The Parliamentary Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs on Friday, January 24 answers from the City of Kigali over delays in construction of roads, that are partially funded by residents of various neighbourhoods.

MPs noted that citizens had raised 30 per cent of funds needed to construct tarmac roads in their neighbourhoods under the subsidized Neighborhood Roads Programme, and yet the roads had not been built as the city did not avail the remaining 70 per cent of the funds.

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MP Phoebe Kanyange noted that some citizens wondered what happened to the programme and whether they would have to be refunded.

The Mayor of City of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva, told MPs that the subsidized programme, which was initiated to support the construction on the road infrastructure in the city, was still ongoing.

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He said however that the city had budget constraints meant that all the planned roads would not be built at the same time.

"The subsidized programme started two years ago, and we are now constructing roads in different parts of the city. At the beginning of the project, we faced a major challenge where citizens mobilized and raised their contributions, but the City of Kigali’s budget could not meet all demands due to financial constraints,” Dusengiyumva said.

"As a result, we decided to first focus on the construction of existing tarmac roads before moving on to new roads under the subsidized neighborhood roads programme,” he added.

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Dusengiyumva, informed the committee that a total of 18 neighbourhood roads, covering 15.2 kilometres, were currently under construction across the three districts of the City of Kigali. He also stated that strategies are in place to expand the road network depending on the availability of funds.

Dusengiyumva added that the subsidized programme requires transparency in identifying villages that need the roads the most, ensuring they meet the required conditions. He also commended citizens who are willing to take the initiative to construct roads in their neighbourhoods.

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"We already have some citizens who are willing to construct tarmac roads by themselves; all they need from us is technical expertise and road measurement specifications. They approach us seeking the necessary requirements so that they can proceed with construction on their own,” he said.

However, he added, this does not hinder the subsidized neighbourhood roads programme.

"We are currently working on ways to improve the programme, which largely depends on the fiscal year budget. So far, we have introduced new regulations, which are currently under review by the district councils. They will be communicated once approved,” he stated.

According to the City of Kigali, a total of 13 asphalt roads spanning covering about 46 kilometres have been constructed in the fiscal year 2023-2024, with over 13 kilometres of neighbourhood roads completed in partnership with city residents.