Two pedestrian bridges were on last Thursday, launched in Muhanga District, making them the first of the 355 bridges that government, in partnership with Bridge to Prosperity (B2P), an international NGO, have agreed to construct in the next five years.

Bridge to Prosperity has been building pedestrian bridges in partnership with districts across the country for the past six years, resulting into 54 bridges in 19 districts to serve over 300,000 people.

In March 2019, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Local Government, and Bridge to Prosperity signed a Memorandum of Understanding to eradicate isolation of communities, considered as one of the root causes of poverty in rural communities.

The construction of the bridges is expected to create approximately 10,000 temporary jobs and 50 full-time jobs, which the Government says is line with the first phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 1).

In the first year of the programme, 40 bridges will be built in eight districts, namely: Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Ngororero, Rutsiro, Gakenke and Muhanga.

The two bridges constructed that were launched in Muhanga District; one connecting Cyeza and Muhanga sectors, and the other Biringaga and Shori cells (in Cyeza sector), are expected to benefit more than 8000 people, including 218 primary school students.

Residents of Cyeza and Muhanga sectors welcomed those important facilities.

Makurungwe River that separates the aforesaid two sectors was always flooded in the rainy season and creating a challenge to children from going to school and some of citizens couldn’t go to the market either.

Lack of crossing bridges also led to loss of lives.  Seven cases of people fell in Makurungwe River and deads have been registered.

The two bridges are worth about Rwf83 million; B2P contributed 65% and Muhanga district 35% of the amount. “We couldn’t have achieved this without the help of different Government institutions. There are even other volunteers who helped us with their skills,” Hannis Whittam, Rwanda Programme Director in B2P, said in his address at the occasion.

Hannis added that, “We trained people who will be always available in any case these bridges develop a problem. They will be here to help.”

The Government urged residents to take care of these facilities, protect them and make sure that no one destroys them.