The Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, on Saturday, December 27, 2025, officially inaugurated the long-awaited Gisenyi Modern Market, bringing to an end a 15-year construction process marked by financial challenges, legal battles, and administrative changes.
Construction of the market was first launched in 2010 by Rubavu District, but the project stalled after the district failed to secure sufficient funding. The unfinished project was later handed over to ABBA Ltd, a move that would spark controversy and eventually trigger major leadership changes within the district.
In March 2015, the failure to deliver the project led to the dismissal of the then Mayor of Rubavu District, Sheikh Bahame Hassan, together with members of his executive committee. Investigations revealed serious irregularities in the contract with ABBA Ltd, including the commencement of construction works before the company had paid the agreed investment of more than RWF 1.3 billion.
Further scrutiny showed that the then Executive Secretary of Rubavu District, Kalisa Christopher, had independently applied for a construction loan from the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) on behalf of ABBA Ltd, despite the company not having fulfilled its financial obligations. These actions were undertaken without the knowledge or approval of the District Council.
A series of court cases ensued between Rubavu District and ABBA Ltd. In February 2017, the courts ruled in favor of the district, and on February 7, a court bailiff officially handed the Gisenyi Market back to the district authorities.
However, the district could not immediately take control of the facility, as it was still listed under state property. A Cabinet decision in 2019 cleared the way for the market to be transferred to the district, enabling negotiations with private investors to begin.
After nearly a decade of stalled works and prolonged litigation, the market was eventually concessioned in 2021 to local private investors operating under Rubavu Investment Company (RICO). The investors were given six months to complete construction of the new market, followed by another six months to redevelop the old market.
Under the public–private partnership agreement, the existing market infrastructure was valued at RWF 2.018 billion as the district’s equity contribution, while RICO committed RWF 2.7 billion to complete the project.
Construction faced further delays due to technical challenges linked to the volcanic nature of the area. To address these constraints, Rubavu District injected an additional RWF 600 million, extending the completion timeline.
With its official inauguration, the Gisenyi Modern Market is now expected to boost cross-border trade, improve working conditions for traders, and strengthen Rubavu District’s role as a key commercial hub in Rwanda’s Western Province.
