Rwanda Plans Frw330 Billion Irrigation Drive In Nyagatare

Nyagatare, August 27, 2026 - Rwanda plans to invest more than Frw330 billion to irrigate 10,000 hectares in Nyagatare District, a major water and agriculture project aimed at strengthening climate resilience in one of the country's key farming areas.

The plan, announced on August 26, would use water from the Muvumba dam and is expected to be implemented over five years. A senior official at the Rwanda Water Resources Board said the investment is designed to improve agricultural productivity and reduce exposure to increasingly variable rainfall.

The project is part of the Muvumba Multi-Purpose Water Resource Development Programme, which also includes domestic water supply, livestock water provision and electricity generation. The dam is 65 percent complete and is designed to store 55 million cubic meters of water.

The programme was initially financed with 121.5 million euros from the African Development Bank, which later added 45.4 million euros. For investors, the scale of the project signals continued public and development-finance backing for rural infrastructure, agribusiness productivity and water security in eastern Rwanda.