Over 50,000 people in Rulindo District will benefit from two safe water supply systems inaugurated on Friday. 

The launch of the projects worth Rwf800m took place only two days to the International Water Day. International Water Day is celebrated on March 22. This year’s theme is "Water for Sustainable Development.”

The water systems in Nyirambuga and Musenge were constructed by the Water and Sanitation Corporation.

Nyirambuga will supply 46 000 people of Tumba, Base, Bushoki and Buyoga sectors while the Musenge project will ease water problems for about 6, 000 people of Mbogo sector.

Ildephonse Bizabarimana, a resident of Tumba sector expressed happiness that the development will improve the living conditions of the people. "We use unclean water fetched from two kilometers away. Besides travelling a long distance, we also have to queue,” he said. Bizabarimana added that the new water project will save him money spent on unsafe water from a swamp.

For Claudine Ryabazimana, also a resident of the same sector, the water supply system will enable the people maintain proper hygiene. "We have sometimes gone without bathing for several days in an effort to spare the little available water; since it is not only expensive but also inconveniencing to fetch,” she said.

Justus Kangwagye, the Mayor of Rulindo District, described the development as a big milestone that will help the district achieve 100 per cent access to safe water by 2018.

Fatina Mukarubibi, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Natural Resources, urged residents to take good care of the water systems to ensure sustainability. "The water systems we have inaugurated cost us a lot of money; you need to manage them sustainably by maintaining the river banks and protecting the pipes,” she said.

The inauguration was preceded by planting trees along Cyonyonyo, Mirundi and Yanze river banks. Currently, national access to safe water is at 74 per cent. About three million people do not have access to safe water nationwide.