Lawyer Turned New Media Savvy Journalist

                             Linda Mbabazi at her desk

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

Linda Mbabazi is an unassuming lawyer who has never practiced law. She is an editor at the New Times newspaper in Rwanda. The New Times (TNT) Publications was launched in 1995, as a media outlet publishing in English. It was established just less than a year after the end of the 1994 Rwanda genocide and the return of over a million Rwanda refugees from mainly neighboring countries of Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC then Zaire), Tanzania and Kenya. Many of these returnees were English speakers besides their native Kinyarwanda, a factor that could largely be attributed to the fact that TNT publishes in English. History shows that there had never been an English newspaper in Rwanda before TNT. It is the only daily newspaper in Rwanda.

Linda joined the New Times in 2005 as a freelancer. Sooner than later, she was recruited as a journalist. Today she is the leisure page editor of TNT. Everyday she wakes up at 6.00am and by 6.50 she is in office. On arrival at the office, she checks her mail for stories or story tips and also reads online news especially entertainment.

At 9.00 am she attends the daily editorial meeting where they share tips and story ideas and also carry out a post mortem of the days newspaper. The meeting lasts one hour after which she goes to her desk to type in her stories and coordinate leisure newsgathering.

By 1.00pm she submits her stories to the features editor under whom her portfolio falls. She leaves office at 6.00pm. She also contributes to the weekend editions and therefore works everyday. On whether she has no life, her answer was that she enjoyed her job!

Linda’s computer savoir-faire makes her confident in what she does. She delivers her pages in time and the content is quite interesting. If the pages can be redesigned to achieve a better standard and be able to invite more readers, she will have accomplished a big feat.

Most of the time she sits at her desk typing away day in day out. I later noticed that new media tools assist her do her in doing her work. Because of my interest in digital culture, I asked her if she could tell me more about her work in relation to new media. She consented and that is when I knew that she was a law graduate who decided to become a journalist. The interview took two days before taking place because of her busy schedule.

She explained to me that her use of the new media starts with the basics, that is, typing in stories on her laptop. She uses the spell checker, the Wikipedia and the Internet as a source of her stories and to learn the modern style of writing leisure. Sometimes she receives stories or story tips through her email.

She is a member of many social networking sites like face book, Hi5, Yahoo messenger, Meebo and YouTube. She uses these sites for networking, getting updates, interviewing sources, man on the street and research.

Unfortunately she lost her own digital camera and now uses the TNT photographers whenever she has to go out take photos. She also owns an iPhone mobile telephone, which she uses for receiving, and making personal and work related calls.

Linda was still busy when I conducted the interview, so I did not complete it. However, I sent her an email with other questions, which she answered as below.

Do you listen to radio or watch TV, if yes do they help you in your work?

 Yes, I always do, but mostly TV. I make sure I swatch to different channels, but most entertainment related channels, including MTV Base, E! Channel, Capital and other channel like Aljazeera, BBC, CNN, and CNBC for news.   

And as the radio, I prefer listening to Salus, Contact and Radio 10, for the latest news about our local celebrities. 

Does the Google search engine help you in your work?

Absolutely yes! It really does. I often use to search for facts, and writing style.

Do you text while gathering news, or do you receive text messages?

Both. Sometimes, I send text messages to my sources asking for facts, or when seeking for news. And in return, I receive replies from them, or they send me message texts when they are telling about an event that is going to take place. 

Do you receive SMS alerts for headlines or breaking news?

No…not on my phone, because its not a Blackberry type. But I instead receive Google alert headlines or breaking news. 

Is there anything else you would like to add with reference to digital culture and your work?

I guess not, because I’m sure we exploited everything yesterday. Thanks, and would love to read about my interview

 

 

 

 

Negroponte’s OLPC, a Star in Rwanda

Collin Bethel Kabagambe

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

While in Rwanda face to face with a recipient of Negroponte’s largesse, I was humbled into appreciating the effort. I met this 8 year old young man called, Collin  Kabagambe. He is a student of Greenhills Academy in Kigali studying in Primary level 3. 

His mother, Jael paid for the laptop in February 2009, but Collin received it in April this year. Collins claims the whole student community at the school right from kindergarten to secondary school each got the laptop. Each pupil had to part with the equivalent of US $ 220.00 in order for one’s son/daughter acquire one.

