For many years, Migina was known as a place where people seeking quick, cheap thrills went, whether it was drinking and dancing the night away or finding a temporary sexual partner.

Located strategically right opposite Amahoro Stadium, for many years, Migina thrived as a hotspot for all sorts of things, given its slum setting, yet tucked in one of the busiest parts of Kigali, neighbouring Gisementi.

Located in Nyabisindu cell, Remera sector in Gasabo District, Migina was originally known as ‘mu Kinunga’, which is the heart of the neighbourhood perched behind what used to be Sports View Hotel.

A buzzing neighbourhood with a myriad of bars and nightspots, Migina cut its name as one of the neighbourhoods that never sleep, characterised by loud music, a beehive of night activity, and the delinquency that came with it.

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For the fainthearted, Migina was a no-go zone in the late hours and, in its heyday, often, people who did not belong to the locality would get mugged, with a phone or handbag snatched in the process. Anything goes in Migina.

On a random evening, a fight between a sex worker and a client would erupt in one of the bars or dingy lodges and for the residents, it was routine. Cheap alcohol and the watering holes that sold it were all located in Migina, which attracted all sorts of people to the neighbourhood.

On the other hand, Migina is home to many. Between the bustling bars and lodges are homes of people who have lived in the area for decades and saw the place evolve from a slum—synonymous with prostitution and alcoholism—to the fast-growing business hub it is becoming today.

Residents’ viewpoints

Beatrice Murekatete, 61, has been a resident of Migina since 1980. The mother of seven says the place earned its moniker ‘Migina’, which means anthills in Kinyarwanda, from the fact that ladies of the night used to come to sit and wait for clients.

It is also presumed by some elders in the area that many years ago, before it was inhabited by people, the area had many anthills, hence its nickname, but that assertion could not be verified. It is still difficult to trace where the name came from.

However, Murekatete believes that the moniker was derived from the location being a ‘waiting place’, in this case for sex workers and also a place where people sit. Anthills have traditionally been used by shepherds as resting places.

Either way, Murekatete says the name ‘Migina’ is synonymous with prostitution, alcoholism, and delinquency but she has also been lucky to see the area evolve into a liveable urban neighbourhood thriving with business prospects.

"I would say the change started with tarmac roads. They changed the face of Migina. People had settled here in a disorganised way, in unplanned settlements. When they started constructing roads, some people were bought out,” Murekatete says.

Soon, the housing in Migina started to improve, with several apartments, decent homes, and hotels popping up. Migina is home to, among others, Five-to-Five and Lebanon hotels, as well as several uptown apartments and homes.

Back in the day, Migina majorly thrived on events and activities at Amahoro Stadium where sports and music lovers flock to first grab a drink and bite before the event.

Whenever Rayon Sport or APR FC won, Migina would come to a standstill. Being adjacent to the main stadium which is currently under renovation, it also meant that the old ram-shackled bars lining the main street had to undergo a facelift.

Today, the old, shoddy buildings that characterised Migina have been refurbished to match the importance and vision of the area where it is located.

With the completion of BK Arena in 2019, the ongoing renovation of Amahoro National Stadium, and other developments, including Gisementi expansion, Migina, which was once a slum became a hot cake, with land speculators and dealers eying its strategic importance.

"When storeyed buildings started coming up, many were tempted to sell their land and relocate, but some continue to live here,” Murekatete says, adding that the delinquents have also had to find their way out with organisation setting in.

"Most of the people who used to come here to cause chaos were not even residents, just people who came here to make ends meet, doing casual work and ended up staying, but today the same people have found themselves out of place with the development,” she says.

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In less than 10 years, the face of Migina completely changed, with the new tarmac roads getting completed while many more are still being constructed. New big buildings are replacing the old ones fast while shops and restaurants have been revamped.

Marceline Uwimana, 44, a fruit and food vendor, says she first arrived in Migina in 2004 and it was chaotic, though strategic for business and cheap for those in need.

Uwimana says that change began when the road from Gisementi, going down from Remera Corner, and other interconnecting roads, including one linking the upper main road and the one below in Gihogere, towards Controle Technique, were built.

She saw change creep in and she too moved from selling fruits or food items by the roadside to a more organised, labelled business premise—a far cry from how they used to do business.

Like Murekatete, Uwimana says that many knew Migina for the wrong reasons, prostitution and delinquency, but today, that negative image is being dropped, thanks to the development of the area.

The area stretching from Airtel all the way to BK Arena is now littered with modern shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and liquor stores, all looking to tap into the bustling nature of the area, particularly BK Arena, which has become a popular venue for concerts and sports competitions that draw in thousands of people.

