NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI – Members of Gicumbi District Advisory Council (DAC) last Friday met to evaluate the implementation of Sector development programmes. The programmes under scrutiny included refurbishment of all trading centres, health insurance registration, replacement of non - productive banana plantations with high yielding crops and construction of nursery schools in all the 21 Sectors. Having attained a score of 95.6 %, it was revealed that Bwisige Sector had the highest number of residents registered for health insurance out of a population of 14,000 people. Rutare Sector had the highest number of nursery schools which stood at 21 constructed by parents, compared to other sectors which have less than 12 nursery schools each - with most children studying within Church premises. The Executive Secretaries of Sector units bordering Uganda such as Cyumba, Rubaya and Kaniga attributed the low numbers of residents registering for health insurance in their respective units to regular cross border movements of residents for business opportunities. On replacing non productive banana stems with high yielding crops like creeping beans, Irish potatoes or wheat, most Sector leaders said residents were still reluctant to change from their traditional banana farming because bananas partly provide them with the local brew commonly called “Urwagwa.” On refurbishment of trading centres, most of the leaders said the process was slow because most shops are also used as residential houses. “Byumba Sector urban rehabilitation is in line with the district urban plan. So far only one person has started the renovation exercise at Gacurabwenge Cell. Others are still being sensitised on this matter,” said the Byumba Sector Executive Secretary Jean Marie Vianey Gahano. While commenting on the work progress, the DAC chairperson Cecile Nyirantwari said more effort is needed to accelerate development in all Sectors. “Executive Secretaries should be supported in making sure the district achieves its development goals,” she said. The Mayor Bonane Nyangezi promised district support to Sector leaders in the implementation of development programmes. “We have to utilise this rainy season to ensure farmers replace non productive banana plants with beans and wheat because government has already dispatched 180 tonnes of wheat grains to Gicumbi district,” said Nyangezi. Ildephonse Butera, the district Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs urged Sector leaders to partner with the district, religious leaders, and security organs to accomplish their development targets. “These people should be able to accomplish mobilisation campaigns to ensure farmers replace non productive banana plants before the end of this rainy season,” said Butera. Ends
