Rwandan students studying in Uganda yesterday participated in the monthly community work, Umuganda by cleaning Nsambya Hospital, one of the biggest private hospitals in Kampala run by the Catholic Church.

The students from International University of East Africa (IUEA) were joined by John Ngarambe, the First Secretary at the Rwanda High Commission in Kampala.

Ngarambe commended the students for upholding the culture of the monthly community work and called on them to concentrate on achieving academic excellence and avoid promiscuity.

"We all have a responsibility to promote good relations between Rwanda and Uganda. By doing this, you are playing your part,” he said.

Later, the students contributed over Shs300, 000 ($108) to help Sylvia Uwera, a Rwandan citizen who had been held by the hospital for failure to clear her medical bills.

"I’m very happy for this kind gesture. I was wondering how I would leave this place,” Uwera said, adding that she would use part of the money as bus fare to return to her home in Kimihurura, a City of Kigali suburb.

Braving a heavy downpour, the students cleaned up drainage pipes and compounds in the hospital and interacted with patients and hospital administrators.

Yowasi Balya, the supervisor of Nsambya hospital’s cleaning department, commended the students for lending a hand and being good ambassadors of their country.  

"We pledge to continue this activity every month. We also hope to carry out more mobilisation exercises that will lead us to holding a Rwanda Day in Uganda in future,” said Ignatius Ruzigande, the chairperson of the International University of East Africa Rwandan Students Association.