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The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has cautioned six districts that are accused of mishandling funds designated for constructing homes for victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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On November 11, during a meeting, PAC stated that the districts of Ruhango, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, and Rubavu had mismanaged approximately Rwf1.1 billion since at least 2017, according to the Office of the Auditor General.

The money, distributed via the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), was intended to assist in the building and restoration of houses for vulnerable victims.

The chair of the PAC, MP Valens Muhakwa, condemned the districts for breaching government instructions.

“Areas did not focus on this matter and illegally redirected the money, ignoring guidelines regarding constructing homes for Genocide survivors,” Muhakwa stated.

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Ruhango District was responsible for the highest amount of misused funds, totaling Rwf741 million, followed by Rubavu with Rwf266 million. Nyamasheke misused up to Rwf51 million, while Rusizi saw Rwf45.7 million misused. Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru were reported to have misused Rwf14 million and Rwf3.9 million respectively.

The PAC directed the districts to return the funds and allocate them back to their initial objective.

The Minister for National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, informed legislators that a well-defined policy structure has been put in place to direct the rebuilding efforts for survivors.

“All areas now have well-defined protocols, which will aid in avoiding similar problems going forward. The money that was improperly used needs to be returned to its initial projects, despite the fact that their value has declined since 2018 and 2019,” he stated.

ALSO READ: All housing issues for genocide survivors are expected to be resolved by 2026.

MP Barthelemy Karinijabo called on local officials to accelerate their actions.

“The money was intended to tackle the housing emergency for survivors. Giving it back in 2027 or 2028 will be too late. We need to speed up this process because,” Kalinijabo stated.

As a defense, Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, the mayor of Nyaruguru District, stated that the Rwf 3.9 million was initially allocated for monitoring expenses during the 2022/23 financial year but was later moved to restore a survivor’s house in the Ngera Sector.

In the same way, Mayor Hildebrand Niyomwungeri of Nyamagabe mentioned that the Rwf14 million will be allocated to restore 17 houses for victims of the Genocide.

The mayor of Nyamasheke District, Narcisse Mupenzi, informed PAC that his administration intends to utilize revenue collected locally to reclaim the misappropriated funds.

“We made a mistake by buying plots rather than constructing homes, but we have created a strategy to fix this,” Mupenzi said to the house committee.

“We anticipate resolving the matter completely within three years, and ideally even earlier,” he stated.

ALSO READ: Ruhango: More than 1,000 homes belonging to vulnerable genocide survivors require restoration

The PAC recommended that Ruhango District, which has the largest amount of misused funds, address its problem within two years rather than four.

Mayor Valens Habarurema stated that Rwf87 million had already been returned and that the district had established a repayment schedule.

“We intend to issue a refund of Rwf90 million right away, followed by Rwf150 million, then Rwf265 million, and finally another Rwf150 million. Due to our financial constraints, we anticipate finishing this process by 2029,” he stated.

Habarurema stated that the improper use of Rwf741 million in Ruhango District was due to extra expenses during a 2017 housing initiative.

“In 2017, when we built 20 houses, we incorporated additional elements like classrooms and cowsheds, which caused the costs to exceed the original budget,” he stated.

“Despite our local revenues being restricted, we are examining our strategies to shorten the repayment term,” he stated.

Mayor Prosper Mulindwa of Rubavu stated that out of the Rwf 266 million in question, Rwf 71 million has already been distributed during this financial year, with construction work currently taking place.

They have constructed 207 houses and fixed 288. This year, 12 additional families will receive new homes. They have pledged to complete the remaining tasks by 2026 or 2027,” he stated.

Minister Bizimana committed to collaborating closely with local districts to reduce the time needed for project completion and enhance responsibility.

“We will create ongoing monitoring groups and guarantee that the funds are utilized exclusively for their designated use. Individuals proven guilty of mismanagement should be held responsible to ensure such errors do not occur again,” he stated.

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