Giporoso Mosque, located near Hill Top Hotel in Kigali, will be relocated to make way for the upcoming expansion of the Prince House–Masaka Road, the Rwanda Muslim Community has confirmed.
The major infrastructure project, scheduled to kick off in February, will involve widening the busy road from two lanes to four and constructing a flyover to reduce traffic congestion along one of Kigali’s key transport corridors.
As preparations continue, more than 530 properties along the route are set to be affected by expropriation and demolition works, including businesses, residences, and religious structures.
Speaking to The New Times, Rwanda’s Mufti, Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya, said that while the Muslim community operates two mosques along the road, Remera-Giporoso Mosque is the one earmarked for relocation.
“The City of Kigali has already informed us about the road expansion. Once we receive an official notice confirming the timeline, we will proceed with the relocation,” he said.
However, he noted that the community is still searching for a suitable site, as no alternative land has yet been secured within the same area.
Flyover to Ease Traffic Pressure
The road expansion will stretch across 10 kilometres and is being financed by China at a cost of about $60.5 million (over 437 million Chinese yuan).
Parts of Hilltop Hotel and Country Club have also been designated for demolition, while several businesses along the corridor have already begun relocating.
Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva confirmed on Wednesday that construction is expected to start next month.
“We are finalising legal procedures for relocating affected residents, and so far the process has been smooth,” he said.
The upgraded road will run from Prince House to the Inyange Factory area, marking the end of the project’s first phase.
Once completed, the infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce traffic jams and improve connectivity between Kigali city centre, the Kigali Special Economic Zone, Masaka Dry Port, and Kigali International Airport.
A key highlight of the project is a 1.2-kilometre flyover between Prince House and Ku Cya Mitsingi, which will allow traffic to flow both above and below the structure, ensuring smoother movement during peak hours.
City officials say construction will be carried out in phases to allow normal activities and traffic to continue throughout the process.
KIGALI TIMES