This plant is one of three expected to be built in the different districts of Kigali. The first one is being constructed in Nyarugenge District at Giti cy’Inyoni as part of the Kigali Centralized Sewerage System project.
The plant is projected to cost $63 million (over 100 billion Rwandan Francs) and will be completed within two years.
It will consist of 92 kilometers of underground pipelines across the Kigali districts of Nyarugenge, Gitega, and Muhima.
Rather than allowing people to dispose of wastewater into open pits, the wastewater will be directed into large pipes that will carry it to the plant for treatment.
The plant will have the capacity to treat 12,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. Initially, the system will handle wastewater from over 208,000 households.
Experts have highlighted that wastewater pits can cause problems by weakening the ground, making buildings prone to collapse, especially in hilly areas.
WASAC Group CEO, Prof. Omar Munyaneza, explained that the project’s aim is to stop the excavation of pits, instead using the pipes to direct the wastewater to treatment plants.
“Instead of continuing to dig pits, we will transport the water and treat it before returning it to rivers or wetlands, rather than letting it flow where it can endanger lives, especially in hilly areas,” he said.
Prof. Munyaneza added that the treatment plant at Giti cy’Inyoni will begin construction next month after a thorough study was carried out to ensure the project’s success.
“This is a long-awaited project for many Rwandans. We took the time to carefully study it to ensure its quality and proper implementation because this is the largest project related to sanitation that the country is about to start.”
He further stated, “In the coming month, we will begin construction at Giti cy’Inyoni, and in the following months, we will begin digging the trenches for the pipes.”
Prof. Munyaneza also mentioned that they will begin discussions with residents living in business areas to ensure no major disruptions occur when large pipes are installed.
“We are working with several agencies to ensure the project doesn’t interfere with other developments. As you know, there are underground power lines, communication cables, and other utilities, which we will carefully consider. We have also collaborated with RTDA to ensure there is no damage to roads,” he said.
The CEO explained that the initial focus will be on the Commercial Quarter and other areas to direct wastewater through the pipes for treatment at Giti cy’Inyoni.
“We will collect wastewater from households in places such as Onatracom, Biryogo, Kiyovu, Cercle Sportif, Kanogo, and RSSB. All the wastewater from these areas will be collected and directed to the treatment plant along with the water from Nyabugogo and Cyahafi,” he added.
Prof. Munyaneza further mentioned that, apart from the Giti cy’Inyoni project, another treatment plant will be built in Kicukiro, while another will be placed in Murindi to cater to wastewater treatment in those areas as well.
WASAC Group also announced that a treatment plant will be established in Gasabo, with its location in the Karuruma wetlands.
“While these two last projects are not yet underway, their studies have been completed, and we are still looking for the necessary funding to start them. The Gasabo plant will be built in Karuruma Wetland so that we can ensure all of Kigali’s wastewater is properly managed,” he explained.
Prof. Munyaneza emphasized that these wastewater treatment plants will help improve sanitation in Kigali, where many areas have suffered from foul smells due to untreated wastewater being channeled into open spaces without proper treatment.
He also mentioned that in areas with steep terrain, such as Jali, it will be challenging to install pipes, but another plant will be built in Masaka to collect wastewater from residents living in such areas.
He noted that the delay in building the Giti cy’Inyoni plant was due to changes in the Kigali Master Plan, which transitioned from the 2013 version to the 2020 version.
He also mentioned that the expansion of the Kigali-Muhanga road was coordinated with this project to avoid any conflicts between the two developments.
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