The government has completed building three kilometres of drainages in a move to curb floods in secondary cities, Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore announced. The 3.7 kilometre-long standalone drainages were built to contain floods in line with improving infrastructure and livelihoods of people in Huye, Muhanga, Musanze, Nyagatare, Rubavu, and Rusizi as secondary cities. ALSO READ: Rubavu: Floods kill two children, injure one Minister Gasore disclosed the development during the inauguration of new infrastructure built in six secondary cities under Rwanda Urban Development Project 2 (RUDP 2)—Phase 1, on Thursday, March 14, in Rubavu town. “They’re in line with controlling and addressing the issue of rainwater which often causes flooding, damages and wash away fields. So, building these drainages improves the lives of residents and their livelihoods as well as saving their lives,” Gasore told journalists. Despite drainages built for controlling floods, 43 kilometres of tarmac roads have been also constructed across all six road secondary cities. “These infrastructures have changed the face of these secondary cities including Muhanga and Huye where people were accustomed to walking on unpaved roads. Some areas were really impassable,” Gasore added. In Rubavu District, where Gasore toured the new infrastructure, people used to face floods at Petite Barrière that would even cross into the neighbouring town of Goma, DR Congo. To address this problem, a drainage and sewer have been constructed as a channel to take the rainwater to Lake Kivu as part of the Rwanda Urban Development Project 2. “The sewer will stop accidents, and stop claiming lives of children within Rubavu town,” Executive Secretary of Rubavu District, Olivier Ruhamyambuga, told The New Times. Ruhamyambuga expects no more damage to homes or public and private buildings within Rubavu and Goma towns. “I used to suffer many losses from flooding as clients could not easily access my shop. We’re thankful that the problem is over,” said Umulisa Kampire, a shopkeeper at Petite Barrière. ALSO: Rubavu residents assured of safety as authorities crack down on ‘criminal gang’ Additionally, Rwanda Urban Development Project 2—Phase 1, saw the development of a 9.5 km long bypass road (Rugerero-Byahi), as a way to address truck accidents and reduce traffic while entering Rubavu town. According to Gasore, tarmac roads, drainages, and public lighting built as part of the Rwanda Urban Development Project 2—Phase 1, cost $47 million (approx. Rwf60.5 billion) under the World Bank funding.
