During its plenary session held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Rwandan Senate, through its Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights, recommended that only Nkombo Island remain inhabited, after finding that residents on 13 other islands across the country face harsh living conditions due to a lack of basic infrastructure, calling for their gradual relocation to safer, better-serviced areas.

This recommendation follows a field visit by the Senate Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights, which assessed the living conditions on 12 of the islands. The committee found that most lacked essential infrastructure such as schools, clean water, electricity, and proper administrative services.

Senator Adrie Umuhire, the Committee Chairperson, stated that relocating residents would be more sustainable than attempting to extend public services to remote areas that are difficult and costly to access. According to the report, there are over 4,600 households with around 25,000 people living on 14 inhabited islands.

While the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) supports keeping three islands Nkombo, Bugarura, and Birwa 1 inhabited, the Senate argues that even Bugarura and Birwa 1 pose challenges. Residents frequently have to cross water bodies to access basic services, which affects their safety and quality of life.

The Senate also emphasized the need to conduct further research to explore how the islands could be repurposed for tourism, conservation, and investment once vacated.

Nationally, Rwanda has 148 islands, but only 14 are currently inhabited. The Senate Committee visited 12 of them located in lakes Kivu, Burera, Ruhondo, and Rweru. The government has already begun the process of relocating some residents, with the goal of doing so gradually and responsibly.