The Muvumba River multipurpose dam project, funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB) with a budget of €121.5 million, is currently underway.
The dam, which will stand 39 meters high, is set to have a storage capacity of 55 million cubic meters.
Designed to address multiple needs, the dam will provide domestic water supply and irrigation for an area covering 9,640 hectares, including the sectors of Tabagwe, Gatunda, Karama, Rukomo, Nyagatare, Rwempasha, Musheri, and Rwimiyaga.
According to the Rwanda Water Resources Board, the dam will supply 50,000 cubic meters of water per day for domestic use, livestock watering, and electricity generation. Additionally, it is expected to mitigate floods previously caused by the Muvumba River.
The Muvumba Dam project, which began its design phase in 2015, is slated for completion by 2027.
A 236-kilometer buffer zone will be established and planted with bamboo trees to protect the dam, as stated by Pamela Ruzigana, the Catchment Restoration and Erosion Control Division Manager at the Rwanda Water Resources Board.
The project will focus on various landscape restoration activities, including the creation of 352 hectares of radical terraces and 2,340 hectares of progressive terraces. Moreover, 239 hectares will be designated for afforestation, and 1,537 hectares for agroforestry.
Ruzigana also mentioned that schools will receive plastic tanks and improved cooking stoves, and cooperatives for mushroom production and tree nurseries will be established.
SOURCE: TNT