NYAGATARE - President Paul Kagame has fulfilled his pledge of availing electricity to the residents of Nyagatare, Eastern province.The President made the pledge on one of his working tours to the area earlier this year.

The electrification project will connect the Sectors of Rukomo, Mimuri, Cyabayaga and Nyarurema. The Nyagatare connection saw 4240 homes connected on the national electricity grid.

The project commissioned last Thursday will cost Rwf3.9 billion (US $ 6m).

Speaking at the official launch, State Minister for Energy, Dr. Albert Butare said that one of the priorities of the government’s EDPRS program was to see an accelerated electricity roll out across the country at least within the next five years. 

In the framework of the Electricity-Access-Rollout-Programme, government targets 350,000 connections nationwide by the year 2012.

"We are very much excited. We can not fully express our happiness but we send many thanks to President Kagame who is focused on developing our country and with this electricity coming, development will be realized,” Anastase Rwabukwisi 70, a local resident told The New Times. 

In its Vision 2020, Rwanda is aiming to become a middle income country with a GDP of USD 900 per capita per year by 2020 from the current USD 240.

To achieve that economic growth, the country has planned to increase electricity access by up to 35 % by 2020.

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