Kabuye Sugar Works LTD on Thursday, April 16, donated 13.65 tonnes of sugar worth Rwf 10 million, to help vulnerable families whose livelihoods were affected by COVID-19 lockdown.

The move is in line with the Government's recent decision to provide food to vulnerable families in Kigali and secondary cities, whereby both individuals and other institutions were also called upon to join the initiative.

Speaking to The New Times, Joel Uwizeye Rwibasira, the Director of Corporate Affairs of Kabuye Sugar Works LTD noted that the donation was the right thing to do by this time.

He said: "We are aware that many families were affected by this lockdown, and as we are in this together, we thought it as our responsibility to join the Government's initiative and provide what is in our ability to support those in need."

Yosam Kiiza, the Director of Operations at Private Sector Federation (PSF) who attended the event welcomed the support and encouraged other businesses to do the same.

"This is a very positive gesture that we commend as the private sector because it shows that we are in this together as a country," he said, adding that: "we encourage other businesses to also do the same," he said.

The factory employs 530 permanent workers, more than 5,000 casual agricultural laborers being engaged in both Kabuye Estate and out grower farmers’ sugarcane plantations. 

In addition to this, there are 3500 out growers who cultivate sugarcane and supply raw material to the Factory. Overall, about 10,000 families are benefiting from Kabuye Sugar Works LTD.

With the fact that it is still in operation amidst coronovirus, Thiru Navukkarasu, General Manager of Kabuye Sugar Works LTD thanked the Government for being understandable.

He said: "We really appreciate the Government for allowing us to continue aperations. It would be absurd if all those workers lost their jobs."

Navukkarasu also noted that: "We are making sure that all our employees are practicing directives set by the Government to prevent the spread of this pandemic."

Rwanda so far has recorded 138 COVID-19 confirmed cases since the outbreak, and among these 60 have recovered.

With several precautionary measures put in place to maintain this pandemic, the Government has also extended the COVID-19 lockdown and will now go through Sunday, April 19.

Since the directive, several businesses and organizations have pledged their support to most affected families.