Nyanza

Nyanza district of Southern province was the first development area to be opened by Actionaid Rwanda in 2005, focusing mainly on rehabilitation and construction of houses, schools and provision of clean water.

Nyanza district is located in the Northern part of the province which is found 96 kms to the North of Kigali the capital.

The Town of Nyanza, current headquarters of the Southern Province, was up to 1959 the capital of the Monarchy of Rwanda. The Town was created in 1898 by King YUHI IV MUSINGA. Nyanza District still preserves some traces of its glorious past: a lot of Christian missions, primary and secondary schools, historical cradle of Rwanda in the form of a museum of pre-colonial history of Rwanda and museum of arts (District monograph, April 2007)

Nyanza District is one of the eight Districts which constitute the Southern Province and is about 96kilometres from Kigali capital. It is subdivided into ten Sectors that are; Cyabakamyi, Nyagisozi, Rwabicuma, Busesamana, Mukingo, Kigoma, Muyira, Ntyazo, Kibirizi and Busoro. Nyanza district is also made up of 51 Cells and 420 villages (Imidugudu). It has a surface area of 671,2 km2, and an estimated population of 225 209 people (according to the general population census carried out in 2002 ). According to the most recent data from District Sectors, the District population is currently estimated at 229,439 people, implicitly the population density is 342 people par km2. Consequently the current rate of population growth of 2% per year is estimated to bring the population of the District to about 233,669 people by the year 2012. Women represent about 54.6% of the total population and more than 60% of the youth.

One of the effects of the 1994 genocide in the district was the distortion of the population composition and the traditional household leadership. About 51% of the families are headed by men, 47% headed by widows and 2% are homeless families. More than 90% of the District population is engaged in agricultural activities. The main crops are coffee, maize, rice, beans and cassava. Land is generally fertile but productivity has declined due to excessive exploitation and irregular rainfall. The District has a good number of swamps which have the potential to improve productivity and ensure food security if properly exploited.  Even though the climate is favorable to livestock farming in general, this sector remains poorly developed due to the predominance of indigenous breeds which give poor yields. However the District has a few improved farms with exotic dairy cows. The industrial sector is still in infancy. In fact there is only one agro-processing factory Nyabisindu Dairy Industry.

Craftsmanship is equally poorly developed and involves rudimentary production technology. Those involved in this sector are engaged in carpentry, basket weaving, tailoring etc.  The mining sector equally poorly developed. There are some mineral resources such as (tin, Colombo and tantalite at Nyagisozi) sand, clay, and laterite. The commercial sector consists of very varied activities. The District has some dynamic markets (Nyanza, Ntyazo, Busoro and Rurangazi).