14
Feb

To achieve the government of target of 100% electricity access by 2024, Rwanda Energy Group (REG) has initiated a project that has so far provided electricity to 14,800 households with internal installations done free of charge. The project targets households located within not more than 37 meters from transmission lines.

Households which received electricity are in the first and second Ubudehe categories specifically from 16 districts across Rwanda including Kirehe, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Nyabihu, Gakenke, Ngororero, Nyarugenge, Rubavu, Kayonza, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Kicukiro, Gasabo, Musanze, and Nyaruguru.

Beneficiary households were selected according to Ubudehe stratification categories as well as proximity to transmission lines. The project was sponsored by GIZ which operates on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Residents from the 16 districts who received electricity expressed gratitude as they could not afford it on their own.

Bahungura Innocent, a resident of Cyivugiza cell, Muko sector, Gakenke district said that he had no hope of ever accessing electricity and that is a dream that has become reality.

“I can never thank enough the government of Rwanda for this initiative and most especially President Paul Kagame for thinking about us.”

Mukandori Emerance and her mother, Nyiramavugo Donatille said they were thankful to REG for providing electricity for free.

“We never expected this. We used to sleep before the sunset to avoid stumbling in the dark but we can now stay up until 10 pm.”

Nshimiyimana Jean d’Amour, a resident of Rubavu district, Nyakiriba sector, Nyarushamba cell, Runyeheri village said he had no means to access electricity but that he has been put on the grid for two months now. His neighbor, Kayangwe Francois also said REG changed his life.

“After we were put on the grid, I collected some money with the support of my wife and we started a bar and now we get a monthly income and can meet all our financial needs.”

Nduwamungu Martin, a resident of Juru sector, Bugesera District said that his children are now capable of revising for their exams even at night and thanked the government of Rwanda for the initiative.

Currently, 1.4 million households (52.8%) have access to electricity including those that are connected to the grid and those using off-grid solutions.