THE ongoing Governance Month is putting more emphasis on citizen leadershi with an aim of increasing citizen participation in the development of the country, officials have said.The exercise, due to end in March, was launched on Monday in Huye District by the Minister for Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali.Mitali said good governance is a product of every citizen’s participation and the basis for sustainable development.“Whatever we do impacts on the lives of the citizens and we cannot be successful without their input,” Mitali said, as he addressed hundreds of residents in Rusatira sector, Huye District.He said everything Rwanda has achieved after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a result of good governance and urged residents to safeguard the gains hitherto registered.Dr Felicien Usengumukiza, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) deputy CEO, urged citizens to embrace all activities organised as part of the campaign.He said the Month is a period to “foster the principles of good governance and strengthen leaders-citizens discussions.”“The Governance Month is an occasion for self-evaluation between leaders and citizens,” Usengumukiza said.He said the Month, which is being organised for the third consecutive year, has played a major role in fostering good governance.At the launch, officials also toured developmental projects in Huye which include stone-paved roads in Taba area, a modern market constructed in Huye central business area, a modern car park, a model village at Karubanda and Huye stadium.Activities to mark the Month will take place in all districts and will include Governance Clinics, during which leaders will interact with citizens, respond to their queries and provide solutions to their concerns.The Governance Month will be concluded with a policy dialogue on March 14, meant to examine the relevance of the Month and set strategies aimed at overcoming governance challenges. An international conference on Decentralisation is also due.
