EVENT REPORT
The event was held on 14th July at UBUMWE Grande Hotel-Kigali.
This event gathered 248 People in total including distinguished industry professionals such as Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors, Urban Planners, Property Valuers, Professional Accountants, environmentalists etc. Local, regional and International professional bodies for Quantity Surveyors were represented including the Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors (TIQS), Institution of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (IQSK), Institution of Surveyors of Uganda (ISU-QS Chapter) as well as Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) as International body at a continental level. In addition, local public and private institutions, construction industry stakeholders, were represented including consulting firms, construction firms, manufacturers, suppliers of construction materials, Developers etc. Furthermore, the event was also followed virtually via zoom by other Quantity Surveyors who were abroad and outside of Kigali.
The AAQS Vice president, East Africa Region, QS Victor Odongo and Minister of Infrastructure honored the event with their presence.
Figure 2: Elected RIQS Council Members, AAQS Vice President and EAC QS professional bodies’ and other delegation.
BELOW IS THE NEW ELECT COUNCIL:
Chairman: QS Charles LUGIRA
V/chair: QS Frederic NYAMINANI
Treasurer: QS Arielle Gahigi MUGWANEZA
Honorary Secretary: QS David NTAMBIYE
Honorary Registrar: QS David Louis MUGABE
Head of Professional Practice: QS Bonaventure DUSHIMIYIMANA
Head of Education: QS Didier SHEJA
The elections were followed by the adoption of the key documents of the institute which are “Constitution, By Laws and Code of professional ethics & Conducts”.
The documents were reviewed by professional Lawyer and later were shared a month before the event for review and adoption by members. The raised concerns were incorporated & considered and a review was presented to the GA for adoption.
RIQS LAUNCH:
The afternoon session started with a presentation by QS Odongo on Procurement, independency and accountability of professions in the built environment- A case of professional practice in AAQS and commonwealth countries.
The launch of the Rwanda Institute of Quantity Surveyors was officiated by Hon. Ernest NSABIMANA Minister of Infrastructure. Among distinguished guests, we had the AOG represented, RPPA represented and other professional Institutes, etc.
The office of Audit General of State Finances was represented and presented on the “Role of Quantity Surveyors as construction financial planners and Managers in the construction industry”, he emphasized that the industry was in need of the QS professional body as in the industry there is still the challenge of people who performs the QS profession/tasks unprofessionally and this consequently lead to the losses or wastage of money in many construction projects. RPPA DG presented on “The industrial improvement due to the new project variation ceiling of 5% (Rwf 100 Million) and study review concerns set in the new procurement law of 2022, challenges and strategies for further improvements”.
In his remarks, Hon Minister emphasized on collaboration between the government and a different professional bodies specifically RIQS and others.
Figure 3: Hon. Minister Ernest Nsabimana; Minister of Infrastructure, QS Charles Lugira; Chairman of RIQS and QS Victor Odongo; Vice President of African Association of Quantity Surveyors were Officially Launching RIQS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
RIQS recognizes MININFRA as the main regulator of Quantity Surveying Services in Rwanda, which RIQS is pleased to express its deep gratitude to MININFRA Office for acknowledging its request to be given license to work independently. Its support and guidance since the beginning have been the key fuel resulted to this significant milestone.
In the same Spirit, RIQS is highly grateful for the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) for its financial support that have been used in the 1st GA and launch, as RIQS is a newly established professional body it couldn’t be easier to afford budget of the event without outside supports. RIQS Further appreciates RHA for the continued contribution towards the development of Quantity Surveying profession in Rwanda.
RIQS recognizes the support of Office of the Auditor General, for their reports/findings in the construction industry in which OAG never cease to highlight the necessity of Quantity Surveyors in the public and private institutions as the sustainable solution to have well manageable financial, contractual and administration in all types of construction developments such as buildings, civil engineering and other infrastructure management works. Professional Quantity Surveyors would much contribute towards the improvement in the Rwandan construction industry, those Findings brings attention to Quantity Surveying Services in the public and private sector.
RIQS is looking forward to cooperating and dreaming higher with other institutions to develop the Quantity surveying profession as well as the construction industry in Rwanda.
