The annual exercise of collecting citizens’ development project priorities commenced today on 13rd November 2018 countrywide for Financial Year 2019/2020, and it was launched at Bukure Sector, Rwesero Cell in Gicumbi District. This planning step comes in to meet the requirements of the Planning & Budget Call Circular 1 (PBCC1) released by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Panning on 31st October 2019, and corresponds to one of the pillars of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) which goes: “Increase citizens’ participation, engagement and partnerships in development”.

This initial planning exercise is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and Districts, and shall come up with citizen priorities right from grassroots level. This also constitutes an opportunity to give a feedback report to citizens on their last year priorities.

In his address to Rwesero residents, the Minister of Local Government Prof. Shyaka Anastase who officiated the exercise besides different officials, emphasized on citizen engagement in development project planning and implementation so as to ensure ownership and sustainability.

 “As the government of Rwanda, we will always engage you in every plan and programme. The engagement of the citizens ensures sustainability, affordability and ownership. Your role must not be limited to participate in planning process but also be extended to implementation and evaluation of the planned activities”, he said.

Regarding the 2018/2019 citizen priorities, District officials explained how  7/16 priorities raised were considered in the on-going actions being implemented, and 9/16 maintained for future or oriented to be done through home grown solutions like Umuganda and community approaches.

As for the 2019/2020 priorities from residents of Bukure Sector,  the construction of macadam road linking Rwesero to Kiramuruzi (Kayonza District), health posts, nursery schools, and the landscape of Muhazi Beach as touristic site and sports area, are among major development projects  expressed by citizens.

The collected priorities will be considered by upper entities up to national level for analysis, consideration and budgeting before they are incorporated into the fiscal year 2019-2020 planning. The exercise for gathering and collecting citizen priorities for the Fiscal year 2019-2020 will continue until end of November 2018.