NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — The Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Charles Murigande has advised leaders to protect the rights of vulnerable children in the country. Speaking at one-day seminar organized by the Unity Club, at Gicumbi district, Murigande observed children are tomorrow’s leaders.

"A country which does not take care of children has no future,” said Murigande.

The Minister noted that the 1994 Rwandan Genocide largely contributed to the number of orphans. Many orphans, Murigande said, live on their own with no parental care, while others move to urban streets to look for a living.

"The effects of Genocide and the war that preceded it also resulted in many HIV/AIDS orphans because their parents contracted and died of AIDS while fleeing to exile and in refugee camps,” he added.

Unity Club is a brain child of the First Lady Jeanette Kagame. It among other things cares for vulnerable children.

Participants included among others cell executive secretaries across the district, officials in charge of social affairs at Sectors, heads of primary and secondary schools and religious leaders.

Minister Murigande urged parents to have small manageable families they are able to bring up as responsible citizens. He noted family planning enables the government to provide basic social amenities such as health facilities, education and food.

Also present was Gicumbi district Vice Mayor for social affairs Eugénie Uwamahoro and Caritas Kalisa of Unity Club.

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