Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has launched a scathing attack on opposition politicians, accusing them of hijacking the Gen Z-led protests to serve their own political interests without offering meaningful solutions.

Speaking during a local radio interview on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Wajackoyah noted that the initial Gen Z demonstrations were well-organised and issue-based. 

However, he observed a shift where opposition figures have infiltrated the movement, redirecting its energy toward personal attacks on President William Ruto rather than focusing on concrete reforms or policy proposals.

“First, Gen Z, everything was okay. Now we are seeing Gen Zs being hijacked by some of these opposition leaders to condemn Ruto. I don’t stand with that. There are these leaders who have now come in, and they have coined a message to condemn Ruto so that they can be seen as an alternative. What they are not telling us is what they will do after Ruto’s replacement,” Wajackoya said.

He questioned the opposition’s true intentions, arguing that their primary goal appears to be positioning themselves as an alternative to Ruto without outlining what change they intend to bring.

According to him, these leaders continuously criticise the current administration but remain silent on their own track records while in government.

He pointed out that some of them held powerful positions during past regimes when gross human rights violations occurred, including deaths in River Yala, yet they now present themselves as champions of justice.

“If you see them, they are not telling us what they did while in power; they have no moral authority to come in and interfere with the Gen Z revolution. Some of those fellows were very bad; some of them were ministers when people died in River Yala,” he added.

Wajackoyah insisted that these individuals lack the moral authority to involve themselves in the Gen Z movement, which he believes should remain free from political manipulation.

Gachagua’s tenure

In a rare moment of agreement, Wajackoyah acknowledged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent efforts to provide explanations on state decisions during his tenure in office.

He stated that, despite their strained relationship, Gachagua is at least attempting to communicate—something he believes is lacking from other opposition figures.

 He suggested that even if Gachagua’s statements may be questionable, his willingness to speak out contrasts with the silence of those who once held powerful offices and are now seeking relevance without accountability.

“Maybe this time I am trying to agree with Gachagua, though we are not friends. Although we made a truce, Gachagua is telling people what Matiangi would have been telling people. Even if Gachagua is lying, he is at least telling us, I was told to do this, but the other leaders are not saying,” he added. Mabonga Makhangu, People Daily

Orbis International, a global nonprofit dedicated to eye care, has partnered with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health to launch a transformative two-week training program aboard the Flying Eye Hospital. 

This unique MD-10 aircraft, the world’s only fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on a plane, is donated by FedEx.

It serves as a mobile hub for hands-on training, equipping local eye care professionals with advanced skills.

Supported by the Alcon Foundation and OMEGA, and hosted with the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) and Kibagabaga Hospital, the project aims to enhance local expertise, raise eye health awareness, and improve access to sight-saving care across Rwanda.

First Operation in Rwanda

This marks the first time the Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Rwanda. This makes Rwanda the 84th country to benefit from Orbis’ in-person training.

Since 1982, Orbis has reached 97 countries with on-site programs and over 200 countries through its telemedicine platform, Cybersight. 

The Rwanda project offers a blend of simulation training, hands-on surgical practice, patient care, and workshops.

These focus on key ophthalmic subspecialties. This includes cataract, strabismus, oculoplastics, and medical retina, alongside training in anesthesiology, nursing, and biomedical engineering.

A highlight of the program is the use of virtual reality (VR) simulation for cataract surgery training. Select participants will use a portable VR tool co-developed by Orbis to refine their surgical techniques. 

At the project’s end, Orbis will donate one of these devices to RIIO, enabling ongoing practice. Additionally, Orbis is collaborating with Haag-Streit, a medical technology company, to provide further VR-based training to another group of participants.

This cutting-edge technology empowers local professionals to master complex procedures in a safe, controlled environment.

Dr. Ciku Mathenge, Orbis’ Medical Advisor for Africa, offered comment on the initiative. “Bringing the Flying Eye Hospital to Rwanda is a milestone. It extends our mission and supports the country’s eye health priorities,” she said. 

“By partnering with RIIO, a leader in ophthalmic training in East Africa, we’re equipping Rwanda’s next generation of ophthalmologists with advanced skills and technology. This collaboration will strengthen eye care delivery in local communities and beyond.”

Supporting Eye Health and Medical Innovation

The project builds on Rwanda’s commitment to advancing eye health and medical innovation. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Health and Rwanda’s airport and aviation authorities. Orbis is working to ensure the program’s success. 

RIIO, a recognized center of excellence, plays a pivotal role in this effort. The skills, knowledge, and technology shared during the training will not only benefit Rwanda but also have a broader impact across Africa.

By empowering eye care professionals through RIIO’s leadership, Orbis is helping to create sustainable, high-quality eye care systems throughout the region. This initiative underscores the power of collaboration in addressing global eye health challenges. By combining innovative technology, expert-led training, and strong partnerships, Orbis is helping Rwanda build a brighter future for its communities. Photo Credit: Orbis International, AVSN

In Gondokoro, some 25 kilometers east of the capital Juba, locals are concerned. An influx of livestock herders has increased competition for already scarce resources, particularly land, leading to tensions among residents, internally displaced persons and the pastoralists.

“Farms and crops have been destroyed and some of our animals stolen. It is still not safe for us to return to our homes,” says Sarah Gelerino, who lives nearby, across the Nile, after having been displaced in 2022.

Lina Keji, a Gondokoro resident, adds that insecurity is not the only consequence of a larger local population.

“Our healthcare facilities have suffered from a shortage of medicines for months. Transporting a sick person to Juba, or to go there to buy medication, is very expensive, which means that walking is the only option for most of us,” she says.

Government efforts to make cattle keepers from elsewhere go home mean that Gondokoro is currently a somewhat less violent place than it was a couple of years ago, but some problems do persist.

Local cattle owner Achirin Mayar is blunt about it.

“In the past, we ran from lions. Now we flee from humans with guns. This must stop,” he says, referring to the proliferation of small arms that worries most people living here.

To prevent a breakdown of law and order, they believe the government should disarm all civilians, without exceptions. Community director John Gabriel Ladu would welcome that but thinks that more is needed.

“Local authorities must engage with the feuding parties to resolve their differences, otherwise we won’t have peace in the area,” he says.

According to Captain Zakariya, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have established checkpoints in strategic locations to better protect civilians.

“We would like community leaders and traditional chiefs to encourage displaced people to return home and start farming, and we are trying to make that safe.”

Despite existing tensions, Lauro Ohiyu, who serves with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and was part of the delegation that visited Gondokoro, is optimistic.

“We were encouraged to see local authorities' consistent calls for people to return home. UNMISS and the UN family are committed to working with the State Government and partners to make this a safe place for everyone, not least for those who want to go back to where they used to live.” UNMISS