RARDA workers released on bail

Some of the 20 Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA) staff arrested towards the end of August for allegedly miss-using public funds were released on bail last month. Dr. Evariste Namahungu, Dr. Cyprien Habimana, Dr. Olivier Rwakazina, Dr. Abel Nkudimana and Germain Sangano were released on September 19 after explaining in court their roles and their participation when approving and distributing poor quality cows to families. Sources say that some workers at RARDA approved cows meant to be distributed to poor families under the Government’s poverty eradication program of ‘One Cow One Family’. The cows were later found not to be of the required standards. One of the RARDA workers, whose name was not disclosed, told Prosecution that Dr. Namahungu together with the Minister of Agriculture gave out cows that did not meet the required standards but did not mention the number of cows or the people who received them. However, during the court hearings, Dr. Namahungu told court that by the time he was arrested; his one-year contract with RARDA had expired on the July 31, 2008. He also told court that during his time at RARDA, the issue of poor quality cows had never been mentioned. When The New Times contacted Dr.Theogene Rutagwenda, the Director General of RARDA about the fate of the other workers who were arrested, he declined to comment to avoid jeopardising court proceedings since they were still being prosecuted in court. Ends

National

RARDA workers released on bail