Ubudehe program building self esteem among Rwanda-Minister

BY GEORGE KAGAME

Ubudehe project has been lauded as very effective in fostering unity and development among Rwandans today.

Musoni said; “Ubudehe has been very critical in solving community problems, enhancing self independence and raising self esteem among members of our society.”

Ubudehe is a government initiated program as part of the decentralization policies adopted in 2003; the program works at the lowest administrative level in local government authorities, the Mudugudu.

At the cell level, the poorest two families are identified by mutual consent at by community members at cell meetings. The two families are then assisted by free labour to build a house and then government funds iron sheets and other finishing material.
He said this year the program was funded to the tune of 14m Euros and that his ministry had already covered half of the budget.

Musoni said along with Ubudehe, Ministry of local government had also adopted programs to assist poverty stricken Rwandans, he said; “we have built homes for poor Rwandans especially genocide survivors, by the end of 2008 we will build another 12000 homes across the country.”

Musoni however criticized the custom among Rwandans to getting to familiar with free offers from government; “in some areas where we built houses, even financially able people benefited. They simply left their old homes and came to government houses meant for vulnerable persons. In the process, they sold their lands for farming; they starved in government funded houses and caused a new problem, some others remained with two houses and rented one out.”

Musoni said by early 2008, his ministry has already funded the 15000 local government lower authorities in the country with 73710 roofing materials of which 43000 have already been supplied. There are 15000 cells in the country.

He said the government was also in advanced stages of streamlining the Fund for Genocide Survivors, the fund set up in @@@@is implemented by the ministry of Local government; “We shall start to give the money directly to students so they can spend it themselves instead of funding schools which had in some cases created stereotypes towards the beneficiaries.” He also said the national cultural troupe Itorero had trained 43000 teachers; “these teachers will be exemplary in their communities in building a future Rwanda,” said Musoni.

Musoni called upons Rwandans to register in the ongoing national identity cards exercise because the digital cards to be issued will be used in parliamentary elections on 15 September 2008.