Rwanda Distributes Food Under Coronavirus Lockdown

The Government of Rwanda on Saturday started distributing essentials first to the most vulnerable citizens across the country, hours after President Kagame announced the support program in a televised state of the nation address.

Sector pick-up trucks were seen in different sectors loaded with basic essentials including; maize flour, beans, cooking oil, rice, salt, and sugar and soap.

All items are locally produced. Rations will be issued based on the number of people in a household.

Sector workers used weighing scales to ensure equal packages for every beneficiary.

With environmental protection as a major principle to adhere to, all essentials were packaged in paper envelopes before handing them to beneficiaries.

Through Ubudehe program all Rwandan households are categorized to ensure their economic status.

It is very simple for every sector to know poorest families in category 1. Other categories include 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

However, last year the government launched an exercise to review the entire Ubudehe social stratification for all Rwandans because in the past, some citizens complained against being placed in wrong categories.

Every three years, Ubudehe categories are updated in order to identify the best practices, challenges and gaps and make necessary changes to the system.

Leadership in MOTION! @RwandaGov has started the distribution of food and other basic essentials to vulnerable groups across the country. This follow a public lockdown to control the spread of #Coronavirus Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/c5RsCTiPIn
— African (@ali_naka) March 28, 2020