An irrigation project that will use water from the Muvumba River is set to mobilise $227.36 million (Rwf334 billion) to promote climate-resilient agriculture on more than 10,000 hectares in Nyagatare District between 2026 and 2031. The irrigation project is part of the Muvumba Multi-Purpose Water Resource Development Programme, which comprises projects for irrigation, domestic and livestock water supply, and hydropower generation. Construction of the irrigation infrastructure was launched on August 26 as the technical team discussed procurement procedures for the project. The development follows progress on the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam, which is currently about 65 per cent complete, according to the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB). ALSO READ: Muvumba dam cannot afford further delays The dam, which has a capacity of 55 million cubic metres of water, was initially financed with €121.5 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Bank later provided an additional €45.4 million, equivalent to 37.4 per cent of the original financing. Davis Bugingo, the Flood Management and Water Storage Division Manager at RWB, said $67.4 million of the $227.36 million required for irrigation has so far been secured from the AfDB. “The $67.4 million secured so far will only irrigate 3,000 hectares, representing 32 per cent of the 10,206-hectare gross area,” he said. The planned irrigation area includes 8,830 hectares of hillside irrigation using centre pivots and sprinklers, as well as 810 hectares of paddy irrigation. The infrastructure will include 200 kilometres of main canals and distribution networks, 225 livestock watering troughs and 30 post-harvest facilities, Bugingo said. The first phase will cover 3,073 hectares, representing about 32 per cent of the total area. It will comprise 2,263 hectares of hillside irrigation using centre pivots and sprinklers, 810 hectares of paddy irrigation, 71.7 kilometres of main canals, 75 livestock watering troughs and 10 post-harvest facilities. ALSO READ: Muvumba multipurpose dam gets Rwf80bn more funding “The irrigation programme implementation period runs from 2026 to 2031,” Bugingo said. Florence Uwamahoro, the Acting Director General of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), said the project could help the country achieve its national target of irrigating more than 130,000 hectares by 2030. “We see the irrigation project as a game changer and a highly anticipated project, especially at a time when we are facing the challenges of climate change. “Our request is that we make a joint and concerted effort to ensure that we adhere to the timelines and shorten the implementation period as much as possible. This will ensure that the project is materialised, operationalised and benefits the farmers on the ground,” she said. ALSO READ: Major multipurpose dams set to ease water shortages by 2030 The programme is expected to increase agricultural productivity and improve food and nutritional security among beneficiaries in the project area. Approved in 2020, the programme is expected to make approximately 26,000 people food secure and create about 4,700 direct jobs. Of these, 75 per cent are expected to go to men and 25 per cent to women, while 60 per cent will be for young people. Commitment to deadlines The Muvumba Multipurpose Dam is about 65 per cent complete, said Richard Nyirishema, Executive Chairperson of RWB. He said lessons from delays experienced during the dam's implementation should be applied to the irrigation phase. “While discussing all these technical issues, we also need to learn from what we experienced during the implementation and construction of the dam. We had a lot of back-and-forth between the Bank, the Government and the district. I think we have enough experience to help us implement this second phase, which is related to irrigation, more effectively,” he said. Nyirishema said the funding secured for irrigation so far covers about one-third of the potential irrigation area. “We have this first phase funded by the AfDB, which will cover one-third of the potential irrigation area. That is what we are launching today, with 3,000 hectares out of the 10,000 hectares expected. “We will continue to mobilise more resources to reach the over $200 million needed, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. More funds will be mobilised for the domestic and livestock water-use project in partnership with MININFRA and WASAC in 2027/28,” he said. He said a design-and-build approach, in which the contractor is responsible for both designing and constructing the project, will be used to speed up implementation. “We need to save time because the dam is about to be completed. We are expecting to complete its construction next year, with the filling of the dam expected by 2028. “Normally, we are supposed to have the downstream investment ready to be connected to the dam by 2028. But we all know that, because of delays in securing the funding, we are only starting now. “We should therefore make sure that the time between the completion and filling of the dam and the completion of the first phase of irrigation is as short as possible,” he said. Nyirishema reiterated that delays could affect the project's ability to ensure that water reaches communities through irrigation and water supply. Project developers are implementing a catch-up plan to close the gap this year by increasing working hours, the number of workers and the amount of equipment on site. Expropriation challenges Nyirishema said funds for expropriation are available, but challenges remain, particularly involving land titles. “We also expropriate in phases. We also receive complaints and handle them case by case. Some residents have no land titles; others need to first correct land demarcation errors, while some who have been abroad are returning to seek compensation,” he said. The Government has set October 2026 as the deadline to clear more than Rwf4.3 billion in pending compensation for residents affected by the Muvumba multipurpose water resources development project.
