RUBIRIZI – Local leaders, in partnership with Crater Pearl Adventures, have rolled out community engagement across Rubirizi District to raise public awareness on environmental conservation and tourism promotion as drivers of economic growth.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The initiative comes on the heels of a community sensitization meeting held on June 25 at Nyabushabi Trading Centre, Katerera, Rubirizi District, where government officials, security agencies, local leaders, and residents convened.
The collective awareness campaign focused on promoting proper waste management practices and preserving the pristine environment that makes Rubirizi a potential tourist destination.
Addressing the gathered residents, Ahamedi Kinene, the Rubirizi District Commissioner (RDC), emphasized the district’s commitment to training residents on environmental conservation and tourism promotion.
The RDC cautioned the public against littering plastic bottles in lakes and rivers, warning that security agencies will start arresting offenders for prosecution to protect tourism and culture, vital community income sources.
“Operations are underway, with security agencies and local leaders joining forces to apprehend bottle litterers for prosecution. We must all recognize that tourism and culture are vital to our community’s income and future,” Kinene emphasized.
The senior lecturer and CEO of Crater Pearl Adventures, Maricel, who initiated the sensitization meeting, described the involvement of security agencies and local leaders in the clean-up exercise as a strategic move.
He explained that the initiative aims to showcase Rubirizi District’s beauty by cleaning all natural resources while promoting environmental conservation.
“We have decided to involve all stakeholders to enforce the clean-up exercise aimed at showcasing the beauty of Rubirizi District. Our focus is on cleaning all natural resources as a way of promoting environmental conservation and creating awareness about the importance of tourism in our community,” Mr. Maricel said.
Maricel further stressed the importance of keeping lakes and rivers free from plastic bottles and other waste to safeguard the community’s tourism potential, emphasizing the need to discourage littering around water bodies.
Katerera Sub-County Chairperson Akampurira Pascal expressed gratitude to the District’s environmental conservation efforts, thus calling on communities to initiate clean-up days to promote tourism awareness.
He stressed that tourists would only visit Rubirizi if they find clean lakes, towns, and a healthy environment, as residents pledged to protect the district’s lakes, rivers, and national park resources for future generations and tourism income.
“The community must start clean-up days to promote tourism awareness among residents. Tourists will only come to Rubirizi if they find clean lakes, clean towns, and a healthy environment. A dirty environment kills tourism in our community,” Akampurira said.
The awareness initiative is part of a broader strategy to mobilize community participation in the highly anticipated Crater Rift Valley Run, scheduled to take place on July 25, 2026.
The collaboration between local leaders, security agencies, and private sector partners demonstrates a unified approach to sustainable development that balances environmental protection with economic growth through tourism.
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