Rwamagana -The Governor of the Eastern Province, Dr. Ephraim Kabaija, yesterday, held a meeting in Rwamagana with all stakeholders in the province to set a development agenda.

The meeting attracted district mayors, executive secretaries, security organs, districts’ advisory counsellors and legislators hailing from the area.

Addressing the meeting, the Governor urged the leaders to iron out all controversies as they implement development programmes.

He particularly noted the eradication of grass-thatched houses known as Nyakatsi that has been marred by unnecessary irregularities.

"We want to give the population a chance for better shelter, a basic need...a situation where one owns 500 cows and lives in a grass-thatched hut is not acceptable,” he said.

"Get the vulnerable numbers right, give them iron sheets and help them build permanent houses. Reasons like polygamy that has led to the continued resurgence of Nyakatsi should be dealt with,” he said.

Legislator Theoneste Safari reiterated the need get accurate statistics on Nyakatsi in the province to ensure proper planning.

He said that for the stakeholders to manage the issue properly, figures must be indisputable.

"Let us harmonise Nyakatsi figures, right from sector to the district level. The message must be uniform and clear, so that we end the issue once and for all,” he said.

Protais Murayire the Mayor of Kirehe District, said that his district is ready to meet the January 31 deadline to have eradicated these makeshift houses.

"We are left with less than 500 houses...I am very optimistic that by early February, we shall have solved the problem,” he said.

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