Eight elderly Genocide widows have received a new modern house in Nyamirama Sector, Kayonza District.

The handover ceremony, on Sunday, was attended by the Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Stella Ford Mugabo, Avega chairperson Valerie Mukabayire and several parliamentarians.

The house, whose value was not readily established, was built through the partnership between Bralirwa and Unity club, an organisation comprising current and former senior government officials and their spouses.

The club is chaired by the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame.

The house will be shared by the eight beneficiaries whose families and relatives were wiped out during the Genocide.

Addressing residents at the inauguration ceremony, the deputy president of Unity Club, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, said the housing unit provided a new home for the widows who had until then lacked proper housing.

Nsanzabaganwa, who is the vice governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, said the new home would help transform the lives of beneficiaries and communities.

"When the elderly widows live side by side, they will form a new family. It will inspire them to move forward and live a meaningful life. We cannot leave them on their own; their lives were affected by the Genocide that killed all their children and relatives. It’s imperative that every Rwandan endeavours to give them a happy life,” she said.

The eight widows, aged between 80 and 90, were also given two caretakers to look after them.

Unity Club said they target to construct similar facilities in every district, with the target of at least five homes next year.

Jonathan Hall, the managing director of Bralirwa, said they would continue to support the housing programme for the widows.

"We are privileged to partner with Unity Club in this noble cause. We have been doing it in other parts of the country and will continue as long as it is needed. We are key partners in particular of Kayonza, where we have vast modern maize farms,” he said.

Odette Uwamariya, the governor of Eastern Province, said 268 similar housing units would be constructed in the province.