Parliament Questions Road Durability Amid Recurring Infrastructure Failures

Members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have expressed serious concerns over the quality of roads in Rwanda, noting that newly constructed roads often require repairs within just a few years of completion.

The discussion took place on 14 November 2025, during a session where PAC members met with the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, and the Director General of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Imena Munyampenda, to review the implementation of recommendations from the House of Deputies’ resolution of 28 May 2024.

A key issue raised by MPs is the presence of potholes and early road deterioration, which often occurs despite the roads being recently constructed. A report from the Auditor General revealed that out of 30 sampled roads, 10 (33%) failed to meet durability standards, contributing to the emergence of potholes.

Some of the roads highlighted include Ngoma-Ramiro, Kibugabuga, Shinga-Gasoro, Pindura-Bweyeye, Nyamagabe, and Huye-Kitabi, among others.

Deputy Karinijabo Barthelemy questioned why road construction projects fail despite prior feasibility studies. “Why are the geological and topographical conditions of each road not properly considered? Materials suitable for Kibugabuga may not be appropriate for Pindura-Bweyeye. If studies are done correctly, we shouldn’t see the recurring pothole problem,” he said.

He emphasized the need for durable roads based on expert studies and quality construction materials, adding:“A road full of potholes is not just inconvenient it’s not an ornament for our streets.”

Vice Chairperson Cecile Murumunawabo asked, “If your standards are met, how do roads deteriorate so quickly? If the Auditor General points out defects and they are ignored, nothing will change.”

Deputy Angelique Nyirabazayire highlighted the importance of monitoring road construction closely: “Potholes are created during construction. If we monitor the materials and processes properly, we can prevent them. Tests should be done before materials are even brought to the site.”

Minister Dr. Jimmy Gasore agreed that roads should not be constructed only to develop defects soon after completion. “We all agree that newly built roads should not develop potholes immediately. Sometimes the issue is human error more than the materials used,” he noted.

The government’s 2024–2029 five-year development plan includes major infrastructure projects, including over 300 km of national roads and more than 500 km of feeder roads to improve transport for farmers and traders.

RTDA Director General Imena Munyampenda confirmed that efforts are being made to improve feasibility studies and construction capacity to prevent recurring problems. Long-term studies are now being conducted to account for extreme weather conditions, such as rainfall projections over a 1,000-year span, instead of only the previous 100-year estimates.

Minister Gasore explained that when roads fail before their intended lifespan, contractors may be required to cover repair costs, but stressed that proactive oversight is preferable. “Although repair costs often fall on the contractor, this is not ideal. We have agreed with MPs to strengthen quality control because most failures are preventable during construction,” Gasore said.

He also highlighted plans to introduce modern vehicles and machinery that can assess road quality in real-time during construction. “These vehicles will travel the roads, testing durability and providing immediate data. This is particularly useful before the final asphalt layer is applied, ensuring corrections can be made in time,” he said.

Deputy Niwemahoro Wassila welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that continuous and proper use of such technology is crucial to solve the issue of road defects permanently.