The Musanze District Advisory Council has passed a Rwf12.3bn budget for the financial year 2014/15 with priority given to infrastructure and agriculture.

The Council chairperson, Raphael Rurangwa, said the budget is aligned to the country’s second Economic Development Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2), currently in its second year of implementation.

Rurangwa said the budget, which increased by about 20 per cent compared to last year’s, will cater for development activities in addition to wages and salaries as well as operational costs.

 "We want to contribute toward the  achievement of EDPRS2,” Rurangwa said.

In agriculture, the district plans to construct 100 hectares of terraces in Remera and Gashaki sectors, capacity building for farmers, provide banana suckers, and promote livestock production and vaccination, among others.

Other activities include the protection of 20 hectares catchment area around the Volcanoes National Park, plantation of around 1000 hectares of forestry and Agro forestry trees.

The money will also be used in the rehabilitation of Ubworoherane stadium, construction of cattle market and over 72 classrooms in 12 year basic education schools among others.

The district also plans to extend electricity to Gacaca Sector, and rehabilitate Ruhengeri-Gisenyi, Ruhengeri-Kinigi roads.

The district also plans to give out cows, through Girinka programme, to the vulnerable.

Benon Rwabugande, the Musanze acting executive secretary, said the money was allocated according to priority mainly targetting activities aimed at poverty eradication.

The budget will help achieve sustainable development based on community tourism supported by good governance and quality education based on science and technology, he said.

Albert Nsengiyumva, the State Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, challenged the district Council to work hard and ensure the budget is implemented.

Meanwhile Gakenke District approved its Rwf10bn budget last Friday that will focus on infrastructure development such as road construction and rehabilitation, construction of health centres, electricity rollout, agriculture, among other sectors, according to district officials.