THE Minister of Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, has commended residents of Bweramvura village for helping resettle Rwandans recently expelled from Tanzania.

He made the remarks during the monthly community work (Umuganda) in Bweramvura cell of Jabana Sector in Gasabo District where residents joined efforts to build homes for the evictees.

Residents had gathered in Bweramvura village to contribute in building 48 housing units that will shelter the evictees.

"Thank you for helping your fellow citizens expelled from Tanzania. The way you are helping them to settle in your community is in line with the dignity we seek for all Rwandans,” he told hundreds of residents in the area. 

About 14,253 Rwandans were evicted from Tanzania since August last year, including more than 8,361 who have already been reunited with their families in various parts of the country

Gasabo District’s Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs, Jean Claude Munara, said in an interview that the homes will be completed before the end of the year.

"We hope that they will successfully integrate in the community very soon,” he said in an interview.

The 158 evictees currently living in Bweramvura village, where they occupy facilities of a former technical school, are among thousands that the government has settled in various parts of the country.

Angelina Kiribazayire, 40, applauded residents of the village for reaching out even when it meant that they had to share food.

"They sometimes share with us what they have bought from markets like rice, potatoes, and beans. It’s not like they have plenty of food to share with u, but they still visit us and offer what they have,” she said.

John Sengabo, 22, remembers how his parents used to trade in livestock in Tanzania so that he could complete his university studies,  but now all he has are promises that the government will keep him in school at university if he agrees to start-over from first-year.

He and other young people among the evictees living in Bweramvura said that reintegrating in their newly-found community will take time, especially finding jobs and work for a living.

"You wake up, walk around, and listen to the news to get as much information as possible to learn about life in Rwanda,” Sengabo said.

Minister Kaboneka said the evictees will be taught skills to help them work for a living after the immediate priority of finding them homes is fulfilled.

"We will teach them how to fish on their own,” Kaboneka said.