Water Aid pledge is good news for residents in rural Rwanda. It comes as price per jerrican was revised downward
There is a new life across Bugesera district in Rwanda’s Eastern Province. The once drought-hit district, could now be home to clean water.
Water Aid – a nonprofit making organization, has set aside Rwf6 billion ($7.3 million) to cover clean water demand in the area.
Officials at Water Aid say the plan is to equip entire district with access to clean water in the next three years.
Maurice Kwizera, Managing Director of Water Aid, said through partnership with other organisations, “We hope Bugesera will be having clean water by 2020.”
In celebrations to mark the disorganization’s 5 years presence in the country yesterday, Kwizera said his organization mission is to improve welfare of Bugesera residents while fighting diseases in the district bordering with Burundi in South-East.
At least 40,000 homes have benefited from the organisation’s access to clean water in the past five years, out of 363,339 population that make up the district (2015 survey).
District officials said partners’ contribution is commendable, but the district still has a long way to go, which requires more joint efforts.
“Ideally, we have supplied 3600 cubic meters while the demand is 10,000 cubic meters,” said Eric Ruzindana, vice mayor in charge of economic affairs.
“The level of access to clean water is still on a low level more especially in sectors of Rweru and Ngeruka.”
According to Water Aid statistics, 3 million people in Rwanda don’t have access to safe water, while 600 children under five years die every year from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
Bugesera district has been attracting several government partners since the last 15 years. Interventions focusing on water supply and environment protection were urgent, following drought that affected the region in 2000s.
Water Aid pledge is good news for residents in rural Rwanda. According to Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the new maximum tariffs per jerrican of water are Rwf8 from Rwf10 for water systems using gravity, representing 20 per cent decrease.
