About 700 people gathered at Boma Grounds in Mbarara City for the fifth edition of the Save River Rwizi Marathon, renewing public support and investment momentum for the restoration of the river and its wider catchment.

Held under the theme, “Stakeholders Championing the Restoration of River Rwizi,” the Marathon brought together government officials, local authorities, businesses, civil society, conservation organisations and communities. The annual event provides a platform to raise awareness, mobilise resources and turn public concern for River Rwizi into practical conservation action.

“The turnout shows the growing commitment to protect River Rwizi. This is important because communities, government and businesses all depend on this shared resource. For Nile Breweries, a healthy business cannot be separated from a healthy catchment and thriving communities, which is why water stewardship is a long-term responsibility, not a one-off activity,” said Emmanuel Njuki, Executive Director and Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs, Nile Breweries Limited.

According to reports, 711 ha of wetlands have been demarcated in Rucece and the Kibale-Munyere wetland; 12 km of river buffers are under restoration in Nyamitanga, Ruti, Ruharo, Kakigani and Kihumuro; 67,000+ seedlings have been planted; and 1,000+ households have been reached through livelihood interventions, including apiary, agroforestry, a revolving fund, zero grazing and rainwater-harvesting tanks.

Njuki said Nile Breweries is also acting within its own operations at the Mbarara Brewery by improving water-use efficiency, expanding water reuse and ensuring that wastewater is properly treated before being returned to the environment.

“As a business that depends on River Rwizi, our responsibility begins with how we use and manage water. We are working to use less water in brewing, reuse as much as possible and ensure that any water returned to the environment is properly treated and compliant with the required standards. We also encourage every industry that depends on the river to contribute funding, innovation and people to its restoration,” Njuki said.

According to the World Wide Fund (WWF), by 2028, the restoration programme aims to have 1,128 ha under improved protection or sustainable management, restore and rehabilitate 355 ha, and increase water replenishment from 23,070 to 120,239 m³/year as a result of the various interventions.

Njuki called on the government to continue strengthening governance, enforcement and protection of the catchment; on the private sector to invest in water stewardship and bring resources, innovation and accountability to the shared challenge; and on communities to continue protecting wetlands, riverbanks and restored areas. Long-term recovery, he said, will depend on strong local ownership and sustained cooperation among all catchment stakeholders.

“No single Marathon, organisation or project can secure the future of River Rwizi on its own. It will take consistent action from all of us. Protecting River Rwizi is a shared responsibility, and today’s Marathon should move us from awareness to action,” Njuki said.