On November 26, 2022, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA), in collaboration with Rubavu District and other disaster management actors, joined residents of the Busasamana Sector in a monthly community exercise called Umuganda to mitigate and reduce disaster effects.

Busasamana Sector; primarily cultivated lowlands in Nyacyonga, Rusura, and Gacurabwenge cells were devastated by severe floods that created gullies and caused rainwater to overflow in cultivated farms.

The Umuganda activities included tree planting, widening and stabilizing rainwater channels, and improving rainwater drainage to protect local community assets from flood risks.

Shortly after the community work, the Minister in charge of Emergency Management KAYISIRE Marie Solange, called for Busasamana residents to implement disaster risk prevention and mitigation activities across all development sectors.

"To build disaster resilience, everybody has to play their role. The control of rainwater to protect plantations, houses, and infrastructure should be implemented by everyone in our daily work." Minister KAYISIRE insisted.

The Minister also sensitized the general public to always comply with warnings issued by MINEMA and other partners. Key messages included roof fixing, house retrofitting, rainwater harvesting and channeling, and paying attention to flooded rivers during heavy rains.

Farmers in the lowlands of Nyacyonga, Rusura, and Gacurabwenge cells of Busasamana Sector, currently implement a community-based flood risk mitigation and adaptation project with funds from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 
Through the project, MINEMA strengthened the capacity of Disaster Management Committees members (SEDIMACs), local leaders at the cell level, Sector officials, and community representatives (executive community and supervision committees) through trainings on disaster risk reduction and community development.

Floods used to affect crops such as Irish potatoes, maize, beans, and vegetables due to a lack of flood mitigation measures. Residents were exposed to floods that wiped away crops and destroyed residential houses, infrastructure, and livestock.