Floods cut off Masaka

Residents in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District, have expressed concern over the losses they are incurring after the banks of Nyabarongo River burst, causing floods. 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012
END OF THE ROAD; Stranded people wait for a canoe to cross to Masaka yesterday. The New Times / J. Mbanda

Residents in Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District, have expressed concern over the losses they are incurring after the banks of Nyabarongo River burst, causing floods.  When The New Times visited the area, residents were using canoes to cross."We are now paying Rwf 500 for transport from here to Mulindi, up from Rwf 250,” said one of the area residents.  The taxis commuting to the area pass through Kabuga town which, according to the residents, is costly and time consuming.  Those who use the submerged road, part with Rwf100 for a boat ride of a few metres. According to the Mayor of Kicukiro District, Paul Jules Ndamage, the floods are a result of the construction works currently going on along River Akagera in Bugesera District. The river used to pour into Mwogo marshland before the works began. It’s estimated that over 10 hectares of farmland have been destroyed by the floods.  Ndamage said the matter is beyond the district’s capacity and has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office."We can’t do anything other than urging residents not to risk using that route. It was agreed that the Rwanda Defence Forces ( RDF) engineering regiment takes up the task of rebuilding the road,” Ndamage said.