Rusumo High School in the ‘red’

Kirehe- Rusumo high school located in Kirehe District is in financial trouble.

Friday, January 01, 2010
Frederick Rutimirwa, the headmaster of Rusumo high school.

Kirehe- Rusumo high school located in Kirehe District is in financial trouble.

According to Bernadette Kamungu, the Vice Mayor of the district in charge of social affairs, the school has debts amounting to over Rwf 70 million.  

She attributed the school’s current financial situation to mismanagement by former administrators.

"On the surface, it seems alright, but when you go into its financial situation, you get a shock. Its books of accounts have unjustifiable debts of over 70 million francs,” she said.

The new Headmaster of the school, Fredrick Rutimirwa, said he inherited the current financial situation from his predecessors.

He added that his predecessors had plundered the school’s resources, leaving it with debts which the school is unable to honour.

"Due to mismanagement, students discipline has also suffered while some teachers have also opted to skip lessons. I thus call for the intervention of higher authorities before the situation gets out of hand,” he appealed.

Rutimirwa attributed the schools precarious situation to former headmasters; Gideon Bizimana and Father Andre Mazimpaka.

Sources indicate that school’s financial woes are a reflection of the local education sector’s performance which they say has been affected by cases abuse of office by local officials.

In this, sources point out the case of Josue Murengezi former officer in charge of education in the district who is currently detained in Ngoma district, while Thomas Ndayishimiye the former director of education is on the run.
The two face corruption and embezzlement of public funds charges, officials said.

Ends