Gisagara Inaugurates Water Pipeline, Bringing Clean Water to Residents Previously Dependent on Swamps

By The Inspirer writer.

In Mukindo Sector of Gisagara District, a water pipeline over 13 kilometers long with 9 water points has been inaugurated.

The project, costing over 380 million Rwandan Francs, was officially opened on May 30, 2024, during the celebration of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in Rwanda.

Some residents of this sector previously lacked access to clean water and relied on water from the Akanyaru swamp, which caused them to suffer from waterborne diseases and hygiene-related illnesses.

Yankurije Esperence, a local resident, told UMUSEKE, “We used to draw very dirty water, making it very difficult to drink, and children would get worms and other diseases. But now, all these issues have been resolved.”

This resident added that, apart from being cured of diseases caused by drinking dirty water, they are also relieved from the burden of fetching water from distant places. “Some students would even miss school because they had to go fetch water from far away, and by the time they returned, school hours would be over.”

Francoise Mukandekezi, the President of the Rwanda Red Cross expressed joy that residents who previously had little to no access to clean water now have it. She emphasized that as an organization dedicated to helping the vulnerable, they understand the importance of water and how access to it can change lives.

“Water is life because after it is brought close, people can perform their tasks calmly and maintain hygiene, thus avoiding diseases and living better lives with increased development,” she said.

The Governor of the Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi, highlighted the significant achievement of providing water to Mukindo Sector residents who previously lived without clean water. She mentioned that measures have been taken to manage the water infrastructure so that residents will always have access to water.

“We urge residents to strive to improve their livelihoods to support the initiatives provided by the government in collaboration with partners,” said Governor Kayitesi.

She also reminded residents to take part in managing and maintaining the water infrastructure and to report any attempts to damage it.

Apart from Gisagara, the Rwanda Red Cross has constructed over 80 kilometers of water pipelines across the country to support the government in providing clean water to residents.

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