President Paul Kagame has called on Rwandans to build on the security and unity achieved to date to attain economic transformation Rwanda is aiming towards.

"Remaining united must be our priority. We are Rwandans before anything else,” Kagame said.

"Our unity and security are the foundation of all that we do but they are not enough on their own. We must build on this foundation by adding in hard work needed to achieve a better life for every Rwandan,” he added.

The Head of State delivered the message, yesterday, while addressing thousands of residents in Nyamasheke District, who gathered at Kagano Sector to welcome him.

The President is on a two-day citizen outreach tour of Western Province’s districts of Nyamasheke and Rusizi where he has been meeting and interacting with thousands of ordinary citizens as well as opinion leaders.

 While meeting citizens in Nyamasheke yesterday, he told them that Rwanda’s aspirations are no different from the rest of the world’s adding that what Rwanda wants is dignity and a decent life for its citizens.

Kagame spoke on the change of mindset that has allowed Rwandans to demand accountability from their leaders.

"The progress Rwanda has achieved is because Rwandans are no longer defined by ignorance and fear. They no longer follow their leaders blindly. They ask why they should follow.

"They will no longer follow blindly those who tell them to harm their neighbours. Today, Rwandans know what is in their best interest and demand explanations from their leaders,” Kagame said.

Meeting opinion leaders

Later in the evening, the President met and interacted with opinion leaders from Nyamasheke and Rusizi districts at Gisakura Secondary School.

Speaking to the leaders, Kagame emphasised the importance of upholding unity of Rwandans.

"Striping Rwanda of its culture of unity is striping the Rwandan people of their strength. No country can thrive when it accepts and perpetuates discrimination in any form,” Kagame said.

Kagame called on the leaders to uphold their responsibility to every citizen.

"The abilities of our citizens may differ but their access to opportunity must be equal. We have a responsibility to serve all citizens equally and to transform this country as fast as we can,” he said.

Kagame pointed out that every nation, rich or poor, has experienced its own pains and wars adding that the difference is made by the lessons one chooses to learn.

"Every country has experienced its own wars. From their history, they learned to focus and protect their national interest and build their nation.

"Our national interest is not about teaching anyone else lessons or conquering other nations. Our national interest is about uplifting the lives of our citizens. It is about providing every citizen security and the knowledge they will not be killed for who they are or what they own,” Kagame added.

Nyamasheke has a population of about 400,000 people and the economy in the district has seen growth due in part to increased access to electricity and clean water with 75 per cent of homes less than 500 metres away from drinkable water.

During his tour of the district, President Kagame visited Bushenge Hospital, which was heavily affected by a series of earthquakes that devastated the western part of the country in 2008, but has since been rehabilitated and turned into a regional referral hospital serving over 168 thousand people.

Signing the guestbook, President Kagame thanked the staff of the hospital for their hard work and pledged support to improve services provided by the hospital.

Kagame also called on Nyamasheke residents to put the available infrastructure in the district to good use and ensure that they develop projects around tourism promotion, taking advantage of the district’s proximity to Lake Kivu and security in the area.

 President Kagame will end his visit in Rusizi today, where he will also meet and interact with thousands of citizens at Mushaka Parish grounds.

 The tour is part of the President’s routine citizens outreach visits across the country.