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347 Pages·2014·6.87 MB·English

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Journal homepage: http://www.journalijar.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF ADVANCED RESEARCH

School of Postgraduate Studies and Research

The mission of the University is to provide an environment that enables the cultivation of Competence, Confidence, Creativity, and
character

Rurality and Rural Poverty: What it means to be Poor
New Realities, New Choices for Tomorrow

In quest of understanding more about rural poverty
and an adaptable rural growth among rural poor households in Rwanda:
A case study of two villages in Rwanda’s Northern Province

Ph.D THESIS

By
Peter Mbabazi Mbabazize

Thesis Submitted to the School of Post Graduate Studies & Research for the
Fulfillment of the Requirements of Nkumba University for the Award of the Degree
of
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Economics

May, 2014

Candidates‘ Address: Ph: [phone] (Rwanda). Email: [email protected]
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LIST OF SOME MAPS

Map 1: Map of Africa showing the location of Rwanda marked 2

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Map 2: Map of Rwanda briefly showing the physical features.

Rivers and lakes in blue, while mountains are green. Major urban centers are also named.

Map 3: Map of Rwanda showing the five administrative provinces.

The case study was two villages selected from the Northern Province which are painted pink
color. The different administrative provinces are: Western Province, Eastern Province, Southern
Province, Northern Province and Kigali Administrative Province.
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CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certify that they have read, and, knowing that the candidate, PETER MBABAZI has
satisfied the senate requirements for which he was enrolled, trained and examined, do hereby recommend,
for acceptance by the School of Post Graduate Studies & Research of Nkumba University this Ph.D
Thesis titled; ―RURALITY AND RURAL POVERTY; WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POOR. In quest of
understanding more about rural poverty and an adaptable rural growth among rural households in
Rwanda. A case study of two villages in Rwanda‟s Northern Province,” for the partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Economics of Nkumba University.

PROMOTERS AND SUPERVISORS

Sign.................................date..................... Sign..........................................date..................
Prof. Andrew P.Yiga, (PhD) Dr. E. Kafeero, (PhD)

PhD VETTING COMMITTE
1. Prof. Ijuka Kabumba
2. Prof. J.C Ssekamwa
3. Associate Prof. Mike Mawa
4. Prof. Wilson Muyinda Mande
5. Prof. Nakanyiike Musisi

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DECLARATION
I declare that the work herein was carried out in accordance with the regulations of Nkumba
University. It is original, except where indicated by special references in the text, and no part has
been submitted before for the award of any other degree. The views herein are my own and in no
way do they represent those of either Nkumba University or my supervisors. This PhD thesis has
never been presented to any other University and, any other sources of information quoted have
been acknowledged by complete references.

Signed……………………………………………………………Date 26th May, 2014
Peter Mbabazi Mbabazize

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DEDICATION

To Amelia Bornwinner, Juliet Birungi Mbabazize (Mrs.) and the Lord. On being pushed to the
wall, the Lord always keeps to himself one more move which always defeats human
understanding, and he always surprises the one on the wall if at all he or she knows God.
Promise Mbabazize and Arsene Baguma, always confront a lion instead of a monkey while in the
jungle. Always go over and over at it, again and again. In your life time, try always to fight the six
basic fears of life: the fear of poverty, the fear of criticism, the fear of ill health, the fear of loss of
love of someone, the fear of old age, and the fear of death. On top of the Wisdom from the Bible,
equip yourselves with all the works of Napoleon Hill (1937) concerning the art of success.
As God turns the tide, no one can say no, when it is time for the tide to set in or to set off. In
Africa, rural poverty is a hell. But trust some Africans; they never die until all the bones are rotten.
And much as rural poverty is hell and prison, it‘s better to live like a free dog, than living like a
caged lion.

