website www.rra.gov.rw, click on online services or district revenues depending on the type of services they want.

The new system is expected to manage registration of taxpayers and properties, declaration and payment, accounting and reconciliation, audit and enforcement, tax arrears management and tax appeals.

It is also used to manage Rental Income tax, Fixed Asset tax and Trading Licenses as well as decentralized entities fees such as market fees, birth and marriage certificates. In addition, the new system will provide an online payment platform to citizens where they will be able to file and make payments from anywhere at any time,

at either a single common office space or at a single office space in either side of the border. For instance, following the opening of the Kagitumba/Mirama (with Uganda) border post, Uganda bound trucks/trailers are only checked and cleared once by the Rwandan and Ugandan authorities on the Rwandan side of the border while Rwanda bound trucks/trailers are cleared once from the Ugandan side by authorities from both countries as well.

According to Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), OSBPs have signif icantly reduced border crossing time for trucks/trailers from 2-3days to very few hours. There are currently five OSBPs that have been completed along Rwanda’s borders which include the Nemba (with Burundi), Ruhwa (with Burundi), Kagitumba (with Uganda), Rusumo (with Tanzania) and Petit Barrier (with DR Congo) border posts.

Other OSBPs are under construction while others seek funding from Rwanda and the region’s development partners. Those under construction include the Gatuna (with Uganda) and Rubavu/Grand Barrier (with DR Congo) border posts, while those that have been proposed to funders include Cyanika (with Uganda) and Akanyaru (with Burundi) border posts.

Building Trust through dialogue with TaxpayersRwanda Revenue Authority continues to build strong relationships and trust with taxpayers by allowing them to conduct independent self assessments to determine how much should be paid in taxes. This has built confidence among taxpayers and increased tax compliance. Open and regular tax dialogues are also held between RRA and the taxpayers to build a mutual understanding of tax issues and their operating environment.

To sum it all up, RRA is there for you to facilitate you to pay your taxes and make you proud for being a part of your countries’ development.

thus reducing the time and the costs of doing business. Furthermore, the system ensures proactive and timely communication between the tax administration and taxpayers through mobile platforms such as short text messages, alerts and emails.

“The world in which we live is changing towards automated systems taxpayers’ lives revolve in and we don’t want factors like time or distance to be a disincentive for anybody. The new system offers a convenient and simplified way of filing and paying taxes by reducing the time and administrative procedures in the whole process,” Tusabe said.

The One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) promoting cross border trade Improving cross-border procedures through one stop customs inspections or One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) as they are known today is a phenomenon that has significantly improved trade in Rwanda. To start with, an OSBP is a border facility that combines two stops for national border control processing into one and consolidates border control functions in a shared space for exiting one country and entering another, thus reducing travel time for passengers and freight vehicles.

It uses simplified procedures and joint processing wherever appropriate. The aim of OSBPs is to reduce transit costs incurred in cross-border movement by combining the activities of both countries’ border offices (immigrations and customs)

RRA mobile customes scanner at Gatuna border post

RRA Online Services now available

According to Jonathan Hall, the company’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and i ts Managing Director who was presenting the accounts

statement for 2015 at the end of April 2016, sales volume and gross revenue grew strongly throughout the year.

Total revenue increased by 9.5%, attributed to both product mix and growth in soft drinks

volume. Total sales volume increased by 7.6% of which beer grew by 5.3% and soft drinks by 14%. The increase in both beer and soft drinks volume comes on the backdrop of an investment drive that has seen Rwanda’s oldest brewery and market leader of the beverage sector inject over US$40 million in both its Gisenyi based brewery and the soft drinks plant in Kigali.

The investment among others aimed at furthering the automation of the production

process while specifically in the case of the brewery in Gisenyi, BRALIRWA invested in increasing its storage and fermentation capacities. This investment drive financed by both equity funds and debt has had an impact on the company’s financial statement.

“The financial impact is reflected in last year’s results as higher depreciation charge, increased debt resulting in higher debt to equity ratio and increased net financing costs

BRALIRWA posts strong performance in 2015

According to the 2015 financial report and accounts, Braseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda (BRALIRWA) continued to grow despite escalating

competition and uncertainties in the global and regional economies.

