The bridge is complete, we made it! We constructed the 77m-long Nkegete suspended bridge and now we can celebrate in a proper Kinyarwanda way! Today marks a significant step forward, towards a better future for the local community of Peru and Nkegete in the Muhanga district as they can now benefit from improved connectivity and access to essential services.

We started the day early. The local team welcomed us with the usual energy-filled Rwandan dance followed by the Hokey Cokey dance led by Kat. This set the tone of the day and brought the team together in a spirit of joy and anticipation.

After this, the team worked tirelessly to complete the final remaining tasks of the bridge. These included painting of the abutment towers and the posts using the Rwandan flag colors, carrying out final adjustments to the fixation cable, installing fencing, groundworks and clearing the site.

In addition to the completion of the bridge, an important task for the day was the logging and the distribution of the remaining Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and tools that we brought from the UK to aid the construction process and empower the local community. These are donations that were kindly offered by a number of project supporters back in the UK. Now as the project comes to an end, these valuable assets (worth of ~£6k), will be donated to both the local community and Bridges to Prosperity. This act of generosity ensures that the community will have the necessary equipment to maintain and repair the bridge, ensuring its longevity and continuous benefit to the local community.

The inauguration of the Nkegete bridge was a moment of celebration for the team and the entire community. People gathered near the bridge awaiting the start of the ceremony. The ceremony was kicked off with cutting the ribbon and crossing the bridge, followed by dancing. I personally found myself surrounded by a group of kids that joined the ceremony after school. Their laughter, energy and smiles filled my heart with happiness and love. Then we played a game led by Tari where we were clapping and shouting each other’s names in the rhythm of music! 

Local dignitaries, representatives from the local community and Bridges to Prosperity addressed the crowd expressing their appreciation and highlighting the significance of the structure for the community. Jamie as our construction manager, made a speech where he expressed on behalf of the team our appreciation and gratitude to the local team who worked tirelessly to complete the project with us and Bridges to Prosperity team that supported us during our time in Rwanda including the Project Engineer, Ernest, the Foreman Eric, our site liaison, Zuhra, the three site accommodation attendants (Jean Pierre, Jean D’amour & Vianne) and our drivers Paulin and Claude. As the Deputy Mayor for the district of Muhanga mentioned, the bridge will not only provide safe access to markets, hospitals and schools but will facilitate the transportation of agricultural goods, allowing farmers to reach wider markets and increase their income.

The impact of the Nkegete suspended bridge is beyond the physical as it unlocks a world of opportunities for the local community. Children can now attend school without fear of crossing dangerous waters, parents and elder people can access healthcare facilities more easily. The bridge fosters social connections , enabling families to visit each other and creating a sense of  unity and community pride. The Nkegete suspended bridge will always be a symbol of prosperity, progress and unity!

Katerina