The City of Kigali is set to begin construction of a major rehousing project in Kagugu, Gasabo District, that will provide modern homes for 716 families alongside infrastructure and essential services.
The Kabuhunde Rehousing Project will be developed on 33.699 hectares in Kagugu Cell, Kinyinya Sector, with construction scheduled to begin in January 2027.
The project is intended to improve housing conditions in the area by replacing inadequate housing with planned residential units designed to meet safety, sanitation and living standards.
City of Kigali spokesperson Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya said the development will consist of six-storey residential buildings, with parking facilities and infrastructure supporting the residential area.
Roads, market and health services
The project will extend beyond housing, with several facilities planned to make essential services more accessible to residents.
These include paved internal roads, a wastewater treatment facility, public spaces and landscaped areas for recreation.
A market and health facilities, including a pharmacy or clinic, are also planned.
The city says the integrated approach will reduce the need for residents to travel far to access basic services while creating a more organised and liveable neighbourhood.
Existing property owners to be considered
The project also addresses the situation of residents who already own land or houses in the development area.
Ntirenganya said their existing property will be valued and taken into account when determining their entitlement to new housing, in accordance with laws governing compensation for projects undertaken in the public interest.
The approach is intended to ensure that affected residents are not simply relocated but can benefit from housing linked to the value of the property they previously owned.
Part of Kigali’s wider housing programme
Kabuhunde is part of Kigali’s broader effort to develop planned neighbourhoods that combine housing with infrastructure and essential services.
The city says it is building on experience from projects such as Mpazi in Nyarugenge District and Nyabisindu in Gasabo District.
The first phase of Mpazi delivered nearly 800 homes, while plans are underway to expand the development with more than 4,100 additional housing units.
Meanwhile, the Nyabisindu project is expected to provide more than 2,000 homes by June 2027.
Kigali says the rehousing programme is not only aimed at increasing the number of homes but also at improving living conditions for low- and middle-income households.
The city also wants residents to maintain links to their existing communities, workplaces, businesses and social networks as they move into planned housing.
Once completed, the Kabuhunde project will add to Kigali’s efforts to promote integrated housing developments where homes are provided alongside roads, sanitation facilities, public spaces and essential services.
