Residents of Gasabo District have commended government efforts to ease service delivery through the introduction of e-Government portal.

The residents were on Friday speaking to officials from the Ministry of Youth and ICT together with Rwanda Online, and the United Nations team in charge of e-Government and technology management at the conclusion of a week-long campaign, dubbed "e-Government Week.”

The week concluded with a field tour in Gasabo District sectors of Jali, Kimihurura and Bumbogo.

The officials were briefed on how the e-Government portal has contributed to service delivery.

Laurent Turimumahoro, a resident, said the portal has reduced the time taken to get particular services they used to walk for long distances to get.

"Some of us are already aware of these services, and we have started using them; things are changing that we no longer queue to get services. When you are registered to MTN Mobile Money or Tigo Cash, for instance, all you need is to be aware of how to use your phone and immediately get the service within few minutes,” he said.

"The money and time I used to spend to get services previously has reduced, I only come here at the sector to pick the records. However, there’s a lot that still needs to be done so that all people get to understand more about how to use these new ways of requesting for services.”

Florence Murorunkwere, another resident from Jali Sector, said she had challenges before but now believes things have been resolved.

"I used to travel a distance of 12 kilometres to the sector offices where it would sometimes take three days to have service delivery. This time our local leaders are helping to ask for these services within the shortest time possible,” she said.

Challenges

While many people have embraced the new government systems of using technology tools to ask for services, challenges remain there, where some people living in rural areas experience network problems.

"Yes network still remain a problem in some areas, but the government’s plan is to ensure all people are connected, at least by 2017 95 per cent will be connected,” said Gordon Kalema, the principal senior technologist in charge of e-Government services coordination.

"On spot, the implementation has already started, where we are now rolling out the 4G LTE across the country.”

Meanwhile, Richard Kerby, the senior inter-regional adviser at the UN, recognised the great work being done by the Rwanda’s government, adding that the UN will continuously build capacity and provide presentations on how things can be done.

He said the UN e-Government survey 2014, ranked Rwanda 125th globally, and 12th in Africa.

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