Families which were recently allocated decent homes under a "rehousing project” with the aim to upgrade unplanned settlement of Nyarugenge District have raised concerns saying that the new storied houses are not easily accessible people with disabilities.

The issue was reported to members of the Senate's Committee on Economic Development and Finance while assessing the project on Wednesday, July 13.

The families who spoke to The New Times said that while they are satisfied with the rehousing model, it should be inclusive to people with disabilities, especially since the houses are storied.

The New Times visited all 104 units worth about Rwf1.6 billion along Mpazi drainage and none of them has amenities for people with disabilities despite having two floors and others having three.

Those rehoused can only use stairs from one floor to another.

 "The city of Kigali should consider improving the houses and those to be built in the near future to make them easily accessible to people with disabilities and old people,” said Marina Mukabagire, one of the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile she said the rehousing model itself was timely and will save people from risks associated with unplanned settlements, including flooding.

"I had a house in this area of Kimisigara but it was in a high risk zone. We were always afraid that heavy rain and wind would knock down our houses,” she said.

This rehousing scheme involves owners and tenants in the upgrading process, including their expectations and addressing their needs in the design of the housing units and the entire neighbourhood.

This project is in line with having a self-sustainable upgrading process and has demonstrated effectiveness according to developers.

The model involves contribution of land from residents, on which the houses are built then allocated units while the rest are distributed to other vulnerable families.

According to studies, seven families can contribute land on which a structure of 20 units can be developed. 

"I was given a house of three rooms, a sitting room, two washrooms and a kitchen. I also got another space which tenants pay me Rwf200,000 yet when I was earning less when we were in the old houses,” Mukabagire added.

Jean-Baptiste Nkurikiye is one of the residents in the same area whose neighbourhood is yet to be upgraded.

"We are also expecting to benefit from the project because we are already vulnerable to stormwater. The only thing we require is to get a house as compensation but which can accommodate all our family members.

 If I have 10 members, they should all be accommodated in such a house. The houses should also be accessible to people with disabilities and old people who can’t easily make movement using the stairs,” he said.

Senators speak out

Senator Juvénal Nkusi, the Chairperson of Committee on Economic Development and finance blamed the engineers for having failed to make the buildings inclusive for people with disabilities.

"The houses are decent and we commend the program that is using the rehousing model to improve unplanned settlements. This should be scaled up to increase decent housing,” he said.

 However, he noted that, with three floors without ways to facilitate people with disabilities it is not a good choice.

"People with body weakness and disabilities can’t easily use stairs. The city officials should seek a solution for this,” he said.

The engineers working on the project told the senators that they have received the complaints and that discussions about the matter are going on.