US$4 million water project launched

RULINDO - The Minister of state for Water and Energy, Eng. Colette Ruhamya, on Tuesday, launched a clean water project in Ntarabana, Rulindo District, where she asked residents to protect clean water installations. The water project, at Gitambi Primary School, will be funded by Water for people,an NGO, in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rulindo District. The project dubbed “Rulindo challenge”, aims at providing clean water to all residents of the district within the next four years. “Provision of clean water is part of government’s priority programmes to improve citizens’ social well- being, because clean water is life,” said Ruhamya. She cautioned the contractors, against doing shoddy work and failing to accomplish their tasks within the stipulated timeframe. “Contactors should honor their obligations, by putting up long lasting clean water installations within the exact period agreed upon in their contracts,” added Ruhamya. The Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee affairs, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi, reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing social amenities to Rwandans. “In addition to provision of clean water, government is also committed to extending electricity to all rural residents by working hand in hand with development partners to achieve the millennium goals,” said Gatsinzi. Water for people Chief Executive Officer, Ned Breslin, said the four-year water project will ensure that all schools, health centers and residents in the district access water from a minimum distance of 500m by the year 2014. “Residents of Rulindo will be the first to access abundant clean water in the entire world,” Breslin said, to the applause from residents present. Water for people country Director, Perpetue Kamuyumbu, disclosed that the water project will cost a total of over US$4 million. “Water for people will foot 55 percent of the total cost of providing clean water to residents, 30 percent by the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the remaining funds by Rulindo District,” said Kamuyumbu. Also present were District Mayor Justus Kangwagye and the Chief Executive Officer for Charity water, Scott Harrison among others. Ends