GATSIBO-Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA) on Saturday donated 73 cows to former local leaders in Gatsibo District.

According to RARDA officials, the donation was given to local leaders whose cows were taken back.

"There are some leaders who illegally offered themselves cows that were meant for the needy residents during girinka distribution programme.

We took back these cows from them but we later realised that there are needy local leaders who also deserve cows,” said Dr. Theogene Rutagwenda, the head of RARDA.

Dr. Rutagwenda said that about 1,600 local leaders would be given back cows in different districts across the country.
Over 4,600 cows taken by local leaders during Girinka programme were recovered.

Lestuta Uwimana, a former local leader who was given a cow thanked President Paul Kagame for considering the needy local leaders. 

"We thank our President for considering us as part of the needy residents. We are ready to transform our lives from these cows,” she said.

The district mayor, Ambrose Ruboneza, appealed to the beneficiaries to take care of the cows and promised them market for milk products.

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