Rwanda’s mining threatens Nyabarongo River: Pollution, struggle for environmental protection

By Mr. Kanamugire Emmanuel

Rwanda’s mining sector is the main contributor to the socio-economic development of the country with over 1.1 billion dollars in 2023, marking an increase of 43% compared to 772 million dollars in 2022. Gold, cassiterite (tin), coltan, and wolfram were mainly exported. Mining operators are obliged to bear in mind environmental protection, however, some evade responsibilities, throwing waste water in rivers.

Mining activities are concentrated in the Nyabarongo catchment whose small rivers flowing between the mountain chain, and end up into Nyabarongo.

The river begins its course at the confluence of Mbirurume and Mwogo Rivers in southwestern part of the country and serves as the boundary between the Northern and Southern Provinces, the between the City of Kigali and the Southern Province as well as between the City of Kigali and the Eastern Province.

The Nyabarongo is a major river in Rwanda, part of the upper headwaters of the Nile with a total length of 351 km. It enters Lake Victoria in Uganda and continues into the Nile.

An investigation carried out by Topafricanews in areas where mining activities take place near Nyabarongo, revealed that washing of minerals, mining in small rivers that feed Nyabarongo and discharging waste water into the river from mining companies, are the main causes of the quality of Nyabarongo water to be deteriorating.

The visited locations included Gatumba in the Ngororero District, located in the western part of Rwanda, within the Upper Nyabarongo Catchment. Here, the Kibirira River, which flows into Nyabarongo, is primarily used for mineral washing, with tin being the dominant ore.

In Kamonyi District, impacted rivers including the Nyamagana, flowing between the Rukoma and Ngamba sectors, eventually joining Nyabarongo in the Kabuga cell.

Mining is practiced in parts of the Rukoma Sector, where a significant number of illegal miners often band together, and some even bring guard dogs with them while conducting their work.

Kayobora is another water resource that flows between the Runda and Rugalika sectors, draining into Nyabarongo. Near its source in the Runda sector, small-scale tin mining is conducted without any systems in place to treat the water used, resulting in wastewater being released directly back into the stream.

Other significant water pollution issues caused by mining activities were observed in the Rulindo District, Masoro sector, near the Rutongo Mines where Sanzari stream is mainly affected.

Heavy metals into Nyabarongo River from mining sites

The assessment of the contribution of mining to sediment loads in the Upper Nyabarongo Catchment, conducted through the Embedding Integrated Water Resource Management in Rwanda (EWMR) Project (May 2019 to June 2023), showed that in areas where small-scale mining is practiced, water quality deterioration and sedimentation of rivers are attributed to poor soil residue management, lack of awareness amongst mining companies and cooperatives regarding the extent and consequences of environmental impacts, among other factors.

Researchers point out that Nyabarongo pollution may cause diseases such as cancer due to heavy metals that are found in the river and has also endangered the biodiversity of the river, killing birds, fish and plants.

Damascène Gashumba, a researcher who participated in a research conducted by the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda in 2021 on the role of mining activities on Nyabarongo pollution, said: “Some species such as birds are no longer visible yet we used to observe them in nature around the rivers. Waste discharged into Nyabarongo and Akagera have led to the loss of biodiversity such as fish and frogs among many others.”

Sample testing

To examine the environmental claims that Nyabarongo is contaminated with heavy metals from mining activities, we collected a sample of water used in minerals washing activities from the Rutongo Mines and that from Nyamagana stream of Ngamba sector in Kamonyi District, and sent it to a laboratory for testing.

We wanted to test heavy metals commonly found in tin prone areas including lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn). Alex Stewart International Rwanda, the Laboratory located in the City of Kigali is the one that performed the water quality analysis and reported as below:

Chemicals analysis in %:

Pb= 0.026

Cu= 0.026

Zn= 0.0059

Cd= 0.013

The report showed that the presence of heavy metals in the sample is at low magnitude but this may be associated with the small quantity of water taken to the laboratory.

Remy Norbert Duhuze, Water Monitoring and Quality Control Division Manager, at Rwanda Water Board, stated that one of the biggest problems seen with the Nyabarongo River is water pollution caused by mining.

 “We also do a lot of samplings. There are signs that heavy metals are present in the water. We still find them in small quantities that are not harmful to human health, but if they continue to increase, it would be a problem, because each heavy metal, depending on its type, has a specific part of the body that it targets. You will find that many of them cause cancer”, said Duhuze.

Heavy metals can accumulate in the body overtime and pose serious health risks, making their presence in drinking water a significant concern.

Scientists unveil that lead is harmful to children and can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and damage to the nervous system whereas long term exposure to cadmium can lead to kidney damage, bone degradation, and increase cancer risks.

Additionally, chromium is known to cause lung cancer, damage to kidneys and other organ systems and it is a potent carcinogen.

Duhuze further explained that it is not allowed to throw waste water into rivers as per the laws governing water management, mining and environmental protection.

“We carry constant monitoring in collaboration with other institutions including Rwanda Mine, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), and local authorities. However, the fact that we still have many areas where problems still exist shows that our monitoring is not sufficient”, he highlighted.

