URUGWIRO VILLAGE - The outgoing Director of the UK Department for International Development (DFID), for East and Central Africa, Dave Fish, has commended the level of socio-economic progress the country has registered, 15 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Fish, who was in the country on his last official visit made the remarks at Urugwiro Village, where he had gone to bid President Paul Kagame farewell and  to hold discussions on some of the DFID programmes that were initiated during his term of office.

"On my last visit, I have discussed with the President a whole range of issues, the British development support programme and the fact that we have had a very successful program here, we talked about the regional issues, Sudan, Somalia and he also advised me on my next mission in Zimbabwe,” Fish told members of the press after a meeting with Kagame.

Fish said that Rwanda’s relationship with Britain is very strong and through the DFID many development achievements have been registered through direct support and budget support programmes, which have been a catalyst to the tremendous progress in the last 15 years.

"Our relationship with the government of Rwanda is extremely strong. We are big supporters of Rwanda, we have major support programmes, and we are also the biggest supporters of the national budget here.”

"We do that because we get good results, we have a government committed to fighting poverty and we are very proud of that” said Fish.

Fish, whose next visit is to Zimbabwe, said that his visits to Rwanda will always be ‘memorable’ because of the hospitality and friendliness of the people, including the President himself.

"I have had enough time in Rwanda apart from being in the President’s Office and the Ministry of Finance but people have always been very welcoming, extremely warmly, including the President, I hope we remain friends. I have enjoyed every visit,” Fish added.

Fish in his farewell message also noted that Rwanda has come from difficult times and is overcoming them well, urging Rwandans never to forget their history but always work hard for the progress of the country.

"Always look forward to work together to improve this country and I am sure you will,” said Fish in his farewell remarks. 

The UK, through DFID is one of Rwanda’s biggest bilateral development partners, providing predictable levels of resources in support of Rwanda’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). According to Government figures, the UK is Rwanda’s biggest budget support donor.

Bilateral assistance from the UK totals up to £50 million each year, of which £31 million is provided as direct support to the Government of Rwanda’s budget.

Focus of the bilateral assistance is mainly on poverty reduction, with a specific contribution to education, agriculture, and land reform, as well as support for public financial management.

The UK’s bilateral programme has provided around £380 million to Rwanda over the past 10 years.

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