Rugando cell dwellers pool Rwf40m for street lighting

Residents of Rugando cell, Kimihurura sector in Gasabo district have pooled resources to advance their own security by contributing resources towards security infrastructure in the area.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Street lights in Kigali. The New Times/ File.

Residents of Rugando cell, Kimihurura sector in Gasabo district have pooled resources to advance their own security by contributing resources towards security infrastructure in the area.The residents raised Rwf40 million for fitting and installing street and security lights in the area.Rugando cell borders the forest near the Republican Guard headquarters.The residents said at night, thugs hide in the forest and waylay passersby, creating the necessity of lighting up the place to stop them."Previously, women would have to rush home before the night falls to avoid attacks from thugs attack them,” Gérvain Rurangirwa, a resident, said adding that the situation has changed following the installation of the lights.According to John Bosco Kagaba, the executive secretary of the cell, the idea came from the residents themselves and they have so far lit up 2.7 kilometres at a cost of Rwf40 million.The streets to be covered stretch about 9.1 kilometres."If you are determined to reach something, you definitely find it, especially united citizens,” Kagaba said.He said the contributions varied depending on the capability and the least contribution by a resident was Rwf10,000.Jean Claude Munara, the Gasabo vice mayor for economic development, said the district will lend a hand to the residents by contributing Rwf5m towards the dream.