In Kigali City, restoration and rehabilitation work has begun on five severely degraded wetlands, as part of a broader effort to protect the environment and address recurring flooding that has damaged homes and infrastructure. The project, launched in 2021, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
The wetlands under restoration include the Gikondo wetland, Rwampara (which hosts a stream linking Kicukiro and Nyarugenge), Nyabugogo, UTEXRWA, and another section of Rwampara. Together, these wetlands cover an area of approximately 500 hectares, with Gikondo being the largest at 162 hectares.
Once fully rehabilitated, the wetlands will feature clean, ecologically balanced environments, with water flowing in a way that does not threaten people or infrastructure. The areas will be replanted with vegetation such as reeds, which naturally filter water before it flows into newly constructed retention ponds.
Work is also underway to build pedestrian walkways, cycling paths, and recreational areas, including playgrounds, seating spaces, and natural viewing zones that showcase the beauty of the wetlands.
These initiatives are being implemented in partnership between REMA (Rwanda Environment Management Authority) and the City of Kigali. The primary goals are to improve water quality, safeguard human life, promote eco-tourism, and provide Kigali residents with clean, accessible spaces for physical activity and leisure.
Severe flooding issues have historically affected areas like Kanogo, Poids Lourds, Nyabugogo, and UTEXRWA, where heavy rains have destroyed roads and commercial structures. These challenges are now being addressed through the reconstruction of drainage systems, the addition of stormwater channels, and the construction of footbridges to aid pedestrian movement across formerly hazardous zones.
In the Rwampara wetland, where runoff from the Rebero and Nyamirambo hills used to pour into a destructive river channel, 18 meters of the streambed have already been rehabilitated, with 8 meters remaining. Local residents report that in previous years, 2 to 3 people would lose their lives annually due to floodwaters. Construction work is now ongoing to ensure the water flows at a slower, safer pace.
