Antoine Mukeshimana, 45, grew up on Sharita Island in Rwanda’s Bugesera District. Situated in Lake Rweru at the confluence of the Akagera River, Sharita Island has long been cut off from modern infrastructure, with no roads, schools, or healthcare facilities.
In a family of seven children, Antoine has spent his life navigating the island’s risks. These include threats from hippos, floods, and waterborne illnesses from using unfiltered lake water for drinking and cooking.
Ten years ago, Antoine’s life changed dramatically after a hippo attack left him with severe injuries and the eventual loss of his right leg. On March 19, 2014, he gathered papyrus with his neighbour, Athanase Biziyaremye, when they encountered a hippo.
The animal rammed Antoine’s boat, throwing him into the water. In the ensuing struggle, the hippo mauled his leg, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Hippos navigate the waters and shores of the Akagera River in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, close to Sharita Island. Photo: The Niles / Samuel Ngendahimana
“I tried to swim to shore, but the hippo was relentless. When I finally reached land, it attacked again, leaving me too weak to fight back,” he recalls.
His neighbour, though safe from the attack, stayed close to help, ultimately carrying Antoine to the mainland, where he was taken to Kigali’s University Central Teaching Hospital. There, doctors amputated his leg after a three-month recovery period.
Residents cross the channel from the market to their homes on Sharita Island, highlighting their reliance on the lake for transport. Photo: The Niles / Samuel Ngendahimana
In 2016, Antoine and his family became part of a relocation initiative to move residents from high-risk areas.
As one of the first families to resettle in Rweru Model Village, they were provided a fully equipped four-bedroom house, access to clean water, electricity, and a cow to help sustain their family.
“Living on the island was dangerous. Here, I finally feel secure, and my children can drink clean water and go to school,” Antoine says.
Antoine Mukeshimana feeds the cow he received from the government after his family’s relocation from the island. Photo: The Niles / Samuel Ngendahimana
In May 2024, Antoine revisited Sharita with the photographer to reflect on where he once called home. Over 70 percent of the island’s population has been relocated, but the risks remain for those who stay.
Antoine Mukeshimana poses with his children in front of their new home in Rweru Model Village. Photo: The Niles / Samuel Ngendahimana
Antoine’s journey from Sharita to Rweru Model Village represents part of Rwanda’s broader effort to support residents in high-risk zones. Each year, on Liberation Day, Rwanda inaugurates new model villages across the country, aiming to improve the lives of vulnerable communities.
