Demobilisation and Refugee commissions merged

Senators have adopted the law establishing the National Commission for Demobilisation, Reintegration of Former War Combatants and Refugees. The Commission will be in charge of coordinating all activities between itself and all stakeholders during the process to demobilise and reintegrate former combatants. According to the law, the Commission will follow up and implement what the Law sets aside as reparations to former combatants who faced severe injuries on the war front. The Commission will be custodians of the Human rights of both foreign refugees in Rwanda and those coming in from the Diaspora. It will also process applications requesting for refugee status and making decisions to that effect. The Commission will be headed by a board of Commissioners and a Permanent Secretary. The organisation and functioning of these two administrative bodies will be determined by a Prime Minister’s decree. The Senate also adopted the Law establishing the Rwanda Local Development Support Fund (RLDSF) that also determines its mission, organisation and functioning. The fund to be based in the Ministry of Local Government, will embrace the Common Development Fund (CDF), The Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) and, the Ubudehe Programme. The CDF has been expanded to include; HIMO, Ubudehe, Village Umurenge Programme (VUP) and other projects designed to reduce poverty levels. Ends