Minister of Local Government Visits Development Projects in Gakenke District
On 21 April 2026, the Minister of Local Government, Dominique Habimana, paid a working visit to Gakenke District, where he inspected various development initiatives in Muhondo and Ruli Sectors. The projects visited included the ongoing rehabilitation of Muhondo Health Centre, Dukundekawa Musasa Cooperative, which specializes in coffee production and processing, and COMIKAGI Cooperative, which is engaged in the mining and processing of mineral resources.
The Minister was accompanied by the Governor of the Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, the Mayor of Gakenke District, Vestine Mukandayisenga, members of the security organs, district officials, development partners, and local leaders from the sectors visited.
During the visit to Dukundekawa Musasa Cooperative, the Minister noted its significant contribution to improving the local economy and the livelihoods of residents. The cooperative processes high-quality coffee for export to international markets, creates employment opportunities for local communities, and supports a range of socio-economic development initiatives.
Dukundekawa Musasa Cooperative has more than 1,100 members and employs 55 permanent staff, while providing seasonal employment to approximately 550 workers during the coffee harvest. In addition to coffee processing, the cooperative operates a milk collection centre with a daily processing capacity of 5,000 litres, an early childhood development centre for the children of its employees, and several community development initiatives, including support for the Girinka (One Cow per Poor Family) programme, a handicrafts centre, and other income-generating activities.
The Minister also visited COMIKAGI Cooperative, which is involved in the extraction and processing of mineral resources, including cassiterite and coltan, producing value-added mineral products for the market. The cooperative provides employment to approximately 1,500 people daily across its six mining sites.
The Minister commended both cooperatives for their vital role in promoting socio-economic development and improving the welfare of local communities. He encouraged them to further increase both the quality and quantity of their production in order to strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.
As part of his visit, the Minister also held a community meeting with residents of Ruli Cell in Ruli Sector, where he discussed various government programmes aimed at improving citizens' livelihoods, promoting community development, and strengthening public security.
