As Rwanda celebrates 24 years of liberation struggle, Rwanda Defence Force (RDF)’s mission has remained the same, which is, defending the territorial integrity and ensuring national sovereignty. The RDF has therefore seized the opportunity to focus on contributing to human security and national socio-economic development.

By ensuring that people’s security is  their main priority, RDF’s efforts in contributing to the country’s resilience from the liberation struggle have been tremendous during the past 24 years to help the country remove bad leadership that led to suffering and Genocide in Rwanda by engaging in activities geared towards liberating Rwandans from another evil, poverty and social distress.

However, For Gen. James Kabarebe, the Minister of Defence, beyond liberation war, the liberation struggle continues not only to focus and deal the prevailing real national security threats but also in contributing to the country’s socio-economic development, especially targeting human life advancement in different fields of health, education, agriculture, housing, infrastructures and other poverty alleviation policies.

"To further expand the scope of the contribution by the Defence sector in the field of socio-economic development, more partnerships and extensive cooperation with stakeholders shall be sought. In the 24 years of cooperation with different stakeholders in this sector, an incredible work has been done, which is an indication of the possibility of greater achievements in the years to come,” says Gen. Kabarebe.

The national force embarked a remarkable contribution to the national development, with a lot of efforts mainly put through in different initiatives through RDF’s annual Citizen Outreach Programmes aimed at collectively contributing to the national economic transformation.

In the past 12 months, RDF, in partnership with different government institutions, achieved in different initiatives targeting people, including the provision of healthcare services for Rwandans, infrastructures development, supporting the agriculture and education development- all with the aim of fostering development.

In housing sector, RDF contributed to support the government’s efforts to ensure that Rwandans live in planned and organized settlements.

RDF has been working with different government entities with the aim of reshaping rural settlement in Rwanda through an all-inclusive model that focuses on providing access to clean water, electricity, health facilities, common marketplaces, smart classrooms for each IDP as part of the government vision.

This year  RDF  constructed 22 Integrated Development Programme (IDP) Model villages across the country, of which the most outstanding ones being Horezo and Kanyenyeri in Muhanga and Ngororero Districts respectively, 88 homes for disabled demobilized soldiers and 1 324 homes for Genocide survivors.

The homes constructed will benefit 2080 families.

The 22 IDP Model Villages that cost the Rwf 14.7 billion include 112 modern housing units built in 8-in-one format, 556 built in 4-in-one model, three multipurpose halls, 30 class rooms, two Early Childhood Development (ECD), four health posts and four arts and craft shops among other facilities.

Besides Rwanda celebrating 24 years of liberation, RDF can also celebrate its continued contribution in supporting Genocide survivors by ensuring that they get decent shelter.

RDF made sure liberation can have a remarkable meaning for Rwandans in general, especially for Genocide survivors by supporting the government’s efforts to ensure the wellbeing of Genocide survivors through different initiatives that aim at improving their socio–economic welfare.

As the government continues to provide shelter for genocide survivors, RDF was tasked to takeover some of the construction projects whereby, during the 2017-18 financial   year alone, a total of 1 324 housing units were built for 1 324 genocide survivors in a period of six months, costing Rwf 15.5 billion in the process.

In other annual initiatives to date, through RDF’s Citizen Outreach Programmes (COP), 1 327 housing units were constructed for vulnerable people to total 85 059 modern houses constructed for vulnerable families since 2009.

In the same programme, RDF rehabilitated 240 houses for 960 vulnerable people.  The activity valued at Rwf 72 million while the rehabilitation would have cost the government Rwf 120 million, meaning that RDF made the government save Rwf 48 million.

In general, RDF implemented the housing projects worth Rwf 143.7 billion, Rwf 7.2 billion less than the amount (Rwf 150. 9 billion) would have invested in line with the market rate.

Education

RDF has been in close partnership with the Ministry of education during the construction of some classrooms across the country whereby a total of 203 classrooms were built to accommodate 9 135 students.

Now 95 per cent of the classrooms were completed.

After benefiting from RDF’s initiatives that are aimed at improving education sector, through the ongoing construction of 12 new classrooms at Groupe Scolaire Kagugu, in Gasabo District, Jean Baptiste Habanabashaka, the school Head teacher said the support will positively affect students’ quality education whichwas rare due to overpopulation in classrooms.

"This will be crucial and a huge boost to overcrowded classrooms as long new rooms are completed and we expect only positive impact on our students’ quality education. RDF is doing great,” Habanabashaka said.

RDF in Infrastructure

During the 2017-18 financial year, RDF constructed 865 km of roads, both asphalt and unpaved, in 19 districts in order to support the country’s target to make 95 per cent of the road network in a good condition by the end of this year.