“The greatest poorness is the lack of brains”
Arabic proverb

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Doing a PhD has been a very long process, and a long lonely journey. It requires a man with a
strong heart, ―similar to the size of a lion‟s heart” to go for such lonely journeys. Is it neither a
journey like that from Hoima to Kampala, nor a journey from Hoima to Katanga village in
Bugambe Sub County. This is because, it has been a long continuum with a long past, long present
and definitely it will have a long future as I strive to become Prof. Dr. Mbabazi Mbabazize.
If I were to begin with the long past, I have to appreciate with the greatest gratitude, my Parents;
Kisembo Job and Nyangoma Florence of Katanga village and Kyakasoro village respectively both
in Bugambe subcounty-Hoima District. The foundation they impacted on me in the early eighties
from Ucwalu Sinai Nursery in Chunga Jembe village, then to Bugambe Tea Primary School,
Duhaga Secondary School, Hoima Academy up to Livingstone Hall and Northcorte Hall in
Makerere University was so paramount. It is worth noting, however that all the school fees that
helped me through, came from a local brewing processes (Kunyunka ensande, na haragi) in
Winyi Village in Bugambe.
In that long past, there must be mention of great recognition to some of the best teachers I have
met who did their best to share with me their knowledge, despite the fact that they were working
in rural environments. I pray that the following teachers be blessed for making me what I am
today. First, Joseph my nursery teacher, Kasangaki Francis, Ngasirwaki Paul, Orombi, Avola
Vivy, Muhambya Jakson, all in my Primary School. Yolamu Nsamba, Mulumba Dan, Beraheru
Geofrey, Kandole Frank, Mutatina Dan, Tinkamanyiire Elly, Byakagaba Deo, and Balyesiima
Francis all at my lower and higher secondary school. At University level, I have to commend the
following role models; Prof. Opolot and Prof. Ssekamwa of Makerere University; Prof. Dee
Carabaine and Prof. Peter Kanyandago of Uganda Martyrs University; Prof. Michael Mawa,
Prof. Muyindo Mande and Prof. Ijuuka-Kabumba of Nkumba University. The above
academicians have always inspired me and they have been my academic mentors. Dr. Laetitia
Nyinawamwiza of the University of Rwanda (Principal-CAVM), Dr. Anthony Luvanda and Dr.
Oduor Joseph of Jomo Kenyatta University (Kigali Campus); please do accept my sincere thanks
and gratitude. I want to thank all of you so much for having shaped my academic career.
In a very special way, let me turn to the long present. An undertaking of this magnitude would not
have been possible without all kinds of guidance from my PhD supervisors.
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Prof. Dr. Andrew. P.Yiga and Dr. E.Kafeero of Nkumba University I owe you a lot. May God
bless you abundantly for your doors were always open to me at any time I needed to see you. To
the friends and residents of the two villages in the fieldwork sites that offered their homes,
food and warmth which made this all possible, I have learned a lot from you. Hopefully even
though the outcome of this research is small, it will make a significant contribution to poverty
reduction in the lives of your people.
The long present also includes two men of God from Ruhengeri-Musanze district in Rwanda.
These are Padiri Dr. Hagenimana Fabien and Padiri Dr. Deogratius Niyibizi. These men are
Priests who, in collaboration with Ruhengeri Catholic Diocese, started a University called INES-
RUHENGERI. They are hereby credited in a special way as they predetermined my future from
the usual Hoima rural wrangles, to the modern thinking. The two priests have shaped my future
alot and they may not realize it unless told. The two priests have contributed so much to the socio-
economic development of Rwanda‘s Northern Province, especially in terms of uplifting the
standards of education in rural areas of this province. They came up with INES- RUHENGERI
University at the right time especially after the 1994 genocide which dilapidated the whole of
Rwanda. As a matter of fact, it is only God who knows how to bless these men for all the work
they are extending to this rural population of Rwanda.
I am a Christian with a great Anglican foundation. There is this theory of the importance of the
figures of twelve (12) in the Bible. For example;
Jesus speaks his first words in the Bible at the age of twelve (Luke 2:42). Later, He chooses twelve
disciples patterned after the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve baskets of fragments were collected after
Jesus fed the five thousand (Mark 6:43). The Book of Revelation says there are twelve gates to the city,
twelve angels as gatekeepers and the names of the twelve tribes written on the gates. The gates are twelve
pearls and the wall will be on twelve foundations which bear the names of the twelve apostles;
It took me twelve years also to get a sounding job after various rural struggles and rural fights with
the people in Hoima. But I learnt a lot especially when you find a ―Munyoro‖ man speaking the
truth just by mistake. All what is in the minds of the would be workmates and friends in this land
of oil is hypocrisy, envy and deadly moves. To people living today, notice it when ―twelve‖ shows
up in your life.
But because am blessed with the anointing of ease as Pastor Joel Osteen (2006) of Lake Wood
Church puts it, I had to finally fix my 12th puzzle in 2011 in twelve years. Pastor Joel Osteen
explains that, in life, anointed and blessed people meet harder and harder puzzles to fix. They then
get exposed to divine connectivity and then finish off the journey. So in my journey of divine
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connectivity, I met one of my greatest cousins in Kigali called Kato Paul. From Kato Paul to
Mutatina Daniel, Tukahabwa Daniel, Deo Mugisha, Okirry Frankline of JKUAT, up to Oketch of
Riviera High school in Kigali. Then by Gods miracle, divine winds carried me to meet
Nzabonimana Chrysestom, Theoneste Bambujijumugisha, Tumusherure Wilson, Twesige Daniel,
and Dr. Abel Mucunguzi all of INES –RUHENGERI. These have been my workmates at
lecturing level in different Universities in Rwanda and I was able to meet all of them due to divine
connectivity simply because I am blessed with the anointing of ease. But just right after my
Bachelors degree (1999); to meet good working mates, it took me the Biblical proverbial scripture
of twelve years. Imagine twelve years! So, the only way to thank them all is nothing other than
asking the Glory of God to be praised. As the scriptures says;
“You came from heaven to earth, to show the way; From the earth to the cross; my debt to pay,
From the cross to the grave; From the grave to the sky
Lord I lift your name on high”
Throughout my stay in Rwanda, I was made comfortable by the following; Mukakibibi Scovia,
who helped me in typing and typesetting several drafts of early stages in this long journey of my
PhD thesis. My computer technician – Sakho from Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) who
designed much of the diagrams and notes type setting. Dr. Kintu John of Kyambogo University
who proofread this Thesis. Thank you very much for your unwavering support. To Kabasingwa
Evelyn, my senior mentor who made it possible in adjusting and renewing my lonely journeys.
Finally, I am greatly honoured and exceedingly humbled by my family for enduring my frequent
foreign travels that upset our family quality time. Despite this enforced absence from you, I was
always welcomed back with smiles and celebrations that reinvigorated my spirit to carry the PhD
work up to its logical conclusion. To my wife, Juliet, thank you for your support. Your valuable
friendship, love and care have embellished the years that I have spent with you in this world. To
my mum in-law, Getrude Mulebeki and all other in-laws, be blessed. To our children, Arsene
Baguma, Promise Mbabazize and Amelia Bornwinner, thank you for your love and support in
keeping my zeal burning at all times, to work hard for this success with the hope that you will be
able to carry on with the education legacy as a lasting testament in the Mbabazize grandsons and
granddaughters. I believe this PhD thesis will also be a testimony to guide you to your own
success stories in future.

