HUYE–Government has contracted a local private food processing firm, Rwanda Agri-business Industries (RABI LTD) to supply cooked food to all correctional facilities. For the next three months, Butare, Gikongoro and Muhanga prisons will be used for the pilot scheme and then after, the programme will be extended to other facilities across the country, the Minister of Internal Security, Sheik Moussa Fazil Harerimana told The New Times.The programmes to feed inmates on outsourced ready-cooked food were launched, Wednesday, by the minister and Rwanda correctional services officials at Butare and Muhanga prisons.According to Harerimana, the decision was reached as a way of reducing costs incurred in preparing food for the prisoners.“The Government will save Rwf 2 billion annually from its expenses on feeding inmates while, at the same time, promoting their wellbeing,” he said.The government has been spending Rwf6bn annually on food for inmates, according to Minister Harerimana, and the new program will cost the government only Rwf4bn.Also, inmates will see their daily food increase both in quality and quantity, from the current 700 grammes to 900 grammes while the nutrition ingredients will increase from 2100 to 2500 calories, he added.“If we have taken this decision it is both in the interest of inmates and country,” he told The New Times.“Apart from the money which will be directly saved from the expenses on food, the biogas which was used for cooking will now be utilised for lighting inmates’ dormitories and other buildings, allowing us to reduce the cost of electricity”.Speaking to The New Times, Dr Celestin Kubumwe, the proprietor of RABI, guaranteed steady food supply. “We have the capacity to process 40 tonnes of beans and maize a day, which is enough to feed all inmates,” he said.Eugene Twagirayezu, the representative of detainees at Butare prison, said: “The food tastes delicious. We hope the supplier will keep this quality”.
