According to BRD, 17,845 people have so far benefited from the programme, which was introduced to make homeownership more accessible for low- and middle-income earners through affordable mortgage financing.
The figures were revealed by Benitha Utuje, BRD’s Gira Iwawe Programme Implementation Officer, during a meeting organised by Copedu Plc that brought together women entrepreneurs, including both existing and prospective clients of the financial institution.
Launched in 2019 with support from the World Bank, the Gira Iwawe programme forms part of Rwanda’s broader strategy to increase access to affordable housing by enabling eligible citizens to purchase homes through long-term loans provided by participating financial institutions.
The programme offers two financing categories based on applicants’ monthly income.
Individuals earning less than Rwf1.2 million per month can access mortgage loans of up to Rwf40 million to purchase a home. The loans are repayable over a period of 20 years at an annual interest rate of 11%.
Meanwhile, those earning between Rwf1.2 million and Rwf1.5 million per month are eligible for loans to purchase homes valued between Rwf40 million and Rwf60 million, with an annual interest rate of 13%.
Speaking at the event, Utuje said BRD has channelled substantial financial resources into the programme since its launch.
“Since 2019, BRD has provided approximately Rwf144 billion to partner banks and financial institutions to help Rwandans purchase homes through the Gira Iwawe programme. As a result, 17,845 people have enrolled and acquired homes through the initiative,” she said.
The programme is implemented through several partner financial institutions, including Bank of Kigali, Bank of Africa, Umwalimu SACCO, NCBA Bank Rwanda, BPR Rwanda, Copedu Plc, and other licensed lenders.
BRD further noted that 81% of the programme’s loans have been disbursed through these partner institutions, reflecting strong collaboration between the development bank and Rwanda’s financial sector in expanding access to affordable housing finance.
The initiative has primarily benefited lower-income households. According to BRD, 84% of beneficiaries earn less than Rwf500,000 per month, underscoring the programme’s focus on making homeownership accessible to families with modest incomes.
The data also shows that 37% of beneficiaries are young people, while 36% are women, highlighting the programme’s contribution to youth empowerment and women’s economic inclusion.
The Gira Iwawe programme supports Rwanda’s ambitious housing development agenda. The government aims to construct at least 150,000 additional affordable housing units as part of its long-term target of expanding the country’s housing stock to 5.5 million homes by 2050.
To support this goal, the government has earmarked 1,100 hectares of land across the country for affordable housing development, including 890 hectares in Kigali, where large-scale residential projects are expected to be undertaken.
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