26th October 2023: The Mayor of Nyagatare District, Stephen Gasana, expressed his confidence in the Muvumva Multipurpose Dam as a sustainable solution to increasing agricultural productivity.

He made these remarks during the official launch of the dam in Nyagatare District, which was attended by Nsabimana Evariste, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Water Resources Board, as well as district officials and other stakeholders.

Mayor Stephen Gasana stated that they anticipate a boost in agricultural productivity thanks to the irrigation scheme facilitated by the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam.

"Currently, we cultivate on 40,000 hectares per season. Our productivity was unpredictable due to insufficient water, but this infrastructure gives us assurance that things are about to change." He mentioned.

Additionally, Mayor Stephen sees this dam as a solution for providing water to livestock in Nyagatare District, which often faces shortages, particularly during the dry season.

Evariste Nsabimana, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Water Resources Board, assured all participants that by the end of the project, Nyagatare District would experience significant growth in both agriculture and livestock.

"I believe that within the next three years, this project will have made substantial contributions to improving water supply and agricultural productivity. I urge you to collaborate with us to ensure the success of this project." He stated

The dam will have a height of 39 meters and a storage capacity of 55 million cubic meters. It is also equipped to generate 1MW of hydropower.

Furthermore, it is designed to cater to various needs, including domestic water supply, irrigation for a net command area of 9,640 hectares encompassing Tabagwe, Gatunda, Karama, Rukomo, Nyagatare, Rwempasha, Musheri, and Rwimiyaga sectors. Additionally, it will serve for livestock watering and flood control.

This will be implemented through the Muvumba Multipurpose Water Resources Development Program (MMWRDP), funded by African Development Fund in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.