The Minister for Infrastructure, James Musoni, yesterday launched the construction of 7,480 housing units in the City of Kigali and urged private entrepreneurs to pick interest in building the modern homes that Rwandans in both Kigali and secondary cities across the country need.

Musoni broke the ground in Batsinda, a suburb of Kigali, where the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) will construct 609 dwelling units that will cost Rwf30 million each as the government and its partners seek to provide affordable homes for city dwellers.

Batsinda II, as the project has been named, is one of five affordable housing projects in the City of Kigali that were revealed yesterday.

Other are Rugarama (2,743 units), Ziniya Pilot Project (128 units), Ndera Affordable Housing Project (2000 units), and Kanombe Affordable Housing Project (2,000 units).

The launch of the projects was part of a larger government plan to try and provide affordable housing, Musoni said.

On top of urbanising Kigali, the government has pointed out six secondary cities that will be the ‘poles of growth’ for the country including Rubavu, Musanze, Nyagatare, Muhanga, Huye and Rusizi.

"We have started affordable housing projects in Kigali but we want to extend the programmes to other parts of the country, especially in the six secondary cities,” Musoni said.

Officials at the Ministry of Infrastructure say the current gap of urban population that access housing in the formal market is likely to intensify as Rwanda develops towards Vision 2020, which targets urbanisation rate to increase from 17 per cent of the population in 2012 to 35 per cent by the year 2020.

In line with the Vision 2020 target of achieving 35 per cent urban growth, the urban population will increase from the current 1.7 million to 4.4 million, which is an increase of about 2. 7 million people living in urban areas.

"Rwanda’ s demand for affordable housing in general is estimated to require at least 560,000 units by 2020 plus all other related socio- economical amenities in addition to current housing supply. From now until 2020, this will require yearly construction of 93,400 units (or 7,780 units monthly). This, therefore, highlights how much severe supply is required to bring down the need for affordable homes and curb the speculation involved,” reads a statement released by the ministry yesterday.

The construction of the housing units will be undertaken through collaboration between the government, the City of Kigali, the Development Bank of Rwanda, RSSB and Shelter Afrique group.

Officials encouraged members of the private sector to venture into the business of developing affordable housing and build upwards to save land while catering for the needs of many Rwandans.

"The fact that private entrepreneurs have shown interest in affordable housing projects gives hope that the issue of limited affordable homes will be solved,” said Fidele Ndayisaba, the mayor of the City of Kigali.

Minister Musoni also encouraged private entrepreneurs to pick interest in developing affordable homes and for Rwandans to save as much as they can to buy the homes.

"Let’s try and put the land we have to good use and let’s save as much as we can in order to own the homes we need,” the minister said.

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