In the Musenyi sector of Bugesera district, 35-year-old Beatrice Nyiransengimana starts her day long before dawn. At 4 a.m., she rises to tend to her one-hectare farm. But before any work on the farm can begin, she embarks on a two-hour journey to fetch water from Cyohoha Lake—a gruelling trek she has known all her life. This daily routine is just one of many challenges imposed by a system that forces women to bear the burden of water collection.

“We need water for various household activities, but we don’t have enough,” Beatrice says, echoing the frustration of many women in her community.

Bugesera, a district in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, is home to over half a million people across 1,288 square kilometres. Despite being dotted with lakes, access to clean water remains a daunting challenge. The district suffers from socio-economic water scarcity due to insufficient investment in water supply infrastructure, which worsens during the dry season. The district relies on three main water supply options: large-scale networks managed by the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC), small-scale networks managed by private operators, and hand pumps under a community-based management model.

These challenges force women like Beatrice to confront the daily hardships of water scarcity. “In my lifetime, I have never seen clean water or a water pipe in my village,” Beatrice says. The impact of this situation is manifold. “Children go to fetch water till 10 a.m. due to long queues at water points,” Beatrice explains. “Sometimes they come home without water because of [their] limited energy to fight, and others get hungry and leave before fetching water.” The struggle for water directly impacts their health and education, with diseases like bilharzia becoming common due to reliance on dirty water.

Water scarcity in Bugesera also severely hampers agricultural productivity. Dusabe Jean de Dieu, another resident of the Musenyi sector, shares the same ordeal. “Water is a big problem, and life is challenging because of using dirty and insufficient water,” he says. The lack of clean water has led to the spread of diseases like bilharzia and reduced agricultural output due to insufficient water for irrigation.

During the rainy season, there is a brief reprieve, but in the dry season, the situation becomes desperate. “Everyone looks crazy and hopeless because they spend much time looking for water.” This leads to an overuse of groundwater, which has also become a significant concern across the Eastern Province.

Dr Judith Uwihirwe, a hydro-meteorological and geological hazards prediction and warning expert and senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda, stresses the importance of regularly monitoring groundwater storage changes to take timely appropriate measures in case of severe decline. She suggests that “the community explore alternative water sources, implement limitations on groundwater use for irrigation, and adopt groundwater preservation techniques to balance recharge and discharge.”

In response to these challenges, women in Bugesera have taken matters into their own hands, engaging in efforts to address water scarcity. Béatha Ntabanganyimana, a 40-year-old mother and farmer, sees hope in a Water Aid supply project that aims to provide a more reliable water source for the community. WaterAid is an international non-governmental organisation focused on water, sanitation and hygiene. “We hope that dams, linked to Cyohoha Lake, could provide enough water and help us in irrigation,” she notes.

Meanwhile, rainwater harvesting has emerged as one alternative, though it comes with challenges. “Rainwater harvesting and storage is very expensive because one needs a tank or other tools for water storage,” Béatha explains. “I don’t have a tank, but I have a big bucket and many jerrycans that I use for rainwater harvesting and conservation.”

The situation in Bugesera reflects broader trends across the Nile Basin, where water scarcity is a growing concern for millions. Across the basin, innovative local solutions are emerging, rooted in traditional knowledge and community collaboration. For example, in Kenya’s Kajiado County, women have led the way in water conservation by implementing sand dams, earth pans, and shallow wells—traditional techniques that have significantly improved water availability.

The women of Bugesera, like those in other parts of the Nile Basin, are relentless in their pursuit of solutions. “The impacts of this water shortage are common for the community, but young generations in Eastern Rwanda are currently playing a vital role in fighting against water shortage challenges,” Beatrice Nyiransengimana reflects. Their efforts underscore the need for structural reform, not just individual resilience. By fostering regional cooperation and sharing knowledge, Nile Basin countries can take significant steps toward solving water crises. The success of these efforts will provide sustainable solutions and honour the identity and heritage of all who live along the Nile.

As the women of Bugesera continue to push against structural barriers, their struggle is a powerful reminder that the battle for water is also a battle for dignity and a better future.