Register land or lose it, residents advised

KAYONZA – Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, the Director General of the Land Centre has urged residents to embrace the land registration exercise currently going on in the country. “Land disputes emanate from lack of proper ownership, which is why we want all land registered and owners given title deeds,” he said. “Tell people to register land or risk losing it. We are saying this because we have experienced some problems elsewhere.”

Thursday, December 03, 2009
Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza hands over a certificate of attendance to a local leader. (Photo: S. Rwembeho)

KAYONZA – Dr. Emmanuel Nkurunziza, the Director General of the Land Centre has urged residents to embrace the land registration exercise currently going on in the country.
"Land disputes emanate from lack of proper ownership, which is why we want all land registered and owners given title deeds,” he said.

"Tell people to register land or risk losing it. We are saying this because we have experienced some problems elsewhere.”

He was on Wednesday addressing over 70 local leaders in Kayonza district who had completed a three-day training in settling land disputes.

The training was organised by the Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RSID), through its Land Dispute Management Project (LDMP).

Participants were drawn from Kabushinge and Nyamugali sectors, where land disputes are said to be most prevalent.
Dr. Nkurunziza, urged participants to go back and sensitise residents in their respective villages on ending land wrangles.

Jovith Munyamasoko, another official, warned residents against falsely claiming ownership of government land.

"Whoever grabbed government land committed a crime. It is a question of time and they will be brought before justice,” he said.

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