GICUMBI – Landlords in various trading centres in Gicumbi District have started to rehabilitate their houses.
Following a district directive that end of year is the deadline to have all commercial buildings refurbished.

"The decision to rehabilitate all trading centres in the district was reached at a recent District Advisory Council meeting,” the council chairperson Cécile Nyirantwari told The New Times.

She explained that some trading centres like Rukomo, located along Kigali-Gatuna highway which was initially meant to be upgraded under the District Urban Plan, were later left to remain just as trading centres on advice of civil engineers. 

The district official in- charge of urban planning, Adeline Kanyamugenge said the rehabilitation of trading centres is in line with the government’s vision to modernise all commercial centres countrywide.

"The District Urban Plan is out and all land developers will be required to abide by it”, she said.

The New Times established that the rehabilitation has not affected business, as different premises continued with normal business.

"We have no alternative place to go while waiting for rehabilitation works to be completed.

That is why we intend to carry on with our businesses which we believe will commence alongside rehabilitation works”, said one trader in Rukomo trading centre who gave his name only as Musoni.

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