Rwanda Union of the Blind Joins Community Tree Planting in Huye District

Persons with visual impairments on Saturday joined the monthly community work focused on planting trees in Ngoma sector of Huye District in the Southern Province.

The Mayor of Huye District, Ange Sebutege, participated in the exercise, which forms part of ongoing efforts to support sustainable development and the greening programs.

Following the tree planting, participants held a briefing where Mayor Sebutege commended the strong turnout and emphasized the importance of inclusive participation in national development programs.

Members of the visually impaired community expressed enthusiasm about their involvement, saying the initiative showed that disability does not limit a person’s contribution to society.

Regine Umuhoza, a University of Rwanda student and representative of visually impaired students at the institution’s Huye Campus, shared that she planted four trees, adding that this is a proof that all Rwandans can engage in community work irrespective disabilities.

The day coincided with the awareness on the importance of white cane.

“The white cane is essential for us who are visually impaired. We request that these canes be made more accessible at the local level because they can break, and replacing them is costly,” she added.

Her sentiments were echoed by Jean Tuyambaze, who is also visually impaired.

He said community participation allows the public to understand the capabilities of people with disabilities.

“Some still believe we cannot contribute. But through activities like this, they see that we are fully capable,” he said.

Tuyambaze also called for government support to have white canes included in the Community-Based Health Insurance scheme to ease replacement costs.

Dr. Betty Mukarwego, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda and President of the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), said they were pleased to work with residents in Huye as part of preparations for the 2025 International White Cane Day, set for November 7 in the district.

“The white cane is like our eyes. All road users, especially drivers, must respect the rights of visually impaired pedestrians,” she said.

She further appealed for support to ensure visually impaired citizens who still lack white canes can receive them to improve their independence and mobility.

Mayor Sebutege praised the participants for their contribution, saying: “A tree is a valuable legacy for all Rwandans. In every national program, no one should be left behind. You have shown great ability by working with us today.”

This year’s International White Cane Day will be marked under the theme “Vision Beyond Sight: Celebrating Independence, Resilience, and Recognizing Achievements of the Blind” which aims to raise awareness of the independence and skills of visually impaired persons.

RUB reports that since 2024, Huye District has identified 83 visually impaired residents in need of white canes, all of whom have now received them, with the campaign continuing to reach others who may require support.

A total of 40 visually impaired individuals participated in the Huye community service event, including 23 from Kigali and 17 from the University of Rwanda Huye Campus. The exercise concluded with the successful planting of 4,350 trees.