EASTERN PROVINCE

KAYONZA — Protais Musoni, the Minister of Local Government, has urged cell leaders to act as role models to residents and act in line with government programmes.

Musoni also asked the leaders to involve residents in decision making and include family performance contracts among their innovations.

Cells are administrative structures at district levels. Cell Innovation Day marked for the first time in Rwanda is meant to celebrate new innovations by cell leaders.

Presiding over the celebrations at Ecole des Sciences Infirmieres (ESI) last week in Rwamagana, the minister urged all cell leaders across the country to be innovative.

"I am here to learn all about Cell Innovation, so that it can be implemented in the whole country,” Musoni said in his opening remarks.

Shortly after opening the ceremony, cells leaders presented before him what they had achieved. At least two cells across the 14 Sectors presented their achievements.

Jérome Rwamugabo, the Executive Secretary of Mutamwa Cell, in Gahengeri Sector said that area residents built Cell offices without any external help.

"We built the Cell office roofed with 70 iron sheets without any external assistance. It is now complete and furnished with furniture,” Rwamugabo said to the appreciation of the minister.

Vestine Uwayisenga, Executive Secretary of Zinga Cell in Munyaga Sector said she had solved the problem of health insurance.

"Our residents had a problem of raising money for health insurance (mutuelle de sante), so we decided to form associations of health insurance after consultations with Cell residents,” she said.

She explained that they organised about 40-45 people to form an association in which each member contributes Frw50 every Friday.

She added that they elected leaders of the association and opened up saving account in Zinga Micro Credit Finance which collects the money.

"The initiative enabled residents to cover 2008 health insurance and now we have 10 % of the health insurance charges for next year,” Uwayisenga said.

In his remarks, Velens Ntezirembo, the district Mayor said that after making field visits to evaluate what the leaders presented as their initiatives, the best three Cells would be rewarded with several gifts including: computers and other office equipments as motivation. At least five Cells were selected for evaluation including Karenge, Munini, Zinga, Bwiza and Rwimbogo.

Speaking at the same occasion, Gov. Ephraim Kabaija noted that leaders and area residents should exploit the suitable climate to eradicate poverty. He observed that the geographical nature of Rwamagana is suitable to spur development of the district and the whole province.

Ends