Inkundamahoro Building in Kigali reopened on Tuesday, August 11, after the initial implementation of measures to address sanitation concerns that had led to its closure on Saturday.

The reopening allows hundreds of traders who had been displaced to return to their usual stalls, although the building management is still required to implement outstanding corrective measures.

The City of Kigali said the measures still required include putting in place an appropriate wastewater treatment system, ensuring daily collection and proper disposal of solid waste, carrying out necessary repairs and repainting, among others.

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Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, the spokesperson of the City of Kigali, told The New Times that the urgent issues identified during the inspection had been addressed, including the removal of accumulated waste and repairs to damaged wastewater pipes.

"The management of the market has addressed the urgent issues, including removing waste from the full dumpsite, repairing the damaged wastewater pipes, replacing floor tiles and stopping the discharge of waste into the wetland,” Ntirenganya said.

However, she said some corrective measures were still pending, including a sustainable wastewater treatment solution.

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"Some activities are still in progress, including putting in place sustainable water treatment solutions and repainting the market, among others. We agreed with the management that these works should be completed soon,” she said.

Ntirenganya urged those working at Inkundamahoro to take responsibility for keeping the building clean.

"We urge everyone operating at the market to take responsibility for keeping it clean rather than waiting for measures such as closure to be taken,” she said.

The city also warned building managers, particularly those operating buildings that accommodate large numbers of people, to comply with sanitation, safety and environmental requirements.

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Emile Niyonshuti, the Managing Director of Inkundamahoro Building, said most of the issues that had led to the closure had been addressed.

He said repairs had been carried out on the road and parking area, including fixing potholes and malfunctioning pipes, while accumulated waste had been removed from the dumpsite.

On concerns about waste being discharged into the wetland and onto the road, Niyonshuti said a large pipe crossing the road had been damaged and was being replaced with a better-quality one.

"The key issues have been addressed, and the remaining works will be completed within five days,” he said.

The reopening brought relief to traders who said the closure had disrupted their businesses.

Claudette Munyana, a fresh produce seller, said she and her business partner had bought fresh beans and peas worth Rwf500,000 on the Friday before the closure.

They had expected to make about Rwf250,000 in profit from the stock, but the closure disrupted their sales.

"We had already spent Rwf500,000 on fresh beans and peas, and we expected to make about Rwf250,000 in profit. We moved the products to our homes while looking for somewhere else to sell them, but we had not found a suitable market because customers were used to buying from us here,” Munyana said.

She said the produce had since lost some of its freshness and would have to be dried before being sold.

"We will dry them and sell them, but we will incur some losses. Fortunately, we expect to recover at least the money we invested,” she said.

Esther Mukamana, a fruit vendor, said she had been concerned about losing money she had already paid for her stall.

She said she had paid Rwf300,000 to secure the stall and was paying Rwf40,000 in monthly rent until January next year.

"What I was most worried about was whether we would be allowed to return to the same places where we had been operating. I am glad that this is what is happening,” Mukamana said.

She said traders had struggled to find affordable alternative spaces during the closure.

Gilbert Hagenimana, a clothes seller who moved to Mpazi Market during the closure, said his products were not perishable but business was slower.

"Clothes are not perishable, but business was slow because customers were not used to the other market. I am glad that we are resuming operations here,” he said.

Felicien Ntambara, another trader, said they had initially been uncertain about the reason behind the closure of the building.

"We are still not sure whether all the issues that led to the closure have been fully resolved or whether an agreement was reached. But we are very happy that the market has reopened,” Ntambara said.

Ernest Wamba, a clothes seller, said traders had not been given prior notice before the closure.

"When they closed the market, they did not tell us beforehand. They simply came, closed it. We did not even know what the problem was,” he said.

Some traders had already moved their businesses to other markets, Wamba said, but welcomed the opportunity to return to Inkundamahoro.

"We are very happy to be back and to resume work," he said.