City Profile: Kigali, Rwanda

Abstract

Rwanda is experiencing rapid development and urbanization in the Post-genocide perpetrated against Tutsi (1994) period. Kigali as the capital and the leading city is undergoing remarkable changes in the process of modernization. This is being done through the rejuvenation of commercial areas, building of new business offices and quality infrastructure, improvement of urban service delivery, tourism and industrial development (Kigali Special Economic Zone). Together with a clean city policy, the City of Kigali is now known to be one of the cleanest cities in Africa. This has been effectively achieved through consistent and integrated urban policies. However, the city has been facing challenges related to informal settlements and equitable provision of urban services to all residents. In this paper, data from secondary sources, mainly official reports, policy documents and academic papers, are presented and discussed through various perspectives related to the urban growth of Kigali. Likewise, the implications of existing policies on the implementation of strategic initiatives have also been highlighted.

From Closed to Claimed Spaces for Participation: Contestation in Urban Redevelopment Induced-Displacements and Resettlement in Kigali, Rwanda

“…In 2007, a conceptual Master Plan was developed by US and Singapore consultants to guide the socio-spatial transformation of Kigali city and published, and later approved by the central government in 2009. That Master Plan embodied the city's vision to become a destination for business and investment, as one priority in its agenda for economic development [64]. To help achieve that vision, the Master Plan explicitly suggests a radical transformation of Kigali into a slum-free city, so as to create a modern and "model" city [65].…”

“…However, some of these informal settlements are located in areas delineated as high risk and undevelopable zones [64]. Thus, the government officials in Kigali often advance environmental health and disaster risk mitigation as motives to clear informal settlements.…”

Urban Growth and Land Use/Land Cover Changes in the Post-Genocide Period, Kigali, Rwanda

“…During the genocide in 1994, most of the Kigali's residents fled, leaving only approximately 50,000 people in the city. Immediately after the genocide, the city recovered and population started to grow rapidly to the extent that within a 10-year period, between 1996 and 2006, the population almost tripled, from 358,200 to 923,176 inhabitants (Manirakiza et al, 2019). This trend continued, and in 2014 the city accounted for more than 1.3 million people.…”

“…In Rwanda, agriculture is the mainstay of subsistence for about 85 per cent of the working population. However, rapid population growth is resulting in a progressive decrease of land ownership per household (Manirakiza et al, 2019). Indeed, the household share of land ownership decreased from 2 hectares (ha) in 1960 to 1.2 ha in 1984, to 0.89 ha in 1990, to 0.5 ha in 2001, and to less than 0.4 ha in 2014 (NISR, 2015; World Bank, 2017).…”

Struggles to remain in Kigali’s “unplanned” settlements: the case of Bannyahe

“… 25. Rwanda Housing Authority (2012), Urban Planning and Development Sector Profile , available at http://www.rha.gov.rw/index.php?id=181; also Manirakiza, V, L Mugabe, A Nsabimana and M Nzayirambaho (2019), “City profile: Kigali, Rwanda”, Environment and Urbanization ASIA Vol 10, No 2, pages 290–307. …”