President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame yesterday joined residents of Simbwa cell, Kabarore sector, Gatsibo in building primary school classrooms that will serve 300 children in the area.

The exercise was part of the monthly communal service, commonly known as Umuganda.

The Head of State was joined by government officials, members of the private sector and civil society, who are currently at the Rwanda Defence Force Combat Training Centre in Gabiro, Eastern Province, for a five-day leadership retreat that kicked off yesterday.

President Kagame said that Umuganda is such a unique Rwandan culture—of helping one another in finding solutions to common problems—hence urging residents to work together in building the country.

"Umuganda is about the culture of working together and helping each other to build this country,” Kagame said.

Gatsibo district Mayor Richard Gasana noted that Simbwa cell did not have a school and a medical facility. The nearest primary school isabout 6km away.

Gasana said that Gatsibo has 94 primary schools, 64 secondary schools and 11 vocational training schools, "however in this area (Simbwa Cell), students are forced to walk a distance of about 12km to and from school in neighboring areas. this school will solve this problem.”

He also noted that despite 60.5 percent of the residents of Gatsibo owning mobile phones, there are some places in the district  including Simbwa (Kabarore sector) which are yet to have access to telecommunication network.

Immaculate Mugabekazi, a resident of Simbwa cell told Sunday Times that, "This (School) is really timely. Our children either go to Kibondo cell or to Ruhuha, which is far from here. It is a long and hilly distance for children to walk there and it is difficult for them to come back for lunch.

"Now that the President has given us this school, our children will be able to study from within a convenient distance and be able to come home for lunch break. We are very hopeful that even the health center will be built soon.”

President Kagame pledged state of the art classrooms; installed with smart class boards and laptops in the soon to be completed primary school in Simbwa cell.

"We are building this school to ensure that our children do not have to walk long distances to have access to schools,” Kagame told residents of Kabarore sector.

The President also pledged to ensure that "the issues regarding network in the area are solved as soon as possible.”

He urged residents of Kabarore sector to work hard in their respective economic activities and work together in ensuring that the school is protected and is in a clean environment.

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