In the year 2000, leaders laid out an ambitious plan – Vision 2020 – to transform Rwanda from an agrarian to a knowledge-based economy. Part of the ways to achieve this was to invest in infrastructure development in order to turn around the energy sector and accelerate access to electricity by the population to, connect transport networks, provide affordable housing, as well as invest in water provision and sanitation improvement. As Vision 2020 ends, paving way for another development and transformation agenda – Vision 2050 – it is important to reflect the journey made over the last 20 years. Water and sanitation Universal access to water and sanitation services are priorities in Rwanda. This is why the government has stepped up efforts over the years to increase water supply and sanitation services. Water supplied in urban areas is 187,293 cubic metres per day compared to water demand of 290,038 cubic metres per day, this results in water rationing as an interim solution. There is a number of projects under implementation expected to increase water production countrywide. These include Kanzenze water supply project which will produce 40,000 cubic metres per day and Gihira water treatment plant which will generate 15,000 cubic metres per day adding to the existing plant of 10,000cubic meter per day production capacity. Water distribution network is being upgraded with 568 km in the City of Kigali and 351 km in secondary cities. The project started in 2018 and is expected to be completed in December – 2020. Government says distribution of clean water in different neighbourhood of the City of Kigali (especially Kanombe, Kimironko, Nduba, etc.) has been prioritized by increasing the number and capacity of reservoirs from existing 24 reservoirs (with total capacity of 31,600 m3) to 65 reservoirs (with total capacity of 118,500 m3) by December 2020. Rural Water Supply 34 high impact water projects have been initiated in 13 Districts with water access rates below 70% Ngororero, Gicumbi, Gisagara, Rutsiro, Ruhango, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Rusizi, Gakenke, Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Bugesera. Non –functional rural water supply systems are being rehabilitated where 97 have been rehabilitated, 177 are planned to be rehabilitated in 2020-21 with target to rehabilitate all nonfunctional WSS by 2024. Waste management Nduba Landfill While processing the long term solution of waste management in the City of Kigali, regular daily management works are performed at Nduba dumpsite to ensure wastes are environmentally friendly managed. A feasibility study for long term solution is under development. CoK is putting together all required documents concerning expropriation cases of On the other hand, Construction of a quick fix liquid waste treatment facility (200 m3/day) is under re-tendering process after the first contractor failed to deliver; we expect to have this facility by December 2020. Sewage and liquid waste management The Procurement process for works to construct Kigali centralized sewerage System is ongoing, and the contractor is expected to get on board by June 2020. Construction will take 3 years. Construction of Kigali Faecal Sludge treatment plant is in pipeline; the feasibility study is will be finalized in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The plant will help in treating waste from households’ latrines, public toilets as well as septic tanks. The procurement process for the construction of 4 landfills in Musanze, Rubavu, Rusizi and Karongi is ongoing. The project is expected to be complete in FY 2022-2023.
