Bugesera rolls out drone program to fight malaria #rwanda #RwOT

The program, launched on August 29, 2025, in Ruhuha Sector, builds on an approach first piloted in Kigali in 2020. Drones will be deployed to spray insecticides in rice paddies and swampy areas, which are key mosquito breeding sites.

Bugesera ranks third in malaria cases nationally, with 6,386 recorded recently, after Gasabo and Kicukiro districts. Nationwide, more than 90,000 malaria cases were reported in July 2025 alone, and RBC data shows 657,365 cases between 2024 and February 2025.

Residents say they expect drones to help where traditional measures have fallen short.

'Malaria had weakened us greatly since we live near swamps where mosquitoes breed. We believe this new method will help us because it complements existing prevention measures,' said Innocent Harerimana, a Ruhuha resident.

Bugesera Mayor Richard Mutabazi noted that while prevention methods such as indoor spraying have been in place, drones will directly target mosquito breeding grounds.

'The difference is that instead of only killing mosquitoes in houses, we can now act earlier by spraying swamps where they originate,' he said.

Dr. Emmanuel Hakizimana, the Director of Vector Control at RBC, described the initiative as a milestone in long-standing efforts to curb malaria in Ruhuha.

He explained that drones can reach areas previously inaccessible to field sprayers, enabling more effective coverage in both rainy and dry seasons.

Paul Kamali Karenzi, head of the malaria control program at Charis UAS, said the project will be implemented in four sectors of Bugesera District.

'This malaria control project will be carried out in four sectors of Bugesera, starting in Ruhuha, where we will spray more than 93 hectares of rice-growing swamps,' he said.

He added that drones will address many challenges, especially reaching areas inaccessible to people, and will also save time. What would normally take a person an entire day to spray can now be done by a drone in just ten minutes.

According to RBC, from 2024 to February 2025, Rwanda recorded 657,365 malaria cases nationwide.

Drones deployed in Bugesera to fight malaria.

Pesticide preparation ahead of drone spraying in the swamp.

Sylvia Heer, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy, commended Rwanda's progress in fighting malaria through technology.

Dr. Emmanuel Hakizimana, the Director of Vector Control at the Rwanda Biomedical Center, said that Ruhuha Sector has long received special attention in fighting malaria.

Bugesera Mayor Richard Mutabazi noted that while prevention methods such as indoor spraying have been in place, drones will directly target mosquito breeding grounds.

Ruhuha Sector Executive Secretary Marthe Uwamugira said the drones will play a major role in eradicating malaria, which has been widespread in the sector due to rice-growing swamps.

Charis UAS COO Teddy Segore said drones will help eradicate malaria in Bugesera.

The program, launched on August 29, 2025, in Ruhuha Sector, builds on an approach first piloted in Kigali in 2020.

IGIHE

Source : https://en.igihe.com/science-technology/article/bugesera-rolls-out-drone-program-to-fight-malaria