All of the 2148 cell executive secretaries across the country have received laptop computers to help them in their work.

This is in line with the government’s policy to promote the use of ICT in local government structures, according to officials. 

Speaking to The New Times on Wednesday, January 12, Samuel Dusengiyumva, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, said distribution of the laptops was concluded this month.

The exercise began in October last year. 

"There was no specific gap, really,” he said. He said, however, the equipment will help accelerate service delivery and entering information in the civil register.

"We think that recording of data will improve, especially regarding vital events (such as child births and death) and this will subsequently help inform planning,” Dusengiyumva said.

The PS also noted that, previously, some cell leaders would ask residents to go to the sector level for certain services, which he said will no longer be the case now they the tools. 

This, he added, means that service delivery at the grassroots will be "more affordable, reliable and faster, and generally better”. 

He called on cell leaders to make use of the equipment to serve the people better and help enhance citizen-centred governance. 

Beneficiaries say move timely 

Some of the cell leaders who received the Lenovo laptops commended the initiative, saying it would significantly ease their work and help improve quality of service. 

Andre Mugabo, acting cell executive secretary, Agateko cell, Gasabo District, told The New Times that the equipment came at the right time, "when local leaders were embracing e-services”.

Mugabo said the tools will ensure improved and timely service to citizens "because many services are now offered at the local level.”

Angelique Gahongaire, the cell leader of Nyagatovu cell, Gasabo, was also appreciative.  

"We had already been trained in our new tasks but we also needed the equipment to be able to deliver on these important roles,” she said. 

The cell is the third lowest administrative unit after umudugudu and Isibo.