Karenge Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Reaches 75%, Promising Relief for Water-Stressed Communities in Kigali and Rwamagana

The project involves the construction of a new water treatment facility with a capacity of 36,000 cubic metres per day, alongside the rehabilitation of the existing plant. Other key components include the construction of a new water intake structure on Lake Mugesera, the installation of water distribution pipelines, the construction of a 5,000-cubic-metre reservoir in Kimicanga, and the development of associated support facilities. 

Residents of Rwamagana District, particularly in Muyumbu Sector, as well as those in parts of Kigali, including Ndera, Gasogi and Kanombe, continue to face water supply challenges. Water rationing often leaves households without water for several days, forcing them to spend more money purchasing it or travel long distances in search of it. Upon completion of the project, residents expect to enjoy a reliable and uninterrupted water supply directly to their homes.

Nyirahatungimana Oliva, a resident of Gishaka Village, Bujyujyu Cell, Muyumbu Sector, in Rwamagana District, expressed her expectations for improved water services following the completion of the project. “We receive water according to a rationing schedule, and sometimes we can spend an entire week without water. Although we have a tap at home, it often runs dry because we do not receive water. Water is also expensive, as we sometimes pay RWF 400 for a jerrycan. We will be grateful to the Government once we have a reliable water supply,” she said.

His neighbour, Mbabazi Irene, echoed similar concerns, highlighting the difficulties residents face in accessing safe and affordable water. He welcomed the ongoing project, expressing hope that it would bring lasting relief to the community. “We are happy to hear that a project is underway to address the water challenges we face. It will be a great relief to have a consistent water supply. We will no longer have to spend so much money or travel long distances in search of water, sometimes resorting to fetching it from swamps,” he said.

The upgrade and expansion of the Karenge Water Treatment Plant is being implemented by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC Group), with financial support from the Government of Hungary. The project commenced in May 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027. It forms part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to expand access to reliable and adequate water services. The initiative also contributes to Rwanda’s national ambition to achieve universal access to clean water by 2029, as outlined in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). Upon completion, the expanded facility is expected to increase water production capacity and improve access to clean water for communities in Rwamagana District and targeted areas of the City of Kigali.