Senate president, Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuliryayo, over the weekend, urged the residents of Gatenga Sector in Kicukiro District to value the tree planting exercise, saying it is part of nation building.

He made the remarks during the monthly weekend community work (Umuganda) as he led a group of senators to plant 36, 000 trees on Gatenga hill.

"The act of tree planting is important not only for the people of Rwanda today; it will remain important even for generations to come,” said Ntawukuliryayo, who also urged the people to take care of the trees.

Flanked by the senate vice president, Bernard Makuza, Ntawukuliryayo reminded the residents to protect the planted trees.

"The good harvests we had and those we expect to have are as a result of the regular rains. The rains were due to the trees that we planted, so let’s keep that spirit burning,” he said.

According to the Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic Planning in Kicukiro District, Angelique Mukunde, a total of 66, 000 trees have already been planted on Gatenga hill in two weeks.

She pointed out that a team has been tasked to look after the planted trees and promised the district’s regular follow up to ensure their growth.

The tree planting season, coincides with the countrywide launch of the forest landscape restoration initiative and afforestation programme to be implemented under The Rwanda Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative framework.

The initiative was announced in New York in February 2011 at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, Ntawukuliryayo called upon the public to fight violence against women and children, a vice he says has eaten into the Rwandan society.

Last Friday, a 16 day campaign was launched to fight violence against women and children.

charles.kwizera@newtimes.co.rw

Ends