Karongi is one of the seven districts that make up Western Province, occupying an area of 993km2 , a population of 331,808 and 73,326 households with a population density of 334 persons per square kilometer.

The main town of Karongi District is Rubengera.

Karongi District is divided into 13 sectors namely: Bwishyura, Gishyita, Gashali, Gitesi, Mubuga, Murambi, Murundi, Mutuntu, Rubengera, Rugabano, Ruganda, Rwankuba and Twumba; 88 cells and 537 villages.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND JUSTICE

Residents of Karongi district have embraced decentralization which has translated into improved access and delivery of services. Through governance clinics, citizens’ complaints are addressed. Court judgments that have been executed amount to 56% while 90.5% of citizen’s conflicts were solved.

All sectors in the district have been facilitated with IT-related equipment including; computers, printers, scanners, computers, and photocopying machines among others.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Karongi’s economy heavily relies on growing of tea, coffee, maize, beans, Irish potatoes, cassava , bananas and fruits.

Tea is grown on 3,027 hectares and coffee on 1,460 hectares. There are eleven factories that process coffee and two for tea.

In 2015-2016, a total of 52,381 hectares were consolidated for maize, beans, Irish potatoes, cassava, soya and wheat growing. Also created were 2,199 ha of radical terraces in sectors of Rubengera, Gashari, Rugabano, Rwankuba and Murundi.

Under the livestock services, 5,747 households were given cows and 5052 were given exotic pigs.

More than 60,000 SACCO members have constructed 13 modern working offices and more than 134,000 people out of 331,808 in the district work with financial institutions.

150km of Lake Kivu shores were rehabilitated, 300km of Nyabahanga and Mashyiga Rivers were also maintained; Muregeya and Cyamutunda bridges were constructed, and 12,031 hectares were planted with trees to reduce erosion.

A total of 227 families use biogas.

To protect the environment, the district constructed new radical terraces on the surface of 561.37 hectares. A total of 22,000 cows were vaccinated.

In 2015-2016 the hectares of consolidated land rose up to 7910.8ha of maize, 5581.2ha of irish potatoes, 32675.62ha for beans, 4223.45ha for cassava, 647.8ha for wheat and 1342.7ha for soya.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE

The district has three hospitals, 23 health centers and seven health posts that offer medical services to all citizens. Seven health centers have maternity and health posts at Kibirizi, Nzaratsi, Manji, Mubuga, Musasa and Rugobagoba were launched.

There is also a marine ambulance that helps in dispatch of patients across Lake Kivu.

In partnership with World Vision, the district constructed a clinical house for children with HIV/AIDS. In the 2015-2016 performance contracts, 81.0% of the population were covered under health insurance (mutuelle de santé). More than 273,410 people (82.4%) have access to clean water and 9,386 households (12.8%) are connected to electricity, 97.9% use firewood for cooking and 2% use charcoal. In 2015-2016 fiscal year the district constructed 26 Km of water supply system.

Karongi is home to national project for methane gas extraction Lake Kivu under which 25 megawatts is now extracted and supplied to the national grid in addition to Nyabahanga power plant that provides 200 kilowatt.

The yearly evolution of electricity connection in the district shows that 3,074 households were connected between 2013-2104 while 1,159 households in 2014-2015 and 893 households in 2015-2016 were connected.

Under the bye-bye Nyakatsi program, 2500 houses were constructed where some 1802 were for genocide survivors and 260 for marginalized people. A total of 67 families were given land and 162 children were taken back to school.

INFRASTRUCTURES

Different roads have been constructed in the district to facilitate mobility, trade and safe movements.

Under the 2015-2016 budget, the district constructed112 Km of roads and funded maintenance of 8km in Mubuga sector, 21km in Gishyita, 12km in Rwankuba, 16km in Gitesi 25km in Mutuntu 10km in Gashari and 20km in Murambi.

The business community in Karongi town have worked together in addressing accommodation challenges where they have constructed a nine-floor commercial complex. Two new complexes are under construction in completion stages.

Bwishyura modern market with 82 commercial rooms was constructed in collaboration with LODA.

The district has established villages’ master plans to promote settlement in rural areas. In this line, 130 village master plans have been developed and roads with 130.1km were created in 79 sites and 13,340 plots created.

The district has seven commercial banks, five microfinance institutions and three insurance companies along with Business Development Fund (BDF).

EDUCATION

Karongi district has three universities, four Vocation Training Centers (VTC), 67pre-primary schools, 125 primary schools and 57 secondary schools.

A total of 406 classrooms and 823 latrines were constructed under the twelve-year basic education programme, 13 teacher accommodation units were also constructed and school feeding programme was established in 39 schools of nine and twelve years basic education.

The district also constructed 15 classrooms, 5 library rooms, 9 pre-primary classrooms and 6 latrines to increase equitable access to nine and twelve years basic education for all children.

At least 2925 of 3446 dropouts were returned to school in primary; 511 of 822 dropouts were returned in lower secondary and 190 students returned in upper secondary last year while 9308 adults were identified and trained to read and write.

 TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

Karongi district is a touristic hub as it has different touristic sites like Lake Kivu, Urutare rwa Ndaba, Ibigabiro bya Rwabugiri, Chapeau de Napoleon, Akarwa k’amahoro, Source of River Nile and a part of Nyungwe National Park.

The district has eight hotels, different bars and restaurants, opened an Environmental Museum that showcases some plant species available in the country and help in their preservation.

In sustaining cleanliness, the township has electrified twenty kilometers along the road, created modern gardens at Kiniha cell and constructed water supply system of 630 meters.

THE WAY FORWARD

The District targets to keep on encouraging citizens to embrace government policies and use available opportunities to shape the future of the country and sustain the achievements by setting up measures to tackle any challenges.