The Governments of Rwanda and Burundi have agreed to work together for the development of the Bugesera Region. This region is located in the southern region of Rwanda and northern part of Burundi covering the sectors of  Bugesera, Gisagara, Ngoma and Huye districts in Rwanda and some communes of Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga provinces in Burundi with an estimated total population of 834, 113.

The area is characterized by high level of poverty due to reoccurrences of drought and famine apart from the fact that it is surrounded by two lakes and marshland providing potential for agriculture.

 

 

For a transboundary water resources development, the two Governments requested the support of NELSAP. A Project proposal was submitted to the African Water Facility (AWF) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for funding.

The overall objective of the Bugesera project is to reduce poverty and reverse environmental degradation in the Bugesera region, principally in the area surrounding the lakes Cyohoha and Rweru and the Akanyaru marshlands.

Specifically, the first phase of the project will focus on the  preparation of integrated management plans for the two lakes and the marshland based on comprehensive diagnostics of the water-bodies; ii). To build the capacity of stakeholders for better resource management through training and water resource monitoring.

The Akanyaru marshland is a vast drowned valley which forms a natural border between Rwanda and Burundi. Its dimensions range from 200 to 3000 m wide and 70 km long. Its surface area is estimated at about 200 km². The marshland is characterized by waters highly loaded with suspended matter due to mechanical erosion from river banks, deforestation and environmental degradation of the watersheds.

The lakes of Rweru and Cyohoha also located at the border between Rwanda and Burundi, cover respectively over 80 km² and 60 km². The lakes are fed by groundwater from the river Nyabarongo and constitute freshwater reserves which are easily accessible to local population and offer great potential for fish and aquaculture development.

The Project is expected to contribute to the improvement of living conditions of riparian communities through the social economic development, poverty reduction and reversal of environmental degradation.

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