Editor,This is in response to the article, “Veterans get life skills”, (The New Times, February 11). I congratulate the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) for a job well done and urge them to continue assisting demobilised soldiers. However, it is very imperative to note that these people need more than a tool kit to start up a business. A workshop held in Nyandugu, (Kigali) in 2011 found out that demobilised soldiers face difficulties in benefiting from community-based programmes like Gira inka munyarwanda (One Cow per Family) basing on the dilemma that they have support from DDR (Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration) programmes. There are many aspects that go beyond a tool kit in starting up a business including networking, markets, to mention but a few. DDR programmes should hence look into all these parameters if they are to devise a sustainable solution. One more thing is to assess the ability of their beneficiaries. For instance, how possible is it to assist those who own land and other family property to access bank loans? Mukamana,Kigali
