The Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) has put in place stringent measures to protect streams and rivers. They include withdrawing mining licences from companies whose activities affect the natural flow of water.

The remarks were made on Thursday in Nyanza District by the minister, Dr. Vincent Biruta, during a meeting with leaders of the Southern Province.

The meeting was called to discuss effective approaches to protect the environment, especially Nyabarongo River.

"The minerals provide revenue, but their extraction should not be at the expense of the environment,” the minister said.

He added that mining companies should have rehabilitation plans for the extraction area, including tree nurseries. 

"If a company fails to meet the requirements to preserve the environment, it should have its licence withdrawn,” Biruta noted.

Biruta was responding to issues raised by local leaders who said some companies had destroyed the environment in search of minerals.

Huye District mayor Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka said some mining firms with no technological capacities to identify areas with minerals resorted to disorderly prospecting, adding that the district had met them several times to address the issue, but they had failed to implement recommendations agreed upon.

"The district should give them a last warning, if they persist, then they should be sued to repair the damage,” Biruta noted.

Nyamagabe mayor Philbert Mugisha said the district had planted trees on over 95 kilometres along both banks of Rukarara River, adding that this year, the district would plant 1.23 million trees on 4,000 hactares.