MUHANGA – The Mayor of Muhanga District, Yvonne Mutakwasuku, has commended Gitarama prison inmates for giving a major boost to the district’s public hygiene drive, which is part of a wider beautification campaign.

Mutakwasuku said that the district aims to make good use of the prisoner’s energy and skills, next year, at least up to 80 percent of the inmates’ capacities.

"Inmates have done a tremendous job in promoting hygiene, which has changed the image of the district. Our target is to partner with the prisons community in our development programmes,” she said.

The Mayor was, Saturday, addressing inmates at the end of the Prisons Week. The event saw local leaders and prisoners participating in a joint general cleaning exercise, locally known as Umuganda.

The group planted grass, prepared flower gardens along the Muhanga-Butare highway, and cleaned the roadsides and pavements.

Mutakwasuku said that the culture of hygiene should be promoted in all communities and that the outstanding contribution of inmates should be emulated by other residents.

The Director of Gitarama Prisons, Beatrice Uwamahoro, said that the Prisons Week has been a success and the contribution of prisoners has added significantly to efforts of national development.

She said that the inmates had done a great job by building schools, planting grass, trees and flower gardens, in collaboration with local residents.

Col. John Bosco Mulisa, the area army commander, encouraged inmates to utilize the time in prison to transform and contribute to the development of the community, which they will rejoin after serving their jail terms.

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