Bank of Kigali (BK) has donated livestock to persons with disabilities in Byumba Sector in Gicumbi District as a way of economically empowering them.

The activity is in line with the six-month partnership between BK and the National Union of Disability Organisation in Rwanda (NUDOR) where BK donates Rwf 15 million to NUDOR that will cover the purchase of 200 pigs and 100 goats for 300 vulnerable persons with disabilities in the country.

The partnership specifically targets those who were most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country's rural areas.

The handover ceremony took place in Byumba Sector on February 04 where 30 pigs and goats were distributed to the NUDOR members residing in the sector.

Emmanuel Nkusi Batanage, Head of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary at Bk said that the lender is pleased to contribute to the welfare of the Rwandan population especially to those that were affected by the pandemic.

"We acknowledge that persons with disability have been more impacted by the pandemic and have more healthcare needs than others – both standard needs and needs linked to impairments – and are therefore more vulnerable to the impact of low quality or inaccessible healthcare services and other financial needs,” he said.

"We believe that the beneficiaries will take good care of the donated livestock as this shall also benefit their families and other vulnerable persons with disabilities.”

Dominique Bizimana, the Executive Director of NUDOR thanked BK for supporting their members, and added that they have faced different challenges when their source of income was hindered by the pandemic.

He declared that when Covid-19 struck, persons with disabilities, especially the visually impaired and those with hearing impairment were challenged to even get information about the pandemic since they couldn’t listen to radio, watch TV or even read announcements.

Parfaitte Uwera, Vice Mayor of Gicumbi District in charge of Social Development said that the gesture by BK will empower the benefit PWDs and help them develop families and the communities where they live.

"People with disabilities have to embrace their inclusion in the development of the country. They have to be financially stable and strive for development in general,” she said.

She revealed that the district is also looking at getting prosthetics legs for those with mobility challenges but said they are still constrained financially to secure them, adding that they are trying to engage different partners on this.

She noted that the district will follow up on the beneficiaries of the livestock to ensure they serve the intended purpose.

Aloys Nshimiyimana, who is a visually-impaired and was given a pig said that it is going to help him get manure for his vegetable garden, adding that he will also sell part of the pig's litter once it gives birth to solve other financial needs.

He thanked BK for the support, saying he was badly hit by the pandemic.

Aloys Nshimiyimana, beneficiary.

Emmanuel Nkusi Batanage, Head of Corporate Affairs & Company Secretary at BK.

Jean Damascene Sindikubwabo Habiyakare, beneficiary.

Dominique Bizimana, the Executive Director of NUDOR.