Rwanda | Ngoma: Governor calls for improved services

As the issue of service delivery takes center stage in Rwanda, the Governor of the Eastern province Odette Uwamariya has passed a warning on local leaders who don’t deliver to residents seeking public services.

The governor says that service should be provided as an obligation of local leaders, and noted that it is illegal for local leaders to take advantage of residents asking for service and instead use their vulnerability to manipulate the residents.

Governor Uwamariya made the remarks while addressing the Ngoma district general council, on August 30, 2012.

It is believed that when residents ask for services they are instead asked to pay for their contributions to national programs, this ends up in poor service delivery which in turn affects the performance of the country’s leadership.

Some of the services which are asked of the residents include national programs such as-Mutuelle de Sante (Mutual health insurance), construction of savings cooperative,  and community education programs among others.

She said that in such case, Uwamariya says that it is unlawful and misuse of postions of power, which in some cases scares away the residents.

“If a resident is asked to meet other requirements, it should be done at the appropriate time, but not when they have come for different services. This is unacceptable and ends up in poor service provision” she said.

One of the residents, only identified as Musabyimana narrated a similar experience confirming the existence of such practices. One day, I needed a temporary travel document from the sector, but I was asked to produce my health insurance and community savings. I was forced to borrow money to pay for these because I urgently needed to documents” he narrated.