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that include interest and the cost of currency translation.” He adds, “To compensate this level of increased cost at a time when currency depreciation has impacted raw material and other costs is a challenge, particularly as passing on costs may not deliver value.”

As a result despite strong sales, revenue growth margins remained under pressure in 2015 resulting in lower levels of profitability for the Rwanda’s largest beverage producer. Earnings before Interest and Taxation (EBIT) declined by 49.2% to Rwf 13.02 billion and Profit and total comprehensive income (profit after tax) for the year declined by 37.6%.

2015 results however are also affected by other factors besides depreciation and interests on the company’s debt. For instance as previously announced in May 2015, the upgrading of the company’s ERP accounting system brought to their attention that the previous system installed in 2010 had contained configuration weaknesses that led to an understating of production costs between 2010 and 2014.

“The impact of the system weakness in previous years has been reflected in this annual report and accounts by restating our 2014 comparative figures as well as the 2013 opening balances,” Hall explained. He however emphasised that the reinstatement has had no impact on cash but rather in the balance sheet through a restatement of retained earnings.

“There is no impact on our current business, current trading and current ability to supply our customers and consumers,” Hall noted concerning the restatement at the time of the announcement in 2015.

Shareholder dividend 2016The payment of a cash dividend for 2015 for Rwf 5.00 (five Rwandan francs) per share will be proposed to the annual general meeting of shareholders. This proposed dividend, if approved, will be paid on 27th June, 2016 and will represent 72.4% of the net profit of the year 2015.

Though the 2015 shareholder d iv idend is 33.3% lower than 2014’s Rwf7.5, it should be reminded that at the close of last year BRALIRWA announced a bonus share for each share to all its shareholders at the time.

BRALIRWA maintains steady consumer pricesDespite economic hardships on not only the Rwandan economy but also the world’s economy, growing inflation of Rwandan franc against the US Dollar which translates into increased cost of production, BRALIRWA has kept steady consumer prices for both its soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.With regard to soft drinks, for the fourth year in a row, no price increases were taken while for beer,

the mainstream beer portfolio was last increased in July 2011. “This reflects an affordability focus in a market where there is growing competition across sectors,” Mr. Hall shared.

Outlook 2016But despite the economic challenges of 2015 BRALIRWA’s management are optimistic that Rwanda’s economy will continue to show economic resilience in 2016 despite continued global uncertainties in the world economy which continue to impact African economies.

“In 2015, the Rwandan economy showed resilience and robust growth and we expect that this can continue through 2016 so long as external shocks are limited and manageable,” he said.

He said they therefore anticipate further top line growth this year although cost pressures and constrained consumer spending power will continue to be challenging to the bottom-line.Rwanda’s Gross Domestic product grew by 7.1% in 2015 and is expected to increase and grow by 7.5% in 2016.

Despite economic hardships on not only the

Rwandan economy but also the world’s economy,

growing inflation of Rwandan franc against

the US Dollar which translates into increased

cost of production, BRALIRWA has kept

steady consumer prices for both its soft drinks and

alcoholic drinks

43

This year, Rwanda’s theme for the 100 days of commemoration on the 22nd anniversary of the genocide which led to the death of more than a million is “fighting genocide ideology”.

And one of the best ways to fight and win the battle against this ideology as has been noted on several occasions by genocide scholars is to keep the memories of the atrocities committed alive through commemoration and construction of sites such as what has been erected at the BRALIRWA plants.

This among others helps to rub the truth of the atrocities in the face of genocide deniers.Regarding remembering those killed in the 100 dark days when hell went lose in Rwanda and people were massacred like animals in an abattoir, BRALIRWA each year hosts a vigil to remember staff members killed during the mayhem.

By so doing, the company also takes the occasion to remember all other lives lost in the apocalypse. The BRALIRWA family lost 32 employees countrywide some of who were killed from the company’s production sites in Gisenyi and Kigali while others were hunted down in their homes. All these are remembered each year. Speaking on behalf of BRALIRWA’s Managing Director, Freddy Nyangezi, the company’s Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager reiterated the brewer’s commitment to “never again”.

