The six secondary cities in Rwanda are contributing to faster development. This was highlighted by the various interventions at the Forum organized virtually by the Institute for Policy Analysis and Research Rwanda (IPAR).
IPAR-Rwanda in partnership with PASGR, a regional center for evidence-based policy making, is implementing a research project called “UTAFITI sera” meaning local governance research policy. At the moment, it is researching Rwanda’s secondary cities.
“We now have the secondary cities where we can consider that urbanization is an essential element for the development of our country,” says Dr Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva, senior researcher at IPAR-Rwanda.
The partners who participated in the Forum are unanimous: the establishment of six secondary towns, namely Nyagatare, Muhanga, Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu and Musanze, has made it possible to create development poles.
Indeed, with urbanization, the living conditions of the population have improved in several respects. Schools and decent housing have sprung up like mushrooms. Energy sources are diversified, job creation and income generation are more important, sanitary infrastructures, transport and traffic, drinking water distribution, road construction, art and culture, everything is improving.
In Nyagatare district, for example, macadam roads have been built with the installation of public lighting, according to Wilson Mwesigye, director in charge of infrastructure in the district.
In Huye, Musafiri Jean Pierre, director of infrastructure, cites the construction of several kilometres of roads with a positive impact on investment. “The private sector has intervened to build commercial complexes,” says Musafiri. Schools are also not left out. “Huye has achieved its brand image as an education city,” he says.
Rwanda is one of the least urbanized countries in the world (18.4%). However, it has the highest population density in Africa (415 inhabitants/km2) and an average urbanization rate of 4.5% per year.
The Ministry of Infrastructure is committed to facilitating and promoting urbanization. By 2024, 35% of the population should live in urban areas. And by 2050, 70% will be living in cities, according to Vincent Rwigamba, Director of the Urban Planning and Development Division of the Rwandan Housing Authority.
This urbanization policy has been adopted for the right reasons. “Any policy adopted serves to solve a problem of the population,” says Dr Steve Ouma Akoth, Executive Director of PASGR, IPAR partner. And the secondary cities policy must address the problems of urban governance in Rwanda.
Gérard Rugambwa
