Bank of Kigali staff on Saturday, January 29 joined the residents of Kimisagara sector in Nyarugenge district in the community work, Umuganda, where they participated in different activities to fight soil erosion in the area. 

Kimisagara sector is a located on a steep mountain, hence vulnerable to mudslides that often destroy infrastructure, especially during the rainy season. 

Apart from their participation in Umuganda, BK employees also handed over a cheque of Rwf20.1 million as a support towards vulnerable residents in the area to be able to pay for their annual premiums of community medical insurance (Mutuelle de Santé).

Gedeon Rukundo, the Assistant Head of Legal Department at Bank of Kigali who was leading the delegation said that their participation in Umuganda was crucial especially during this rainy season. 

"We are currently in the wet season, which may cause damage in some areas, so we are clearing the drainage to give way to rainwater to avoid any destructions, and we are proud to be part of this activity to fight soil erosion,” he said.  

Commenting on their donation towards medical insurance, Rukundo said that it is part of their mandate to ensure a healthy population. 

"We have donated over Rwf 20 million to help vulnerable people here pay medical insurance because when we have a healthy population, that benefits us as a bank… we are able to transact well with healthy people, and register more income,” he added. 

The donation is expected to pay medical insurance for over 7,000 people. 

Jean Sauveur Kalisa, the Executive Secretary of Kimisagara sector commended Bank of Kigali’s efforts to improve the social welfare of the residents of the sector. 

"We are happy for this donation which is in line with the Heroism Week, to improve the social welfare of our people. We hope it will help improve health access of the population and improve the numbers of people who have paid "Mutuelle Santé” in this financial year of 2022-2023,” he noted. 

He added that the donation will scale up health insurance coverage to 80 percent in the sector. 

One of the beneficiaries, Hellen Murekatete, a mother of four also applauded the support by the lender. 

"My husband and I are both unemployed, so we were unable to pay Mutuelle Santé for our family, but we are profoundly joyful for the bank that has come to our rescue. We often got sick, but stayed at home without any form of treatment, and kids would be stuck at home, without going to school, "she recounted. 

Apart from health, Bank of Kigali’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) also stretches to education, gender empowerment and business startups among others. 

One percent of the annual profit of the bank, which is the country’s biggest lender, is allocated towards CSR activities.