Kigali Marriott Hotel on Saturday gave back to society by reaching out to residents of Rwesero Cell in Nyamirambo Sector, Nyarugenge District where they participated in the monthly community exercise, Umuganda.

The activity is part of the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

During this particular Umuganda, Kigali Marriott Hotel partnered with the City of Kigali to help residents of Rwesero cell construct a one-kilometre road, complete with drainage channels.

Nyarugenge District DPC talking to residents of Rwesero village during the Umuganda. / James Peter Nkurunziza

Staff members of Kigali Marriott Hotel were led by the senior Human Resource Manager Nicole Ingabire who expressed her joy for having come to join the residents of the community in doing such work that's beneficial to everyone.

The hotel staff came with even better news, where the on their behalf, Ingabire handed over money that will help pay Community Based Health Insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) for 500 of the most vulnerable residents.

Emmanuel Utebuke, the head of Rwesero village thanked Kigali Marriott Hotel for choosing their village to conduct Umuganda there, adding that the health insurance was also very vital especially for those families that still find it difficult to afford the premiums.

"We are really grateful to the management of the hotel for having decided, from all villages in this country, to come and support us in particular,” he said.

Some of the employees of Marriot Hotel during Umuganda. / James Peter Nkurunziza

He took the opportunity to caution residents in the area to embrace family planning, urging that it was important that parents give birth to children they can be able to raise.

According to him, it is not just beneficial to the child that they are raised in an environment where they can be comfortably be catered for by their parents, but also beneficial to the country, because they become a lesser burden to the state.

Sano Nkeramugaba, who is the District Police Commander of Nyarugenge also thanked Kigali Marriott Hotel for having helped the 500 residents who had found it difficult to pay the insurance premiums,” he said.

Some of the staff members of Marriott Hotel who participated in the Umuganda. / James Peter Nkurunziza

He however cautioned the residents against the high number of rape and theft cases in the area.

"There are very many rape and theft cases in the area and we all know that the offenders are people that you know and live with,” he said, adding that community policing should be embraced to ensure the community is rid of such crimes.

He urged the residents to always collaborate with the police in sharing information about wrong doers and any other suspicious activities or persons in the area.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com