Water Ministry Launches Fresh Campaign to Restore Degraded River Rwizi Catchment

The Ministry of Water and Environment has launched a fresh campaign to restore the degraded River Rwizi catchment, amid concerns over pollution, wetland encroachment, sand mining and declining water levels.

The Ministry of Water and Environment has launched a fresh campaign to restore the degraded catchment of River Rwizi, one of the major water sources serving communities and districts in southwestern Uganda.

The river, which supports communities in Sheema, Mbarara, Isingiro and Kiruhura, has come under increasing pressure from wetland and riverbank encroachment, illegal sand mining, poor waste management and prolonged drought.

The degradation has contributed to siltation and declining water levels, raising concerns about the river’s ability to continue supporting communities, livestock and other economic activities in the cattle corridor.

Despite previous efforts to restore sections of the catchment in areas such as Buhweju and Sheema, environmental degradation remains a major challenge, particularly in Mbarara, where parts of the river have been heavily encroached on.

Stephen Emor, the team leader of the Victoria Water Management Zone at the Ministry of Water and Environment, said restoring Rwizi would require sustained efforts from government, communities and other stakeholders.

“People should know that the restoration of River Rwizi is far from over. Large sections of the wetlands, forests and river banks are degraded. Waste management remains inadequate with many communities lacking proper disposal systems, so we need a multi-sectoral approach to fix this,” Emor said.

The ministry has now launched the 2026 River Rwizi Run under the theme, “Stakeholders championing the restoration of River Rwizi”, as part of efforts to mobilise resources and public support for the restoration campaign.

The run, scheduled for September 5, is expected to attract more than 4,500 participants.

According to the ministry, proceeds from the event will support restoration activities at mining hotspots in Buhweju, solid waste management in Mbarara City and livelihood programmes for communities living along the river’s buffer zones.

Emor said the campaign would go beyond the marathon to support practical restoration activities.

“We must scale up our efforts to restore this river’s catchment. This year the Rwizi Run will go beyond the physical running itself. The funds that we shall raise shall go directly to support flagship restoration activities in Buhweju and largely here in Mbarara City,” he said.

Mbarara City Resident City Commissioner Catherine Kamwiine urged communities to participate in the campaign and take responsibility for protecting the river.

“You well know that there is now a policy by government to clean our areas every last Saturday of the month. This time round our efforts will be put to clean waste along the river. It’s a must that people along the river and all those who know that they benefit from the river come for this cause. We must protect this river whether you want it or not,” Kamwiine said.

The restoration campaign will also focus on enforcing environmental bylaws, regulating artisanal mining and training farmers and miners in environmentally friendly practices.

Other interventions include installing trash racks and nets to intercept waste before it enters the river and promoting clean energy adoption to reduce pressure on river ecosystems.

The government has previously explored alternative water sources because of growing concerns over the declining capacity of Rwizi.

The continued degradation of the river has also prompted government plans to extend water from River Kagera in Isingiro District, with the project reportedly involving financing of close to Shs700 billion.

The restoration campaign comes amid growing concerns that without sustained protection of its wetlands, forests and buffer zones, River Rwizi could face further deterioration, threatening communities and economic activities that depend on it.