As Rwanda intensifies its efforts to achieve universal water supply, the Nyabarongo River continues to serve as the primary source of water for domestic, commercial, and industrial use in Kigali and other parts of the country.
The river that many of us take for granted is truly our lifeline. Over the years, population growth, urbanization, and industrialization have intensified, placing even greater strain on this vital resource. In response to the growing demand, we have increasingly relied on the Nyabarongo River to meet our needs.
In 2021, the Kigali Bulk Water Project was launched, tapping an additional 40 million liters per day from the river—equal to one-third of Kigali’s previous water supply. Earlier this year, three new water treatment plants—Muhembe, Nyirarongero, and Nyamyotsi—were commissioned, further expanding the country’s network of such facilities.
Stretching across all five provinces of Rwanda, the popular Nyabarongo does more than quench human thirst. It sustains riverine biodiversity, nourishes farmlands, and continues to echo through Rwanda’s history and folklore. The river begins at the confluence of the Mbirurume and Mwogo rivers, flowing northward for about 85 kilometers while forming the boundary between the Western and Southern Provinces.
Eventually, the elevated terrain of northern Rwanda diverts its course southeastward, before it swings south again, tracing the border between the Northern and Southern provinces. Farther downstream, it separates the Southern Province from the City of Kigali, then the capital itself from the Eastern Province. In this way, Nyabarongo has helped shape Rwanda’s very geography, carving out natural borders along its extensive path. From above, it resembles a serpent gliding gracefully from the southwest to the east, weaving its long body around Rwanda’s hills.
In Bugesera, Rwanda’s longest river merges with the Kanyaru to form the Akagera River, which flows onward to Lake Rweru along the Rwanda–Burundi border. As part of the Nile Basin, Nyabarongo contributes to the headwaters of the world’s longest river, whose blessings sustained ancient Egyptian civilization and earned the name “the river of life.”
Back home, the Nyabarongo is inseparable from Rwanda’s daily life. Travelers cross it often without realizing how deeply it shapes the land. Farmers depend on it to irrigate crops, wildlife thrives along its banks, and its waters power hydroelectric plants.
The Nyabarongo River is more than just a waterway; it is the lifeblood of Rwanda’s communities, industries, and future growth. As the nation continues to invest in water infrastructure and sustainable management, safeguarding this treasure will ensure that every Rwandan can access clean, reliable water for generations to come.