Since 2017, the government has constructed approximately 1,600 kilometers of paved roads, linking regions more efficiently.
Notable examples include the Rukomo-Nyagatare route, which has sharply cut travel times to Kigali, and the Huye-Kibeho road, which has boosted tourism to the Kibeho holy site and supported economic growth in the area with over 1.2 million annual visitors.
Other significant projects encompass the Kagitumba-Kayonza-Rusumo corridor and developments in districts such as Ngoma, Bugesera, and Nyanza.
Complementing these efforts, a feeder roads initiative launched in 2014 has added 741.85 kilometers of rural connectivity. In December 2025, the Rukomo-Nyagatare road in Gicumbi District was inaugurated at a cost exceeding 200 billion Rwandan Francs, hailed as a key development milestone. Looking ahead, plans target 300 kilometers of tarmac roads and 500 kilometers of feeder roads by 2029.
A recent 2025 assessment by Transparency International Rwanda has prompted renewed scrutiny of these gains, spotlighting erosion, flooding, and related environmental damage stemming from inadequate drainage in several new road projects.
The report documents how poor water management systems are leading to significant harm to local ecosystems, agricultural lands, and citizens’ properties and livelihoods.
Affected communities span districts including Karongi, Muhanga, Nyamagabe, Huye, Nyaruguru, Gisagara, Nyagatare, Kirehe, Ngoma, and Bugesera, where flooding and soil erosion have intensified due to insufficiently designed drainage, weak hydrological planning, limited supervision, and gaps in environmental assessments.
These shortcomings allow runoff to erode soil, destabilize road structures, damage farmlands, and threaten homes.
The assessment details specific instances of impact. On the Karongi-Muhanga road, inadequate drainage has triggered major soil erosion, washing large volumes of soil into adjacent areas and risking road integrity.
In Gasaka sector of Nyamagabe District, heavy rains generate runoff that accelerates land erosion and compounds road wear. The Huye-Ndago road has seen substantial crop losses and soil degradation from water carrying away fertile topsoil.
In Kibeho, Nyaruguru District, runoff from poor drainage has eroded farmlands, leaving them barren. The Butaro road in Cyeru, Burera District, illustrates how overlooking natural contours and water paths during construction has harmed nearby agriculture.
Residents have shared direct experiences of these impacts. In Bwambika village, Gasoro cell, Kigoma sector, Nyanza District, Rosine Kubwimana described how water from the new Nyanza-Bugesera tarmac road erodes land and floods her home during rains, creating a sense of being trapped amid ongoing soil loss.
She voiced fears for the April 2026 rainy season and noted repeated appeals to authorities for water rerouting. Her neighbor, Odette Mukantaganzwa, expressed similar worries about runoff threatening homes.
In Huye District’s Ruvuzo village and Matyazo cell, residents reported farmlands washed away by runoff from the Huye-Kibeho road, leaving pits and persistent erosion.
Dr. Abias Maniragaba, Senior Project Coordinator at Transparency International Rwanda, recently described these problems as symptoms of wider challenges in road planning, maintenance, and regulatory compliance nationwide.
The report advocates for comprehensive reviews of construction materials, mandatory post-construction monitoring, and penalties for non-compliance to prevent recurring issues.
In response, the Rwanda Transport Development Agency has initiated nationwide efforts to tackle water management problems on roads.
Interventions are underway on routes such as Muhanga-Ngororero-Mukamira and Gisiza-Pfunda, incorporating stronger road foundations, water-resistant materials, and large cement structures to counter climate effects.
Gemma Maniraruta, Director General of Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Infrastructure, recently highlighted early positive outcomes from improved drainage systems, which help protect rivers, streams, and wetlands. Broader efforts include wetland management to regulate water flow.
The TI-Rwanda assessment underscores the importance of integrating robust safeguards into Rwanda’s infrastructure ambitions to sustain benefits while minimizing unintended environmental and social costs.
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