30,000 Kayonza Residents to Benefit from New Water System

As part of Rwanda’s National Water Week and World Water Day celebrations, the United States, through USAID’s Rwanda Integrated Water Security Program, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Migera Water System today in Kayonza District.

The construction of the system was officially launched by USAID/Rwanda Mission Director Peter Malnak, Honorable Minister of Natural Resources Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, and Governor of Eastern Province Odette Uwamariya, together with other local officials and community members.

The system will provide safe and sustainable drinking water to approximately 30,000 individuals living in Mwiri and Rwinkwavu sectors as well as critical district institutions such as Rwinkwavu Hospital, two health centers, seven public schools, and local churches and commercial centers located in the project zone.

In addition to drinking water, the system will provide water for small-scale irrigation of crops in approximately 30 communities.

This $2.4 million project is part of USAID’s Rwanda Integrated Water Security Program, which works to improve the sustainable management of water quantity and quality to positively impact human health, food security, and resiliency to climate change for vulnerable communities at particular risk of water insecurity in Rwanda.

“The Migera Water System is an excellent example of how USAID seeks to work in Rwanda – through projects that integrate across sectors to have meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and their communities,” said USAID Mission Director Peter Malnak.

“The system will address the critical gap in access to clean, reliable water in the area which will improve hygiene and nutrition, reduce disease, increase agricultural production, and allow community members to live healthier, more productive lives.”

The Migera system comprises several components: the construction of a new water supply system, Migera III, and the rehabilitation and extension of Migera I, Migera II and the Rwazana water supply systems in the same area.

All of the sites and construction plans were made in close collaboration with Kayonza District Officials. The full Migera project – including new construction and rehabilitation – is planned to last 15 months.