During the busy season, such as during the Basketball Africa League (BAL) or even major concerts, Migina is teeming with activity, as revellers and fans look to quench their thirst and have a bite before and after the shows.

From ‘Migina’ to ‘Migisha’

Even before the state-of-the-art Amahoro Stadium is complete, many are already revelling in the prospects brought about by the sports facilities under what is known as Remera Sports Hub.

Ronald Ninsiima, who works at Nana Coffee Shop, says that many young people today see the opportunities around the area with all the new developments coming up and are ready to take advantage.

"Migina is now referred to as ‘Migisha’, or blessings, because of the transformation and everything else going on here. Before, Migina was famous for the wrong reasons, a place where people go to hook up with prostitutes, a place with insecurity.

"But today, Migina is transformed by the new developments in the area and surrounding facilities, paved roads, all these have added value. Today the place is secure, people come and sit to enjoy coffee or food. We are seeing serious changes even before the stadium is complete. It is now a smart neighbourhood,” he says.

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The shops that used to operate in old dilapidated buildings have all been renovated into decent groceries and mini-supermarkets while the restaurants in the area, which previously were considered cheap eateries, are now places where you go to enjoy different African cuisines, such as Congolese food and Somali Chicken.

Chance Bahati, who operates a Congolese restaurant known as Nganda na Biso Bar and Restaurant, has seen Migina evolve into a location where even tourists come to enjoy food and drinks or just simply relax.

"We focus on Congolese food. We have many people, especially Congolese or Rwandans, who lived in Congo, as well as foreigners, coming here to enjoy ugali, meat, and other foods.

"Migina was transformed, though some old practices remain, but the change has been for the better. People freely come here to enjoy—day and night—and they feel safe,” Bahati says, adding that their clientele base has increased over the years, thanks to the development.

Bahati’s sentiments are shared by Eric Niyomugenga, a manager at 2 Shots Club, one of the most popular and oldest bars in the area, opposite BK Arena, who says that the evolution of Migina, from a shanty slum to a business hub has been beneficial for business in many ways.

The renowned bar was one of the first modern facilities in the area but its location being associated with Migina, in a way, came with negative consequences. But all that has changed with the area undergoing development.

"This place was underdeveloped with poor housing and infrastructure but as soon as we got good roads and the arena opened, we started seeing changes. People either renovated their houses or sold off if they didn’t have the capital required to build what is needed,” Niyomugenga says.

The opening of BK Arena in 2019 is considered one of the major factors that ushered in the transformation of Migina as the sports facility attracted international tournaments and concerts, in a way upgrading surrounding areas.

A bright future for Migina

With the new Amahoro National Stadium taking shape and other sports facilities in the sports hub coming up, prospects for Migina becoming a major business hub have increased, with land owners and speculators holding onto the ‘gold’ the land there has become.

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Noel Nsanzineza, Acting Director General of Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), says the Government of Rwanda is undertaking several transformative projects alongside Remera Sports Hub, all of which will impact socio-economic development in the area.

"These projects include Amahoro Stadium which will be upgraded from 25,000 seats to 45,000, the upgrade of Petit Stade, the construction of the Indoor Paralympic Playgrounds, and the Construction of Ujiri Court.

"These projects will be completed in 2024, save for Ujiri Court, which will be completed later on,” Nsanzineza says, adding that works are ongoing to transform the entire area into a modern sports city that will turn Rwanda into a sports, entertainment and touristic hub.

"To ensure efficient mobility within and around Remera Sports Hub, the existing transport and storm water management systems shall be re-engineered. Private properties affected will be expropriated in accordance with existing legal provisions,” Nsanzineza tells The New Times.

The Ujiri Court, to be constructed by Masai Ujiri, President of Toronto Raptors, through his ‘Giants of Africa’ initiative, will be located at the former Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) headquarters, while the rebuilt ‘Petit State’ and the Paralympic stadium and gymnasium will add to the aura of the area.

Within the sports hub, there will be facilities for other games, including tennis, rugby, swimming, and many more, which are expected to attract international competitions as well as many people flocking to the area as spectators.

The future has never been brighter for Migina, a place that until recently was known for all the wrong reasons. For land owners, it has been a windfall as many business-oriented people come to buy land, foreseeing a bright future, ushered in by the swanky sports facilities under construction.

Niyomugenga, who has lived and worked in Migina for nearly two decades, hopes that the new facilities will spur more development for the area, and create employment opportunities and business.

With more roads under construction, connecting the neighbourhoods nestled below the fast-developing sports hub, Migina is strategically positioning itself to be the biggest beneficiary of this multi-billion development that is fast taking shape.