Rwamagana, Ngoma endorse Rwf15 billion budget

Rwamagana and Ngoma districts councils unanimously approved budgets for the fiscal year 2011-2012 after lengthy deliberations. Rwamagana’s budget is Rwf6.6 billion, while Ngoma expects to spend at least Rwf8.7 billion. Rwamagana Mayor, Neheme Uwimana, who presented the budget to the council, last week, said the district intends mainly to develop basic infrastructure to stimulate economic development. Uwimana said the district will begin constructing streets and feeder roads, schools and increase the capacity of health centres. He noted that with improved agriculture production, farmers need roads linking them to markets. “The building and refurbishing of infrastructure boosts economic growth, agricultural yields and connects rural people to services. Feeder roads will help farmers access markets more easily,” he said. Meanwhile, Ngoma Mayor Francois Ntiyotwagira said his district plans to mainly improve water and energy. He said that despite agriculture and infrastructure remaining as the prime targets, the issue of scarcity of water must be addressed. “Water is as important to human beings as it is to plants and animals...so, when we talk about agricultural improvement, the issue of water inevitably comes in,” he said. Ntiyotwagira added that there is need to strike a balance economic and social development. “Our budget is almost balanced at 50-50 (percentage) whereby almost half of resources are reserved for social economic development. Kibungo town’s infrastructure will also be considered,” he said. One of Rwamagana district councillors, Emmanuel Rukera, told The New Times that the budget considered the development of the common man. He said that leadership must view itself in the spectrum of the people they serve. “The budget we passed is purely meant to develop the people...we have to make right choices and priorities,” he said. Ends