Rwamagana district in Eastern Province emerged the best performer in the Imihigo—Performance Contracts, for the year 2016/2017, followed by Musanze and Huye with 82.2%, 81.28%, 80.5% scores respectively.

The district is divided into 14 sectors: Fumbwe, Gahengeri, Gishari, Karenge, Kigabiro, Muhazi, Munyaga, Munyiginya, Musha, Muyumbu, Mwulire, Nyakariro, Nzige and Rubona. Rwamagana is ‘a place of a hundred cows’ in Kinyarwanda, or a place of abundance.

Rwamagana district is enhancing development by ensuring that citizens’ livelihoods are improved through the reduction of poverty levels. This has called for summoning of different initiatives in the areas of; good governance, economic development and improved social welfare. According to the district mayor, Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi, transforming lives of the citizens has been a function of good working relationship with the district staff, local authorities and the people of Rwamagana.

"Am proud to say that in all sectors; health, education, infrastructure and agriculture, there are tangible results and I thank the central government that has always supported us in achieving these goals,” enthuses the mayor.

Agriculture

Many Rwamagana residents practice agriculture, growing banana, coffee, cassava, rice, maize, sorghum, soya and beans. There was an increase in productivity and sustainability of agriculture. The number of ha of land for priority crops on consolidated land increased by over 98% . Maize, the selected food crop for the district to be grown on a large scale was planted on 20,009 Ha, a 100% achievement.

Beans were grown on 31,352Ha, a 100.4% of the target, Soya 2,896.8 ha (101.2%) Cassava 983.95 Ha (98.4%) and rice on 1040ha (100%).

In Rwamagana, mechanization has been put to good use, reducing the cost of cultivation by 40% to Rwf 60,000 from Rwf 100,000 per hectare. Farmers employing mechanization cultivated 408ha, above the targeted 400 ha in 2016-2017.

Value addition

Production and value addition for coffee increased where coffee produced and collected in coffee washing stations were 3415tons out of the 3500 tons targeted and 1,356 Ha/1,412 Ha=96% covered by coffee trees plantation are well maintained.

There was also registered growth in non- traditional export crops with the number of ha of land planted with vegetables at 318.88 Ha.

Improvement in animal resources productivity

Animal resources improvement in 2017 saw a total of 4,090 cows inseminated out of the 4174 cows targeted while 3,709 cows inseminated in 2015/2016 have been monitored and 2,243 calves registered.

A total of 18,000 cattle were vaccinated against LSD as targeted.

Electricity

Connecting cities, townships and villages to electricity is a major stimulant to economic growth and improvement of people’s welfare. The number of households newly connected to electricity in 2016-2017 were 6,855. There was also registered improved use of renewable energy especially of biogas at household and institutional levels, where the district constructed 30 digesters as targeted. Infrastructures, settlement planning

Promoting well planned urban and rural settlements continues to be prioritized in the country’s development programs. In Rwamagana township, 3km of street lights, have been installed and maintained while one kilometer of water drainage system has been constructed and 15 km maintained.

Building model villages has helped in using the country’s scarce land resources more efficiently through land consolidation for higher yields from arable land, while championing improved housing.

Ntebe- Kitazigurwa and Rwimbogo new IDP Model villages have been upgraded and developed with 1.5 KM of road constructed( 100%), 22,600M2 Expropriated(100%) and construction works for 2 houses( 4 in one) have been completed.

A total of 93km of feeder roads were rehabilitated under Feeder Road Programme and 70% completed of rehabilitation works on r Rwarugaju-Rwimbogo road; 10km of Nzige-Nyamatete-Karenge road; 13.2km and Rugende- Juru, 8.8km and construction works of 15km of Karangara- Flower Park road completed.

Also expropriation processes to give way for the construction site of Rwamagana Taxi Park (Phase II) have been completed.

Off-farm Jobs

Rwamagana district has supported the establishment and equipping of Integrated Craft Production Centres (ICPCs) operators with skills. So far 37 ICPCs operators have been trained, way above the targeted 25. A contract for the supply of equipment to ICP operators was concluded between BDF and the district.

Construction works for Murehe selling point were completed and bankable start-up MSME s projects were developed by business development advisors. In 2017, 1241 out of the targeted 1200 MSMEs were coached.

Also 139 graduates accessed start-up toolkits provided during apprentices and short-term vocational training on self-employment.

Social Protection

There was an increase in the number of needy genocide survivors supported through provision of shelter. Although 176 houses for genocide survivors are needed and 483 require rehabilitation, 5 houses were constructed and 15 rehabilitated in 2016

However, in 2017 rehabilitation works for 17 houses were completed and construction of 5 out of the targeted 5 new houses were completed.

Under the Joint action plan to eliminate malnutrition,1,240 out of the 1200 of poor families targeted were given cows through Girinka program.

Through the one cup of milk per child program, 2,212 out the targeted 2,212 children are fed on milk.

Residents have been encouraged to establish kitchen gardens and in 2016-2017 a total 474 were added.

Education

A number of class rooms and toilets have been constructed in recent years. Today Rwamagana has 473 classrooms and 903 toilets. The overall target of 14 classrooms and 12 toilets were all completed in 2016-2017 plus the completion of the construction works of Muhazi Technical School.

All 73 9/12YBE schools were inspected for quality education and hygiene leading to improved quality learning outcomes across primary and secondary Schools as well as improved childhood education in Community- based Early Childhood Development Centers where one ECD was available but numbers have since grown to 19, above the targeted 16. Adult literacy increased to 4,038 above the targeted 3976 adults. Health

Rwanda’s Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) is one of the key initiatives implemented by the district to achieve universal access to health care.

The Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme has greatly increased access to health care services and reduced the burden of health care costs, especially for the poor.

The district medical insurance coverage is 251,056 out of the total population of 297,973 making a 84.3% inclusiveness.

Reduced cost of medical care and awareness campaigns have seen the number of mothers delivering from health centers grow and eventually reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. The construction works of a maternity ward in Rwamagana hospital was completed (external works and construction of water treatment plant ongoing) and 100% for the Munyaga Health center maternity ward.

Other medical facilities construction and upgrading works include; Kangamba and Murehe health posts which have been completed. . In 2017, the district targeted and bought 3 new hospital ambulances to help in offering emergency services to patients.

Improved family welfare and fight against GBV

"Umugorobaw’ababyeyi” the customary gathering loosely translated as "Parent’s evening” that happens once a week in all villages across the country where men and women come to deliberate on various community issues, from security to socio-economic and cultural issues is operationalized in all 14/14 sector in Rwamagana district.

Also 5 children from childcare institutions (orphanages, centers for streets children) were reintegrated into alternative family-based care in 2015/16. However this year, 117 children from centers for street children were reintegrated into families.