Residents of Ngororero District are still questioning why a factory, expected to boost local development, has remained non-operational for over 13 years despite an investment exceeding 688 million Rwandan francs.
The facility, located in Kibingo Village, Rugogwe Cell, Muhororo Sector, was constructed beginning in 2011 and was intended to process cassava. According to the original project plan, the factory was scheduled for completion in 2012 and expected to start operations in 2013. However, it has yet to produce a single batch.
Local residents initially welcomed the initiative, hoping it would bring economic opportunities, particularly for those living near the factory. But concerns soon emerged over whether there would be enough cassava to sustain operations. Low cassava yields in Muhororo and surrounding areas have been cited as a key reason for the delay.
In 2014, Members of Parliament from the district visited the factory and urged authorities to increase cassava production to ensure the state’s investment would generate returns. Despite these efforts, some local farmers reported insufficient seeds and abandoned cassava cultivation after being encouraged to grow maize in some parts of the district.
As cassava supply remained inadequate, authorities shifted plans for the factory to process maize, with a capacity of 15 tons per day. Yet this alternative also failed to generate results. Attempts to hand over the factory to private operators were similarly unsuccessful.
Further complicating the situation, imported machinery for the factory developed defects within a year of installation, raising concerns about quality. When parliamentary representatives visited Ngororero in 2015, they warned that the machines could produce contaminated or poor-quality flour, calling for inspections before production could begin.
Today, Ngororero District officials say the factory is finally moving toward operation. District Mayor Christophe Nkusi told RBA that the prolonged inactivity resulted from substandard machinery imported by the contractor, which led to long legal disputes. The district has now won the case, paving the way for private operators to take over the facility.
Mayor Nkusi explained that the factory will no longer process cassava but will instead produce maize flour and animal feed. The transfer is in its final stages, awaiting approval from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Once approved, the new owner will pay for the facility and begin operations.
The Ngororero factory, including construction and machinery, represents a total investment of 688.3 million Frw, which has remained unproductive for over a decade.
