SOUTHERN PROVINCE - 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 the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, through its executing agency LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

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.