Reconstruction and repair of commercial structures and residential houses belonging to riparian communities.
During the construction of the 80 MW Power Plant between 2018 to 2020, blasting activities affected some structures located in Rusumo village on both Rwanda and Tanzania sides. All along the construction period, Rusumo Project undertook hands-on engagement with communities surrounding the Project areas, with an effective support of local leadership. In that regard, the Project held intensive awareness raising sessions, discussions and demonstrations on health safety and prevention measures during blasting activities. The Project collaborated with Rusumo local leaders to preserve the welfare of Rusumo communities backed by of a strong environmental health safety system established to address related community grievances among others.
On the blasting effects, the Project undertook a technical expertise on all structures that were claimed to be damaged by blasting works. An in-kind compensation was provided ensuring the compensation is culturally appropriate; the Project repaired and reconstructed all houses acknowledged to have been affected by blasting. Owners of the identified structures were engaged to consent on the compensation method provided by the Project.
In Rusumo village of Tanzania, about 540 structures and on Rwanda side about 80 structures including residential, commercial, small businesses structures, etc. were identified to be affected by blasting works. The repair and construction are towards completion, some owners have started to receive their repaired houses little by little. The local leadership from both sides often reach out to Rusumo communities to take stock of the progress of handing over repaired structures and completion reconstruction of those structures.
Restituta Byakutaga is a Rusumo community member and her house was identified to be damaged by blasting activities during the plant construction. Restituta was first mobilized with her family to a safer house while hers was being repaired. Of recent, she received and moved in her house freshly rehabilitated with new modern items including nice and stronger fencing walls, durable kitchen, pit toilet, etc. “I am so much delighted to receive my house in a better shape. I am grateful to Rusumo Company which made sure that my family and I are restored rightfully”, she said during her moving.
Mrs. Restituta was delighted to receive her house repaired.
In Kirehe district, communities were engaged and agreed that the Project will compensate them with new rebuild almost identical houses constructed as a new village as an in-kind compensation of their structures affected by blasting. The Project is currently completing construction of a new village for 80 households which will belong to owners of structures.
In September 2025, the Governor of the Eastern Province visited the Project to take stock of the completion of the new village. “These village houses will host families of our communities a new model and better standards”, said the Governor of Eastern Province, Rwanda during his visit to Project.
These are part of the corporate social responsibility actions that RPCL ensures they are well done with the objective to nurture a durable relationship with Rusumo communities, advancing social, environmental, and economic development.
As a prominent, profit-oriented energy developer, RPCL prioritizes fulfilling its social responsibilities. Beyond this, RPCL supported the Local Area Development Program in health, education sectors among others in Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
