Rwanda’s push toward 70 percent urbanization by 2050 is putting new pressure on the country’s housing sector, and for builders, architects and homeowners, the hardest part of bringing projects to market is often not construction itself. It is the permit process. A year after it launched, Kubaka, the Building Permit Management Information System V2.0, is emerging as one of the government’s main tools for making that process faster, clearer and more accessible. The system allows users to check zoning rules, submit applications, follow their permit status in real time and complete the process online. ALSO READ: Ten new changes reshaping land use, urban planning in Rwanda For landowners, engineers, architects and real estate investors, the platform has brought a more direct way to manage building approvals. It also fits into Rwanda’s broader housing and urban planning goals, where the pace of development depends not only on materials and labour, but on how efficiently projects move through the approval stage. To see how Kubaka is working in practice, we revisited the platform in 2026 and spoke with building professionals and homeowners about whether it has eased the problems that once slowed the permit process. ALSO READ: Govt turns to rent-to-own to ease housing pressure Don Souverain Ihabayo, a project engineer at Donvia Construction, said the system has made submissions and tracking more transparent, but its success still depends on how well applications are prepared from the start. “The introduction of the Kubaka system has been a positive step toward improving efficiency in the construction permit process. It has made submission and tracking more transparent and accessible compared to traditional methods,” he said. He added that delays still occur when applicants do not fully understand the requirements or submit incomplete technical documents. “One of the most common challenges is that many applicants begin the process without fully understanding the requirements. This often leads to revisions, resubmissions and extended timelines,” he said. “Even with digitization, the process still depends on the accuracy and completeness of technical documentation.” Ihabayo said faster, and more predictable approvals would help developers manage costs and timelines more effectively, even if permit efficiency alone does not directly lower property prices. “In the long term, a more predictable process contributes to a more stable and efficient construction environment,” he said, adding that early technical guidance remains important to avoid delays. For homeowners, the shift has also changed who can take part in the process. Marcel Iranzi, a homeowner in Kibagabaga, said he used Kubaka earlier this year and received his permit in 23 days. “I’ve heard it can take up to a month for some,” he said. “In my opinion, that should not be the case. If you have everything ready, a week should be the minimum.” What stood out to him most was access. Under the old system, he said, many landowners had to rely on hired professionals to handle the process. Now, he said, they can start, manage and monitor the entire permit journey themselves. That change is part of what Kubaka was designed to do. The platform allows users to request a wide range of services, including new construction permits, inspection notices, permit renewals, demolition approvals, occupancy permits, temporary structure authorization, project modifications, and change of building use. It also covers refurbishment requests, with or without structural alterations, and permits for constructing fences. Behind the scenes, the platform is linked to several national systems. These include LAIS for land ownership and zoning, NIDA for ID verification, RRA for tax status checks, RDB for environmental impact assessment certificates, IER and RIA for professional licences, and IREMBOPay for payments. Those integrations are meant to reduce back-and-forth and make verification faster. They also reflect a broader shift toward public services that are increasingly tied together through digital systems. Rwanda’s construction sector operates under Ministerial Order No. 02/CAB.M/019 of April 15, 2019, which obliges landowners and lessees to obtain permits for most building activities outside categories 1 and 6. Kubaka has become the main gateway through which that obligation is fulfilled. As housing demand rises, the platform represents an effort to align regulation with digital service delivery. For users, the central concern is whether the system can process applications with the predictability required in a fast-moving property market.
