Kigali, 06 December 2017: Minister of State in charge of Transport, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye officiated the launch of Rwanda Green Building Organisation (RwGBO) membership during the third day of the Rwanda Green Growth Week (RGGW) dedicated to Sustainable Build Environment at Kigali Convention Centre.

The event brought together professionals in Land Surveying, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Designing, Engineering, Valuation and Quantity Surveying, Construction, Technology initiations and other allied services in construction industry. In addition to public institutions, private sector and development partners were in attendance.

In his address on the occasion, Minister Uwihanganye said that Rwanda Housing Auhtority (RHA) partnered with Rwanda Institute of Architects (RIA) to launch Rwanda Green Building Organization (RwGBO) in 2016 and RHA continues to extend its complete support to RwGBO. He said “RwGBO has the mandate to build capacity of our practitioners and provide awareness and sensitize our stakeholders to build ‘green cities”.

Recalling the theme of the third day of the Rwanda Green Growth Week dedicated to Sustainable Build Environment: Challenges and Opportunities, Minister Uwihangaye said “this theme will help us to focus on the areas of urban planning and construction sector vis a vis green concepts and Environmental protection”.

Minister of State cautioned everyone about poor construction practices that are harming the environment. “RGGW is an opportunity to update and improve our construction practices so that we respect the laws of nature and avoid going against the mother earth. Hence, the Ministry is encouraging everyone present to make use of the green building and green infrastructure development standards and start incorporating them in their projects from planning to project implementation.” Said Minister Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye.

He called upon building designers, to showcase Rwanda’s rich culture and tradition in building designs, maximize the comfortable weather that nature bestowed upon us in building designs and reduce resource dependency. Building practitioners were also asked to take up Research & Development in their respective fields, aiming to improve the built environment through innovations, green technologies, locally manufactured building materials and home grown solutions.

Minister Uwihanganye said that Rwanda has taken several steps to integrate sustainability in urbanization sector. They include the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Building Construction Authority (BCA), Singapore in 2016 to collaborate on development of green building guidelines and capacity building of our stakeholders.

He commended the constant endeavours demonstrated by both Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and National Climate Change and Environment Fund (FONERWA) in providing technical assistance for developing green building minimum compliance system and availing qualitative and quantitative indicators for green cities that are in line with global recognition.