The community of individuals hailing from Nyabihu District on Sunday met at Kigali Independent University (ULK) to mobilize money for people evicted from Gishwati Natural Forest.

The move was aimed at raising funds to provide shelter for the residents who were ordered to vacate the endangered forest that is on the verge of extinction.

Based in the Western Province, Gashwati is currently undergoing reforestation and plans are underway to develop it into a research park.

However, since the eviction, some of the former residents have no permanent places of residence, which propelled the group to come to their rescue.

According to Frank Kobukeye, the Nyabihu vice Mayor in charge of finance and economic development, the fundraising collected Rwf4.7million.

"We are targeting over Rwf18million from the exercise and I am happy many people are willing to help,” Kobukeye, who also chairs the committee in charge of constructing the evictees’ houses, said.

The government donated land, a brick-laying machine and iron sheets to help the evictees.

More than 263 houses are expected to be built for the displaced people.

Senator Rwigamba Balinda, who is also the proprietor of ULK, donated Rwf1million for the cause.

The Anglican Archbishop Emmanuel Collin also donated Rwf 1.2million.

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