Kigali orders demolition of Rwf800m Nyabugogo building over construction defects
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The City of Kigali has ordered the complete demolition of a three-storey commercial building in Nyabugogo after technical assessments found construction defects that left the structure unstable before it was finished.
The City of Kigali has ordered the complete demolition of a three-storey commercial building in the Norvege area of Nyabugogo, in Nyarugenge District, after technical assessments concluded that no part of the structure could be safely retained.
The owner, Twahirwa Theoneste, said he had not yet calculated the exact financial loss but estimated that the building, once completed, would have been worth at least Rwf800 million (more than US$600,000). He said the problem was not a shortage of construction materials but mistakes made during the construction process.
“We have suffered a major loss. I cannot immediately give an exact figure, such as saying it is this many millions. When we calculated the value of the building upon completion, it was estimated at Rwf800 million or more,” he said, urging construction professionals to respect the money clients invest in their projects.
Residents said cracks were visible from the time the first floor was completed, and by August 2026 videos circulating on social media showed portions of the structure breaking off while workers were still on site. The defects identified included improperly mixed cement and steel reinforcement that did not meet the standards required for a large structure, with some steel components bending under the weight of the upper floors.
Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said laboratory tests had initially indicated that some sections might be preserved while others were removed, but a further technical study found that the remaining structure could not safely support reconstruction. “Once both assessments were completed, they showed that it simply would not work and was not feasible. The only option is to remove the entire building, after which the owner can apply for a new construction permit,” she said.
Demolition has since begun, and any new construction will require a fresh building permit application. Habimana Assouman, a resident of Nyarugenge District, said allowing construction to continue could have led to a far greater tragedy if the building had collapsed after occupants moved in. The case has renewed questions about construction standards and professional accountability, although the specific responsibility of each professional involved has not been established in the information available.