The City of Kigali announced, on January 21, the approval of nine new settlement sites with 40,000 plots in Gasabo District. This move is part of strategies to reduce informal settlements to 20 percent by 2035, as 60 percent of the population currently lives in unplanned settlements. ALSO READ: Govt issues new guidelines to reduce informal settlements According to a mini-survey among sources by The New Times on four of the nine sites, one plot is priced at around Rwf10 million and above. Here are the locations, sizes, prices, and types of homes set for the nine demarcated settlement sites: 1. Gatunga The Gatunga settlement site is on 155 hectares in Gatunga Cell, Nduba Sector. The site is classified in the R1B zone on Kigali’s master plan. The R1B zone is a residential area offering single-family low-rise home development, especially in the peripheries of the city. ALSO READ: Inside new model to upgrade informal settlements This zone also allows houses (with two floors) similar to those built in IDP model villages, according to the Kigali City Master Plan. The price per plot is around Rwf10 million at this site. 2. Gasanze Phase 3 Site The Gasanze Phase 3 site is located on 144 hectares in Gasanze Cell, Nduba Sector. ALSO READ: 10 major changes in the new Kigali master plan The site also allows housing typologies in the R1B zone. The price per plot is around Rwf20 million. 3. Gisasa The Gisasa site is located on 102.7 hectares in Ngara Cell, Bumbogo Sector. The site permits people to construct homes in the R1A and R1B categories. ALSO READ: Projects in pipeline to build 15,000 affordable houses R1A is a residential zone for single-family homes and small apartments that do not exceed two floors. 4. Masizi The Masizi settlement site in Nyabikenke Cell sits on 96.4 hectares in Bumbogo Sector. It is also in the R1B residential zone category. The price per plot is over Rwf7 million in the area. ALSO READ: How will Rwanda meet 5.5m housing units demand? “In Masizi, the price per plot is around Rwf12 million and above for some plots. That is the same situation in the other settlement sites,” said Eng. Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, who specializes in architecture design and building project execution in Kigali. 5. Masoro Phase 2 The Masoro Phase 2 settlement site is on 109 hectares in Masoro Cell, Ndera Sector. The site must comply with housing typologies in R1, R2, and R3. ALSO READ: Govt mulls direct investment in low-cost housing projects The Low-Density Residential Zone (R1) is intended for single-family homes and villas (large and luxurious homes) that should not exceed two floors. It can have a bungalow typology and complementary public facilities as needed. The R2 zone on the master plan allows houses up to three floors. The R3 zone allows large apartments that do not exceed two floors but can accommodate as many families or people as possible. ALSO READ: Kigali needs 18,000 affordable houses annually Affordable houses are also constructed in this zone. 6. Rudashya The Rudashya settlement is located on 358.8 hectares in Rudashya Cell, Ndera Sector. Landowners in this zone are allowed to construct the types of homes set for R1, R2, R3, R4, C1, and C3 zones. ALSO READ: Foreign investors eye Rwanda’s affordable housing scheme The R4 zone is designated for large apartments with many floors. The C1 and C3 zones are for commercial houses without multiple floors. The price per plot in this site is around Rwf10 million and above. 7. Nyagihanga Phase 1 This settlement site is located on 66.7 hectares in Nyagihanga Cell, Rusororo Sector. ALSO READ: How Rwanda can solve affordable housing challenge Housing typologies in R1A and R3 are recommended. 8. Nyagihanga Phase 2 The settlement site is on 118 hectares, and housing typologies recommended are those set for R1 and R3 zones. 9. Nyagihanga Phase 7 This site is on 140.87 hectares, with housing typologies in R1A, R3, R4, and C4.
