A cooperative of people with disabilities in Rubavu District has inaugurated a Frw118 million commercial building, marking a major milestone in inclusive economic empowerment.
Members of the COTTRARU Cooperative, which is involved in cross-border trade, officially unveiled the facility on Friday, January 9, 2026, in a ceremony attended by local leaders and representatives of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
Rubavu District Mayor praised the cooperative’s resilience and determination, emphasizing that disability does not equate to inability and urging members to continue pursuing self-reliance through entrepreneurship.
NCPD Coordinator Emmanuel Ndayisaba described the project as an exemplary achievement, calling on COTTRARU to act as a model for other persons with disabilities by strengthening governance, improving collaboration, and challenging negative perceptions about disability.
Representing Inkeragutabara in Rubavu, Lt Col Antoine Bayinga highlighted the long-standing values of resilience and self-development demonstrated by soldiers injured during the liberation struggle, noting that the same spirit is reflected in the cooperative’s progress.
A representative of persons with disabilities in the Rubavu District Council commended COTTRARU’s performance, describing it as a model cooperative and stressing that its development journey is ongoing, with greater impact expected in the future.
