Northern Province governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde has called on households to embrace rainwater harvesting as a measure for preventing floods in the area. Characterised by a hilly terrain, Northern Province frequently grapples with floods that lead to significant disasters for example landslides. ALSO READ: Nearly 1,000 disaster-affected families to get new homes in Rubavu Speaking in an interview with The New Times, Mugabowagahunde pointed out that given the province's geographical features, the use of water tanks to collect rainwater from roofs could be a key strategy in mitigating climate-related issues. The physical condition of our province presents a critical challenge. For example, Gakenke District frequently experiences landslides and floods whenever it rains. We have urged local communities to collect all water runoff from their roofs as part of the solution. This is a new initiative that requires strong mobilisation,” he noted. Davis Bugingo, the Flood Control and Water Storage Development Division Manager at Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), says the government is implementing the Volcano Community Resilience Project (VCRP) through institutions under the Ministry of Environment (MoE). The initiative specifically aims to support households with free water tanks. The VCRP is currently being implemented in Musanze, Burera, Gakenke, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Muhanga districts, with ongoing assessments to identify households that will receive water tanks. “A key component of the project involves providing rainwater harvesting tanks to communities, particularly in areas where high rainfall and runoff have been identified as major contributors to flood risks,” Bugingo told The New Times. “It aims to strengthen climate resilience, mitigate flood risks, and improve the management of natural resources and tourism assets in the Volcanoes and Vunga regions,” he added. For Nyabihu District Mayor, Antoinette Mukandayisenga, VCRP is a response to climate change-related issues, including landslides. Volcanic floods are a major concern and a critical challenge as they flow downhill and contribute to the flooding of the Mukungwa River, which the VCRP seeks to address, she noted. It's all about climate change, and every citizen needs to understand this. As a district, we are also scaling up radical terracing around various mountains, as well as progressive terracing, to mitigate and prevent or minimize risks,” she added. ALSO READ: New measures mitigate flood disasters in Virunga mountains She pointed out that parts of the Rugera and Shyira regions are particularly prone to water-related disasters due to water flowing from Muhanga, Ngororero, and Musanze and converging in that area. Other areas most affected by floods include the Rurembo, Rambura, and Kintobo Sectors. Notably, the district's fragile soil is also a major contributing factor to floods, she said.
