Water For People Concludes 16-Year WASH Intervention in Kicukiro on a High Note

The partnership between WASAC Group and Water For People has greatly enhanced access to clean water and sanitation services in Kicukiro District, establishing it as a model of progress within Rwanda’s WASH sector. As a result of this collaboration, a 157-kilometer water supply network was constructed across four sectors—Masaka, Gatenga, Kigarama, and Gahanga—delivering safe and reliable water to more than 174,000 residents and supporting 76,096 students in 79 schools.

During the exit event, Water For People officially handed over all its WASH infrastructure to WASAC Group and Kicukiro District. To further promote the sustainability of these services, the organization also donated a new pickup truck and two motorcycles to support field operations and the maintenance of WASH activities.

Speaking at the handover event, Kicukiro District Executive Administrator, Mutsinzi Antoine, expressed his gratitude for the fruitful collaboration: “We thank Water For People for their invaluable contribution over the years in building vital WASH infrastructure in our district. We also acknowledge the unwavering partnership with WASAC Group throughout this journey. The donation of transport equipment will significantly enhance our capacity to deliver efficient and timely WASH services to our residents.”

Gemma Maniraruta, Director General of Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Infrastructure, described the partnership as a model for sustainable development and urged both WASAC Group and Kicukiro District to ensure the proper maintenance of the WASH infrastructure. She emphasized the need to prioritize efficiency in service delivery, stating: “Achieving near-universal access to water in the district is a remarkable milestone, but it is not the final goal. It is essential to maintain the WASH infrastructure to ensure long-term use, and the focus must now shift to improving operational efficiency particularly by reducing non-revenue water, which continues to cause significant losses for both WASAC Group and the country.”

Water For People’s Country Director, Eugene Dusingizumuremyi, reiterated the organization’s continued commitment to the water and sanitation sector, affirming: “While our official intervention in Kicukiro comes to an end, this is not a farewell. It's a transition. We remain committed and ready to support WASAC Group and Kicukiro District whenever our assistance is needed.”

As Water For People concludes its direct involvement, full ownership of the WASH infrastructure now rests with Kicukiro District and WASAC Group. Both parties have pledged to preserve the strong collaboration and ensure the continued delivery of sustainable water and sanitation services to the community.