A recent study has evidenced that at 47.8 per cent household waste is the leading cause of pollution in Nyabarongo River.

The study showed that household waste mainly composed of rubbish, garbage and sewage enter Nyabarongo River through the ravine Nyabugogo swamp that connects to it. . 

Further, the study also established that the absence of soil erosion control accounts for 24.4 per cent of the factors that pollute the river. 

At a rate of 10 per cent, industrial waste is ranked 3rd in polluting Nyabugogo swamp

The industrial effluents and by-products are discharged in the water bodies by a number of industries in the Kigali City wetland system including a textile industry, the iron industry which manufactures iron sheets, paint factories and the Kabuye sugar factory among others, the report noted.

High levels of zinc, researchers say, were detected in the river—which can potentially cause a wide range of medical problems to the human body including birth defects, loss of smell and organ damage.

The quality of Nyabarongo River was also found to be deteriorating due to washing of minerals, mining activities in rivers that feed it, dumping mineral waste left-over soil and discharging wastewater into the river.

Apart from the poisonous chemicals, the report shows, mining companies are also aiding the massive loss of topsoil which is channelled into Nyabarongo River, which is partly why the river has a distinct brown colour.

Car garages waste and waste from livestock are among the sources of pollution in the water body.

The contamination has also endangered the biodiversity of the river, killing birds, fish, and plants

The above challenge will only grow bigger with a growing toll on the environment and ecosystem if not adequately checked.

However, beyond enforcement, sensitization of the public of the threat some of their activities pose to the river and the environment. Increased awareness will see members of the community take more initiative to protect the endangered river.