“Was it always this vibrant?” I ask. This is ADPER Busanza. It wasn’t always like this.
ADPER Busanza stands before you. Years ago this area was quite different. It was known mostly for its old cemetery. People went there only to bury loved ones. They left quickly. Some however were smarter. They bought land. They waited patiently.
Kigali grew rapidly. Busanza remained undeveloped. It was considered a far-off village. This was even true just five years ago. Then came a different kind of notoriety. Suspected serial killer Denis Kazungu lived here. He is accused of murdering at least fourteen people. His name became linked to Busanza. It added to the negative image of the area.
Before that Busanza was viewed as an abandoned village. The government wanted to relocate people from unplanned settlements like Kangondo and Kibiraro II. It took time. From 2019 to 2022 the government negotiated then enforced the move. Many resisted. They didn’t believe Busanza was a livable place.
Today though ADPER Busanza thrives. It is a sought-after suburb. The model village initially rejected is now a cornerstone of its development. A new road connects Kanombe and Kabeza. It passes right through Busanza.
Maurice Mugimbo has lived here eight years. He witnessed the transformation firsthand. In 2014 there was no paved road. Electricity and water were scarce. Between 2017 and 2020 everything changed. A new road arrived. Electricity and streetlights appeared. New houses were built. The model village opened.
More than 800 families moved from Nyarutarama. Land became valuable. People bought and built. This area changed dramatically. It went from a place with negative perceptions to a middle-class residential area. Witchcraft accusations faded. The stigma is gone.
Pierre Claver Bayingana is the Executive Secretary of Karama Cell. He says the model village unlocked Busanza’s potential. A new market followed. Businesses thrived. Organized trade replaced chaos. Life improved tremendously.
Safety too was a major issue. Petty thieves and delinquents hid here. They terrorized neighbors. Even the cemetery was not safe. Graves were robbed. That is all in the past. Security is now ensured.
Affordable housing is another reason for its growth. A one-bedroom house might rent for only 50,000 Rwf. Two bedrooms around 150,000 Rwf. Foreigners especially students are moving here. It is safe and affordable. You’ll find people from all over Africa.
ADPER Busanza has good schools too. There are football pitches and courts. There’s a health center and private hospitals. The Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe is nearby. A public bus line connects ADPER Busanza to Nyabugogo. The government even built a modern market. They incentivized its development.
Horace Mukeshimana used to sell informally. Now she has a stall in the market. She says her life transformed. She’s thankful for the development. She encourages others to embrace the progress.
ADPER Busanza is a success story. It’s a testament to planning and transformation. A place where community and opportunity thrive. This is ADPER Busanza today.