The Mayor of Kigali City and the Rector of the National University of Rwanda (NUR) on October 4 signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see Nyarugenge District benefit from the technical expertise of the newly launched University Center, Rwanda Development Gateway.

Addressing the meeting inside the Nyarugenge District Headquarters’ boardroom, Philbert Nsengimana, the Director of Rwanda Development Gateway (RDG), defined the partnership as a commitment of both parties to work together for long-term benefits. He cited enabling online service delivery to citizens as the top priority, among others. He also is the Coordinator of African Gateways.

“Nyarugenge, like NUR, signed and is bound by a performance contract,” NUR Rector Prof. Silas Lwakabamba said. He added that top among the issues in the university’s contract is to provide the best training that is relevant to the Rwandan community.
Citing an example of Tanzania’s online tax payment system, the rector suggested that all activities at all levels should be ICT integrated. RDG is in the process of developing an online performance evaluation tool, e-mihigo, that shall assist different stakeholders involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the “imihigo” to perform their duties in a much more efficient and cost effective way. The new system is expected to be among Rwanda’s few original software development products.

Also at the function, the Kigali City Mayor, Dr Aisa Kirabo Kakira, expressed her gratitude to NUR and RDG. She also commended the interactive communication feature that was presented as part of the key features of the upcoming Nyarugenge District website presently under construction at RDG.

The mayor requested that RDG should include more multi-lingual features on the website and observed that this partnership presented an opportunity to network with different stakeholders.
“I look forward to a fruitful partnership,” she said before she was handed a wrapped gift by the interim district mayor, Olivier Mugema, in recognition of her continued support.

The partnership comes into force in the wake of a visit to Rwanda by African Gateway managers and the Development Gateway Foundation Chief Executive, Mark Fleeton. The visit came as a result of Rwanda Development Gateway’s continued excellence in integration of ICT in development activities in the country.

Source: New times
Sunday, 08 October 2006