Karongi District is one of the seven Districts which comprise the Western Province and is the seat of the Provincial headquarters. It is situated at the centre of the Province; to its north is Rutsiro and Ngororero Districts ; to the South, it borders Nyamasheke and Nyamagabe Districts ; to the East are Districts of Muhanga and Ruhango and to the West it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The District has a population of 279.135 inhabitants of whom 122.811 are males and 156.324 are females, which makes the District population 78% masculine. The population is distributed into 59.450 homes translating into a family size of about five persons. The District has surface area of 993 km2 and is subdivided into 13 administrative Sectors, 88 Cells, 539 Villages(imidugudu). It has a high population density of about 281 inhabitants par km2.
The economy of the District is essentially based on agriculture and livestock farming which is generally quasi-traditional, impacting negatively on its economic development. The principal commercial crops are coffee, tea and macadamia. Silk farming has newly been introduced in the District. Food crops include beans, sorghum, soybeans, legumes, bananas, maize, potatoes, peas, wheat and fruit trees. Common animals include cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. Be-farming has made a remarkable comeback in the District largely due to the market at « Nyakariba » which convenes weekly and brings together traders from neighbouring Districts and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Commercial activities remain poorly developed despite its favourable geographical location which would otherwise promote enterprising commercial transactions. Major constraints hindering vigorous commercial activity include poor road network which are in a state of disrepair, few commercial products, lack of entrepreneurship acumen, lack of access to bank loans and generally poor purchasing power of the population. However, rigorous plans are underway to encourage the private Sector to take the initiative to develop the District
Tourism which is being progressively exploited by Rwandans and foreign investors remains a big potential tool for the development of the District. Unfortunately touristic sites have not been developed except a few on the shares of Lake Kivu. Numerous small islands in the Lake offering a breath-taking picturesque remain undeveloped.
Other sectors of the economy like crafts and cooperatives remain poorly developed and require considerable effort to invigorate.
The energy sector, generally one of the pre-requisites for economic development, remains poorly developed like else where in the country. The project to extract methane gas shall hopefully offer a lasting solution in the near future if it is successfully concluded. The launching day of this project took place in Karongi in August 2011 and activities have so far started and are progressing quickly. Environment protection has also been accelerated to counter problems linked to soil degradation. In the health domain, Karongi District currently has 3 District hospitals and 22 Health Centres. Health Posts are evenly scattered in 13 District Sectors such that each Sector has one Health Post. Kibuye hospital is going to be extended on an international standards and very soon construction activities will commence.
In the education sector, the District has just introduced pre-primary education in the rural villages even though they are still in an embryonic stage. The District has 67 pre-primary ( nursing ) schools, 125 primary schools which are generally old and urgently need renovation. There are 24 secondary schools, 32 9YBE Schools and a Kigali Health Institute branch at Nyamishaba. ETO Kibuye has been renewed and will serve as a High Education Institute from september 2011 with A1 Level.
Sports and cultural infrastructures remain largely insufficient. Most of the educated and non-educated youth remain idle due to lack of viable income generating activities in the District.
Like elsewhere in the country, the District administration is decentralized up to the local level. Democratically elected structures ensure there is functional management and administration at different levels and over 80% of population problems are satisfactory resolved at local level. “Gender” dimension is taken into consideration in all decision making organs. Most of the administrative organs have over 50% women in their hierarchy.
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