Efforts expended in urbanizing Rwanda secondary cities yield results, transform lives

Rwanda’s secondary cities include Rubavu, Musanze, Huye, Rusizi, Nyagatare, and Muhanga. To develop the basis for good urban and rural settlement management at all levels of governance, it was planned that in 2024, 30% of all Rwandans would be residing in secondary cities.

So to support attainment of the target, World Bank through the Rwanda Urban Development Project, granted $95 million to fund that project that would provide new infrastructures to the said secondary towns including roads, drainage systems , electricity, among others.

In the first phase of the project, 29Km-long roads and drainage channels of 44 Km were constructed in Muhanga, Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu, and Nyagatare at a cost of $28 million.

Residents from secondary cities welcomed the construction of new tarmac roads and other development projects such as hotels, health centers, schools, that have contributed to changing and bettering their lives.

In every city, new roads were constructed to link people and ease business and trade.

Azarie Muhizi, a trader based in Kibiligi sector, Muhanga, said the project has facilitated their businesses and contributing to the development of the city in general.

“We were in the darkness, struggling, but we are now having better lives. We have now easy excess to hospitals because at any time you can get a car to drop you there, while before it was nearly impossible.”

Huye residents also welcomed the fact that land value has increased. Locals from Karubanda and officials from Huye told IGIHE that all land plots near the 20-30 KM roads were now worth 2-4 million.

Apart from land value, and reduced accidents, the new roads enhanced urbanization, creating new business opportunities

With the urbanization in roll, all the secondary cities started seeing interested investors in all sectors ranging from Hotel industry, Industrial sector and many others.

Speaking to IGIHE, Muhanga Mayor, Beatrice Uwamahoro said that new investors had proposed new industrial projects which include a Pharmaceutical plant and many others.

“We want investors to feel welcome in working in our region and that it is why we are working on roads, infrastructure projects to provide a better working environment,” Uwamahoro said.

The East African Granite Industries (EAGI) management in Rutaraka Cell, Nyagatare District, Eastern Province attest that with the construction of roads, exporting and importing products from the country has become faster, cheaper and efficient.

Nyagatare is among the secondary cities that are evolving. Its residents observe that infrastructure projects are boosting business, mainly in the agricultural sector.

Rubavu and Rusizi both share the fact that they are on the border with the DR Congo, near Kivu Lake, where business opportunities abound.

Rubavu District Mayor, Gilbert Habyarimana, told IGIHE that they wished to transform into the best commercial city for business.

“After seeing the change that the project brought up, we started preparing trading zones that were in line with the city’s master plan. As industries anchor branches in Rubavu, we are doing all that is possible to facilitate them.”

Musanze District also saw streaming in of investors who were drawn to the town’s potential, including Gorilla Investment Company (GOICO), an organization that contributed to the construction of a modern Market.

Two drainage systems of 922 meters worth RWF949.9M were constructed to diminish the flood of water that was hitherto threatening residents.

A member of parliament, Emmanuel Mpumuro, who lives near Rwebeya drainage channel (720 meters long) applauded the move saying that many of his neighbors had moved out because of the issue.

The $95 million World Bank-funded project to provide drainage systems and roads was launched in June 2016 and will end in July 2021. Currently, preparations are for the second phases of the project are in final stages and will see the construction of 40 kilometers of roads designed for a future industrial zone.