Law establishing Rwanda Water Resources Board (N° 71/2019 of 29/01/2020).

This Law establishes the Rwanda Water Resources Board (“RWB”) as a non-commercial public institution. It also determines its mission, responsibilities, organisation and functioning. The mission of RWB is to ensure the availability of enough and well managed water resources for sustainable development. RWB shall, among other things: advise the Government on matters related to water resources; implement national policies, laws and strategies related to water resources; establish strategies related to floods management, water resources data and research, quality and quantity water resources management, and protection of catchments and coordinate the implementation of erosion control plans; establish water storage infrastructure; establish water resources allocation plans; control and enforce water resources use efficiency. RWB may, among other things, issue permit to users of water resources; suspend or revoke a water resources use permit in case the holder does not respect legal provisions; levy water resources usage charges; carry out monitoring and enforcement actions.
An Order of the Prime Minister determines the supervising authority of RWB. Management organs of RWB are the Board of Directors and the Executive Organ. The Board of Directors of RWB is the supreme management and decision-making organ. It has absolute power to make decisions regarding administration, human resources and property of RWB in order to fulfil its mission. The Executive Organ of RWB shall monitor and coordinate daily functions and activities of RWB. The Act provides for transfer of employees, property, liabilities and contracts from the Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority to RWB.