Kigali in the recent past has experienced frequent and heavy rains and these have often led to flash flood. In the face of climate change, the increased frequency of such events threatens economic development. The City has suffered severe widespread flooding to major rivers, damage and loss of property, landslides, risk of loss of lives and livelihoods, and loss of public infrastructure.

Flood related disasters risk management has world over shifted emphasis from post disaster to pre-disaster phases. Pre-disaster flood management such as risk assessment, hazard identification, preparedness or preventive measures need detailed information about hazard characteristics, social-economic strength, and structural vulnerability and capacity. Such information is usually unavailable in many countries, as is the case in Rwanda.

The level of exposure to floods differs by locality. Even though some areas are highly prone to floods, the vulnerability differs from one area to another due to many factors. For example, the Eastern province is highly vulnerable due to the regular overflow of Nyabarongo River.

Highlights:

1. Kigali in the recent past has experienced frequent and heavy rains and these have often led to flash floods. In the face of climate change, the increased frequency of such events threatens economic development. The City has suffered severe widespread flooding to major rivers, damage and loss of property, landslides, risk of loss of lives and livelihoods, and loss of public infrastructure.

2. Torrential rains and flash floods have hammered several parts of the city and its outskirts consequently causing extensive power outages. The damage has been particularly acute in Kicukiro and Nyarugenge, the two major urban districts in the city. According to city authorities, Nyabugogo, one of the crowded market suburbs has been hit hardest due to the topography of its location and the lack of an efficient drainage system.

3. Several streets and sidewalks got flooded and pedestrians had to leap over water to move around the city. The downpours triggered mudslides in some areas of Kigali city, damaging houses and roads. 

   

4. Beyond Kigali city, traffic was interrupted on some highways due to landslides across rural districts, according to police. Official reports indicate that over 3,100 hectares of crops were washed away by floodwater and 3,082 houses damaged, leaving thousands of families displaced.

5. In consideration of other country zones, Climate change is bringing more irregular and unpredictable rainfall patterns with shorter rainy seasons to the largely rain-fed agricultural sector. While the meteorological department has warned that the rains being experienced after the dry spell will be above normal, communities in some zones are facing the danger of heavy floods and landslides. The situation may be worse for farmers whose crops will most likely be destroyed by floods at such a critical moment when the previous season was affected by the long dry spell.

6. Ominously, the return of floods and landslides spells doom for thousands of families that are still trapped in high-risk zones across the country. According to the latest prediction, an increased amount of rainfall will likely result in floods and landslides in other 10 Districts namely Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru, Gisagara and Huye. Similarly, southern parts of Karongi, Bugesera, Ngoma and Kirehe districts are to experience more rains ranging between 150 to 200 milimetres accumulated in November 2022.

7. Farmers, particularly, express fear that the rains could exacerbated the toll on the already dampened prospects for the year 2022 agriculture season now in the harvesting phase for staple crops like maize. The late and erratic rains, as well as a dry spell that characterized the season left farmers in both the southern and eastern provinces counting losses.

8. A total of 64,840 farmers have been paying premiums under the State subsidized agriculture insurance scheme for the cover of 14,819 hectares of rice, maize, Irish potatoes, chilies and green beans in 2022 A season.

9. Severe weather, including heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds, in November 2022, have triggered floods and landslides across western Rwanda. Casualties and damages have occurred in Western provinces, with the worst-hit districts being Rubavu, Rusizi, Nyabihu, and Ngoroero. 15 people lost their lives and 37 others got injured in weather-related incidents across these districts, with seven fatalities and 26 injuries caused by lightning. Flooding and landslides have damaged around 130 homes in the region.

Interventions:

1. The government has undertaken a flood risk assessment in Kigali City and has issued guidelines and advisories to citizens accordingly.

2. The government has undertaken a flood risk assessment in Kigali City and has issued guidelines and advisories to citizens accordingly.

   

3. In order to mitigate the effects of flooding, the City of Kigali is building storm water channels, desilting water ways and relocating activities from wetlands; this is in the water catchment zones of Nyabugogo, Kanogo, Gisozi, Gikondo and Rwampara.

4. Government has advised vulnerable spot settlers to relocate from these high-risk zones before disaster strikes.

5. The population has been put on alert to monitor local media for weather updates and related advisories; to confirm all transport reservations and business appointments before travel.

6. Citizens are also advised to make allowances for localized travel delays and potential supply chain disruptions where flooding has been forecast and to also avoid driving/riding on flooded roads.