Jubilation as RPF campaigns in Huye

CELEBRATION was the mood that characterised hundreds of RPF-Inkotanyi supporters who gathered at Huye Sector, Huye District, yesterday afternoon for the party’s campaign ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.

Saturday, August 31, 2013
Supporters fire up the crowd during campaigns yesterday. Saturday Times/By Jean Pierre Bucyensenge.

CELEBRATION was the mood that characterised hundreds of RPF-Inkotanyi supporters who gathered at Huye Sector, Huye District, yesterday afternoon for the party’s campaign ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.For about three hours, hundreds of supports clad in red, white and blue and waving the party’s flag, chanted and danced ecstatically to the sound of the party’s songs. "Under the leadership of RPF, Rwanda has made tremendous achievements and there is need to safeguard the gains,” observed one supporter, Appolinarie Nyirarugwiro, citing women empowerment, fight against poverty and the eradication of thatched houses, among other achievements."Women now occupy their place in society since we have been given a chance to sit on decision making organs.”She also praised the party for coming up with programmes to support the most vulnerable."I was desperate but RPF gave me hope,” observed Maria Mukakalisa, another party supporter. "As a widow, I lacked decent housing and the party offered me one. They allowed my children to study and gave my family a chance to access health services through Mutuelle de Santé.”The coalition  Mukakalisa said she expects the next Parliament to continue advocating for the respect of people’s rights and advancing programmes that will spur a positive transformation in Rwandan.RPF’s coalition partners include the Ideal Democratic Party (PDI), Parti Socialiste Rwandais (PSR), Parti du Progrès et la Concorde (PPC) and Centrist Democratic Party (PDC).RPF commissioner for economic affairs in Huye District, Cyprien Mutwarasibo, said the party has championed socio-economic transformation of the country and put in place measures that support good governance as a strong pillar of democracy."Our achievements speak for themselves and we are looking to strengthen them,” Mutwarasibo said calling upon party supporters to turn up massively on the elections day.Elections for the 53 openly contested parliamentary seats are scheduled for September 16, while those for representatives of the youth (two seats) and the disabled (one) will be  held on September 17, and women (24) on September 18.