KIGALI - Over Rwf 56 million has been raised for the Bye Bye Nyakatsi Project aimed at phasing out grass-thatched houses, officials have confirmed.

The project was initiated by the government in partnership with the Rwandan Diaspora to phase out grass-thatched houses, with a pilot phase starting in Bugesera District where 504 houses will be constructed for the vulnerable families in the district.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, the Secretary General of the Rwanda Diaspora Global Network, Dr. Ismael Buchanan, said that so far, the project is registering success and the funds received are promising.

"We have so far received over Rwf56 million from several people within the country and from the Diaspora, and this is very good start,” said Buchanan.

He added that the Diaspora network has designed plans to embark on mobilization outside the country by next month.

"Starting from September 2 and 6, we have organized fundraising luncheons with the Diaspora in Canada and after that we will head to the United Kingdom, United States and Netherlands,” he said. 

According to Rwanda Diaspora Global Network, the project will cost an estimated Rwf 2.5 billion and that by the next two years; the 504 houses will be occupied.

Project managers say that the houses will be constructed in modern village-style that will have basic infrastructures and public facilities like hospitals, schools, a marketplace and roads.

The village will be built on the 36 hectares of land that was availed by Bugesera District.

Each house is estimated to be constructed at Rwf2 to 4 million.

The project came about after the successful completion of the ‘One Dollar Campaign Project’, an initiative aimed at providing shelter to orphans of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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