ARJ and Institut Panos Paris discuss on Ubudehe as a current issue

Sunday, 7th, July, 2013, The Institut Panos- Paris in cooperation with the ARJ(Association Rwandaise des Journalistes) held a discussion  on current issues relating to Rwandan political, economic and international news. At the International level they discussed on the likely endless unrest in Egypt.

 The motion, in as far as Rwandan news are concerned , explored ups and downs on Ubudehe Validation , a topic that has been discussed upon between leaders and civil society last two weeks.The show was broadcasted by Isango Star Radio Station, Kigali-Rwanda and is scheduled to taking place weekly.

The discussion started by introducing the guests and panelists.

Mr Fred Muvunyi alongside Miss Solange Ayanone were journalists that conducted the discussion.

The guests were:

– Permanent Secretary of State in MINALOC (Ministry of Local Government Affairs), Madame Dr Alivera Mukabaramba

-RDSF(Rwanda Development Support Fund) representative Miss Esperance Uwimbabazi,

-Rwandan Civil Society Representative Mr Munyamariza Edward.

Interveners revealed that the Ubudehe categorization needs to be readjusted so to be fair enough because according to a certain contributor one student cannot be able to pay himself

Journalits attending the session included Janvier Nshimiyumukiza with Oswald Mutuyeyezu  from a local Flash FM.

The show started with Minister Mukabaramba defining what Ubudehe is and philosophy behind it.

She said that Ubudehe is a historically rooted solution Rwandans have set against endemic poverty they faced but still have to eradicate using their own means.

Underlining the importance of this homegrown policy, she said that Ubudehe underwent different implementation phases before it became implemented at national level.

Muvunyi asked her what are the current categories according  to on Ubudehe. She mentioned them as follow:

-Abatindi Nyakujya(Very extremely poor people)

-Abatindi(Extremely poor people)

-Abakene(poor people)

-Abakene(relatively poor people)

-Abakungu(rich people)

-Abakire (highly wealthy people)

These names are the root of debate between civil society and local government officials. Munyamaliza said that these names are sounding like they are abusing people’s value. For him calling someone Umutindi is like saying he/she is even empty-minded. ‘The idea is good in itself but names need changes’ ,he continued.

His views were  supported by Mr Oswald Mutuyeyezu,who citing how this categorization is set in developed countries. For the MINALOC to set fair names could learn from these names from how western names are set .Mutuyeyezu highlighted the fact thet these names were not set up through scientific  procedures thus confusing names  In developed nations ,these nominations are Lower  Class, Middle Class and Upper Class).

For the panel to understand the reactions of the concerned population, Solange Ayanone played a sample of sound recorded story of University students. These students claim that they and their families were not fully informed on the categorization and validation procedures in Ubudehe.

One student from KIE (Kigali Institute of Education) said that it is not fair to taking a student whose parents  hardly find Mutuelle de Santé fees(This is a healthy insurance that also undergone different changes and categorizations) and ban university fees to the, simply because he can pay  Mutuelle

Another component of Ubudehe that brought more confusions during the debate relate to the fact that one category brings together different people living in different urban or rural areas while they might have different living styles and financial capabilities

Minister of State Mukabaramba recognized that Ubudehe is undergoing readjustments so to remove these inhumane names such as Umutindi and set clear categorization procedures ahead.

However she does not support the idea that removing these categories is an ultimate solution. She rather advocates for a clear study on how these categories are being used by MINEDUC the Ministry of Education in order to list whose students who can be sponsored at University and the ones do not.

During the time reserved to listeners, one twitted that local officials are ‘sometimes’ the ones to categorize families while according to the policy, local inhabitants are the ones to do so basing on their knowledge on their fellow who is neediest than others.

‘They do that in order to fulfill the gap that could be result from the fact that the Imihigo performance contact could not materialize” He twitted .

Reacting to this, Minister Mukabaramba said that this is not acceptable as local leaders are facilitators to Ubudehe implementation not a selector of one’s family economic status.

Accordigng to Minister Mukabaramba ,the renew of the categorizations and validation is scheduled  to take place every three years because as She continues ,it is after that time that one’s socio-economic status is most likely t0 have changed significantly.

Solange Ayanone asked her the reasons why this  happens every three years not  one year.

Minister responded that this can not technically be done because it takes both money and time.

At the agenda they were an other issue to discuss upon, that is the Egyptian crisis ,but time was not on their side.

The discussion ended with thanking the participants  especially Minister who reserved a time to attending the show despite her agenda.

Usually Institut Panos-Paris wishes to promote and foster the culture of debate on current issues that relate both to Rwandan and international scenes for a public interest through media. It targets at enhancing freedom of expression  through debating and discussing shows.

Nizeyimana Jean Pierre

UM– USEKE