[Objective] The field investigation of soil erosion was carried out in mountain and hilly regions of the Republic of Rwanda to analyze the characteristics and reasons of soil erosion, in order to provide basis for soil erosion prediction and control in the mountainous and hilly areas of the upper reaches of the Nile River.[Methods] Four investigation routes were selected, soil erosion characteristics and reasons, and soil and water conservation measures were investigated from October 17 to 22, 2019 in Rwanda.[Results] The Republic of Rwanda is mountainous and dominated by agriculture and animal husbandry. Soil erosion mainly occurs in slope farmland, deforested land and construction land. Slope farmland is dominated by sheet erosion and ditch erosion. Destroyed land is dominated by sheet erosion and gully erosion, and part of it appears gully erosion. When grass or young forest is formed on bare ground, soil erosion is less likely to occur. Gully erosion is caused by rainfall and runoff on roadside slope, excavated slopes and dirt road surface and slopes. Gravity erosion occasionally occurs on some roadside slopes. To prevent soil erosion, terrace is the most important soil and water conservation measure with significant ecological and economic benefits.[Conclusion] Soil erosion in Rwanda is dominated by water erosion, followed by gravity erosion. Unreasonable reclamation of sloping land, deforestation, and mountainous topography have caused severe soil erosion, and threatened food security as well as the safe ecology. Rwanda lacks monitoring data on soil and water loss at present. Thus, it is urgent and necessary to attach importance to the basic theoretical research of soil and water conservation, to strength the monitoring and collection of basic data of soil and water loss, to promote the implementation of soil and water conservation measures and land management, and to ensure the sustainable and green development of agriculture in Rwanda.