Bralirwa commemorates genocide victimsaffirms its position against genocide ideology

Once inside the soft drinks plant and the brewery in Kigali and Gisenyi respectively, one of the first features that stand out are the genocide monuments that the beverage producer has erected to keep the memory of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and the atrocities of the mayhem alive.

Bralirwa staff lay flower wreaths commemorating genocide

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“We will continue the fight against genocide denial through remembering those we lost during the mayhem. Never will we ever stop commemorating and mourning them,” he shared. Having laid wreaths on the genocide monument in Kigali on which names of former employees killed are engraved, Nyangezi said, “We are paying tribute to them during this period and stand in solidarity with

their families, assuring them that we shall always be there and will remember them”. This defiance against denial, Mr. Nyangezi shared, is also showcased by the company’s commitment to the development of Rwanda which aims at ensuring that future generations are handed a heritage of a developed and secure nation. Among monuments of the genocide erected at BRALIRWA’s production

plants is one that commemorates the company’s 39 employees who were killed during genocidal insurgences in 1998 when a bus in which they were travelling was hijacked and set ablaze. This year’s commemoration event as is custom were preceded by a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum in Gisozi to pay tribute to all other Rwandans killed in the 1994 pandemonium.

Bralirwa staff hold candles during this year's commemoration

Bralirwa's Freddy Nyangezi addresses the audience that came for this year's commemoration event

People lay flower wreaths at the Bralirwa genocide memorial stone

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BSC provides affordable h igh quality connectivity and broadband value added services. “Our mission is to make Rwanda one of the most connected countries in

Africa,” said Eddy Kayihura, the chief executive officer of BSC in an interview with the Hope Magazine this month. As an internet service provider, BSC today provides internet services to many government institutions and private companies.

Some of the products offered to clients

�Fibre internet services: BSC offers superfast fibre broadband internet services to government institutions, ISPs and other private institutions. They provide dedicated broadband connectivity which ensures that they support business critical applications.

�VPN services: Ideal for institutions with multiple offices in different areas, VPN allows them to share the same local network making communication between them possible. It is completely secure, sensitive data is protected, whether connected to the internet or not.

�4G LTE services: BSC provides clients with faster downloading and uploading speed, giving them more mobility and flexibility in their internet use.

� Video conferencing services: BSC’s video conferencing services ensure real time face-to-face collaboration and document sharing that saves time and contributes to increased productivity.

�Voice over IP (VOIP): This is a telephony technology that transmits telephone calls over the internet. It is the cheaper alternative to traditional telephone systems.

Other BSC products include wireless broadband services, localised content services (YouTube and Akamai). With the above products, Kayihura noted BSC is always looking at expanding its clients’ possibilities, providing them with affordable internet packages. “For corporate firms, we charge 203,500Frw for one megabyte per second and offer a volume discount. We are also looking at reducing the price further in the near future,” he said.

As for wholesale bandwidth, BSC charges only 70,200Frw ($90) per megabyte and 27,300Frw ($ 35) per megabyte during the evenings, weekends and public holidays. For government VPN services, BSC charges a paltry 180,000Rwf for three megabytes per second (3mbps) with a volume discount in case clients purchase higher capacity. With the localised content services, Kayihura noted that thanks to caching data, internet users don’t have to spend more of their hard earned money to download or stream internet data.

“For as low as US$ 12 per megabyte, local operators can buy cached content on YouTube or update their windows operating system. This brings a lot of savings and improves the Quality of Service for our clients and country as well improve users experience,” he explained. Put simply, caching data means that when someone is the first to access information stored in servers located outside the country, the information is stored in Rwandan servers and other people who will want to access the same data will not have to go through the foreign storage but access it faster and affordably from the Rwandan server

“BSC is creating an enabling environment for doing business while making a profit instead of aiming to grab the entire market,” closed Kayihura.

