“Like Dubai,” one resident said. Giporoso is a city within a city. It is a bustling suburb in Kigali that never sleeps. Today, we explore Giporoso.
Giporoso is in the eastern part of Kigali. It is arguably one of the busiest cross-sections in the country. Some say it has the potential to surpass Nyamirambo.
Historians say the Anglican Church was one of the first to set up shop here. To this day, the church owns a large portion of land. St Peter’s Church is here along with a school and a commercial complex. Giporoso derives its name from this Anglican Church. A few meters away stands Mukharam Mosque.
Giporoso is the gateway to Kigali International Airport. It links Rwanda to Tanzania and Uganda. You will find a busy commercial center here that has expanded rapidly. Besides the Anglican Church, there is a mosque and multiple gas stations. Giporoso also has one of the biggest bus parks and a market. Everything is within a few square meters.
One resident says that Giporoso is like Dubai. Whatever one needs, one will find it within a small stretch. This stretch runs from the MTN center to Shades Corner Restaurant. It is less than half a kilometer to Kabeza. You can easily understand why he says the place is like Dubai. Entertainment, eating, accommodation, and grocery shopping are all within the vicinity. Electrical and hardware shops are also available.
The Giporoso and Remera area has a high occupancy rate of 93.1 percent. Only Nyabugogo and Kacyiru are close behind. Traffic jams are common here, with both cars and people.
The road to Kigali International Airport is here. The road does not disappoint in terms of beauty. Even regular commuters admire it. Giporoso and Gisimenti/Kwa Lando host many stories. Many businesses thrive here. People meet here when life returns to normal.
Traffic police officers do their job at the Giporoso junction. They decide who goes first and ensure everyone is patient. Destinations from this junction are many. The Anglican church is here, with Antoine Rutayisire as Senior Pastor. The church also owns a five-floor building where you pay as you park.
One road leads to Remera bus park. It is a cobblestone road about one kilometer long. It is normally one of the busiest roads. The road connects to the Kimironko-Nyabugogo road near Kwa Rwahama. Kwa Rwahama is a refurbished neighborhood next to the Kigali Arena.
Many people miss this neighborhood. Everyone who knows the area chooses their favorite name for it. Some visit the area once a week. Others go there every evening to check on friends. Preferences and tastes differ here. Some visitors go alone or accompanied. Some leave their cars to be washed for Rwf 1000. Parking is at your own risk.
Before you go back to town or head to Nyabugogo, breathe fresh air at Kwa Lando. Ndoli Supermarket and the orange building are noticeable. The orange building hosts a KCB branch and Diva Pharmacy. There is a fresh garden that separates the two ways. A newly established roundabout is also in this area.
Giporoso may be rowdy but it is also commercial. For now, Giporoso and its surroundings remain double-faced. It is a city within a city that will not go to sleep.