Every Tuesday morning, at 7:00 AM, residents in Southern Province gather in their villages for a unique community initiative that is aimed at sanitation and health awareness. Known as Igitondo cy'isuku, the initiative launched in February 2022 by Provincial Governor Alice Kayitesi dedicates one hour weekly to cleaning activities that address health challenges facing local communities. It started from the idea of the Governor of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi, when it was evident that in some places there was a problem of poor sanitation, explained Agnes Uwamariya, the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in Nyamagabe District. The programme targets health threats including poor sanitation, toilettes, malnutrition, and environmental issues that contribute to diarrhea and malaria transmission. Unlike the national Umuganda community work, which champions cleanliness in public places, Igitondo cy'isuku initiative focuses specifically on hygiene-related activities, including at household level. Communities participate in street sweeping, weed removal, road repairs, and home cleaning while receiving education about disease prevention. Participants learn about malaria prevention by cutting bushes around homes and removing water-holding containers. We have also introduced a cleaning morning in schools, and that is done by students and educators, Uwamariya said. Nyamagabe District has further extended the initiative to health centers and grouped settlements known as model villages as part of the broader programme implementation. This is another lesson that children have learned that they would not have learned anywhere else, Uwamariya noted, referring to practical skills like cleaning vegetables from school gardens and learning how to separate different types of waste. This is another lesson that children have learned that they would not have learned anywhere else, Uwamariya noted, referring to practical skills like cleaning vegetables from school gardens and learning proper waste separation. Sylvere Nahayo, the Mayor of Kamonyi District, emphasized the initiative's reach across different sectors. It has become a habit that one hour on Tuesday is used for the Igitondo cy'isuku, he said, adding that member of the private sector, institutions, schools, clinics, and markets take part in the initiative. In Kamonyi, residents have installed waste disposal facilities and planted flowers in previously littered areas. We have also launched awareness campaigns about sanitation,' he explained. Jean de Dieu Mutabazi, a resident of Kamonyi District, shared his personal experience: Every Tuesday, I join my neighbors in these cleaning activities, and it fills me with pride to see how we're working together. Mutabazi described how his family built a toilet and set up a kitchen garden after participating in the programme. Igitondo cy'isuku, an initiative that has been replicated in other provinces, operates across multiple venues including health facilities, schools, markets, offices, and roadsides, with communities mapping dirty areas for targeted cleaning efforts. Since its launch, participation rates have increased across all districts of Southern Province. Officials report improvements in community health outcomes and environmental conditions. Igitondo cy'isuku has become more than just a cleaning initiative. It has evolved into a comprehensive community development tool that addresses public health challenges while building social cohesion and civic responsibility.
