KIGALI– Rwandan exporters of fruits and vegetables have lost more than Rwf100 million in the past two weeks following the outbreak of war involving the United States and Israel against Iran, according to traders.
Exporters told local media that the conflict has disrupted key export routes to the Middle East, particularly the market in Dubai, which has long served as a major hub for Rwandan fruits.
The suspension of flights and logistical uncertainty have forced many exporters to hold shipments, leaving large quantities of produce stranded in storage.
Claudine Ingabire, a fruit exporter, said she currently has 40 tonnes of avocados that were meant for Dubai but have remained unsent for two weeks while traders waited for air routes to reopen. She warned that much of the produce may deteriorate before transportation resumes.
Another exporter, Zainabu Abdul, reported losses of about Rwf15 million, explaining that the conflict began just after harvest when traders had already prepared shipments for export.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, said the government is assessing the impact of the conflict on Rwanda’s trade and exploring alternative export markets.
Data from the National Agricultural Export Development Board indicates total losses have already surpassed Rwf100 million, with exporters urging diversification of markets to reduce future risks.
Five prisons to be relocated from urban areas
The Rwanda Correctional Service plans to relocate five prisons currently located in urban areas as part of broader efforts to align correctional facilities with city master plans and improve prison infrastructure.
The Minister of Interior, Vincent Biruta, told the parliamentary Committee on National Unity, Human Rights and the Fight against Genocide that the facilities set for relocation include prisons in Muhanga, Musanze, Ngoma, Huye, and Bugesera.
Biruta said preparations for the relocation are already underway with the Bugesera facility expected to be affected by the construction of the new international airport in the district.
The move follows concerns raised in the 2024/2025 report of the National Commission for Human Rights, which highlighted ageing infrastructure in several correctional facilities, including those in Muhanga, Ngoma and Bugesera districts.
The report also noted progress in reducing prison congestion nationwide. During inspections conducted in March 2025, the occupancy rate in prisons stood at about 110 percent, down from 134.3 percent the previous year.
By August 2025, overcrowding had further declined to 103.8 percent following the opening of a new prison facility in Nyamasheke district. The government is also preparing a master plan to guide the construction of modern prison facilities in the future.
FERWAFA appoints Haruna Niyonzima to youth talent Development Program
The Rwanda Football Federation has appointed former Amavubi captain Haruna Niyonzima as one of the coaches tasked with identifying young football talent under the FIFA talent development scheme.
The nationwide program, which will be implemented across Rwanda’s provinces, aims to scout and nurture promising young players as part of FIFA’s broader youth development strategy.
Niyonzima will work alongside coaches including Sosthène Habimana and André Cassa Mbungo, under the supervision of Frédéric Crebiller, who oversees talent development at FERWAFA.
The appointment reflects FERWAFA’s effort to involve former national team stars in the growth of Rwandan football. Niyonzima holds a CAF C coaching license obtained in 2019 from the Confederation of African Football, and plans to pursue the CAF B license later this year.
During his playing career, Niyonzima earned more than 110 caps for Rwanda after making his debut in 2007 against Equatorial Guinea national football team, scoring twice. He also played for Rayon Sports FC, APR FC, Young Africans SC, Simba SC, AS Kigali and Al Ta’awon SC.
In February 2026, he was among 13 Rwandan coaches who completed specialized training led by coaches from Atlético Madrid, with plans for further coaching development in Spain.