How rivers pollution affects the communities

Jacqueline Mukandamage, a resident of Rongi Sector, Muhanga District, said they have been suffering from mining operations that pollute streams that end in Nyabarongo, including Gaseke, Rukokori and Kabilizi.

“Minerals are extracted in hillsides and impact on water quality that we rely on daily. These streams can be contaminated to the extent that fetching water becomes a serious problem. When we drink it, it causes colds, headaches, stomachaches, and other severe diseases”, she explained.

Currently, Nyabarongo River is the source of Water Treatment Plants (NZOVE I & NZOVE II) that feed Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro Districts in the City of Kigali and some parts of Kamonyi District. Yet, it is not clear whether heavy metals are removed during water treatment process.

Illegal miners, large and small-scale operators would be held accountable

Anathalie Mukanyirigira, a resident of Rulindo District explained how illegal miners, known as “Abapari” and Rutongo Mines pollute the water in a series of rivers from Sanzari-Rusine-Nyabugogo-Nyabarongo.

She said, “Look at those men sitting on the hill below where Rutongo Mines operates. We call them ‘abapari’. They are waiting at the bottom of the hill for Rutongo Mines to release the water they have used. The Abapari will use that water to filter their own tailings and finally release it into Sanzari stream”.

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Rutongo Mines has pipes that carry water from the pits after it’s been used, and it goes into dedicated tanks uphill powered by pumping machine to be used again, but the water mixed with sand doesn’t always flow through those pipes.”

“The mine doesn’t let waste go into the stream”, Sam Ryumugabe, Group Sustainability Manager at Rutongo Mines, said dismissing the company’s role in polluting water resources.

James Mulisa, the owner of the mine located in Runda Sector, Kamonyi District, recognizes malpractices in his daily activities.

“I cannot deny that the water used in the mining process is released into the river. We have been working carelessly but we have to resume the recycling process.”

One of his site workers said, “We know that it is forbidden to release used water into the river without recycling it, but sometimes things aren’t perfect due to limited resources. We started digging pits to collect all the used water and treat it before releasing it, but they aren’t operational yet.”

Donat Nsengumuremyi, Division Manager of the Mining Extraction and Inspection at Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), said it is forbidden to contaminate water, either by dumping polluted water into it or by washing minerals in it. Apart from where people illegally mine, others are required to direct water to where they wash on the hill and they should have built dams to collect it.

The law n°49/2018 of 13/08/2018 determining the use and management of water resources in Rwanda, stipulates that any person who directly or indirectly dumps, spills or deposit one or a lot of things into an ecological or groundwater that may pollute water resources commits an offense. Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than three months with a fine of not less than two million Rwandan francs and not more than five million Rwandan francs or only one of these penalties.

On the other hand, the law n° 072/2024 of 26/06/2024 on mining and quarry operations is limited to the responsibilities of rehabilitation of damaged areas by mining operators. It is not specific on water pollution and penalties associated to it.

Since RMB staff cannot reach all areas at once, toll-free number [2930] had been set up through which people can report water-polluting activities.

“If we are fortunate enough to receive information, we conduct surprise inspections, and those involved are penalized. There are companies that are fined, some are temporarily suspended, and others have their licenses revoked”.

According to RMB, the cost of setting up a recycling system is not very high; it depends on the terrain where one intends to implement it, as it may be difficult to prepare it, especially when it is in a low-lying area.

Where are local authorities?

What is evident is that there is no mining site unknown to the local authorities, which means that environmental degradation occurs under their watch.

For example, after the Sanzari River in Rulindo District became filled with sand from the Rutongo Mines, it was officially allocated to a youth cooperative for commercial purposes. Alarmingly, trucks now pass through the river as if it were an ordinary road due to the sediment washed down from mining areas.

Similarly, in Kamonyi District, the Nyamagana River is the source of sand used in constructing the Nyabarongo II hydropower plant. In some areas, however, it has been filled in with soil during road construction along its banks.

Moreover, the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB) has staff in every district where mining activities take place, and they collaborate with local authorities in conducting inspections.

The Mayor of Kamonyi District, Dr. Nahayo Sylvere, recognizes Nyabarongo pollution as a heavy and longtime issue.

 “Mining must be done in a way that does not harm the environment. We are constantly talking to mining companies to bear in mind environment protection, managing the water they use. Some are trying but others are not doing it well”.

The Mayor of Rulindo, Judith Mukanyirigira, said that addressing the issue of river pollution caused by mining activities is a pressing issue, and that the district is working together with other authorities to tackle the problem.

“It’s not an easy battle; now a law with heavy penalties has been put in place so those responsible may be deterred, but we must confront it.”

The Nyaabrongo is a major river in Rwanda, part of the upper headwaters of the Nile. With a total length of 351 km, it is the longest river entirely in Rwanda.

The effects of Nyabarongo pollution go beyond Rwandan territory. Within the framework of the Nile Basin Initiative, the Akagera catchment has been considered a hotspot that must be constantly monitored so that the problems of Akagera catchment be solved together.