Rwanda Builds 7 Dams to Bring Water to 1.4 Million by 2026

Thacien Rwampozeho used to spend four hours trekking through dry spells just to find water for his cows. Some of his animals didn't survive the journey.

The livestock farmer in Nyagatare District watched helplessly as the small Musenyi Dam dried up under heavy demand. Now, he and nearly 800,000 neighbors are counting down to October 2026, when the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam begins flowing.

The 39-meter-high dam on the Muvumba River will store 55 million cubic meters of water. It will deliver 50,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, irrigate 11,000 hectares, and generate one megawatt of electricity.

The African Development Bank is financing the €121.5 million project, which stood at 36 percent complete during their October 2025 site visit. It's one of seven major dams Rwanda is building to solve water shortages and protect communities from climate shocks.

Elias Mugabowakigeli, another Nyagatare farmer, remembers walking two hours to reach water before installing a rainwater harvesting system. Even that runs dry during prolonged droughts when you're caring for 10 to 20 cows.

Vegetable farmer Rehema Nyiramukesha in Gatsibo District already sees the difference. Before the first phase of the Warufu Dam project, dry spells would destroy all 45 hectares of vegetables she tended.

"I could invest 200,000 Rwandan francs and lose everything," she said. Now she grows chili, French beans, and cabbages year-round as the project expands.

The Warufu Dam will hold 25 million cubic meters and irrigate 2,500 hectares across three sectors. The Nyabarongo II Dam, now 57 percent complete, will add 43.5 megawatts to the national grid while irrigating over 20,000 hectares.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond ending the deadly water treks, these dams are transforming entire regional economies. The Akanyaru Multipurpose Dam on the Rwanda-Burundi border will benefit more than 600,000 people across both countries and support nearly 25,000 farmers with irrigation.

Floating solar panels on the Nyabarongo II reservoir could generate up to 200 megawatts of additional clean energy. The dams will also support fisheries, giving families new income sources while securing food production.

The Bakokwe Dam will increase clean water access in three districts facing growing demand. The Mukunguri Dam will strengthen food production and water security as Rwanda works toward its Vision 2050 development goals.

Together, the seven projects represent Rwanda's commitment to turning climate vulnerability into climate resilience. Farmers who once lost entire harvests and livestock to drought will soon have reliable water flowing through all seasons.

No more four-hour treks, no more watching animals die of thirst, and no more choosing between drinking water and irrigation.