Nyabisindu rehousing project powers jobs boom

At around 11:00 a.m., the Nyabisindu rehousing site is a hive of activity as workers race to deliver 1,639 housing units in what was once an informal settlement spanning Remera and Nyagatovu sectors. Under the rehousing model, landowners will return to live on the same land in a planned settlement after construction is completed. When The New Times visited the site on May 29, workers were carrying construction materials, laying bricks and mixing concrete, while engineers, carpenters and masons coordinated work across the vast development. ALSO READ: Inside models to upgrade unplanned settlements in Kigali Some multi-storey housing blocks are already taking shape, while foundations are being laid for others. The project is expected to be completed within a year. Beyond transforming the area, the project is creating employment and income opportunities for thousands of people. More than 2,000 workers are employed on site and receive wages every three days, making it one of the largest temporary employers in the area. For many workers, the project has become a vital source of income. A lifeline for workers Clementine Mukamana, a mother of five from Batsinda, said the job helped her recover after struggling to earn a living as a street vendor following her husband's death. “I am the only person earning money to support my family. I tried selling clothes, but I made losses. I was fortunate to get a job at this construction site in February. I work as a mason’s assistant and earn Rwf4,000 per day. We are paid every three days,” she said. ALSO READ: Mpazi rehousing model to move more families from unplanned settlements Mukamana said the income has enabled her to keep all five children in school while meeting household needs. Another worker, Annonciata Uwimana, a secondary school graduate, has spent the past five months working as a mason’s assistant. “I earn Rwf4,000 per day. This project means a lot to many unemployed young people in Kigali. I am able to save part of my earnings for future plans,” she said. Jean Claude Nsabimana, a carpenter, said his section has expanded significantly as construction progresses. “The salary is always paid on time. Our section initially employed between 30 and 50 workers, but now we have between 80 and 150. I earn Rwf10,000 per day and manage to save about Rwf4,000 after covering expenses,” he said. More than 2,100 workers on payroll Kevin Ishimwe, a member of the finance team, said payroll is processed every three days for 2,115 workers. ALSO READ: City of Kigali to use $70m to upgrade major unplanned settlements “They include masons and their assistants, carpenters, steel fixers and general labourers,” he said. The project has also created opportunities for some beneficiaries of the rehousing programme. Odace Kamanzi, a former homeowner in Nyabisindu, is set to receive a new home and currently works as a steel fixer at the site. “I earn Rwf10,000 per day. Initially, it was difficult to understand how we would receive decent homes on our own land. I had a small two-room house and rental units in a congested area with poor sanitation and limited access,” he said. Kamanzi explained that all properties were professionally valued before construction began. “The value of our properties determined the homes we will receive. I will get two studio units, which are larger and worth much more than my previous house because they are in a planned settlement,” he said. A studio apartment is a self-contained housing unit where the living, sleeping and kitchen areas share one main space, with a separate bathroom. Support for relocated households More than Rwf616 million has been allocated to support temporary accommodation for project-affected households until June 2027, according to information presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure to Parliament in May 2026. Of this amount, Rwf309.6 million has been earmarked for the 2026/27 financial year. “I receive Rwf100,000 per month in rental support in addition to the job I was given,” Kamanzi said. Project worth Rwf62.9 billion According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the design and construction of the 1,639 housing units will cost Rwf62.9 billion. So far, Rwf28.5 billion has been spent, and by early May 2026 the project had reached 10.5 per cent completion. ALSO READ: 10 major changes in the new Kigali master plan The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and the City of Kigali. It follows the completion of 688 housing units under the Mpazi rehousing model in Gitega Sector, Nyarugenge District, and targets informal settlements in Nyabisindu Cell of Remera Sector and Nyagatovu Cell of Kimironko Sector. Covering 38.54 hectares, the development will deliver 1,639 housing units across 58 housing blocks, alongside schools, markets, green spaces and access roads. Under the rehousing model, residents contribute land on which higher-density housing is built. In return, they receive homes based on the value of the land and property they contributed. The project covers the villages of Nyabisindu, Amarembo I, Amarembo II and Ibuhoro. The development also incorporates a rent-to-own affordable housing scheme. Under the model, tenants will pay rent while gradually building equity that can eventually allow them to purchase their homes. According to the Rwanda Housing Authority, more than 41,000 households are expected to be relocated into planned and resilient settlements through various housing models between 2024 and 2029.

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Nyabisindu rehousing project powers jobs boom