Collin demonstrated to me the possibilities of his laptop and I was impressed. He showed me how he can chat with up to 100 of his fellow students. He did not know how many more, but it seemed like infinitive. The laptop itself is robust plastic and waterproof. 

It uses icons to display the different applications. In Rwanda the laptop can practically connect to the Internet anywhere in the country. The browser can be used to access Google and other Google applications. The laptop is capable of recording, video, audio and videos. 

The laptop is capable of saving photos and videos on its hard disk drive whose capacity I failed to establish. 

Collin further took me through the drawing pictures, making shapes, playing using iconised music instruments. There is the “Tamtam” mini, which does the music using the music instruments available. Kids can compose their own music. When I asked Collin, he seemed to shy to come up with anything. 

Collin plays games, makes puzzles, has a Gmail account for mail and has Sim city for games. He explained that the battery lasts for about 3 hours. The laptop has 3 USB ports.

During our group discussions at the university of Amsterdam, I ended up being nicknamed “Negronywa “ or “Balugronte” because of my opposition to Negroponte’s One Laptop per Child initiative for the developing world. 

MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte

“The mission of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age In 2002, MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte experienced first-hand how connected laptops transformed the lives of children and their families in a remote Cambodian village. A seed was planted: If every child in the world had access to a computer, what potential could be unlocked? What problems could be solved? These questions eventually led to the foundation of One Laptop per Child, and the creation of the XO laptop.” http://laptop.org/en/vision/mission/index.shtml

“It was envisaged that close to two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education would be beneficiaries of this project…. By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource educated, empowered children”. http://laptop.org/en/vision/mission/index.shtml

The corporate members are AMD, Brightstar, Chi Lin and eBay, Google, Intel, Marvell, News Corporation, Nortel Networks, Quanta Computer, Red Hat and SES Astra. Intel is the world leader in silicon innovation, It develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. 

Well as I did appreciate Prof. Negroponte’s initiative, the rate at which he was falling out with partners and adjusting the price of the computer from the original US $ 100. Intel joined the OLPC initiative in July 2007 and took a seat on the organization's board of directors. It also pledged at the time to help fund the group's efforts.

During its participation, it developed an XO laptop that included an Intel chip. However, OLPC executives claim that the company failed to deliver on its agreement when it joined and was attempting to undermine the program.

It was a matter of time and Intel dropped off. What is not gratifying however, is OLPC’s new mate; Microsoft. OLPC’s new operating system after Intel left is now windows. From the very beginning, Negroponte was wary of Microsoft because of his profit-oriented business. And for then now to be in bed together is surely amazing. Microsoft does not invest where there is no profit. Any surprise that the laptop is now US $ 190, up from 170 a few months before? 

So far the Rwanda government has bought and distributed 100,000 laptops.

 

The Silicon Valley of Africa

                                                             Mr Emma Nsekanabo, PR, RDB - IT Kigali

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

Rwanda has been touted as a country whose government has deliberately invested resources in ICT. The government IT department is one of the directorates under the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).  Formerly it was called the Rwanda Information and Technology authority (RITA). Today it is called RDB – IT.

RDB is a government parastatal made up of 4 directorates; IT, Business operations, Tourism and conservation and Business operation services under whose portfolio lie investments, enterprises, company registrar, environmental impact assessment, entrepreneurship development, one stop centre, human capital and institution capacity development and privatization.

I got an opportunity to speak to Mr. Emma Nsekanabo, the RDB – IT Public Relations and Communication specialist. They are housed in a new building called RDB building in Nyarutarama, an up market suburb of Kigali just after the parliamentary buildings. 

Emma explained to me that RDB – IT is mandated to lead the government vision to transform the economy into a knowledge based and information rich society. The name changed from RITA to IDB – IT in late 2008 when about 8 government institutions were merged. 

Its agenda is to fulfill the National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI) plan, which is aligned with vision 2020, which is now in its second phase, that is 2010 – 2015. The first phase 2005 – 2010 had many challenges and it involved creating public awareness. 

The second phase 2010 – 2015 is focused on laying infrastructure and laying out the various applications. It is fully funded by government. The government spent US $ 8 million to complete the Kigali Metropolitan Project. It involved laying optic fibre wires using the latest technology from Southern Korea in the whole of Kigali city and its surroundings. The government has now secured US $ 40 million to extend the fibre optic cables to the borders of the country to form the national backbone.

