Construction of two dams around Sebeya River is set to start as authorities attempt to find a long-term solution to sustained flooding, which has continued to disrupt livelihoods and businesses in the western province.

This was disclosed to The New Times by Prime Ngabonziza, the Director-General of Rwanda Water Resources Board.

The promise follows the Tuesday, February 9, flooding of Sebeya River, which was caused by heavy rains.

Although no injuries and deaths have been recorded so far, the floods, which also entered Nyundo Secondary School and Petit Séminaire de Nyundo, have disrupted classes but didn’t damage any part of it, paralysed business activity and human movement.

Evacuation of the affected residents is underway, authorities said without disclosing the number of people who were affected as well as the extent of the damage that was caused by the floods.

Now, the government says that it has earmarked Rwf7.5 billion for the construction of dams to contain flooding.

"Construction of the first big dam is starting as engineers are already at the site and will be completed in April this year,” said Ngabonziza.

The construction of the second small dike as well as the establishment of water channels will start in March this year, he added.

Ngabonziza said that the floods have their sources from Sebeya River catchments in the districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero.

He added that check dams in constructed terraces will also reduce soil erosion and floods on the river.

18,000 ha under risk of soil erosion

For the past twenty years, thousands of people in Rubavu District have been displaced and massively overwhelmed by Sebeya River floods, a result of poor agriculture practices, deforestation and unsustainable mining practices upstream among others.

Sebeya River is a major source of water for irrigation, drinking and hydro-electric power generation. However, its overflow has had undesired effects on hydropower and water treatment plants.

According to the Sebeya Catchment Management Plan, which runs from 2018 to 2024, landscape restoration is required on about 18,000 hectares that are under the risk of soil erosion on Sebeya River catchment to reduce the economic losses for off-farm businesses surrounding the river.

 The soil loss quantification revealed that about 8,000 hectares are under high risk, about 6, 000 hectares under very high risk while around 4, 000 hectares are under extremely high risk of soil erosion.

Under the Rwf22 billion project, the land is being restored through terracing, forestry and agroforestry among others and 70 percent has been restored

"By 2022  , the project will have been completed and we hope that floods caused by the Sebeya River will have been solved,” Ngabonziza said.