Residents of Gihaya Island in Rusizi District and Kirehe Island in Nyamasheke District have welcomed the donation of two new boats from Rwanda’s security institutions, describing them as a lifeline that will significantly improve access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
The boats were officially handed over on Friday by Rwanda’s Minister of Internal Security, Vincent Biruta, as part of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Rwanda National Police’s annual community outreach programme.
For years, residents of both islands have struggled with limited access to essential services.
Neither Gihaya nor Kirehe Island has a health centre or a marketplace, forcing residents to cross Lake Kivu by small traditional wooden boats to seek medical care, buy necessities, attend school, or look for work.
Local residents say the new boats will dramatically reduce the risks associated with these journeys.
“We believe these boats will save lives. In the past, transporting pregnant women or critically ill patients to a health centre was extremely difficult using small wooden boats. We will protect these boats and ensure they are used responsibly for the benefit of everyone,” said Fidele Uzabakiriho, a resident of Gihaya Island.
Benjamin Ruganintwali, another resident, said the lack of reliable transport had isolated the community from neighbouring areas, including Nkombo Island and Rusizi.
He explained that travelling to find employment, access healthcare, trade goods, or allow children to attend school depended entirely on finding someone with a small boat willing to ferry passengers across the lake, often under unsafe conditions.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Minister Biruta said the initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of citizens through joint community programmes implemented by the Rwanda Defence Force and the Rwanda National Police.
“These boats will make travel easier for students, improve safety in water transport, and promote the social and economic development of communities whose livelihoods depend on Lake Kivu,” Biruta said.
The minister noted that the annual outreach programme has already benefited thousands of Rwandans this year, with more than 28,500 people receiving medical services and 80 vulnerable families provided with newly built homes and essential household items.
He urged beneficiaries to take good care of the boats and use them productively, saying responsible stewardship demonstrates the true spirit of self-reliance.
The two boats, valued at a combined RWF 20 million (approximately US$14,000), each have the capacity to carry 60 passengers along with 1.2 tonnes of cargo, offering a safer and more reliable transport solution for the island communities on Lake Kivu.
