NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI — The district has resolved to demolish structures incuding housing and 16 shops at Gaseke trading center. This was in a move to pave way for the construction of Gaseke Market. This was revealed at a recent district council meeting meant to evaluate progress on different development projects in the district. The meeting chaired by the council vice chairman, Jackson Mutabazi, asked the district to speed up the compensation of the affected residents to enable the construction to begin. According to the vice Mayor for Economic Affairs, Ildephonse Butera, there are 16 shops at Gaseke trading center that would be pulled down. However, the residents will not receive monetary compensation. “Each of the owners will be exempted from paying taxes at the new market as compensation- until the amount equivalent to ones’ shop is paid up,” said Butera. A meeting will soon be convened to explain to shops owners the agreed mode of compensation, according to Butera. Among other projects the meeting evaluated included the 2008 district performance contracts, medical insurance and the amount of aid for vulnerable groups. The councilors urged Sector and Cell local leaders to ensure all residents in the district join medical insurance scheme before the end of this year. On the construction of houses for Genocide survivors and other vulnerable groups, without shelter, the councilors advised local leaders in every sector to identify construction sites and speed up the construction. Eugenie Uwamahoro, the vice Mayor for Social Affairs, said 100 percent of residents have health insurance in the district, 92% of them in mutuelle de sante, while 8 per cent are registered with other medical insurance schemes like RAMA. “All Cell and Sector leaders have been urged to sensitise residents to pay for 2009 medical insurance before the end of this year,” said Uwamahoro. A total of 275 houses for Genocide survivors and 192 houses for other vulnerable groups have been constructed in the entire district, according to the vice Mayor. “Records of other vulnerable groups are yet to be compiled by the Sector leaders, so that they also benefit from this programme,” she added. Meanwhile, the council appointed Emmanuel Kayiranga as its secretary. Also in attendance, was the outgoing council chairperson, Beatrice Nirere, who was recently elected as an MP and Senator Jean Baptiste Bizimana. Ends
