Kigali, October 31, 2023;

In the past 30 years, Kigali has experienced rapid urbanization, significant changes in land use, and a reduction of vegetation cover. The increase in the built-up area has resulted in an increase of impervious surfaces, thus increasing surface water runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and other solid wastes being deposited in flood storage areas. Both natural and constructed drainage channels along floodplains and low-lying areas are regularly overtopped, causing flooding problems in the neighborhood.

Floods in Kigali cause damage to people’s homes and industrial properties, disrupt traffic flow and economic activity in the city, and increase water pollution through the spreading of contaminated water and garbage during rainfall.  Furthermore, many urban poor populations tend to reside in low-lying flood-prone areas (such as floodplains and reclaimed wetlands), increasing their vulnerability to flooding of land and its consequences.

Financed by the World Bank through the Second Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP II), the City of Kigali has invested in hydrometeorological monitoring equipment to support Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) and Rwanda Meteorology Agency (METEO RWANDA) studies to have on-time and accurately distributed data to properly understand the drivers of Kigali’s flood risk and plan accordingly.

This year, the City of Kigali is celebrating World Cities Day 2023 under the theme “Financing Sustainable Urban Future for All” by launching 22 hydrometeorological stations consisting of 15 hydrological stations and 7 automated weather stations which will provide essential urban climatology data (meteorological and hydrological data) for the calibration and application of the hydrological/hydrodynamic model for sustainable management of stormwater to ensure resilient, inclusive infrastructure delivery in the City of Kigali.

Launching the stations, Dr. Merard MPABWANAMAGURU, City of Kigali Vice-Mayor in charge of Urbanization and Infrastructure thanked the World Bank, Rwanda Water Resources Board, Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Government as a whole, for their support that led to the success of these stations as the City of Kigali continues the journey of building a resilient city. “The installed stations will enable the collection of essential data for the stormwater management master plan and wetland rehabilitation also financed under RUDP II, and beyond.” He said. “The decision to install these stations near the existing public facilities such as education and health centers aligns well with this year's theme- Financing

Sustainable Urban Future for All- and serves as a demonstration of making the public aware of the sensitivity of climate change and the role of data in our daily life.” He added.

All data will be collected automatically at centers of RWB and METEO RWANDA through automated sensors and transmission systems, comprehensive statistics shall be automatically calculated and analyzed, and detailed weather conditions shall be viewed at any distance in real-time from the station itself.

The 15 hydrological stations are installed at Gisozi River, Kibagabaga River, Kinamba River downstream, Kinamba River upstream, Mpazi channel, Mulindi River downstream, Mulindi river-Ndera road, Rufigiza River, Karuruma, Rugenge-Rwintare river, Rugunga river, Rwandex upper Gikondo, Kibumba upper, Gikondo wetland upper, and Nyabugogo wetland while the 7 Automated Weather stSations (AWS) are installed at Nyarugenge hospital, EP Gatenga, Rusororo, Rubungo, Kinyinya Sector office, Nduba, and Jali.

Researchers, academic institutions, consultants, investors, and all infrastructure planning institutions are encouraged to take advantage of these stations and use real data for evidence-based planning in order to make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

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