The Office of Ombudsman on Friday awarded 24 students in a drawing competition that started in June. 

The competition required students from primary and secondary schools to come up with drawings connected to how members of the public get involved in corruption as well as fighting it. 

During an event that took place in Kigali, eight students were each awarded Rwf 200,000 and a laptop. 

"I am very happy that I have managed to top the list of best performers. Although it was my wish, I was not very sure that I could make it; I think I am lucky,” said senior one student Etienne Uwimana from Groupe Scolaire Jean de la Croix Ngamba. 

Uwimana, 13, was the best among secondary school students scoring 90.5 points, while the primary school list was led by Leopold Kangabo who represented Groupe Scolaire Kimisagara with 81.5 points. 

Other students who scored highly and walked away with the top prizes include Cedric Jabo Hirwa, Adeline Uwera and Eclen Nelly Dusabimana. 

The other three best secondary students included Boris Kalisa, Ramadhan Kubwimana, and Hervé Shema Mucyo. 

Every one of the four students in the second categories in both sections was awarded Rwf 100,000 with a laptop each while those in the third category received Rwf 50,000 with a laptop each.   

Speaking at the event, the State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Mathias Harebamungu, commended the Office of the Ombudsman for the initiative saying that it will encourage and promote fighting corruption among the youth. 

"This actually gives hope that even the generation to come will uphold the fight and resist corruption,” he said. 

He also noted that it will strengthen and contribute towards the national priority of having zero tolerance to corruption.  

The Chief Ombudsman, Aloysie Cyanzayire, said that the competition attracted more than  10,000 participants. 

"We actually considered what students themselves drew other than being helped, the reason we had to go as far as bringing them to draw in our presence,” she said. 

Cyanzayire promised that similar competitions will be carried out in future as long as her office has capacity to conduct them.