Rwanda to Invest Rwf 42 Billion in Expanding and Rehabilitating Bugarama Marshland

Farmers in Bugarama Marshland, Rusizi District, have welcomed the government’s plan to expand and rehabilitate the rice-growing area, saying the project will help boost productivity that had been hampered by deteriorating irrigation infrastructure and a decline in water flow from the Rubyiro River.

The Bugarama plain is widely regarded as Rwanda’s rice production hub, benefiting from its extensive lowlands and warm climate. Currently, the marshland covers about 1,499 hectares, of which nearly 500 hectares have become underutilized due to poor irrigation and water management.

According to the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), the planned rehabilitation and expansion works scheduled to begin in 2026 will cost more than Rwf 42 billion. Once completed, the project will expand the marshland to approximately 2,200 hectares.

Infrastructure Overhaul

Hassan Ntigurirwa, the Project Coordinator overseeing RAB programs such as CDAT, SAIP, RDDP, and PRISM in Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts, said the rehabilitation will involve constructing three major water channels a central canal and two smaller ones on each side. “The feasibility study is about 95% complete. We expect it to be finalized by December so that the tendering process and contract signing can be completed by April 2026,” Ntigurirwa said. “The actual construction will start in July 2026 and last for about nine months. We don’t want farmers to go too long without cultivating.”

Farmers Expect Big Gains

André Ukozehasi, President of the Bugarama Rice Farmers’ Cooperative, said that the news was a huge relief, as some plots had become nearly unproductive due to insufficient irrigation. “The marshland stretches about nine kilometers. Because of uneven water distribution, some sections never received enough water,” he said. “During the dry season, about 197 hectares went uncultivated, and we only farmed them when it rained.”

Ukozehasi explained that rice productivity depends heavily on both adequate irrigation and fertilizer use, and when water becomes scarce, even fertilizers lose effectiveness. “With this rehabilitation supported by CDAT, we expect yields per hectare to increase significantly,” he added.

Economic and Social Impact

Bugarama Marshland was first developed in 1986 and later rehabilitated in 2008. It currently supports around 7,700 farmers from the sectors of Bugarama, Gikundamvura, Nyakabuye, and Muganza.

Rusizi District Mayor Phanuel Sindayiheba said the project will contribute directly to local economic growth. “During the construction phase, many residents will find temporary employment, which will help them improve their livelihoods,” Sindayiheba noted. “After completion, the increased rice production will enhance food security and generate higher income for farmers.”

At present, the marshland yields about five tons of rice per hectare, with total seasonal production exceeding 7,000 tons, generating over Rwf 4 billion in revenue for farmers each season.

Once the expansion and irrigation improvements are completed, experts expect both the cultivated area and productivity to rise substantially positioning Bugarama once again as a cornerstone of Rwanda’s rice production and agricultural transformation.