Over Rwf24 billion has been earmarked for the construction of a commercial building in Muhima, Nyarugenge District.

The project is an initiative of a group of 600 people in Muhima Sector who contributed about Rwf2 billion and secured a bank loan of Rwf22bn to construct a commercial structure with apartments, in accordance with the city Master plan.

The group registered as Muhima Innovation Group Limited (MIG ltd), responded to an appeal to city residents to help implement the new Kigali City master plan.

"We need to work together and invest in such projects to boost the master plan. As authorities, we try to sensitise city residents to use their efforts and not wait for foreign investors or other billionaires to expropriate them and use the available space. So, it’s good for Muhima Innovation Group (MIG) to have launched that initiative,” Bruno Rangira, the head of public relations and communication unit at the City of Kigali said.

"We want to accelerate the master plan implementation but the city’s resources are not sufficient to invest in all the needed infrastructure,” Rangira added.

The nine-storey building will be constructed on over one hectare of land located in Kabeza and Tetero cells in Muhima Sector. It is expected to be complete by 2016.

Shareholders will get proceeds according to the number of their shares.

John Rwishyura, the project coordinator said: "In order to complete our project, we have requested for a bank loan which will be serviced by all shareholders.”

Muhima Innovation Group Limited (MIG ltd) members’ contribution has reached Rwf1.7 billion, according to officials.

This project has been approved by the National Land Commission basing on the Order of the Minister in charge of expropriation’ (Law 18/2007, Article 5).

Rwishyura says the idea was conceived after seeing residents in poor neighbourhoods being evicted to pave way for development.

We didn’t want to wait to be evicted, he said.

"Some of the group members holding shares were expropriated from the area and knew the importance of respecting a master plan that’s why they decided to buy shares. The Master plan is not a problem but a solution to our development challenges,” he added.

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