2nd February 2023: Members of Rwanda's Technical Committee on Dams convened for the first time to discuss the country's dam management and future plans.

This committee, which provides advice on the construction and use of dams, was established by Article 30, of Law N° 49/2018 of 13/08/2018 determining the use and management of water resources in Rwanda. 

Its first meeting was held on February 2, 2023, at the headquarters of the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), and was chaired by RWB Director General Dr. Emmanuel Rukundo.

"I would like to open this session by firstly reflecting on the Dam Technical Committee in Rwanda on the remarkable progress that the Government of Rwanda has made towards water resources development and management," remarked Dr. Rukundo. 

He noted that this critical meeting’s findings will help inform national-level decisions, as well as deliberations among dams' owners, developers, and managers about dam safety.

On the other hand, the Technical Committee's meeting was followed by a visit to the Nyabarongo II Multipurpose Dam construction site, which is located between Kamonyi District in Southern Province and Gakenke District in Northern Province, in accordance with its responsibilities to examine all dam construction projects.

Rwanda currently has almost forty-eight dams, which are regarded as water storage initiatives that contribute to the country's irrigation, water supply, flood management, hydropower generation, and livestock watering, among others.