Shs 2bln project restores 80 hectares of degraded Rwizi catchment

MBARARA, May 5, 2024 - A Shs 2 billion project by Nile Breweries Limited and World Wide Fund for Nature has helped restore 80. 3 hectares in River Rwizi catchment area which had been degraded by human activities.

Speaking during the release of the report highlighting successes of phases 1, and 2 of the project, Stephen Emor, Team Leader,  Victoria Water Management Zone in the Ministry of Water and Environment said the project which started in 2019 has helped stop sedimentation and siltation of R. Rwizi.

“The project has helped restore 80.3 hectares by fencing off or demarcating the river banks using live markers and planting bamboo trees along the buffer zone. This has helped a lot in stopping sedimentation and siltation into the river,” Emor said.

He said the project has also helped to reduce soil erosion, and the flowing of rain water that carries silt from the roads, gardens, and paths into the river.

“We have been able to demonstrate that nature-based interventions can solve the challenges of degradation of the river,” Emor said.

He said the project has supported livelihoods in communities that have been provided with income-generating projects so that they stop degrading the river.

On his part, Nile Breweries Managing Director, Adu Rando said River Rwizi supports industries, health facilities, farmers, and households but had been degraded, adding that the project has reversed the degradation.

“My last visit to River Rwizi was three weeks ago and there is a noticeable change in terms of how much higher the river water is. There has been so much improvement. There are higher levels of water and by all measures the better quality of water. These actions really have delivered on short-term improvement on our dream,” Rando said.

Rando noted that the communities and economies in the region are being impacted by the reduced ability of the river and its catchment to absorb and recover from risks such as flash floods and a lack of vegetation in the catchment areas.

“Our goal is to have 100 percent of our communities in high-stress areas show measurable improvement in water availability and quality,” noted Rando. “By rehabilitating the catchment area, we are addressing not only the environmental degradation but also the socio-economic impacts on the communities.”

On his part, WWF Country Director at the launch of the report, Ivan Tumuhimbiswe noted the timely launch of the report, aligns perfectly with the theme of "Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience" for #WorldEnvironmentDay celebrated every June 5th. “We come together based on shared values and the future we want. We choose to work with Nile Breweries because it’s a company that cherishes the integrity of water sources because it’s part of their core business,” he said.

Tumuhimbise hailed the partnership with Nile Breweries for helping deliver results.

“Our two organisations [Nile Breweries Limited, and WWF] have leveraged our respective expertise, resources, and influence to find innovative strategies for conserving watersheds and improving water quality. We have and continue to collaborate on activities including water risk assessments, sustainable agricultural practices, and community engagement, working together to identify and address risks, develop sustainable solutions, and foster partnerships to achieve our shared goals,” Tumuhimbise said.

“We recognise that scientific research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement are fundamental in driving effective water management strategies. By integrating the best available knowledge and involving local communities, governments, and other stakeholders, we are laying solid foundations to create lasting and impactful change,” he said.

He added: “We have measurably improved water availability, water quality, and freshwater biodiversity. We are catalysing key decision makers to recognise the value of water and improve water governance to enable solutions to address water availability and quality challenges.”

According to the partnership report 270 hectares have been mapped and demarcated, with 18.3 hectares already restored along a 27-kilometre length of the Rwizi in Mbarara City.

Soil and water conservation actions have taken place, including native tree planting and water quality and quantity monitoring.

There was scaling-up workshops and field activity exercises with 114 participants from all 12 catchment districts, including stakeholders such as politicians, technical staff, private sector, nongovernmental organisations, religious and community leaders, academic institutions, and the media.

Creation of community livelihood opportunities, with 1,076 households undertaking land management improvements, and nine rain harvesting systems installed for the provision of clean drinking water, supporting 95 households.

According to the parties concerned, phase 3 of the project is currently being implemented with the aim of consolidating and scaling up the work done in Phases 1 and 2, focusing on inclusive community-based adaptation and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches to improve water quality and quantity in the River Rwizi catchment.

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