Japan to finance Kayonza terminal

KAYONZA-The Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda, Kunio Hatanaka, Wednesday met residents and community leaders of Kayonza District to discuss modalities of establishing a roadside station. The discussions came about after Kayonza emerged as the favourite in the country for the construction of the station. The erection of the roadside station to be located in Mukarange Sector would be sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Ambassador Kunio Hatanaka said that the facility was in line with the set local socio-economic development. “Kayonza District was given the first priority in the country because of its strategic location...you know it connects Tanzania, Uganda and to some extent Burundi,” he said. He noted that the issue of roadside hawking would also end, since there would be enough space for business activities and exhibitions. “There will be enough parking area, toilets, rest and refresh space, venue for local events, showroom, etc. In Japan, the facilities are free, but here, you will need to make some money to sustain them”. The Ambassador said the business community and leaders should be able to own the station. “Issues to do with expropriation and management, concern you the community. We have a limited budget that will be used as soon as Tokyo gives us the go ahead”. Damascene Gakuba, the Chairman of Private Sector Federation in Kayonza District, said the construction of the station was timely. “We shall do all at our disposal to support the project...Kayonza has a large traffic volume that is exacerbated by trailers from Dar-es-salaam and Mombasa ports. Enough parking space and exhibition room will bring in a lot of money,” he said. The Governor of the Eastern Province, Odette Uwamariya, assured the Japanese of maximum cooperation. “We shall avail land big enough for possible future expansion of the station. Expropriation however, takes long and we need to start early,” she said. Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) will carry out the technical works. stephen.rwembeho@newtimes.co.rw

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Japan to finance Kayonza terminal