New Houses have been constructed to accommodate poor families in Rubavu district, Western province. 31 houses were built in Kanama sector, 10 houses in Nyundo sector and one house in Rugerero sector.
The remaining 111 families were also assisted by providing them with construction materials so that they can build new houses, out of the river protection zone.
This was Subject to Organic Law no 04/2005 of the 08/04/2005, which states that a distance of ten (10) meters away from the banks of rivers should be respected.
Officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) with funders, when visiting the constructed houses for the vulnerable families on 3 April were told complete settlement will be made soon.
Caroline Kayonga, the permanent secretary of MINIRENA said that the activity aimed at protecting the river and the community from natural disasters such as floods that occur periodically with the Sebeya watershed.
Blandine Icyimanimpaye, one of the relocated habitant, said that they no longer fear the floods that used to occur and that they are safer than they were at sebeya bank.
“The population at first did not comprehend well the benefits of their relocation and the protection of the environment.However, they later realized it was in their own interest and well being of the community,’’ said Honore Mugisha, executive secretary of Kanama sector.
They later paid visit to the project of relocating the population on Mount Rubavu, intended to be turned into a tourist attraction site.
Sebeya River spans over three Districts, which are Rutsiro, Ngororero and Rubavu and falls in Lake Kivu.
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