Gatsibo: Residents Celebrate VUP Benefits

Residents of Gatsibo sector in Gatsibo district commend Umurenge vision program (VUP) for uplifting them from poverty saying it’s a result of good governance.

Mutuyeyezu, a widow from Mugera cell and VUP beneficiary highlights: “I was working in other residents’ plantations but now I employ workers in my plantation and others to take care of my livestock.”

Mutuyeyezu says this after she was given Rwf6000 loan in 2009 which she utilized to commercialize banana plantation.

I used the money to change from traditional methods of farming to modern methods. The yields increased and a bunch of bananas is sold at Rwf2000, she reveals.

Though she couldn’t reveal the actual profit from her plantation, Mutuyeyezu asserts she has been able to educate her three children to secondary school level and providing for other home needs.

The executive secretary of Gatsibo sector, Oswald Nyakana confirms that Umurenge vision program has brought social development to the residents where by 1120 poor residents were employed by VUP in 2008.

In addition to employment, loans were given for over 100 agricultural and small scale enterprises. He adds that all the projects were beneficial to the residents.

Mwendo sector is occupied by over 26.354 residents according to 2012 general census records.

Rwf114.1 million loan given out in VUP in Gatsibo district from 2009-2012 was used to set up 1247 small income generating projects.

Heads of VUP in Mwendo sector say that 215 residents improved from the under poverty line to medium class.