City of Kigali should urgently fix the sewerage system issue

Editor,After reading Alline Akintore’s column, “Is Kigali sitting on a sewage time bomb?” (The New Times, August 26) with too much enthusiasm, as usual, I wish to share my comments with your readers.Thank you Alline, I would like to tell you that your articles are so thought provoking.There is intensive research being done regarding sustainable waste treatment using constructed wetlands. One of the methods being used worldwide for municipal waste treatment is sequential batch reactors (SBRs), where biological means of using bacteria is used. This, however, is relatively expensive.Deep extensive studies have been conducted whereby artificially constructed wetlands are used to treat waste. Various related publications by Dr. Vyamazal, Dr. Kansiime, and Dr. Joseph K are available on International Journal of Environmental Science.The whole system involves waste treatment, production of biogas, upgrading of biogas to alternate current electricity, production of manure for agricultural production and of course water purification.Coincidentally, my Master of Science thesis has been on performance evaluation of constructed wetlands. Hopefully next year I will be in position to apply this to Rwanda, my own country. Thank you once again the article.James Munanura, Makerere University Kampala, Uganda*************************I can’t exactly remember when but I remember that The New Times published an article addressing similar concerns a few months ago. This is no secret, every house is sitting on its own “waste bomb” as you call it and the City of Kigali must begin to put into practice what’s best for its people.Dennis, Kigali,Rwanda*************************Kigali is caught up with new developments and surprises. Often one wonders whether the “master plan” will be implemented or whether we just have to tune to rhetoric only.The matter has been subject ofdiscussion since 2009; you can imagine how frustrating the game can become. I do not think it is mainly an issue of lack of funds but to me it is all about who sets priorities for the city.Now that that “summer” is gone, wait and see what may happen to city swamps or the taxi park at Nyabugogo. Water, mud and all kind of dirty things will be flooding our roads. I hear three investors in transportation have been contracted to improve our transport sector – why can’t we get private investors in sewerage system? Our leaders should visit Nairobi and learn from them.When I meet people abroad and tell them about how clean and beautiful Kigali is, they laugh at me hinting that some days ahead Kigali may be among the most dangerous cities, if nothing is done to curb the waste problem.One cannot ignore the matter. Maybe it is about time some individuals spoke their mind and put pressure to the officials of the City of Kigali.Innocent Hitayezu, Kigali Rwanda

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City of Kigali should urgently fix the sewerage system issue