President Paul Kagame is meeting with residents of Nyamasheke District who have converged in Kagano sector. This is the third day of the president’s citizen outreach. Prior to his arrival, tens of thousands of residents appeared fired-up chanting and dancing. District women also displayed traditional milk pots. Several residents who spoke to The New Times said they have witnessed tremendous change in their way of life over the last years and want Kagame to give them continuity and growth of what they already have. According to Epiphanie Nyirasafari, a 72-year-old mother of ten, “Before President Kagame came into power, women would not be allowed to attend such events. Even those who attended would never get a front seat. Today, I sit right in front of men; I am clean, healthy, and happy. I never dreamt of seeing this in my lifetime.” She added that, “I am old and my only wish is to see continuity. The same continuity that my children will keep enjoying. If I got a chance to meet the president, that’s the only thing I would ask him.” Kagame was last in Nyamasheke in 2017 during the presidential campaign. He is expected to address residents on the pledges and commitments made during the campaign. Chyrsologue Niyitegeka, a 74-year-old resident of Kagano sector, said that Rwanda is a country on the move towards development and that Kagame remains tasked to sustain that movement. “We are a country on the move. It’s Kagame who set us on this path to development. We are moving well but we haven’t reached where we want to be. This is why we expect him to give us continuity and where need arises, we shall demand him that directly,” said Niyitegeka. Marie-Chantal Uwimana, 37, said that if she got an opportunity to ever meet the president, she would thank him for the welfare programmes put in place to improve children’s welfare like school feeding programmes, Early Childhood Development Centres, access to education among others. “A leader who invests in children is shaping the future of the country. President Kagame is looking into the future of Rwanda and I wish to thank him for that,” she said. Nyamasheke is home to the late Marianne Nyirangoragoza who in her will before she died, bequeathed all her belongings to Kagame. Nyirangoragoza died in May 2020, aged 73. Before she passed on, she gathered a few witnesses and a lawyer to sign a will stating clearly that all her belongings should be given to President Kagame. According to the will, Nyirangoragoza possessed a piece of land and four fields with a combined total of 2,203 square meters spread on three plots.
