THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

On October 30, 2013 the Representatives of Persons with Disabilities at District, Province including Kigali City and National levels elected the new President at NPC Gymnasium / Remera.

Everything was well prepared. After listening to the speech of the two candidates the election process started.

After finalizing the vote, the two candidates recorded the following votes, as summarized in the table below:

Note: Normally, the member’s election committee of PWDs is made by 72 persons from all districts, Province including Kigali City and at National level. There were 59 electors present on this occasion.

The new NCPD President is Mr. Romalis NIYOMUGABO and he got 41 votes. He is married, 33 years of age and has Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing and a Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development; option Agribusiness from Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Education of Kibungo (RWANDA) that he got in 2007. He was Coordinator of NCPD at Gatsibo District. Currently, he works as Trainer of the Trainers at National and International level and as Consultant (COMRAP/AGRA/ COMESA/ ACTESSA).

After being elected, the new NCPD President presented the highlights from his plan of action to the electors:

• Working closely with MINALOC to set up a Ministry of PWDs;
• Promoting the use of ICT in the disability movement;
• Put more effort into optimising Rwanda’s Ambassadorial Country Status and aim for an African Disability Trust Fund(ADTF);
• Enhancing cooperation and partnership of NCPD with Stakeholders;
• Ensure that PWDs are well categorized;
• Implement employment policy among PWDs on a quota basis;
• Accelerate effort in getting Rwanda Sign Language recognized as a 3^rd official language;
• Promotion of sport among PWDs;
• Strengthening NCPD Executive committee members from Cells, Sector up to National level;
• Capacity building within cooperatives of PWDs;
• Implement the program”ndi Umunyarwanda” among PWDs;

The new NCPD President, Mr. Romalis NIYOMUGABO, also highlighted his personal motto which is “Do not postpone your dreams”.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary of NCPD, Mr Emmanuel NDAYISABA thanked the members of the election committee for the work done. He expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Prof Kalisa MBANDA for the initiative taken to participate and attend the election of the NCPD new president. ”This shows the dignity and value you give persons with disabilities”: he concluded.

In his closing speech, the Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Prof KALISA MBANDA thanked the electors for the well done activity of electing their new President. He requested the new NCPD President to work in partnership with stakeholders for socioeconomic development of Persons with Disabilities.

Reporter

Sosthene NDIKUMANA/NCPD