The start of the 2025/2026 academic year at University of Rwanda (UR) has come with accommodation challenges, as many students have been forced to seek housing off-campus. This follows the government’s decision to merge two cohorts of secondary school graduates (2024/2025 and 2025/2026) into a single “double intake.” ALSO READ: Over 16,000 varsity students to get scholarships The New Times has learned that the on-campus accommodation has been overwhelmed by the number of students, pushing many into the private rental market and leading to a rise in housing costs. The majority of students, particularly those in their second year and beyond, have been directed by the university administration to seek accommodation off-campus. The move has created higher demand for private rentals. Divine Niyigena, a second-year student at UR Nyagatare campus, told The New Times that she was inconvenienced by the immediate change that required her to look for off-campus accommodation. READ ALSO: UR explains entry criteria as it admits 14,000 new students “After knowing that I will not be staying in the hostels, I got bothered. Living on-campus gives you enough time for learning, as opposed to the rentals. Currently, my level of studying has gone down,” she said. At Huye campus, Jean-Marie Ahishakiye, a third-year student, spoke about the scarcity and distance of available rentals. “Rentals are scarce. If you find one, it is very far from campus. Also, the prices have increased,” he said. Jean-Claude Mbonimpaye, a second-year student at UR Nyagatare campus, who shifted off-campus willingly, noted that the increasing demand for rentals has affected him. READ ALSO: University of Rwanda planning to accommodate 60% of students “A rental that used to cost Rwf 20,000 per month is now between Rwf 25,000 to Rwf 30,000. Currently, rentals are very scarce. Some students can’t find one,” he said. What UR administration says Speaking to The New Times, UR administrators acknowledged the challenge, but noted that it is not very new. “Hostels have never been enough on any of our campuses,” said Ignatius Kabagambe, UR’s spokesperson. “Year one students are always given priority. In addition, female students, those with disabilities and chronic diseases are allocated more rooms,” he noted. Regarding the off-campus housing prices, Kabagambe maintained that the university’s role in taming the situation is limited, but said that there are plans to increase on-campus accommodation capacity. “But it is not something that we are going to do over night,” he said.
