Umuganda is a national holiday in Rwanda taking place on the last Saturday of every month for nationwide community work from 08:00 to 11:00.

The entire country shuts down to take part in government-mandated community service called “Umuganda,” a Kinyarwanda word that means “coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome.”

Umuganda, also known as community work with the purpose to contribute to the overall national development was reintroduced to Rwandan life in 1998 as part of efforts to rebuild the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

At present, 80% of Rwandans take part in monthly community work and Successful projects including building of schools, medical centers and hydro electric plants as well as rehabilitating wetlands and creating highly productive agricultural plots have been established, Umuganda’s contribution to the country’s development since 2007 has been estimated at more than US $60 million.

The activity is done under the control of the selected committees which is responsible for organizing, supervising, evaluating and reporting the work done and more so motivating people to keep the spirit up.

Source: All About Rwanda

https://www.allaboutrwanda.com/umuganda.html