Some residents of Nyabihu District say that improved access to basic infrastructure including clean water, roads, schools, and electricity has significantly transformed their economic conditions and overall well-being.
In interviews with various media outlets, residents of Nyabihu District emphasized that being brought closer to essential infrastructure such as water, roads, electricity, and schools has helped them move out of poverty, with their living standards improving day by day.
Ndagijimana Emmanuel, a resident of Mukamira Sector, Rubengeri Cell, Kabyaza Village, said that access to clean water has greatly changed their lives. “Water availability has transformed our living conditions. Today, no one lives in poor hygiene; no student goes to school without washing, and before eating, everyone washes their hands,” he said. He added that the water they used previously was not clean, which caused children to suffer from intestinal worms. “Now, cases of worms among our children have significantly reduced. In the past, we used to walk long distances to fetch water, but today water is available nearby.”
Another factor contributing to residents’ progress is farming on radical terraces.
Rwanamiza Jonas, from Bigogwe Sector, Arusha Cell, explained that before radical terraces were constructed, crops were often washed away by rainwater, taking fertile soil and fertilizer with them, which reduced yields. “Since radical terraces were introduced, soil erosion has stopped. Crop yields have increased, and the land has become more valuable than before. On these terraces, we grow potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other crops,” he said.
Rwanamiza also noted that the construction of the Gishwati road has boosted trade and commerce, solving many challenges they previously faced due to the lack of roads. “Before, it was very difficult to take our produce to the market. Now the problem is solved,” he said. “Transporting potatoes to collection points where vehicles can reach is much easier, and delivering milk to milk collection centers has also become easier thanks to the road that supports our daily activities.”
Among the developments that residents of Nyabihu also appreciate is Rwanda Coding Academy, which is planning to expand its programs so that students who complete secondary education there can continue their studies at a university level.
A student at Rwanda Coding Academy, Forgiviness Peace Love, who is in Senior Six, said that studying at a school that provides internationally recognized skills is beneficial to the country. “The subjects we study here do not only help us gain knowledge in technology but also empower us to create our own jobs,” she said. “We are trained to identify problems in society and use what we learn especially programming to solve those problems, particularly in Rwanda, so that we can continue contributing to Africa’s development.” She added that there is a strong need for a university so that students can earn higher-level qualifications and further advance their expertise to international standards.
The Mayor of Nyabihu District, Mukandayisenga Antoinette, said that the district has made significant progress but still has ambitions to achieve more. She encouraged residents to make full use of their land by farming productively, without leaving plots unused, to ensure food availability in markets. She also urged them to properly maintain the infrastructure provided, noting that the district is blessed with fertile land.
Currently, construction is underway on the Mutera water supply system, which will provide water to 56,891 residents across five sectors Rurembo, Mukamira, Karago, Kintobo, and Rugera. The project is expected to cost over 5.6 billion Rwandan francs. In addition, rehabilitation of water pipelines covering 94.32 kilometers is ongoing in several sectors, including Muringa, Rambura, Jomba, Genda, and Shyira.
In terms of transport infrastructure, one of the major feeder roads constructed is the 93-kilometer Gishwati road, which connects five sectors. This road has been a major solution for residents engaged in livestock farming in the Gishwati area, as it enables easy transport of milk to factories or milk collection centers. It has also boosted trade by easing access to markets for agricultural produce, reducing post-harvest losses that previously occurred due to poor transportation.
