- Rwanda Polytechnic Tumba College, (RP Tumba College), has begun supplying solar-generated electricity to 40 households in Muyanza Model Village, Buyoga Sector, Rulindo District.
The beneficiary families, who were relocated from the former Muyanza dam site to Nyirakayobe Village, previously had access to grid electricity. However, frequent outages and the high cost of monthly bills made it difficult for many to rely on it.
The solar power is being distributed through a system known as the Living Lab, a platform designed both to provide electricity to households and to serve as a practical learning hub for RP Tumba College students.
It allows students to apply their technical knowledge while simultaneously offering solutions to the local community.
Eng. Mutabazi Ritha Clemance, Principal of RP Tumba College, emphasized the dual impact of the project:
“This initiative demonstrates how the school contributes to the community. It ensures access to electricity while reducing dependence on firewood and minimizing air pollution. The Living Lab in Muyanza is a way of bringing power closer to households. It also enables our students to translate their studies into real-life solutions, not just academic scores. We encourage residents to use this energy responsibly and productively.”
Residents who have already benefited expressed gratitude, highlighting how the solar power will reduce expenses and enhance their quality of life.
Ashimwe Raissa, one of the beneficiaries, explained: “Before, power outages were constant. Even when you contacted REG for support, it could take more than a week without electricity. Some families couldn’t even afford to pay for it. Now, with free solar energy, our lives will improve,we will save money and no longer worry about blackouts.”
Another resident, Tuyikunde Françoise, added: “We sincerely thank RP Tumba for remembering us. We used to struggle to pay electricity bills, but now we have reliable power at no cost.”
Rulindo District Executive Secretary, Nshimiyimana Dieudonnée, said the initiative aligns with the national electrification agenda: “We are grateful to these partners for helping expand access to electricity, which is part of the government’s broader vision. The added value is that it is our own students powering their community while gaining hands-on skills. As a District, we will continue working to expand electricity access to more households.”
The solar mini-grid station in Nyirakayobe Model Village, which serves over 300 residents, was established by RP Tumba College in partnership with GREATER and with support from Erasmus+ under the European Union framework.
