REMA has announced that the work of rehabilitating five wetlands in the City of Kigali and turning them into natural areas will start in February 2024
It is an activity prepared with a budget of $80 million, that is about 101.6 billion Frw
Five wetlands will be repaired on an area of 408 hectares, including Gikondo Rwampara Rugenge-Rwintare Kibumba and Nyabugogo Swamp
Each swamp will have its own characteristics depending on the nature of its location
REMA CEO Kabera Juliet says the renovation will cost 80$ million and Rwanda will do it in collaboration with partners including the World Bank
There is currently $million 32 (equal to a little more than 40 billion Frw) for the launch of the first phase of the project
other water filters It will be done so well that what we see in Nyandungu will be increased
Juliet Kabera
It is planned that in the first week of February this work will start
If things go as planned the renovation work of these infrastructures will be completed after 18 months that is a year and six months
The wetlands will become a tourist attraction a haven for urban tourism
In this work the focus will also be on expanding the rivers in these swamps that flow in a modern way through the roads that will be created the water ponds will reduce the speed of the water flow and reduce the flooding that can destroy the infrastructure
Various traditional trees will be planted that will be removed from the deciduous forests such as Gishwati Mukura and other rare ones found in the city of Kigali in order to educate those who visit the place about the types of trees that live in the deciduous forests
Although the main objective is to preserve the environment these wetlands will also include various infrastructures that will help tourists to visit and have fun
It is planned that there will be libraries including murandasi recreational fields including football cycling and pedestrian paths for sports relaxation and recreation
There will be various houses where meals and drinks can be served which will host exhibitions children s games etc
Among the things that will be built is where the owners of the vehicles will put them which will have the advantage of using solar energy
Four meters wide roads will be created for the use of cyclists, benches in each 500 meters sky bridges overlooking artificial ponds street lights will be installed in each 20 meters
There will be huts that will be equipped with bicycles for those who want to ride them large tables for those who come to school informative huts drinking water chairs for visitors gyms for those who like to strain their muscles and so on
Apart from the fact that they will find work both during the renovation of these swamps and after the end of these works, the people who live there will be able to find a place to have fun so that the money that will be cut from the visitors will be loved by everyone
In the Nyabugogo swamp in particular a large lake will be installed that will consist of filtered water in order to make it easier for those who want to have fun on the water so that going to Rubavu will be a second option, and boats will be installed for those who like to travel in the water
The Minister of Environment Jeanne D Arc Mujawamariya said that wetlands are like kidneys in the human body because they play an important role in filtering the nutrients that live in contaminated water the ecosystem remains and grows
The restoration of these wetlands inherits more than 220,500 direct and indirect populations which face disaster problems and lack of clean water and other problems caused by the destruction of wetlands
The master plan of the City of Kigali up to 2050 shows that in 2013 to 2022 the area of wetlands in the city decreased by 4% from 14% of the area of the city which currently makes up 10.6% of the total due to human activities
Currently the City of Kigali has 37 wetlands with an area of 9,160 hectares
Its value is more than $ 74 million (more than 94 billion Frw) in relation to the value of its operations
Since 2017 the government has started removing people from the swamps and those who have destructive activities
A study conducted by the Albert Rift Conservation Society (Albertine Rift Conservation Society) shows that taking care of the wetlands in the city of Kigali will help Rwanda earn more than 1.9$ billion by 2025 where it will earn more than 155 million$
Currently Rwanda has a total of 915 wetlands that make up 10.6% of the total area of which 38 equal to 20% are wetlands
MARK