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The RUMBUKA project will run from July 2026 to June 2029 and is expected to reach 12,000 beneficiaries in Gasange and Murambi sectors in Gatsibo District and Kibungo and Rukira sectors in Ngoma District.

It was officially launched in Kibungo on October 20 and in Gasange on October 21, with district officials, community members, project beneficiaries and development partners attending the events.

Through RUMBUKA, Ripple Effect Rwanda will work with smallholder farming communities to strengthen climate resilience through regenerative agriculture, improved water security, ecosystem restoration and better access to markets.

The project will focus on horticulture, maize and pig farming, with the aim of helping farmers improve productivity, diversify their income sources and build more sustainable, market-oriented livelihoods.

Ripple Effect Rwanda Country Director Angelique Barongo said the partnership with HEINEKEN Africa Foundation and BRALIRWA would help farming households improve their livelihoods and become more resilient to economic and climate-related challenges.

'The RUMBUKA Project would not be possible without the partnership and support of the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation and BRALIRWA. Through this collaboration, we aim to help farming households become more resilient, productive and economically secure,' she said.

Barongo said the project would also help farmers move beyond subsistence production and generate additional income by selling surplus produce.

'Our ambition is to support farmers to move beyond producing just enough to meet their household needs towards generating a surplus, increasing their incomes and building stronger futures for their families,' she added.

General Manager of the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation Edwin Moerkerk said the initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to sustainable development through regenerative agriculture and partnerships with local communities.

'We are committed to working together with our partners to support farmers to thrive and build their resilience. We believe that investing in African agriculture is investing in the future of the world' he said.

Over the past decade, HEINEKEN Africa Foundation, through BRALIRWA, has supported projects in the fields of maternity care as well as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in partnerships worth over €1 million.

BRALIRWA Plc Managing Director Ethel Emma-Uche said the company would continue supporting initiatives that promote community well-being, economic development and environmental sustainability.

'As a proud HEINEKEN company, our core value of 'Care for People and Planet' inspires us to contribute to the wellbeing of the communities where we serve, and we are confident that RUMBUKA Project will strengthen livelihoods while creating greater opportunities for women and young adults to benefit from economic growth' she said.

The Vice Mayors in charge of Economic Development in Ngoma and Gatsibo districts, Mapambano Nyiridandi Cyriaque and Sekanyange Jean Leonard, respectively, welcomed the project, citing Ripple Effect Rwanda's experience implementing similar initiatives in the districts.

These include the Inka Nziza Zikamwa project in Ngoma and the Ongera Amata project in Gatsibo, which have contributed to improving residents' livelihoods.

Beyond improving agricultural production, RUMBUKA will encourage communities to work together to address challenges in crop farming and livestock production, participate in decision-making and implement sustainable development initiatives.

Women and young people will receive particular attention through training, improved access to agricultural equipment and inputs, financial services and support to start businesses. They will also be encouraged to participate in decision-making within their households and communities.

Ripple Effect is an international non-profit organisation working to tackle hunger and poverty and help communities adapt to climate change. Since 1988, it has reached more than four million people and currently operates in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi and Zambia.

HEINEKEN Africa Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports smallholder farmers in improving soil health, increasing productivity and adapting to climate change.

Since 2007, the foundation has invested more than €20 million in over 150 projects across sub-Saharan Africa. Its work also extends to countries including Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Namibia and Mozambique.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/heineken-africa-foundation-ripple-effect-rwanda-launch-project-to-boost-climate-resilient-farming/

In a press statement issued on Friday, October 23, 2026, Youssouf commended the Rwandan Government for securing the agreement, describing it as a significant milestone for African sport and evidence of the continent's growing capacity to host major international sporting events.

The agreement, announced on October 13, will bring the Formula 1 African Grand Prix to Rwanda in the early 2030s, once a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera District is completed.

'The Chairperson of the African Union Commission welcomes the agreement to bring Formula 1 to Rwanda, describing it as a significant milestone for African sport and a testament to the continent's growing potential to host world-class international sporting events,' the AU statement reads.

Youssouf said international sporting events offer African countries an opportunity to strengthen their presence on the global stage while opening up economic opportunities beyond the competitions themselves.

He highlighted their potential to attract investment, promote tourism, develop local expertise and expand opportunities for young people.

The AU Commission chairperson also emphasised sport's role in economic development, describing it as a catalyst for job creation, youth empowerment and regional integration.

