The newly constructed Kigarama-Gasenyi road in Kirehe District is expected to facilitate easy transportation of agriculture produce to market centres, local leaders and residents have said. The 13-kilometre road that was constructed with government support, under Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) at a cost of Rwf71 million, was launched on Monday. It has seven well-constructed bridges. Kirehe District Mayor, Gerald Muzungu, told The New Times, yesterday, that area residents had been living in isolation due to the poor road that linked them to the rest of the country. Muzungu noted the new road would help residents easily access markets to sell their produce. “There are coffee, maize and banana cooperatives in Kigarama. Therefore, there was need for a road to transport the produce, the one we had was rough and inaccessible,” he said. The mayor said the district was working with other partners to improve the general infrastructure. “We have earmarked over Rwf9 billion for infrastructure development in our district budget. The roads are important for realisation of our soci0-economic goals,” he said. Boniface Ntirenganya, an official in charge of planning and budget in the Eastern Province, said the province and the line ministry were formulating modalities to upgrade feeder roads. “We are in touch with Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), to prioritise major roads which need reconstruction. We cannot decide at this level which ones we will start with, but Kirehe rural roads are part of those prioritised,” he said. Meanwhile, residents of the district are upbeat that a good road network would bring development in the community. Damascene Ndahayo, a Kigarama resident, said improved infrastructure was a pressing issue. He said some promising farmers and entrepreneurs had moved to other sectors due to poor road network in Kigarama. “The new road would facilitate patients to easily reach health centres in time. Previously, some ambulances broke down due to the poor road, so the new road will make a difference. We had to walk over ten kilometres to reach a health centre.” “Good road network is important for commercial farming... feeder roads rehabilitation will improve our livelihoods. The new road is something to celebrate. We want to develop our agriculture to the highest level possible. It is now possible since we can easily access markets.” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
