Journalists from eight African countries yesterday joined residents of Taba Cell in Nyarugenge District for the monthly community work, Umuganda.

They interacted with the residents and local leaders as they helped build houses for some of the Rwandans evicted from Tanzania last year.

Speaking to the journalists after the community work, the Mayor of Nyarugenge District, Solange Mukasonga, said Umuganda was rooted in Rwandan tradition and was behind the country’s current transformation.

"We can attribute most of our success at grassroots to Umuganda.  When people of the same village work together, they get quick solutions to problems leading to development of their area and the nation at large,” Mukasonga said.

Umma Yunusa, a Journalist from Nigeria said it was amazing to see local people working with their leaders for the good of their area.

"It is amazing to see people work together and very devoted. I have witnessed and understood that Umuganda gives Rwandans a sense of belonging. Seeing the locals and their leaders cleaning their community, regardless of their status, is really impressive. It has been a learning experience for me,” Yunusa said.

His colleague from Kenya, Fred Obera, said that Umuganda was a good practice that can help develop his country by restoring communal activities.

"I’m fascinated by the peaceful culture and the social set up of Rwandans. Umuganda activity took me by surprise because I was able to see how communities are able to help the unfortunate like building for them houses. This is an approach that Kenya needs to borrow from Rwanda,” Obera said.

The journalists are in Rwanda for a two-week training on new gender perspective and multimedia organised by RNTC, an international training institute based in The Netherlands, in partnership with Association Rwandaise des Femmes des Médias (ARFEM).

They are from Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and South Sudan.