{"id":2000125466,"date":"2026-09-08T18:49:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000125466"},"modified":"2026-09-08T18:49:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T16:49:49","slug":"china-rwanda-officially-break-ground-on-10km-prince-house-masaka-road-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/china-rwanda-officially-break-ground-on-10km-prince-house-masaka-road-project\/","title":{"rendered":"China, Rwanda officially break ground on 10km Prince House-Masaka road project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 8, although physical construction activities had already started on August 30 as preparations for the project progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project is being implemented through a partnership between Rwanda and China, with China contributing about Rwf95 billion and Rwanda providing about Rwf35 billion towards the works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is expected to take about 30 months to complete and will transform the existing corridor into a modern multi-lane urban transport route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The works include a flyover, underpasses, interchanges, bridges, drainage systems and street lighting, alongside the expansion of the road into a fully upgraded dual four-lane carriageway, with some sections reaching up to eight lanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi described the project as a major milestone in China-Rwanda cooperation, linking infrastructure development with economic growth and public welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe groundbreaking of this road carries great significance and far-reaching implications.It stands as a road of friendship embodying the shared aspiration of our two nations,\u201d Amb. Gao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that the project had been identified as a key bilateral initiative by Presidents Xi Jinping and Paul Kagame during Xi\u2019s 2018 state visit to Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The road will connect central Kigali with the Kigali Special Economic Zone, the new Bugesera International Airport and the Eastern Industrial Zone, while linking to the wider eastward transport corridor towards regional seaports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUpon completion, the road will effectively cut logistics and transportation costs and continuously boost business prosperity along its route,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ambassador also highlighted the road\u2019s expected role in improving access to the Masaka Medical Complex and surrounding communities, saying it would serve as an important link for medical services and urban mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amb. Gao also highlighted skills transfer through the \u201cLuban Classroom \u2013 Road and Bridge\u201d programme, which is being conducted at the construction site to provide Rwandan engineers and young workers with practical training and technical knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Col Claudien Bizimungu, said the project comes at a critical time as Kigali continues to expand and demand for efficient urban transport increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col Bizimungu said the improvements are expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety and strengthen connectivity across the capital while providing better access to jobs, markets and essential services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He acknowledged that construction would temporarily cause congestion and inconvenience to road users and urged the public to cooperate with traffic management measures and use designated alternative routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also called on the contractor and relevant institutions to explore ways of completing the project before the scheduled 30-month contract period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government expects a high standard of quality, safety, accountability and value for money, while ensuring that the works are completed as quickly as possible,\u201d Col Bizimungu said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project is being implemented in partnership with Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities have identified alternative traffic routes around Giporoso, Sonatube, Kimironko, Zindiro, Ndera, Gasogi, Kabuga, Kicukiro and surrounding areas to help manage traffic during construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The groundbreaking of the road project comes shortly after China handed over the newly renovated and expanded Masaka Hospital to Rwanda<\/a> on August 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The facility, which cost 580 million Chinese yuan, equivalent to more than Rwf124 billion, will become the new home of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), expected to relocate there by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 837 beds, 22 operating theatres and capacity for up to 2,000 outpatient visits a day, the hospital is the largest healthcare facility in Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both projects are part of the longstanding infrastructure and development cooperation between Rwanda and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi and Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure Col Claudien Bizimungu unveil the plaque marking the official groundbreaking of the Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure Col Claudien Bizimungu addresses guests during the groundbreaking ceremony in Kigali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi speaks during the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road project on September 8, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The groundbreaking marks another major infrastructure project under the longstanding cooperation between Rwanda and China.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Officials from Rwanda and China attend the ceremony marking the official groundbreaking of the 10.3-kilometre Prince House-Masaka road project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Engineers from Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group will work alongside their Rwandan counterparts to implement the project and share technical expertise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Chinese Ambassador Gao Wenqi and Minister of State Col Claudien Bizimungu joined other officials at the official groundbreaking ceremony of the road project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road project is set to introduce major upgrades to Kigali\u2019s transport infrastructure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The upgraded road will connect central Kigali with the Kigali Special Economic Zone and other major economic areas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka corridor is being upgraded to strengthen the movement of people and goods in Kigali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The upgraded corridor is expected to improve access to jobs, markets and essential services for communities along the route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The project will add bridges, drainage systems and street lighting along the 10.3-kilometre corridor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The 10.3-kilometre corridor will be expanded into a modern multi-lane carriageway as part of the project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Rwandan engineers and young workers are expected to gain practical experience through skills-transfer programmes linked to the road project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rwanda and China have officially marked the groundbreaking of the 10.3-kilometre Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road project, formally launching a major upgrade expected to improve mobility, road safety and connectivity in Kigali.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000125472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[160],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000125466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-40","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-theophile-niyitegeka"],"bylines":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":2000122455,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.50.01-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.50.01 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":3}],"contributors":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":2000122455,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-08-14-at-11.50.01-AM.jpeg","title":"WhatsApp Image 2026-08-14 at 11.50.01 AM","mime_type":"image\/jpeg"},"user_id":3}],"featured_image":{"id":2000125472,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi and Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure Col Claudien Bizimungu unveil the plaque marking the official groundbreaking of the Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road project.","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/09\/05-2I1A9305.jpg","width":1000,"height":667}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000125466"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000125491,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000125466\/revisions\/2000125491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000125472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000125466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000125466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000125466"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000125466"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000125466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}