The construction works for Rusizi Port, expected to ease the transportation of people and goods on Lake Kivu, has resumed.

Rusizi Port is part of a larger initiative to enhance water transport and bolster trade between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the Vice Mayor for Economic Development, Louis Munyemanzi Ndagijimana, the port’s completion slated to be fully finished by December, 2024 is now at 20 percent.

Once completed, Rusizi Port will have the capacity to accommodate 2.3 million passengers and handle 1.3 million tons of cargo annually.

“Having the port in place will facilitate the transportation of goods, especially cement and local products, from Rwanda to DR Congo’s Bukavu and Goma,” Ndagijimana said.

Residents speak out

Théoneste Minani and Pacy Nikuzwe, residents of Kamembe Sector in Rusizi town, expressed their optimism about the significance of the port for the district’s development.

“We anticipate a surge in the number of people visiting the town, which will facilitate movement among the districts along Lake Kivu,” Minani said.

Nikuzwe added, “The port will contribute to the growth of Rusizi town, and we are hopeful that it will become a vibrant hub.”

The construction of Rusizi Port commenced on January 18, 2023, and is part of a larger endeavor to construct ports and improve transportation on Lake Kivu in Rubavu, Rusizi, Rutsiro, and Karongi districts.

Official data reveals that the government, in collaboration with development partners, has allocated a budget of $28 million, approximately Rwf26 billion, for the construction of four new ports and ferries to bolster trade between Rwanda and DR Congo.

The New Times