Since its establishment in 2005, the Works for General Interest programme (TIG) has carried out activities worth more than Rwf30bn.

The former Executive Secretary of TIG, Eng. Evariste Bizimana, made the announcement, while handing over to the Commissioner General of the newly created Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije. TIG was merged with the National Prisons Service to create RCS.

"I want to thank the government for the outstanding support and advice they provided to the management of TIG which enabled us to register the performance we did,” said Bizimana. He said that TIG had carried out various activities, including construction of public roads, schools, houses for the needy, farming activities and digging of terraces, among others.

TIG involves self-confessed Genocide perpetrators swapping part of their prison sentences to undertake activities of interest to the general public. Bizimana pointed out that three years ago, TIG had only about 7,000 convicts serving under the programme, but by last year, over 60,000 convicts had been integrated in programme.

He added that since last year, about 37,000 convicts had completed their penalties and returned to their families.

The former TIG boss observed that more than 16,000 people are presently serving their alternative sentences under TIG. The Minister of Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, appreciated the outgoing team for its hard work.

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