Leading departmental store, Nakumatt, yesterday honoured its pledge by spending 1 percent of its total sales for the month June on Gorilla conservation.

The pledge — which is equivalent to Rwf5.9 million — was channelled through the Ministry of Environment and Lands.

Speaking after receiving the cheque, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Lands, Caroline Kayonga said that it is a sign that even corporate companies operating in the country are giving back to the communities through environment conservation.

"I would also like encourage the private sector to take a leaf from the page of Nakumatt’s gesture to support environment cause for promoting sustainable development,” Kayonga said.

Nakumatt’s Country Managing Director, Adan Ramata said that they have been engaged in same initiatives through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs though not in government institutions.

"We have done a lot through our CSR program and in September, we are planning to help thousands of patients when we receive Doctors from South African. We are planning do more,” Ramata said.

Nakumatt is a Kenyan based chain-store opened its operations in 2008, promising to invest a tune of $7m (Rwf4.1billion) in a world class supermarket.

However, according to the current Managing Director, the company has managed to invest a fraction of $1.8million (Rwf1.1billion) to acquire a local supermarket while $1.3m (Rwf769.8 million) has been rolled out in improving the store.

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