People born in Rusizi but now living in Kigali on December 10, launched a project ‘Tujyanemo Rusizi’ aiming to help the vulnerable community in the district by building 500 houses for the homeless.
During a two-day visit to Rusizi, the group of people put rooftops on three of the 500 houses to be built and plastered the houses with mud, backed by district locals who included Marie Immaculee Ingabire, Chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda, Hon. Aimee Sandrine Uwambaje, and entrepreneurs, among others.
‘Tujyanemo’ was piloted by Rusizi District to encourage all people living in different parts of the country to help build houses in the district as many are homeless and others live in very poorly constructed ones.
Hon. Uwambaje, who was present at all activities, explained that building houses and helping vulnerable people was in effect before the project.
Anicet Kibiriga, Mayor of Rusizi District, explained that for now, Tujyanemo’s budget is from individual people with support from the district.
"There are projects that were done solely by the district, but we realised that we shouldn’t work alone when there are people who are capable and willing to help. And that is why we decided to work with different parties, including Rusizi natives, and people currently living in Rusizi, and so far, we have collected enough materials to build those houses,” the mayor said, adding that 3000 roofings are available for the planned houses to be built.
Oscar Niyitegeka, a Rusizi resident, said he had no place to call his own for about 20 years, and expressed his gratitude as he was going to have his own home.
"It is great that Rusizi natives remember their roots and work towards helping their people. I am grateful for their generosity as now my family and I are going to have a place of our own, and we won’t have to worry about rent or even where to find money to pay the rent,” he said.
The natives also planted palm trees by the road as part of Umuganda, took a tour around the district to see new developments, and shared achievements and resolutions for the district over dinner, during which the project received Rwf 4,250,000 from Prince Industries LTD to push forward.
The natives ended their two-day visit by joining locals in car-free day exercises on Sunday.