Traders at Gisozi trading centre in Kigali have expressed concern over floods that interrupt their business due to poor drainage system in the area.

The traders were speaking on Wednesday following Tuesday’s heavy rains which caused flooding in the area.

Kevine Umutesi, one of the traders, said the main road in the area was submerged, greatly interrupting their business until the next day.

"All places were filled with flood water, including our shops. Our commodities were soaked in water,” she said.

She appealed to authorities to find lasting solutions to the problem.

"I think flooding is blamed on people constructing buildings in the drainages. There is an urgent need for a solution,” she said.

Another trader, Khomel Alim Abdul, said there is need to clear the drainage system in the area.

"Our business closed the whole of Tuesday because of the floods. We need proper drainage along both sides of the roads,” he said.

Rosette Uwimana, a carpentry workshop owner in Gisozi modern market, said many business owners in the market were affected by the floods.

"Two door flames and other furniture were destroyed. It requires us to rework on them,” she said.

Contacted for a comment, the City of Kigali mayor, Monique Mukaruliza, said they would send a team of experts to assess the cause of the problem which, she said, was unusual in the area.

She said that in many parts of the city flooding is caused by poor waste management.

She called on city dwellers to ensure cleanliness and avoid dumping waste in drainage systems to avoid flooding.

"We have come up with a rainwater harvesting project though we are still looking for funding. This project will be implemented starting with Nyabugogo, the most affected part of the city,” she said, .

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