Scattered settlements and the topography have been cited as the main challenges to rolling out clean water in Rulindo district. However the district, with the support of development partners, has promised to find ways of mitigating the water issue in the area. “The hilly terrain that needs expensive motorised water system has been identified as one of the challenges to water supply in the area,” said Perpetue Kamuyumbo, the country director of Water People, an NGO.During a two-day stakeholders’ meeting on addressing Rulindo challenges in Shyorongi sector it was revealed that all efforts are being used to see that the water problem is solved by 2015. “We have begun by shifting our residents to grouped settlements…but also we are already collaborating with our partners in water supply so that the residents can find water infrastructure in grouped community settlements,” Emile Ntambara in charge of infrastructure in the district said. According to the land officer in Rulindo district, Charles Nsengiyumva, currently 63 per cent of the district population currently inhabit grouped settlements while the district’s target is that by June next year 70% will be in settlements. Other challenges hindering access to clean water is the high prices of water and the residents are complaining about it. Currently a 20-litre container costs between Rwf30 and Rwf50 and the residents who spoke to The New Times said they buy a cubic meter at Rwf1100, which they say is very high.A resident in Bugaragara cell of Shyorongi sector, who preffered anonymity, said that despite his home being near the tap, he goes to natural water sources, which takes him an hour to get to, because he cannot afford the tap water.
