BUGESERA - Districts mayors countrywide yesterday began a week-long leadership development course in Bugesera District.The course is facilitated by experts from Singapore.

The Ministry of Local Government in collaboration with the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) and the Swiss Cooperation are the organisers of the training.

While officially opening the training, James Musoni, the Minister of Local Government, said that the training "will help local leaders understand their crucial roles and responsibilities in Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation.”

The training is part of previous induction courses for newly elected leaders.

It is also part of the implementation of the capacity building strategy developed and approved by Cabinet in January this year to address capacity gap challenges.

The challenges particularly detected in development planning, strategic management and leadership and public financial management.

Musoni thanked both GIZ and the Swiss Cooperation for their financial support and collaboration towards good governance in the country.

He explained that such courses would also be extended to other local government organs.
 
District vice Mayors in charge of finance and economic development will similarly undergo the training effective May 30.

Vice mayors in charge of Social Affairs will assume the course in July along with District Executive Secretaries.

Louis Rwagaju, the Mayor of Bugesera welcomed the training.

"This is the first training we have received as mayors. I am hopeful that, after this training, we will be well-equipped to drive the change in our areas,” Rwagaju said.
 
Peter Rimmele, the Principal Advisor on good governance at GIZ, said that capacity building in developing countries is the basis for successful development of a country.

"Leaders should be accountable to their population and should also give the people the feeling that they can be trusted,” he said.

Aj Shahrill, the lead trainer, explained that the challenge of change is not lack of resources; but change among the people.

"That is why district leaders should know to lead themselves, to lead their people and how to change their districts,” Shahrill said.

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