City moves to ease construction permit issuance

KIGALI City is finalising plans to make construction permit application and issuance done online in a project scheduled to be piloted next month.

This was revealed during the mini launch of the construction permit management information system (MIS) platform on Wednesday at Kigali.

The platform is currently being developed in collaboration with the World Bank’s lending arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The project Director Dr Donna Rubinoff said the project’s objective is to improve the doing business climate by making construction permits processed in a short period of time and to improve customer service.

Through the system, the entire process will be online including applying for construction permits, payment and issuing of permits.

Thomas Juma, the webmaster and software developer said the applicants will have to open the website and open an account, and then the process will begin by filling the username and password.

“The message section will allow the applicants to send the message to reviewers asking to know the progress of application or asking any other information, then the reviewers will reply.’’

Dr Rubinoff said there will be training facilities for the applicants to facilitate them learn how to use the system.

“When you want to make technological change, you have to change people’s behavior. The reason why we will engage in training and capacity building,” she said.

The Mayor of Kigali City Fidele Ndayisaba said it is a cumbersome process to deal with the applications and issuing of construction permits for both administration and applicants.

Currently, it takes 30 days for a construction permit to be processed and this has been an impediment towards doing business.

“It has been our belief that ICT is the best solution. This will help us reach our goal of excelling in service delivery and increase transparency,” Ndayisaba said.