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Rwan

da F

reig

ht Forwarders Association

The East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC)

E A C F F P C GRADUATION CEREMONY

Friday 22nd, September 2017

ENHANCING PROFESSIONALISM

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PROGRAM

12:30 pm-1:30pm : Arrival of graduands

1:30 pm - 2:00pm : Arrival of invited guests and dignitaries

2:00 pm : Arrival of Guest of Honor

2:00pm - 2:10pm : Prayer/welcome by MC

2:10 pm - 2:20 pm : Remarks by NCIC Chairperson

2:20 pm– 2:30 pm : Remarks by RWAFFA Chairperson

2:30 pm -3:30pm : Reading graduands’ names & certificates

Conferment by CIC Chair

3:30 pm -3:40pm : Vote of thanks by graduates’ representative

3:40 pm -4:00pm : Recognition of the best performers

4:00 pm -4:10pm : Remarks by FEAFFA representative

4:10 pm -4:20 pm : Speech by Guest of Honor

4:20 pm -6:00 pm : Cocktail & Entertainment

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Distinguished Guests, Facilita-tors, Friends, Partners of Train-ing, Dear Graduands, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am honored today to welcome you all to this third graduation ceremony of EACFF-PC Programme which started in Rwanda since 2008. As many of you might know, this is a joint training program between RRA/RWAFFA (Rwanda Association of Clearing Agents) and the par-ent organization FEAFFA.

Over the years from 2008, more than five hundred participants

have gone through this training and are now working for and owners of clearing firms while others are executives on the RWAFFA board of Directors.

Let me start by expressing my sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the students who are graduating today. In total 208 students will graduate; and are going straight to the market. I have no doubt that they have all the skills required to make positive changes in their various places where they will find employment.

Once again I am pleased to inform you that this time round we provided internship training to all our students where Graduate students were allowed to do their Internship in Customs department of RRA while the rest went to various clearing firms to get acquainted with various activities within the clearing function. We now confirm that they are ready now for employment within the two organizations.

The fruits of the EACFFPC programme should not be underestimated because the impact it has registered for both the Customs Department and to the Clearing fraternity is great. This can be testified by everyone here present because it has provided the participants with all the professional skills required by practitioners in today’s clearing industry.

NCIC CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD

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NCIC CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD

Dear Graduands, on this occasion I wish to remind you that this is an important step in your career life. RRA/RWAFFA Training Centre is proud of you and confident in the success of your coming professional life. You only have to keep in mind that in order to succeed your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

Dear partners, the achievements of our Training Centre are always a result of our good collaboration. Not only you have played an important role during the learning process that has led to today’s celebrations but also your ideas, encouragements and sometimes financial support have been valuable to all what has been achieved since we began. We thank you very much and hope for a more continued collaboration.

Our training Centre continues to grow day after day and I wish to inform you that if all goes as we planned, we shall expand and have another training Centre at Rusumo and later on at Gatuna border station.

Unlike the previous years where we were training already practicing staff of clearing firms, this year’s graduation is set to spark into the minds of our graduates the ambition to create new businesses in order to develop themselves and in the process develop their country.

It is our belief that the workforce of our country will not only rely on the classical/formal education provided but also on the professionalism of its people to think out of the box and come up with creative solution to prevailing problems of the country.

I would like to end this word by wishing all of you who are present during this third graduation ceremony a pleasant day.

May God Bless you all!

NTAGANDA EvaristeChairperson - National Curriculum Implementation Committee (NCIC)

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OVERVIEWThe East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) is a mandatory training program to all Customs Agents, jointly implemented by the East Africa Revenue Authorities (EARAs) and the National Freight Forwarding Associations affiliated to the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA). The course is offered to individuals already practicing or intending to practice in the clearing and forwarding industry throughout the East African region. 

BACKGROUND The clearing and forwarding sector plays a very critical role in facilitating international trade and is therefore an agent of economic development. In the East Africa Region, the sector plays an even more strategic role in the regional integration process. The competitiveness of the sector has a direct bearing on the cost of goods in the region. Services provided by the sector include Customs clearance, warehousing, transportation among others.

In 2006 and with support from USAID, the national associations of freight forwarders in East African Community (EAC) member countries, working under their umbrella organization; the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), partnered with Revenue Authorities in EAC member states to launch a formal training program for practitioners in the customs clearing and freight forwarding sector.

