Conservationists, organizations, institutions, and residents gathered in Rutoto to kick-start a large-scale cleanup campaign in communities and along the shores of Lake Nkuguta in Rubirizi District. The initiative is intended to raise awareness about environmental conservation while showcasing the district’s natural scenery to the world.

‎Tigikya Nature Adventures launched the “Nurture Nature” campaign aimed at protecting the environment and promoting ecotourism among communities around Rutoto and the entire district.

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‎Conservation efforts in the Rutoto area of Rubirizi District, particularly around Lake Nkuguta and its connecting wetlands, are driven by the need to protect water sources for more than sixty percent of the district’s population. By 2026, these efforts increasingly become community-led and supported by government initiatives focusing on restoring the Lake Nkuguta ecosystem and reducing plastic pollution.

‎One of the founders of Tigikya Nature Adventures and organizer of the Crater Rift Valley Run, Mr. Katusime Marcel Private, asked the community to join hands in supporting nature conservation for the development and boost in the economy of Rubirizi District. He said Rubirizi should not be known for bad records, but rather for positive achievements.

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‎As part of the sensitization campaign, Katusime Marcel mobilized the surrounding community at Rutoto Trading Centre and addressed them on the dangers of water pollution and the importance of protecting the lake as a source of local water supply.

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‎Organizers also announced the upcoming Crater Rift Valley Run scheduled for 25th July 2026. The run will be held under the theme “Create Awareness, Promote Fitness, and Tourism Conservation” and is aimed at fighting the disposal of plastic bottles, polythene bags, and other waste around the lake area and neighboring communities.

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‎Mr. Benon Mutabazi, a local leader, warned that if the practice of dumping plastic waste continues and district leaders fail to act, future generations may lose access to these lakes and called on the government to take stricter action and arrest anyone found dumping plastic bottles and other waste into the lakes.

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‎The chief tour guide on Lake Rutoto, Mr. Asiimwe Sowed, also urged residents to take responsibility for keeping their environment clean by ensuring proper disposal of waste and placing dustbins in strategic areas.

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‎The Nurture Nature campaign is expected to run throughout the year, with more community cleanups and awareness drives planned in the coming months