Districts in the Eastern Province have earmarked a total of Rwf86 billion in the next fiscal year – more than half of their combined budget for the 2016/17 financial year, which starts this July – to build and strengthen water supply systems in the region.

This was announced Friday by the provincial governor, Odette Uwamariya, during a meeting on the country’s economy that attracted leaders from across the province.

This, she said, demonstrates the districts’ commitment to address issues related to water shortages in the province.

Uwamariya said in the current fiscal year only 8 per cent of the budget had gone to water projects, adding that the improved allocation will significantly change the face of irrigation and rainwater harvest systems in the region.The governor said the improved investment will result in the

strengthening of water collection, treatment, and distribution as well as irrigation systems.

"There is need to constantly invest in water infrastructure,” Uwamariya said.

"Whether it’s for domestic usage or irrigating crops, our districts depend on water and we need to invest in this area to help speed up our economic growth.”

She said the need for stable water supply couldn’t be overemphasised, adding that thousands of hectares will be irrigated in the fiscal year 2016/17.

"This is an unprecedented effort (in this province), we want to irrigate hundreds of thousands of hectares,” she said, noting that only 18,000 out of the planned 220,000 hectares were irrigated last season.

Eastern Province is home to the majority of water bodies in the country, yet communities there continue to grapple with challenges associated with water scarcity.

"It’s a sad reality that, despite the fact that we have many lakes and rivers in this province, communities don’t have enough water. Access to clean water is still at 69 per cent. We must invest in technologies that allow faster supply of water to communities,” said the governor.

The district mayors in attendance presented ambitious projects, which they said will not only change the face of the province economically, but will also impact the country in general.

Richard Gasana, the Mayor of Gatsibo District, emphasizing the need to invest heavily in water infrastructure in the province, said agriculture in the region was greatly affected by long periods of drought.

"Kayonza, Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts have great potential but the biggest challenge is overreliance on rainwater. Cattle, just like crops, don’t get enough water to flourish, yet farming and cattle-rearing are the main economic activities in these districts,” he said.

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