The Prime Minister will soon sign an Order paving way for a 350 per cent increment on the money allocated to families of deceased public servants, The New Times has learnt.

The development follows a recent Cabinet meeting that approved the Prime Minister’s Order determining funeral indemnities for the immediate family of a deceased public servant.

"The current indemnity for deceased public servants is Rwf200,000 which is far below the market prices. This is why we decided to increase it to Rwf700,000,” said the Minister for Public Service and Labour, Judith Uwizeye.

The New Times has since learnt that the Ministry of Public Service and Labour conducted a survey in 10 districts that showed that the average cost for a tomb, coffin and hearse totals Rwf900,000 in urban districts and Rwf470,000 in upcountry districts.

"It is a major concern; relatives sometimes struggle to meet the costs and this is why we have agreed to increase this money,” she said.

Reacting to the development, Ladislas Ngendahimana, a civil servant welcomed the increment, saying that the Rwf200,000 could only cover a coffin, leaving all the other expenses to be met by the bereaved family.

"Normally social security should be covering burial costs but where there is no such arrangement, this new law will serve the purpose,” said Ngendahimana, a communications director with the Ministry of Local Government and Social Affairs.

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