The government saved at least Rwf160 million through Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) Week that saw inmates across the country engage in developmental activities.The figure is entailed in a brief report released by RCS in evaluation of the exercise that took place from July 8 to 20.The activities, according to the report, included construction of feeder roads, 12-Year Basic Education classroom blocks, and houses for the poor, especially widows of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The Commissioner General of RCS, Maj. Gen. Paul Rwarakabije, said the Week sought to give attention to projects that are crucial to the development of the country, especially those that had no budgetary allocations.Gen. Rwarakabije said 54,966 inmates were trained on reconciliation, human rights–including for prisoners–fighting genocide ideology and drug abuse, among others.“More than 7,000 people involved in community service as an alternative to imprisonment were trained as an initiation toward leading a normal life after completing their jail term,” he said.The report says the roads that were renovated during the week cover 95.5 kilometres in 12 districts.“All these activities will certainly play a role in the development of the country and this is something the inmates are proud of; being part of the development process, and I am sure they will continue doing so,” he said.Rusa Gahima, the director of Kigali Central Prison, said the Week was hinged on correction, legal affairs, production and security.The inmates under the programme are those that were convicted for their role in the Genocide, but confessed. They serve their term partly in prison, and doing community work.
