RWANDA: Local Government Minister hands over decent shelter to 192 vulnerable families in Kicukiro district.
By Justin Kayiranga
On Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Kicukiro District, the Minister of Local Government, Gatabazi Jean Marie Vianney officially opened three villages with 192 houses built for vulnerable families.
Located in Masaka sector of Kicukiro District, all these houses were constructed in collaboration with the Kicukiro District that provided land, the community that participated in construction activities and district partners who donated iron sheets for roofing.
Speaking to the media, beneficiaries expressed their gratitude over the acquisition of the houses, where they especially thanked President Paul Kagame for his good governance that leaves no one behind.
Uwambayinema said: “We were living under contempt but we thank President Kagame and his Government for freeing us from renting burdens and as you can see from today we are living in decent houses with no one asking us to pay rent fees.”
The 81-year-old Somayire said: I thank our authorities for giving me a decent house and now I go to bed and sleep without any problem.”
However, some of the residents told the Local Government minister that for about a year they had been living in these houses, but they have not yet received property documents.
But Mutesi Solange, the District Executive Administrator, explained that: “The documents will be issued after 5 years after looking at how the benefactors took care of the houses as it is stated in the contract.”
In his speech, the minister commended Kicukiro district effort with its partners for helping these people but asked also to urgently look for how other infrastructure including clinics, markets and more can be made available closer in every village.
He said: “What we want is not to build houses for people to live in. We must also provide them with all the services they will need on a daily basis. You don’t bring people to the village, to get out of it again to find water or to go to the hospital.”
“Also think of projects that help them like other beneficiaries. All those development projects you provide to other beneficiaries such as markets and livestock, make sure these residents are also prioritized” Minister Gatabazi said.
Among the families that were given these houses include those who were living in high risk zone and survivors of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.