Bugesera: Lack of well designed Masterplan delays urban development, settlement

By The Inspirer writer.

The Mayor of Bugesera District, Richard Mutabazi points out that lack of well-designed land use and city/town masterplan is a major barrier to urbanization and related social-economic development agendas.

He made the remark in a retreat that brought together leaders from different entities held at La Palisse Nyamata, on October 12, 2022, with the objective to come up with key strategic priority actions and harmonize different interventions to expedite human settlement, Land Use Master Plan and Airport city plans to enhance rapid pace for urbanization.

Held under the theme: “Unleashing potentials for Bugesera urbanization through stakeholders’ responsive efforts in land use, infrastructure development, human capital development & environmental protection’, the retreat was attended by officials from various entities including the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, who requested leaders to work together as one of the strategies to fast-track sustainable development.

The Mayor of Bugesera District, Richard Mutabazi, pointed out the opportunities in this region such as the international airport, lakes and industrial areas. He therefore highlighted an issue of Land Use Master Plan and Airport city plans that are not yet finalized to speed up urbanization.

“Yes, the absence of a well-designed land use and city/town masterplan is one of the challenges we have, which has been among the topics of the today’s meeting, the first result is that the development of the masterplan is going to be accelerated. I would say that we have two complementary masterplans, one is for the district in general that specifies the building spaces and kinds of buildings such us commercial or industrial buildings,” Mutabazi said.

He explained that another masterplan is specific to the airport and its surroundings, saying that they want the two masterplans to complement each other in a way that can confuse people.

“We want both to be done once. One of the decisions made is that they should be done quickly so that other activities can be made on the pre-arranged plan,” he said.

The Presidential Order N° 058/01 of 23/04/2021 establishing the National Land Use Development Master Plan 2020-2050, categorises Bugesera District to be one of the 3 Satellite Cities whose projected population will be around 1,206,500 from 361,914 in 2012, according to Rwanda Population and Housing Census (RPHC4).

At the end of 2021, 81% of total population of the district (387,866/472,856) were settled in rural areas whereas NST- 1 provides it to be 65% by 2024 and reduces up to 30% by 2050. In the same year, 92% of the rural population will be settled in planned and unplanned rural settlement sites.

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