RPCL Board and PSC Members Visit to the Local Area Development Programs
Members of the RPCL Board of Directors and Project Steering Committee visited the Local Area Development Programs (LADP) from 28th to 30th Sep, 2020 to assess the progress of those social projects implemented by respective Shareholders’ local administration in Ngara District in Tanzania, Kirehe and Ngoma Districts in Rwanda and in Communes of Giteranyi (Muyinga) & Busoni (Kirundo) in Burundi. RPCL Governance also visited respective Transmission Lines and substations in Muyinga– Gitega (Burundi), in Bugesera-Shango (Rwanda), and Nyakanazi (Tanzania).
In addition to responding to the pressing need of electricity in our East-African region by constructing 80MW Power Plant, Rusumo Project will bring social development in the project area in Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania as a way of giving back to communities surrounding the construction areas.
LADP is a benefit-sharing program worth 15 Million US Dollars extended to the construction of the Power Plant which was conceived in a participatory process. Each district identified and executed their respective priorities investment areas under the supervision of the PIU.
Burundi
On Tuesday 28 th September 2020, Burundi RPCL governance visited Murore Youth Training Center, Gasenyi Health Center and water supply rehabilitation in Busoni Commune. Kirundo Province. The following day, the Team called on Bugoma Health Center, Ruzo Youth Training Center and Ruzo soil protection project along Akagera River as well as water supply rehabilitation and extension project in Giteranyi Commune of Muyinga Province.
RPCL Burundi team was led by Eng. Nolasque Ndayihaye, Member of RPCL Board of Directors and included Mr. Didace Ndericimpaye, RPCL Board Member, Eng. Aloys Sahiri and Eng. Come Nkurunziza, both being Project Steering Committee members. Burundi RPCL governance reported their satisfaction to see LADP projects maturing and benefiting Burundi citizens. The Team urged the local leadership to speed up the process to equip the centers with suitable materials and improve the access roads to the training centers.
“I am confident that both Ruzo (Giteranyi) and Murore (Busoni) vocational training centers will empower and educate young generations of Burundi through effective trainings that will enable them to find jobs or initiate businesses in their respective local communities”, says Eng. Nolasque Ndayihaye, Member of RPCL Board of Directors, Burundi
Muyinga leadership appreciated the support and opportunities brought by LADP projects to the youth. The Governor of Muyinga, Mr. Jean Claude Barutwanayo affirmed his satisfaction of the social projects: “I am confident that the newly constructed vocational training centers in Ruzo (Muyinga) and Murore (Kirundo) will empower and educate our young generations, effective trainings in plumbing, welding and food processing that will enable them to find jobs or initiate businesses in their respective local communities”, he said.
Mr. Albert Hatungimana, Kirundo Governor stated that access to health services in Bugoma (Muyinga) and Rugando (Kirundo) health centers will improve our citizens’ standards of living and their health status.
Jeanine Uwizeyimana, a beneficiary of Bugoma health center in Giteranyi commune shared her excitement about healthcare facilities brought to their neighborhood: “We are happy that Bugoma health facility is in our neighborhood in Mugano colline, and we hope amenities will be affordable and of good quality, because development of our place depends on health of our community members”, she says.
The team also visited the rehabilitation and extension of water supply systems, as well as soil and water conservation. Burundi RPCL Team also visited Transmission Line project in Muyinga and Substations project in Gitega Province.
Tanzania
Tanzania RPCL Governance members visited LADP projects implemented in Ngara district. The Team was led by Eng. Innocent Luoga, Member of RPCL Board of Directors and included Eng. Salum Inegeja and Eng. Costa Rubagumya both members of the Project Steering Committee. They first paid a courtesy call to Ngara District Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mtenjele.
Speaking to RPCL visiting team in his office, Ngara DC commended the good work being done which he said has brought great benefits to his people. “The infrastructure that has been built is unique. We were not used to seeing Primary Schools having an Administration Building but through this Project it has been done and it is really very interesting,” he explained.
Speaking after the visit, Eng. Innocent Luoga said that “apart from electricity, the project will benefit Tanzanians through various social projects which he said are in good stages of implementation”. He explained that social projects include social infrastructure for health, education, water, livestock and agriculture sectors.
"We have visited primary and secondary schools, clinics, health centers and water projects which are all being implemented here in Ngara and we are satisfied that for the most part it has reached a good stage and some of it has been completed”, he added.
Eng. Innocent Luoga explained that the visiting team was satisfied by the progress made so far, but pressed the implementing team and local leadership to minimize construction delays because surrounding communities urgently need those social facilities, especially, Rusumo Water Project.
Tanzania RPCL Governance members visited students in classrooms at Mukugwa Primary School and Mumiterama Secondary School, in Ngara district, Kagera region built through LADP of Rusumo Project; they also called on residences of teachers and their administration blocks.
Addendum to the Main Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)
R-L: Eng. Costa Rubagumya in orange reflector, Eng.Salum Inegeja in the middle and Eng. Innocent Luoga, RPCL Board of Directors’ member in green reflector
Rwanda
Rwanda RPCL Governance team was led by Eng. Felix Gakuba, Member of RPCL Board of Directors, Eng. Tom Rwahama and Eng. Theoneste Higaniro, both members of the Project Steering Committee.
In Kirehe District, Mrs. Gerardine Mukandarikanguye, the Vice-Mayor for Social Affairs hosted RPCL Rwanda governance on behalf of Kirehe District Mayor. She uttered the valued of Rusumo Project’s support to improving Kirehe social welfare and economic conditions. Kirehe district built Kigina health centre which is an important facility now serving as Covid treatment center since March 2020.
“In addition, Rusumo Project rehabilitated the 30 km feeder road of Kigarama, Gasarabwayi and Cyagasenyi that connects several sectors and links our district to others. The road helps mostly farmers in Akagera valley to transport their produce to markets. It has also eased movements of people” she said.
The water supply project came arose out of a need to quickly and effectively address the high levels of water scarcity in that area which is in tandem with the main goal of LADP: to improve community livelihoods and promote socially sustainable outcomes in the project area.
Download the RPCL Board and PSC Members Visit to the Local Area Development Programs document here