22th July 2022: The local government and private sector staff from seven districts in Western Province have been trained on water use permits and catchments committees' roles. 

The three-day training, from July, 20^th to 22^nd 2022, was organized by RWB in partnership with GIZ Rwanda via Nexus Platform and ABAKIR, while the concerned districts were Karongi, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyamasheke, Rusizi, Ngororero and Nyabihu.

It was intended to enhance the effectiveness of collaboration between RWB and the districts that are primarily adjacent to Kivu lake, and also located in the Kivu and Rusizi catchments.

Furthermore, as explained Vital Munyandida, RWB’s Water Use Permits Division Manager, it was an opportunity to address water allocation, conflict resolutions, effective water resources management planning as well as mobilizing different water users to apply for water use permits as stipulated by the law.

“The hydrological management of Kivu Lake and Rusizi River is critical to the overall protection and management of the basin. Thus, the involvement of all partners is very crucial, especially water users, who play a significant role in ensuring a fair use and equitable sharing of the water resources through the water use permitting processes,” he said.

The water Law n°49/2018 of 13/08/2018 Determining the Use and Management of Water Resources in Rwanda, gives the Rwanda Water Resources Board the tools to gather the information needed for the optimal management of our water resources.

On the other hand, Pamela Ruzigana, RWB’s Catchments Restoration and Erosion Control’s Division Manager, stated that the training was a platform to clearly explain the rationale, responsibilities, and composition of the water resources management committee at the catchment level in preparation for their effective implementation.

The composition, responsibilities, organization, and functioning of the water resources management committee at the catchment level are determined by the Ministerial Order Nº 002/MoE/22 of 31/01/2022 governing the water resources management committee at the catchment level and the technical committee on dams.

The same water law determining the use and management of water resources in Rwanda has established a water resources management committee at the catchment level referred to as “Catchment Committee.”

Lake Kivu and Rusizi river, located in Kivu and Rusizi catchments, are part of the bigger transboundary Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin shared by the three countries such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.