Burera-Over 1000 residents in Cyanika sector, Burera District, yesterday, sang and danced to welcome 2000 iron sheets donated by the Ministry of Local Government towards elimination of grass thatched houses known as Nyakatsi.

Elderly people were joined by their youthful grand children at a ceremony which also doubled as a get-together party.

Cyanika sector which occupies the biggest side on the slopes of Mt. Muhabura and borders with Uganda, had 1048 of such structures, the highest number of grass thatched houses in the Northern Province. But less than 50 are now left according to latest statistics from local leaders.

"I have endured rain under the grass thatched houses for 75 years of my life. This area has constant rainfall, we were living under deplorable conditions , we could never have proper sanitation because of rain water coming into our huts, we thank President Kagame for fulfilling his promise to us,’’ said Yohana Sebikari, whose youngest son carried his part of the donation.

The sector Executive Secretary, J Marie Vianey Nkanika, said that out of 347 vulnerable families which needed iron sheets, 338 have so far been supported with roofing materials.

The roofing materials donated by the Ministry of Local of Local Government, were given to the residents after completing construction of houses through community work (Umuganda).

"We had the highest number of grass thatched houses because the volcanic soils cannot be used for making bricks. We have to travel miles or we hire cars to bring soils, which has been very expensive,’’ said Theogene Bizimuremye, the cell leader of Nyagahinga, close to Mt. Muhabura

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