Taxpayers in Kicukiro district have been urged to pay taxes in time to avoid derailing development projects in the area. Paul Jules Ndamage, the Kicukiro mayor, said although the district was a top performer countrywide in hitting tax collection targets, more effort was needed to maintain the momentum. He also urged Kicukiro residents to pay taxes in time to avoid penalties. Ndamage advised other Rwandans to pay taxes with enthusiasm, saying it was the only way the country would stop depending on foreign aid. "Paying tax is not an obligation, it is one of our values as Rwandans. Besides, taxes help us develop,” Ndamage noted. "We have to be self-reliant…When you pay taxes, you are building your country and preparing a better future for your children as leaders of tomorrow,” he added. Last year, Kicukiro topped in performance contracts (imihigo). The district’s tax earnings were 50 of per cent within its performance contracts as economic development activities. Ndamage said the district collected Rwf2b in 2010, Rwf3b in 2011, while last year, it collected Rfw4b. "We used the money to build 200 classrooms for nine years basic education, five roads, a health centre and district office. What you have done has made a great impact, not only on your lives, but also on the lives of other Rwandans,” he said during the launch of the ‘Tax Week’ on Thursday last week.Some of the activities to be conducted over the week include dialogue between taxpayers and private sector leaders, as well as sensitisation on the use of ICTs, while paying or declaring their taxes to the Rwanda Revenue Authority as e-payment and e-filling in the sectors.