Rusizi District is confronting a pressing overpopulation crisis, something Deputy Ombudsman Abbas Mukama says needs strong family planning measures.
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Rusizi has the highest fertility rate in the Western Province at 4.5, followed by Nyamasheke and Rubavu. Nationally, it ranks first in fertility rates.
Eastern Province records the highest fertility rate at 4.0, followed by Western and Southern provinces at 3.8, Northern Province at 3.3, and Kigali City at 3.0. As of 2024, the national fertility rate stood at 3.6.
ALSO READ: MPs caution over high birth rate in Rubavu
During a recent visit to his former primary school, GS Bugarama Site, Mukama emphasised the importance of family planning, which allows individuals and couples to determine the number, spacing, and timing of their children using contraceptive methods as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Addressing students and parents, Mukama warned about the consequences of unchecked population growth.
"The birth rate is alarmingly high in this area,” he cautioned. "We strongly recommend adopting contraceptive methods as a key component of family planning.”
Mukama also highlighted the overcrowding in schools as a direct result of the high birth rate, questioning the sustainability of adding more shifts to accommodate the growing student population.
ALSO READ: Ombudsman decries high volume of citizens’ complaints
"Bugarama Sector is experiencing population density comparable to Kigali City. Can we realistically implement three shifts in primary schools? Parents must take control of births. This unchecked growth disrupts schools and poses a future threat to our nation. Family planning is essential; parents should have only the number of children they can adequately support.”
Increasing access to contraceptive methods and raising awareness within communities is key to changing mindsets in high-fertility areas, according to Venant Habarugira, Director of Census at NISR.
"There is a need to enhance contraceptive availability and improve education levels among women and young girls,” Habarugira told The New Times.
Local authorities in Rusizi echoed similar concerns, calling for in-depth studies and targeted mobilisation to challenge cultural beliefs favouring large families.
"We need robust awareness campaigns on birth control, particularly among adults,” a local official, speaking anonymously, said. "People must understand the profound impact of large families on their livelihoods and national development.”
Overcoming challenges
The district faces significant challenges, including low education levels that hinder contraceptive use and entrenched cultural norms that promote large families.
Personal stories, like that of Ernest Mfashingabo, a father of 15, show the complexities of the issue, including family conflicts and divorce.
"The high birth rate stems from ineffective contraceptive use, compounded by low education and resistance to change,” Mfashingabo explained.
Mfashingabo, a rice farmer in Bugarama, called for more efforts to promote gender balance and conflict resolution within families.
"We need to educate couples on the importance of shared decision-making regarding family size and implement measures to prevent domestic conflicts,” he said.