Eddy Kayihura CEO Broadband Systems Corporation

Video Conferencing DX7O

CPE Router

Mobile Router

video conferencing device SX10 Plus screen

BSC Providing affordable high quality internet services

Thanks to Broadband Systems Corporation and partners, gone are the days when watching a video on YouTube would be close to impossible because the internet was extremely slow

Dual simcard phones

KPA sensitizes traders on new maritime regulations

Come July, the new Safety of Life At Sea Rule (SOLAS) will go into effect and will require all shippers to present verified gross mass ("VGM") certificates before they can have their containers loaded to

the vessels. The amended SOLAS Convention was adopted by International Maritime Organisation

(IMO) last year, making it mandatory for shippers to verify the gross weight of every export cargo prior to loading it on ship. Andrew Opiyo, from KPA’s senior documentation office said during the three-day workshop held at the Lemigo Hotel in Kigali that SOLAS places the responsibility on shippers, as defined in Marine Notice number 18, to provide the VGM of a container to the carrier

or their terminal representative, regardless of who packs the container. “And In order to ensure the continual flow of cargo, it is essential that information be provided to the relevant parties on time,” he said. This will avoid potential delays and congestion in the port as the VGM should be used in preparation of a vessels loading plan, Opiyo added.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) together with the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) last month sensitized Rwandan shippers and clearing agents on the new maritime container weight verification regulations that will be effected from July 1st this year.

Shippers and clearing agents take notes during the SOLAS workshop

held by KPA last month


How the new regulation works

SOLAS prescribes two methods by which the shipper may obtain the VGM of a packed container, after weighing the container that has been packed and sealed. However, weighing the cargo of the container, including packaging and dunnage (securing) materials and the tare weight of the container will be subject to certification and approval.

Th is is because the conta iners must be weighed using accurate weighing equipment that is accredited by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications and national standards bodies. Any discrepancy between a packed container's gross mass and its verified gross mass should be resolved by use of the VGM. A container that exceeds its maximum permitted gross weight will not be loaded onto a vessel.

The same applies in circumstances where a container is delivered to a port terminal without the shipper providing the VGM of the container.

Ultimately, the master of the vessel should not accept cargo on board unless he is satisfied that it can be safely shipped. Alternatively, shippers can weigh all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other securing material to be packed in the container and add the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses.

Under the type of weighing equipment, list all the various type of equipment employed in weighing the packed container or cargo items, packaging materials, pallets, dunnage including scales, weighbridge, lifting weighing equipment. Only a single container on vehicle shall be weighed at any one given time. The new requirement according to Alfred Jaka, a senior operations officer at KPA, is designed to reduce maritime accidents, boost maritime safety and trade across the region.

It will also address the increased miss-declaration of container weights that has often resulted into casualties to vessels, ,crew members and to Port lifting equipment, Alfred said. The requirements will be enforced by KMA at the Port of Mombasa with authorit ies conducting simultaneous inspection of up to 25% of export containers before they are loaded onto the ship, Alfred said.

How do shippers comply?Verify your container weight through;

Method 1

Use calibrated and certified equipment to weigh the loaded/packed container. The Shipper or third party weigher using this method is to be registered by KMA.

Method 2

Weigh each item including its packaging, dunnage, securing gears e.t.c. to be packed into the container; add the sum to the empty glass of the container to get the VGM. Shippers using this method should also be approved by KMA.

About SOLAS treatyThe first SOLAS treaty was adopted in 1914, in response to the Titanic disaster, the second in 1929, the third in 1948, and the fourth in 1960.The 1974 version includes the tacit acceptance procedure - which provides that an amendment shall enter into force on a specified date unless, before that date, objections to the amendment are received from an agreed number of Parties.

However of the 162 countr ies that were signatories to the SOLAS treaty, only 10 have had guidelines and regulations published. It is expected to come into effect on July 1st, 2016 when it will require all containers to be weighed before they are loaded onto a ship.

