{Advancing the flagship value that distinguishes the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) from any other political organization; embedded in its popular Kinyarwanda codename “Umuryango” which directly means “family”, over 40 members of the party taskforce in the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) visited a village of demobilized soldiers and gave them support worth Rwf4million.}
All the money used in the occasion was raised through contributions from the members of the BRD Intego (RPF) taskforce which also comprises members from subsidiary companies – Business Development Fund (BDF), Kinazi Cassava Plant and BRD Insurance Brokerage (BIB).
The ex-combatants who benefited from the support are former fighters in the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) which is credited for liberating the country and ending the mass slaughter which had aimed at wiping out the Tutsi segment of the Rwandan population in 1994.
Dressed in party red T-shirts with blue and white stripes, the group made the one hour trip to Rusheshe Village in Masaka Sector of Kigali City’s Kicukiro District to have a moment with their “family members” to show their gratitude for the extraordinary sacrifices they (ex-combatants) made during the liberation war which set Rwanda on the development course that has yielded the visible results enjoyed by many today.
Besides members of the BRD Intego taskforce, the event attracted high ranking officials in the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), including its President Jean Sayinzoga; the commissioner in charge of demobilised soldiers in Kigali, Brigadier General John Peter Bagabo, and residents and local leaders of Rusheshe village.
Explaining the rationale of the visit, the Vice Chairman of the BRD Intego taskforce, Peter Rwambara noted “we came to deliver our modest gratitude to our heroes in this village for their contribution to the struggle and liberation of our country. As we celebrate 20 years of liberation, this is our token of appreciation for their sacrifices and today we formally extend our support and commitment to facilitate them in forging forward as they seek to be self-sustainable through such income generating activities.”
A good number of the soldiers in the village carry physical damages that resulted from the war while some have mental disabilities.
The ex-combatants after being demobilized and reintegrated, the government of Rwanda through RDRC built houses and settled them in Rusheshe among many other similar establishments, to help them rebuild their lives.
In a mood characteristic of the morale that many recall was one of RPA’s major weapons, the ex-combatants welcomed the gesture of brotherhood noting that when such occasions happen; they feel loved and appreciated.
Sgt. Sengiyumva Evariste is one of the 30 demobilised soldiers settled in Rusheshe. He noted that seeing such a big number of party members visit them reminds him of when they joined the RPA to fight the liberation war as fresh recruits.
“We found a lot of love in the army to the extent that in times of scarcity, six soldiers would happily share a meal originally for one. Your love today showed by this visit tells us that we are still loved and gives us hope to move on.”
It is this comradeship between members of the big “family” that Alex Kanyankole, the CEO of BRD referred to when he promised that the visit and support given to the former soldiers in Rusheshe village was only a beginning to a long relationship that the taskforce and the ex-combatants will enjoy.
“We will continue to identify other areas where we can intervene and for those that we may not afford to settle on our own, we will seek support but make sure that they are settled.”
The four million will be used to replenish and run the village’s only shop from which the former combatants and civilian residents of the area will buy basic domestic commodities.
For a period of six months, the shop will be managed with support from BRD Intego taskforce but later the village will be left to run it on their own after a competent shopkeeper is trained to efficiently manage it.
Sayinzoga welcomed the support urging the beneficiaries to fully utilize it and make it yield even more.
“This is like a seed. You should water and nurture it such that it produces even more,” the RDRC President, who also is a senior cadre in the RPF exhorted.
The choice of starting a shop for the ex-combatants originated from the need to support them become self-sustaining.
“We will use this kick-start to initiate other economic activities in our village such that we continue participating in our country’s liberation,” said Sgt. Sengiyumva.
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