MINIFRA Top Officials Grilled Again

{{Two top officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure (MINIFRA) have just started facing parliamentary questioning about water and energy situation in the country.}}

The pressing issue that remained unanswered yesterday was the controversy of Rukarara hydro power project and the electricity distribution and water distribution of 80% in the country.

Chaired by speaker Rose Mukantabana, the parliament is now listening to what the two MINIFRA top officials Albert Nsengiyumva the Minister of Infrastructure and the state Minister in charge of Energy and water have to respond to the questions not answered yesterday.

The speaker has immediately opened the meeting with allowing more questions from the MPs that were not asked their questions yesterday.

Most MPs that have so far asked their questions have repeatedly questioned the leasing of Rukarara hydro power project to a local firm Digitech Solution for 40 years, contract management and accountability of the previous firms that managed the project previously.

MPs are questioning the exorbitant funds spent during the project implementation noting millions of funds used to visit Sri-Lanka entrepreneur who managed the micro-hydro power before being leased.

Deputy Charles Kamanda begun the questioning session also suggesting an adhoc committee to thoroughly investigate the project and refuting what the officials said that 80% of Rwandans have access to safe water.

While Ezekias Rwabuhihi suggested that a full audit report is needed about the project and wondered why a problem of water scarcity continues to come back in the past years and it looks not to be solved.

Rwabuhihi noted that this recurring problem of water scarcity and electricity in many places may be involving some corruption acts since it keeps on returning to be tabled and never seem to be closer to be resolved.

He said that not only an adhoc committee is needed but also auditor general’s office is also needed to begin a full audit so as to avail full statistical information about Rukarara hydro project.