The beauty of sunset on the last Friday of every month, symbolizes the setting in of “Umuganda” the following day. Great minds of the people of Rwanda think alike and come together to clean out the streets of their country. The last Saturday of every month sees citizens close off their business from 8:00am to 11:00am to clean their communities and maintain their stardom of being the cleanest country in Africa.
Why Umuganda?
The core reason of establishing this program in 2007 was to rebuild torn cities of the country and recover from the tears and sorrows brought by the genocide collectively as a country. The program has attributed to various progresses in the country besides uniting individuals like protecting the environment through planting trees, disposing off garbage and litter among other relevancy.
Umuganda program is also done to develop the country’s streets and keep it clean and worth staying in by everyone. Community roads are maintained, construction of houses for vulnerable, constructing public offices, health facilities among others.
Umuganda is a way of life that has transitioned over time since it was originally used in the 19th and 20th centuries by Belgians to force Rwandans to clean for their community leaders at least twice a week.
Aftermath of the segregation bought by the Belgians among Hutu and Tutsi initiated the urge of power struggle through genocide and the weekly Umuganda meetings were used by Hutu leaders to mobilize their subordinates engage in the man slaughter acts.
The consequent end of genocide insinuated a need for reconstruction and rebuilding Rwanda as a whole; therefore, Umuganda was initiated in 2007 as a mean of uniting people under a common goal and rendered a national holiday status in the country.
Initially, most people were hesitant about joining this call of good cause but the numbers of participants have been increasing tremendously through numerous awareness campaigns conducted through TV, radio shows and documentaries about the advantages of Umuganda and presently, almost 80% of citizens individuals heartily and willingly participate in this activity.
Umuganda is a community-get together where people are free to pass on any announcements and information that benefits communities. Community members have time to bring up all the problems faced in their communities and propose solutions for the betterment of their wellbeing.
Estimates have it that more than $60million have been saved by the country due to the Umuganda trail since its establishment in 2007.
Participation in Umuganda is compulsory to all Rwandans between 18 to 65 ages and individuals who fail to abide by the law are charged 5000 francs. Voluntary work done here differs and depends on what is required for each region. Natives generally engage in unblocking drainage channels, sweeping roads, collecting rubbish off the streets, constructing houses for the vulnerable, cleaning wells and so much more.
Umuganda is a day of serving the country for free with one heart, therefore service providers offer them to communities at completely no cost. For example, doctors can establish free medical camps and other professionals willing to offer free services on that day.
An organizing committee is established to motivate communities into working, supervising, evaluating and reporting the works that have been accomplished that day.
Its success has encouraged the establishment of new and similar trails like one that started in South Sudan in 2019 by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
