Editor,

In an article entitled "Madhvani group takes over Nakumatt land” published in The New Times on Tuesday 21st July 2009, the reporter insinuated that Madhvani group is taking over the same piece of land previously allocated to Nakumatt.

However, I would like to shed some light on the allocation of Kimihurura land to investors. In 2008 cabinet passed a ministerial decree on over 53 hectares of the former republican guard land in Kimihurura to be leased out to potential investors.

After this decree Kigali city developed physical plans, designs of the area and also valued the land to be leased out. Presently the value of land on Kimihurura roundabout is Frw 80,000 per square meter.

According to the master plan this particular area is supposed to be developed into a commercial and recreational hub in what is called "Kimihurura Gateway”.

Kigali city has been marketing this area to possible investors in the commercial and hospitality sectors.

So when Nakumatt expressed interest in building a shopping mall in Kigali city we directed them to Kimihurura and they needed only 3.2 hectares. Gasabo district offered them an amount supposed to be paid for the land.

However, Nakumatt has so far not managed to continue with the project.

Nonetheless, there is still ample land on offer to investors, and when Madhvani group contacted Kigali city we showed them another plot on Kimuhurura roundabout not what your reporter called Nakumatt land.

Contrary to what was reported, in no terms did I indicate to your reporter that Madhvani group is taking over the land previously offered to Nakumatt.

Both companies have expressed interest in taking different plots in the former republican guard land and none of them has acquired any.

They have not fulfilled the necessary requirements of obtaining land in Kigali city.

However, I would like to inform the readers that there are projects that have already started being implemented in the Kimihurura Gateway plan, for example the multimillion Convention Centre has already broken ground.

And we are working with different investors to develop this strategic area.

Rangira Bruno
Director of Media and Communication
Kigali City Council