Military Engineers Begin MoBay Projects
Military engineers from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) have started joint reconstruction projects in Montego Bay alongside their Jamaican counterparts. The initiative highlights growing international cooperation on infrastructure development within the city.
This military collaboration is a direct result of a 2022 state visit to Jamaica by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the first Rwandan head of state to visit the country. During the visit, he and Prime Minister Andrew Holness signed memoranda of understanding to formalize political consultation and explore future partnerships in areas like technology and engineering. The engineering mission operates under a bilateral agreement focused on technical and disaster-recovery support. The RDF contingent was deployed to assist with rehabilitating critical infrastructure following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. That category 5 hurricane caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in damages across Jamaica. The initial focus of the joint work in Montego Bay is the reconstruction of homes for residents in St. James Parish that were damaged by the hurricane. The RDF Engineer Contingent Commander, Col Moses Kayigamba, emphasized that the mission's goal extends beyond simple repairs to building long-term resilience and solidarity with the Jamaican people. The Rwanda Defence Force engineers bring significant experience from participating in UN peacekeeping missions and other international partnerships, including construction exercises with the U.S. National Guard. Before departing for Jamaica, the contingent was briefed by Brigadier General Faustin Tinka, who urged them to apply their full expertise and uphold the RDF's reputation for discipline. Their Jamaican counterparts, from the 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF), are a specialized unit responsible for both military and civil engineering across the nation. The regiment's duties include national construction projects, disaster relief and recovery, and providing engineering assistance to government agencies. This project is part of a wider economic development push in the Catherine Hall area of Montego Bay. A separate $3-billion Special Economic Zone project by Tailwind Corporation Jamaica is also underway, aiming to add 110,000 square feet of commercial space and create over 750 jobs.
