Kagera RC applauds leaders, residents for region’s victory

KAGERA: KAGERA Regional Commissioner, Fatma Mwassa, commended regional leaders and residents for their outstanding performance in the Uhuru Torch race, which secured the region’s first-place victory.

Speaking at the national World Food Day exhibition in Bukoba Municipality on Tuesday, the RC described the region’s first-place victory in the Uhuru Torch race as historic, noting that Kagera had not placed in the top ten since independence.

Mwassa expressed optimism about the future, stating, “This victory is just the beginning. There are even greater things to come.” Following her tour of the exhibition booths, which were jointly organised by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the government and partners, she added, “This is just the trailer. The film is coming.” The exhibition is a precursor to the national World Food Day celebration, which will take place in Kagera Region on Wednesday.

Mwassa highlighted Muleba District’s achievement, noting that it had secured the top position among 165 district councils, while Kagera Region had outperformed all other 31 regions.

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Mwassa explained that Kagera Region’s success was attributed to its strong performance in key areas, including the implementation of development projects (worth 32 points) and public perception of the regional government’s effectiveness in various areas such as HIV/AIDS prevention, anti-corruption efforts, the fight against illicit drugs and collaboration with religious and civil society leaders.

Mwassa said that the victory served as a testament to the people of Kagera Region’s satisfaction with the performance of both the regional and central governments in delivering development to the region.

Mwassa highlighted some of the development initiatives that contributed to Kagera Region’s success, including the establishment of an industrial corridor designed to provide vocational training for youths in various disciplines such as carpentry, masonry, electricity, glasswork, mechanics and IT.

She explained that the primary goal of establishing the industrial corridor was to equip Kagera’s youths with the skills necessary for self-employment. “Our aim is to ensure that Kagera’s youth do not become idle,” she stated, receiving enthusiastic cheers from the young people gathered in the grounds.

Mwassa mentioned that three industrial corridors had been established in Bukoba Municipality, Muleba District and Missenyi District, with plans to expand them to all districts by the following year. She emphasised the importance of these corridors in providing opportunities for youths.

Ms Mwassa said that the BBT-YIA programme in Kagera Region also contributed to this victory. She added, “The youth farm is a project that gave us very many marks.”

Ms Mwassa thanked the Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, for providing five new tractors to the youth participating in the BBT-YIA initiative.