A critical economic lifeline has been restored between the Ruhango and Kamonyi districts following the completion of a modern bridge connecting the Mbuye and Nyarubaka sectors. The infrastructure project, which cost 452,430,112 Rwandan Francs, has successfully revived local commerce and movement that had previously ground to a complete halt due to severe terrain degradation.
The project was executed by the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) under the Basket Funding for Pro-Poor Development (PPD-Basket). The fund is a strategic joint initiative backed by Germany through KfW, France through the French Development Agency (AFD), and Luxembourg through LuxDev.
Before the construction of the bridge, the damaged crossing served as a major bottleneck for the agricultural communities of both districts. Local business operations, transport networks, and basic community interactions had broken down entirely, isolating residents from cross-district markets.
“This place used to be in terrible condition, to the extent that not even pedestrians could cross, let alone vehicles,” said Oswald Mutimura, a resident of the Mbuye Sector in Ruhango. “Now, any car, regardless of its size, can pass through smoothly.” – He added.
Beyond establishing long-term regional connectivity, the project delivered an immediate financial boost to the local community. During the three-month construction phase, more than 70 local residents secured steady, full-time employment, injecting critical cash flow directly into household economies.
The completion of this bridge marks another milestone for the PPD-Basket framework, which has pooled 57 million Euros in international development assistance. Designed specifically to target poverty reduction and grassroots economic growth, the fund currently finances high-impact, pro-poor infrastructure projects across 16 rural districts in Rwanda, namely Gicumbi, Gatsibo, Ngoma, Burera, Rulindo, Gakenke, Nyabihu, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru, and Nyamasheke.
