Kigali : 9 years-old girl swept away by Mpazi floods

A nine-year-old girl was swept away by floods in Gitega Sector, Nyarugenge, on Friday as heavy rains hit Kigali, highlighting persistent drainage challenges along the Mpazi channel.

According to residents of Insinzi Village, the child has not yet been found despite continuous search operations by security organs and local volunteers. Two adults, a man and a woman, were rescued after their house collapsed into the flooded area.

Mugambira, the Executive Secretary of Gitega Sector, confirmed the tragedy and comforted the affected family. He urged residents to take precautions whenever it rains.

“We have warned families against building too close to Mpazi, but some still ignore these messages. This tragedy is a painful reminder,” he said.

Early on Friday morning, local authorities, including officials from the City of Kigali and the District of Nyarugenge, joined residents in a search operation and community cleanup, though the girl remained missing by evening.

Madame Umuhoza Clarisse, the District Infrastructure Officer, said the incident showed the urgent need to accelerate rehabilitation works along Mpazi.

“We are working with the City of Kigali and partners to increase the drainage capacity and prevent future losses,” she said.

Mpazi Channel carries rainwater from Mount Kigali and Nyamirambo down to Nyabugogo wetlands. Studies show water levels can rise between 1.5 and 2 meters, with strong flow caused by steep slopes.

The first major construction on Mpazi was carried out around 2012–2013, but engineers later observed that some parts were too shallow, reducing capacity. A technical report under the Climate Resilient and Flood Proof Nyabugogo Project identified Mpazi as a key hotspot for urban flooding.

Local resident Salomo Shumbusho told Imena News that design flaws made the situation worse.

“They reduced the depth instead of expanding it. Now, even small rains fill it up immediately,” he said.

Mukamana Dansira, another resident, agreed:

“When they repaired it, we thought it would help. But now water moves faster and damages houses. Maybe the study wasn’t done well.”

According to Kigali City records, the Mpazi Drainage Rehabilitation Project is part of a wider flood control initiative worth RWF 12 billion, co-funded by the Government of Rwanda and the Green Climate Fund. The Gitega–Mpazi section alone costs around RWF 7 billion, covering 2.1 kilometers of reinforced channels, bridges, and protection walls.

Officials said the works will protect homes but warned that people near the channel should relocate.

As the search for the missing girl continues, Executive Secretary Mugambira reminded parents to protect their children during rainstorms.

“We can’t stop the rain, but we can stop preventable deaths,” he said.

By : Florence Uwamaliya