He called for stronger collaboration between African governments, private-sector players and other stakeholders to ensure the benefits of major sporting events extend beyond race weekends and reach local communities.

The initiative, he noted, aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063, which seeks to build an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its citizens.

The agreement comes as Rwanda continues to use international sporting events to promote tourism, attract investment and strengthen its profile as a destination for global competitions.

A wider ambition for African motorsport

President Paul Kagame said during the unveiling of the deal on October 13 that Rwanda's Formula 1 plans are part of a wider ambition to ensure Africa benefits more from the global sports industry through skills development, investment and greater participation in motorsport.

'We want to contribute, not just participate. This new chapter in motorsports starts today,' Kagame said, arguing that the project should create opportunities for Africans to become more than spectators, including through technical careers and involvement in the wider motorsport economy.

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted that Rwanda had offered the vision and partnership the sport was seeking as it considered a return to Africa. Formula 1 last held a Grand Prix on the continent in South Africa in 1993.

'For many years, we have spoken about our desire to return, but always said we would return in the right way, with the right vision and the right partners. That partner is Rwanda,' Domenicali said.

He added that the ambition went beyond hosting a race, saying the project should create lasting opportunities and inspire future generations.

'This is not simply about hosting a Grand Prix. This is about creating legacy and inspiration,' he said.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/au-chief-says-rwandas-formula-1-deal-will-raise-africas-global-profile/

Akagera National Park generated more than $1.5 million (Rwf2.2 billion) in commercial revenue from 15,790 visitors between July and September 2026.

The figures are contained in the park's third-quarter activity newsletter, released on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

Of the 15,790 visitors recorded during the quarter, 13,911 paid entrance fees. Average spending per visitor rose to $162 in September, 22% higher than in the same month in 2025 and the highest level recorded since 2010.

During the quarter, the park hosted several events, including the African Parks Management Meeting, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge, the Akagera Trail Marathon and Kwita Izina.

Fire management and community livelihoods

A total of 16,631 hectares of the park had burned by August, according to the report. Approximately one-third of the burned area resulted from prescribed management burns, including block burns and firebreaks, while the remainder was attributed to unplanned fires.

The latter were caused by accidental ignitions in neighbouring communities or deliberate fires linked to poaching.

The park's fire management programme involved planned burns, close monitoring and rapid response to reduce fuel loads in grassland and woodland areas and protect wildlife habitats from more destructive fires. The rains arrived in mid-September, providing relief after the dry season.

Meanwhile, fish farming continued to support community fisheries and local food supplies.

In July, Akagera Management Company stocked 50,000 mixed-sex tilapia fingerlings in Gacaca Valley Dam, a four-hectare water body in Murundi Sector. In August, Mubari Farmer Cooperative Society stocked a further 23,000 fingerlings in Cyamusenyeri Valley Dam, also in Murundi Sector.

Community enterprises generate over $416,000

Community enterprises and local procurement generated a combined $416,893 in economic benefits during the quarter, the report shows.

Fishing, beekeeping, community centres, freelance guiding and building cooperatives generated $158,322, while local procurement contributed another $258,571.

Fishing cooperatives generated $38,649, while the Akagera builders' cooperative and casual labourers generated $67,887.

Environmental education and community outreach activities reached 52,958 people through school programmes, community and cooperative meetings, awareness campaigns, radio broadcasts and educational visits to the park, among other initiatives.

Elephant identification database expands

Fieldwork during the quarter identified 55 known elephants belonging to two bonding groups, according to the report.

Three additional elephants were added to the park's identification database, bringing the total number of identified individuals to 121, equivalent to 85.2% of the known elephant population.

The database supports long-term monitoring of individual elephants and the wider population, helping conservation teams track changes over time.

Park begins drone training for rhino monitoring

Akagera's rhino monitoring teams continued daily patrols on foot and from the air, recording 2,517 white rhino observations and 413 black rhino observations during the quarter.

After obtaining the necessary permits, rhino trackers began a three-week practical training programme on operating drones to strengthen monitoring capacity.

Two rangers and three rhino trackers also attended black rhino monitoring training at Liwonde National Park in Malawi.

The training is intended to strengthen the teams' skills in monitoring and protecting the park's rhino population.

