Kigali, 20th December, 2016-Transport sector is critical for achieving inclusive growth, and is positively linked to growth in agriculture, Industry and services. A key assignment of the Transport sector was to develop an integrated multimodal transport system while ensuring economy, safety, and environment sustainability, among other things. To achieve this objective, the sector set ambitious targets and directed all concerted efforts and strategies to achieving those goals.

Road transport

The sector registered incredible achievements as evidenced by key performance indicators and implemented projects. This impacted positively Rwanda’s social and economic development, most importantly brought a significant change in the lives of Rwandans.

The table below illustrates how the transport sector fared against the key performance indicators targets set forth.

The above table shows that Roads conditions and riding quality improved considerably over the last 5 years; the riding quality on classified roads network (both paved and unpaved) reached 71.4% in 2016 from 63% in 2012; Paved roads network sustained a 95% of roads in good conditions in recent years due to periodic maintenance and rehabilitation activities undertaken which is commendable for the next periods.

The paved roads network was extended to 1,492Km from 1,172km and 1,436km of feeder roads were constructed to facilitate market access for rural farmers. Though the performance for feeder roads seems to be a bit behind, the target is expected to be met since in the remaining 2 years about 1,000km will be constructed.

Key detailed sector achievements

Completed roads upgrading projects include:

•    Kivu Belt Lot 3: Ntendezi- Mwityazo (51km) and Lot 4 & 5 Mwityazo- Karongi (66km); Access road to Tumba College (9.5km); Cimerwa - Bugarama (10km); Access road to Bushenge hospital (3km).

•    106 Km of tarmac and stone-paved roads in CoK: 78.01km were constructed: these include Kinyinya road, KCC roads, Kabuga-Masaka road, Kanombe-Kibaya road, Free Economic Zone roads, Kanombe deviation, etc.

•    100 Km of tarmac and stone-paved roads in other towns: 65.3km were constructed in different urban areas of Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu, Gicumbi, Musanze, Nyanza, etc.

Ongoing road upgrading projects include Kivu belt: Lot 6 (Rubengera – Gisiza (24km) & Lot 7 (Gisiza _ Pfunda (44 km) which are planned to be completed by June 2017; Base-Rukomo Road Upgrading Project (51 Km); Base-Butaro- Kidaho Road Project (63km).

Road upgrading projects in pipeline include: Ngoma_Bugesera_ Nyanza (130km); Rukomo _ Nyagatare (73km); Huye _ Kibeho (68km); Kagitumba – Kayonza – Rusumo (208km); City of Kigali ring road project (80km); Upgrading City of Kigali road network project (54.5Km); Bugesera express way (40km).

Rehabilitation projects implemented

The full rehabilitation was done and completed on the following projects: Kigali-Gatuna (77.8km), Kigali- Musanze (83km), Rusizi-Ntendezi-Nyamagabe (63km), Karongi-Rubengera (17km). These imply a total of 240.8km fully rehabilitated. 

Rehabilitation road projects in pipeline include: Huye-Kitabi (53km), Kagitumba-Kayonza-Rusumo (208km), Kigali-Muhanga-Huye-Akanyaru (157km).

Road maintenance

Multi- year maintenance were continuously carried out on the following roads: Ngororero-Mukamira (55km), Rusumo-Kayonza (92km), Kayonza-Kagitumba (116km), Muhanga- Karongi (78km), Rusizi-Bugarama (38.4km), Musanze-Rubavu (67 km), Kicukiro-Nemba (61 km), Kigali-Huye-Akanyaru (157km), etc.

In particular, for this fiscal year (2016/17), a total of 261km of National Paved Roads rehabilitation are under implementation targeting to reach 10% of total works by June 2016 and 104km of unpaved roads will be upgraded to paved roads; 76.9km of National unpaved Roads will be maintained; 513.8km national paved roads will be maintained; 10.4km of urban roads will be upgraded to paved roads and 10km of roads will be constructed to support Private Sector Development. 490.31km of feeder roads will be added to 1507km, totaling to 1,997.31km against 2,040 km targeted as per 2016/17 target.