UK Home Secretary inaugurates housing project for migrants
Visiting UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Ernest Nsabimana, on Sunday, March 19 launched a Rwf60 billion housing project that will see 1,500 units constructed to accommodate migrants that the UK will transfer to Rwanda.
The project comes as the two governments on Saturday signed an addendum to expand the migration partnership.
At the ground-breaking ceremony in Gahanga sector of Kicukiro District, Braverman, who is in Rwanda for a two-day visit, said the project was a “big step forward” in the migration partnership.
“The Gahanga building project represents a big step forward in Rwanda’s effort to increase its already existing capacity to accommodate refugees and provide humanitarian support to thousands of people around the country,” she said.
“This masterplan represents a good example of high-quality housing units to accommodate different family sizes,” Braverman said.
The housing units will also have an early childhood development (ECD) centre, and recreational facility – all built with environment-friendly materials and at a quick pace, thanks to the technology used.
Phase one of the project will see up to 528 homes will be built in six months in Gahanga.
Minister Nsabimana said the Rwf60 billion project is part of the UK-Rwanda migration partnership.
“With the UK Home Secretary, since Saturday, we have visited different projects, and assess our capacity in accommodating the asylum seekers who will be relocated to Rwanda,” he said.
“In this project, in particular, up to 1,500 homes will be built on about 12 hectares, starting with the 528 homes in the first phase. This is a big project that includes roads, water and electricity, telecommunications networks and malls, among others.”
In April 2022, UK and Rwanda signed a migration and economic development partnership that seeks to give a dignified life to people who leave their countries to seek asylum in European countries.
Under the deal, some of these people will be relocated to Rwanda where they will be empowered through different initiatives.
Earlier on Sunday, Braverman visited Kepler, a college in Kigali, whose 25 per cent of students are refugees.
Braverman had on Saturday visited Bwiza Riverside Homes, an estate Nyarugenge District, which will also accommodate the arriving migrants.
The UK government will fund the programme, initially releasing an upfront investment of £120 million, which will fund invaluable opportunities for the migrants and Rwandans.
This includes secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.
The UK will also support in terms of accommodation prior to local integration and resettlement.
According to the deal, the migrants will be entitled to full protection under Rwandan law, equal access to employment, and enrollment in healthcare and social care services.
