FEATURED: How City of Kigali uses citizen forums to improve service delivery

Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the Minister for Local Government, has urged the leadership of the City of Kigali to regularly approach and listen to citizens in their communities to address issues they are facing. He was speaking during a citizens’ forum organized known as ‘Inteko z’Abaturage’ by the City of Kigali on April 5 during which they received and addressed questions from citizens on a range of issues from the economy, and infrastructure to social welfare among others. The forum was hosted and broadcast on five local radio stations and a local TV station as well as streamed on the city’s social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Gatabazi commended the initiative and reminded the leaders that leadership is about service to the people and not for personal gain. Officials pose for a group photo after the meeting. “Our leadership should be citizen-centered. They are the ones who trusted and gave us responsibilities to serve them,” he said. “As leaders, we also have to be mindful that we are the bridge between citizens and the President under a seven-year contract mandated to him by the people to lead them to development, eradicate poverty and improve their lives,” he noted. He pointed out that leaders have to make sure they provide better services and shun vices like corruption, and poor service, and safeguard people and their property, among others. Issues raised by citizens Among the raised concerns include unfinished roads and irregularities in public transport among others. The callers also tasked the City of Kigali to provide a clear plan on how residents in neighbourhoods who collect money for the construction of roads can be complemented to complete such infrastructure. Responding to the public transport issues, Mérard Mpabwanamaguru, the vice mayor in charge of urbanization and infrastructure reassured them that they are working on it and revealed plans to increase the public buses among other solutions. “There has been an increase in the population in the past five years. Since 2013, we have three public transport operators only but we are in discussions with various institutions in charge for long term and short-term solutions,” he said He disclosed that the city has already started working on the roadmap to solve this issue. Commenting on the requested support for the citizen’s initiative to pave some roads, Pudence Rubangisa, the city mayor said that there is no specific budget dedicated to such neighborhoods’ initiatives. However, he revealed that they support them in the planning, following up on it, and maintaining them among other kinds of support. Responding to the issue of unpaved roads such as Nzove-Ruli-Gakenke, and Emmanuel Asaba Katabarwa, the City Engineer revealed that the road will be paved under next year’s budget. “Now we are talking to the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), to see if it will consider the road in the next fiscal year budget,” he said He also disclosed new roads to be constructed such as Miduha-Mageragere, Gasogi-Rusororo-Kabuga, and Masizi-Kami-Gasanze road, which connects to Gasanze. Social welfare Different concerns concerning social welfare such as security issues in Gasabo district, shortage of local leaders in some areas, CHOGM preparation, and Kwibuka 28 Genocide Commemoration were also raised. The District Executive Director for Gasabo, Pauline Umwali said some thieves had been attacking the Gatsata area for some days, but that security measures have been put in place to restore tranquility. Umwali said they are also working with Rulindo District officials to work together in dealing with the theft since some perpetrators also come from that area among other resolutions. CHOGM preparations Meanwhile, Mpabwanamaguru said that the preparations are ongoing to accommodate the CHOGM participants. The preparations include expanding different roads, keeping Kigali clean, maintaining good service delivery, and raising more awareness around the CHOGM benefits among other preparations in place. During the forum, Martine Urujeni, vice mayor in charge of social affairs and development briefed the citizens on the agenda ahead of the Kwibuka 28. She urged the public to take all vaccines including booster shots as the covid-19 fight continues. According to the city leadership this is one of the ways to address citizen challenges and such sessions will be conducted regularly.

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FEATURED: How City of Kigali uses citizen forums to improve service delivery