Lawmakers begin countrywide evaluation of urbanization, housing initiatives

Members of the Chamber of Deputies are set to embark on nationwide field visits to assess the implementation of government initiatives in urban development, housing, and land use management, Parliament announced on November 21. The visits will take place from November 24 to 29, covering all provinces, and will continue in the City of Kigali on December 5. ALSO READ: Secondary, satellite cities to get dedicated management offices MP Gertrude Kazarwa, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, underscored the significance of this exercise. “Through these field visits, Parliament reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that urban development, housing, and land use initiatives truly respond to the needs of our citizens. Listening directly to communities enables us to strengthen oversight and support government programmes that deliver tangible and sustainable impact,” she said. ALSO READ: Govt targets 1,300 social rental housing units by 2029 Lawmakers will tour 237 sectors across the country, reviewing ongoing projects, identifying areas for improvement, and engaging in dialogue with local authorities. They will also interact with citizens and local leaders to encourage settlement in planned, safe areas and to foster community participation in maintaining public infrastructure. ALSO READ: Rwanda launches upgraded building permit platform, revised national urbanisation policy The tours coincide with the rollout of the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP), adopted in February. This updated policy aims to transform Rwanda’s urban landscape by promoting balanced and sustainable development beyond Kigali. With a focus on equitable growth and climate resilience, the policy targets to raise the urban population from 27.9 per cent in 2022 (baseline) to 52.7 per cent by 2035 and around 70 per cent by 2050. ALSO READ: Rwanda to deploy new system for improved land services As of 2022, more than 3.7 million Rwandans lived in urban areas, representing 27.9 per cent of the population, with Kigali accounting for 41 per cent of the national urban population. Overall, the country fell short of urbanisation targets, such as reaching 35 per cent by 2024 as outlined in Vision 2050. The strategy noted that slower growth outside Kigali was due to several factors, including the capital’s strong appeal as a key labour market and the lack of clear economic or social incentives and rural-urban linkages for cities outside the capital. The Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, in a presentation to Parliament on November 11, explained that the slow urbanisation was partly due to the lack of infrastructure, including decent affordable housing. The new NUP seeks to address these gaps and ensure that urban growth is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Among other interventions under the blueprint, the government plans to establish City Management Offices (CMOs) in all its secondary and satellite cities to strengthen urban management and improve service delivery.

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Lawmakers begin countrywide evaluation of urbanization, housing initiatives