Being the major passageway for goods transited through Tanzania, the province is often characterized by busy traffic flows of trucks transporting goods through Kayonza-Rusumo road. It is due to this background that Japan financed the construction and renovation of road in the province to boost connectivity and facilitate cross border trade.
Throughout the five-year project, a 92-kilometer long Kayonza-Rusumo tarmac road was completed at a tune of Rwf59 billion. The project also provided Rwf18.1 billion for the construction of 20.6 kilometer roads connecting towns in the districts of Kayonza, Kirehe and Ngoma. The roads will go hand in hand with the lighting along 112 kilometers.
During a recent visit to these infrastructures, local leaders from areas of interventions said that there has been a good progress. The Mayor of Kayonza District, Jean Bosco Munyemazi said that 7.5 kilometer road built in Kayonza district is helping them in the implementation of designed masterplan.
Ngoma District Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Ngoma district, Cyriaque Nyiridandi Mapambano has revealed that roads under construction are meant to facilitate movements and enhance connectivity as part of critical components of the district’s development. “Road infrastructures play a critical role in the development. We previously had one road running to Kirehe but we are grateful that infrastructures are being expanded. It is helping us to expand the town and consider other consider other development activities enhancing residents’ progress,” he said.
Shadia Uwababyeyi, a resident of Ngoma District has revealed that they have started witnessing positive transformations owing to these infrastructures and called on relevant authorities to expedite their completion.
The Deputy Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA), Emile Patrick Baganizi has highlighted that the new roads will facilitate movement in Eastern Province. He explained that the Government is closely following up these projects and catering for expropriation fees.
The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, Imai Masahiro has said that the financing of infrastructure development in Kayonza, Ngoma, Kirehe and Rusumo will ease movements of people and goods. “We have supported projects that enhanced free movement of goods and people. This also gave boost to inter-regional trade which will be a key driver for achieving Rwanda’s goal of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2035,” he said.
Another new road is set to be built in Ngoma district expected to reduce traffic congestion of cargo trucks from Tanzania or Uganda transiting through Kigali to DRC. The 64 kilometer Ngoma-Ramiro road is expected to be completed at Rwf64.9 billion in two phases. Construction activities which started in October 2021 are expected to be completed in October 2023.
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