The wetlands under rehabilitation include Gikondo, which stretches across Remera, Kimihurura and Gatenga and connects with Rugengeâ€"Rwintare wetland.
This in turn extends through Kacyiru and Muhima and links with the Muhima marshland near Kinamba. Kibumba, located at the former UTEXRWA site, connects Kinyinya and Gisozi, while Nyabugogo links Muhima and Gatsata.
Together, these wetlands make up a total of 500 hectares: Gikondo with 162, Nyabugogo with 131, Kibumba with 68, Rwampara with 65, and Rugengeâ€"Rwintare with 65.
The entire project is expected to cost $80 million, with the first $32 million allocated to restoration work. The second phase will focus on building recreational facilities. The project is designed to reduce flooding in Kigali, conserve biodiversity and improve water purification systems.
These wetlands will feature a combined 61.5 kilometers of pedestrian and cycling paths. The Gikondo wetland will include 16.9 kilometers of paths, Rugengeâ€"Rwintare will have 15.5 kilometers, and Rwampara will feature 10 kilometers. Kibumba will include 9.8 kilometers of pedestrian paths, while Nyabugogo will have 9.3 kilometers.
In addition, 13 water catchment ponds will be constructed, including the 10-hectare Nyabugogo Lake. Gikondo will have four ponds, Kibumba five, Rugengeâ€"Rwintare one, and Rwampara two.
These wetlands have also been fitted with 142 waste traps. Gikondo will have 24 traps, Kibumba 16, Rugengeâ€"Rwintare 48, Nyabugogo 30, and Rwampara 24.
There will also be 14 islands within the ponds, including four in Gikondo, six in Kibumba, one in Rugengeâ€"Rwintare, two in Nyabugogo, and one in Rwampara.
As for progress, rehabilitation works have reached 38 percent in Rwampara, 70 percent in Gikondo, 62 percent in Rugengeâ€"Rwintare, 76 percent in Kibumba, and 59 percent in Nyabugogo.
Eng. Martine Uwera, the Programme Manager for Environment Mainstreaming and Biodiversity Management at Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) explained that the Nyabugogo marshland is lagging behind because a lake is being constructed there, with the work requiring special equipment and significant effort to make it possible.
'As for the Rwampara marshland, the reason behind it is that rehabilitation only began in November 2024, while the others started in March 2024,' she said.
Each marshland has been given a unique focus. Gikondo will serve as an eco-tourism site, featuring libraries, kiosks and other amenities for visitors.
Rugengeâ€"Rwintare will host a five-hectare retention pond that collects water from Rwampara, Gikondo. It is designed to showcase Rwanda's environment conservation efforts.
Kibumba will focus on aquaculture with interconnected fish ponds, flower gardens and an exhibition center showcasing Rwanda's fishing industry.
Nyabugogo is being designed as a hub for research and biodiversity education, while Rwampara will highlight Rwanda's cultural heritage through exhibitions of traditional crops, foods and artifacts.
According to Uwera, all pedestrian paths and parking areas will be powered by solar energy. However, swimming will not be permitted in the ponds for now, since the marshlands were once sites for factories that used chemicals. Water quality is tested every six months, and authorities say swimming may only be allowed once the water is deemed completely safe.
In the area designated for sports infrastructure, two football fields will be constructed in the Kibumba Wetland, while Gikondo will have one, and Rwampara will have two.
Meanwhile, Kibumba Wetland will host two basketball courts, one in Gikondo, and one in Rugenge-Rwintare.
Two volleyball courts will be established in the Kibumba Wetland, one in Gikondo, and one in Rugenge-Rwintare, while in the Gikondo Wetland, one handball court will be built, and another in Rwampara.
Tree planting in these wetlands has also been emphasized. A total of 1,560 trees will be planted In Gikondo Wetland; 1,511 in Rwampara, 1,419 trees in Kibumba, and 204 trees in Rugenge-Rwintare.
So far, the rehabilitation of these wetlands has created jobs for 5,917 people, including 2,893 women. By the time the project is complete, more than 12,000 people will have been employed.
Uwera stated that the rehabilitation work will be completed by December 2025. However, the official unveiling will take place in April 2026 after testing to ensure that everything functions properly.
Rwanda is also conducting a study on additional projects to be implemented in these wetlands. This study is expected to be completed by November 2025, alongside the recreational areas that will be developed afterward.
A total of 220,500 residents will benefit from reduced flood risks and will have access to relaxation areas.
Uwera noted that the benefits of these wetlands are already becoming evident.
In addition to the return of wildlife, the recent heavy rains have demonstrated their importance.
He said, 'You know that rain in Nyabugogo used to cause flooding, even covering the roads. Recently, despite heavy rainfall, the roads did not flood.'
Currently, Rwanda has 915 wetlands, covering 10.6% of the country's total land area, of which 38 constitute 20% of protected wetlands.
IGIHE
