Construction works at Bugesera International airport take shape

Officials in the Ministry of Infrastructure have reiterated that the construction of the Bugesera International Airport was never suspended and that instead the project is now being implemented under a new Master Plan.

The expansion of the road heading out from Kigali towards the Bugesera International Airport in the Eastern province of the country illustrates just how important the Aviation Hub will be once complete and local residents in Bugesera District say they have already started enjoying the benefits it will bring. 

Dieudonne Habimana, a Bugesera District resident said; "It has made us very happy and it shows that development has come. People come from far away to buy houses and plots of land and we expect investors to come to construct Hotels for visitors, restaurants so people can refresh themselves. This is our development and we welcome it,"

Annociata Mukarugira, a resident of Bugesera said; "We welcome it and thank the President for bringing long term development to us. When tourists start arriving, they will bring in more foreign currency for our benefit,"

Zebron Rwasa, a Bugesera District resident added;  "Until now, we had only heard of planes, now we are going to see them with our eyes. When an Airport is built, a lot of infrastructures come with it for development, such as good houses and clean water."

The project itself is located on 2,500 hectares of land, employs at least 500 Rwandan construction workers and 54 Experts.

The Portuguese Company Mota Engil was contracted to construct the Airport that will now be expanded and Qatar Airways will now take up 60% of the construction costs, investing $1.3 billion.

Officials in the Ministry of Infrastructure have reiterated that the construction of the Bugesera International Airport was never suspended and that the Airport will be operational by 2022.

Once the Airport's 1st phase is complete, it will be able to receive up to 7 million people every year, and that will be doubled after its 2nd phase is done.

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