During the period under review, the park also completed a large carnivore camera trap survey during the quarter, deploying 85 cameras across 57 sites. The cameras have captured more than three million images, which conservation teams are analysing to identify individual leopards and hyenas, estimate population trends and assess the relationship between predator populations and the growth of the park's lion population.

The findings are expected to inform future conservation strategies.

Established in 1934, Akagera National Park covers 1,122 square kilometres and is home to more than 11,300 animals.

Its wildlife includes 60 lions, 142 elephants, 4,000 buffaloes, 115 giraffes, between 80 and 100 leopards, and 145 rhinos.

The park also hosts about 2,000 zebras, 1,500 impalas, between 120 and 150 hyenas, between 1,500 and 1,800 hippos, 1,000 inyemera and more than 1,000 indonyi. It is also home to 179 butterfly species.

With approximately 500 bird species, Akagera has the highest recorded bird diversity among Rwanda's national parks, according to the report. Nyungwe National Park has about 300 bird species, while Gishwati-Mukura and Volcanoes National Parks have fewer.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/akagera-generates-over-rwf2-2-billion-in-three-months/

Marc F. D'Haenen, President of PolioPlus Rwanda, said the contribution, equivalent to approximately Rwf3.5 billion, supports international efforts to eliminate the disease.

Rotary members in Rwanda and their partners are preparing a public awareness walk from BK Arena to the junction near the Kigali Convention Centre as part of activities to mark World Polio Day on October 24.

The annual event highlights the importance of vaccination in preventing polio, a viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Children under five are particularly vulnerable.

Rwanda has not recorded a polio case since 1993 and was certified polio-free in 2004. However, the continued presence of the virus in Pakistan and Afghanistan poses a risk of its spread to other countries if vaccination and surveillance efforts are not sustained.

The risk is not merely theoretical. Polio cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent years, underscoring the importance of maintaining preventive measures across the region.

D'Haenen, a consultant at La Croix du Sud private hospital who has lived in Rwanda for more than 10 years, said some parents still do not fully understand the importance of vaccinating their children.

'Rwanda has gone a long time without recording polio infections. We urge parents to continue participating in the Rwanda Biomedical Centre's vaccination programme for newborns,' he said.

The PolioPlus programme is one of Rotary International's key initiatives, implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organisations to support global polio eradication.

There are three types of wild poliovirus: WPV1, WPV2 and WPV3. WPV2 and WPV3 have been eradicated globally in their wild forms, while WPV1 remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Dr Alexis Muderevu, a surgeon who previously led Rotary's polio eradication programmes in Rwanda and now heads the organisation's Hepatitis B and C programme in the country, said vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent polio.

He also emphasised the importance of hygiene and seeking medical attention promptly when symptoms appear.

'Rwanda's Ministry of Health programme to combat polio has made significant progress. Data published by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) in 2026 shows that vaccination coverage among newborns against polio stands at 97%,' he said.

Masterjerb Birungi Paul, who served as Deputy Governor of Rotary District 9150 in 2017 and President of Rotary Club Kigali Virunga in 2004, called on Rwandans to join Rotary and participate in its activities, which support communities in Rwanda and around the world.

He said the organisation contributes to national development through its partnership with the government, citing the Kigali Public Library in Kacyiru as an example of a project established through their collaboration.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rotary-internationals-contribution-to-global-polio-eradication-reaches-2-4m/

Both patients travelled through the airport on October 3, 2026, according to Dr Wessam Mankoula, head of emergency preparedness and response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

'One of the issues we are currently investigating has been some sort of interaction between the two cases at the airport,' Mankoula said.

The investigation comes as health authorities work to contain an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May and has spread to several other countries.

Nigeria confirmed its first case of the outbreak on October 20, involving a Uganda-born woman married to a diplomat and based in Abuja. The patient had travelled to Uganda before returning to Nigeria in early October.

Nigeria's Health Minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, said authorities had identified 44 contacts linked to the patient and were working to prevent further transmission.

'We are trying to contain it so it doesn't go out to the communities. Hopefully, it won't get to that, and we are working hard to ensure that,' Pate said.

Health authorities are still investigating where the Nigerian patient contracted the virus. While Uganda has been identified as part of her travel route, officials have not established the precise location of exposure.

Ugandan authorities have disputed suggestions that the woman contracted Ebola in their country, maintaining that she travelled to eastern DRC before transiting through Uganda. However, Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) said they had not received verified information confirming that she had visited DRC.

