As part of its National urbanization Policy strategy aimed at developing secondary cities to complement the capital, Kigali, Rwanda has designated three satellite cities:Bugesera, Muhanga and Rwamagana as key urban centers that will “shine alongside Kigali.”
These cities were elevated from the category of secondary cities to that of “star cities” due to their strategic proximity to the capital. Their locations make it easy for residents to work in Kigali while living in these nearby cities, with convenient access to the same quality of infrastructure and services found in the capital.
According to Rwanda’s urban planning and housing framework, these cities are now required to undergo modern urban development to meet national urban standards. The goal is for each of them to become a well planned, fully serviced city mirroring Kigali’s infrastructure and quality of life.
This government initiative is expected to reduce the excessive migration of people who believe that better opportunities exist only in Kigali. As more Rwandans understand that development can reach them where they live, the country will achieve a more balanced and sustainable urban growth pattern.
Servile Uwayesu, Urbanization and housing economist at the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), stated that Rwanda has officially identified these new satellite cities to guide Kigali’s growth. The reform also expanded the number of secondary cities from six to nine, under the revised National Urbanization Policy, approved on 10 February 2025.
This policy aligns with Rwanda’s vision for sustainable urbanization, noting that 27.9% of Rwandans lived in urban areas in 2022, a figure projected to reach 52.7% by 2035 and approximately 70% by 2050.
Such rapid urbanization is expected to reshape Rwanda’s social, economic, and political landscape, positioning the country as a model for planned, inclusive, and sustainable urban growth in Africa.
Marie Chantal Nyirabera
