Residents of Shingiro Sector in Musanze District have voiced their frustration over the poor working conditions at their sector office, saying the current facilities are too small, outdated, and no longer meet the standards of modern public service delivery.
Despite Musanze’s remarkable progress in development, citizens say they are still receiving services in a space that brings them shame and inconvenience. The sector operates in a tiny building, where up to three staff members share the same room, often handling confidential or unrelated services such as social welfare, taxation, and community classification (Ubudehe).
Resident Tumwubahe Josephine expressed her concern, saying: “When you come to the sector, you find many people sitting outside waiting to be served because the office space is too small. Sometimes, in one room, you find the officer in charge of Ubudehe, the one for taxes, and another for social affairs. It becomes impossible to discuss personal matters privately.”
Another resident, Ndahayo Jean Claude, said this situation causes embarrassment, especially for people who wish to discuss sensitive personal or family issues. “When you want to share a personal problem, you’re forced to speak in front of others. It’s humiliating, and some people even go back home without being helped because there’s no privacy or enough space to sit,” he said.
Mukandayisenga Beatrice added that overcrowding discourages some residents from visiting the sector altogether. “Sometimes, when you arrive, you find too many people both inside and outside. Employees are also squeezed into the same small office. This slows down service delivery and frustrates many residents who end up leaving unserved,” she said.
Residents are calling for urgent renovation and expansion of the Shingiro Sector office to improve working conditions and ensure efficient service delivery.
Responding to these complaints, Musanze District Mayor, Nsengimana Claudien, acknowledged the problem, saying that the district is aware and is already working with relevant authorities to address it. “This issue of small and outdated sector offices is not unique to Shingiro. There’s an ongoing plan to renovate and expand offices, including Shingiro’s. You may have noticed that the walls are made of stone, but the roofing sheets are old. We plan to replace them and expand the structure. We ask residents to be patient as a lasting solution is coming soon,” he assured.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Shingiro Sector has a population of 24,726 residents, as recorded in the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
With the population continuing to grow, residents say it’s crucial that administrative services are provided in spacious, secure, and modern facilities that respect the dignity and privacy of citizens.
