WESTERN PROVINCE

NYAMASHEKE — The Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) early this week unveiled 15 projects worth Rwf146 million for communities living around the Nyungwe National Park.

The projects include a boys’ dormitory worth Rwf30m at APEKA Secondary School, Ngange Health Centre worth Rwf10m and two classroom blocks at Kageyo Primary School.

Others are five bridges worth Rwf13m which link Rwabidege and Kanyinya, and Gasumo health center worth over Rwf13 m, all in Nyamasheke district.

In Rusizi district, they also inaugurated two dormitories at Matare and Rususa secondary schools worth Rwf28 m, a maternity ward worth Rfw9 m, several communal water taps and other various income generating projects including Abakundangina Association of Bee keepers.

While addressing leaders and residents in Karambi Sector, Nyamasheke district, Fidel Ruzigandekwe, the Executive Director of Rwanda Wildlife Agency said that the projects were in line with the ORTPN’s revenue sharing policy of allocating 5% of their revenue to park communities.

"Financing community projects in this region is in line with the revenue sharing policy which is in conformity with Rwanda’s strategy to promote tourism for the benefit of all the Rwandans,” he said.

He added, "The community projects are testament that Rwanda’s tourism sector is a viable tool for poverty eradication and another mobilisation strategy to involve communities in conserving the wildlife and their habitats.”

Ruzigandekwe, explained that the projects would strengthen the partnership with the park communities in fighting against park encroachment and poaching.

According to Ruzigandekwe, the ORTPN would increase cooperation with the communities by financing more community projects before this year ends.

Commending ORTPN for bringing developmental projects in the area, Oscar Nzeyimana, the Nyamasheke vice Mayor in charge of economic affairs, urged the residents to maintain the new facilities and to always conserve the environment especially national parks.

Similar projects have previously been launched in the Eastern and the Northern provinces, around the Akagera and the Volcano National Parks respectively, according to Ruzigandekwe.                         

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