Rwf130bn Prince House–Masaka road upgrade set to ease Kigali traffic

The Rwandan government has officially launched a Rwf130 billion upgrade of the Prince House–Giporoso–Masaka road, a project expected to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and shorten travel times along one of Kigali’s key transport corridors.

The 10.3-kilometre project, funded jointly by Rwanda and China, is expected to take 30 months and be completed in July 2028.

The existing two-lane road will be expanded to four lanes, while the project will also include a 1.2-kilometre flyover between Prince House and Ku Cyamitsingi and an underpass.

The upgrades are expected to improve the movement of people and goods between Kigali and the Eastern Province, while increasing the road’s capacity to handle growing traffic volumes.

The project is being implemented by Chinese contractor Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group under Rwanda-China cooperation in infrastructure development.

The Chinese Embassy in Rwanda described the road as one of the key infrastructure projects under the two countries’ partnership, saying it will form part of an important economic corridor linking Kigali with the Eastern Province.

Flyover, underpass and upgraded intersections

The Director General of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Imena Munyampenda, said the project is among the government’s priority investments aimed at improving urban transport in Kigali.

The 1.2-kilometre flyover between Prince House and Ku Cyamitsingi is expected to help address one of the busiest sections of the corridor, where traffic congestion has become a persistent challenge.

The project will also involve upgrading road intersections, constructing bridges and underpasses, improving stormwater drainage and installing pedestrian walkways and road-safety infrastructure.

Munyampenda said RTDA would closely monitor the works to ensure they meet the required quality and safety standards.

Road users welcome the project

People who use the corridor daily say the upgrade comes at a critical time, citing traffic congestion and drainage problems among the main challenges.

Regis Ndayisenga, who works around Prince House, said congestion frequently causes significant delays for customers travelling to the area.

“A customer could call you from Rwandex and say they would arrive in 10 minutes, but because of traffic it could take them almost 50 minutes. This project will make things easier for our customers and for us.”

Patrick Nsengimana, who works in Giporoso, said congestion between Ku Cyamitsingi and Prince House often caused commuters to arrive late at work.

He said people travelling from areas such as Kanombe frequently faced delays because of heavy traffic along the route.

Government wants project completed early

State Minister in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Col. Claudien Bizimungu, urged those implementing the project to explore ways of completing the works ahead of the scheduled 30 months, provided this does not compromise quality or safety.

“If it is technically possible and does not compromise quality and safety, why shouldn’t it take 20 or even 15 months?” he said.

Bizimungu said the upgraded road would reduce the amount of time people spend travelling, improve safety and facilitate the movement of people and goods between Kigali and the Eastern Province.

He also acknowledged that construction could cause temporary disruption to traffic and urged road users to cooperate with authorities and follow temporary traffic management measures.

Construction project doubles as skills-training centre

Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the project should be viewed as more than a road construction undertaking, describing it as a symbol of the growing partnership between Rwanda and China.

“This road is a path of friendship and a bridge of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Gao said.

The project will also include a skills-development component through the “Luban Classroom–Road and Bridge” programme.

Under the initiative, the construction site will serve as a practical training centre where Rwandans can acquire skills related to road and bridge construction.

Training will cover areas including site preparation, road alignment, pavement construction, bridge building and the construction of flyovers and underpasses.

Gao said turning the construction site into a practical classroom would provide a new model for strengthening Rwanda-China cooperation in construction technology and vocational training.

China providing more than Rwf95 billion

The Prince House–Giporoso–Masaka road is an important route connecting Kigali with the Eastern Province and is heavily used by commuters and businesses.

Expanding it from two to four lanes is expected to increase its capacity and improve traffic flow along the corridor.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, China is contributing more than Rwf95 billion to the project, while Rwanda’s contribution exceeds Rwf35 billion.

With construction expected to continue for the next 30 months, authorities say the project will require close coordination between the contractor, government agencies and road users to minimise disruption and ensure the works are delivered to the required standards.