Nyamagabe: Authorities Push for Improved Toilets for 3,000 Households by 2026

Nyamagabe District authorities, in partnership with WaterAid Rwanda an international organization that promotes access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene joined residents of Cyanika Sector on this Wednesday, November 19, 2025, to mark World Toilet Day at the district level.

The event brought together local government officials, representatives from WaterAid Rwanda, and community members under the theme “Hygiene in a Changing World, Toilets Are Essential at All Times.”

As part of the day’s activities, participants visited a model household supported by WaterAid Rwanda to build an improved toilet. The family of Beda Uzabakiriho, a resident of Nyanzoga Cell in Cyanika Sector, showcased a modern toilet that has transformed hygiene in their home. Uzabakiriho said his family previously lived in poor sanitation conditions, which prevented him from receiving visitors.

he said that “I am very grateful to WaterAid Rwanda for building this modern toilet with all required standards. Before that, we lived in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. I could not even welcome guests because of the flies and dirt at home”.

His wife, Mukagasana Josephine, shared that their children often suffered from diseases linked to poor hygiene because the old toilet lacked basic requirements.

She said that “Our children would frequently fall sick, and doctors always told us it was due to poor sanitation. The toilet we had was dirty, unsafe, and had neither a roof nor a door”.

Although they received assistance, the family said they plan to save money to construct another standard toilet in the future, should the current one wear out, to avoid returning to unsafe conditions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ndizeye Olivier, WaterAid Rwanda’s Head of Program Monitoring and Learning, said the organization is committed to improving sanitation and hygiene in districts where such services remain a challenge, including Nyagatare, Bugesera, and Nyamagabe.

He stated that “Our goal is to ensure access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation in these districts. In Cyanika, the main causes of poor sanitation are limited awareness and the lack of financial means to build proper toilets”.

He added that WaterAid Rwanda supports vulnerable families to construct improved toilets while reinforcing hygiene education, including the proper use of toilet paper, wearing shoes when using toilets, and washing hands with water and soap.

Nyamagabe District Mayor, Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, said that district has established strong measures to support more than 3,000 households whose toilets do not meet hygiene standards. He emphasized that all of them should have improved toilets by June 2026.

He said that “Nyamagabe has over 3,000 households with substandard toilets. Our target is that by June 2026, every household in our District will have a modern toilet that meets required hygiene standards”.

He added that the district will continue community sensitization to fight hygiene related diseases as well as possible.

“We will keep teaching residents to wear shoes when using toilets, use proper toilet paper, and wash hands with clean water and soap. This must become a daily culture”.

Nyamagabe District, is one of the District located in the Southern Province, it has long experienced high cases of sanitation related illnesses due to poor hygiene practices including lack of proper toilets, failure to wear shoes, and limited handwashing. Local authorities say these challenges are expected to significantly decline following intensified hygiene campaigns.