Need to use Rusumo Falls for economic gains


The Minister for East African Cooperation (EAC) Mr Samwel Sitta, has urged Kagera Region dwellers to utilize the Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric project to speed up development.

Rusumo Falls

He made the call in Ngara district on Friday after receiving a report from Ngara District Commissioner (DC), Mr Costantine Kanyasu. His call followed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) involving Energy ministers from Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi aimed at implementing the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydro-electric project that is expected to cost 340 million US dollars.

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo urged member countries under the East African Community (EAC) to speed up implementation of delayed projects for mutual benefit of their citizens.

Professor Muhongo made the call while opening the 6th Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Bukoba Municipality recently. He noted that the Rusumo project had been planned for almost 40 years since 1974.

The implementation was delayed due to various obstacles including inefficiency, lack of professionalism, incompetence and corruption, he said. Minister Muhongo thanked the World Bank (WB) for accepting to finance the Rusumo hydropower project with an initial loan of 340 million US dollars.

The African Development Bank (AFDB) has also shown commitment to issue a loan amounting to 72 million US dollars. He urged Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to use the money wisely because the taxpayers would repay the loan at a later date.


Rwandan Minister for Infrastructure, Professor Silas Rwakabamba, noted that the signing of the agreement was an historic event, which would assure the three countries of power connectivity for economic development. He also said it was not the policy of Kigali government to have monopoly in the Rusumo project, but rather individuals to be employed under the project would depend on their qualification and competence.

Burundi Minister for Energy and Mines, Mr Manilakiza Cone hailed the agreement, noting that it would enhance power generation, and eventually advance the integration process.

The Mayor of Kirehe district, in Rwanda, Murayire Protais, recently told Nile Basin Parliamentarians and representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in each of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) Member States, that the people of Kirehe district are looking forward to electricity generated by the Regional Rusumo Falls.

Addressing the delegation that recently visited the Rusumo Falls on the border between Tanzania and Rwanda where the power generation infrastructure will be located, Mr Murayire noted that only eight per cent of the households in Kirehe district have access to electricity.

By MEDDY MULISA, Tanzania Daily News

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