Some of the roads include the 15 km Ndera asphalt road and the 14.7km road linking Zindiro-Masizi-Birembo-Gasanze. All the roads constructed this year are worth Rwf 59 billion.

In collaboration with different Ministries and Districts, RDF was also involved in the construction of 19 bridges worth Rwf 10.6 billion connecting different parts of the country to facilitate the movement of people and trade between neighboring regions.

As part of the plan to ease movement of people and resources, this year RDF embarked on the construction of helipads budgeted to cost Rwf 342 million in four districts that will serve to airlift people, resources or any other logistical and operational activities.

So far two of them have already been completed in in the last two months in Nyamagabe and Nyamasheke while the construction activities of the other two are ongoing.

Among other infrastructure activities that RDF has been involved in include the construction of 20 boreholes, three water supply units in four districts, electricity distribution lines benefiting 104, 103 households, seven Genocide Memorial sites constructed in 6 districts and the construction of Gatsata Health Center in Gasabo District.

RDF was also involved in the construction of other important facilities like a security post in Mushishiro near Nyabarongo Hydro Power Project.

Agriculture, Livestock & Environment

In the past twelve months, RDF conducted activities in the areas of agriculture, livestock and environment worth over Rwf 19 billion, which covered different areas including crop production, soil erosion control and livestock distribution.

In general, activities in agriculture and environmental protection covered 25 418 hectares while the cattle (3 525 cows) worth Rwf 1.5 billion were distributed under Girinka Programme.

Over the last nine months, a total of 17 898 hectares of terraces were developed at a cost of Rwf 13.8 billion, benefiting 84 347 households across the country.

In environment conservation, 3 441 hectares of trees were planted at a cost of Rwf 1.3 billion while wetland management covered 131 hectares at a cost of Rwf 212 million. The Riverbank protection was also done on 1 400 hectares at a cost of Rwf 945 million.

In crop production, the national forces have in increasing productivity, where food crop and vegetable production countrywide covered 1 701.9 hectares and 324. 5 hectares respectively at a cost of Rwf 1.9 billion, compared to Rwf 1.8 billion the activities would have cost on the standard market, meaning that the government saved Rwf 929 million in the process.

The main crops grown during the activities include bush beans, cassava, maize, rice, soybean, potatoes and wheat in addition to vegetables like cabbages, pineapples, tumbleweed, beetroot, carrots, cucumber, courgette, eggplants, green beans, hot pepper, onions, watermelon and tomatoes among others.

RDF also played a big part in the continued eradication of the Fall Armyworm. The area covered was 1 972 hectares, rejuvenation of 1 230.1 hectares of banana plantation and combating the deadly banana weevil on 467.2 hectares of land.

RDF also planted 2 548 hectares of coffee and tea at a cost of Rwf 2.4 billion, coffee maintenance was also done on  1 146.9 hectares while 68.8 hectares of tea were maintained. The mechanization was implemented on 1.5 hectares.

In total, the agricultural activities conducted this year were worth Rwf 2.4 billion, an amount which is less than a half what the government would have invested in the process.

RDF and Health: A Healthy Mind in A Healthy Body

RDF has for years been outstanding in serving the people, especially from rural areas, with free health services with an intention to help them improve their health standards, all through their annual Citizen Outreach Programme (COP) among other health initiatives.

The medical outreach services provides has seen 74 523 people benefiting from medical services provided by RDF since April 2018.

During the annual Outreach, a total of 46 422 people benefited from clinical services like Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Gynecology-Obstetrics, Ophthalmology and Orthopedics, Dental, General Surgery and Dermatology while 28 101 males were circumcised during the exercise.

The entire activity has so far at least Rwf 147 million, but the work done has a market cost of over Rwf 1 Billion.

The RDF Citizen Outreach Programme expects to provide free medical services to an estimated 113 000 patients by the time it comes to conclusion in July.

Since 2009, over 438 000 people have benefited from RDF’s medical outreach services while it seeks to have a meaningful impact on the lives of Rwandans with a fundamental target of increasing the role of RDF in socio-economic transformation of the people and ensure human security.

Epiphanie Mukakimenyi, 51, one of the citizens who benefited from RDF’s medical outreach in Ntongwe Sector, Ruhango District, only feels thankful to RDF’s free medical treatment of Rectal Polyp, a disease which she has suffered for 12 years while she could not afford its treatment.

"I had no hope for treatment because I did not have the resources. When I heard about RDF medical personnel coming here, I registered and I benefited from the treatment. RDF doctors gave me the treatment I needed. I feel much better and I hope that the pain I feel is the effect of the operation but I am sure I will get better soon. I am thankful to RDF and this shows how they care for us not only by ensuring our security but also our health as well,” Mukakimenyi testifies.