Rwanda has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the National Veterinary Reference Laboratory in the capital Kigali, a high-security bio-level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, aimed at strengthening the country's and the region's capabilities in early detection and rapid response to zoonotic diseases.
The project comes with support from the World Bank's Epidemic Fund, which provided a grant of $24.9 million, of which about $3 million was allocated to establish the laboratory, as part of investments aimed at strengthening epidemic prevention and preparedness at the national and regional levels.
Rwandan Minister of Health, Dr. Sabine Nsanzimana, said during the foundation stone laying ceremony at the Ruprezi Research Station on November 18, 2025, that this investment “serves not only Rwanda, but all of humanity,” noting that the new laboratory will contribute to reducing dependence on sending samples abroad and the resulting cost and delay in results.
For her part, Priya Basu, CEO of the Epidemic Control Fund, confirmed that the laboratory will enhance integrated health surveillance between humans and animals, and increase the capabilities of monitoring cross-border diseases and antimicrobial resistance, adding that Rwanda’s quest to obtain ISO 17025 accreditation will make the laboratory a reliable regional resource. Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Mark Siobahiro Bagabe, explained that the new laboratory will replace an old facility dating back to 1983, and will contribute to raising Rwanda’s readiness. And the African continent to confront epidemic threats, especially diseases transmitted between animals and humans
