Rwamagana is a district in Eastern Province, Rwanda. Its capital is Kigabiro city, which is also the provincial capital.

With a population of 313,461 the district has 682 squares km subdivided into 14 administrative sectors, : Fumbwe, Gahengeri, Gishari, Karenge, Kigabiro, Muhazi, Munyaga, Munyiginya, Musha, Muyumbu, Mwulire, Nyakariro, Nzige and Rubona.

Rwamagana is ‘a place of a hundred things’ in Kinyarwanda, as it contains the word ‘magana’ a word meaning ‘one-hundred’ in many bantu dialects. The district’s name ‘Rwamagana’ was meant to imply a place of abundance.

According to the district mayor of Rwamagana Mbonyumuvunyi Radjab, the district is committed to uplifting citizen’s social protection and economic development of the district.

"We are looking at all aspects that lead to the country’s development mainly uplifting education and health, trade and social welfare plus hygiene of citizens. We have helped build toilets for those who did not have them” says Mbonyumuvunyi.

The mayor said a good number of citizens have been uplifted from abject poverty thanks to government initiatives such as Girinka program, land consolidation, use of fertilizers and improved seeds leading to high farm yields.

Agriculture

The district is focusing on increased productivity of agriculture which engages 78% of the population. The government has thus supported the increased use of fertilizers, crop intensification programs, land consolidation and other crop prioritization which have all helped reduce extreme poverty and food insecurity among the citizens.

About 60% of the land in the district is consolidated and farmers are being encouraged to grow crops with comparative advantage suitable for their lands.

In Rwamagana, 20, 782 hectares of banana crop have been rehabilitated and 28 banana farmer field schools have been established.

The district has built a valley dam in Nyarabidibiri swamp which is helping the irrigation of 265Ha and another valley Damin Gahengeri sector that will help irrigate 400 ha in Rugende swamp.

In a bid to boost agriculture, the district has built maize drying centers in all the sectors of Rwamagana. A total of 2859 ha of terraces have been built.

Girinka

Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) in November, 2013 officially launched Girinka Week in Eastern Province in a bid to scale up the One Cow per Household Program.

During the week-long event, Rwamagana Girinka beneficiaries passed over 1204 calves to vulnerable needy families.

So far 10,670 cows have been distributed to poor families in Rwamagana and many people have been uplifted from the pangs of poverty.

Health

Rwamagana hospital became a provincial hospital in 2016 after it was rehabilitated and installed with facilities suitable for the status.

The hospital boasts of a new modern laboratory worth close to Rwf300 million and an emergency building worth Rwf100 million. 

The hospital with its improved infrastructure and equipment has helped in improving service delivery and health of citizens in the district.

The district has almost 100% mutuelle de santé coverage, 15 maternity wards, with 100% of mothers delivering in health facilities.

The district also constructed and equipped 3 maternity wards in Rwamagana hospital, Nkomangwa and Munyaga Health centers, 2 Health posts in Zinga and Kitazigurwa IDP- Model village (Munyaga and Muhazi sectors).

Education

The number of students in primary schools in Rwamagana district has increased from 62,747 in 2010 t0 75,156 in 2017; in secondary from 13893 in 2010 to 17369 in 2017 while the number of students in universities has increased from 805 to 1680.

So far 270 class rooms have been built in Rwamagana district including 494 under the 9-year and 12-year basic education program.

 Ongoing Projects

Gishari Flower Park

Rwanda’s Gishari Flower Park in Rwamagana District started its operations and business is encouraging as the flower shipments have made it to key European markets.

Since production started in July 2016, the project under Bella Flowers has shipped over 1.7 million stems of roses over the past months. Only six hectares of the park are currently in production, officials have said.

The Rwf5.3 billion 35-hectare flower farm is expected to produce at least 44 million stems per year, according to Aurore Umubyeyi, the chief operating officer Bella Flowers.

She said more than 65 per cent of the roses produced so far have been exported to Europe through the world’s leading flower market in the Netherlands.

The flower park is a source of employment to many residents mostly youth from Rwamagana.

 Energy

There has been an increased access to electricityin the district. Today, 30% of the population in Rwamagana have access to electricity. The district in 2013 made a rollout plan and extended electricity to Murehe sector and business centers.

According to the mayor, the district in this year’s Imihigo committed to connect 8000 households.

As electricity connections increased so did the households using Biogas. Constructionof 127 biogas digester plants improved energy efficiency in the district. Over 380 and some institutions are today using bio gas in Rwamagana.

Rubona solar power plant

For a sustainable economic growth, energy Sector has to be reinforced as a pillar of development.

A US $23.7 million solar power plant, located in Rubona sector, Rwamagana District, Eastern Province of Rwanda generates 8.5 megawatts which is enough to power 15,000 homes.

The plant is part of the Government of Rwanda’s goal to provide clean and reliable energy to satisfy growing demand and sustain national development.

The plant is comprised of 28,600 solar photovoltaic modules each with 300Wp (Watt-peak), eight inverters and is connected to the national grid.

Feeder Roads Development

The development objective Feeder Roads in Rwamagana is to enhance all season road connectivity to agricultural marketing centers in the district which will result in sustained and improved access for rural communities.

Work on rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance of selected feeder roads has been on going in the District and over 93KM in villages have been completed and 12KM of Karangara- flower park road were completed in 2015.

Rwamagana industrial park

To promote economic growth and development, the district is utilizing the Rwamagana industrial park to be able to achieve industrial growth in the next few years.