This study targets to answer the main question which consists of identifying the Bugesera
rural livelihood patterns that helped people to satisfy their needs during and in the aftermath
of the horrible events faced in the last two decades1 which can, in the end, serve as a basis for
the development work to be done in Bugesera district. Actually, the research is based on the
theories of the livelihood approach (Chambers and Conway, 1991; Ellis, 2000; 2005).
After the field research, the main findings drawn from the data collected include the fact that
though rural people mainly live by agriculture, they have a diversified means of living.
Indeed, Bugesera rural people’s innate or acquired skills, social connections especially from
their neighbourhood, petty trades which are mostly agricultural related, local associations that
help them in saving, free of interest credits from the neighbours and physical materials such
as bicycles constitute their livelihood patterns in different good and bad situations.
Therefore, the present research suggests that humanitarian and development work in
Bugesera can be based on people’s livelihood patterns referring to the idea of Carney (2001,
p.13) that in order to achieve sustainable poverty elimination, external support should focus
on what matters to people, understands the difference between groups of people, and works
with them in a way that is congruent with their current livelihood strategies, social
environment, and ability to adapt.