DP World, in collaboration with Bridges to Prosperity and Kicukiro District authorities, on September 16, opened a new bridge linking Kabeza and Nyabikenye cells in the Gatenga Sector of Kicukiro District. The project, coordinated by Bridges to Prosperity and supported by DP World staff who joined construction efforts, aims to provide safe access for school children, families, and the local community who previously relied on unsafe timber crossings. The team replaced fragile timber crossings that often collapsed when it rained. The bridge is expected to serve more than 4,000 residents by ensuring safer access to schools, improving mobility, connecting residents to schools, hospitals, and social activities, and contributing to poverty reduction in healthcare, markets, and community services. ALSO READ: DP World Rwanda expands logistics infrastructure with new warehouses, offices According to Mathys Enslin, Executive Vice President for Contract Logistics in sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, the inauguration of the bridge in Kicukiro is not only about logistics but also about improving people’s daily lives. “DP World is well known globally for logistics solutions, connecting cargo flows and markets, but logistics goes beyond just moving cargo. We believe in supporting the communities where we work, and building this bridge with Bridges to Prosperity allows families to connect and access education, health care, and jobs,” he said. He noted that hearing local testimonies highlighted the importance of the project. “It’s unbelievable how people had to cross this river before the bridge,” he explained. “Today, when I saw about 30 or 40 nursery school children at the ceremony, I thought, without this bridge, many of them would not even be in school. That’s the impact DP World wants to make.” ALSO READ: DP World customs office to operate 24/7 Linda Bihire, Programme Director of Bridges to Prosperity Rwanda, said the newly inaugurated bridge is unique compared to most of the organisation’s past projects. “Every bridge has its own uniqueness, because most of our projects are in remote rural districts, far from Kigali. This one, although located in Kicukiro, is in rural Kigali. It shows us that even within the city, there is still so much work to be done,” she noted. She emphasised that Bridges to Prosperity depends on partnerships with government and funders to deliver such projects, and that this collaboration with the City of Kigali and Kicukiro District reflects the strength of local governance. “You can’t get anything if you can’t connect people from where they are. That’s why we build bridges. They connect people to markets, schools, health care, churches, and jobs — in short, to prosperity itself.” ALSO READ: DP World supports education, community development in Masaka Sushant Mallik, Managing Director of DP World Rwanda, noted that the site was selected in consultation with Bridges to Prosperity after identifying the daily struggles of residents, adding that the company’s agenda extends beyond logistics to improving people’s daily lives. “As a logistics company, it’s not only about connecting and moving cargo — it’s about connecting lives,” Mallik said. “This bridge connects communities, families, and opportunities, and that is why it is so important for us to be part of this initiative.” Monique Huss, Deputy Executive Administrator of Kicukiro District, stated that the new bridge directly addresses the needs of residents in Gatenga, emphasising the importance of community responsibility in maintaining the infrastructure. “We are here to inaugurate the bridge that was built here, and it has come as an answer to the people who live in this area. We are happy that it will help residents in their daily lives, but we ask them to take care of it, protect it, and even learn how to rebuild it if issues arise,” she said. ALSO READ: DP World Kigali inaugurates its expansion phase with a commodity distribution centre Ornella Irankunda, a student at École de Bigo, said the absence of a permanent bridge made going to school difficult and dangerous. “It was really hard not having a bridge,” she said. “We used to build one with trees, but it was destroyed whenever it rained. If I needed to be at school by 7:30, I would often arrive at 8, very late. Sometimes other students even fell into the swamp because the bridge was not strong. We thank them for building this one because it will solve our problems.” Donald Zikamabahari, who has lived in Bigo Cell, Nyarurama Sector, Gatenga, for eight years, said the community has struggled with the problem for too long. “We thank the Government of Rwanda for taking care of us. For years, especially when it rained, people would fall and even be carried away by the water. We are happy now, and we will take care of this bridge,” he said.
