Gicumbi’s Five-Year Journey: From Development gains to a vision for the future
Across the hills and communities of Gicumbi, the story of the past five years is increasingly visible in everyday life — a child entering pre-primary school, a farmer reaching a market, a family gaining access to water, a young person finding work and a citizen taking part in decisions that shape their community.
Between 2021 and 2026, Gicumbi District pursued a broad development agenda aimed at turning public investment and community participation into tangible improvements in livelihoods and access to services. The scale of that effort is reflected in the numbers: 43,816 jobs were created against a target of 38,672, access to water increased from 89% to 94%, pre-primary enrolment rose from 7,800 to 25,076 children, and 98.4% of resolutions adopted by the District Council were implemented.
Behind these figures is a five-year journey spanning agriculture and livestock, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and governance, with the District leadership placing citizens at the centre of efforts to build a more prosperous and resilient community.
The achievements come as Gicumbi concludes the five-year term of its District Council, with the District leadership now looking to consolidate the gains made and translate them into lasting opportunities for residents. The District itself recently presented its 2021–2026 achievements, highlighting progress across the three broad pillars of governance, economic development and social welfare.
Governance: bringing leadership closer to citizens
Governance was one of the central pillars of Gicumbi’s five-year development agenda. During the term, the District Council adopted 446 resolutions, of which 439 were implemented, representing an implementation rate of 98.4%.
For the District leadership, effective governance is not measured only by the number of decisions adopted or implemented. It is also reflected in how closely institutions engage with citizens, listen to their concerns and respond to issues affecting their daily lives.
Community outreach programmes, Ukwezi k’Umujyanama (Councillor’s Month), digital platforms and the Mbaza System were used to strengthen communication and interaction between citizens and local authorities.
The Abunzi community-based dispute resolution mechanism also handled a large proportion of the cases brought before it. According to the District's figures, 3,324 of 3,341 cases received were resolved, representing 99.4%.
Mayor NZABONIMPA Emmanuel says citizen participation should remain at the heart of development-oriented governance.
“Sustainable development is built around a citizen who understands what is being done for them and actively participates in it. No leader can understand what citizens need better than they themselves do.”
The approach, according to the District leadership, has also informed efforts to involve residents in planning and give them greater space to contribute to programmes designed for their communities.
Agriculture and livestock: Strengthening the Economic Foundation
For a district where agriculture remains a major source of livelihoods, farming was a key focus of the five-year development agenda.
Production of beans, potatoes, maize, wheat and cassava received attention, while farmers were supported through access to seeds and fertilisers.
The District also expanded areas under tea and coffee cultivation, alongside measures to conserve soil and improve land productivity.
During the period, 1,528 hectares were covered by radical terraces, while 39,920 agroforestry trees were planted and 1,709.5 hectares of forests were established.
The wider climate-resilience effort has also been supported by the Green Gicumbi Project, a six-year initiative implemented across nine sectors of the District. The project officially concluded in May 2026 after supporting climate-resilient agriculture, environmental conservation and other community resilience measures.
Mayor NZABONIMPA has described agriculture as a foundation of Gicumbi’s economy and encouraged investors to explore opportunities in the sector.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Green Gicumbi to the District’s transformation.
“We thank the Green Gicumbi Project, which was brought to us by the Head of State and has transformed many aspects of life in Gicumbi.”
Wheat production, in particular, has increasingly connected farmers with industrial markets, creating opportunities to add value to agricultural products produced in the District.
Livestock farming also expanded during the period. Through the Girinka programme, 5,974 residents received cows, while 4,356 people received small livestock.
Milk production rose to approximately 100,700 litres per day, according to District figures, while the number of milk collection centres increased from 20 in 2021 to 23.
Infrastructure: Connecting Communities to Services and Opportunities
Roads, bridges and water infrastructure formed another important part of Gicumbi’s development efforts.
The 15.53-kilometre Byumba–Ngondore road is among the major transport projects being developed to improve connectivity.
Over the five-year period, 386.76 kilometres of roads were maintained, while 13 bridges were constructed across different sectors. Access to water also improved. The proportion of residents with access to water increased from 89% in 2021–2022 to 94% in 2025–2026.
For Mayor NZABONIMPA, infrastructure should serve a broader purpose — connecting people not only to essential services but also to markets and economic opportunities. The District also continued efforts to rehabilitate the Gatuna wetland and protect investments made through Green Gicumbi, with an emphasis on sustainable management of natural resources.
