The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, emphasized that a notable feature of this budget is that 91.7% of the funds will come from domestic resources, including locally generated revenues and loans that the country will repay. Only 8.3% will come from external grants.

He added that although this is officially the budget for the next fiscal year, it is closely linked to the current year and to future years as well, given that the government is in the process of implementing the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). This five-year plan is being rolled out incrementally each year, and at this stage, the focus is on accelerating implementation.

Murangwa explained that the 2025/26 budget was allocated according to the goals of NST2 across its three pillars: economic transformation, which will receive 62.8% of the budget; social transformation, which will receive 21.7%; and promoting good governance, which will receive 15.5%.

He noted that in both the upcoming and medium-term periods, the government plans to increase productivity across all economic sectors, strengthen programs that enhance citizens’ well-being, and continue prioritizing climate action, including reducing harmful emissions.

He highlighted several key activities receiving special focus in this budget. These include repayment of national debt, the ongoing construction of the new Kigali International Airport, and the expansion of RwandAir operations.

The government will also continue school feeding programs and ensure timely procurement and distribution of agricultural inputs, such as chemical fertilizers and quality seeds. A portion of the budget is also dedicated to preparing for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships.

Specifically, the budget allocates $600 million (equivalent to over 853.6 billion Rwandan Francs) to the construction of the new Kigali International Airport.

Other priority projects for the 2025/26 fiscal year include stimulating private sector growth and youth employment by increasing investment and developing basic infrastructure in industrial zones such as those in Musanze and Muhanga.

This includes constructing a petroleum storage facility in Ruhanga, building a wastewater treatment plant for the leather factory in Bugesera, and enhancing the capacity of the Kigali dry port.

There are also plans to develop essential infrastructure in the Musanze industrial park to support pharmaceutical production using cannabis, provide basic facilities for Kigali Innovation City, and continue supporting the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) initiative as a means to boost tourism revenue.

To better manage and protect the country’s natural water resources, the government will construct the Muvumba multipurpose dam, equip laboratories to monitor Lake Kivu’s behavior, and support both public and private sector projects aimed at improving access to climate finance through programs like INTEGO and the IREME fund.

In the technology sector, the budget will support the creation of a cybersecurity office, provide aid to coding schools, expand the digital ID system, and enhance the use of digital identification and authentication technologies.

In terms of urbanization and rural housing development, the government will deliver infrastructure to sites earmarked for affordable housing, complete payments for the renovation of Amahoro Stadium, refurbish the Parliament building, and expand the Muzo Model Village from 120 to 180 homes. Efforts will also continue to remove asbestos roofing from public buildings and develop updated urban planning maps for informal settlements across Rwanda.

Other planned activities include the expansion of key road networks. These include the 40-kilometer Nyacyonga–Mukoto road, a 30-kilometer road linked to the Kigali Logistics Platform, the construction of a new Nyabugogo bus terminal, and a general improvement of Kigali’s urban mobility systems.

National road upgrades will include rehabilitation of the 45-kilometer Kigali–Muhanga road, the Base–Butaro–Kidaho road, and the 10-kilometer stretch from Prince House to Giporoso to Masaka. The government also plans to build a port in Rusizi on Lake Kivu and establish a model aviation training school.

In the financial sector, new technologies will be introduced to restructure local SACCOs into district-level cooperatives, strengthening the broader banking system. The budget will also bolster the financial intelligence framework to enhance oversight of public spending.

In health, the budget includes the construction of district hospitals in Muhororo and Kabgayi, the expansion of Ruhengeri Referral Hospital, and the building of maternity wards at Kibagabaga Hospital.

Regarding peace and security, Murangwa stated that Rwanda will continue contributing to both regional and international peacekeeping missions. The country remains committed to deploying forces that support stability within neighboring countries, across the region, and on the global stage.

Other planned activities for the fiscal year 2025/26 include the expansion of key road networks.