News as at
July 10, 2026, 12:37 pm
Illicit Alcohol Linked to Over 40 Deaths in Six Months, Health Minister Says
- [New Times] At least 44 people have died after consuming illicit alcoholic drinks between January and June this year, Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana has said, describing the problem as an "epidemic" requiring urgent action.
Death Toll From Bugesera Quarry Collapse Rises to 10
- [New Times] A quarry collapse in Bugesera District killed 10 people, including a woman, on Thursday, July 9, as members of a local cooperative were extracting construction materials, police said.
Rwanda, Egypt Sign Agreement On Cooperation in AI, Digital Technology
- [New Times] Rwanda and Egypt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation.
3,000 Hospital Beds Needed to End Overcrowding, Says Health Minister
- [New Times] Rwanda needs at least 3,000 hospital beds to ease pressure on health facilities across the country, Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana has said.
$8bn Recorded in Private Investment Commitments Since 2024, PM Tells Parliament
- [New Times] Rwanda has registered nearly $8 billion (approx. Rwf11.7 trillion) in private investment commitments since 2024, with the projects expected to create about 118,000 jobs, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva told Parliament on Thursday, July 9.
Govt Spends Over Rwf47bn On Fuel Subsidies
- [New Times] Rwanda has spent Rwf47.7 billion on fuel subsidies between March and June 2026 to cushion consumers and businesses from rising petroleum prices, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has said.
New Fuel Supply Deals Could Cut Pump Prices By 30% - Economist
- [New Times] Rwanda's new fuel supply agreements with Kenya and Tanzania could reduce pump prices by between 10 and 30 per cent over the next three years if fully implemented, according to a trade economist.
Major Water Projects to Double Supply By 2029
- [New Times] The government expects to increase treated water production capacity from more than 367,000 cubic metres per day in 2026 to over 688,000 cubic metres per day by 2029 through a series of major water infrastructure projects.
Govt Should Take Tough Stance Against Illicit Alcohol
- [New Times] The deaths of at least 44 people from illicit alcohol in just six months should serve as a national wake-up call. As Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana rightly observed, this is no longer an isolated public health issue but an epidemic that demands a firm and coordinated response.
U.S., Nigeria Join Rwanda in Marking Kwibohora 32
- [New Times] Rwanda's 32nd Liberation Day was commemorated in the United States and Nigeria this week, with government officials, diplomats, members of the Rwandan diaspora and friends of Rwanda celebrating the country's transformation since liberation while reaffirming the partnerships that have continued to deepen over the past three decades.
Kagame, Estonia President Discuss Cooperation in Digital Technologies
- [New Times] President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 8, held talks with his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis on the sidelines of the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland.
What Has Rwanda Achieved Four Years After New Criminal Justice Policy?
- [New Times] Four years after Rwanda adopted its National Criminal Justice Policy, the justice sector is reporting notable progress in reducing case backlogs, easing prison overcrowding, expanding alternatives to imprisonment, and strengthening restorative justice.
Success of New Commission On AI Depends On Public, Private Cooperation - Kagame
- [New Times] President Paul Kagame has said the success of the newly launched AI for Good Global Commission will depend on cooperation between public and private sector stakeholders to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) creates expected benefits for people around the world.
Kagame Says Investing in Africa's AI Solutions a Win for Everyone
- [New Times] President Paul Kagame has said artificial intelligence must be developed in a way that benefits people across the world, including Africa, saying the continent is well-positioned to play a key role in the global digital economy.
Who Will Finance Rwanda's First Small Nuclear Reactor?
- [New Times] Rwanda's ambition to build its first small modular reactor (SMR) is moving closer to reality, but one major question remains unanswered: who will pay for it?
Parents Hold the Key to National Exam Success
- [New Times] As more than 277,000 Primary Leaving Examination candidates begin one of the most important milestones in their academic journey, attention naturally turns to the learners, teachers, and examination officials. Yet there is another group whose contribution can make a lasting difference during these crucial days: parents and guardians.
