KIGALI - The national committee on Nyakatsi eradication, yesterday, toured several parts of Kigali City to assess the implementation of the government programme to phase out thatched houses, locally known as Nyakatsi.

The 10-member committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) and Rwanda National Police (RNP), among others, visited sites in the sectors of Kanyinya and Mageragere in Nyarugenge District and Gahanga in Kicukiro District.

They also visited eight sites in the Sectors of Bumbogo, Rutunga, Nduba, Gikomero, Jali, Jabana, Ndera and Rusororo in Gasabo District where other houses are being built.

By December last year, there were about 1,380 thatched houses in the city, 23 in Kicukiro, 69 in Nyarugenge while the rest were in Gasabo.

Augustin Kampayana, the head of the committee, said that they were "assessing the progress of the programme and the hindrances that could be affecting districts in building modern houses for the affected vulnerable residents and in time.”

Challenges include lack of access to water to use for construction, and the high cost of iron sheets.
"The government will help them (residents) where they fail but they take the first priority through Umuganda (communal work) to help their fellow citizens,” Kampayana noted.

Kigali City set up to the end of March to have phased out thatched houses while the government set up to May to eliminate Nyakatsi across the country.

Kampayana said that by mid-last month, there were about 45,000 Nyakatsi in the whole country, down from 71,000 in December last year.

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