Minimal donor dependence as City unveils Rwf20 billion Budget

The City of Kigali councillors have validated a Rwf19.9 billion Budget, with only 2 per cent expected to come from donors.The Budget, significantly downsized from Rwf22 billion for the 2012/2013 fiscal year, will largely focus on implementation of development projects–which will consume 68 per cent.The City officials said the decrease in the Budget Allocation is largely attributed to the changes in Budget Planning, where funds to implement some projects undertaken by government agencies, would not be included on the City Budget. “The Budget was revised and, according to the recommendations from the central government, we were not to plan for activities that will be paid by other agencies,” said Dieudonné Sebashongore, the chairperson of the City Council.Sebashongore explained the decision to limit donor dependence, saying: “We are planning according to what we can afford, because we do not want to be disappointed by donors; of course we shall consider some activities, but we will make sure that we won’t be stuck half way.”Last year, the City used Rwf5 billion in donor aid. With the Budget cut, it means donor aid now stands at Rwf300 million, which, computed against last year’s Rwf22 billion Budget, was about 20 per cent. The City has also allocated Rwf6.3b, which represents 31 per cent of the total Budget, for recurrent expenditures.For development projects, the City will spend on road maintenance and creation of new roads, with plans to continue the multi-million francs project of a 54-kilometre road network in the city that started with projects such as the Masoro Road that connects Adventist University to the Kigali-Rwamagana road, RDB via La Croix du Sud Hospital, Minagri-Nyarutarama through Golf Club, Yamaha (Muhima)-Central Prison, among others. The other project entails paving city roads with stones, which will start this fiscal year with 20 kilometres and targets paving 100 kilometres upon completion.The City will also conduct a study for demarcation of other road boundaries.The City has also earmarked funds for Nduba landfill management, which will involve procurement of an incinerator to dispose off the garbage, and also expand the landfill through expropriating more area residents.To tackle fire incidents, the City of Kigali has earmarked about Rwf80m to install 26 water hydrants for fire fighting along major roads. The City officials said much as planned activities include equipping health centres, the most work would be executed by districts, and the city will only do supervision.“Most of the activities were included in district performance contracts and they have been allocated budget for that, our duty will mainly be supervision,” said Hope Tumukunde, the vice mayor in charge of social affairs in the City of Kigali.

National

Minimal donor dependence as City unveils Rwf20 billion Budget