The Missing Middle - Rwanda's Next Access to Justice Conversation
- [New Times] Rwanda has earned recognition for building one of Africa's most accessible justice systems. From digitised court services and progressive legal reforms to community-based dispute resolution and expanded legal aid, the country's commitment to the rule of law is evident. These achievements have strengthened public confidence in justice and demonstrated a consistent willingness to improve legal institutions.
APR FC Extend Taleb's Contract After Impressive Debut Season
- [New Times] APR FC have extended the contract of head coach Abderrahim Taleb by a further 12 months following an outstanding 2025/26 season.
Five Free Agents Headlining Rwandan Volleyball Transfer Window
- [New Times] Several players have entered free agency after their contracts with their respective clubs expired at the end of the 2025/26 season, setting the stage for a busy transfer window ahead of the new National Volleyball League campaign, which begins in October.
From Child Survivor to Builder of Hope
- [New Times] Placide Uwiragiye was just six years old when he was shot in both legs, left for dead beneath a pile of bodies and rescued by a soldier from the then Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) Inkotanyi during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Can Ending Individual Homebuilding Improve Housing Standards?
- [New Times] Housing experts have backed proposals to gradually phase out individual homebuilding in favour of organised housing developments, but caution that the transition must be accompanied by affordable financing and supportive policies to avoid pricing ordinary Rwandans out of homeownership.
Senate Summons PM Over Issues in Industrial Park Development
- [New Times] The Senate will summon the Prime Minister to explain how the government plans to address persistent issues delaying the development of infrastructure in industrial parks after senators concluded that progress remains below expectations.
Rwanda Set for Howo Truck Assembly As Sinotruk Unveils Electric Vehicle Plans
- [New Times] Asia Machinery Investments Ltd, the official distributor and future assembler of Sinotruk (HOWO) vehicles in Rwanda, has unveiled a new generation of HOWO trucks while announcing plans to establish a local truck assembly plant and introduce electric trucks.
Kagame Named Co-Chair of New Global Commission On Ai
- [New Times] President Paul Kagame has been appointed as co-chair of AI for Good Global Commission, an initiative of the United Nations.
A Passenger Cannot Board a Press Release - the Unfinished Promise of Africa's Open Skies
- [New Times] In June, The New Times argued that open skies should become Africa's next great economic reform. Few would disagree. More flights, greater competition and easier movement of people are indispensable to trade, tourism and investment. The economic case has long been settled. The more pressing question is why, over two decades since African states adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision, ordinary Africans are still waiting to experience its promise.
Over 277,000 Candidates Sit 2025/26 Primary Leaving Examinations
- [New Times] A total of 277,452 candidates on Tuesday, July 7, began the 2025/26 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). There are 154,351 girls, or 55.6 per cent of all candidates.
New Petroleum Deals 'Advance Rwanda's Ambitions As Regional Hub'
- [New Times] Rwanda is expected to receive its first shipment of petroleum products sourced from Oman under new government-to-government supply agreements with Kenya and Tanzania in early August, a development the Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe, says will strengthen the country's fuel security and support its ambition to become a regional petroleum distribution hub.
Patricia Hajabakiga - One Woman's Role in Public Policy After Liberation
- [New Times] Patricia Hajabakiga's story begins long before Rwanda's liberation of 1994. Born in 1956 in Nyanza District, Hajabakiga's earliest memories are marked not by stability, but by displacement, rupture, and loss that would later shape how she understood identity, belonging, and nationhood.
Why Dedicated Art Spaces for Women Artists Matter in Rwanda
- [New Times] For four years, Impundu Arts existed without a place to call home. It lived in conversations, digital spaces, intimate gatherings and collaborations across distances, shaped by women artists building something together.
Rubavu Intensifies Drive to Register Undocumented Children
- [New Times] Rubavu District has intensified efforts to register nearly 59,000 undocumented children after official records revealed a significant backlog in birth registration.
