The study focused on stakeholder participation and sustainability of government projects after closeout, a case of Kirehe Community Based Watershed Management Project (KWAMP). The research objectives were to determine the influence of passive participation among stakeholders on sustainability of KWAMP project implemented in Kirehe District; to examine the influence of interactive participation among stakeholders on sustainability of KWAMP project implemented in Kirehe District; to establish the influence of functional participation among stakeholders on sustainability of KWAMP project implemented in Kirehe District; to investigate the influence of optimum participation among stakeholders on sustainability of KWAMP project implemented in Kirehe District; and to identify the relationship between stakeholder’s participation and sustainability of KWAMP project in Kirehe District. The study was guided by a descriptive research design whereby it was a plan to give a proper picture describing the situation qualitatively. This study used a correlative analysis style to explain information and characteristics of what were studied. Target population was 340,431 people from different sectors involved and benefited directly to KWAMP Project in Kirehe District. This study used stratified and simple randomly sampling technique to select 100 respondents as sample size. Data collection instruments were questionnaire, interview guide, and document review. Descriptive statistics scores were used to reach on objective one, two, three and until five. Correlation matrix test was used to show the relationship between stakeholder’s participation and sustainability of KWAMP project in Kirehe District.  Findings on correlation matrix test confirmed that there is a very strong correlation between project sustainability and passive participation as Pearson correlation is .935** with the p-value of 0.000, which is less than standard significance levels of 0.01.  The results also showed that there is strong correlation between Project Sustainability and Interactive participation as Pearson correlation is .782**. The p-value is 0.000, which is less than standard significance level of 0.01. There is strong correlation between Functional participation and Project Sustainability as Pearson correlation is .715**. The p-value is 0.000, which is less than standard significance levels of 0.01. There is also strong correlation between Optimal participation and Project Sustainability as Pearson correlation is .682**. The p-value is 0.000, which is less than standard significance level of 0.01. However, according to analysis done above confirmed that there is correlation between the variables representing stakeholder’s participation with sustainability of KWAMP project in Kirehe District.  Based to the outcomes of this research which shown on the results indicated that effective stakeholder’s participation led to project succession, and the lack of part of beneficiary can contribute to project failure for attaining its goals. Effective stakeholder’s participation attains both interactive and spontaneous mobilization. In donor funded water projects the case of KWAMP Project the management framework should comprise several actors on various institutional levels.

Key Words: Stakeholder Participation; Sustainability; Government Project, Rwanda