China grants Rwanda funding for construction of irrigation scheme in Bugeresa (Linked to Record ID#1843, #17238)

On May 24, 2000 in Kigali, Rwanda, Andre Bumaya of the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, and Shi Guangsheng, the Chinese Minister of Commerce and Cooperation, signed a memorandum of understanding for a 20 million RMB grant.

This funding would go toward the establishment of an irrigation scheme in Bugeresa Province of Kigali Rural Prefecture, as well as a feasibility study for a rail link between Kigali and Isaka dry port in northern Tanzania (see Record ID#1843), and the construction of a road in Kigali (see Record ID#17238).

It is unclear how this funding was allocated between the three projects. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 9, 2007.

However, there is evidence that China was not a financier for the Bugeresa irrigation scheme, as the African Development Bank (ADB) does not list them as a co-financier in their report for the Bugesera Agricultural Development Support Project (PADAB), which was completed in 2013.