BURERA - Over 400 members of unions, federations and cooperatives who formed the national cultural institution ‘Itorero ry’Igihugu’ have completed three- week civic training at the Peace and Leadership Centre in Nkumba, Burera district.

The Minister of Commerce, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, who presided over the pass out, cautioned heads of cooperatives, unions and federations against corruption, and mismanagement which has previously been reported in various cooperatives.

Nsanzabaganwa said that the cooperatives bear a big role in poverty reduction and should not divert resources for individual benefit.

The members of cooperatives pledged, to correct the wrongs especially financial mismanagement in cooperatives.

"This training has awakened us to our major responsibility to work as a team…as national development programs require everyone’s’ participation,” Belina Katabarwa, who heads a cooperatives from Huye district said.

The training, supported by Rwanda Cooperative Agency, was meant to educate participants on values of Rwandan culture and the national development programmes.

The Director General, Rwanda Cooperative Agency, Damien Mugabo, said there is need for cooperative leaders to have integrity, patriotism and positive mindset so as to manage the affairs of the cooperatives.

Boniface Rucagu, of the National task force for ‘Itorero ryigihugu’ said that ‘Itorero’ is a learning institution which cultivates patriotism among citizens while reviving the Rwandan culture.

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