Kagame commends citizens' ownership of development

President Paul Kagame yesterday thanked citizens of Kicukiro for their involvement in moving their neighborhood and country forward adding that the partnership between citizens and government has been key to developing Rwanda. The Head of State made the remarks after joining residents of Niboye Sector, Kicukiro District as they worked to revamp a feeder road network in the neighborhood as part of the monthly community service, Umuganda. “Without partnership between citizens and government, we cannot achieve development. The achievements they attribute to me belong to every Rwanda, they are your accomplishments the result of your hard work,” Kagame said during the interactive session that took place at St. Joseph primary school after Umuganda. Kagame also recalled where Rwanda has come from and urged residents to look at progress achieved as encouragement to achieve even more: “There was a time when people did not believe in our ability to develop. Even we seemed to have lost faith in ourselves. But today we have seen what we are capable of.” “Looking at how far we have come must give us strength to do more. We cannot turn back. Striving to do and be better must become part of who we are,” Kagame added. Earlier, The Mayor of Kicukiro District, Paul-Jules Ndamage, told journalists that residents have already contributed close to half of the Rwf25 million pledge to improve drainage along the road. “With this kind of self-sufficiency we can accomplish a lot more,” Ndamage added. Speaking to Sunday Times, Ignace Benimana, 65 and resident of the area prided himself in taking part in national development adding that the interactive discussions that have become an integral part of Umuganda serve as a means for citizens to get together and find solutions to common challenges. Theoneste Harindintwari, 26, a local taxi motor cyclist, told Sunday Times that, “Umuganda is a very important development tool. I think doing it one day in a month is just not enough.”

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Kagame commends citizens' ownership of development