Heavy rains have destroyed several roads in Gisagara District, affecting transportation of mainly agricultural produce to the markets. Jean Pierre Mushokambere, the president of UCORIBU, a union of rice farmers’ cooperatives in the districts of Gisagara and Huye, told The New Times on Tuesday that rural roads are now impassable due to floods as a result of heavy rains. The co-operative has 12,000 members growing rice on 2,360 hectares of land. UCORIBU co-owns the Gisagara-based Gikonko Rice factory. Mushokambere said the factory gets 7,000 tonnes of paddy rice per year. “We have many cooperatives from rural areas that take their rice produce to Gikonko Rice Factory. But when it rains heavily, transportation of the produce to the factory becomes difficult,” he said. “We have about 3,000 tonnes of paddy rice still in stores because of impassable roads. We are waiting for the dry season,” he said, adding that this has disrupted the operation of the factory as it is not getting enough produce to process. Mushokambere said even transporting husked rice to the market in Huye District, Muhanga District and Kigali City is a challenge. “Retailers who come to buy rice at the factory are unable to reach there during rainy season because of the muddy and slippery roads,” he said. Cecile Mukamuganga, the vice president of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in Gisagara District said the district needs a tarmac road to attract more investments in various sectors and promote agriculture. “With tarmac roads we can be able to transport our produce to markets, create jobs and attract investors in our district,” she said. During the National Dialogue Council last week, the Minister of State in charge of Transport, Dr Alexis Nzahabwanimana said government will construct Save-Gisagara to Huye road via Kabutare Hospital. Léandre Karekezi, the Mayor of Gisagara District told The New Times on Tuesday that a study will be carried out first to establish the cost. The 25 kilometre road construction will be jointly funded by the district and central government, according to the mayor. “The road construction will be helpful. It would attract investors in various businesses. We are also setting up factories in the city which will need good roads to transport raw materials,” he said.
