• Kigali to build 100 km of roads by 2029, targeting 25 km yearly.

• $100M AfDB loan supports transport upgrade.

• Citizens to cofund 50% amid growing congestion.

Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, plans to build 100 kilometers of secondary roads by 2029. Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva announced the project on Tuesday, June 24, stating it will be rolled out in phases, with 25 kilometers constructed annually. This initiative aims to address the city’s rapid population growth and increasing mobility challenges.

This project is part of a broader urban mobility improvement program, backed by a $100 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), approved in December 2024. The funding seeks to make road transport more efficient, inclusive, and safer. It follows the Kigali Infrastructure Project (KIP), whose second phase aimed to pave 215 kilometers of roads citywide by 2024.

With an estimated population of 1.7 million, Kigali faces increasing traffic demands. According to an AfDB report, mobility challenges in the city are evident in widespread congestion at major intersections, longer travel times, poor integration of transport modes, a lack of dedicated bus lanes, and insufficient pedestrian or cycling infrastructure. The city also heavily relies on motorcycle taxis, often due to a lack of alternatives, despite heightened accident risks.

These structural issues are driving up transport operating costs and limiting safe mobility access for road users. Under the current road expansion program, funding will be shared with residents. The city will cover 50% of construction costs, a reduction from the previous 70%.