Ubudehe project has been lauded as very effective in fostering unity and development among Rwandans.

This was announced Friday by the Minister Local Government, Protais Musoni.

"Ubudehe has been very critical in solving community problems, enhancing self independence, and raising self esteem among members of our society," He said.

Ubudehe is a Government-initiated development programme adopted in 2003. It is mostly operational at the lowest administrative levels in local governments.

At the cell level, the two poorest families are identified by mutual consent by community members at cell meetings. The two families are then assisted with free labour to build them a house and then the government funds iron sheets and other finishing material.

Musoni said this year the programme was funded to the tune of Euro14 million.

"We have also built homes for poor Rwandans especially Genocide survivors. By the end of 2008, we will have built another 12,000 homes across the country."

The minister however criticized the habit of people always wanting to depend on Government offers.

"In some areas where we built houses, even financially able people benefited. They simply left their old homes and came into Government houses meant for vulnerable persons."

"In the process, they sold their land for farming; they starved in Government constructed houses and caused a new problem, some others remained with two houses and rented one out," he explained.

He said the Government was also in advanced stages of streamlining the activities of the Fund for Genocide Survivors.

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