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Rwanda's capital bans mosques from using loudspeakers during Muslim call to prayer Rwanda's capital bans mosques from using loudspeakers during Muslim call to prayer
(about 2 hours later)
The Rwandan government has banned mosques from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer in the capital city Kigali. The Rwandan government has banned mosques from using loudspeakers during the call to prayer in the capital city Kigali. 
The move comes as an effort to reduce noise pollution, part of an overall programme of improvement known as Kigali City 2040 to make it Africa's number one business and tourism powerhouse within the next 22 years. The effort to reduce noise pollution is part of a programme of improvement called Kigali City 2040 to make it Africa’s top business and tourism powerhouse within the next 22 years.
Reforms to education, business, immigration and the landscape of the city have already altered its appearance almost beyond comprehension.  Reforms to education, business, immigration and the landscape of the city have already altered its appearance. 
Many measure have been popular, but the ban mosque loudspeakers - accused of disturbing residents - has been more controversial. Many measures have been popular, but the ban on loudspeakers – accused of disturbing residents – has been more controversial.
The Muslim community has complied with the ban but criticised the move, saying they could have just lowered the volume.   Muslims have largely complied with the ban but have criticised the move, saying they could have just lowered the volume.
"I have found that they have begun to respect it and it has not stopped their followers from going to pray according to their praying time," Havuguziga Charles, a local official from Nyarugenge, told the BBC. “I have found that they have begun to respect it and it has not stopped their followers from going to pray according to their praying time,” Havuguziga Charles, a local official from Nyarugenge, told the BBC.
The policies are not just focussed on the Muslim community and last month, around 700 churches were closed for noise pollution and not complying with building controls.  The efforts are not just focussed on the Muslim community. Last month around 700 churches were closed for failing to comply with building controls and for noise pollution.
The government continues its clampdown on what they deem to be substandard churches across the country citing preachers "deceiving their congregation with misleading sermons" as the primary reason, AFP reported. The government continues its clampdown on what it deems to be substandard churches across the country citing preachers “deceiving their congregation with misleading sermons” as the primary reason, AFP reported.
The ultimate aim is to transform the country, with Kigali at its centre, into a knowledge-based middle-income country.  The ultimate aim is to transform the country, with Kigali at its centre, into a knowledge-based middle-income country.  
Technological advance remains at the epicentre of the plans and the latest government project, launched in May 2016, has led to extensive fibre-optic infrastructure throughout the capital. Technological advances remain central to the plans and the latest government project, launched in May 2016, has led to extensive fibre-optic infrastructure throughout the capital.
Public transport has also seen dramatic changes with Wi-Fi now available throughout the bus network. It is no surprise that the World Bank announced that Kigali was the second easiest place on the continent to do business.  Public transport has also seen dramatic changes with wifi now available throughout the bus network. It is no surprise that the World Bank said Rwanda was the second easiest place on the continent to do business. 
Education is also near the top of the agenda and the number of students in higher education has gone up more than 20-fold since 1994, when it emerged from a 100-day genocide that left hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsi dead.  Thus far the environmental sustainability of the capital has been lauded as exemplary, with dramatic measures taken by an authoritarian government including a ban on plastic bags and mandatory community clean-ups.
Thus far the environmental sustainability of the capital has been lauded as exemplary, with dramatic measures taken by an authoritarian government including bans on plastic bags and mandatory community clean ups. Green funds have also been introduced to turn wetland into urban recreation and tourism parks.
Green funds have also been introduced to turn wetland into urban recreation and tourism parks, as the city looks to move past its beleaguered past.