EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — Protais Musoni, the Minister of Local government, Good governance, Community development and Social affairs (MINALOC), over the weekend urged the residents of Ntoma and Bwera cells to focus on economic development.

During his visit to the two sectors in Nyagatare district, Musoni said that the aim of visiting the beneficiaries was to see and analyse what residents did out of ubudehe money that was given as a loan. The visited sectors, Musheri and Matimba are some of the many that benefited from these loans in 2006.

In Musheri Sector, the Minister visited Ntoma cell where the residents got Frw1.8m ubudehe money in 2006. The president of the ubudehe in Ntoma cell, Andrew Bizimana told  Musoni that they borrowed money to solve six problems that were hindering their development.

He identified the problems as illiteracy, lack of adequate water, lack of a cell office, low prices for their agricultural produce and lack of materials (timbers) to bury their fallen relatives.

He said that after getting the money, it was distributed to different groups of people and that profits would be retuned. Bizimana noted that they have used the profits to solve the earlier problems that used to hinder their economic development.

He added that out of the profits, they have managed to construct the cell office and a main hall. He added that they have also managed to pay school fees for needy students and given loans to business men.

Other activities include construction of a school for old people in murisanga community settlement, constructing water sheds and dams in the same area. He added that all activities have created unity and reconciliation among the residents of Ntoma cell.

According to John Rujinja, the president of ubudehe, Bwera cell in Matimba sector also benefited from the money
He said that the cell has used Frw 0.6m ubudehe money to buy and sell bulls after three months. He added that they have used the profits to construct the cell offices in Rugaga community settlement (mudugudu).

"We buy 20 bulls then sell them after three months and we have got enough profits to build our cell offices, and we are planning to pay back the money to the bank”, he said. After a presentation Musoni promised to give them Frw 0.2m to buy chairs for the council members in the cell.

Musoni added that residents must focus on four factors if they are to remain focused on economic development. The factors include power and knowledge, power and body, power and money and power and happiness.

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