Kenya confirmed its first case on October 6 involving a man who had been living in DRC and travelled to Kenya through Uganda. He later died, and eight additional cases were reported in connection with the initial infection.

The possible airport connection between the Nigerian and Kenyan patients remains one of several scenarios under investigation as health agencies seek to reconstruct their movements and determine how the infections may be linked.

The outbreak has placed additional pressure on regional health systems, particularly in DRC, where thousands of infections have been recorded.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, DRC had reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 related deaths by October 21, 2026.

As the investigation continues, health authorities across the region are working to determine whether the two patients came into contact at Entebbe International Airport and to identify anyone who may have been exposed. The findings could help clarify how the virus crossed borders and guide efforts to prevent further spread of the outbreak.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/uganda-airport-at-centre-of-probe-into-nigeria-kenya-ebola-cases/

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz would reduce the pressure on global supply chains and ease the impact on people at home, said Burnham in a meeting with Oman's sultan in Downing Street.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Burnham underlined the key role Oman plays in regional stability, and gave his thanks for the Oman's work for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the statement.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the war, roughly 20.3 million barrels of petroleum and crude oil passed through the strait per day, accounting for roughly 25 percent of the world's maritime oil trade.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/britain-oman-agree-on-need-to-open-strait-of-hormuz/

The medals came in the mixed team time trial and the under-17 girls' road race, helping Rwanda maintain its lead in the overall medal standings.

Rwanda took bronze in the mixed team time trial, finishing behind South Africa and Mauritius in the 40.8-kilometre race.

The Rwandan team comprised Muhoza Eric, Nsengiyumva Shemu and Tuyizere Étienne in the men's category, alongside Nirere Xaveline, Ingabire Diane and Mwamikazi Jazilla in the women's category.

South Africa won the race in 56 minutes, 4.380 seconds, followed by Mauritius in 56 minutes, 17.278 seconds. Rwanda finished third in 56 minutes, 30.130 seconds.

Rwanda added two medals in the under-17 girls' road race, with Agasaro Gloria taking silver and Liza Jehovaire winning bronze over the 38.2-kilometre course.

Zimbabwe's Beamish won the race in one hour and 18 minutes, with Agasaro and Liza finishing second and third, respectively. Another Rwandan rider, Mwamikazi Cythia, did not finish the race.

The latest results build on Rwanda's strong opening day, when Ingabire Diane, Mwamikazi Jazilla and Masengesho Yvonne won gold in three women's time trial categories.

By Thursday, Rwanda had collected three gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals, placing it at the top of the overall standings. Mauritius ranked second with three medals, including two golds, followed by Eritrea, Algeria and South Africa.

In the under-17 boys' road race, held over 58.6 kilometres, Byiringiro Moubarak narrowly missed the podium after finishing fourth. Intwari Reponse came sixth, while Mukwende Fuadi finished eighth.

Algeria's Mohamed Ferkous won the race in one hour, 51 minutes and 54 seconds.

The championships continue on Friday with the junior road races for riders under the age of 19.

Masengesho Yvonne and Akimana Donatha will represent Rwanda in the girls' race, while Ishimwe Brian, Niyonkuru Yasin and Nkurikiyinka Jackson will compete in the boys' category.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwanda-leads-medal-standings-at-african-cycling-championships/

The meeting took place at Urugwiro Village, during Shaibu's working visit to Rwanda, according to a communique from the Presidency.

Shaibu is in Rwanda for a five-day official visit running through Friday, October 23, aimed at strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

On Monday, October 19, he visited the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) headquarters in Kigali, where he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff, General MK Mubarakh, before holding bilateral talks with his counterpart, RDF Army Chief of Staff Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.

Discussions focused on strengthening existing cooperation between the Nigerian Armed Forces and the RDF, with both delegations exchanging views on defence and security issues of mutual interest.

Speaking after the meetings, Shaibu said the visit was intended to reinforce bilateral ties between the two armies and advance the implementation of existing agreements.

'As the outcome of today's discussion, we have made key promises to implement the various memoranda of understanding that have been there between both countries in the area of training, exchange of directing staff as well as logisticians,' he said.

The commitments are expected to support collaboration in military training, the exchange of instructional personnel and logistics.

