GIS Day 2009 successful!

Once again, on November 24th, GIS Day 2009 was a successful event. Held at the CGIS-NUR, the colorful day was attended by unspecified number of participants including land managers, environmental officers, Sector Executive Secretaries from the Southern Province’s districts of Nyanza, Nyamagabe Gisaga and Nyaruguru.

Shortly after the welcome note by CGIS-NUR staff Eng. Vivien Munyaburanga, the master of ceremony, NUR’s Vice Rector of Academic Affairs, Prof. Martin O’HARA, officially launched the day with great enthusiasm saying that it is high time to recognize and integrate GIS technology in all development related activities.

In line with this year’s theme “Discovering the world through GIS”, the great turnout of participants were impressed by the presentations held in the newly renovated third Lab, at CGIS-NUR.

The day’s presentations included a highlight of the achievements registered by CGIS-NUR over the past year 2009, a presentation made by Prof. Jean Nduwamungu, the Director of CGIS-NUR.

Adrie Mukashema, presented the role of GIS in water shade management, Theodomir Mugiraneza presented the usefulness of GIS in land management and Emmanuel Muyombano presented the importance of GIS for improved Grouped Settlement. GIS and Remote Sensing specialists as well as Geography students from the National University of Rwanda, presented live demonstrations, shared their knowledge to inform participants about the many benefits of GIS and how it is applicable in our everyday lives.

Participants appreciated the usefulness of the GIS technology and requested for related services to benefit the community for national development.

“We are really thrilled at the usefulness of the GIS technology. I appeal to the CGIS-NUR to do whatever it takes and organize trainings for us”, one of the participants, Faustin T. Akimana, the Executive Secretary of Kamegeri sector, noted urging that this knowledge would be for the benefit the community and national development.

The day ended with a cocktail organized by CGIS-NUR at the backyard garden of the Loiret building, where all participants had the opportunity to exchange their views on GIS day. Worldwide, each year, GIS Day is held on November 18.