Rwanda plans to integrate housing support for survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi into broader national programs aimed at assisting vulnerable citizens, officials said Monday.
The announcement came after lawmakers raised concerns over the continued poor living conditions of many genocide survivors, including thousands still living in unsafe homes or without permanent shelter.
The issue was discussed during a parliamentary budget review session involving the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) and affiliated agencies.
Lawmakers cited government figures showing that more than 29,000 homes belonging to genocide survivors require renovation, while nearly 7,000 survivors still need housing assistance.
MP Epiphanie Mukampunga questioned why some districts were excluded from current housing allocations for genocide survivors, naming areas such as Kayonza, Nyanza and Rubavu among those not covered under the existing program.
She said survivors were sometimes overlooked in broader social protection initiatives, including relocation programs for vulnerable residents living in high-risk areas.
National Unity Minister Jean Damascène Bizimana said the government had coordinated with the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Finance to ensure genocide survivors are included in all future housing initiatives targeting low-income Rwandans.
According to Bizimana, the policy is intended to promote inclusion and national unity by avoiding separate welfare systems based on social categories.
He also said ministries responsible for infrastructure, local government and defense are working together to improve the efficiency of construction projects and adapt housing costs to local conditions.
Construction expenses vary across the country depending on factors such as transportation and availability of materials, he said, adding that community participation and local contractors could help reduce costs and expand access to housing support.
Officials said the revised approach has already been discussed with partner institutions and is expected to improve housing access for genocide survivors still in need of assistance.
