Gatsata residents decry water shortage

Residents of Gatsata Sector in Gasabo District have called upon the government to address the problem of water shortage that has persistently hit various parts of the sector. Charlotte Uwimana, a resident of Nyamugali Cell, said that lack of water is a serious issue in this sector because most residents struggle to get water from River Nyabugogo and this can easily spread diseases if the government does not intervene soon. Ernest Kamari, a local businessman who has a restaurant in Nyamabuye cell, said that shortage of water causes financial constraints to the residents especially those with business activities. “A Jerrycan of water now costs between Rwf200 to 250, so this makes it quite expensive for some s to afford water for both business and domestic use,” said Robert Banese, a resident of Nyamugali cell. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Gaspard Bizimana, the Executive Secretary of Gatsata sector said that two weeks ago, they wrote a letter to the management of Energy, Water and Sanitary Authority (EWSA) requesting it to address the issue by installing a water pipe to supply water to the affected areas. “The challenge of water shortage in this sector is a serious issue which is beyond our capacity, and if not solved soon, it will affect the living standards of the residents socially and economically,” Bizimana said. The Director of Water and Sewerage Utility at EWSA, Theoneste Minani, told The Sunday Times that the shortage came about after a pipe used to supply water to the area from Jali water source broke down. “The pipe which used to supply water to Gatsata Sector broke down because it was installed there about 50 years ago, but EWSA has also failed to repair it because some residents constructed houses over it,” Minani said. He said that EWSA will collaborate with the local authorities to secure a place where another water pipe can be installed in order to address the shortage. Minani added that before the end of the year, EWSA will have finished constructing a water reservoir in Kabuye Sector which will also supply water to the affected areas. He said that other areas with the same problem in Kigali city include Cyahafi and Samuduha. He noted that EWSA currently provides clean water to 75 percent of the total population in Kigali city adding that they have a target of increasing it to at least 85 percent before end of next year. Ends