RWAMAGANA - Discussions are underway between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Infrastructure to put up a Rwf 21.42 billion water project in eastern Rwanda.

Junji Wakui, Director of Water Resource Management, Department of Global Environment in JICA, disclosed this after a meeting with local leaders and technicians in Rwamagana, yesterday.

On the agenda was a discussion about the final draft report compiled by JICA experts on the water situation in the area.

Shoji Fujii, who led the research team, said that the main objective of the project is to provide clean water to all residents in all the seven districts of the province.
He said that the province has water sources with the potential of producing over 270,000 cubic meters of water per day, when it actually requires 53,000 cubic meters.
The water expert, however, added that the only problem is that water sources in the province are not evenly distributed.

"It becomes technically difficult and expensive, when one has to extend water supply to areas without nearby sources. Bugesera for instance, gets water from Lake Cyohoha and supplies it to other parts of the districts,” he said.

Jusuf Mugiraneza, the provincial Executive Secretary, said the province is prone to water scarcity in contrast with others areas of the country.
He cited Kirehe and Gatsibo districts among the areas normally hit by severe water shortage.

"It is so ironical, to see that with the big water sources we have, we do not have enough water in our villages. Therefore the water project is timely,” he said.
Augustin Mugiraneza, in charge of infrastructure development in Ngoma district, said local technicians should be trained to help districts in effective operation and maintenance of the water sources.

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