Muhazi Project improves water supply for over 500,000 People in Eastern Province

The plant, constructed on the shores of Lake Muhazi in Murambi Sector, Gatsibo District, is part of the Muhazi Water Supply System Project, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving access to clean water in eight sectors: Kiramuruzi, Kiziguro, Murambi, Remera and Rugarama in Gatsibo District, and Rukara, Gahini and Murundi in Kayonza District. With a capacity to produce 12,000 cubic meters of clean water per day, the plant has started supplying water to residents in the targeted sectors, marking a significant milestone in addressing longstanding water challenges in the two districts.

Local residents expressed gratitude for the enhanced access to potable water.

Community members have recounted the challenges they faced before the implementation of the Muhazi Water Supply System and expressed gratitude for the improved access to clean water. Recently, the parents of Aimable Dushime, who live in Akabuga Cell, Kiramuruzi Sector, were connected to the new water supply system. “We are glad to have water at home, which makes life easier. We have constant and enough water for drinking, cleaning and watering our livestock, including our cows,” he said. “Before, we struggled a lot to get water, especially during the dry season. We used to walk Kilometers to find it, sometimes relying on springs or fetching water from swamps. We also had to wait in long queues, sometimes for almost two hours, and the water was not even clean, causing intestinal worms among some people.” He added.

Overjoyed, Aimable described having water at home as a dream come true, almost a miracle. The family had never expected to be connected to the water supply system. “Water was also expensive for people who could not walk long distances. They used to pay between 300 and 400 Rwandan francs for a jerrycan of water. Today, our village has enough public water taps to ensure that residents can access clean water more easily and closer to home,” Aimable explained. “Thank you, WASAC Group, for thinking of us and providing clean water,” he added.

His sentiments were echoed by his neighbor, Karahanyuze Abdul Karim. “May God bless our President and give him a long life for providing us with water. Finding water was a big challenge, but we can now find it whenever we need it. It is enough and reliable. This is an unusual situation and we consider it a rebirth. We have four water taps in our village, which enable everyone to get water. This makes life easier for members of our community,” he said.

Boosting Supply: Water Production and Access on the Rise

In an exclusive interview, Jean Leonard Sekanyange, Vice Mayor for Economic Development in Gatsibo District, highlighted the project's long-term benefits. “Before, we used to rely on ageing or unstable water supply systems, causing frequent disruptions. The Muhazi system has almost doubled the current water production in our district, from 7,000 cubic meters to an additional 12,000 cubic meters. The water access rate for our population has increased from 67 percent to over 80 percent. Thanks to the leadership of our country for bringing the Muhazi project,” he said.

The Muhazi Water Supply System Project was implemented by WASAC Group from June 2023 to April 2026, with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB). To ensure efficient distribution, the project includes the installation of 256.7 kilometers of water pipelines, 13 water reservoirs and 141 public water points to reach even the most remote communities. For communities that previously depended on distant, unreliable or unsafe sources, the Muhazi Water Supply System represents more than new infrastructure, it is bringing water closer to homes and creating better conditions for everyday life.