The program, which culminates into an award of a certificate after six-month intensive training, aims at equipping the practitioners with improved technical skills and professional ethics in line with emerging trends in industry dynamics. This certificate, titled “East Africa Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate” (EACFFPC), is among key criteria for licensing of Customs Clearing Agents (CCA) by the Revenue Authorities in the EAC.

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After five years of implementation of the EACFFPC curriculum, a review was done. The review was guided by three objectives:

• To anchor the program on the EAC integration framework; • To make the program more aligned to the skills requirements

in the Customs and Freight forwarding sector; • To emphasize on ethics and professionalism.

The curriculum revision process was possible; courtesy of Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) which provided the necessary financial support.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATIONThe EACFFPC is managed by the Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC) whose membership comprises of representatives of East Africa Revenue Authorities (EARAs) and FEAFFA. Each Revenue Authority and member body of FEAFFA is represented on CIC.

At the national level, a National Curriculum Implementation Committee (NCIC) oversees the implementation of the program.

In Rwanda NCIC is a joint committee of six-persons from RWAFFA and RRA in equal numbers. Day to day management of EACFFPC training activities are coordinated by the RWAFFA secretariat.

Trainers for the EACFFPC program are jointly contributed by RRA and RWAFFA. The trainers from RRA are customs officers in the department of Customs; but who are also trainers at the RRA training Institute. They specifically handle the course units in customs law and practices. On the other hand, the trainers from RWAFFA are necessarily practitioners in freight forwarding; and specifically handle the courses in this field.

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NCIC MEMBERS

NYEBAZA Josephine(Vice Chairperson)

NTAGANDA Evariste(Chairperson)

RUKUNDO Theogene(Member)

KAYITESI Peace(Member)

UWINEZA Marlene Sonia (Member)

MUGAMBAGE Mundaneh (Member)

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COURSE OBJECTIVESThe course is intended to equip trainees with necessary skills, competencies and values desirable in Customs and freight forwarding in order to: 

• Enable them discharge their roles competently as Customs agent.

• Entrench professionalism in the services offered by Freight Forwarders, especially in Customs clearing

• Enhance ethical conduct, good governance and integrity in the profession

• Facilitate trade 

COURSE DESIGNThe course takes six months for part time trainees, studying two hours per day from Monday to Friday. The course has three modules:

I. Customs moduleThis module enables trainees to correctly apply the provisions of customs laws and regulations and comply with the customs procedures in the process of clearing and forwarding goods.

It covers five units:1) Customs Laws 2) Customs Clearance Procedures 3) Valuation and Rules of Origin 4) Customs Tariff Classification 5) Application of ICT

The first four Learning Units are core and examinable units.

II. Freight forwarding moduleThis module is aimed at introducing trainees to Freight Forwarding Operations with a view of enabling the trainees to competently execute freight forwarding services.

It covers two units:1. Port Clearance 2. Freight Forwarding Operations

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III. Basic management moduleThis module is designed to equip trainees with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them efficiently and effectively perform office functions with integrity and customer sensitivity.

It covers aspects of effective communication, Customer care, office best practice, Self-management, Ethics and integrity as essentials in sound business management.

HISTORY OF EACFFPC TRAINING IN RWANDAThe East African Community Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) training started in Rwanda in 2008.    The Rwanda Freight Forwarders association (RWAFFA) has gone an extra mile to legally incorporate the training center in Gikondo area as a fully-fledged training center with adequate training facilities and equipment. Since then, eleven intakes have successfully completed the course and the twelfth is undergoing training.

In February 2012, the training programme received assistance from Trade Mark East Africa, consisting of technical support, rental of training rooms, and purchase of furniture and equipment needed in the training rooms. This support helped the training center to get financial stability and attain the required critical mass. The technical support ended in 2014.

In 2009, Rwanda adopted the East African Customs Management Act [EACMA] (Law 72/2008 of 31/12/2008). According to Article 145 of EACMA, as supplemented by Article 150 of the associated Customs Regulations which were promulgated in 2010, any company seeking a license to practice as a Customs Clearing Agent (CFA) must have at least 2 persons holding “either a diploma or a certificate in customs training awarded by a recognized institute”. Consequently, EACFFPC has been fully embraced by Rwanda Revenue Authority [and the other Revenue Authorities in the EAC); as a pre-condition for licensing of CFAs. Indeed from 2014 licensing exercise the RRA has enforced this requirement, All clearing agents and other people planning to join the clearing and forwarding professional got higher interest in EACFFPC program and massive applications are observed every year.

