Welcome message by the Permanent Secretary 

In line with its mission to ensure the efficient and sustainable development of infrastructure, the Ministry strives to provide and well-planned and well-implemented services to the country, with a positive working environment focused on achieving its objectives. 

To ease the effects of being a landlocked country, the Transport Sector is improving the condition of the national road network in order to enhance mobility and routes for international trade and communications, and reduce transport costs. Plans are also underway to extend the existing railway line from Isaka (Tanzania) to Kigali, which would enable cargo to be transported regionally at competitive costs; and for the construction of a new airport in Bugesera with a view to expanding air travel. 

In the Energy Sector, efforts are underway to increase the number of connections to the electricity grid to 300,000 households by 2012, and to increase the total installed power generation capacity of Rwanda to 130MW by the same year. In order to achieve this, the Ministry is exploring and developing renewable and environmentally-friendly energy sources such as geothermal, solar and methane gas. It is anticipated that the development of these energy sources will make power more affordable, consequently promoting economic growth.  

The Ministry has formulated policies and instruments to promote and control the growth of the construction industry in Rwanda, including the National Construction Industry Policy, the Building Control Regulations and the Urban Housing Policy, all of which aim to assist the development of construction standards and specifications, urban management and planning, the regulation of the industry, and enhance professionalism. 

Good progress is also being made in the Water and Sanitation Sector to ensure targets are met, which aim to provide 100% national coverage of clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities by 2020.  

Meteorology is a cross-cutting sector which provides vital information for a variety of sectors such as agriculture, health, and transport. The rehabilitation of existing weather stations as well as the construction of new ones is planned to provide comprehensive coverage of the country by 2012. 

MININFRA is currently undergoing reform to decentralise implementation activities, which will be transferred to semi-autonomous bodies such at the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), the Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) and the National Housing Authority (NHA). The goal is to improve service delivery and streamline efficiency, while policy formulation and strategy development functions will be retained by the Ministry.  

There are many challenges associated with the development and maintenance of infrastructure in the country, which MININFRA has made great strides in overcoming. I would like to thank you for taking the time to visit the MININFRA website and hope that you will find its contents informative and useful.

Thank You! 

Ms. Marie Claire MUKASINE

Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Infrastructure