The City of Kigali and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) have resumed operations to clamp down on illegal activities on wetlands.

Last year, people carrying out illegal activities on wetlands were directed to relocate their businesses by January 27, 2019.

The directive comes in the midst of continued flooding in the city during the rainy season and is part of the efforts by the Government to protect the environment as well as human life.

The City of Kigali Mayor, Marie-Chantal Rwakazina, said the deadline had been extended for at least one extra week.

The environmental watchdogs warned that whoever does not adhere to the directive will be punished according to the law, including forcing them to foot the bill for their relocation expenses.

Officials  scrutinise some documents for a business located in a wetland yesterday. Sam Ngendahimana.

City wetlands are exposed to over 2,000 illegal activities, of which 1,600 involve construction activities, according to official figures.

Globally, more than 64 per cent of the wetlands have been lost since 1900 in Rwanda, while 50 per cent of the wetlands in the City of Kigali have been encroached on.

"There are some (encroachers) who will be compensated and others who will relocate on their own cost according to the law,” the mayor said.

Encroachment on wetlands impedes water penetration and filtration, which has been blamed for the cause of persistent flooding in the city during the rainy season.

Eng. Coletha Ruhamya, the Director General of REMA, said that some wetlands in the country still face a lot of pressure largely stemming from human activity such as poor agricultural practices, extraction of sand, and fabrication of construction bricks.

Other illegal activities established in wetlands, she said, include farms construction of industries, garages and warehouses among others.

For others, wetlands are considered as dumping sites for various unused materials and wastes, which have severe impact on the environment.

"Well managed wetlands ensure that communities are resilient to climate change and disaster risks. I, therefore, call upon everyone to contribute and play a role in preserving and protecting our wetlands for the common benefit of everyone,” she said.

Rwanda has 935 marshlands covering 10.6 per cent of the country’s surface area as per the 2017 Prime Minister’s Order, which lists the number of swamps, their characteristics and boundaries and determining modalities of their use, development and management.

Some locals who have been issued with notice to relocate or change the nature of their activities on the wetlands said they were in process of complying with the directives.

 "We have been tasked to stop operations because this is a wetland. We were asked to turn the business into eco-tourism and recreational park. We are going to Rwanda Development Board and REMA to fast-track our new project,” said Alex Bayingana, the proprietor of a restaurant and bar business in Rugende wetland.

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