The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER), a society of professional engineers, has decried their limited involvement in the process of monitoring housing construction works, yet they would play a role in bringing ‘sanity’ to the sector.
Speaking to The New Times, IER’s Executive Secretary, Steven Sabiti, pointed out that the construction sector is affected by substandard works, many of which are connected to weaknesses in monitoring and inspection.
“Issuing a construction permit is one thing, but verifying that whatever was written in the construction documents is being adhered to, is another. I think we have gaps in the process of monitoring the implementation of construction works,” he said.
Though the City of Kigali has its team of inspectors, Sabiti says the inspection work should be a collaborative effort, with the IER at its helm.
“For example, look at ‘Kwa Dubai estate.’ There was no civil engineer involved in the construction, yet the law says all construction activities are supposed to be done by registered professionals. We think we are not involved enough to bring sanity to the construction sector,” he said.
“As an institution, we have professionals who can go and verify whether what is being constructed is being led by registered members. There are structures that are not even constructed by registered and compliant engineers. If the general public can understand that all construction work is supposed to be done by a registered and compliant engineer, this can solve a lot of problems,” he added.
He complained about the quality of housing that some real estate developers are bringing to the sector, saying “it is worrying.”
“I believe a collaborative mechanism between the authorities and EIR would bring sanity,” he said.
The real estate sector is a crucial sector and a potential driver of future economic growth, yet it is facing challenges not only in quality but also investment. According to a 2022 study, Kigali City alone needs 310,000 new housing units by 2032 or around 20,700 units every year. However, less than 1,000 housing units are supplied every year. - Hudson Kuteesa, The New Times
