20
Aug

Residents of Cyumba Sector in Gicumbi District have expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Rwanda and the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) for bringing electricity to their communities. For years, many believed that the mountainous terrain of Gicumbi would make electrification impossible, but today, access has reached 81%, fueling development and improving livelihoods.

Gerard Hategekimana, a resident of Keyebe a trading center, described how life has been transformed:“How can I describe it? Before, we lived in complicated conditions. After getting electricity, our lives changed completely because what the president of the Republic of Rwanda promised us has been delivered. Now, if I want to switch on the lights, I can; if I want to use an iron, I can, everything is possible.”

For business owners like Nizangwe Divine, who runs a bar in Keyebe, electricity has been a game-changer:“Now I can run my business from 6 a.m. to midnight. Before, we relied on kerosene lamps, which would go out whenever the wind blew. Today, we have development! I thank our leader, President Paul Kagame, for giving us this opportunity.”

The same sense of transformation is felt by Ryumugabe Claude, a local barber:
“Before electricity, we lived in darkness, using candles to light our homes. Now, with just a switch, there is light. For me, as a barber, electricity has boosted my business. I can earn more and take care of my family.”

According to Chrysologue Ngendahayo, REG Branch Manager in Gicumbi, the district’s steep hills and scattered settlements made electrification a daunting task. Despite these challenges, REG has connected all grouped villages and model villages, ensuring electricity access across all 21 sectors of the district.

“Back in 2022, before the Rwanda Universal Energy Access Program (RUEAP), our electrification rate stood at just 56%, with about 60,000 households connected. Today, we have reached 81%, a remarkable achievement,” he explained.

He added that new projects are planned to ensure that all remaining households are connected, in line with Rwanda’s National Electrification Strategy, which targets 100% access by 2029.

According to REG statistics, as of May 2025, Gicumbi District has over 95,500 households connected to electricity out of 117,000 total households.