Probably anyone who is concerned by his country’s stable development is now anxiously waiting for the findings of the Adhoc committee set by the parliament recently to probe two controversial projects of energy and water.
The two controversial projects include Rukarara hydro power project in Nyamagabe in Southern Province and Mutobo water project.
The time it came to my notice that two ministers from Infrastructure had been summoned to elucidate the status of energy and water in the country, I waited as if time will never come.
That particular day, I made sure I follow the presentations both ministers would provide to parliament; which were quite impressing in terms of good speech.
If it was rewarding the best speech writers, my God all rewards -but still it left lawmakers who probably were also waiting for the day with all arms open with dissatisfaction.
First was the Minister of Infrastructure Albert Nsengiyumva who gave an over view of both sectors and right from the first letter as he read his speech, it was full of hope with most mentioned phrases coming with excellence.
He mentioned that a number of energy projects were in progress and several other were underway including Rukarara hydro power project of which lawmakers refuted saying that the controversial Rukarara hydro power project was not producing the expected Megawatts of 9.5MW to boost the national electricity grid.
State Minister in charge of energy and water Emma Franciose Isumbingabo also addressed the house with a contradicting statement that Rukarara hydro power plant was producing only 9 instead of 9.5MW and challenged by some lawmakers who had previously visited the project in Nyamagabe District, Southern Province.
One MP confidently said Rukarara hydro power plant has only two functioning turbines which currently produce only 5.2MW and that after testing a third turbine, it could produce 2MW which simply means only 7.2MW can be produced from the hydro plant.
The disappointed MP asked the state minister to tell the truth pin pointing that the state minister Isumbingabo had visited the project and was aware of the non-functioning turbine and the overall capacity that did not match with the expected watts recorded in the feasibility study.
As if it was not enough, Isumbingabo proudly said water accessibility was at 80% in the country of which the whole house reacted with voices of discontentment.
One lawmaker wondered how possible water accessibility can be 80% yet in Kigali alone many places spend almost two weeks with water breakdown and some areas spending six months with no water while others spending two or more years with water scarcity.
“Eighty percent !!!, one law maker wondered while asking her fellow lawmakers “do you believe this is possible? That would mean 8 million people in this country have access to water which is far away from the realities reflected from the ground, I think state minister should revise her statistics and tell us the truth because what she says is reflected on the ground,”
Seven lawmakers have been selected to investigate the two controversial project of water energy especially the construction of Rukarara Hydro Power Plant as well as Mutobo Water Project.
The team is headed by Evode Kalima, the deputy chairperson of the standing committee on public accounts, assisted by Aurelie Gahongayire.
Other members are Charles Kamanda, Theobald Mporanyi, Emmanuel Gatera, Liberatha Mukarindiro, and Fortunee Nyiramadirida.
By the end of this month, the adhoc committee may come up with the findings expected to be announced to the parliament and the public at large.
It will also investigate the Ministry of Infrastructure and other departments concerned with the projects, as well as the role of the Ministry of Finance.
The team also has the powers to request the auditor general’s office to carry out a full audit of the two projects.
Ends
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