Business Development Fund (BDF) is committed to supporting initiatives that improve the welfare of citizens besides enabling small businesses to access finance, Monique Umugwaneza, the organisation’s legal, monitoring and evaluation Manager, has said.

Umugwaneza was speaking during the hand over of two safe water points worth Rwf2.5 million to Ruhango residents, last week.

The facilities are going to benefit about 2,040 people from 340 households in four villages of Kangoga, Nyabisindu, Rwoga and Ruhango.

Ruhango District is one of the areas in the country that does not have access to safe water, forcing residents to use water from unsafe sources, officials said.

While addressing residents and officials Umugwaneza noted that BDF supports such projects because an unhealthy person cannot engage in development initiatives.

"Therefore, we support these community projects to help people to stay healthy and then encourage them to plan development projects. Remember, the community and the country’s development is linked with improving people’s welfare,” Umugwaneza said. She was optimistic the facilities would ease access to clean water and reduce water scarcity in the area.

Xavier Francois Mbabazi, the mayor of Ruhango District, urged the beneficiaries to safeguard the facilities, adding that the donation will supplement the district’s efforts to provide social services to residents.

Mbabazi reminded the community that it was their responsibility to protect all infrastructure provided by the government and partners.

"These water facilities will help residents to improve hygiene. We thank BDF for contributing to our development programmes,” he added.

Richard Bwanakweri, from Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) Ruhango branch, said people will pay Rwf10 for each jerry can of water.

He said the money will be used for maintenance and repair of the water facilities. The water official urged the community to report anyone found vandalising the water facilities.

Beneficiaries speak out

Seraphine Uwimana, a resident of Kabele village in Byimana sector, said the water facilities will foster hygiene, adding that fights would among people at the few points with clean water because of long queues.

Emmanuel Nzayisenga, another resident, said access to water had been a big problem previously, noting that children would sometimes report to school late or fail to do their homework after walking long distances to fetch water.