During his visit, Shaibu and his delegation also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they paid their respects to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

They also visited the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, which documents efforts to stop the Genocide and the role of the Rwanda Patriotic Army in ending it.

The visit comes as Rwanda and Nigeria seek to build on existing defence agreements and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/kagame-nigerias-army-chief-discuss-defence-cooperation/

The report, unveiled on Thursday, October 22, by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), shows that the service delivery score dropped by 3.25 percentage points from 71.73% recorded in the previous edition.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana said the findings presented both encouraging progress and areas requiring urgent attention.

'The findings presented to us today tell an encouraging but equally demanding story,' Habimana said, noting that five of the scorecard's eight governance pillars scored above 80%.

'We cannot be satisfied while service delivery is declining and human social development remains low,' he added.

The scorecard assesses governance across eight pillars, 35 indicators and 153 variables, drawing on administrative data, official statistics, institutional assessments, research and citizens' experiences. It is intended to help public institutions track performance, identify weaknesses and guide policy decisions.

Security remains Rwanda's strongest pillar

Safety and security was the highest-performing pillar, scoring 90.15%, a slight increase from 90.02% in the previous edition. The pillar has consistently ranked among Rwanda's strongest areas of governance since the scorecard was introduced.

Minister Habimana commended the security organs and others contributing to the performance, describing security as 'an enabling factor for everything else that we do in this country.'

Anti-corruption, transparency and accountability followed with a score of 85.80%, up from 84.67% in the previous edition. Rule of law also improved, rising by 3.84 percentage points to 85.47%.

Participation and inclusiveness scored 84.72%, down from 86.31%, while political rights and civil liberties recorded 81.56%, down from 82.71%.

Economic and corporate governance scored 73.28%, down from 74.84%, while investing in human and social development improved by 3.86 to reach 68.55%.

Digital services and citizen satisfaction remain challenges

The decline in service delivery was accompanied by uneven results across individual services and sectors.

The report records citizen satisfaction with online court case filing at 65.40%. Satisfaction with services in the land, environment and settlement sector stood at 50.90%, while satisfaction with agriculture services was 53.70% and livestock services 57.10%.

Digitalisation also emerged as an area requiring further work. The scorecard records that 11% of government services were fully digitised end-to-end, based on data from the Ministry of ICT for 2024.

Habimana highlighted that digital transformation should go beyond making services available online.

'Digitalisation is considered not simply about putting services online, but also importantly about simplifying processes, reducing the time and the cost of accessing services,' he stated.

He added that the government would continue strengthening local authorities and improving coordination between levels of government to make services more accessible, timely, equitable and responsive to citizens' needs.

The minister stressed that local government is where citizens experience governance directly, including through schools, health facilities and other essential services.

'For Rwandans, governance is not and will never be an abstract idea,' he remarked. 'It is experienced in the village, at the cell, sector and districts, in schools and health facilities, and through the services people rely on every day.'

Human and social development improves

The human and social development pillar rose by 3.86 percentage points to 68.55%. However, it remains one of the lowest-performing areas.

Within the pillar, health scored 78.22%, education 73.05% and social protection 67.15%. The secure and prosperous family indicator scored 59.45%, while climate change and environmental resilience stood at 64.89%.

Habimana said the findings matter because they reflect people's everyday experiences, including the quality of services, the time required to access them, support available to families and opportunities for young people.

He called on public institutions to use the findings when preparing plans, budgets, reforms and performance contracts under Imihigo, Rwanda's performance-based planning and accountability framework.

'This 13th edition must inform our planning, our performance contracts in Imihigo, our budgets, our reforms, and our engagement with citizens,' he said.

'Let this scorecard serve as both a mirror and a map. A mirror to look honestly at our achievements and the remaining gaps and a map to guide us towards higher standards of integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, efficiency and service delivery.'

UNDP calls for action on findings

Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Rwanda, commended the country for using the scorecard to assess its own governance performance and create space for discussion about areas requiring improvement.

She described the Rwanda Governance Scorecard as a home-grown initiative that has helped strengthen accountability and promote cohesion since 2010.

'It is impressive to see a country that holds itself accountable,' Sesay lauded. 'It is even more impressive to see a country open to the discussions on how the world holds it accountable.'

Sesay said the scorecard's value lies not only in the data it presents but also in the policy discussions and practical actions that follow.

'I therefore encourage all stakeholders here present, including government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and all citizens, to study the findings carefully,' she said.