All civil works like digging the trenches, laying the cables is being done entirely by the government of Rwanda. The government hopes to use the private public model to manage the project for sustainability and usage. Operators will just lease the cables to ensure a low price for users. 

The Regional Communication Programme (RCP), which is funded by the World Bank to the tune on US $ 24 million, will oversee the laying of the cables from the sea to Kigali. Once ready, Rwanda will break off from the satellite service, which is very expensive.

Rwanda has an edge over the rest of the countries in the region. It is small and can easily achieve 100% coverage of cable. It can therefore realize its dream of being the regional hub.  All schools, government institutions, district headquarters and all the borders will be covered. The government will provide a telecentre for every district with an objective of popularizing ICT in the communities. It will also facilitate training in IT basics for the people. It will no longer be necessary to travel to Kigali for computer training. 

Rwanda has also embraced Negroponte’s One laptop Per Child (OLPC) project and has so far bought 100,000 laptops which have been distributed. It hopes to be able to buy many more until all pupils have one.

 

 

Affluent Opulance in Rwanda!

                                        Planned Mega Residences in Kigali

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

There is no way anyone can deny that Rwanda is on the fast lane development wise. However, in some instances it really is on the fastest lane. In Kigali, the city council and government have done their best to provide organized housing. Roads, drainage, electricity, water and sewerage are put in place before plots of land are allocated 

I don’t know whether it is the French influence or exposure, but the houses that well off Rwandans build can make Hollywood pale in significance. I have not been to Hollywood, but it is always pushed down my throat (or is it optical nutrition) on TV!

I should first warn you that Rwanda is a very expensive city to live in. Its currency is 3 -4 times stronger than Uganda’s, but you find some goods costing the same whether it is Francs or Shillings! An example is the Ninzi Hill Hotel were I stay, a bottle of beer, water or plate of food is the equivalent if bought in Serena Hotel in Uganda! That is how expensive it is.

Well, back to Kigalians pads. After several failed attempts to connect with a long lost friend. We agreed last Tuesday to have lunch together. He promised to pick me at the office at 1.00pm. At about 12.50, he called and asked me to step out that he would be there within 5 minutes.

I waited outside almost 10 minutes, and then I saw him in this state of the art Mercedes Benz car. He waved to me and I went to the car, opened the door and sat. I wouldn’t know the year of manufacture, model…or whatever, but I was impressed. It had all those extras that you wished you had on your ram shackled whatever…you call a car!

As you approach an object be it a car or man or obstacle, it will warn you to slow down. The car can talk to you, can direct you were to go, I don’t know what it can’t do! We cruised on the smooth Kigali roads to one of those new places for the very rich 

We approached a gate and he got some remote control facility from the glove compartment, pointed it at the gate and it slowly opened. Once in, he again pointed at the gate and it closed! We were driving in silence because of my maalo, (backwardness) In the compound were 3 other Mercedes cross-country SUVs parked.

He apologized for taking me through the kitchen, but I was too busy staring! There was this huge American fridge and a modern kitchen and all apparatus that goes with it. Then we continued to the dining room with a table that sits 10 people spaciously. Within the house were arches and several staircases. Out of curiosity, I begged to use the bathroom. 

I could have as well rested in the bathroom! It was clean, nice smelling and really welcoming. I washed my hands and dried them with the towel provided. It was so inviting, even as I really don’t use towels unless I am at home. 

We were in a domestic environment, but there was this buffet of steamed bananas, rice, Irish potatoes, mashed cassava, fish fillet, roast chicken, beef stew and plenty of vegetables. We shared the lunch with 2 of his daughters who according to their conversation seemed to be studying in America! His wife had gone upcountry and was therefore unable to share with us lunch. 

After lunch we had some fresh fruit and retired to one of the 3 living rooms. I asked him how many bedrooms this massive house had and he told me that there were 8 self contained rooms, and a couple of others could be converted if need arose. When I asked if he bought or built, he assured me, the whole design was his, he built it right from the first brick.

Did I hear someone say 70% of the Rwandans live below poverty level!

