Residents of Gatore and Musaza Sectors in Kirehe District say that environmental protection initiatives by Lake Victoria Basin Commission changed their lives to the better, whereby they now have better shelters, water and embarked on different development projects. 

With emotions, residents of Kigarama village, Rwantonde cell, Gatore sector, narrate the life they were living before their houses were renovated and given water tanks, thanks to a joint project by countries that share Lake Victoria Basin. They include Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Donatile Mukakabera says that rain had destroyed her house, adding that she now lives a better life after she was given a water tank and her house got a facelift.

She said:” Everything changed completely. I now sleep in a house, I used to sleep outside. Also, I can wash my clothes, dishes and take a shower. There is a water tap very near.’’

Donathile Mukakabera

Mukakabera has the same view with Jean Marie Vianney Nyirangabo who says that had it not been the project, houses were about to fall on them.

He said:”Walls of our houses had cracks, water from rooftops were causing landslides and destroyed houses. However, water tanks have been a solution in this regard and they also help us to get water to use. We are very grateful, as you can see, landslides have been weakened.”

Gabions reduce the speed of running water that used to destroy gardens and cause over flooding of swamps where they grow rice.

Residents of Kabuga Cell, Musaza Sector, who are in small groups, have received financial support to help them improve their livelihoods. The support will help the beneficiaries to implement agriculture, animal husbandry and art craft projects. 20 groups with best projects were selected among 36 groups, whereby every group’s project received about Rwf8million.
When we visited them, these beneficiaries underscored that they are ready to begin their projects because they already received a greenlight and the needed support.
 

COMMITTED TO USE THE SUPPORT EFFECTIVELY

The leader of Kigarama village, Isaie Masabo, says that the beneficiaries have to use well the support they were given so that they may continue to reap benefits.
He said: “We urge every citizen to use well these facilities, and look for solutions of remaining challenges on our own. We have to construct fences for these water tanks so that they may not be affected by too much sunshine.”  
This was also reiterated by many beneficiaries who underlined that preserving the facilities they were given and making them more productive is the best way to repay those who supported them.

REMAINING CHALLENGES

Residents of Kigarama village whose houses were plastered says that some of their neighbors’ houses were not mended because they reside in a different village of administration. They added that gabions that curb the speed of running water are few compared to the speed of water.
For groups of Musaza Sector who have projects that were not selected, they noted that they are going to adjust them and be able to get the same support when it is available.
This project of protecting and preserving the environment in the Lake Victoria Basin is supported by the United Nations Environment Protection in partnership with the Government of Rwanda through the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC).
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