Ninety-four households in Gikondo Sector’s Kagunga II Village in Kigali’s Kicukiro District last week contributed over Rwf1 million to the Agaciro Development Fund (AgDF), which was raised through community mobilisation.

The gesture and co-operation exhibited by Kagunga II village residents show that, together, we can do more as a people toward national development and achieving the country’s self-reliance agenda.

As the village head, Mathieu Ntegano, said it is crucial for all Rwandans to support efforts aimed at finding local solutions for local problems instead of waiting for external interventions.

He noted that though members of the village had previously been contributing to the Fund individually, "it was right to contribute as a village” with each household raising Rwf12,000 over a period of one year. 

Established over four years ago, the Agaciro Development Fund is part of Rwanda’s drive toward self-reliance and dignity. As the residents of the village put it, a road built using money from the Fund would bring pride to the Rwandan people. 

The village has indeed set the bar high for the rest of the country. Other villages across the country can also rise to the challenge and contribute selflessly toward building an independent economy.

Building the country is not the responsibility for some, but for all of us.

Therefore, let the example set by Kagunga II Village residents inspire every Rwandan to contribute to this noble cause as the country bids to completely wean itself off aid.

If the tens of thousands of villages across Rwanda picked a leaf from Kagunga II, the Fund would deliver on its mission sooner rather than later.