May, 2014 Peter Mbabazi - Mbabazize
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ABSTRACT
This thesis focused on the nature and extent of persistent rural poverty in rural areas, and in
particular to the ways in which rural residences may affect ones poverty status in Rwanda. The
central theme of this study was to fully describe what rural poverty is, how rurality leads to
extreme poverty and what it actually means to be poor especially when it comes to the eyes of the
beholder; the poorest of the poor in the rural areas. It is these poorest of the poor who were the
subject / unit of analysis in this study. Two villages in Rwanda‘s Northern Province were selected
as a case study. The study was mostly qualitative and much focus was put on a down to earth
naturalistic inquiry about rurality and rural poverty as a whole. The study used participatory
qualitative research methods which were supplemented with quantitative research methods.
This study used methods like the questionnaire and focus group discussions to collect data from
the rural poor. In data analysis, the study used descriptive statistics and also the researcher relied
on established theories to process and concretely analyse the information. Generated theory was
compared to existing theory on issues concerning rurality and rural poverty.
This study presents new realities about how poor people living in deep rural areas define poverty
and what they understand poverty to mean, as well as what the rural poor specifically conceive to
be the major causes of rural poverty, and how the poor people survive in deep rural areas of
Rwanda. Increased attention of this study was put on rural social processes with a firm foundation
to understanding what rural poverty is, its causes and impact, people‘s attitudes and experiences of
living with it in a landlocked country like Rwanda. The study further explored the possible
survival strategies the rural people have initiated on their own to lessen the difficulties they go
through.
The study did not intend to provide any solutions to alleviating rural poverty because there as
many policies as there are theories on poverty and from the beginning of the 2nd quarter of the 20th
century, the World Bank, UNDP, and nongovernmental organizations, suggested very, very
many policy options to fight poverty in different places at different times. Governments all over
the sub-Saharan Africa have implemented the various policy initiatives to fight poverty but there
seems to be no big improvement. As a result, this research study‘ impression was that, if the
poverty eradication solutions have not done an expectedly good job, why don‘t we go back to the
drawing board and see backwards to the grass roots, what exactly the problem is. Given the
different scale of concentration of rural poverty in rural areas, the different levels of services
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