The Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) has assured Rwandans that there are no plans to force people to live in high-rise buildings, saying residential land is sufficient at least until 2050.
The reassurance follows concerns from MPs about the spread of single-story and semi-attached homes in Kigali and other districts. MP Tumushime said the government’s policy encourages building upwards, but many new homes remain low-rise, leading to inefficient land use.
Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Jimmy Gasore told Parliament on March 17 that the government prefers to encourage multi-story housing rather than mandate it. “The master plan for housing has been carefully studied. If properly followed, there will be no shortage of residential land before 2050,” he said.
Instead of enforcing high-rise construction, the government is investing in affordable apartment projects in areas such as Mpazi and Nyabisindu. The aim is to relocate residents from informal settlements and provide accessible housing for others. Gasore said scattered, low-rise homes increase infrastructure costs, including roads, water, and electricity.
Budget limitations also affect school construction. Some public schools are built as single-story due to cost constraints rather than taller buildings. Gasore said adding classrooms is sometimes necessary to address overcrowding before building multi-story schools.
MPs also raised concerns about Kamonyi District, which remains classified as rural. They said this limits the district’s ability to develop modern housing. They urged MININFRA to consider reclassifying the district to boost infrastructure support.
Residential sites are emerging near Kigali, including Kamonyi, Bugesera, and Rulindo. Gasore said the government is investing in roads and water systems to support these developments. Authorities also plan to use satellite technology to monitor illegal construction, as is done in Kigali City.
