MTN Rwanda has launched a mobile money account to facilitate donations to the Gisozi Memorial Centre in Gasabo District, with an initial deposit of Rwf200,000 from MTN officials. The account number is 0785 803993.

This was revealed during the monthly community work (Umuganda) on Saturday, where over 200 Gisozi sector residents and well-wishers participated. MTN wholesalers, employees, as well as retailers and Rwanda Defence Forces personnel also joined Gisozi residents in the Umuganda activities.

Ebenezer Asante, the MTN chief executive officer, said the telecom firm participates in such community activities to promote unity, saying it is the only immediate way to reward customers. "We can only do business when you are doing well and part of doing good includes hard work and honour,” he said as the firm concluded its annual community service, ‘21 days of Y’ello Care’.

Speaking at the event, Vincent Mwinyeshyawa, the Ministry of Local Government permanent secretary, thanked the participants, saying the unity expressed during the Umuganda was "an indication of the positive results from Ndimunyarwanda programme”. 

"Rwanda has come from far, so we need to appreciate the growth we have achieved so far and to be the primary fuel for this growth,” he said. 

Patricie Murekate, the Gisozi village local leader, thanked the telecom firm for participating in the cleaning of the memorial grounds. "Keeping this site clean is a sign of respect for the dead to ensure they rest in peace as we mark 20 years of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” Murekate said. 

Col. John Muvonyi urged the residents to appreciate and support the unity agenda promoted by the government. "We should remember that without liberation telecom companies like MTN wouldn’t be in the country.