Rwanda Launches 30 Billion Rwf Laboratory to Test for Zoonotic Diseases

Kigali, Rwanda - The Government of Rwanda has launched a major project to build a state-of-the-art laboratory aimed at testing zoonotic diseases, with an estimated cost of over Rwf 34 billion ($24 million). The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Pandemic Fund and other international partners. The launch took place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with top officials including Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Dr. Mark Cyubahiro and Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana in attendance.

The new laboratory will operate at the third level of biosecurity, a significant upgrade from the previous facility, which was only at the second level. This advancement allows the laboratory to safely test for diseases originating from animals that could affect humans, including high-risk pathogens such as rabies.

For a laboratory to achieve third-level certification, it must be accredited, approved, and meet strict quality standards, with qualified personnel and specialized equipment to handle dangerous pathogens. The laboratory will also process tests from other East African countries and the Great Lakes Region, expanding Rwanda’s capacity for regional disease surveillance.

Minister of Health Dr. Nsanzimana emphasized the laboratory’s impact on reducing costs and improving efficiency. Previously, tests that could not be performed domestically had to be sent abroad, delaying results and increasing expenses. “This laboratory will help improve research in Rwanda, as its high-standard equipment will support students and researchers in their scientific discoveries,” he said.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Dr. Cyubahiro noted that the previous laboratory, built in 1983, was outdated and could not meet the requirements to advance from level two to level three biosecurity.

The facility is expected to cut test processing times in half-from 48 hours to 24 hours-and will strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to monitor and respond to zoonotic diseases, including COVID-19, Marburg, and Rift Valley Fever.