HUYE – The Southern Province recorded high incidences of crime last month compared to the same period in December last year, a report released during a provincial security meeting held on Wednesday indicates.

The report indicates that 114 cases of crime were recorded in January this year up from 82 cases which were registered in December 2009, with the most crimes being committed in Muhanga district.

Of these, 33 cases resulted in loss of life compared to 17 such cases in December 2009. There were seven cases of defilement, two cases of rape and one unusual case of gay rape reported in Muhanga district.

The security meeting presided over by the Provincial Governor Fidèle Ndayisaba, brought to the fore the increasing number of deaths caused by lightning.

Reports from districts indicate that about 10 people have been struck dead by lightning within a period of one month.

"The issue of lightning has taken a national dimension, lightning strikes have been reported in different parts of the country, we are working closely with the Ministry of Infrastructure to find a remedy to the problem,” Ndayisaba told the meeting attended by District Mayors and Sector Executive Secretaries in the province.

At the meeting, sector leaders presented progress reports on the completion of building houses for the vulnerable.

During the 7th National Dialogue held in December last year, it was agreed that construction work be completed by June this year.

The same meeting tackled the issue of eradicating grass thatched houses which are predominant in many districts in the province.

In Gishubi Sector, Gisagara district, the population has been mobilised in cooperatives so as to pull together resources for constructing better houses.

Gishubi, a Sector under the Vision 2020 Umurenge programme has the biggest number of families living in grass thatched houses in the province numbering over 1800.

"Through these cooperatives, we have so far constructed 50 houses, we hope to speed up construction through Umuganda, direct support and loans,” said Moise Ndungutse, the Sector Executive Secretary.

The same meeting also addressed the issue of the appalling state of some Genocide memorial sites and burial grounds where it was suggested that shelters be erected to protect such burial grounds.

"You should involve all the local residents in the preservation and care for Genocide memorials and burial grounds. This work should not be left to Genocide survivors only,” said the Governor.

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