Kigali

Kigali’s Resilience Journey

Once the site of devastating sectarian violence, Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, has made significant strides in the last two decades. As the national economy has continued to grow, so has Kigali’s population.

However, the city’s infrastructure development has not kept pace in areas such as sanitation, energy, and roads, increasing the risk of epidemic disease, energy shortages, and economic turmoil. Periodic flooding continues to pose a threat to public health, businesses, and agriculture. In response, the city has begun providing civic education about disaster management.

Overpopulation in some areas of Kigali has led to informal settlements that severely tax the city’s infrastructure. A 2012 study on affordable housing has led to ongoing projects to increase Kigali’s housing stock. Additionally, the city has been budgeting more resources to construct, rehabilitate, and maintain its roads.