A total of 34 households are set to be relocated from Katabuvuga, Rungunga, Muhuta and Cyagara river banks in Rusizi District to Gombaniro Village in Bugarama Sector, by June.

There are fears that the river banks may burst during the rainy season which may result into loss of life and destruction of property.

Residents of Bugarama said that about two weeks ago, a young girl drowned in Cyagara River.

In 2013, the same river carried away three children who were later rescued before drowning.

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has now embarked on funding Rusizi District to relocate households living within 10 metres from the river banks in the district and build houses for them. A set of 17 duplexes are being built for this purpose.

The project, dubbed Vulnerable Ecosystem Rehabilitation Programme (VERP), will cost Rwf165 million. It will be used for relocating the families, planting bamboos and reeds on the watershed of the mountains and along river banks.

Alivera Uwamahoro, one of the affected residents, said that sometimes when it rains, seek accommodation elsewhere and their property gets damaged or washed away.

She said they were told to relocate from the river banks, but could not due to lack of financial means.

Residents said two years had passed since they were officially told to relocate.

Joseph Baziki, the manager of a team from the Rwanda Reserve Force which was contracted to build the housing units said construction works are at advanced stages and if all goes as planned, they were hopeful that itwould be completed by the end of May or early June.

The coordinator of the project VERP at REMA, Charles Sindayigaya, said the project targets vulnerable families and were considering giving them further support to help them run some profitable businesses after relocation.

"We are working with the concerned people and Rusizi District to identify small-scale business that can be a source of income to sustain them,” he said, adding that they were contemplating relocating more families next year.

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