The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) is set to embark on works to construct dams in Rubavu District that will help curtail severe floods in Western Province caused by the Sebeya river.

Prime Ngabonziza, the Director General of RWB notes that the move will contribute to ending the river floods that have been affecting the districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero.

He made these remarks during the media tour organized by RWB to provide insights in Landscape Restoration & Integrated Water Resources Management Department in Sebeya & other Catchments Project

“Starting August this year, engineers are going to embark on construction works of the dams to curb floods in this area.”

“In our project that will last three years, we shall also build terraces and plant agro-forestry on the river catchments,” he notes.

Ngabonziza explains that there are three types of dams which will reduce the floods speed while their cost will be almost a half of the Rwf 22bn budget earmarked for the whole project.

“Some of these dams will be constructed around Nyundo Arts School and Mahoko market that are prone to the river floods.” He explains.

RWB has started establishing telemetry stations which plan for flood resilient infrastructure and also monitor the trends or peak flow of rivers, drainages and other flood hotspots as they act as warning systems that minimize the likely impacts of floods.

The Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) in collaboration with IUCN and SNV are implementing the embedding Integrated Water Resources Management project with funding support from the Dutch Embassy in Rwanda across the four districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero so as to address Sebeya calamities.