A new bill is proposing sweeping reforms in the operations of the National Itorero Commission, including the renaming of the institution.

Among the reforms, the bill has proposed the renaming of the National Itorero Commission as Itorero ry’u Rwanda or Itorero of Rwanda.

The bill also proposes that Itorero places emphasis on volunteer programmes in the country and abroad.

"We want to put efforts in national service and volunteerism to tackle the various problems that are currently challenging our society. This aspect was not given much attention in the law under review,” Rosemary Mbabazi, Minister of Youth and Culture, told Members of Parliament on March 31 as she defeated the reforms.

The draft law was approved by the virtual plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies.

This means that the bill will now move to the next stage of being scrutinised by the responsible committee of the lower chamber of parliament before it is put to a vote by its plenary.

Itorero, one of Rwanda’s homegrown solutions is a cultural-centred programme. It is a holistic training system that includes civic education, cultural values, patriotism and social-political development of Rwandans.

While explaining the relevance of the bill, Mbabazi told lawmakers that Itorero will continue to train Rwandans (especially the youth) on Rwandan values but also focus on impact by deploying volunteers in communities to participate in national service.

More reforms

Under the bill, Itorero will be comprised of two management organs; the High Council – its supreme organ — and the Executive Organ.

This means that the existing board of commissioners will be transformed into the High Council. The High Council will be made up of seven members including the Head and the Deputy Head.

Contrary to existing law, the High Council shall not continue to hold office on a permanent basis (as employees). This, according to the explanatory note to the bill, is proposed after realising conflict of interest in the responsibilities of the commissioners and those of the employees.

The bill proposes that members of the High Council are appointed by a Presidential Order, and they have a term of office of five years renewable once.

The Executive Organ of Itorero will be composed of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson in charge of volunteerism and national service and the Secretary-General.

The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson will continue to be permanent employees to lead and oversee the functioning of Itorero of Rwanda and the Centres to be established in each Province following as planned under the first phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) which runs from 2017 to 2024.

MP Emma Furaha Rubagumya said that there was need to integrate the training of Itorero into the overall school curriculum.

"Countries with a developed national service have an established system to teach that to children in schools so that when students graduate, they are willing to make voluntary contribution to the development of their country,” he said.