More than 1,600 modern housing units are being developed in the Nyabisindu area in Gasabo District where an informal settlement will be turned into a decent village under a rehousing model. VIDEO: Nyabisindu rehousing project creates 2,000 jobs The rehousing model means that landowners affected by the redevelopment will get homes in the new village. The New Times looks at 10 things to know about the progress of Nyabisindu Rehousing Project. 1. Construction timeline The construction is expected to be completed by May 2027. As of early May 2026, the construction was at 10.5 per cent, according to a report presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure to Parliament during discussions on the 2026/27 budget framework. PHOTOS: How Nyabisindu housing project will look like 2. Rwf62 billion execution budget The Ministry of Infrastructure said the design and construction of the 1,639 housing units under the Nyabisindu Rehousing Project will cost Rwf62.9 billion. ALSO READ: City of Kigali to use $70m to upgrade major unplanned settlements So far, Rwf28.5 billion has been spent as of the 2025/26 budget year. 3. Funding model MININFRA explained that the project is funded through a loan from Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). While the government provides land compensation and transitional rent, RSSB offers low-income housing loans and a rent-to-own programme that allows residents to build equity over 20 years. The loan will be repaid by June 2033. 4. Temporary accommodation for project-affected households More than Rwf616 million has been allocated to support temporary accommodation for affected households in Nyabisindu until June 2027. Rwf309.6 million has been earmarked for the 2026/27 financial year. 5. G+3 housing models and types of dwelling units According to Engineer Samuel Rwangabo, one of the supervisors of the construction works, the houses are designed as G+3 models. A G+3 block is a building structure consisting of a ground floor and three additional floors above it, making a total of four levels. The “G” stands for ground floor, while “+3” refers to the three upper floors. ALSO READ: 10 major changes in the new Kigali master plan This type of building is commonly used in residential and commercial construction to maximise space, especially in urban areas. The dwelling units in Nyabisindu vary in size. There will be studio apartments, one-bedroom units with a sitting room, two-bedroom units with a sitting room, and three-bedroom units with a sitting room. 6. Contractor The construction works are being executed by the Reserve Force, which implemented a similar project known as the Mpazi Rehousing Project in Nyarugenge District. ALSO READ: Mpazi rehousing model to move more families from unplanned settlements 7. Over 2,100 workers on the payroll Kevin Ishimwe is part of the finance team responsible for preparing payrolls for workers. “I started this job three months ago. We process payroll every three days and pay 2,115 workers. They include masons and their assistants, carpenters, steel fixers and general labourers,” he said. 8. Amenities Spanning 38.54 hectares, the development will deliver 1,639 housing units across 58 housing blocks. Other amenities include a school, a football pitch, markets, green spaces and access roads. 9. Locally sourced construction materials Most of the construction materials, including bricks, stones, sand, cement and steel, were locally produced. 10. Affordable rent-to-own scheme to be introduced The Rwanda Housing Authority and the City of Kigali have begun securing land to implement a rent-to-own affordable housing scheme around the Nyabisindu settlement. ALSO READ: Inside models to upgrade unplanned settlements in Kigali The initiative is designed to help low-income households access home ownership by allowing tenants to pay rent while gradually building equity in their homes. Under the model, tenants will pay monthly rent together with an additional contribution that accumulates over time and can eventually be used to purchase the property. In March 2026, Noel Nsanzineza, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority, said residents of the Nyagatovu and Nyabisindu villages that are affected previously occupied 32 hectares. Under the rehousing project, they will settle on just eight hectares, freeing up land for affordable housing, including rent-to-own units. The remaining land will be prioritised for immediate development, with a strong focus on rent-to-own housing, he said. “We are prioritising this model. Tenants will pay roughly what they currently spend on rent and could own their homes after about 20 years. To attract investors, incentives such as tax exemptions on construction materials will be necessary,” he said.
