Major Junction Upgrades in Kigali Spark Uncertainty Among Property Owners
Property owners near three key junctions—Chez Lando, Gishushu, and Sonatubes—are expressing concerns about whether their properties will be affected by upcoming infrastructure upgrades. A recent survey by The New Times revealed that many residents are unaware of the potential impact of the Kigali Urban Transport Improvement (KUTI) Project, which is set to transform traffic flow in the capital over the next five years.
The KUTI Project involves significant infrastructure developments, including underpasses and flyover bridges, aimed at easing congestion in high-traffic areas. Chez Lando and Gishushu are located in Gasabo District, while Sonatubes lies in Kicukiro District. The project’s implementation is expected to begin in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Key Designs and Costs
At Chez Lando, an underpass will be constructed to allow vehicles heading from Gishushu toward Kigali International Airport (Kanombe) to pass beneath the main road. According to the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA)’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the underpass will span 740 metres and cost approximately $23.4 million.
At Gishushu, a 500-metre flyover bridge will be built from Simba Supermarket, enabling buses on the current road to pass below. This project is estimated to cost $20.3 million. Meanwhile, at Sonatubes, a 620-metre underpass tunnel will start near the Ministry of Health offices and rise near the former University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) building, with an estimated cost of $26.3 million.
Property Owners Voice Concerns
Despite the planned upgrades, many property owners have not received official communication regarding potential expropriation. Janvier Rwigamba, a representative of Chez Lando Hotel, stated, “We have not been informed whether the hotel property will be affected. We only heard on the radio that the junction will be upgraded.”
Nearby businesses, such as Ndoli Supermarket, Rubis petrol station, and the BSC building, share similar concerns. Rodrigue Mucyo, manager at the Ndoli building, said, “We saw the designs in the media, but we cannot interpret them. There has been no meeting to inform us.”
At Sonatubes, property owners expressed frustration over the lack of information. Jean Marie Vianney Munyantore, one of the owners in the area, said, “We have not been informed whether our property might be affected.” Gilbert Ndagijimana, a tailor renting nearby, added, “If we knew when the building might be affected, we could plan early. Transparency is needed.”
Two officials at Classic Hotel, located near the Ministry of Health offices where the underpass will begin, said they had “not been informed of any changes.” At the opposite side of the junction, Emmanuel Niyonsaba, manager of the former UTB building, mentioned that no property valuation or expropriation notice had been issued.
The New Times contacted the RTDA Director General and the City of Kigali spokesperson, but neither provided details on potential expropriations.
Tender Process for the Upgrades
According to a notice posted on RTDA’s website on October 29, 2025, international construction and engineering firms have been invited to submit proposals for designing and building the three junction upgrades under a Design-and-Build (D&B) contract. The procurement process will follow an Open Competitive Bidding (International) procedure.
Environmental and Social Impact
The ESIA for the KUTI Project, released in July 2024, covered seven junctions: Chez Lando, Gishushu, Gisozi, Kibagabaga, Kicukiro/Sonatube, Rwandex, and Nyabugogo. Work will begin with Chez Lando, Gishushu, and Sonatubes.
The report estimates that 664 individuals, classified as Project-Affected People (PAPs), could be impacted across all seven sites. Of these, 109 will be physically displaced, while 555 will be economically affected. A total of 63,527 square metres of land is expected to be acquired, valued at Rwf2.6 billion ($2 million).
The estimated total compensation, including a 5% disturbance allowance as per the 2015 expropriation law, stands at Rwf24 billion ($18.3 million). A livelihood restoration budget of Rwf950.6 million ($725,000) has also been allocated to cover transition costs for displaced businesses, including six months’ rent and the upgrading of modern selling points at Nyabugogo, Kibagabaga, and Sonatubes.