KIGALI - In a bid to eliminate grass-thatched houses in the country, the government has allocated Rwf1.5billion to districts to construct modern houses for the needy.

According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Eugene Balikana, the funds are already provided for in the 2010/11 national budget.

"Our plan is to completely eliminate grass-thatched houses in the country; this money may not be enough, but that is what we could come up with,” he said.

Currently there are about 86,000 grass thatched houses in Rwanda, according to available statistics.

"There are many other methods that have been considered to be employed in eliminating the ancient houses, some of which include direct involvement of the people themselves.”

Despite the government efforts to eliminate grass thatched houses, several initiatives have been going in the same line.

The Rwandan Diaspora recently also launched a project aimed phasing out grass-thatched houses, dubbed "Bye Bye Nyakatsi”.

It kick-off with the construction of 504 houses for the vulnerable and disadvantaged families in Bugesera District, Eastern Province.

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