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EACFFPC GRADUATES STATUS

• 300 clearing agents graduated previously in the 1st & 2nd graduations.

• 208 clearing agents completed the course and will graduate on 22nd September, 2017.

• In total, there are 508 people who successfully completed the EACFFPC program and 63 who obtained certificate of competence (COC).

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE The certificate of competence (COC) is an alternative to the EACFFPC that has been created for persons with vast experience in the freight forwarding/customs clearance sector. The curriculum implementation committee(CIC) for the EACFFPC program thought it wise to exempt them from attending the 6 months course and award them a certificate of competence(COC) in recognition of their vast experience in the clearing and forwarding industry.

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LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

8th INTAKE

1 BOSA RUTEGA Godfrey

2 BUYENGE Samson

3 GAKWAYA Peter

4 GATETE Venuste

5 GWIZA Pivot Bertin

6 IHAKANIYEBOSE Jean De Dieu

7 INGABIRE Solange

8 IRADUKUNDA UMWALI Pacifique

9 IYAMUREMYE FABRICE

10 IYAMUREMYE Patrick

11 KAYITESI Jeannette

12 KWIZERA JOY

13 MUGABO Theogene

14 MUGENI Alice

15 MUKANEZA Anithe

16 MUKANOHERI Berthe

17 MUKESHIMANA Claudette

18 MUPENZI Dieudonne Vicky

19 Museveni K. Benoni

20 MUTIGANDA Janvier

21 NGABONZIMA IrakozeOrlise

22 NIYOMUGABO Janvier

23 NIZEYIMANA Bernard

24 NSABIMANA Roger

25 NTAMBARA Jean claude

26 NYANDWI Theoneste

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27 Nyirabahire Clementine

28 NYIRIMANA AIMABLE

29 RUBANGISA Felix

30 RUGERO Jean Claude

31 RUGIGANA MBASA

32 RUTARASWINYUMA Evity

33 RWAMPUNGU Eric

34 SAFARI Eric

35 TUMUSABE Jacqueline

36 TUYISHIME Charles

37 UWAJENEZA Anny Delice

38 UWAMAHORO JM Augustin

39 UWAMBAJE Adeline

40 UWERA Devota

41 UWERA PRISCA

42 UWITONZE Afoua

43 UWIZERA AIMEE Clarisse

44 UWIZEYE Justine

45 UWIZEYIMANA Nadine

9th INTAKE

1 BIKORIMANA Moise

2 BYIRINGIRO Paterne

3 GATSINZI Emmanuel

4 GATSINZI Steven

5 HABIMFURA Jerome

6 HAFASHIMANA Aimee Fidelis

7 HAVUGA SUGIRA Norbert

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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8 INGABIRE Ange

9 INGABIRE Janet

10 KABAZIGA Marie Chantal

11 KANEZA Bashir Olivier

12 KAREKEZI Claudine

13 MAGAJU Aimable

14 MANZI Annet

15 MUHIRE Ibrahim

16 MUJUNI SWAIB

17 MUKAMUHIRE Theophilla

18 MUKAMURENZI Antoinette

19 MUKAMURENZI LEONTINE

20 MUKARUKUNDO Solange

21 MUKUNDENTE Beatrice

22 MUKUNZI Alfred

23 MUNEZA Jean d’amour

24 MWAFRIKA Charles

25 NAHIMANA Consolata

26 NDAYAMBAJE Nelson

27 NDAYISENGA Gloriose

28 NDUWAYEZU Evode

29 NGABONZIZA Adeodatus

30 NGORORUKUNZE Theogene

31 NIKUZE Solange

32 NTARE Chantal

33 NTWALI Christian

34 NYABUGANDA Jean paul Aimé

35 NYIRAHABIMANA Josiane

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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36 NYIRANEZA Diane

37 NYUMVIRA Alexis

38 RUBANGURA Joseph

39 RUBONEKA Daniel

40 RUHINGUKA Desire

41 SINAYITUTSE MANASSEH

42 TWAGIRAMUNGU Etienne

43 UMUHOZA Clementine

44 UMUTESI Marie CHANTAL

45 UWAMUGIRA Anne-Marie

46 UWAMURERA Aimee Sandrine

10th INTAKE

1 ABAYISENGA Didier

2 AKALIZA Dianah

3 BASABOSE Clement

4 BAZINE Christine

5 BIHIRE Cecile

6 BUTOYI Joseline

7 BYIRINGIRO Leon Pierre

8 GACANIZI ISHIMWE Barnabé

9 GATO Samuel

10 GIRANEZA Thierry

11 HAGENIMANA Maurice

12 HATEGEKIMANA Gaston

13 IGIRANEZA Marie Pierre

14 IMANIRAGUHA Enock

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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15 ISHIMWE CYUZUZO PATRICK

