GICUMBI - Residents of Rushaki Sector in Gicumbi District have been connected to the national power grid by the Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA), and the district.

EWSA branch manager in the district, Gilbert Rubayita, said over 200 residents in the sector have so far been connected.

The project will also cover two other sectors neighbouring Rushaki.

"200 have been already connected and another 200 will follow soon,” Rubayita disclosed.

Excited residents, who spoke to The New Times, said they cannot wait to venture into businesses that generate income from electricity.

"This is like a dream (come true) to some of us; we never thought we would have electricity here and now that we have it, I am going to open up a beauty salon,” said one of the area residents.

Another resident said the development would improve the academic performance in her family.

"My children will be able to read at night and now we are going to buy a television set,” an elated Juliette Uwimana said.

Others said charging phones would be easier for them as they had to walk over 20 kilometres to Byumba to access electricity.

Each resident in the area contributed Rwf 56,000 as a connection fee paid in installments.

Rubayita disclosed that the connection cost Rwf 590 million.

The government’s target is to have at least 50 percent of the population having access to electricity in the next seven years.

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