Kigali University to Build $20M Headquarters

By The Inspirer.

The University of Kigali has begun work on constructing its new headquarters, after having rented its current premises until now. This construction project is expected to cost $20 million (over 26 billion Rwandan Francs). The building will be located in the Gasabo District, Kimihurura Sector, Kimihurura Cell, Amahoro Village.

The Chairman of the University of Kigali’s Board of Directors, Philibert Afrika, told IGIHE that they are currently in the land preparation phase, with actual construction set to begin in October 2024.

“We can say that the project is currently in the land preparation stage. The construction work will begin in October. The project is expected to cost $20 million and will cover an area of one and a half hectares,” he said.

He added that the modern building will be equipped with all the necessary facilities for academic purposes.

“This building will have all the required facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, large conference rooms, a cafeteria, and parking spaces,” he continued.

The construction of this building is expected to take a year and a half.

Philibert Afrika explained that the decision to build a new university headquarters was made because the current rented space limits the number of students they can accommodate.

“The University of Kigali operates in rented premises, and the number of students increases significantly each semester, with at least 1,500 students being admitted. Every university must have its own building. Once our new building is completed, we will move,” he stated.

He also mentioned that once the building is complete, the university will introduce new academic programs, as it will have the capacity to accommodate 20,000 students.

“Each semester, we admit 1,500 students, meaning that we only admit as many as we can handle due to limited space. Currently, we have 8,000 students, but once the new building is complete, we will start offering new programs and reach the desired number. When all the buildings are completed, we will have the capacity to accommodate 20,000 students,” he added.

Besides this major project, the University of Kigali also plans to build student accommodation facilities, as it increasingly attracts students from both international and provincial areas.

It also plans to construct a building for its Musanze campus, as the current premises are also rented.

The University of Kigali began operations in 2013 and currently has a campus in Kigali, located at Kacyiru, and another in the city of Musanze. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The university has various faculties, including Education, Business and Economics, Law, and Computer Information Technology.