Movement of residents and businesses in some parts of the country have been affected by floods that have destroyed more bridges and roads. One of the latest bridges that has collapsed due to flooding is Kanyonyombya Bridge in Gashora valley that connects Ngoma district through Rukumberi sector and Bugesera district through Gashora sector Gashora valley has two rivers; Akagera and Kanyonyomba, and there are bridges on both. However, the bridge on Kanyonyomba is the one that collapsed. This is the second time this bridge collapses after it carved in 2020 and paralyzed movement across the two districts by five months. The government had spent about Rwf100 million to set up the temporary bridge but the prevailing heavy rain has destroyed it again. Angelique Umwali, the vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Bugesera district told The New Times on Friday that a motorized boat was only brought to help facilitate the movement of residents who were stranded on either side of bridge, on Thursday, but the businesses are awaiting an alternative to continue doing business. “we are in talks with contractors building the Ngoma-Bugesera to improvise another temporary bridge for emergency use before a more permanent one is built, she said. She added: The boat can’t transport all business operators with their merchandise across the river. She said that a sustainable bridge is part of a multi-billion project to construct the road that connects Eastern and Southern province through Ngoma, Bugesera and Nyanza districts. “The construction works for the road have started and the Kanyonyombya Bridge is part of it,” she said. In 2017, The Government and the World Bank Group signed a financing agreement worth €75.9m for rehabilitation of the road linking Ngoma and Nyanza districts through Bugesera district. While the works to rehabilitate the Kanyonyombya Bridge are yet to start, Cyriaque Mapambano Nyiridandi the vice mayor in charge of economic development in Ngoma district told The New Times that supply of goods by businesses to Bugesera district, Kigali city and Southern Province is currently stranded. He said that normally, suppliers to Kigali prefer the Ngoma-Bugesera route which is shorter compared to using Ngoma- Kayonza Kigali which means the supply to the capital could be costly. “We are meanwhile looking at ways businesses can use a temporary way to do business between these areas. Now we are working with RTDA to find a temporary alternative way that can facilitate thousands of businesses and vehicles,” he said. He explained that Ngoma has many agriculture and livestock projects especially near lakes in the sectors of Sake, Rukumberi, Jarama and others that supply harvest to a big part of the country. “We hope that within two years we have a good road and sustainable bridge because expropriation to pave the way for road rehabilitation has started,” Nyiridandi said. Over 26 sections of roads and 25 bridges had been damaged by disasters as of February 19 since January across the country. Kamonyi also affected Dozens of houses, roads and bridges were also affected by floods in Kamonyi district on Thursday. Uzziel Niyongira, the Vice Mayor in charge of economic Development in Kamonyi district told The New Times that a meeting was held on Friday February 25 to discuss the matter. “We have realized that increasing settlement is registering steady growth but people are also not harvesting rainwater. Infrastructures are growing but drainage of rainwater is not done properly. We are discussing sustainable solutions to these issues,” he said. He said alternative routes have been identified to help residents and businesses following the toll on some roads and bridges The floods have paralyzed Ruyenzi-Gihara-Kibaya road and the Runda-Rugalika Bridge through Bishenyi. “We are assessing where the water comes from during heavy rain to see a way to manage it In partnership with the ministry in charge of emergency management as a long-term solution,” he said. Two children were also struck by lightning and fortunately survived in Kamonyi. “In my area over 30 houses were destroyed. My annexes also collapsed and iron sheets were blown away,” one local journalist who is also a resident of Kamonyi told The New Times that she was among the affected. The district official said they were still assessing the toll of those affected. Mother, six-year old baby drown in Nyaruguru Meanwhile, reports indicate that a flooded-river in Kibeho sector of Nyaruguru district washed away one mother and her six-year old baby. The mother’s body has been recovered while the body of the baby is still missing. According to the weatherman, rainfall will continue until May. “The expected normal rainfall with a tendency of slightly above normal during the March to May 2022 may lead to different impacts such as floods, strong winds, landslides, rainstorms, hailstorms, thunderstorms and waterborne diseases among others,” the weatherman warned.
