Rwanda unveils $175 million urban development initiative

The Second phase of Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP II) unveiled on Thursday, May 5, is expected to provide basic infrastructures in secondary cities and address unplanned settlements and floods in the City of Kigali, among other interventions. It was launched in Kigali by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Infrastructure, the World Bank, and other development partners. The estimated total cost for the project is about $175.45 million, of which $150 million is financed through World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) grant (50 percent) and credit (50 percent). Other financiers of the initiative are GEF-7 Trust Fund with $8.07 million, the Climate Investment Funds with $2.38 million as part of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), as well as the Government of Rwanda which will provide $15 million as counterpart funding for anticipated compensation and resettlements costs under the project. Of that $150 million financing from IDA, $68.93 will be used to support the City of Kigali with focus on integrated urban planning for resilient, inclusive infrastructure delivery, while $80.85 will be used to support secondary cities with investments largely targeting infrastructure and service delivery in those cities. Again, of the City of Kigali funding, flood infrastructure (hotspots) will get $12 million, while wetland rehabilitation $12.43 million. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Infrastructure Minister, Ernest Nsabimana said that the second project is built on the successful implementation of the first phase (RUDP I). He cited the effective upgrading of the Agatare Project meant to upgrade informal Settlementsin Biryogo, Agatare, Kiyovu and Rwampara areas of Nyarugenge District. According to information from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Agatare Upgrading Project, which started in 2018, has overhauled the four informal settlements that are said to host more than 83 per cent of the over 26,000 residents of Nyarugenge Sector in Nyarugenge District. Most of these unplanned settlements do not have basic infrastructures such as roads, pedestrian ways, drainages, street lights, electricity, water and others that are needed to facilitate people’s daily businesses. The RUDP provided such basic infrastructures, hence improving the livelihoods of the residents in question. “This project has proven to be effective in redeveloping informal settlements in line with the City of Kigali’s vision and masterplan,” he said. “Kigali is a hilly city. You realise that we had an issue in storm water management as there are parts of the City which are prone to floods, such as Rugunga and Mpazi among others. So, this project will help address the flooding problems in the six flood hotspots in this project phase,” he said. Rubavu District Mayor, Ildephonse Kambogo told The New Times that this project will have socio-economic development, pointing out that it will benefit at least 28,000 residents of the district. Thanks to the project, he said that 9.8 kilometres of tarmac road will be built, pointing out that its construction will start by the end of this month. The road will connect Rugerero Sector and Petite Barrière – a border between Rubavu and DR Congo’s Goma. “Transport will be eased thanks to this road, which will facilitate cross-border business as well,” he said, adding that some members of the local community will get jobs under the auspices of the project. This project will support infrastructure development, which is important to a secondary city, he said, adding that it will also help us to effectively manage the sewer, which has been a problem to the border district and residents.” Settlement upgrade, flood control and wetland rehabilitation in Kigali The particularities of RUDP II is the comprehensive upgrading of informal settlements as enhancement of resilient infrastructures like Gikondo and Nyabugogo wetland rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation of six identified flood-risk hotspots (of Kinamba, Rugunga, Rwandex-Majerwa, Mulindi, Masaka, Gacuriro). The four unplanned settlements selected in the City of Kigali are Mpazi in Nyarugenge District, Gatenga in Kicukiro District, and Nyagatovu and Nyabisindu both located in Gasabo District. Pudence Rubingisa, the City of Kigali Mayor, said that the choice of the four informal settlements was based on the living conditions of their residents that the City realised needed to be enhanced for welfare improvement. Also, he said, this second phase will redevelop wetlands available in the City from Rwampara, to Gatenga, Gikondo to Rugenge towards Nyabugogo. “Some of the wetlands were inhabited, while factories were built in others such that they were damaged. Now, a plan to rehabilitate them is going to be implemented in accordance with the wetland masterplan,” he said. Given that the amount of rainfall has increased according to the observed trend, there are major water drains such as Mpazi and Nyagatovu, which will be constructed in this project [in an effort to contain floods]. “The project helps improve the living conditions of residents and mitigates disaster effects especially for those living in high risk zones,” Rubingisa said, adding that they are still mobilising more funds in order to redevelop more unplanned settlements in the City.

News

Rwanda unveils $175 million urban development initiative