Ruhango veterans join hands to enhance security, livelihoods

SYLVERE MUSONI has always considered security as a major component of improved community life. “As a former soldier and member of the reserve force, I have always taken it upon myself to guarantee people’s security,” Musoni says. Musoni served in the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA-Inkotanyi) and later the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). As a way of helping safeguard people’s lives and property in his community, Musoni teamed up with other demobilised soldiers in his home district of Ruhango in 2011 to form Imbere Heza High Security, a cooperative that offers security services in the district. Currently the cooperative boasts of over 120 members, including both ex-soldiers and civilians. Imbere Heza offers security services to private businesses, public institutions, schools, micro-finance institutions, hospitals, among others. Its members are also active in ensuring security within their respective localities, according to Prudence Sendarasi, the coop’s representative. “We started this cooperative with the prime target of ensuring security,” Sendarasi says. “But we also wanted to use our skills to transform our socio-economic life.” Improved lives The coop employs over 250 security personnel deployed to different sites throughout the district. Sendarasi says to improve the members’ welfare, they have committed to providing quality security services to their clients, something he says has seen the number of their clients grow significantly. Though it is not clear how much money the cooperative makes each month, each of its security agents pockets between Rwf20, 000 and 30,000 per month in form of a salary, depending on where they are posted. And as part of efforts to help members improve their living conditions, the cooperative pays subscriptions to the community health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Sante) to all its members and has so far donated 60 cows to its members. “The aim is to make sure that each of our members has at least a cow,” Sendarasi says. “A cow is a symbol of wealth and owning one greatly contributes to improving one’s welfare.” Musoni is among those who have benefited from the cow-sharing and health insurance scheme. “When I was demobilised, I promised myself never to die a poor man,” Musoni says, adding that he now lives a better life. He adds: “This coop has helped us safeguard the peace and security we fought for as well as contribute to improving the welfare of my family and the entire nation.” “We started from scratch and we have now grown to become model citizens,” Musoni notes. Future projects Besides providing paid-for security services to the community, the coop extends to other sectors as it diversifies the sources of revenues to further transform their lives. Sendarasi says the cooperative recently procured a seven-hectare plot of land in the district and will soon start farming. Members of Imbere Heza High Security are also studying the possibilities of starting micro-processing factories to produce animal feeds, Sendarasi says. “The two-and-half years of our operations have brought positive changes in our lives and we want to build from our gains so far to improve our lives,” Sendarasi notes. As the coop’s income increases, members have been encouraged to save for the future. The cooperative has introduced an internal saving scheme which provides members with saving booklets where their savings are recorded. Julien Bizimana, the accounts manager, says the scheme has improved financial management amongst members. “Thanks to this initiative, members can now access interest free loans,” Mutabazi says. “Members invest the money in income generating activities which also contribute to uplifting their livelihoods.” For Sendarasi, all the achievements they have attained are a result of concerted effort. “Everything is possible once you come together and work towards the common good,” he argues. “What is important is for people to come together, share ideas and then commit to achieving the set goals,” he concludes.

National

Ruhango veterans join hands to enhance security, livelihoods