BUGESERA - Prime Minister Bernard Makuza yesterday started a two-day tour of Bugesera District in the Eastern Province. His first leg of the tour saw him visit several rural development projects in the area.

Addressing residents, the Premier commended the district for its developmental initiatives, which he said had led to visible change.

"Bugesera was in a terrible and worrying situation in the past because of poor leadership. Leaders of the previous governments only worked to destroy the people and the area was in complete isolation,” he said, adding that the place has even become a destination for tourists and holyday makers.

According the Prime Minister, Bugesera which used to be characterized by famine, is now registering tremendous agricultural production.

"With all these agricultural projects underway, Bugesera will soon be supplying foodstuffs to the entire country,” Makuza said.

In General, he said that the country has achieved a lot in the previous years, specifically pointing out the success of Gacaca courts.

"At the beginning, there were many critics of Gacaca courts, today, the same critics are writing books about the success story of Gacaca.”

"Rwanda has come a long way; we have reached a level of devising solutions to our own problems…we need to keep this pace of development to achieve more.”

At the same function, the Mayor of Bugesera District, Louis Rwagaju, said that before the Genocide, the district had very poor infrastructure as opposed to the present situation.

"There was only one secondary school, but currently we have 22. In terms of agriculture, there is improved land consolidation and we are planning to further boost the infrastructural sector,” said Rwagaju.

The Premier was accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Gen. James Kabarebe, the Minister of Agriculture, Agnes Kalibata and Eastern Province Governor, Ephraim Kabaija.

The team visited Rwanda Agro-Business Company based in Nyamata town, before proceeding to an association of Genocide widows in Batima village in Rweru Sector.

At the association, women exhibited their skills in installations and maintenance of solar energy panels.
The Premier later toured the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) cassava plantation that covers 700 hectares.

Ends