Friday, 20 January 2023, Hon. Ingabire Assumpta, the Minister of State in Charge of Social Affairs conducted a one-day visit to Rusizi District where she met beneficiaries of social protection programmes and local leaders.

Minister Ingabire visited different initiatives which play a role in socio-economic development of citizens including G.S St Paul Muko, Ryankana Primary School and Mihabura Primary School all located in Bugarama Sector to oversee school attendance and the implementation of school feeding programme.

She also visited community-based cooperatives in particular, "Kora Ubeho Rwimbogo (KOKURWI)” cooperative of the women who helped their families to graduate from poverty through selling animal feed and pig farming in Rwimbogo sector; and “Abiyitaho Giheke” a cooperative of blind people who manufacture clothes in Giheke Sector.

The Minister of State Ingabire chaired a meeting with the leadership of Rusizi District in a meeting that brought together all leaders from District to cell level and representatives of security organs.
Hon. Ingabire lauded the leadership of Rusizi District for their efforts and initiatives to transform the district socio-economically.

“I am impressed by the initiatives you have demonstrated. I call upon all of you to work together as one team, improve service delivery, continue to improve hygiene across the district, put more efforts in raising awareness about the need to regularly enroll for Community-Based Health Insurance and Ejo Heza, (…).” She said.

The Minister of State also met with the beneficiaries of social protection programmes in Bugarama Sector especially “VUP” beneficiaries who are thankful for the government’s support.

Nyiraharerimana Marta, a VUP beneficiary testified how her life has completely changed since she joined the programme.

“The moment I started working through VUP programme I joined my neighbors in a saving group; since then, I have seen things I never expected to happen in my life. I remember, when my child was sent to TTC Mururu after successfully passing national exam I borrowed money from our saving group and I managed to send her to school. We are also doing well at home” she said.

The purpose of her outreach was to witness the impact of social protection programmes through various communities and discuss with local leaders on ways of fast-tracking poverty eradication by scaling up best practices and sustaining successful initiatives.

---End---