EASTERN PROVINCE BUGESERA — The district development partners under the Joint Action Forum have promised their contribution towards the construction of over 1,000 houses for Genocide survivors in the district. Addressing the members yesterday, Silas Nyirindekwe, the vice mayor in charge of economic development, said decent sheltering would improve the livelihood of the beneficiaries and enhance decentralisation policies in the district. He noted that if residents are healthy, it helps district leaders to rally them behind development activities. He said Bugesera is among the districts with a high number of vulnerable Genocide survivors in the country. “Bugesera is a district with the highest number of Genocide survivors; who are incapable of building their own houses. We need a total of 1,200 houses, I think this is a big number compared to other districts,” he said. Bugesera District Joint Action Forum brings together district leaders, Sector executive secretaries, donors, members of the private sector, and leaders of NGOs in the district, with the purpose jointly laying strategies to implement district developmental activities, to avoid duplication of services. Members are supposed to contribute according to financial ability. According to Edward Munyaburanga, the district executive secretary, the members can make individual contributions or an organisation. During the meeting, some members pledged money and other construction materials, while others indicated the number of houses their organisations would build. Ends