She also urged stakeholders to focus on governance indicators that continue to lag behind expectations and identify practical measures to accelerate progress.

'The Rwanda Governance Scorecard should not be viewed as an end in itself,' Sesay said. 'The end is full satisfaction of service delivery.'

She added that effective governance, strong institutions, public accountability and responsive services are essential to Rwanda's economic transformation and social development, particularly as the country implements its Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and advances towards Vision 2050.

RGB stresses self-accountability

Dr. Edward Kalisa, Secretary General of the Rwanda Governance Board, said the scorecard is designed to assess institutional performance and generate evidence that can inform policy planning and implementation.

He said the assessment combines different sources of information, including official data and citizens' perceptions, to examine not just whether policies and institutions exist but how they perform in practice.

'Self-accountability means having the willingness to assess our own performance to recognize achievements, acknowledge shortcomings and identify where improvement is required,' Kalisa said.

The report's findings, he stressed, offer a basis for understanding how governance is evolving and where additional attention is needed.

Meanwhile, the launch also featured the Chandler Good Government Index, which ranked Rwanda 11th globally and first in Africa for Leadership and Foresight in 2026.

Rwanda also ranked second worldwide for Long-Term Vision and third for Adaptability, according to Dinesh Naidu of the Chandler Governance Group.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwandas-security-score-remains-high-as-service-delivery-drops-report/

The systems, installed by HomeBiogas Ltd with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), serve households in Rwamagana, Ngoma and Gatsibo districts.

UNDP handed over the systems to provincial authorities on October 20, 2026, at a ceremony in Rwamagana District. Of the beneficiaries, 500 households are in Rwamagana and Ngoma, while 437 are in Gatsibo.

The technology converts cow dung into gas for cooking, while the residue can be used as organic fertiliser.

For beneficiaries, the change has brought practical savings and reduced dependence on firewood.

Nyirantura Saverina, who lives in Muhazi Sector, Rwamagana District, said her children previously spent long hours collecting firewood, despite being in school.

'Before I got biogas, my children, who were in school, often spent the whole day looking for firewood. I did not have a forest where I could send them to collect it,' she said.

Nyirantura was selected for the programme after project representatives visited her home and found that she kept two cows in a clean, well-built shed and fed them properly.

She said the system had made it easier for her children to prepare breakfast before school without being exposed to smoke from traditional cooking methods.

'In the morning, a child wakes up, puts water on the gas stove while sweeping, and prepares tea or porridge. They drink it and go to school without smelling of smoke,' she said.

She added that the technology had also eased household chores.

In Gatsibo District, Kamanzi Johnson said biogas had substantially reduced his family's expenditure on firewood. His household previously spent about Rwf10,000 a month buying it.

'Since we got biogas, the amount of firewood we use has decreased significantly. I would say we now use only between 10% and 20% of what we used before,' said Kamanzi, who also helps other residents learn how to use the systems.

Eastern Province Governor Pudence Rubingisa, who received the systems on behalf of the three districts, said the programme offered a practical way to expand access to clean cooking energy while making productive use of animal waste.

He called for proper maintenance of the systems and further expansion to reach more households.

UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda, Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, said the programme was designed to improve household welfare alongside expanding access to clean energy.

She noted that biogas could reduce exposure to harmful cooking smoke, ease the burden of firewood collection on women and girls, and enable farmers to use livestock waste as fertiliser.

Sesay said the project had demonstrated the potential of biogas as a sustainable cooking energy source, but stressed the need to extend its benefits to more households.

Senior Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Gen. B. Cesar, said the project's success would depend on more than the number of systems installed. Their continued functionality, households' ability to use them properly and the durability of the benefits would also be important measures of progress.

Project partners agreed on a plan to provide ongoing support to beneficiaries, including repairs, monitoring and maintenance of the systems.

The ceremony also featured findings from a study examining biogas's role in reducing methane emissions. The study was conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

Equity Bank and other private-sector partners participated in discussions on financing mechanisms to extend clean cooking solutions to more households.

Eastern Province has Rwanda's largest livestock population but is also frequently affected by drought. Converting animal waste into cooking fuel offers an opportunity to make productive use of locally available resources while reducing reliance on firewood.

The programme forms part of Rwanda's broader efforts to expand access to clean cooking energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/over-900-eastern-province-households-receive-biogas-systems-for-cleaner-cooking/