On the 16^th January, 2014-A team of researchers from the United Kingdom (UK), Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda organized a dinner to present on how Kigali is experiencing rapid urbanization leading to an increase in the urban population and rapid growth in the size and number of informal settlements.

The dinner was organized by the Institute for policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) and the Director General EWSA, Mr. Ntare Karitanyi represented Honorable Minister of Infrastructure, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba as the chief guest. In his remarks, DG EWSA pledged full support in partnering with other key players towards urban sanitation improvement in Rwanda and other East African cities that experience inadequate and poor quality urban services including sanitation.

The research project discusses the issues and constraints related to the provision of sustainable sanitation in the informal settlements in Kigali. Two informal settlements (Kimisagara & Gatsata) were selected for the study using a mixed approach and the project found out that residents in those two areas experienced multiple problems because of poor sanitation where the main barrier to improved sanitation was cost. The research project findings will be used by the city authorities in the planning of effective sanitation intervention strategies for communities in informal settlements.

The research project started in 2011, by the team of PHD Students and researchers from Surrey University (UK), Oxford University (UK), Makerere University (Uganda), Victoria Institute for research on environment development (VIRED) Kisumu, and IPAR of the Republic of Rwanda.

Aimee Ntsinda, a PHD student and researcher from Rwanda reveals that, the project will boost improvement of urban sanitation programs in Kigali, Kampala, Kisumu cities in the East African region, thus promoting sanitary and hygiene to the population of the respective cities.

The Researcher project was conducted purposively in areas identified as the worst in sanitation in order to find out the status of those locations.

 Researchers indicates that the project will address a number of problems like poor accessibility of sanitation facilities, lack of information, lack of emptying services due to absence of affordable emptying machines, cost of transport of wastes, topography, and insufficient space to build sanitation facilities and at some points difficulties in obtaining permits. This will bring a positive impact in the city of Kigali as well as the two cities in the region that are associated with informal settlements.

Katrina Charles, a researcher from Robens centre for public and environment health at University of Surrey says, Umuganda program in Rwanda will support the project to modernize urban sanitation improvement in unplanned settlements which are susceptible to flooding during rainy seasons.

Katrina Charles who spearheaded the research project classifies sanitation as a social good and calls for residents to commit to sanitary living for their health.