Rwanda: New Dams to Boost Water Reserves More Than Tenfold

What the report says

Rwanda is preparing two major dam projects that officials say will increase the country’s artificial water-storage capacity by more than tenfold, according to The New Times, which was distributed by AllAfrica. The planned Nyabarongo II and Muvumba dams are intended to help address recurring water shortages during the dry season by capturing more rainfall for later use.

The article says the projects would add about 858 million cubic metres of storage in total, compared with Rwanda’s current artificial storage capacity of roughly 83.54 million cubic metres. Nyabarongo II is expected to contribute about 803 million cubic metres, while Muvumba Dam would add another 55 million cubic metres. Completion of both projects is projected for 2028. Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva had earlier raised concern in Parliament about the effects of dry-season shortages on livelihoods, and the Rwanda Water Resources Board said expanding storage is central to long-term water security.

The broader plan goes beyond dams. The government is also promoting household and community rainwater harvesting, catchment restoration, groundwater assessment, and measures to reduce runoff, erosion and sedimentation. Officials say this combined approach is meant to improve water availability for households, agriculture, industry and energy, while also helping manage flooding and losses from seasonal rainfall patterns.

More generally, the report places the projects in the context of seasonal rainfall, uneven water distribution and declining river levels during dry periods, which have left existing storage insufficient.