Demobilized soldiers complain of poor accommodations and stipends years after serving their country
As much as the majority of demobilized soldiers are happy with the privileges they receive from the government, there is still a sizeable group that are requesting for more assistance to ameliorate their deteriorating living standards.
The welfare of ex-soldiers is handled by the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) and among its mandate is to implement and manage the benefits enjoyed by ex-soldiers particularly those who have sustained serious injuries during the liberation struggle.
The main reimbursements include medical insurance and a monthly allowance of Frw50, 000 given to those classified under category one and two—the categories reserved for the most serious injuries. Yet according to criticism from the beneficiaries, the commission is not serving its mandate fully.
Gasongo is one disgruntled former soldier. After being struck by a mortar at Kigali’s Hotel Umubano on Apr. 25, 1994, he sustained injuries on his spinal cord, and now sits on a wheel chair. Gasongo says he is appreciative to RDRC and the World Bank, who together funded the construction of his home, but claims the construction was done poorly.
Gasongo’s allegations are confirmed by three of his friends—Alphose Kibonge, Jean-Marie Mudakikwa and Peter Mugisha—who all live in the 43 homes that comprise Kanombe’s Nyarugunga estate. Each house includes two bedrooms and a built in toilet and kitchen.
Mudakikwa insists that the walls in his bedrooms and toilet are wearing out. “I believe they swindled the funds because for example the ballast was not mixed appropriately with cement and our window panes are made of wood, which makes it easier for robbers to break into our houses,” he explains.
Gasongo agrees with Mukakikwa, citing the several cracks that appear on the floor of his house as well. He goes on to question why the project didn’t equip the houses with electricity and instead left the burden to beneficiaries.
Mugisha notes that he paid Frw64,000 to get power connection from a distance of 7 meters; he obtained the money through credit from friends. “The longer one stays away from the electricity transformer the more they pay,” he explains.
The mayor of Kicukiro district Paul Jules Ndamage agrees that electricity is essential in the ex-soldiers houses and two years ago during a visit to the demobilized soldiers at Nyarugunga estate he discovered only six people had their houses connected to power. Although he says it wasn’t his responsibility, Ndamage offered the community a donation of Frw670,000 that was drawn from a fund reserved to help vulnerable individuals.
Another estate with similar problems is Muyumbo in Gasabo district. There, the beneficiaries have stayed in their new houses constructed by RDRC for the past 2 months. Papa Kevin argues that the installation of power is taking a slow pace and he fears the process will by be delayed.
“We might have better houses compared to those in Nyarugunga but some of us don’t have water and electricity in our houses,” he says. “That’s why recently we unanimously called the district to intervene and assist us.”
In response, the chairman of RDRC Jean Sayizonga explains that the demobilized soldiers should learn to appreciate what they get since the commission doesn’t have
enough funds to construct and fully equip the houses. “What we’ve given them is fair. For example the houses are connected with water and spacious rooms including, a toilet room which has a bathing shower tap,” says Sayizonga. “In the future we also intend to connect electricity based to how bigger the funds get.”
In an earlier interview with Brigadier General Geoffrey Byegeka, the former director general of Zigama CSS, a bank where the allowances of demobilized soldiers are issued, he was quick to agree that the monthly allowance is not sufficient to cater for all the former soldiers’ needs, and as a result it was agreed with the RDRC that these individuals should be able to acquire loans.
Consequently, a 10% deduction from their monthly stipend was initiated to act as savings as well as collaterals for those who need credit. The same principle is also applied to serving policemen and soldiers.
Although some ex-soldiers believe the deductions are mandatory, those who are willing can be exempted, though this will hinder ones access to credit. “The reason why we arrived to this principle is because we realised that they were doing little with the monthly allowance,” says Byegeka. “That’s why we wanted to give them a boost through loans of which they can use wisely to start up their own income generating activities.”
However, some Nyarungunga based ex-soldiers claim that up to now they haven’t seen any one from either the demobilization commission or Zigama CSS bank come to explain to them why the fees are deducted.
Yet the bank’s management argues that it has been conducting a nationwide awareness campaign on how ex-soldiers can acquire credit to start up income generating activities. During the awareness period the ex-combatants are issued with bank statements showing records of savings from the 10% deducted monthly.
Byegeka further points out that when someone dies before clearing their loans there is a solidarity fund that covers ones credit for up to Frw2 million, which is then provided to the deceased soldiers immediate family.
This might sound fair in principle but according to the families of two deceased ex soldiers, Ernest Mupenzi and Moise Nkiriyimana, this money has not been forthcoming from the bank or from the demobilization commission.
Chantal Dusabe, Mupenzi’s sister, claims that the commission has been reluctant to give her the money remaining from the deceased account or the house that the demobilization commission had said it would construct for Mupenzi in Musanze district.
Jean Sayinzoga, chairman of the RDRC, notes that he was aware of the case and that the problem with Dusabe is that she has not proved that she is in fact Mupenzi’s sister. He further points out that Dusabe doesn’t qualify to get the house since she’s considered invulnerable. “This lady studies in a campus which means she’s most likely to get a job after studies, therefore we’re going to spare that house to another vulnerable ex-soldier,” Sayizonga explains.
Dusabe disagrees with the commission’s explanation since she has a letter written by her late brother recommending her to own the house. But according to Sayizonga, the letter or any similar agreements are against RDRC laws and do not influence any decision.
Meanwhile some demobilized soldiers who complain of a lack of funds have taken matters into their own hands to improve their income. Ex-soldiers in Nyarugunga for instance have formed a cooperative by the name of Impuhwe to deal with agricultural produce.
Among the 53 members is Kibonge. He thanks the ministry of defense for giving them land measuring 33 hectares in Kanombe’s Karama’s cell.
“Months ago the ministry of defense promised to give us 20 modern cattle,: he adds. “But wer’e still waiting and I hope this doesn’t end up to be an empty promise like what other well wishers have done to us,” says Kibonge. The cattle, he says, would improve their income drastically.
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