NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUSANZE — The government has set aside Rwf13.5billion for Gacaca judges in the country to form cooperative societies, an official said.

The Executive Secretary of the National Jurisdiction of Gacaca Courts, Domitila Mukantaganzwa, disclosed this on Monday while inspecting agro-related projects set up by over 6000 Gacaca judges in the Musanze district.

The judges grouped under 16 cooperatives formed one umbrella association called Inyangamugayo-Ukuri- engaged in rearing of sheep, pigs, rabbits and cattle on a large scale. They also grow wheat and Irish potatoes on a  commercial scale.

The association, has so far constructed eight houses for genocide survivors, given out Rwf400,000 to the most vulnerable residents, planted over 2,225 coffee trees, 1658 trees and trained 19 women in making soap and Vaseline.

Mukantaganzwa pledged Rwf30million to the association. She commended the traditional judges for their dedicated work which she said was a big milestone in creating peace, unity and security in Rwanda.

Warning the judges against corruption, which has previously been reported among some circles of gacaca, Mukantaganzwa urged them to speed up the remaining cases.

Districts were asked to support the cooperatives being formed by gacaca judges and include them into their performance contracts for next year. Meanwhile, Musanze gacaca judges revealed that they will have disposed of all cases by February next year.

According to sources, all gacaca judges will be given medals and certificates of merit from the government on completion of their work.

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