Thousands of people in Rubavu & Nyabihu Districts, Western Province, for the past years, have been massively overwhelmed by Sebeya River floods.

However, communities who used to be ever affected by those floods disclose that they have reassured of relief following the conservation of Sebeya catchment under the project ‘ Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Project and Embedding Water Management in Rwanda (SLRPP & EWMR).’

Colette Nyirakadari, a resident of Bigogwe Sector, Nyabihu District testifies that, for instance, during the heavy rains the river overflow could always lead to the destruction of the crops.

“Sebeya River took away our families’ crops and devastated our farms,”

“We have embraced the smart techniques set to preserve the river such as agroforestry, radical terraces, climate smart agriculture and water tanks. They have remarkably reduced the surface runoff overflow which could always cause soil erosion. I can’t tell how happy we are now,” says Nyirakadari.

For Damarisa Feza, who resides in Kanama Sector, Rubavu District, the project has been a viable solution to combat floods as the most hit sectors of Rugerero, Kanama and Nyundo are being protected with gabion walls along the river after several heavy downpours that saw the river banks burst.

The mother of three ensures that residents have revealed the contribution of the project to their sustainable development as it offered job opportunities to different families who also managed to pay health insurance contributions and joined the long term saving scheme ‘Ejo Heza.’

The project Steering Committee in Nyabihu and Rubavu Districts

The two teams of ‘SLRPP & EWMR’ Steering Committee have visited 15 hectares of radical terraces constructed with agroforestry trees, embankments and waterways protected with grasses and check dams Nyabishunguru site located in Nyabihu District.

The project here consists of different sustainable development initiatives including cows, improved cooking stoves, rainwater harvest and storage supporting measures such as plastic tanks distributed to different households.

Meanwhile, the three radical terraces’ sites visited in Rubavu District are Mutanda with 82.05 hectares, Gahunga with 26.52 hectares and Mariba with 5.6 hectares where 90% of the terraces are protected with Kikuyu grass, agroforestry trees and shrubs.

Sebeya catchment spans throughout four districts of Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero and Rutsiro.

‘SLRPP & EWMR’ is implemented by Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) in partnership with International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Netherlands Development Organizations , together with, with funding from the Dutch Embassy in Kigali.

Authorities upbeat

The Steering Committee of ‘ Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Project and Embedding Water Management in Rwanda (SLRPP & EWMR) has gathered in the meeting, held in Rubavu District, Serena Hotel, to discuss and assess the progress of the project implementation in all aspects including bio-physical, socio-economic and supporting measures.

The committee has also conducted the field visit in Nyabihu and Rubavu Districts to ensure a good understanding of the beneficiaries’ roles in sustainable management of the project activities and how far is the implementation.

According to the assessment of the joint team on the project implementation, the initiative has started bearing fruits to the community.

Timmo Gaasbeek, the Water Expert at the Dutch Embassy in Kigali, assuredly notes that it started improving citizens’ livelihoods.

“The participatory village and community ownership approach has fast-tracked the project implementation. The achievements have played a pivotal role in transforming citizens’ lives. There is a hope to achieve more ahead,” he notes.

Prime Ngabonziza, the Director General of Rwanda Water Resources Board, explains that the mult-billion initiative is meant to solve problems, caused by Sebeya River flooding, that affect residents.

“ There is an enormous need to end woes caused by the river through various activities implemented under this project such as afforestation, dams’ creation, trenches’ digging, promotion of agroforestry, climate, small gullies rehabilitation, radical terraces, among others,” he explains.

He adds that all activities are being done in the interest of protecting Sebeya and other needy catchments where the big percentage of the project cost will be used to improve the beneficiaries’ welfare and their agriculture production.