Other public investment in Gicumbi during the 2025–2026 financial year included support for agricultural inputs, construction of shelters for vulnerable genocide survivors and development of the Mutete Genocide Memorial.
Jobs and Investment: Turning Growth into Livelihoods
Economic development was also measured by the opportunities created for citizens to earn income and improve their livelihoods.
Between 2021 and 2026, 43,816 jobs were created, against a target of 38,672, representing an achievement rate of 113.3%.
Savings through Ejo Heza also increased substantially. In 2021, residents saved RWF 329,140,689 against a target of RWF 300 million. By 2025–2026, savings had reached RWF 717,766,060, compared with a target of RWF 504,103,300.
Development partners also supported initiatives in economic development, education, healthcare and infrastructure. In mining, particularly tungsten and gold, more than 1,500 residents secured employment each year, according to District figures.
The District leadership has placed particular emphasis on young people as potential drivers of economic transformation.
Mayor NZABONIMPA says youth should not remain on the sidelines of development.
“Young people should not be spectators to the problem; they should be the solution.”
The emphasis on employment and enterprise has also been reflected in District efforts to provide platforms for local businesses and cooperatives to showcase their products and connect with potential customers and partners.
Education and Social Welfare: Expanding Opportunities
Education remained central to the District’s efforts to improve long-term social and economic prospects. The number of children enrolled in pre-primary education increased from 7,800 to 25,076, while enrolment in vocational education reached 4,558 students.
The District also expanded the use of technology in schools and strengthened efforts to make education more inclusive. The number of students with disabilities increased from 780 to 3,866, while 684 teachers received training aimed at improving their capacity to provide appropriate education to learners with disabilities. In healthcare, six health posts and six Early Childhood Development centres were constructed and supported.
Programmes addressing malnutrition and stunting also continued, alongside interventions aimed at improving household welfare. A total of 8,650 households received support intended to help them move out of poverty. The District also provided housing to 164 vulnerable households, while 20 cooperatives of persons with disabilities received support to strengthen their activities.
Among vulnerable survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, 2,024 beneficiaries received support, while 66 houses were constructed.
Mayor NZABONIMPA links social welfare with the economic strength of families, particularly highlighting the contribution of women.
“A woman is the heart of development. When we support women, we are supporting the development of our country.”
The District has also continued to invest in programmes aimed at improving child nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, with local authorities and development partners urging families to take a leading role in preventing malnutrition.
Remembering the Past, Building for the Future
Alongside development programmes, Gicumbi continued efforts to preserve history and strengthen remembrance.
The Mutete Genocide Memorial was constructed, with efforts underway to develop historical information that can support education and help visitors better understand the history preserved at the site.
For the District leadership, preserving historical memory remains part of building a society that understands its past while preparing for the future.
Community Participation, Sports and Social Cohesion
Development in Gicumbi has also been supported by community participation. Umuganda continued to provide a platform for residents to work collectively on community priorities. Average participation stood at 91%, while the value of activities carried out exceeded RWF 2.4 billion.
Sports and recreation also formed part of the District’s social development agenda.
Gicumbi Stadium was renovated, while local teams continued to receive support to participate in competitions, including the Umurenge Kagame Cup.
In women’s volleyball, the team representing Gicumbi won its competition.
Citizen participation was also reflected in the 2024 Presidential elections, when voter turnout in Gicumbi reached 99.8%.
For Mayor NZABONIMPA, cooperation remains a critical element in sustaining development across the District.
“When we come together, work hard and support one another, we achieve better results, become self-reliant and build a country founded on self-reliance and resilience.”
Five Years Later: Protecting the Gains
As the five-year term of the District Council comes to an end, Gicumbi’s development record presents a picture of progress across governance, economic development and social welfare.
The implementation of 98.4% of District Council resolutions, the increase in access to water, rising school enrolment, job creation, growing savings and expanded infrastructure are among the indicators highlighted by the District.
Yet the meaning of development goes beyond statistics.
For citizens, it can be experienced through access to water and electricity, better roads, schools and healthcare facilities, employment opportunities and greater avenues to participate in decisions that affect their communities. The next challenge, therefore, is not only to measure what has been achieved, but to ensure that the gains are maintained and translated into sustainable opportunities for future generations.
The District leadership sees the end of the five-year term as both a moment of reflection and an opportunity to renew its commitment to development.
Mayor NZABONIMPA frames the next chapter around collective responsibility, unity and continued effort.
“Today is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, but it is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to working harder so that we can achieve sustainable development, enjoy better lives and build our country in unity, because our unity is our strength.”