Declaration 2: Publication and Manuscripts
4.3 Different accounts of umuganda
4.3.3 The purpose of umuganda
Table 4.5 below indicates that respondents have significantly varying opinions regarding the purpose of umuganda over the historical period. More specifically, respondents from both Kigali and Western Province stated that in the pre-colonial period, the purpose of umuganda was to improve the welfare of the population (76% in Kigali and 87% in Western Province). One
89
of the respondents said, “in the early days it was good, because no one lived in isolation (ubwigunge) or had a stressful life wondering how you will survive tomorrow. Neighbours were always there watching, and whenever needed, people came and helped you out” (OCM 16 03 Jan 2011). Respondents also believed that, “depending on each other’s labour contribution was what mainly unified the early banya-Rwanda” (FGD 2-a 20 Dec 2010).
An elderly person appreciated the umuganda of the pre-colonial period, saying that umuganda had the purpose of maintaining the balance of socio-economic equality, especially among the agrarian and pastoralist communities. He gave as an example:
When someone was in need of a shelter, for example, it did not matter whether one is agriculturalist or pastoralist (Hutu or Tutsi); everyone was required to offer and to benefit from umuganda (Interview: EL 5-a 02 Jan 2011).
One elder shared his experience: when he was growing up in 1918, some households were using other people, abaja (domestic workers/servants), to cultivate their fields but this did not stop umuganda from happening. He says that, “it did not matter if one was wealthy and used abaja or not, participating in umuganda was still a social and self-obligation because the purpose was not only to increase the well-being to the household but to forge a union that formed a community life” (EL 9-b 24 Dec 2010). One of the participants said:
Today we do not see this type of social responsibility toward each other. Communities have become detached from it (umuganda) and it is increasingly becoming a state-led organisation (OCM 17-a 1 Jan 2011).
From this understanding, umuganda served as a social function of unity and responsibility.
This social function was, however, destroyed between the beginning of the colonial period and
90
the time of genocide, where umuganda, as other work, was aimed at one particular group (see Chapter 3).
Participants from Kigali thought that during the colonial and post-colonial periods until the genocide the purpose of umuganda was to create a forum to communicate the decisions of leaders to the population (51% and 35% respectively). Furthermore, participants from Western Province had two equal responses for the purpose of umuganda in the colonial period, which are to improve the welfare of the community (35%) and a forum to communicate the decisions of leaders to the population (35%).
Table 4.5: The purpose of umuganda
Location Pre-
colonial
Colonial Post-
colonial
Post- genocide
n % n % n % n %
Kigali The purpose of umuganda 65 86 65 86 71 93 76 100
Improve the welfare of the community
58 76 21 28 7 9 12 16
Communicate the decisions of leaders to the population
2 3 33 51 47 62 23 30
A forum to give the population an opportunity to express their ideas
1 1 0 0 3 4 14 18
All the above statements met the purpose
2 3 1 2 10 13 27 36
Other responses 2 3 10 15 4 5 0 0
n % n % n % n %
Western Province
The purpose of umuganda 62 98 63 100 62 98 63 100 Improve the welfare of the
community
55 87 22 35 9 14 13 21
Communicate the decisions of leaders to the population
4 6 22 35 27 43 18 29
A forum to give the population an opportunity to express their ideas
3 5 1 2 9 14 9 14
All the above statements met the purpose
0 0 2 3 8 13 22 35
Other responses 0 0 16 25 9 14 1 2
91
Moreover, a non-negligible percentage of respondents from Kigali (15%) asserted the following as reasons for umuganda during the colonial period: “Divide and rule”; “Obtain cheap labour force”; and “Serve interests of colonial administration”. There were also other opinions from Western Province which suggested that the purpose of umuganda in the colonial period was to divide Rwandans and to increase the colonial economy. One participant narrated:
Umuganda in the colonial period had two main objectives. One was to divide Rwandans so that they could rule them easily. They [colonial masters] thought that Hutus are strong and therefore could be used more and cruelly for all hard work. Second, was to increase their economy (Interview: OCM 1-b 23 Dec 2010).
Nevertheless, participants from both Kigali and Western Province expressed appreciation for the work, such as main roads and some public buildings, done during the colonial period which Rwandans are still benefiting from, despite other consequences (see also Chapter 3).
Participants from both Kigali and Western Province responded that in the post-colonial period, umuganda‘s purpose was and still is to communicate leader’s decision to the population (62%
and 43% respectively).In the group discussion, participants shared experiences of the post- colonial period where umuganda was used for the government propaganda, using hate speech that divides people. They said that “aba-tutsi would not dare participate in umuganda because songs and all propaganda were based on humiliating them” (FGD 1-b 20 December 2010).
Participants from both Kigali and Western Province responded that after 1994, umuganda’s purpose was to improve the welfare of the community, to communicate the decision of leaders to the population, as well as to serve as a forum to give the population an opportunity to express their ideas (36% and 35% respectively).
92
From the data presented, other responses from both Kigali and Western Province suggested that in the post-colonial period and until the genocide, as well as in the post-genocide period, the purpose of umuganda was and still is for political gain; to control the population and to implement the government’s programs.