GASABO - Residents of Kimironko Sector, Gasabo District have called on the district leadership to find an urgent solution to the stink caused by a garbage collection bin in the area.

The residents say that the bin, located between the entrance of Kimironko Taxi Park and Kimironko market, poses a health hazard to them and anyone who come around the place.

"When they come to offload the garbage bin we spend the whole day covering our noses and sometimes we even fail to eat due to the smell,” said Joseph Mwiza, an area resident.

Philip Ruhumuriza, a restaurant attendant at the nearby Vision 2020 restaurant, said that the smell had driven away their clients, forcing the business owners to contemplate closing it.

Gasabo vice mayor in charge of social affairs, Marie Louise Uwimana, confirmed that the district was aware of the problem, and promised it would be addressed within the next two weeks.

"The rubbish bin there is very old, which makes it difficult to load the whole of it onto a truck,” she said, adding that they are awaiting Kigali City Council to buy a new bin.

The Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Dr Rose Mukankomeje, said the watchdog was unaware of the pollution caused by the garbage bin, and promised to look into the matter soon.

"We were not aware about this but I am, right away going to speak to officials from AGRUNI and Gasabo District to address the matter as soon as soon as possible, ” Mukankomeje said.

She urged residents to always inform REMA of any activities which are environmentally hazardous.

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