Nkombo Island, in Lake Kivu, is saturated with captivating beauty, a beauty that has been splashed on her endearing face and surface by creation—the silent ripples that create mobile glows as they consume the cast rays of the sun, the luxuriant green vegetation that drunkenly leer about and the abundant aqua life—all give the island a unique glamour that had been neglected for long.
In the past, that beauty was not matched with development. The activities were slow, residents were almost all immersed in fishing and transport, in more crude ways than modern, using manually oared canoes, taking sluggish lazy strides in the direction of development.
When, however, the island was connected to the national electricity grid in April 2011, by the Electricity Access Roll Out Programme (EARP) under the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) it, gradually, began shaking off its time-long signs of poverty and the residents are grasping every opportunity with an unwavering glee.
The Sector Executive Secretary, Victor Sebagabo, says getting electricity has helped the people of Nkombo in various ways. “For some services, we had to travel long distances. When one needed salon services, he or she had to walk a distance of five kilometers. Today the sector has got salons, metal workshops and other businesses that use electricity. The sector has got at least one cereal and grain milling machine per cell which has been very vital for residents to have their harvests like cereals maize, rice, soya and cassava processed,”says Sebagabo.
Today, according to information from the Sector office, 46% of Nkombo Island residents have access to electricity, which is a clear indication of growth and above the national average of 24%.
The executive secretary says the delivery of social services has improved. “Take the sector’s Group Scolaire St. Peters Nkombo; the school has since got a laboratory installed with equipment which helps students carry out practical studies in science related subjects. Nkombo Primary School is benefitting from the One Laptop Per Child Program, with over 150 laptops which have helped much in introducing pupils to ICT at an early age.
Nkombo has a Vocational and Technical College (VTC) which trains in electrical engineering, carpentry, and tailoring. These courses require workshops with machines which are run by electricity, making access to power very vital for the effective imparting of skills.
Nkombo sector seated on 21 square kilometers has a population of 17,375 people, in five cells. The sector has one Health Center and one Post de santé, three primary schools, three secondary schools and one high institution of learning ( Groupe Scolaire St. Peters Nkombo).
“At the Island we invite investors to acquire land and construct hotels in order to provide accommodation for tourists who may wish to visit the area and develop our sector further. There is a lot of land that investors can purchase and develop.”
One such hospitality undertaking is the Nkombo Guest House now in the final stages of completion and to be launched soon and put on the market for important guests to have an executive place for accommodation.
The Vice Mayor Kankidi Leoncie, economic affairs, Rusizi district, sums it in very certain terms. “Schools, healthy centers, homes, shops in most of the parts of Nkombo have accessed electricity. Lives of Rwandans in the sector have changed so tremendously that even the youths who always migrated to Kigali have now picked much interest in living in their home areas and work to develop their villages. Today only two sectors in Rusizi don’t have electricity but installation plans are underway.”
Ndarayabo Andrea, 58, a tailor living in Nkombo who started the tailoring business in 1980 is proud of using electricity to boost business. “I started business with only two manual sewing machines with which I would do business in busy trading centers. When Nkombo Island was connected with electricity, I got an idea of expanding my business there. Because I believe in modernity and advancement, I bought two electric sewing machines in 2012 and shifted my business from Nyabitekeri in Nyamasheke to Nkombo.
“In Nkombo, I found the business more competitive. Because originally people used to travel a long distance to Kamembe Township for sewing, my coming to Nkombo was very much welcomed and I got very many customers. Today the business has grown. I have four machines and employ 3 other tailors. The business has become very profitable since each one of us is able to make between Rfw 5,000 to 15,000 per day.”
Electric machines, he explains, are used to make very good garments which “I sell at good prices, between Rfw 3,000 to 15,000 a piece. I have a well built home, with a family of five children who are living happily with full support from the business.”
Mukashyaka Marie runs a stationary shop ‘Mini Secretariat Neza’ in Nkombo. She says electricity connection brought her business to Nkombo. “I have successfully expanded my business. I have a modern computer, a photocopier, and a photo printer which are fetching good money.”
I am Ngeranyenimana Jean Paul, working in Bigoga, Muhongo sector where I repair different gadgets. Work as a technician was not easy for me before the introduction of electricity in our area. I used to do small tasks like repairing phones, radios, and small machines. With electricity connection, I have managed to buy all the instruments I need to repair radios, hoofers, TVs, decoders, DVDs and I also do car wiring. As the business expands, I have been encouraged to do more reading and learning in the same field which I should say has improved my skills.
