A group of vulnerable elderly women in Huye District say a project meant to lift them out of poverty has left them in financial distress.
The women were given more than three million Rwandan francs to invest in poultry farming. Instead of profits, they report heavy losses.
Project Aimed to Reduce Poverty
The beneficiaries are members of a group known as Twungubumwe. They live in Mukoni Village, Cyarwa Cell, Tumba Sector, Huye District.
The women, most of whom are genocide survivors, received funding through a government poverty reduction program supported by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC).
The project involved poultry farming, with the expectation that income from chickens and eggs would help them become financially independent.
Women Say Sales Money Disappeared
Several group members, who requested anonymity, said they never received money from the sale of chickens and eggs.
“MINALOC gave us about three million eight hundred thousand francs to help us escape poverty,” one woman said.
“The district veterinarian connected us to Uzima Chicken Company. They supplied chickens and promised to help sell our produce. After selling the chickens, we waited for the money, but it never came.”
She added that phone numbers provided by those handling the sales were later switched off.
Another beneficiary shared a similar experience.
“We raised the chickens using the money we were given,” she said.
“Those who sold them disappeared. We asked local leaders who connected us to them, but we got no answers. We suffered serious losses.”
Uzima Chicken Denies Responsibility
Eric Bizimana, the Uzima Chicken representative in Huye and Nyaruguru districts, denied allegations that the company linked the women to buyers.
He said Uzima Chicken’s role was limited to supplying chicks and eggs.
“We no longer connect farmers to buyers,” Bizimana said.
“Our role is only to supply chicks. They choose buyers themselves. If someone sold their products and failed to pay, they should report the case to relevant authorities.”
District Authorities Promise Follow-Up
Huye District Mayor Ange Sebutege said the matter will be investigated.
“We have identified four individuals who owe the group 161,000 francs,” the mayor said.
“We will review the contracts signed with the sector and ensure obligations are fulfilled.”
Group Says Project Has Collapsed
The women say their group initially received more than 3.8 million francs. They claim nearly half of the funds are now missing.
They say the losses forced them to abandon poultry farming entirely.
“We were supposed to escape poverty,” one woman said.
“Instead, we are poorer than before.”
