Construction of the Kigali Centralised Sewage System (KCSS) could begin early next year as nine investors have been shortlisted.

However, the shortlisted firms are currently being vetted by the main funders of the project.

The construction of Kigali’s sewerage received a loan to the tune of Rwf98 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

“Through the expression of interest, nine investors have been selected at the Kigali city level. As a prerequisite for the funders’ requirements, we have to wait for their non-objection and then proceed with a selection of the contractor,” said Jean D’Amour Rwunguko, director of infrastructure at the City of Kigali.

According to the city officials, the KCSS is aimed at collecting the waste waters from the central business district, Kiyovu areas and parts of Kimisagara, Nyakabanda, Gitega and Gisozi sectors.

With over 1.3 million population, Kigali neither has a centralised treatment facility for sewage nor a central sewer network.

As a result, septic tanks with soak-away pits are predominantly used, together with pit latrines. These, environmentalists say, have negatively impacts on both surface and groundwater resources as untreated sewage are disposed of inappropriately into the environment.

The collected waste water will be amassed for treatment at the collection centre that will be set up on 10-hectare piece if land at Giticyinyoni in Nyabugogo cell. The treated water will then be used in farms and for watering gardens.

According to preliminary environmental impact assessment by Water and Sanitation Corporation (Wasac), the project that will include 86.5 Kilometre sewer network, 3.1 kilometres of sewer trunk and waste water treatment plant at Gitikinyoni, will affect over 180 families where their houses and related assets will be affected.

The report indicates that local communities in the surrounding areas of the proposed Kigali waste water treatment plant will lose a source of water supply for communities while informal and formal resettlements that are also scattered around the Nyabugogo wetland could be affected in one way or another.

“Part of expropriation exercise of the identified place for the water treatment facility is underway and we are waiting for the contractor, who will provide the design of the system that will enable us to determine the people who will be expropriated in the occupied areas,” said Dominique Murekezi, head of the Rwanda sustainable water supply and sanitation programme at Wasac, which oversees the implementation of the project.

Mr Murekezi said by the end of this year, as the contractor will be identified, the demarcation and expropriation exercises in the occupied areas in the city will subsequently follow.