KARONGI - This New Year, a total of Rwf350million has been allocated to help boost activities and projects that will account for a bigger part of the economic development projections and targets in Karongi District.

According to the Western Province leadership, this will be used to implement integrated development programmes across the region.

"With this funding, we intend to fully achieve a bigger percentage of the Millennium Development Goals from which the rest of the region can learn that everything is possible,” Paul Jabo, the Provincial Executive Secretary said yesterday.

He explained that it was in line with next year’s performance contracts in which the three districts of Karongi, Rusizi and Rubavu have been targeted and given special emphasis to develop into model cities.

"It’s a priority that next year we embark on a campaign to develop the three districts into first class cities and this is our utmost target,” said Jabo.

Meanwhile, residents in other parts of Karongi are not happy with the recent decision to demolish houses that do not conform to the proposed town master plan.

"The district has not yet shown us the proposed master plan and we are not happy that they were quick to demolish our houses,” Jerome Nkurunziza, one of the affected residents said.

In response, Bernard Kayumba, the district mayor said that the process to publicize the city master plan was in its final stages.

"Beginning with next year, special emphasis has been put on transforming the district into a major economic development centre,” he said.

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