It's not ever day that music, dance and ululations welcome the opening of a new road in communities, but such was the case in Masaka Sector, on Tuesday, when the 6.2-kilometre Kabuga-Masaka road was officially opened.

And you wouldn’t have to wonder why.

For long, this particular stretch of the road was a frustration to users, from motorists to cyclists and even pedestrians. Locals always complained that the road was too narrow during busy hours, which causes accidents as pedestrians, peddle-cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists competed for right of way.

Then, last year, the People’s Republic of China put up $12 million (about Rwf 8 billion) through its affiliate missions in Kigali toward the construction of the road.

The construction, which began in June 2014, would not be just like any other. Designers, aware of the increasing traffic toll on city roads, had decided to not only widen the Kabuga-Masaka road, but also to ensure that its construction catered for the needs of all users.

Thus, pedestrian and cyclists’ lanes were included in the construction designs.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Masaka Sector in Kicukiro District, Kigali,Alex Nzahabwanimana, the state minister for transport, said the construction was a sign of great partnership between Rwanda and China.

"This is a very good road that will change the lives of Masaka residents and the neighbouring villages. This road is constructed in a way that every road user will benefit from. It has the lanes for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Few roads in the country boast of similar lanes,” he said.

The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Shen Yongxiang, said the completion of the Kabuga–Masaka road symbolised the friendship between the Chinese and Rwandan people.

"This road will play a very big role in local economic development. It will change the lives of local population. It will facilitate people to get many services. We will keep cooperating with Rwanda as a developing country and our support will be a long time commitment,” Shen said.

The road stretches from Inyange Industries, Masaka Hospital to Kabuga town centre.

Masaka residents welcome road

Residents welcomed the road’s completion, saying it was a big relief.

Fulgence Nshimiyimana, a motorcyclist plying the Masaka-Kabuga road, told The New Times that the road has increased his income.

"I would earn Rwf8,000 but after the construction of this road, I earn Rwf12,000 per day. We would stop working by 6.30pm fearing robbers, but today I stop working when I wish. The road even has streetlights,” he said.

Xavier Bamporiki, a Masaka resident, said the new road will ease transportation of patients to Masaka Hospital.

"It was difficult for patients to get to hospital. No ambulance would come to take pregnant women to hospital due to the bad road,” he said.

The Masaka-Kabuga road was among the road projects that had been planned this year. The others were Cercle sportif in Kiyovu to Gikondo, Kibagabaga-MTN road, UTEXRWA-Gisozi to Fawe Girls School, Primature-Cadillac area, Nyandungu- Masoro, Nyirinkwaya Hospital-RDB and Minagri –Nyarutarama road.

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