KIGALI - Kigali City increased its budget for the 2011/2012 fiscal year by 6.2 percent from Rwf 37.9 billion the previous financial year to Rwf 39.7 billion.

The draft budget was presented to the Parliamentary Commission on Budget, yesterday by the city Mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba.

According to the draft budget, 89.65 percent (over Rwf 35.7bn) was allocated to development activities which include infrastructure (Rwf 28.5 billion), health and environment which were allocated Rwf 3.9 billion.

Ndayisaba said that 45.43 percent (Rwf 18 billion) of the budget would come from development partners, 20 percent from the government while the city’s own revenue would contribute 26.58 percent.

Economic development was also allocated Rwf 1.1bn.

He noted that the city budget still lacks Rwf 1.77bn to construct the Cercle Sportif–Nyamirambo road and to seal potholes in the city.

"We intend to get a loan of Rwf 3 billion to bridge the budget gap,” Ndayisaba said.

During the same session presided over by Costance Mukayuhi Rwaka, the Chairperson of the Budget Commission, the three districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge also presented their draft budgets, with the biggest part of their budgets also allocated to development projects.

The three districts’ budget stands at Rwf 8.1bn, Rwf 8.1bn and Rwf 11bn, respectively, for Gasao, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge.

The draft financial plans for both Kigali City and the districts were welcomed by Members of Parliament who said that allocating the biggest share would fast-track the development of the city.

However, Ndayisaba was put to task by MPs to explain why the Nyanza Landfill has never been relocated despite being factored in its budget in the last three financial years.

This was after Kicukiro Mayor, Paul Jules Ndamage, highlighted the landfill as one of the things that endangered people’s lives because of its smell and vulnerability to fire outbreaks.

 "Nyanza landfill is a big problem to the people living next to it. It has been (factored) in the previous budgets for relocation and up to now nothing was done,” MP Faith Mukakalisa wondered.

In response, Ndayisaba said that the relocation was hampered by lack of a master plan to transfer it.

He said that the tender to construct the central sewage treatment plant is yet to be given out.

"Right now we cannot confirm when the new landfill will be complete. We are still looking for investors,” said Ndayisaba
The lawmakers also requested that the issue of street children and idlers who are on the increase be prioritised.

Ends