MPs seek answers for death of over 380 goats given to poor families in Nyagatare District

By The Inspirer

The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC)  has sought accountability for the death of 382 goats (or 66 percent of 579 goats) which were given to the economically vulnerable people in Nyagatare District to help them get rid of poverty.

This issue irked Members of Parliament (MPs) on September 21, 2021 during PAC’s public hearings in which the District officials were quizzed about public asset mismanagement cases indicated in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2019-2020.

The goats were meant to help the poor get rid of poverty, but MPs said the achievement of this goal was undoubtedly hampered by the fact that over half of them died before benefiting the recipients.

According to the Auditor General’s report, the goats were distributed in 2018-2019 under the initiative known as the Minimum Package for Graduation [from poverty] programme. The programme was aimed to deliver a defined package of core social protection and complementary interventions with a view to strengthening household productivity and resilience.

As per the status report about distributed livestock prepared and submitted by the Executive Secretary of Kiyombe Sector on October 15, 2019, only 197 out of 579 goats distributed were in possession by beneficiaries, while the remaining balance of 382 goats representing 66 percent of total, were not available by the time of reporting due to different reasons some died, sold and others were killed, according to the audit.

However, during the year under review, the audit noted that there was no evidence of follow up made by the district and any action made by the district management on the above highlighted case of Kiyombe Sector.

This, according to the Auditor General, may serve as an indicator of weaknesses in monitoring the implementation of the programme.

Responding to the issue, Nyagatare District Executive Secretary, Fred Hategekimana said that the assessment that they carried out showed that the livestock was sourced from a different place, and later died as a result of the environment of Kiyombe – suggesting that the goats did not adapt to the climatic conditions of the area.

“Do you want to mean that goats can’t survive in Kiyombe such that 382 of the 579 provided goats have died? Again, if it is a fact that Kiyombe is an unfavourable place for goats, why were they bought and taken there,” MP Germaine Mukabalisa asked Nyagatare District Executive Secretary.

MP Anita Mutesi wondered whether there was not any other factor – such as an epidemic – that caused the death of the hundreds of goats, while MP Christine Bakundufite asked whether the goats were taken to Kiyombe for trial purposes.

MP Beline Uwineza said that the death of over half of the donated goats to the needy implies that the project registered a n enormous failure.

“We would like you to tell us the epidemic that might have struck Kiyombe and claimed the lives of the goats,” she said, suggesting that even the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board would have known about it.

David Claudian Mushabe, Mayor of Nyagatare District said that the goats’ death can be blamed on the district’s leadership, indicating that Kiyombe – a sector which is near Gicumbi District – is relatively cold compared to other areas of Nyagatare.

He said that the incident that occurred does not imply that goats cannot live in Kiyombe, pointing out that the problem was caused by the fact that they were sourced from distant areas that have different climatic conditions than Kiyombe. He noted that

Also, he said, lack of proper care by beneficiaries could also be one of the culprits for the goats’ death.

PAC Chairperson Valens Muhakwa wondered whether the explanations from the district officials suggest that all the goats in Kiyombe died because of cold, urging them to value greatly initiatives meant to lift people out of poverty.