Sunday, March 23, 2025, The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) senior management and staff joined Kigali residents in the Car Free Day event, a mass sports initiative that also served as a platform to raise awareness on catchments conservation. 

This engagement aligned with the theme of the 2025 World Water Day, “Catchment Preservation”, celebrated globally on March 22. 

As part of its Water Week activities, RWB conducted various awareness campaigns on catchment preservation, including participating in Car Free Day, which the institution designated as a “Walk for Water” event to mark World Water Day.

RWB Director General, Dr Emmanuel Rukundo, emphasized the urgent need for catchment protection to ensure long-term water availability. 

“Water is vital for our country’s socio-economic development, but its availability depends on how well we protect our catchments. Rapid urbanization, deforestation, and improper land use are straining our water resources, threatening both their quantity and quality. If we do not act now, future generations may face serious challenges, including water scarcity. The time to act is now,” he said. 

Direct General, Dr. Emmanuel Rukundo, stressed the the significance of catchments preservation. 

“One crucial aspect of protecting catchments is preventing erosion. To combat erosion, we implement activities such as constructing radical and progressive terraces, planting trees, and creating water channels to prevent flooding and landslides,” he explained.

He further emphasized the importance of water use regulation, urging responsible use. 

“We strongly encourage all water users to obtain water use permits. This enables us to monitor water consumption, ensuring sustainable management and conservation within catchment areas,” he added.