NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — The photography for National Identity cards in Gicumbi district has started. The exercise, to last for four days, kicked off last Sunday.

Gicumbi is comprised of 21 Sectors and 109 Cells. In Byumba Sector, long lines formed as hundreds of residents waited to be photographed.

Residents lined up accordance to their villages (Midugudu), and village heads issued confirmation chits allowing registered residents to proceed.

Residents were relieved of the initial anxiety, after officials relaxed on the Frw500 fee requirement for all those to be photographed, as previously indicated.

"The Frw500 Identity card fee will be charged on the day the local people come to pick their National IDs, because not all rural folks are able to raise the money immediately,” said Teresa Mujawamaria the Executive secretary of Cyumba Sector.

On whether the four days would be enough for the exercise, Fred Bayingana, the Executive secretary for Mutete sector, said the turn up on the first day was impressive to warrantee finishing within the estimated period.

"Out of over 11,000 people who registered for National IDs, over 4000 were photographed by Sunday,” he said.

Ends