Residents who were living along Cyagara and Rungunga River banks in Rusizi District have commended government’s commitment to their development projects after being relocated to new homes.

The relocation from high risk zone was carried out under a project dubbed ‘Supporting Ecosystem Rehabilitation for Pro-poor Green growth (SERPG),’ backed by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

It is a pilot project that seeks to demonstrate that poor communities can rapidly and efficiently be mobilised and supported to realise economic growth, according to REMA.

In collaboration with Rusizi District, 34 families were relocated.

They were relocated to 17 semi-detached houses constructed by SERPG/REMA in Kibangira Green Village in Bugarama Sector.

Through self-help groups and co-operatives, the relocated families developed a community driven project for vegetable production on five hectares, with support from REMA.

Another cooperative composed of families whose land was in 10 meters of the rivers but not relocated was supported to plant bamboo and set up a maize mill.

Francine Uwimana, one of the beneficiaries of the project, said before relocating to the Kibangira Village, they feared for their lives, being surrounded by hills and rivers.

 "Life was unpredictable during rainy season. Everything was damaged, we came to this village without anything but the government took care of us, built houses for us,” she said.

The residents formed KOABIKI, a cooperative of vegetable growers in Kibangira.

It now works with financial institutions, including Uruyange SACCO Bugarama.

‘‘We save money and when we request loans we get them. We are also able to pay for the health insurance,” Uwimana said.

Samuel Maniriho, another resident, recalled how they faced food shortages in the partners.

 "Our plantations would be washed away whenever the river overflowed which made us incur  losses. Later REMA advised us to form Isokoa cooperative and supported us in putting up a rice processing plant, worth Rwf15 million. We expect it to be productive and upgrade our livelihoods,” said Maniriho.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony last Thursday, the Minister for Natural Resources, Dr Vincent Biruta, explained that the relocated residents were living in high risk zones on slopes of hills which exposed them to danger.

"Their lives were at risk, the rivers were drastically damaged owing to the erosion from the hills. The residents were settled and given basic items and formed a cooperative which was given start-up kits,” he said.

He noted that trees have been planted on the vacated area to conserve the river banks.

 "This is an integrated activity in line with settling people, offering them the necessary basic needs as well as rehabilitating hills through planting of trees. But currently there are also crops grown there as the area is productive,” he added.

The housing project costs over Rwf239 million but the total project budget, including installation of water harvesting tanks and the livelihood improvement component, amounts to over Rwf271 million.

The construction activities were executed by the reserve force.

Protecting rivers and Bugarama valley

However, waters from various rivers in Rusizi District continue to threaten and have adverse effects on the Bugarama Valley, considered the most fertile spot in Rusizi District, mainly for its rice production.

Minister Biruta said there is a strategy in place to protect the Bugarama Valley, citing the 31 kilometres of river banks that have bamboos planted along them.

He cautioned residents against  engaging in degrading activities along river banks.