The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) has unveiled a plan to mobilise about Rwf1.5 billion to purchase specialised equipment capable of removing water hyacinth, invasive aquatic weeds from seven lakes in the Eastern Province.

Water hyacinth, locally known as amarebe, affects many lakes and rivers by rapidly covering water surfaces, blocking sunlight and reducing oxygen levels needed for aquatic life.

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The invasive weed can cause fish deaths, clog waterways used for transport, irrigation and hydropower generation, and increase water loss through evaporation.

The plan to address the threat was unveiled on Wednesday ahead of the inaugural Lake Victoria Basin Day on May 21.

The initiative of the East African Community seeks to strengthen conservation efforts and promote the sustainable use of the lake resources across the region.

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Rwanda is a member of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), a specialised EAC institution. Rwanda’s Coletha Ruhamya serves as the commission's deputy executive secretary.

Lake Victoria Day, which will now be observed every May 21, was approved last year by the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers on Lake Victoria Basin.

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The initiative aims to create a dedicated regional platform for promoting sustainable management of the lake and its basin.

The inaugural celebrations will also feature the launch of two major regional tools intended to strengthen water governance: the Lake Victoria Basin Water Information System (LVB-WIS) and the State of the Basin Report.

Remy Norbert Duhuze, the Manager of the Water Monitoring and Quality Control Division at the Rwanda Water Resources Board, explained that most lakes in Rwanda, except those located in the western part of the country that belong to the Congo Basin, are part of the Lake Victoria Basin. It is a sub-basin of the larger Nile Basin.

"These lakes, together with their river systems, ultimately drain into the Akagera River, the main tributary feeding Lake Victoria,” he said.

Duhuze added that most lakes in Eastern Province are interconnected through an extensive network of wetlands that are linked to Akagera River.

"For these reasons, all lakes within the Akagera catchment are of significant importance to the Lake Victoria Basin,” he said.

Seven lakes targeted

While appearing in the parliament last week, officials said the environmental protection project seeks Rwf1,485,000,000 to acquire a specialised machine for removing water hyacinth from Lake Cyohoha South, Lake Rweru, Lake Mugesera, Lake Ihema, Lake Birira, Lake Mihindi and Lake Sake.

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Authorities say the invasive weed continues to affect water quality and damage ecosystems in these lakes.

The project was considered in the 2026/27 national budget, and an inital Rwf153 million has been allocated.

Officials said advocacy efforts will continue to secure the remaining funds during the upcoming budget revision process.

Innovative responses

Despite its destructive effects, water hyacinth is increasingly being turned into useful products.

The plant can be used for biogas production, compost and organic fertiliser, animal feed, handicrafts and furniture, as well as wastewater treatment.

In Bugesera District, women-led cooperatives transform dried water hyacinth into baskets, mats, bags, bricks, furniture, sandals, hats, lampshades and decorative items sold both locally and abroad.

Perusi Mukamihigo, a member of the cooperative, said the initiative is helping communities generate income while contributing to environmental protection.

The government’s Supporting Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Protection for Pro-Poor Green Growth Programme also promotes the removal of water hyacinth from lakes such as Lake Ihema, which has significantly shrunk partly because of the weed’s spread. The removed weeds are then converted into organic fertiliser and biogas.

Threat to power generation

Authorities are also taking steps to protect electricity generation at the Rusumo Hydroelectric Power Plant by deploying floating booms on the Akagera River to stop the spread of water hyacinth.

The Akagera River, which flows through Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi and is regarded as one of the most distant sources of the Nile, transports an estimated 14.6 tonnes of water hyacinth daily.

Officials said the fast-growing aquatic plant has limited water intake at the Rusumo hydropower plant, cutting electricity production by about five megawatts per day.

According to the State of the Lake Victoria Basin Report 2025, which was launched during Lake Victoria basin day celebration, the basin supports the generation of 3,051 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across the region.

Executive Secretary of Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), Masinde Bwire said protecting Lake Victoria is both an environmental and socio-economic necessity because millions of people rely on it for fishing, transport, agriculture and livelihoods.

Lake Victoria supports more than 45 million people across five countries and plays a key role in food security, fisheries, transport and the blue economy.

However, it faces growing threats from pollution, climate change, declining fish stocks and rapid urbanisation.