Rwanda to relocate parastatal headquarters from Kigali

The Rwandese government says it will soon assess the

potential of other cities in the country as it seeks to spread

headquarters or key departments of parastatals outside the capital,

Kigali.

According to the Rwanda Housing Authority

(RHA), this move is aimed at boosting economic activity in secondary

cities that have been designated in different regions of the country.

Six

cities have been identified for this purpose; Musanze in Northern

Province, Nyagatare in Eastern Province, Huye and Muhanga in Southern

Province, and Rubavu and Rusizi in Western Province.

According

to Augustin Kampayana, the acting director general at RHA, before

relocation, they will have to first look at the availability of

infrastructure in the cities to accommodate public institutions.

He said they intend to start with the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) this financial year.

(Kigali, capital of Rwanda. /CG Photo)

The

move will contribute to addressing the issue of high rate of

rural-urban migration and boosting economic activity in the cities, he

said.

According to the 2012 data from the National

Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, 60 percent of those who migrate in

search of jobs end up in Kigali City due to easy accessibility to

infrastructure, investment opportunities, and other socio-economic

aspects.

Upon completion of the exercise, the

proposed cities will double as economic poles of growth for the country

with improved roads and water networks, electricity, tourism

development, schools and health centers.