KAYONZA- The Japanese government through its embassy in the Rwanda is to construct roadside stations at various locations across the country.

Japanese ambassador to Rwanda, Kunio Hatanaka disclosed this yesterday while meeting local leaders in the Eastern Province.

Roadside stations are designated rest areas along highways.

Addressing local leaders in Kayonza, the ambassador said that the embassy and other stakeholders were assessing areas suitable in the country to put up a pilot project.

Nyagatovu, which is situated along the Kigali-Rusumo and Kagitumba highways may be the first to get such a station.

"In my opinion, Kayonza is the choice... it is at the junction of roads going to Uganda and Tanzania, it has a National Park, big lake, etc. We shall see other parts of the country also, but we may end up with the Nyagatovu point,” Hatanaka said.

The Ambassador said that the choice of the roadside station will also depend on traffic volume and managerial capacity.

"The construction budget is not the most important issue but the operational ability. We shall have to train local people to manage such infrastructure,” he added.

Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, the Governor of Eastern Province, noted that roadside stations would positively impact local economies through job creation and provision of other social amenities.

 "The station would market our rich agricultural produce and culture to the rest of the world. Long distance drivers, too, would get rest and refreshments before their final destination,” she said.

Francois Barimwabo, 55, a resident of Nyagatovu sector said that the idea was timely.

"We are at the peak of our agricultural production...we have a centre for arts and crafts just two kilometres away. If we get the chance to get the roadside station, we shall make money,” he observed.

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