Castigated by some but welcomed by many, Kigali City dwellers yesterday took to the maiden Car-Free Day with fanfare.

From Remera Sector in Gasabo District via the highway to the Central Business District, people could be seen in jovial mood jogging, walking, cycling and skateboarding, some with their pets in tow.

The day was marked by mass sports in the road where different people participated.

The Minister for Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, that of Youth and ICT, Jean-Philbert Nsengimana, of Gender and Family Promotion, Dr Diane Gashumba, as well as of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu, graced the event.

After mass sports, people convened at Rwanda Revenue Authority headquarters where they had stretching and free medical checkup, marking the end of the weeklong free medical campaign of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) organised by Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

According to Dr Jeanine Condo, the RBC director-general, of the 2,600 people screened during ‘NCDs Week’, 35 per cent are overweight and 12 per cent have high blood pressure.

Dr Condo urged people to undergo medical checkup at least once a year.

"People should not wait for illness to go to hospital, eat healthy, do exercises and regular medical checkups,” she said.

Monique Mukaruliza, mayor of the City of Kigali, said the Car-Free Day will occur every month but on different roads to give city dwellers a platform to do sports and live a healthy lifestyle.

"Roads are not for motorists only. People can also use them freely. Doing sports is very important, all people should embrace it. That’s why we want every umudugudu to organise a sports event at least once a week,” Mukaruliza said.

The Minister for Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu, urged city dwellers to embrace the initiative, saying it was for their own benefit.

"Sports is more than just that, it’s also time to meet and chat with others. Those who have come, invite others to join the next time,” she said.

People are the most important resource for our country. We cannot develop without healthy people. The more we engage in sports activities, the less diseases affect people and the budget allocated to treating people will be used in other development activities.”

"Again, remember that prevention is better than cure. Let’s do sports not because doctor says it but because it’s for our benefit,” she added.

Public reaction

The New Times spoke to several people who responded to the maiden Car-Free Day initiative.

Jean Bosco Nizeyimana, 19, a resident of Kacyiru, said the initiative shows that Rwandan leaders support sports. "We are being screened for free. Besides, meeting people from different parts of the city is a good opportunity and I would even prefer this to happen weekly,” he said.

Anicet Rudakenga, 57, said: "This event is very important because it accustoms people to do sports. I request that they organize it at least twice a month.”

Julienne Gyler, a US citizen, commended the initiative.

"I love it, many people, young and old, walking, jogging. It is also a special occasion and an opportunity to get out and see different parts of the community,” she said.

Dr Usta Kayitesi, the principal of University of Rwanda’s College of Arts and Social Sciences, was among those who participated in the Car-Free Day event.

"The Car-Free Day is an opportunity to exercise and feel healthy but also an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of my country. I always do exercise but it’s always different when you walk on the sidewalks, walking in the road is a great opportunity,” she said.

According to Kayitesi, Rwandans should make it a habit to do sports.

"We cannot have a good country without a healthy people. The energy we need to use in building this country requires that we are healthy and we cannot be building a beautiful country that our health will not permit us to enjoy,” she said.

The maiden event also saw some organisations participating as a team, among them Rwanda cycling team, as well as music group Dream Boys.

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