REMA wants school out of marshland

In the wake of the recent floods that left more than 500 people homeless, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has instructed Kigali City to relocate Glory Secondary School situated on the former premises of Independent University of Kigali (ULK). According to REMA, the sewage system of the school, built in the middle of the swamp was also flooded putting area residents at high health risk. Speaking to The New Times, REMA Director General, Rose Mukankomeje said the relocation of the school has been communicated to KCC since it was built with their authorization. “The proprietor fulfilled all the legal procedures to attain that land and to construct a school there” Mukankomeje said. “Our duty is therefore to instruct those bodies concerned [Kigali city] to relocate the school to another place and vacate the wetland.” When contacted, Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Development, Alphonse Nizeyimana said that they are still looking for a suitable place to relocate the school. “We all agreed that the school together with all residents around that area have to vacate because it’s a wetland,” Nizeyimana said. The school was on Wednesday flooded following Tuesday night heavy downpour that also destroyed about 70 houses and displaced over 250 area residents. The school’s proprietor, Senator Rwigamba Balinda, when contacted, said that he was not aware of the decision.“I have heard it from you. REMA and Kigali City have my contacts, but no one has informed me about it,” Rwigamba said. “It’s my school and I should be notified of any decision taken, but to my surprise, I was not informed and you are the first person to tell me. “The school accommodates hundreds of students and they cannot shut it down just like that. There has to be a dialogue between us before any decision is taken.”The school currently has over 500 students. Ends

National

REMA wants school out of marshland