Residents of Mirama I and Mirama II villages in Nyagatare Sector say the completion of a new tarmac road and a modern market marks a turning point for their community, with improved transport, safer trading spaces and expanded economic opportunities.
The infrastructure, comprising a 2.59-kilometre tarmac road linking Nyagatare Town to the two Mirama villages and the newly constructed Mirama Mini Market, was officially inaugurated on July 1.
Speaking during the inauguration, residents said the projects are already transforming their daily lives by bringing essential services and business opportunities closer to where they live, while reinforcing the gains of Rwanda’s development agenda as the country celebrates the 31st anniversary of Liberation.
Joseph Mazimpaka, a resident of Nyagatare District, said Mirama has undergone a remarkable transformation that has changed both its physical outlook and public perception.
“Today we have a modern town with clean water, electricity, a market, a health centre, paved roads and streetlights. In the past, people dismissed Mirama as a remote place. If you invited someone to buy land here, they would laugh at you. Today, demand for land has grown because people recognise the area’s rapid development,” he said.
Clementine Niyodusenga, a trader who previously sold goods by the roadside, said the new market offers a safer and more dignified working environment.
“I used to sell by the roadside, but now I have been allocated a stall in the new market. I no longer have to carry my merchandise to Nyagatare Town every day, which was exhausting. This market has made doing business much easier,” she said.
Constructed under the Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP), the 2.59-kilometre road improves connectivity between Nyagatare Town and Mirama I and II villages while providing direct access to the new Mirama Market, which accommodates 102 traders.
Nyagatare District Acting Vice Mayor Henry Kakooza said the projects reflect the government’s commitment to improving citizens’ welfare through people-centred development.
He noted that the infrastructure was financed through taxpayers’ contributions and urged residents to continue paying taxes on time to support further development.
Kakooza also called on the community to safeguard the new facilities through proper use and maintenance to ensure they continue serving future generations.
Residents were further encouraged to enrol in and regularly contribute to the Mutuelle de Santé community-based health insurance scheme to guarantee continued access to affordable healthcare services.
The road and market were implemented by Nyagatare District in partnership with the Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen urban infrastructure, improve mobility and stimulate local economic growth in one of Rwanda’s emerging secondary urban centres.