 

 

 

Medical Insurance Acquires Legs in Rwanda

                Rwanda's department of information printing press

By Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

We were talking about printing facilities in Rwanda with Mr. Joseph Bideri, the Managing Director of the New Times Newspaper, when he objected to my suggestion of printing in Uganda in the interim. The New Times is Rwanda’s only daily. It is the leading media house in Rwanda.

As we continued with our conversation Mr. Bideri explained that there was no reason to go to Uganda in the short term when Rwanda already had a Goss Web-offset machine already installed. He preferred in the interim to use that machine as The New Times organized to purchase theirs.

He asked me to accompany him to go and look at it. On our way, we discussed the developments in Rwanda, which the outside world never hears of. He quoted the example of medical insurance. According to him every one in the country pays 200 Rwandan francs (equivalent to 25Euro) to be medically insured. For those who cannot afford it, the government pays for them.

He gave an example of an American based Rwandan who was not aware of this service and wanted to pay a medical bill for her maid who broke her arm while on duty. The maid rejected the money and proceeded to hospital where she was attended to. Meanwhile, her master was worried as to what would happen to the maid. When she returned all dressed up, the American asked her where she got the money. The maid responded that she was insured like all Rwandans, and that all expenses would be paid by the state!

The American based Rwandan was amazed by how a small poor third world country like Rwanda could afford to provide medical insurance for all her citizens, when the mighty United States of America had failed to. And almost 50 million Americans just wait for death if they contract any serious sickness.

By the time we got to the printery, I was wondering how the Rwandans do it and prodigious states fail to!

cc http://balunywa.blogspot.com/

 

 

The long story of the cash cheque

                                          A street in Kigali, Rwanda

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

Before travelling from Amsterdam to Kigali in Rwanda, my employers asked me to purchase the air ticket and I get a refund in Kigali. I did exactly that. In Kigali, I was asked to provide any source document to enable them prepare a cheque for me. I printed out a copy of the e – ticket and the process began.

The next day I was invited to the finance manger’s office to pick the money. I had expected a transfer to my account in the Netherlands only to be presented with a cheque of a one million plus Rwandan Francs. I sincerely didn’t know what to do with it! I was advised to cash it at the bank near my hotel.

After work I walked into one bank near the hotel where I was staying. There was so much disorder. I tried to line up, but guys came in and dropped their cheques or cash at the counter. I tried that, and I was asked to follow the line! I disgustedly moved out hoping to try another time.

When I arrived at the hotel, I saw another bank just opposite. When I crosschecked the names of the bank with the cheque, they were similar. I had inadvertently gone to Banque Populaire du Rwanda instead of Banque Commerciale du Rwanda! I walked in. The counters were cashiers sat really intimidated me. I was used to the Dutch banks, which abandoned counters long ago. Dutch banks are friendlier, with an open office arrangement. In any case after opening an account one usually has no business to do with the bank. All transactions are done on phone, by mail or internet/online.

I lined up at one counter, when my turn came; I handed in my cheque and passport. I was asked to endorse it behind with my name and signature. I again went to the end of the line. When my turn came; because the figure on the cheque was more than one million, I was asked to see the supervisor first at another counter!

I found the supervisor talking on phone. His informal manner of dressing did nothing to endear him to me. He talked for about 7 minutes. When he was finished he took my cheque and passport and consulted his computer. After about 5 minutes, I peeped to see what he was searching for, only to realize he was on a sight of another bank checking on some job description.

Where was customer service here, I screamed within me? Not to let my frustration get the better of me, I went away and sat in another section of the bank. I promised to wait 15 minutes and go demand my passport and cheque back. Fortunately after about 10 minutes, he came looking for me. And God! He asked me to write my passport number at the back of the cheque and return it to him! 

I wrote the number but deliberately didn’t return it to him. I took it to the teller. Who rang the supervisor requesting what to do? He asked him in Kinyarwanda language what he should do for the confused foreigner. I swallowed the building anger in me and thought positive. I think he was given the go ahead to pay me. He took his time to count so many notes, which he passed on to me. He was kind enough to accompany the notes with a paper bag.

I asked him the possibility of buying Euros at the bank and he responded negatively. He said they sell foreign exchange to account holders only! I walked to the hotel praying that I don’t get mugged. At the reception, I handed in the paper bag for safe custody. The receptionist opened it and her eyes almost popped out! She must have thought this foreigner had started wheeling and dealing.

