Rwanda peacekeepers deployed in UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID), were joined by International Staff and Darfur Locals in Global Umuganda to mark 20th commemoration of genocide against Tutsi. The community work was conducted in a place called Suqal Mawashi, El-Fasher, Sudan.
Peacekeepers helped locals to collect plastic bags, cleared stagnant water around El-Fasher suburbs, removed dirty stuffs, and cleaned different places.
In a meeting after Umuganda, Brig Gen Norbert Kalimba, UNAMID Chief of Staff, on behalf of UNAMID leadership, encouraged the locals present to adopt the culture of Umuganda in their country and live in a clean environment.
Gen Kalimba also urged the locals to cooperate with Security Forces to bring stability in their region. “Your cooperation is key to bring about security in your region”, Gen Kalimba told the locals.
Col SK Baguma, Rwanda Contingent Commander in UNAMID promised to conduct Umuganda activities monthly, as it is being practiced in Rwanda, as long as they will own it and are committed on it.
“If you own and commit yourself on these activities we shall do the same every end of the month as we are practicing it back home,” told them Col Baguma.
Locals thanked Rwandan peacekeepers to help them clean up their neighborhoods. “We had never seen Military apart from their military activities helping us to do cleaning”.
One of the locals thanked Rwanda peacekeepers for much assistance they have rendered to them.
“We appreciate Rwanda peacekeepers activities here in Darfur, there are many peacekeepers from different nationalities in Darfur, but we had never seen any of them initiating such kindly acts apart from you” said Mustaf Tadjan, the chief of hygiene and Sanitation in El- fasher.
Meanwhile, Rwanda Peacekeepers deployed in AU peace mission in Central Africa conducted Global Umuganda in their barracks, SOCATEL MPOKO, Bangui where they cleaned neighborhoods and made ground leveling where they will establish tents for soldiers.
RwaMechBatt1 had launched and conducted Umuganda with Bangui residents on 22 March 2014, where they cleared bush in SOCATI and BENENGWE localities, Bangui, Central African Republic.
MoD
UM– USEKE.RW
