Rwanda sets December deadline for land-use plans around Bugesera airport city
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The National Land Authority says detailed plans for a five-kilometre radius around the new Kigali International Airport will be completed by the end of December, with permitted land uses published in January 2027.
Rwandan authorities are preparing detailed land-use plans that will determine how land around the new Kigali International Airport and proposed Formula 1 facilities in Bugesera can be developed. The National Land Authority (NLA) says the plans are expected to be completed by the end of December 2026, with detailed information on permitted uses available in January 2027.
Grace Nishimwe, director general of the NLA and chief registrar of land titles, said the exercise covers a five-kilometre radius around the airport and will show how land should be used and developed. It covers six development clusters, including residential zones where settlement sites will be demarcated, as well as areas for commercial development, industry and supporting infrastructure.
The planning push follows a sharp rise in land transactions. According to NLA figures, transfers in Bugesera rose from about 5,000 in 2018 to 30,000 in 2025, with some buyers reportedly acquiring plots within a kilometre of the airport in the hope of reselling at a higher price as infrastructure takes shape. More than 3,000 construction permits are issued in the district annually, while compliance with construction and land-use regulations stands at roughly 30 per cent.
Eastern Province governor Pudence Rubingisa said the government is working with land authorities and Rwanda Airport City management to prepare physical plans for Rilima, Mwogo and Juru as well as parts of Mayange and Nyamata sectors. He said the plans must account for the accommodation needs of airport workers alongside sports facilities, schools, industry and agriculture, adding that major projects will attract workers and make affordable housing planning essential.
For some residents, the uncertainty is already biting. Noel Nkurikiye, a resident of Mayange Sector, said construction permits are not being issued in his area because it falls within the planned airport development boundaries. Agriculture currently accounts for about 52 per cent of Bugesera's land, followed by wetlands at 14 per cent, residential areas at 10 per cent, forestry at 6.6 per cent and water bodies at 6 per cent.
The airport city spans more than 2,000 hectares and is expected to require heavy investment in commercial, residential, industrial and aviation-related infrastructure, including agro-processing, logistics, hotels, warehouses, schools and healthcare facilities. The government appointed a chief executive for Rwanda Airport City in mid-2026 to oversee the development.