KIGALI, 31 March 2026 – The Senate convened a consultative meeting to assess the National Umuganda Policy and address challenges hindering its full potential. While Umuganda remains a cornerstone of Rwanda’s development, contributing significantly to infrastructure and social cohesion, leaders identified a need for strategic reforms to boost its effectiveness.

Participants noted that Umuganda continues to supplement the national budget by driving the construction of schools, health centres, and housing for the vulnerable, while bridging the gap between leaders and citizens.

To maximise future impact, the Senate highlighted several areas for improvement:

• Engagement: Overcoming low participation rates among youth and urban residents.
• Planning: Addressing weaknesses in coordination, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Awareness: Strengthening the public’s understanding of Umuganda as a vital civic duty.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to intensify awareness campaigns, improve participatory planning, and establish clearer metrics to measure Umuganda’s contribution to the national economy. The Senate pledged to monitor these measures closely to ensure the program remains a sustainable driver of Rwanda’s growth.