WASAC's rehabilitation, upgrading, and extension of water supply networks project has expanded water networks in the remote areas of Muhanga District and its neighbouring areas.

As one of the secondary cities, Muhanga District has a special consideration due to its rapid urbanisation and population increase. The city is also expected to host more national infrastructures like the construction of an international stadium and a five-star hotel in the near future, which is all in regards to why the district needed more water infrastructure.

The move to scale water access in the area was made possible with WASAC’s partnership with African Development Bank (AFDB).

Under the project, up to 207.7 kilometres of pipelines were built, 21 water reservoirs constructed, 15 water Kiosks, 48 public taps, 5 pumping stations, and 1400 vulnerable households in the first and second Ubudehe categories got water taps free of charge.

A view of Mpanga Water Treatment Plant in Nyanza District to supplies 4500 m3 per day from 3800 m3 after network extension and installation of new reservoirs.

Also, water was provided to 31 schools including 14 secondary schools and 17 primary schools. 7 health facilities which include 6 health centres and Gitwe Hospital were also catered for.

After the project’s implementation, more remote and hilly areas were connected to water networks, according to Eric Bizimana, Vice Mayor of Muhanga District in charge of Economic Development.

"Prior to this project, we had very old water pipelines and this was more visible in the Mushishiro and Nyarusange sectors that had intense water shortage challenges,” he recalled.

"But since the project provided more water networks, built water fountains, provided support to the vulnerable population and built more water reservoirs, that issue is slowly being phased out,” added Bizimana.

He is echoed by Joseph Sematabaro, WASAC Branch Manager in Muhanga District who elaborates on the tackled issues, exemplifying Shyogwe sector.

"We had sectors like Shyogwe which received little or no water at all from our networks, because they had to serve Muhanga prison, Kabeza and Ruli sectors, hence the final beneficiaries in Shyogwe sector would encounter shortage of water supply,” he recounted.

He added that more pumping stations, water reservoirs and water pipelines with bigger diameters were also built.

The New Times also visited the Gihuma Water Treatment Plant which supplies water to Muhanga District and its surroundings.

Diogene Umugwaneza, the manager of that plant says that the AFDB-sponsored project has scaled up their capacity by 200 cubic metres, hence eradicating the challenge in the area.

Diogene Umugwaneza, the manager of Gihuma Water Treatment Plant

Nyamabuye, Shyogwe, Cyeza, are among the most urbanised areas in the district that were most affected with water rationing.

"Before, we used to conduct rationing in our sectors. But the project built for us a water reservoir with 200 cubic meters and a pumping station as well, scaling up our capacity to 3700 cubic metres per day,” he highlighted.

The project also enabled Mpanga Water Treatment Plant located in Nyanza District to supply 4500 m3 per day from 3800 m3 after network extension and installation of new reservoirs.

 Residents upbeat

The project started in March 2019 and ended in June 2021 with 195,000 target population.

With different water Kiosks that were constructed ,residents are now accessing water in their villages. 

Residents and different beneficiaries of the project testify to the impact made by this water provision, especially with developments in different infrastructures and households.

Valentine Mukaremera, the head of Gitwe health centre testifies how water provision has enhanced her facility’s operation and service delivery.

She reveals that the health centre had suffered with water shortage for so many years.

"It was a horrible experience and it affected our service delivery. Workers could go to public taps and find long queues but had no other choice apart from waiting.”

She also said diseases linked to poor hygiene became a challenge for the facility, and this too was a result of lack of water. These have since significantly decreased due to access to clean water.

Vincentia Mukahanika, 61, a resident of Bweramana sector, Ruhango District recounts how the water shortage issue was rampant in her neighbourhood that residents would even go for days without food.

"Before getting water kiosks, we could even spend a full day without eating because it was difficult to get water for cooking and washing. Water was expensive as we used to pay Rwf 150 per Jerry can. But now, we only pay Rwf 20. May God bless our president and WASAC for water provision,” Mukahanika said.

This project is under Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program, a program that is aiming at improving the quality of life and socio-economic development of the people and country by ensuring equitable provision of adequate, reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services for targeted cities with a view to promote economic growth and transformation.

It targeted the city of Kigali and secondary cities which are Muhanga, Huye, Nyagatare, Musanze, Rubavu and Rusizi as well as their peri-urban areas.