Kirehe/Rwamagana- Sector Veterinary Officers in Kirehe and Rwamagana districts have complained that they have not received their salaries for the last three months.

Sector vets’ salaries are paid by Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA).

Speaking at a function to distribute livestock drugs to farmers in Rwamagana, on Thursday, Sosthene Ndayambaje, a Veterinary Officer in Kigabiro Sector said they were last paid in December.

He said that unlike their colleagues who are employed by NGOs; they operate without any wages, communication or transport facilitation.

"Our situation is miserable,” he complained. "Yet they expect us to reach even the remotest farmer. This is a big problem, which may even affect the cattle stocking programme.”

Dr. Theogene Rutagwenda, the Director General of RARDA, attributed the problem to a technical glitch.

"Very soon they will start getting their salaries on time...,” he said.

Gilbert Bugingo, Kirehe District Veterinary Officer, noted that the issue of unpaid salaries among vets was not unique to the two districts.

"They signed a 12-month contract, but since January, they were never paid. It is even difficult for me to assign them duties, well knowing that they are not paid. Something should be done to end this anomaly,” Bugingo said.

Joseline Mukankurunziza, a farmer, expressed fear that dealing with demoralised vets could affect livestock farmers.

"A vet should be paid. These people have families to feed, bills to pay. That is why they don’t offer services on time,” she said.

Framers in Eastern Province have been complaining of poor veterinary services for some time.

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