16 KANYANDEKWE Jean

17 KAREKEZI Mediatrice

18 KAYITESI Herveline

19 KAZIMBAYA BIN Alexandre

20 MANENGE Aline

21 MUGIRANEZA Emmanuel

22 MUHAWENIMANA Theogene

23 MUKAMAZIMPAKA THARCISSIE

24 MUKARUKUNDO Jeannette

25 MUMPOREZE Marie Solange

26 MURERWA Aidah

27 MUROBAFI SEHENE Jean Pierre

28 MUSABYEMARIYA Josiane

29 MUSAFIRI Enock

30 MUSHINZIMANA Andre

31 MUTUYEYEZU HIRWA Albert

32 NDAGIJIMANA Samson

33 NGABO MBUNGIRA Clement

34 NGENDAHAYO Paul

35 NIKUZWE Assumpta

36 NIYIGABA Seth

37 NIZIGIYIMANA Arsene

38 NSABIYUMVA KARANGWA ERIC

39 NSHIMIYIMANA Jean Claude

40 NTAGARA Edgar

41 NYIRAHABIMANA Agnes

42 NYIRAMINANI Thabee

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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43 NYIRANSENGIMANA Monica

44 NYIRANTEZIRYAYO Beatha

45 NZAMURAMBAHO Gilbert

46 NZEYIMANA Radjab

47 RUKUNDO Jean de Dieu

48 RURANGIRWA Steven

49 RUTAGENGWA SEKABUHORO Alphonse

50 RUTIJANWA NYIRAKARIRE Antoinette

51 SASITA GERMAIN

52 SEBAHIRE Martens

53 SERUGENDO JUSTIN

54 SHIMWA HAKIZA Bertine

55 TUYISENGE Emimah

56 TUYISHIME Anitha

57 TUYISHIME Theophile

58 TWIZERIMANA Claudine

59 UMURERWA Claudine

60 URAYENEZA CLAUDETTE

61 UWERA Odeth

11th INTAKE

1 AKIMANA Gerardine

2 BAGABA EDMOND

3 BENEMARIYA Alice

4 BIHOYIKI Marc

5 BUKI NGELI Yves

6 DUSABE Aurore

7 DUSABIMANA Alphonse

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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8 DUSINGIZIMANA Leandre

9 FURAHA FRANK

10 GAHIRE Cohen

11 GAKWAYA Yvonne

12 HAKIRABAKE Cyprien

13 HAKUZIMANA Jean pierre

14 IRANKUNDA Methode

15 ISEWABATONI Jean Baptiste

16 KAGABO Innocent

17 KANSINGA Nadine

18 KAYITESI Aline

19 MINANI Leon moise

20 MUGABARIGIRA Jean Marie Vianney

21 MUGABE BONIFACE

22 MUGABEKAZI Marie Clarisse

23 MUGISHA Ezechiel

24 MUHIRE Bright

25 MUHONGAYIRE Rose

26 MUKANGWIJE Furaha

27 MUKASINE Marie Grace

28 MURENZI Falonne

29 NASIMWE Diane

30 NDAHIMANA Emmanuel

31 NDASHIMYE Ivan

32 NDAYISENGA Edidia

33 NDAYISHIMIYE Emmanuel

34 NDUWAYO Annuarite

35 NIYIBIZI SEBAGENI Emmanuel

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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36 NIYIGENA Pacifique

37 NIYOMUGABO Jean Paul

38 NIYONGIRA Fidele

39 NIYUHIRE Evelyne

40 NKOTANYI Fred

41 NSHIMIYIMANA EGIDIE

42 NTEZIRYAYO Evariste

43 NYIRABWIZA CHARLOTTE

44 RUKUNDO NZUKI Elisee

45 RUKUNDO Pierrot

46 RUSAGARA Alexis

47 SIMPALI Elie

48 TUYIKUNDE Phoebe

49 UJENEZA Emmanuel

50 UMUHIRE Diane

51 UMUTESI Yvonne

52 URWIBUTSO Pamela

53 UWERA Alice

54 UWIZEYIMANA Charlotte

55 UWIZEYIMANA Diane

56 YANKURIJE Joselyne

LIST OF 2017 GRADUATES

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Congratulations!

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