GICUMBI - In its five-year plan, Gicumbi District wants all residents to have access to clean water, Mayor Bonane Nyangezi announced this, while officially commissioning six water sources in Bwisigye and other neighbouring sectors.

The mayor said that 52 percent of the over 300,000 residents in Gicumbi District, currently have access to clean and safe water.

"Our target, as a district, is to have all residents get access to clean and safe water in the next five years,” Nyangezi said.

The newly commissioned water sources were constructed with funding from L’APPEL France’s arm in Rwanda, in conjunction with Eglise Presbyteriene au Rwanda (EPR).

Urging residents to harvest water, Nyangezi said there were a number of other upcoming projects to increase access to clean and safe water.

Some members of the community who spoke to The New Times said they travelled one to three kms to access clean and safe water.

Elisée Musemakweli, the President of EPR, said that the church has been involved in many developmental projects, including enabling people to access clean and safe water across the country.

Rwanda targets to provide 85 percent of its population with potable water by 2015.

It is estimated that water coverage in Rwanda is currently at 75 percent up from about 55 percent in 2005.

Ends