An initial budget of Rwf 997.7 million has been allocated to kick-start the works, as part of broader infrastructure projects undertaken by the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
The renovation will include upgrades to the building’s electrical systems, installation of backup generators to ensure power supply during outages, and relocation of transformers linked to the facility’s power infrastructure.
RDB announced temporary closure of the building on May 5, 2026 to allow renovation works to begin.
All institutions and offices that were operating in the building have since been relocated to facilitate the refurbishment process.
Following the temporary closure, Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore told TV10 that initial inspections had identified issues in the building’s wastewater treatment system, particularly in the drainage of wastewater from sanitary facilities, although further assessments were still required.
He said the decision to vacate the building was made to allow a comprehensive review of its condition.
“We can say the main reason is that we decided to fix the issues while the building is empty. We want to reassess everything to ensure that if there are other problems, they can also be addressed at once,” he said.
He further noted that inspections had revealed problems in parts of the electrical wiring system, which affected the performance of elevators, making them operate more slowly than expected for such a modern structure. He added that a full technical study would be carried out during the renovation to identify any additional issues.
The minister also clarified at the time that the building would not be demolished, dismissing speculation that had circulated earlier, and stressing that the works were focused on repairs and improvements.
The Gishushu-based building, covering 42,000 square metres, was purchased by the government for Rwf 42 billion but concerns were raised about its quality. The Rwanda Housing Authority had previously conducted assessments to determine its structural condition.
The evaluation reportedly identified several defects, leading to corrective measures targeting both design and construction-related issues.
Over time, these defects became more visible, with reports indicating that some structural weaknesses worsened, raising safety concerns.
Authorities ultimately decided to temporarily evacuate the building to ensure the safety of occupants while comprehensive renovation works are carried out.
Leave a Reply