Ahead of World Wetlands Day 2026, Kigali residents and artists, including Chriss Eazy and Bwiza, joined a special Umuganda event for the restoration of Gikondo wetland to prevent flooding and boost biodiversity.
In a major show of community contribution, hundreds of Kigali residents joined government officials and local celebrities today to advance the ongoing restoration of the Gikondo wetland. This collective effort comes just two days before Rwanda joins the global community to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2026 on February 2.
The restoration activities, which are currently underway, represent a critical step in transforming the former industrial site into a functional eco-park. Today’s work focused on manual labor that complements the heavy engineering already on-site, bringing the project closer to its completion goal of restoring Kigali's natural defenses.
Chriss Eazy and Bwiza Join Community Work
The spirit of the day was uplifted by the participation of popular Rwandan artists Chriss Eazy and Bwiza. The two stars traded the stage for the marshland, joining youth volunteers in various cleaning and restoration tasks.
Their involvement served as a call to action for the younger generation to see environmental protection as a personal responsibility. By working side-by-side with residents to clear debris and prepare the land for planting, the artists helped turn the day's labor into a celebration of civic duty and climate resilience.
Restoring the "City Sponge": Flood Prevention in Kigali
The images from today’s activities capture a beehive of community work. Teams of volunteers were seen manually clearing silt and mud from newly established water channels. These channels and the four functional ponds at the Gikondo site are designed to act as a "natural sponge," capturing stormwater from the surrounding hills to protect areas like Nyabugogo from floods.
By manually removing invasive weeds and plastic waste, the community is directly contributing to the wetland’s ability to filter water and support the return of local biodiversity in the heart of Kigali.
Gikondo Wetland Restoration Progress and Heritage
This year’s World Wetlands Day theme, "Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage," was at the heart of today’s event. The use of Umuganda, Rwanda's traditional practice of community work to solve modern environmental challenges shows the strength of local knowledge in wetland management.
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Key highlights of the ongoing restoration include:
Flood Mitigation: The four operational ponds are already helping to regulate water flow during recent heavy rains in the City of Kigali.
Eco-Infrastructure: Work is continuing on the 16.9 kilometers of pedestrian and cycling paths that will soon offer a green escape for city residents.
Waste Traps: Community members helped clean the newly installed waste traps, which are essential for keeping the wetland healthy by catching plastic before it settles in the water.
A Lasting Commitment to Environmental Protection
Officials present at the site noted that these community contributions are what will make the project sustainable. While the government provides the technical framework, the daily protection of the wetland depends on the vigilance of the residents.
Residents who participated in today's work expressed pride in their contribution, noting that seeing the area transform from a polluted industrial zone into a green park gives them hope for a healthier, more resilient Kigali.
With World Wetlands Day celebrations around the corner, Gikondo stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when a community takes ownership of its environment and works together for a greener future.
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