RDB building in Gishushu Temporary closed for major Renovation works

RDB Building in Gishushu Temporarily Closed for Major Renovation Work

The decision follows recent notifications issued to several government institutions and agencies operating from the RDB building, including RDB, RMB, RCB, and RHA, informing them to relocate temporarily while renovation activities are underway. However, authorities have not yet publicly disclosed the alternative locations where these institutions will continue operating.

Meanwhile, integrated services offered through Isange One Stop Center will temporarily be provided from the ground floor of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) building located in Kimihurura.

The RDB building is a 12-storey structure with four underground basement levels used for parking and other service facilities. Constructed on an area measuring approximately 4,000 square meters, the building was developed by the Chinese company Top International Engineering Cooperation before later being acquired by the Government of Rwanda for approximately Rwf42 billion.

Minister of Infrastructure, Dr Jimmy Gasore, stated that several technical and operational problems necessitated the renovation works. These include faulty electrical installations affecting the efficiency of elevators, deteriorating water supply systems, and poor rainwater drainage infrastructure that has caused water infiltration into the basement parking areas.

According to the minister, the rehabilitation project will be based on comprehensive technical assessments intended to provide long-term solutions to the identified problems.

Additional reports indicate that some design and construction irregularities may have occurred during the implementation of the building project, resulting in structural weaknesses that progressively worsened over time. Some occupants had reportedly raised concerns about visible deterioration and suspected cracking within certain parts of the structure, prompting authorities to undertake a full-scale renovation.

RDB officially began operating from the building in January 2025, meaning the facility had been in use for only one year and four months before the decision to close and renovate it was announced.

Although reports suggest that the financial resources allocated to the project were properly accounted for, concerns have emerged over possible negligence in construction quality and execution, particularly considering the short period within which the building began experiencing significant technical challenges.

The RDB complex hosted several strategic public institutions that play a major role in Rwanda’s economy and government revenue generation. Among them is the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), a key institution in the country’s mining and natural resources sector, which significantly contributes to national export revenues.

Analysts note that even temporary disruptions affecting such institutions could have broader economic implications, highlighting the importance of ensuring continuity of services while renovation works are being carried out.