Residents decry water scarcity

NYAGATARE - Residents of Rwimiyaga sector, Nyagatare district have appealed to the local authorities in the area to help them address the persistent water scarcity. The residents, including bar owners and food retailers say they have been relying on boreholes which are several kilometers from residential areas. “We buy a 20-liter can of water for Rwf 150; this is expensive… So I use the water strictly for cooking,” Claudine Mucyiyukuri said. She added that maintaining sanitation becomes a challenge due to water scarcity. Earnest Mbonigaba, another businessman in Rwimiyaga trading centre said, “We fetch water from a source located at a distance of 5 km away from here. This means that whoever can afford to buy it, uses it sparingly, a thing that affects the general hygienic standards.” When contacted, the Sector Executive Secretary, Celestin Munyangabo acknowledged the problem, but added that the issue was being handled. “It is not only the trading centre that is affected, some other villages of Rwimiyaga face similar problem. We are working around the clock to have been able to source for enough water,” he said. Meanwhile, vendors dealing in the water business in the area have taken advantage of the situation to make roaring business. Ends