Construction has begun on 104 affordable housing units in the Gahanga Affordable Housing Project of Kicukiro District as part of the Aheza Urban Village project. This initiative is one of several efforts aimed at addressing the growing demand for housing in Kigali.
According to Aime Muzora, Managing Director of Girinzu Developers—the real estate firm behind the project—construction began in April and is expected to wrap up before the end of 2026, depending on how quickly buyers are ready to move forward.
Gahanga Affordable Housing Project Factsheet
Location: Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, Kigali, Rwanda. Specifically, plots of land in Kagasa cell, Gahanga, near the Cricket Stadium.
Developer: Riverside City Estate is one of the developers involved.
Number of units:
- Phase one: 100 affordable homes are under construction, with some reports indicating 104 units as the initial phase.
- Second phase: An additional 200 housing units are expected to be built in a subsequent phase.
Unit features:
- Each house is typically designed with three rooms (including bedrooms), a sitting room, dining room, toilets, and a kitchen.
- They often include parking for two to three cars and an annex building with an outdoor kitchen, storage room, and a security guard room.
- Houses are generally stretched on between 300 and 350 square meters.
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Home Prices
The homes range in price from $23,000 (around Rwf32.5 million) for the most budget-friendly options, up to $180,000 (approximately Rwf254.5 million) for high-end units.
This development follows the success of the first phase of the project, Umutuzo Village, which added 90 homes in Kagasa Cell, also within the Gahanga Sector. All the units from that phase have already been sold.
Second Phase
The second phase consists of 104 new homes, and half of them have already been purchased. Muzora said the project includes a variety of house types to meet different needs, and noted that demand for affordable housing remains strong.
“To make it easier for buyers, we offer a flexible five-installment payment plan that matches the construction schedule. The idea is for buyers to finish payments by the time their homes are ready,” he explained.
He also shared that more than 60 percent of the buyers so far are Rwandan citizens, which reflects local interest in homeownership.
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Samuel Dusengiyumva, the Mayor of Kigali, emphasized the city’s long-term commitment to expanding access to quality housing.
“This year alone, we’ve completed 688 homes in Mpazi Model Village and are constructing another 1,600 in Nyabisindu. That brings us close to 2,500 new units,” he told reporters on Friday, May 30.
“Our goal is to build at least 5,000 homes each year, and eventually scale up to 10,000 annually,” he added.
Dusengiyumva noted that Kigali currently faces a shortfall of around 250,000 housing units.
To support those who can’t yet afford to buy a home, the city also plans to develop more affordable rental options.
“We’re working on rental housing that would cost between Rwf50,000 and Rwf100,000 per month. For instance, two young workers—a mobile money agent and a motorcycle taxi driver—could share a one-bedroom apartment and split the rent,” he said.
Significance of the Gahanga Affordable Housing Project
The mayor pointed out that these projects would also benefit landowners. They would benefit through vertical housing developments, while helping to reduce urban sprawl.
“We need more private sector involvement. The housing shortage is a key reason why prices are so high,” he concluded.
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