Support needed in delivering campaign pledges – Lwakabamba

HUYE - Hard work and people’s support are necessary for President Paul Kagame to deliver on his campaign promises, the National University of Rwanda (NUR) Rector, Prof Silas Lwakabamba, said over weekend. He was speaking during RPF victory celebrations at the University last Sunday. Students and staff of the National University of Rwanda gathered at the Huye football stadium to celebrate the successful elections and the landslide victory of the RPF candidate. It was all jubilation as hundreds of enthusiastic staff and students sang and danced in the early afternoon sun. Darius Rutaganira, a representative of the student’s guild, said that much progress had been made at the 47-year old institution. He said that it is a shame that the university played a key role in the political upheavals that characterised the history of the country. He, however, noted that the current crop of students and staff are determined to play a key role in the development of the country. Voter turn out for elections at the NUR stood at 97 percent which Varsity officials said was the highest in the history of the institution. Paul Kagame, the RPF candidate who was voted by 96 percent at the university, went on to win the polls. Recalling the post 1994 situation in the country, Prof. Lwakabamba said that the country had about four PhD holders, few people owned passports and communication was virtually impossible. “I used to walk from my office in Kigali to the nearest telephone booth to be able to make a telephone call, the progress that has been made, most especially in the last seven years, is incredible,” said Lwakabamba. He noted that the President’s promise to multiply these achievements seven-fold in the next seven years will only be achieved through hard work. “The President needs a lot of support; we should try to work hard so that we can move Rwanda to a middle income level country,” he said. The Governor of the Southern Province, Fidele Ndayisaba, who was also the chief campaign manager of the RPF during the just concluded elections, commended the university community for its role in the elections. He said that with the support from the community, the President is ready to deliver on his promises. Ends