It was revealed that the Vision Umurenge Program (VUP) has used around Rwf 290 billion in its three initiatives since its inception in 2008.
The program that aims at increasing citizens’ welfare and pull them from poverty has three main initiatives including the Direct Support which is the money given to the citizens of the first Ubudehe category for them to survive.
Needy citizens also are employed by the government in Public Works and given a small salary to further their daily survival.
Through VUP, citizens are also given financial services such as loans to run their small businesses on loans to be paid later when they get income.
According to Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (RODA), the VUP program was introduced by His Excellency President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame after realizing that 36.9 percent of citizens live in a huge poverty due to the history of the country.
Justin Gatsinzi, Division Manager in LODA says that VUP helped many Rwandans especially those who were in needy situation to afford basic needs.
He said that the program helped many of citizens who could not afford food commodities, residential houses and more.
“Many people were struggling to find clothes, food and basic needs in general. Today we can see those who managed to build their own houses, many others joined Agriculture, others bought small livestock and cows, while others joined saving groups and banks,” Gatsinzi says.
Annonciatta Nyirakamana, the old woman from Kinyinya sector in Gasabo district have been benefiting from VUP support since 2013.
She told kigalitoday that the money she is given helped her to improve living conditions and has started other development initiatives.
“the Rwf11,000 they give me help me to buy food, I can use it to pay a farmer, I was living in an old house but now I have a decent house,” said Nyirakamana.
Similar testimony is given by Emmanuel Munyakayanza from Nyaruguru District who started working in VUP since 2011.
Munyakayanza said that the support of VUP Program helped him to upgrade his Ubudehe category.
“I was in a loneliness and development was like a dream to me, I benefited from VUP jobs where we made terraces, roads, and I used the salary to tackle home basic needs. I bought small livestock and I am no longer in first category of Ubudehe,” he said.
People working in the Vision Umurenge Program.
With its inception between 2008-2009, the VUP program started with 18,304 beneficiaries from 30 sectors in all districts of the country who were very poor than others.
During the then period, the government spent Rwf 4 billion in all its four pillars of development.
In 2009-2010, the three VUP pillars benefited 124,431 citizens from 60 sectors with Rwf14,8 billion.
In 2010-2011, VUP reached to 175,677 citizens from 90 sectors with Rwf 17,6 billion.
In 2011-2012, VUP reached in 120 sectors for 177,354 beneficiaries with Rwf 22,4 billion.
In 2012-2013, VUP reached in 180 sectors to 187,894 beneficiaries who were given Rwf 30,4 billion. In 2013-2014, VUP reached to 217,433 citizens from 240 sectors with Rwf 24,5 billion. In 2014-2015, VUP reached to 213,319 beneficiaries from 330 sectors with Rwf 28,4 billion.
In 2015-2016, VUP benefited 270,671 citizens from all sectors of the country (416) with RWF 32 billion.
In 2016-2017, VUP reached to 244,661 beneficiaries in all 416 sectors with Rwf 34,3 billion.
In 2017-2018, VUP reached to 283,990 beneficiaries from all 416 sectors with Rwf 35,4 billion while in last year 2018-2019, VUP reached to 293,314 beneficiaries countrywide and Rwf 45,3 billion was used.
