Nyagatare District allocated about Rwf810m for construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges under the roads infrastructure project. The district Advisory Council passed a Rwf11 billion budget for the fiscal year 2014-15 last week. According to the budget framework, priority will be given to special development projects. These will include rehabilitation of the 23-kilometre Cyamunyana road, Nyagatare-Tabagwe-Karama road, Rugarama-Gihengeri road in Mukama Sector and Nyagatare town roads, among others. Gasinga Bridge will also be rehabilitated at a cost of Rwf38.3m while construction of Matimba drainage channels will cost Rwf135m. The district mayor, Fred Sabiti Atuhe, told The New Times that the upgrading and rehabilitation of the roads would not only enhance socio-economic development in the district, but also link it to the rest of the country. “The project will include bridge works, construction of drainage facilities as well as environmental protection works. Renovation and reconstruction of roads will pave the way for full scale commercial farming and agriculture,” he said. The mayor said the district will also allocate around Rwf6 billion to urban and rural settlement projects, adding that another Rwf5.5 billion will be allocated to water and sanitation infrastructure. “The budget will fund a wide variety of projects…energy development and electrical provision, natural resources sustainable management, livestock development among others.” Nyagatare residents welcomed the increase in budgetary allocation for the construction and maintenence of feeder roads. Peter Kamugisha, a resident, said the roads will help ease transportation of farm produce to markets. “The roads will facilitate movement of patients to the nearest health care centres,” he added.