Any discrepancy between a packed container's gross mass and its verified gross mass should be resolved by use

of the VGM. A container that exceeds its maximum permitted gross weight will

not be loaded onto a vessel

Engineer Butera from the Rwanda Utilites Regulatory

Agency (RURA) drives home a point about SOLAS

KPA's Rwanda Country Manager, Cynthia Kamau (L) takes note of the proceedings during the SOLAS workshop last month

www.hope-mag.com 49

A participant from the DR Congo poses a question during a plenary session during the KPA workshop last month

Speaking during a sensitization & Capacity build ing workshop on the new SOLAS Ammendment to container weight verification, Customs Declarations and Shipping

line Procedures organised by KPA at the Lemigo Hotel in Kigali, Andrew Opiyo, KPA’s Senior Documentation Officer said the procedures are designed to improve efficiency and boost competitiveness within the Mombasa port. He noted that they will not only reduce the cost of doing business but equally enhance cross border trade.

Single Customs Territory

The single customs territory system was established to facilitate seamless flow of cargo in the EAC region, reduce clearance costs and enhance compliance by clearing at first points of entry.

And according to importers, the new processes could help build a foundation for an EAC common market through elimination of trade barriers that discourage trade along the north and central corridors.

Under the destination model for example, any cargo entering the region is cleared at the f irst point of entry and taxes paid at destination before release. However, for goods destined to bonded warehouses in the importing country, appropriate warehousing procedures have to be finalized at destination before release. Fred Sseka, the Chairman of the Rwanda Freight forwarders association said the system is cr it ical in el iminat ing duplicated processes and procedures thus reducing the r isks associated with non - compliance on the transit of goods.

As part of its continuous efforts in easing the cost of doing business in East Africa, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) last month sensitized traders on the new cargo clearance procedures at the Port of Mombasa.

KPA sensitizes on MombasaPort clearance procedures as part of the ease of doing business


Under the new procedures, exports and rail cargo are currently not covered under the Single Customs Territory (SCT) clearing process. Equally, partner states’ cargoes will not be handled in the Container Freight Stations (CFS) clearing process at the first Country of entry while motor vehicle process under SCT will see vehicles move to CFS’s in the first Country of entry.

A CFS is a port approved warehousing facility outside the Port that handles cargo. According to the SCT procedures, inspection of imports will be done once in the first country of entry. All shippers, agents and shipping lines are therefore required to comply with these new procedures and ensure that shipping documents including manifests and Bill of Ladings are not endorsed to specific CFSs. Opiyo advised traders to embrace cargo consolidation to further ease the process of clearing and improve efficiency.

According to the single customs territory processes, the shipping line and agents currently lodge the sea manifest 48 hours before Estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the vessel for long hauls and 6 hours before ETA for short hauls to the Kenya Revenue Authority Manifest Management System (MMS) which is validated to ensure that it conforms to the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and United Nations rules for Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT) standards.

T he p roce d u re s a cco rd i n g t o B e n j a m i n Mwandawiro, the KPA’s Customer Support Officer are part of the international standards used in the manifest structure. If accepted, the shipping lines receive an email notification showing that the manifest has been lodged. Contents of the notification are ,the vessel name, voyage and date/time when same was lodged.

The Manifest Management System (MMS) system validates the manifest according to the customs regulations and if passed, the shipping line/agent is also notified of the same, he noted. Such an initiative benefitsmore than 159 Rwandan clearing agents. The B/Ls are then moved to the Rwanda Revenue Authority system (RRA) in case of Rwanda or Uganda Revenue Authority System (URA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) for each destination respectively.

“The Kenya Ports Authority system, SIMBA system (KRA) and CAMIS (KRA) receive the entire approved manifest from MMS which is done system to system through web services that do not have any human intervention” Charles Kisewa from KPA said.The partner states revenue authority systems then undertake their different Organizations processes which may include declaration processes. According to Mwandawiro, KPA then receives two messages;

�Cargo release message which indicates to whom the cargo is to be released to.

� Inspection message that directs KPA that the cargo is to move to a stated CFS for inspection.

Shipping line Documentation Process On the shipping line process, the chain of endorsements must come from the consignee to the Rwandan Agent to Kenyan agent if the documents are presented to shipping agent in Kenya office. If presented to Rwandan shipping agent office, they must be from consignee to Rwandan clearing agent.

