Lake Kivu has 113 islands, including 42 located in Rutsiro District. Some of the islands have historical significance and tourism potential, while others are inhabited or used for human activities such as agriculture.
Dr. Deo Ruhagaze, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), said the study involves more than 30 experts from different countries.
He explained that the research will identify which islands could qualify for protection, stressing that not all of Lake Kivu’s islands will be turned into a national park.
“The information we are looking for includes identifying which islands we will study, the criteria we will use to assess them and other factors, because not all the islands will become part of the park,” he said.
RDB official Frank Dushimimana said the in-depth study has been underway for about four months and is expected to be completed in 2027.
He said the findings are expected to benefit communities living around Lake Kivu while also serving Rwanda’s broader tourism and conservation goals.
“We have been conducting this in-depth study for about four months. It will guide the process of assessing whether some of the islands in Lake Kivu could be transformed into protected areas or a national park,” he said.
Environmental expert Dr. Ange Imanishimwe said the initiative could help protect the islands’ ecosystems while creating new economic opportunities.
“If they are properly conserved, the biodiversity found there will be protected, while the trees and vegetation will continue to thrive. This can also contribute to addressing climate change, while visitors to the islands can generate tourism revenue,” she said.
Maurice Niyomugabo, a tour guide who takes visitors around Lake Kivu by boat, said the cooperative he leads currently serves about 1,000 tourists every month, most of them foreign visitors.
The proposed initiative comes as Rwanda seeks to further expand its tourism industry. Under the country’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Rwanda aims to double tourism revenues to $1.1 billion by 2029.
