Deo Benimana recalls the deadly floods and landslides of May 2023, when Sebeya River in Rubavu District burst its banks, causing widespread damages in his community. At the time, the floods destroyed Benimana's business in the Mahoko trading area, causing losses estimated at Rwf 12 million. The disasters killed 135 people and displaced over 20,000 thousands in northwestern Rwanda. ALSO READ: Efforts to tame deadly Sebeya floods gain momentum “I lost my entire shop after the floods swept everything away,” Benimana, 65, recalled in an interview with The New Times. “Homes, commercial houses collapsed and properties were destroyed. We witnessed a lot of damage we had never seen before from the Sebeya flooding.” Today, Benimana, 65, is one of the residents living near Sebeya River in Rubavu District who have finally been able to rebuild their livelihoods thanks to preventive measures implemented in the aftermath of the deadly floods and landslides. Benimana has since begun rebuilding his life after shifting to carpentry. Businesses Recovery Today, businesses around the river have resumed operations, the recovery that locals attribute to major flood control infrastructure constructed along the river. These include Sebeya Retention Dam, Bukeri Diversion Channel, Sebeya Lateral Dyke, Sebeya Flood Control Retaining Wall, and upgraded bridges designed to safely convey floodwater. While many locals like William Ntirenganya and Alice Akingeneye, cannot forget the terrifying moments during the floods, they say much has been done to prevent similar disasters. “Good bridges and retaining walls were constructed to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.”Akingeneye, a businesswoman operating in Mahoko said. Ntirenganya emphasizeed that the new infrastructure has restored hope as the community. “We suffered huge losses—commercial houses and businesses were destroyed—but Mahoko is recovering and rebuilding,” he said. He noted the need for tree planting and proper settlement planning efforts in the Sebeya catchment area. Improved River Management The Water Resources Board (RWB) highlights that the situation along the Sebeya River has significantly improved more than two years after the devastating floods affected Rubavu District. “The river is currently well regulated and largely contained within its designated channel under normal and moderate rainfall conditions,” Davis Bugingo, the Flood Management and Water Storage Development Division Manager at RWB, told The New Times. “Today, communities living along Sebeya River are safer and have largely resumed normal socio-economic activities. Livelihoods of the community have been restored, and flood-related disruptions have been significantly reduced.” Bugingo further noted that while vigilance is still necessary during extreme weather events, “residents no longer live in constant fear of flooding.” Beyond infrastructure development, he said the RWB has implemented continuous monitoring, and maintenance since 2023, including regular desilting of river channels, sediment traps, and inlet structures; debris removal; and timely repairs of flood control systems. Persistent Challenges Bugingo noted that, despite the progress made, significant challenges remain where high sediment yields from upstream catchment continue to accelerate river sedimentation, necessitating frequent maintenance. According to him, climate change has placed added pressure on existing flood control measures. He stressed that addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration among central and local government institutions, technical agencies, development partners, along with local communities particularly in integrated catchment management, land-use planning, and enforcement of river buffer zone regulations. ALSO READ: Grassroots leaders seek early warning systems for disaster management Soil erosion control, regulation of mining and quarry activities, reforestation, and sustainable land-use practices are among RWB’s recommendations to further reduce flood risks as well as enhancing long-term resilience for communities along Sebeya River. “Communities and authorities should actively safeguard these structures, prevent any form of damage or misuse, and support routine maintenance efforts to ensure their long-term functionality and sustainability,” Bugingo said.
