GATSIBO: NEW BRIDGE RESTORES ACCESS TO PREVIOUSLY INACCESSIBLE AREAS

A new bridge connecting Kibare and Mayange Cells in Nyagihanga Sector, Gatsibo District, has been completed, restoring connectivity between different parts of the sector and reconnecting residents of Kibare Cell, which had become inaccessible.

The Mayange Bridge was constructed alongside Kabacuzi Bridge through a partnership between the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and Gatsibo District, under the Pro-Poor Development (PPD-Basket) Project, funded by Germany, France and Luxembourg.

The Mayange Bridge has provided a lasting solution to challenges residents faced in travelling and transporting their agricultural products to markets. It has also restored connectivity between Kibare Cell and other areas after the cell had become difficult to access.

Before the bridge was constructed, residents of the two cells faced significant difficulties travelling between them and accessing other parts of the sector. Due to the lack of a reliable crossing, no vehicles could pass through the area, making movement between the cells extremely difficult. Although a suspension footbridge had previously been constructed, it failed to provide a lasting solution to the problem.

John Bicamumpaka, a journalist who has worked for many years in the Eastern Province, noted that the area had become inaccessible due to the absence of a proper bridge and the poor condition of the road.

He said: “The Mayor of the District had gone almost two terms without setting foot in Kibare Cell because of the bridge and the poor road conditions! The suspension footbridge could not have enabled him to reach the cell, as it would have taken him three hours to get there on foot!”

This situation had significantly affected agricultural activities and trade. Residents of Nyagihanga Sector grow coffee and other crops, but faced challenges transporting their produce to coffee washing stations and markets located in other parts of the sector.

The newly constructed bridge is designed to provide a durable crossing that can accommodate vehicles, including those carrying heavy loads. This has significantly improved mobility and trade in the area, which is particularly known for its coffee production.

Residents using the bridge say it has played a significant role in addressing challenges they had faced for a long time.

Mujyambere Thadée, a resident of Mayange Cell, said: “Before the bridge was constructed, coffee produced in Kibare had no reliable way of being transported across to washing stations. The bridge came as a solution to the challenges of trade and movement between Kibare and Mayange cells.”

The Director General of LODA, Mrs. Nyinawagaga Claudine, commended development partners for their contribution to implementing projects that promote development at the local government level and improve the livelihoods of citizens.

She also appreciated districts for their continued collaboration and commitment to developing projects aimed at transforming people's lives, urging them to maintain the same spirit of cooperation.

“We thank our development partners for their continued support in improving the livelihoods of citizens across the country. We also appreciate the districts for the attention they give to these projects and their continued cooperation in ensuring the effective implementation of planned interventions,” she said.

The project demonstrates the critical role of infrastructure in promoting agriculture, trade and the economic well-being of communities. When people have reliable roads and bridges that facilitate movement and the transportation of agricultural produce to markets, they gain greater opportunities to improve their productivity and livelihoods.

The Mayange and Kabacuzi bridges were both completed at a combined cost of slightly over 605 million Rwandan Francs.