Bugesera residents have welcomed the impact of the recently opened Bugesera-Nyanza road, a 66.5km road connecting Bugesera and Nyanza districts. It is part of a 130km project that will link Nyanza in the Southern Province to Ngoma in the Eastern Province through Bugesera, bypassing Kigali. The first completed section of 66.55 kilometres between Bugesera and Nyanza is already in use, while construction continues on the remaining segment. Residents told The New Times that the new road has improved mobility and business activity, while some noted that it has reduced the dust which was a major problem during the dry season. “I personally came to work here because of this road. It makes trading easy. Going to get fresh stock from Ngoma is now easy,” said Joyeuse Iyiragiye, a businesswoman in Bugesera. Janvier Hakizimana, another businessman, said the improved infrastructure has attracted new shops and enabled businesses to operate for longer hours. “More shops have opened. And since the road is paved and has streetlights, we can work longer hours. I now leave at around 8 p.m. Before, without lights, I had to close between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.,” he said. Another resident said there have been improvements in transportation. “I wasn’t born here, but during the time I’ve lived here, there has been a significant change. When I arrived, many roads were in poor condition, and transporting food by vehicle was difficult,” he said. Under Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), infrastructure development is considered key to economic growth. Recent road projects also prioritise climate resilience through improved drainage, slope stabilisation and environmental safeguards.
