The Government of Rwanda in partnership with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) unveiled the 100th trail bridge built in Gatare sector, Nyamagabe district, Southern province. The bridge spans 83m on the Rwondo river, and is expected to serve more than 3400 people in the communities of Bimba, Kagusa, Ruhanga, Rwangambibi, Rucunda and Mushubi, connecting them to essential services such as health centers, schools and markets. Officiating at the unveiling of the bridge, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, Minister of Local Government hailed the construction of the bridge as a great contribution to the development of rural areas, adding that it is an achievement towards the de-isolation of rural Rwanda. “This climate resilient infrastructure will trigger a localized development, easing the access to schools and health centers, facilitating the social and economic ties between the Shyeru cell and the rest of Rwanda,” “The impact of these bridges is huge, preliminary results have shown an average increase of 25 per cent of the labour market income in the communities connected by trail bridges. And the bridges support local farmers to improve their agricultural productivity, secure long term employment outside communities and economic development within those communities themselves,” he added. He tasked the Nyamagabe district residents to sustain the bridge and conduct regular inspection and maintenance during community work. Jeff Murenzi, B2P Country Director said: “The 100th trail bridge we built in Rwanda is an incredible goal for B2P and the Government of Rwanda, and still, it is just the beginning. There are more than 200 trail bridges to be built, and after that we are ready to continue until Rwanda will become “the land of a thousand hills and of a thousand bridges.” Apollinarie Yambabariye, a resident of Gatare Sector said that the bridge will change their lives significantly, because sometimes the river could get flooded and unpassable, which would force the residents to stay away overnight. Co-financed by Bridges to Prosperity and the Government of Rwanda, the bridge cost Rwf 105 million and under the same partnership 355 bridges are planned to be built by 2024.
