Inside Rwanda’s holy land model Village 

By Michel Nkurunziza.

Dancile Muhimpundu, 61, was living in one single-room house with seven children suffering from poor conditions in Munini sector of Nyaruguru district.

However, last year, the family was housed in a Rwf15.7 billion storied-Munini Integrated Development (IDP) Model Village hosting 48 families from different backgrounds.

The Rwanda’s holy land-renowned to have apparitions of the Virgin Mary  receiving between 500,000 and 600,000 pilgrims every year-currently has the best model village with pig rearing project, model district hospital, school , ECD centre, tarmacked road, mini-market, youth centre, craft centre (Agakiriro) , water supply, electricity, and other facilities showcasing an example of liberation out of poverty.

“I and my children were living in a house with one room without a door. However, I got a big decent house in Munini model village. I have a living room, sleeping rooms for my children and grandchildren, cooking gas, TV screen, washrooms, among others,” she said.

Dancile Muhimpundu

The mother is also a member of a pig rearing cooperative in the village.

With the first production, her pig provided 10 piglets.

One piglet goes for Rwf120, 000 when they sell.

Each member of the cooperative saves half of the income on the cooperative account for development purposes.

The pigs are about to reproduce for the second time.

Francois Ndagijimana, the leader of Munini model village and president of pig farmers in this village said that they also use manure from pig rearing project in farming and sell the rest.

“We use the income to pay five workers and a veterinarian who daily monitors the life of the pigs. We started with 48 pigs and the number has increased to 215 pigs. They will also reproduce in September.

The members have bought other tillable pieces of land. They afford school fees and insurance premiums. They also have businesses in a market established for them to generate revenues,” he said.

Youth speak out

Jacqueline Mukamazimpaka, a young girl, benefitted from a craft centre (Agakiriro) established for the village.

The youth were trained on tailoring, carpentry and shoe making.

“I was trained on shoe making. I started vocational training in November last year. This is a great opportunity considering that I was unemployed. We have recently graduated and we are going to establish a cooperative,” she said.

Jeanette Shirimpumu, another girl, said that the craft centre has saved girls who had dropped out of school.

“I was not able to afford school fees in other schools. The craft centre (Agakiriro) has helped me with training and it received a tailoring machine as a tool kit serving as a capital. I have a target to set up my own tailoring workshop,” she noted.

Jean D’amour Tunezerwe is studying at G.S Munini, a storied-primary and secondary school with TVET wing and sports facilities that is located close to Munini Integrated Development (IDP) Model Village.

“No student had ICT skills. Today we have two smart classrooms with computers in addition to computer lab and library that has enough books. We have also access to books on computers,” he said.

Diane Umutesi, a senior-six student, said that those interested in sciences are now proud of three laboratories given that the school also teachers chemistry, biology and mathematics.

“The two well equipped girls’ rooms have reduced absenteeism and school dropouts,” she noted.

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Father Valens Harerimana, the head of G.S Munini, said that the school with 1,828 students (both primary and secondary) has attracted more 200 students who had dropped out of school.

The teachers have increased from 52 to 68.

The classrooms increased from 37 to 44.

“The students are studying under a single shift  system which is an advantage. The upgraded school has two smart classrooms with 100 computers. The library also has 30 computers,” he said.

With the school feeding programme, the school also uses cooking gas.

The school has eight rainwater harvesting tanks that also irrigate the school’s farmers.

Munini hospital

Munini District Hospital was redeveloped into an ultra modern health facility.

The hospital is widely viewed as a relief to the people of the area who used to travel long distances for healthcare services.

The hospital upgrade was promised to the citizens by President Kagame a few years ago, and they appreciate him for delivering.

A 300-bed facility designed from the ground up, the Munini District Hospital is intended to create a new model of referral hospital infrastructure for Rwanda.

Phase I of the project was completed in 2022 with 168 beds.

Dr. Evelyse Uwamahoro, Director General of Munini hospital said that the hospital can host 383 patients per day, an increase from 79 patients after being upgraded.

“The hospital has four surgical operations. We also have an oxygen plant,” she said.

Huye-Kibeho-Munini tarmac road

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It could take over three hours for residents from Nyaruguru to Huye district town.

“Now it is taking only between 20 and 40 hours to go to Huye town thanks to the new road,” said Gilbert Byukusenge.

The 66 kilometer Huye-Nyaruguru road was built by China’s Sinohydro Corporation Ltd at Rwf70 billion.

The road is part of infrastructure president Paul Kagame promised Nyaruguru residents in 2013.

Businesses and farmers can now easily transport their products to market centers, leading to improvement in people’s livelihood.

“These big facilities were not there 29 years ago,” Byukusenge said.

More model villages

Following a successful piloting phase (2009 – 2014/15) through which a modern village was built in every province and the city of Kigali, the government of Rwanda adopted the Integrated Development Program (IDP) Model Village concept.

Since 2016, every year Rwanda Defence Force in partnership with other government institutions develop a National IDP Model Village featured with a number of human capital development infrastructures and socio-economic projects across the country.

However, Districts are also recommended to build “District IDP Model villages”.

The national IDP Model villages inaugurated since 2016 as of 2022 include  Rweru IDP model village in Bugesera District (296 HHs) inaugured in 2016, Kazirankara IDP model village in Nyabihu District (68 HHs) & Nyundo IDP model village in Gakenke District in 2017, Horezo IDP model village in Muhanga District and Kanyenyeri IDP model village in Ngororero District in 2018.

There are also Karama IDP model village in Nyarugenge District in 2019, Gishuro IDP model village in Nyagatare District in 2020, Kinigi IDP model village in Musanze District in 2021, and Munini IDP model village (48 HHs) as well as  Cyivugiza IDP model village in Nyaruguru District inaugurated in 2022.

Nyaruguru in statistics

According to the third Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV3), 38.4% of the population in Nyaruguru district was identified as non-poor; 35.4% were extremely poor and 26.2%   poor (excluding extreme-poor).

Extreme poverty drastically decreased to 28 per cent according to EICV 4 (2013/14).

The rate of stunting in Nyaruguru District decreased from 42 per cent in 2015 to 39 per cent in 2020, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

A recent survey by Rwanda Biomedical Centre found that the rate has decreased to 34 per cent.

ALSO READ: How ECD centres are boosting nutrition in Nyaruguru District

Access to clean water is at 90.1 per cent currently while access to electricity is at 92 per cent, an increase from one percent in 2011.

The district has One District Hospital with 16 health Centres, 36 Health Posts from 12 Health centers before 1994.

The district boasts 100 km of tarmac roads from 20km before  1994.