The pinnacle of Rwanda's environmental regulator has known as for an finish to particular person homebuilding, arguing that housing ought to more and more be developed by organised corporations to enhance compliance with environmental and development requirements and scale back catastrophe dangers linked to local weather change.
Talking earlier than the Senate Committee on International Affairs, Nationwide Unity and Safety on Tuesday, June 30, Rwanda Surroundings Administration Authority (REMA) Director Common Juliet Kabera stated uncoordinated, piecemeal development makes it tough to implement requirements on drainage, wastewater administration and protected constructing practices.
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“It is vitally onerous for anybody. Even for those who gave REMA 1,000 inspectors, it might not be doable to examine each particular person setting up a home and guarantee they meet requirements concerning water channelling,” Kabera stated.
She stated Rwanda ought to steadily transfer in the direction of organised housing growth as an alternative of permitting households to construct independently.
“The time has come that we cease constructing for ourselves,” she stated.
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“We will have corporations or organised builders setting up for individuals as a result of they perceive requirements, geotechnical necessities and the place development can safely happen higher than somebody constructing step-by-step over a number of months.”
Kabera steered the method might start in Kigali earlier than being rolled out to different components of the nation.
“A minimum of we begin in Kigali, the place we are saying no person builds individually,” she stated.
She famous that coordinated housing growth would make it simpler to implement requirements on drainage techniques, rainwater harvesting, wastewater remedy, air air pollution administration and using development supplies.
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“The second everybody builds for themselves and continues including buildings round their houses, there isn’t any approach requirements may be assured. Even underground points and environmental dangers can’t simply be recognized,” she stated.
Drawing classes from Singapore's city growth mannequin, Kabera stated Rwanda may gain advantage from adopting an analogous method.
“We admire Singapore and study loads from it, however that is precisely what Singapore did,” she stated.
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“I’ll have a great job and consider constructing instantly, however I’d reasonably save and have a great home constructed after 5 years than assemble one thing substandard.”
She warned that poor planning typically results in avoidable losses.
“Homes constructed in the present day might later be demolished. Developing homes solely to demolish them afterwards could be very counterproductive,” she stated.
Kabera stated the proposal is a part of REMA’s new strategic plan, which goals to display the environmental, social and financial advantages of better-planned housing growth. The company plans to conduct research and submit suggestions to related establishments.
The dialogue got here as senators reviewed the implementation of measures to forestall and scale back disasters throughout the nation.
Murangwa Ndangiza Hadija, chairperson of the Senate Committee on International Affairs, Nationwide Unity and Safety, recalled that in March the committee met officers from the ministry in control of emergency administration to evaluate the nation's preparedness following forecasts of heavy rains and powerful winds.
She stated disasters recorded between January and December 2024 claimed 191 lives and injured 488 individuals. They destroyed 128 homes, broken greater than 2,000 others, washed away 1,355 hectares of crops, killed livestock, broken forests, and affected faculties, well being centres, roads, bridges and electrical energy infrastructure.
Regardless of ongoing prevention efforts and coordination amongst establishments, disasters continued in 2025, with fatalities linked to lightning, mining-related incidents, landslides and floods. Greater than 1,800 homes and 1,100 hectares of crops have already been affected this 12 months.
Between January and March 11 alone, disasters claimed 28 lives.
Kabera stated local weather change is growing the severity of disasters and highlighted interventions underway, together with local weather affect analysis and the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems.
She cited the restoration of main gullies, together with one in Rwampala that had reached about 14 metres deep and stretched practically three kilometres, making rehabilitation each tough and dear.
She additionally highlighted relocation efforts in high-risk areas, together with the development of a 300-house mannequin village in Muzo Sector, Gakenke District, for households moved from landslide-prone zones.
Throughout the session, senators raised issues about poor drainage techniques and water administration.
Senator Bibiane Mbaye Gahamanyi requested what extra might be carried out to forestall harmful water flows.
Senator Evode Uwizeyimana argued that investing in catastrophe prevention is less expensive than responding after disasters happen.
He additionally questioned why communities proceed to expertise each flooding and water shortages.
“We face a state of affairs the place water turns into an issue when there may be an excessive amount of of it, and later we face shortage,” he stated.
Uwizeyimana famous that some communities across the Volcanoes area expertise flooding throughout the wet season however face water shortages throughout dry intervals, elevating issues about whether or not rainwater is being successfully conserved.
He additionally criticised infrastructure tasks the place roads are constructed with drainage channels that discharge runoff with no clear vacation spot.
“Should you ask the place the water is being directed, the reply is just ‘someplace in nature’,” he stated.
He known as for stronger water administration techniques, together with expanded rainwater harvesting, recycling and extra environment friendly use of accessible water.
