President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame and several officials walking during car-free day December 2017
President Paul Kagame has expressed happiness about community participation in the car-free day, an event which combines fitness/healthy exercises and environment protection.
Every first Sunday of the month, Kigali car-free zone in the central business district is busy, not with cars but with walking, jogging and riding among other sports which include children, youth and adults.
To allow all the city residents to participate, the city closes another traffic network from the city to Amahoro national stadium. No sound of a vehicle, no air pollution from 7am-10am along that road.
Musanze district and Huye district in Northern Province and Southern Province respectively have joined the move, and other districts also are following suit.
President Kagame said he is glad to see Rwandans embracing such a healthy exercise.
“Happy to see how car-free day is successful and continuing to attract thousands not only in Kigali but across the country,” he said on his personal twitter account.
“Congratulations to everyone who participates in the car-free day. We should make it sustainable/long term. The health and other benefits are enormous!”
President Paul Kagame during diagnosis exercise at car-free day December 2017
Within his busy schedule, President Kagame also finds time to participate in the car-free day.
In December, he was seen with First Lady Jeannette Kagame walking in the car-free zone around Kimihurura.
Another interesting part of the car-free day is a free diagnosis of some non-communicable diseases, where participants also get advice depending on whether they were tested positive or negative.
