The Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) has announced that the expansion and renovation of the Kigali-Muhanga Road will commence in July 2025.
This project aims to alleviate the long-standing traffic congestion on this crucial route.
Commuters have long complained about the narrowness of the Kigali-Muhanga roads, which they say hinders movement significantly.
Jean-Paul Niyobuhungiro, a daily bus driver on this road, remarked, “The traffic is extremely bad. We spend several minutes stuck in traffic, causing frustration for passengers, including elderly people and individuals with disabilities. It’s a major concern.”
François Gihoza Mivugo, the director of project implementation at RTDA, stated, “The budget for expanding the Kigali-Muhanga Road has now been secured, and we are in the process of tendering various contracts. The work will begin in July 2025.”
“This road will be constructed from Nyabugogo to Muhanga District. From Nyabugogo to Ruyenzi, it will have four lanes, with two lanes in each direction. This development will significantly reduce traffic congestion on this road,” Mivugo added.
The project will involve repairing a 45-kilometer section of the road and expanding a 12.2-kilometer section to four lanes. This work is expected to be completed in two and a half years at an estimated cost of around 100 million US dollars. Funding will be provided by the Korean bank in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda.
Travelers have expressed gratitude for the impending expansion, hoping it will resolve the delays caused by congested roads.
In November 2023, the Rwandan Government signed a $120 million (approx. Rwf150 billion) loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) in Busan, South Korea.
Former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Uzziel Ndagijimana, stated that the loan, to be repaid within 40 years with a 15-year grace period at a 0.01% interest rate, aligns with Rwanda’s infrastructure development goals, including the expansion of the Kigali-Muhanga Road.
The project will also include the construction of 11.9 kilometers of additional lanes for heavy trucks in areas with ascents to prevent them from impeding the movement of other vehicles. At these points, roads with two lanes will get a third, and those with four lanes will have a fifth lane for trucks, albeit over short distances. Additionally, two bridges will be constructed, along with water channels and public lighting along the road.
Muhanga is one of Rwanda’s three satellite cities, along with Bugesera and Rwamagana, designed to support the larger Kigali area in terms of housing and employment opportunities, among other services.