Muvumba multipurpose dam reaches 61.5% completion, set to store 55 million cubic metres of water
The Muvumba Multipurpose Dam is one of Rwanda’s flagship water infrastructure projects currently under development in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province. The strategic investment is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening agricultural productivity, expanding access to potable water, generating hydropower, and enhancing the country’s resilience to climate change.
Situated in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, the project is designed to optimize the sustainable management and utilization of the nation’s water resources while supporting long-term socio-economic development.
Construction commenced in late 2023 and has so far attained 61.5% physical progress, compared to the projected 68.3%, representing a schedule variance of 6.8 percentage points.
The progress update was presented to Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva during his inspection visit to the project on 11 July 2026, where officials from the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) briefed him on the implementation status.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Water Resources Board, Eng. Richard Nyirishema, attributed the implementation delay primarily to prolonged periods of heavy rainfall, which significantly disrupted civil engineering operations and prevented several construction milestones from being achieved within the planned timeframe.
To mitigate the delay, project management has adopted a series of acceleration measures, including increasing the workforce and deploying additional heavy construction equipment, particularly earth-hauling trucks and other specialized machinery, with the objective of restoring project momentum and ensuring completion within the revised schedule.
The dam is being constructed across approximately 797 hectares. Compensation has already been disbursed for 596 hectares of land. Of the 5,505 project-affected persons eligible for compensation, 2,673 have received their payments, while compensation for an additional 2,382 beneficiaries is expected to be processed shortly to facilitate uninterrupted construction activities.
Upon completion, the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam will have a storage capacity of 55 million cubic metres of water. The reservoir will irrigate more than 10,000 hectares of farmland, supply 50,000 cubic metres of safe drinking water per day to surrounding communities and livestock production areas, and generate one megawatt of hydroelectric power.
The project is anticipated to substantially increase agricultural and livestock productivity, improve access to clean and reliable water supplies, and reinforce Rwanda’s adaptive capacity to climate change through integrated and sustainable water resources management.
Although construction is still ongoing, the project has already created employment opportunities for more than 1,200 people, contributing significantly to household incomes and improving the socio-economic well-being of local communities.
The entire construction programme is scheduled for completion in March 2027, following the finalization of all civil works and the resettlement of households affected by the project.
To bolster implementation, the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently approved an additional €45.4 million in financing, bringing the project’s total investment to €166 million—equivalent to more than RWF 280 billion. The investment underscores Rwanda’s commitment to developing climate-resilient infrastructure that accelerates economic growth, enhances food security, and improves the livelihoods of its citizens.