The shipping line then sends an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to the PIN/TIN number of the agent in Rwanda and sends a soft copy to the CFS/Agent in Kenya The guarantee form is signed by the Kenyan agent, Aaron Nzeyimana country representative CMA CGM shipping company said. “In this case, the agent must be registered by shipping company as a customer after fulfilling the registration requirements including presenting his certificate of incorporation, TIN number and Memorandum of Understanding.”

Efforts to eliminate non-tariff barriers have saved transporters and logistics stakeholders along the Mombasa-Kigali route nearly $7 million (about Rwf5 billion) since 2011. A recent report released by TradeMark East Africa showed that there has been a reduction in the time it takes to clear with customs at the point of entry and exit for importers and exporters. The time it takes to file and clear goods has gone down from 14 days in 2012 to less than a day courtesy of the electronic platform.

The survey’s findings indicate that removal of key NTBs have contributed to a 14 per cent reduction in time taken to import goods from each East African country and further contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in time taken to export goods from each EAC country

NTBs reduction has contributed to the reduction in cost of transporting a 40 foot container from Mombasa to Kigali, from $6,500 in 2011 to $4,800. Evaluators estimate this generated a saving (at constant volumes) of about $7 million (about Rwf5.4 billion) on the Mombasa-Kigali route alone.

A KPA staff explains the new cargo handling procedures at Mombasa

www.hope-mag.com 51

The Kenya Ports Authority system,

SIMBA system (KRA) and CAMIS (KRA) receive the entire

approved manifest from MMS which is done system to

system through web services that do

not have any human intervention

The meal tray passes through many processes to reach the passenger on-board. These processes are operated within the “Catering Service System” between the airline, catering companies

and suppliers. According to Turkish Airlines’ Country Manager, Omer Faruk Korkmaz, while planning the inflight catering; profile of the route, flight time, flight departure and arrival time, passenger profile, eating habits and feedbacks from our passengers are taken into consideration.

He explained that passengers can order special meals till 24 hours before the departure time if they have special occasions such as religious beliefs, eating habits or health related diseases. Turkish Airlines serves all special meals that IATA states. In addition, even IATA has not stated in its special meal types, Turkish Airlines serve nut-free special meals for the passengers who provide a doctor report for his/her nut allergy. In domestic flights, special meals are not served except “Celebration Cake”.

“What makes our catering services different is that we always renew considering the trends and least common tastes. Our aim is to offer a restaurant experience and taste to our passengers above the clouds within aircraft possibilities,” he explains. Besides Turkish cuisine’s rich variety of meals, Turkish Airlines also serves meals from international world cuisine and it carries out “Flying Chef” service in its Extended Range (Transoceanic) flights.

With the partnership of Turkish Airlines Inc. and DO&CO A.G., meals are always prepared with fresh products with an understanding and principle of boutique production where the unique menu concept is introduced to the passengers via Flying Chefs who gives professional support to cabin crew during the meal preparation to show Turkish hospitality to the world. Especially to serve different options to our frequent fliers departing from Turkey, we use weekly menu rotations in all classes.

Turkish Airlines offering the best in-Flight Catering

� Inflight catering is the entire service for Turkish Airlines passengers during the whole flight. Inflight catering planning is a wide and detailed operation

which depends on technical developments and modernization of todays’ conditions.


About Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, headquartered at the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Istanbul. It operates scheduled services to over 280 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the fourth-largest carrier in the world by number of destinations.

Turkish Airlines is also the operator that flies to most countries. Turkish Airlines has been a member of the Star Alliance network since 1 April 2008. As one of the best airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines continues to exceed all expectations through its award winning service.

Combining the gourmet tastes from all over the world with famous Turkish hospitality, our crew and flying chefs are redefining air travel to offer you an unforgettable journey. We know that time is very important for our business travellers, thus we are here to provide lots of time-saving benefits that makes flying with us easier and more profitable.

Ömer Faruk Korkmaz Turkish Airlines Rwanda

Country Manager

ENGEN RWANDA LTD welcomes you to the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM on Africa.

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