Nyagatare multipurpose water project in Rwanda to begin

Construction of the Nyagatare multipurpose water project in Rwanda is set to begin. This follows an approval by the Rwandese parliament of US $147m loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the implementation of the project.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Uzziel Ndagijimana confirmed the report and said that the loan is expected to fund the integrated development initiative on the use of Muvumba river water.

“The aim of the initiative is to use Muvumba to supply water for residents to meet domestic needs, livestock farming, irrigation of crops to increase food production, as well as generating power,” said Mr. Uzziel.

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Development agenda plan

The project is in line with the country’s development agenda planned for the vision 2050 and the first phase of the national strategy for transformation (NST 1) which runs from 2017 through 2024. The Minister said that the project will also provide about 24,000 m3 of water every day.

The development situated in Nyagatare District, will be implemented by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) Ltd as an Executing Agency. The assignment will be implemented over a 12 months period. WASAC’s Project Management Unit will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of project implementation.

Upon completion the Nyagatare multipurpose water project is expected to provide clean water to about 300,000 people, and ensure 7,380 hectares of farmland is irrigated, involves the construction of a dam with a 30.5m height and the capacity to contain 35 million cubic metres (m3) of water. It will also have a power plant which is expected to generate 740KW of electricity.

Among the project’s beneficiaries include development of agriculture through irrigation in Tabagwe, Gatunda, Karama, Rukomo, Nyagatare, Rwempasha, Musheri and Rwimiyaga sectors. Charged at 1.47% interest rate per annum, the loan be paid in 25 years, which include eight years of grace period.