Residents around River Sebeya and other major water catchment areas across the country can breathe a sigh of relief after the Government unveiled a four-year-project meant to prevent disasters.

Dubbed ‘Landscape Restoration and Integrated Water Resources Management in Sebeya and other Catchments’, the Rwf22 billion initiative was launched Thursday in Rubavu District.

The project will be implemented by Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA) in collaboration with International Union of Conservation of nature (IUCN), Netherland Development Organization (SNV), and Action for the Protection of the Environment and Promotion of the Agricultural Sector (APEFA), with funding from the Dutch Embassy in Kigali.

River Sebeya bursts its banks and destroy public and private properties including homes and crops. The launched project is meant to sustainabaly preserve the river. Régis Umurengezi

The multi-billion project was initiated in a bid to improve livelihoods and conservation in Sebeya and other catchment areas for improved natural resources management, according to officials.

Sebeya catchment spans four districts (Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero) covering some 336 square kilometres. The river has history of bursts its banks during rainy seasons destroying propery.

Prime Ngabonziza, the director-general of RWFA, blamed disasters caused by River Sebeya on malpractices such as poor agricultural practices, deforestation, and unsustainable mining methods, among others.

The Environment Minister Vincent Biruta (R), the Dutch ambassador to Rwanda Fréderique de Man and other officials during a community work to dig trenches at Rusongati Mountain from Rubavu District. Régis Umurengezi

"The problem that this catchment has is all about erosion caused by human activity, and when it rains it triggers soil erosion and floods,” he said.

"All the planned activities under this project are meant to sustainably resolve problems that affect residents; we will provide guidance and technical assistance whenever necessary,” Ngabonziza noted.

He later told The New Times that a total of Rwf15 billion will be given to the residents for various interventions activities such as creating dams, digging trenches and afforestation, among others.

Fréderique de Man, the Dutch ambassador to Rwanda addresses the media in Rubavu District during the project launch. Régis Umurengezi

"About 80 per cent of the project cost will be used to improve the beneficiaries’ welfare and their agricultural produce. All activities will be done in the interest of protecting Sebeya and other needy catchments,” said Ngabonziza

Besides Sebeya, other catchments like Nyabarongo, Nyabugogo and Muvumba will also be scaled catered for under the project.

It will, among other activities, focus on developing innovative financing mechanisms and value chains for improved livelihoods through ecological and economic benefits and implement knowledge management systems for landscape restoration and integrated water resources management, according to officials

Fréderique de Man, the Dutch Ambassador to Rwanda, revealed that her government availed funds to support efforts to preserve catchments in Rwanda because they wanted to share their own experience on how her country on successfully recovered from rain-related calamities.

"We are supporting this project because there is an enormous need for it, there is an enormous work that needs to be done and also because we think that we, in The Netherlands, know a lot about water.

"That doesn’t mean we are going to tell Rwanda what to do, but we can share our experiences…we think we can have a positive role here in Rwanda,” she told the media.

The envoy pledged that her country will also provide the Government with Rwanda with €6 million to preserve other catchment areas.

Environment minister Dr Vincent Biruta noted that the country expects a lot from the project as it will put to end tragedies associated with catchments.

He called on the residents as well as local officials to play their role by owning the project activities during and after implementation so as to ensure their sustainability.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com