Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment as a Tool for Environmental Protection in Construction Projects: A Case of Muhanga District, Rwanda

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) remains the principal regulatory instrument for integrating environmental considerations into construction decision-making in developing countries. Despite its widespread legal adoption, questions persist regarding whether EIA processes translate procedural compliance into substantive environmental protection outcomes, particularly in rapidly urbanising secondary cities. This study assesses the effectiveness of EIA as a tool for environmental protection in construction projects in Muhanga District, Rwanda. Employing a descriptive-correlational design with a mixed-methods approach, primary data were collected through structured questionnaires from 181 respondents across five stakeholder categories, supplemented by 20 key informant interviews, documentary review of 35 EIA reports, and field observations. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS (descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression), while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results indicate moderate EIA implementation (M = 3.21, SD = 0.86) and moderate environmental protection (M = 3.08, SD = 0.91). A statistically significant strong positive correlation was found between EIA implementation and environmental protection (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), with EIA implementation explaining 44.9% of the variance in environmental protection. Regression analysis confirmed EIA implementation as the strongest predictor (β = 0.58, p < 0.001), followed by government intervention (β = 0.16, p = 0.003) and institutional support (β = 0.13, p = 0.006). Key barriers include institutional capacity constraints, weak enforcement mechanisms, superficial stakeholder engagement, and fragmented coordination. The study concludes that while EIA implementation positively influences environmental protection, governance context significantly moderates this relationship. Recommendations include strengthening district-level institutional capacity, enhancing enforcement consistency, mandating adaptive EIA management, and promoting substantive stakeholder engagement.