Construction of the two-storey building valued at Rwf 678 million is progressing, with partners laying a symbolic foundation stone on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in a ceremony attended by senior government officials and development partners.
The project is expected to transform the existing facility into a modern, one-stop health centre offering integrated and client-centred services, particularly in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, as well as broader primary healthcare.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Lambert Rangira, AHF Rwanda Country Program Manager, said the expansion reflects a strong partnership between the Government of Rwanda and development partners aimed at strengthening the country’s health system.
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions work together toward a common goal, which is improving access to quality healthcare for all,” he said.
He also requested a collective commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that this investment translates into measurable impact for the Rwandan communities it will serve.
He emphasised that the new facility will go beyond infrastructure, delivering tangible benefits such as reduced waiting times, improved confidentiality, enhanced patient experience, and better health outcomes.
The project is progressing well and is currently 38% complete, with full completion scheduled for October this year.
The expansion comes as AHF Rwanda continues to scale up its operations. Since launching in 2006, the organisation has grown from supporting just a few facilities to working in 11 districts. What began with three health facilities in Gasabo, Kicukiro, and Nyabihu districts with 850 patients in 2026 has expanded significantly over the past two decades. Today, AHF Rwanda supports 38 health facilities across 11 districts, collectively serving more than 47,200 people living with HIV.
The Kagugu Health Center expansion is also part of AHF Rwanda’s broader growth strategy. This year, the program plans to expand services to 24 additional sites, bringing care to an estimated 11,000 more clients across five new districts. By the end of the year, AHF Rwanda aims to reach 62 health facilities across 16 districts.
Founder and President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation Michael Weinstein, who was visiting Rwanda for the first time, commended the country’s coordinated approach to healthcare delivery, particularly in the fight against HIV.
“Rwanda has been a global leader in HIV response by ensuring that all partners work within one system,” he said. “Facilities like this need to be expanded to meet demand, and what we are seeing here is the essence of partnership.”
At the local level, the expansion is expected to address longstanding challenges at Kagugu Health Centre, which currently serves a population of over 100,000 people.
According to the facility’s head, Dogo Trésor, limited space has constrained service delivery despite growing demand.
“We follow up nearly 3,000 HIV patients, with more than 2,500 active clients, and currently record over 40 new HIV cases each month. The current infrastructure is not enough,” he said, adding that the expansion will allow for improved working conditions and the recruitment of additional staff.
Kigali City authorities also welcomed the project as a key contribution to urban health development. Urujeni Martine, Vice Mayor in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs, noted that the investment aligns with Kigali’s broader goal of ensuring residents have timely access to quality healthcare.
“This facility will play a critical role in improving the well-being of our citizens and supporting sustainable development,” she said.
From the national perspective, the Ministry of Health highlighted the project’s alignment with Rwanda’s priorities, including modernising health infrastructure and improving service delivery.
Representing the Ministry, Dr. Oreste Tuganeyezu said the expansion would significantly enhance the quality of care provided at the facility.
“This project contributes directly to improving healthcare quality and supporting health workers, while also strengthening services for people living with HIV,” he said, adding that AHF’s support has been instrumental in expanding access to care and supporting vulnerable populations by covering their Community-Based Health Insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) contributions.
Dr. Oreste also noted that the project aligns with Rwanda’s broader health sector goals, including the plan to quadruple the number of health professionals between 2025 and 2029, which will further improve service delivery and reduce the workload on existing staff.
Once completed, the upgraded facility will offer a wide range of services under one roof, including HIV testing and counselling, laboratory services, pharmacy, maternal and child health services, non-communicable disease screening, and dedicated youth-friendly spaces.
AHF, which has a presence in more than 50 countries across Africa, the Americas, the Asia/Pacific region, and Europe, has been operating in Rwanda for the last 20 years and offers a comprehensive range of services, including HIV testing, care and treatment, prevention programs including Condom education and distribution, and integrated non-communicable disease (NCD) services, advocacy initiatives, and provision of supplemental personnel and monthly operational funding to all supported sites.
With robust testing models and strong community outreach, AHF Rwanda ensures services reach hard-to-access areas. The organisation partners with community-based organisations (CBOs) for mobilisation, education, and referrals, while also advocating for policy changes to benefit people living with HIV (PLHIV). To date, it has distributed more than 3 million condoms through its strategically located condom kiosks and dispensers across the city.
Leave a Reply