Good feeder roads can facilitate farmers’ access to markets and stimulate the local economy, the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation, Amb. Michael Ryan, has said.

The EU enovy made the remarks on Wednesday during the tour of a 32-kilometre Nkungu-Mwogo-Rugarama feeder road that connects the sectors of Rusatira, Ruhashya, Rwaniro and Kigoma to an asphalt road linking Huye and Nyamagabe districts.

It is part of a network of 133.398 kilometres of road network in Huye District, whose construction is funded by the EU. So far, 81.798km have already been completed.

Ryan appreciated the way the road was built and said it would benefit the local economy.

"The area grows rice, coffee, bananas, cassava and more for the market. The road facilitates the transport to the market. It is exactly what is needed to advance the local economy. For the European Union, we are happy to be associated with such projects,” the envoy said.

The road was constructed under the framework of feeder road Sector Policy Support Programme (SPSP), funded by the EU.

The programme seeks to address food security through improvement of the rural road network and thus providing accessibility to food.

Huye mayor Eugène Kayiranga Muzuka said the roads had been impassable in the past.

"It was very difficult for cars to take school construction materials to the construction site,” the mayor said.

Residents welcome road works

Residents said the road was nowpassable, which makes movement of goods and services safe. They said the road will improve economic cooperation between Huye and Nyamagabe districts.

"The road was too rough with many potholes. I injured my forehead while riding a bicycle due to poor road condition. We had difficulties transporting our cows from Huye to Nyamagabe and some cows got injured on the way due to the many holes,”said Samwel Senguge, a resident of Kamegeri Sector in Nyamagabe District.

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