UMUSHYIKIRANO 2023: RUBAVU RESIDENT ‘MUNGAMURINDE’ COMMENDS HIS EXCELLENCY KAGAME FOR SEBEYA PROJECT IMPACTS
28th February 2023: Mungamurinde Jeanne d’Arc, a resident of Rubavu District in the Western Province of Rwanda has expressed special gratitude to the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame for the positive impacts brought by the Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Project (SLLPP) – Embedding Integrated Water Resources Management Programme (EWRM).
The project is implemented by the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) in partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) , Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), and Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative (RWARRI) through community approach across Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero Districts in Western Province. It was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Currently, various activities are in place to combat floods as well as soil erosion. They include flood mitigation structures such as retaining walls, diversion channels, dykes, terraces, agroforestry, afforestation and supporting measures such as cows, small livestock, rainwater harvesting, cooking stoves to households and schools, kitchen gardens, and Community Environment Conservation Fund (CECF) through Village Saving and Loan Associations.
In her tribute to President Kagame, Mungamurinde who spoke at Umushyikirano 2023 today from Rubavu District said “I am a resident of Nyundo sector, one of the sectors that have been facing the flooding problems caused by the Sebeya river.”
“During the rainy season, Sebeya would flood, destroy people’s houses, wash away their crops, kill domestic animals, and kill people. The Overflowing of the river also damaged infrastructure, business houses, schools, clinics, the Nyundo Genocide Memorial, among others,”
Ms. Mungamurinde reminded “When you visited our Rubavu District, Your Excellency President of the Republic, and saw the seriousness of the problem, you promised us a lasting solution.”
“Through the Sebeya Project, water channels have been constructed, radical terraces have been built, trees have been planted along the banks of the Sebeya River to preserve the soil and the river, and walls have been raised to prevent water from overflowing into the community’s crops.”
“We, the residents of the Sebeya Catchment and all others affected by the river flooding, are safe, we are happy, we thank you and we promise to continue to maintain all the activities and works that have been done to avoid the danger from the river Sebeya,” she concluded.
Ends,