More industrial sites are being developed in Kigali, in addition to the Special Economic Zone and other designated parks, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

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The move comes as factories operating outside designated industrial zones have been ordered to relocate to approved areas under new ministerial instructions issued in February 2026.

The relocation aims to organise industrial development and strengthen environmental protection. Factories have been given up to 10 years to relocate to designated industrial areas.

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The rules are aligned with the National Industrial Policy for 2024–2034, which calls for clearer governance and management of industrial zones. The framework applies to heavy and light industries but excludes slaughterhouses, garages and warehouses.

Gitaraga Light Industrial Zone

Investors have been invited to establish businesses at the newly developed Gitaraga Light Industrial Zone in Gitaraga Cell, Masaka Sector, Kicukiro District. The zone covers approximately 296 hectares, divided into 350 land plots.

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At least 1,200 property owners will need to be compensated by investors interested in establishing industries in the area.

"In Masaka, Gitaraga, we have four zonings that will accommodate agricultural and agro-processing industries, concrete industries, light manufacturing and assembly, as well as light pharmaceuticals,” Chantal Tuyishimire, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, told The New Times.

Property owners can now negotiate directly with investors seeking sites for factories. This comes after two years of uncertainty during which they could not renovate their homes or put their land to productive use.

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"We are now aware of land reference prices,” said John Ntaganda, a property owner.

Aloys Musoni, president of the Gitaraga Land Committee, noted that the area located along the road connecting Kicukiro District to Bugesera District, in the vicinity of the airport, is attractive for investors.

"The road will facilitate investors in transporting construction materials and manufactured goods to and from the Gitaraga industrial zone. The area is also expected to host a railway station. All these are opportunities for investors,” he said.

According to the ministry, landowners in the industrial zone are also allowed to develop projects themselves if they have the financial capacity to do so.

Kanyinya industrial zone

More industrial zones are being developed in Kigali. Only light industries will be allowed to operate in the industrial zone in Kanyinya Sector, Nyarugenge District. The planned areas is 80 hectares.

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The City of Kigali and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are encouraging investors to utilise the new industrial zone.

Nzove Light Industrial Zone

The Nzove Light Industrial Zone is located near the Nyabarongo River, in the area where Skol Brewery is situated. The area covers 73 hectares, 15 per cent of which have been allocated for infrastructure development.

The Nzove Light Industrial Zone will accommodate non-polluting light industries, including agricultural processing plants, industrial bakeries, construction materials and timber storage facilities, carpentry workshops and petrol stations.

The zone also aims to attract investors in food-processing plants, research laboratories, light manufacturing and assembly units, automotive services such as car washes, repair shops and machine shops, as well as storage facilities for bulk goods, household items and mechanised equipment.

Other planned activities include wholesale trade, warehousing, dry-cleaning and laundry operations, and specialised business and science parks.

Landowners will be able to develop their own proposed projects or sell their land to interested investors.

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The physical plan for the Nzove Light Industrial Zone was developed by the City of Kigali under the land readjustment approach, with community engagement. It has already been approved by the city council.

Five phases of industrial development in Kigali

According to the Kigali Master Plan, industrial development in the city is planned in five phases extending to 2050.

The first phase, covering 2020 to 2024, allocated 6.4 square kilometres (640 hectares) to light industrial zones and 4.2 square kilometres (420 hectares) to general industrial zones.

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General industrial zones accommodate large-scale or heavy industrial activities that may generate more noise, traffic, waste or emissions.

Light industrial zones accommodate smaller-scale industries and workshops whose activities generally cause less noise, pollution and disruption to surrounding areas.

Under this phase, development includes the proposed Gahanga Light Industrial Estate and regional centre, planned as an employment hub along the airport expressway.

The second phase, covering 2025 to 2031, allocates 1.7 square kilometres to light industrial zones.

It includes integrated industrial development at Rusororo Industrial Estate, accommodating both heavy and light industries, and at Masaka Industrial Estate, which will include the proposed Kigali Logistics Platform (KLP).

The platform is one of the major infrastructure projects planned to boost Kigali’s logistics sector and the wider city economy.

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The third phase, from 2032 to 2038, allocates 2.9 square kilometres to light industrial zones.

It includes the expansion of integrated industrial development at Masaka Industrial Estate, as well as industrial development in Kanyinya for clay extraction, processing and transportation.

The fourth phase, from 2039 to 2045, allocates 2.1 square kilometres to light industrial zones.

It includes integrated industrial development in Rusororo for trade and transportation near the eastern border.

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The fifth phase, from 2046 to 2050, allocates 0.3 square kilometres for light industrial zones. It includes integrated industrial development in Bumbogo for trade and transportation, near the Outer Ring Road.

9,000 hectares earmarked for industries countrywide

The Rwanda Housing Authority said the government plans to make more than 9,000 hectares of land available across the country over the next 30 years for investors seeking to establish industries in different cities.

Currently, industries occupy just over 1,100 hectares across the country, according to the National Land Use Master Plan, which is being implemented through 2050.