Kigali-Rwanda- February 15, 2023, The City of Kigali in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure on the support of the World Bank launched the project of upgrading Mpazi informal settlement in Nyarugenge district a project on 137 hectares, the event took place in Gitega sector one of the sectors that Project will cover.

The City of Kigali has initiated an informal settlement-upgrading project that provides basic infrastructure, and this program promotes the onsite upgrading process, preventing resident displacement, by improving their living conditions in the same neighborhood. We started this program with a successful pilot project in Agatare, and now we are expanding it to other parts of the city.

The City of Kigali in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and with the participation of the World Bank Country Manager and the Task Team Leader of the Rwanda Urban Development Project II (RUDP II) launched the upgrading of the Mpazi informal settlement in Nyarugenge district, Gitega sector. The project will improve access roads, sidewalks, pathways, public lighting, and drainage, it will be Kigali's largest upgrade project (137 ha).

In addition to Mpazi, the project will upgrade informal settlements in Nyabisindu and Nyagatovu in Gasabo District, and Gatenga in the Kicukiro districts.

The Mpazi site covers 137 ha and the estimated project direct beneficiaries are 34,817 residents of Gitega, Muhima, Kimisagara, and Rwezamenyo Sectors of Nyarugenge District.:

• About 8km of access roads will be constructed with street lights;

• The water supply system will be upgraded;
• Over 9km of footpaths with streets light will be improved with streets light;
• Some facilities such as: Kora Cell Upgrading Works, Mpazi Selling Point construction, Basket Ball and volley Ball sports courts for the Ecole Primaire Gitega will be improved, and the Kimisagara Youth Centre’s playground will be upgraded into synthetic turf.

During the ground-breaking ceremony, Pudence RUBINGISA The Mayor of the City of Kigali thanked the World Bank for their support to the Government of Rwanda in transforming the lives of people who lives in informal settlements. He reiterated the positive impact of the project and expressed the need to scale up the project in order to improve the lives of more than 60% of Kigali’s population who currently are estimated to live in the informal settlement.

He also encouraged residents in that area to take advantage of infrastructures and facilities and change their way of living, “To achieve this, we need the contribution of every partner, particularly citizens in the project area as the direct beneficiaries of this project; they have to facilitate the

project construction managers. We encourage the citizens to take advantage of this opportunity through applying for the jobs in the project to improve their income, we also encourage them to protect and sustain as well as on the expected project activities” Pudence RUBINGISA, City Mayor.

Mpazi Settlement Upgrading works are expected to complete in 18 months and will cost around 24 Billion Rwf including the budget for compensation of affected people

The Second Rwanda Urban Development Project in the City of Kigali will also cover activities of rehabilitation of the prioritized flood risks area known as Flood risk hotspots (Rugunga, Rwandex, Gisozi-Mukindo, Gisozi-Karuruma, Kinyinya, and Nyabisindu), develop stormwater management master plan (SWMMP) for the City of Kigali, rehabilitation of the five wetlands (Gikondo, Rugunga-Rwintare, Nyabugogo, Rwampala, and Kibumba)and carry out a series of technical assistance (TA) to support the Kigali City Master Implementation.

“An integrated approach to urban upgrading and flood risk management is needed for sustainable development, said Abebaw Alemayehu, the project’s task team leader at the World Bank.” Acknowledging that cities and the environment are interconnected, an integrated approach to urban upgrading and flood risk management is needed for managing risks across the natural and built environment.

The Second Rwanda Urban Development Project will also support development in the 6 Secondary Cities: Huye, Muhanga, Musanze, Nyagatare, Rubavu, and Rusizi.

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