As construction at the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project progresses at 61% as of March 2020, NELSAP-Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is implementing the Local Area Development Program (LADP); a program which prioritized investment development projects in health, education, vocational training, roads, agriculture, water and livestock sectors in Districts surrounding Rusumo project in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. These initiatives are part of the USD 15 million benefit-sharing components of the Rusumo project where each country is receiving USD 5 million worth of projects.
Key among these is the Kigina Health Centre in Kirehe District of Rwanda that was completed and inaugurated on 6th June, 2019. The project has built major functional blocks for maternity, outpatient, pharmacy, observation, nutritional and voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) services. The facility also received a new power generator, incinerator facilities for medical waste management among others. The health centre is benefitting more than 10,000 people in Kigina and the neighboring sectors.
In addition to Kigina Health Centre, Rwanda LADP rehabilitated feeder road in Kigarama and Musaza, In Ngoma District the project has paved 9.54 km of Kigabiro-Rurenge-Gatore road, constructed 28.7 km of mixed water pipeline supplying for people of Gatonde-Gahima cells and is now completing the construction of 33km of Gituku-Murama water supply system to supply communities of Rukira and Murama Sectors.
In Ngara District of Tanzania, LADP is completing rehabilitation of four water supply systems in Rusumo village and Lemela vocational training center. The Program is also rehabilitating Lukole Health Center where it is completing construction of an administration block, outpatient department (OPD) operating theatre, pharmacy building, mortuary and maternity ward and new building facilities for Rusumo dispensary in Kyenda Village. The Program is leveling up education sector by rehabilitating dormitories, toilet pit latrines, classrooms, administration blocks, teachers’ houses, science laboratory rooms for Bukiriro Secondary School, Makugwa Primary School, Rusumo Primary and SecondarySchools, Ngoma Primary School, Mumiterama Secondary School in Nyamwaga Village. LADP Tanzania is also enhancing livestock and bee keeping intensification and agriculture farming.
Burundi LADP is working to bring access to clean water for communities of Giteranyi and Busoni communes, respectively in Muyinga and Kirundo Provinces, establishing water conservation projects, building administration offices for both communes, constructing Youth Training Centers
Construction works are having a major impact on social economic development of Rusumo area and is employing more than 600 skilled and casual laborers most of them coming fromareas surrounding the construction sites such Kirehe in Rwanda, Ngara in Tanzania and Giteranyi in Burundi.
The Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project (RRFHP) is an 80MW transboundary hydropower project implemented on the Rusumo river. Rusumo Project is implemented by NELSAP on behalf of Rusumo Power Company Limited (RPCL) and funded by the World Bank for USD 340 Million and the associated three transmission lines funded by the African Development Bank at for USD 128 Million.
