He made this disclosure on June 17, 2024, during a meeting with residents of Rubavu District, particularly those whose businesses had been affected.

The Rwandan government had initially ordered the closure of businesses within a 10-meter radius of the river following severe floods caused by heavy rains on the night of May 2 to May 3, 2023. The floods had severely impacted the Western, Northern, and Southern provinces.

Minister Murasira explained that the government’s immediate priority during the disaster was to save lives, especially those living near the River Sebeya. Following the initial response, the government focused on rehabilitating the Sebeya River to prevent future loss of life and property damage. He informed the residents that the rehabilitation work has now been completed.

"The issues have been resolved. Firstly, a dam has been constructed on River Sebeya to control the water flow. When the water level rises, it is either retained or released gradually. Additionally, walls have been built along the riverbanks to prevent water from overflowing into residents’ homes or other areas," stated Minister Murasira.

He urged the residents to clean their business premises and resume their activities. "After addressing the factors that intensified the River Sebeya’s flooding, you can now clean your buildings and resume businesses. We appreciate your patience and understanding," he added.

The May 2023 disaster claimed the lives of 135 people, predominantly from Rubavu District, who lived near the River Sebeya. It injured over 100 people and completely destroyed 5,694 houses. Additionally, 24 roads and eight water treatment plants were damaged.

A dam has been constructed on to control River Sebeya water flow.