Last week, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning; Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana read Rwanda’s 2018/19 national budget that is valued at slightly over Rwf 2.4 trillion. The minister pointed out that generally, economic plans in the 2018-19 budget will focus on job creation through rapid industrialisation to reduce the current rate of unemployment among the youth. Sunday Magazine’s Sharon Kantengwa asked different people what they thought of the 2018/2019 national budget?

The government is ready to support locally made products and services. This will enable local manufacturers transform and improve their productivity while at the same time creating employment opportunities, addressing one of the biggest challenges we have in our economy.

Amos Agaba, student

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I’m so proud that Rwanda is becoming less and less dependent on donor funds. Year after year , we contribute a bigger percentage to the national budget and I know that my grandson will grow up in a donor free economy.

Eva Gara, Entrepreneur

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I am glad that the government is allocating money fairly into development projects and putting an effort to promote locally made products and services, which will  eventually improve the livelihoods of Rwandans. 

Stuart Uwizeye, trader

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I think that the proposed budget reflects the government’s strong commitment to economic transformation and poverty reduction. Increased government spending also means more opportunities for the private sector which should be the longer term driver of economic growth.  There was a lot of increased spending on strategic investments meant to spur growth and promote job creation. I’m hugely impressed by ongoing efforts to boost domestic revenues in part improving the efficiency of Rwanda Revenue Authority which in the long term will help Rwanda to become self sufficient.  I guess that the biggest challenge going forward is effective coordination to ensure that the different government agencies implement what has been planned while minimising wasteful expenditures or cost overruns cited in the Auditor General’s report. There is also need to come up with measures to help small holder farmers to deal with the impact of the recent weather shocks.

Berna Namata, journalist