 

 

Dealing and Wheeling in Kigali

Here I was at 5.00 pm seated at the terrace of my hotel waiting for my dinner. The servings are so big, that I decided to have one meal a day at around this time. The terrace has around 10 tables 3 of which were occupied including mine.

This was on Monday 20 July 2009 in kigali the capital of Rwanda in East Africa. Kigali has the same time as the European standard Time in summer.

At the occupied tables, each had a laptop since wireless internet is available for customers. On my table I was the sole occupant. On my left was also a single occupant. However, on the 3rd table 5 men were seated all staring at the screen of the laptop.  Suddenly all of them rose up fast and ran out of the hotel premises. They left the laptop unattended to.

I could see them through the hedge outside. They sorrounded a vehicle and sort of talked in loud whispers. I could not get what they were saying. They returned as suddenly as they left. They were all smiling. One of them had huge wads of Rwanda francs!

From my experience with Rwanda currency it could have been around 8 million francs, the equivalent of around 10,000Euro. They first argued, then one of them made some calculations on the laptop and they divided the money amongst themselves. I don't know whether it was in equal proportions or not. Soon they were all smiling and laughing. 4 of them left and only one with the laptop remained.

It left me wondering, what deal they could have cut today!

The Unbelievable Truth

Ali Balunywa in Kigali, Rwanda

According to the Wikipedia, the Republic of Rwanda (pronounced /ruːˈændə/ or /rəˈwɑːndə/ in English, [ɾwanda] or [ɾɡwanda] in Kinyarwanda) is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Home to approximately 10.1 million people, Rwanda supports the densest population in continental Africa, most of whom engage in subsistence agriculture. A verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain, the small republic bears the title "Land of a Thousand Hills" (French: Pays des Mille Collines; Kinyarwanda: Igihugu cy'Imisozi Igihumbi).

The country has received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which between 800,000 and one million people were killed. In 2008, Rwanda became the first country in history to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members were women. Three quarters of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

When I left Uganda in September 2001, I received a good reception in Rwanda. Through my good contacts, I was able to get myself a good job and generally got along quite well with the people of Rwanda until I left the country in July 2002. I therefore regard Rwanda as my second home.

I returned briefly in June 2009 but had no opportunity to see the country. I revisited Rwanda to re-establish contact and agree on how I could contribute to building the nation in the media world.

Sorry to bore you with such a lengthy background, however, my major objective of writing this article is share with you my experiences of Kigali being my second home not withstanding, it is important to pay respect where it is due. On arrival in Kigali, one can be mistaken in thinking he/she is in some European town!

The road network is first class. The roads are new, well maintained, clean and sidewalks well done. You won’t find potholes in Kigali. Palm trees and the traditional avocado trees line the roads. Like in Europe, sidewalks are paved with clay bricks and pedestrian walkways with cobblestone. I have travelled a bit in many African countries, but for me this was a first.

And then the cleanness; I asked, but got no answer as to how cleanness is maintained in this city! After travelling to several dusty African cities, Kigali is different. You won’t find litter along the roads. The Kigalians are aware of the fines that go with littering the city. It is now inculcated in them not to litter their city. It is amazing the standard of cleanness in this city of 1 million inhabitants.

Having stayed in Kampala before coming to Kigali, the discipline on the Kigali roads is legendary. The motorcycle riders in Kampala own the roads and follow no laws. In Kigali, they must put on uniform with a number and stage where they operate. A helmet for the rider and passenger are a must. A few years ago, Uganda came up with a law requiring boda boda (motorcycle taxis) and their customers to use helmets. I have not seen that law in operation. In Uganda boda bodas are a real pain for all other road users. They never follow traffic rules and are a cause of most accidents in the city.

In Kigali it is different. Taxis and boda bodas stop at pre designated areas. For taxis is illegal to stop at non-designated stops. The stops are well demarcated and have official names. 

The city is busy expanding. Skyscrapers, apartments and bungalows are being constructed like there is no tomorrow. The city council compensates slum dwellers by either paying them money or constructing them houses elsewhere. The land is then demarcated into plots, serviced with a road network, sewerage, electricity and other amenities of a modern city. They are then sold to prospective house owners to put up well-planned structures. 

In the shops or supermarkets, paper bags have long replaced plastic bags. Government does not pay lip service to the environment. Plastic bags were banned and the ban took effect. You don’t find these anywhere now!