Impacts of Non-Compliance with Environmental Mitigation Measures for Road Construction on Community Livelihood in Nyanza and Bugesera Districts, Rwanda

The study sought to investigate the environmental impacts mitigation methods for road construction and community livelihood in Rwanda. Case of Nyanza and Bugesera. The study employed a mixed-method approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data by utilising a sample size of 249 respondents. Data collection techniques included questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. The data were analysed through means, standard deviation and multiple linear regression analysis. Findings showed that environmental degradation was a notable outcome of the Kibugabuga-Shinga-Gasoro Road construction, with key concerns such as soil erosion (Mean = 3.85, SD = 0.78), vegetation destruction (Mean = 3.75, SD = 0.81), and water pollution exceeding World Health Organization thresholds. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 67.7% of the variance in environmental and socio-economic impacts could be explained by the combined effect of enforcement, mitigation, and monitoring measures. Among the predictors, monitoring contributed 39.8%, mitigation accounted for 26.5%, and enforcement contributed 24.2% to the observed impacts. These findings indicate that inadequate implementation of these three components was strongly associated with increased environmental degradation and socio-economic disturbances in the project areas. The study concludes that non-compliance with environmental impact mitigation measures significantly influenced environmental and socio-economic disruptions during the road construction project. The weak enforcement of environmental guidelines, poor implementation of mitigation measures, and inconsistent monitoring practices were the primary contributors to the observed negative impacts. To improve compliance and reduce negative outcomes, the study recommends that government agencies strengthen enforcement mechanisms through increased funding, staffing, and independent oversight. Project implementers should integrate mitigation plans into all stages of construction with clear timelines and accountability. Additionally, continuous environmental monitoring and transparent reporting should be institutionalised, and local communities should be actively involved in the oversight process to ensure sustainable and environmentally responsible road infrastructure development.