Following an extensive assessment of challenges in urban development, housing, and land use, the Chamber of Deputies has resolved to summon two ministers to provide explanations and responses to the issues identified.

The Minister of Infrastructure was requested to provide verbal explanations regarding urban development and housing, while the Minister of Environment will address issues related to land use.

The resolutions were adopted on December 29, during a plenary sitting in which the Chamber approved a report on field assessment visits conducted by Members of Parliament across the country.

Nationwide field visits

The Chamber of Deputies conducted visits in 237 sectors across all districts to gather firsthand information on government activities related to urban development, housing, and land use planning.

During these visits conducted between November 24 and December 7, Members of Parliament assessed projects reflecting progress in urban development, housing, and proper land use.

Urban development initiatives included water supply and sanitation infrastructure, electricity distribution networks, transport systems such as roads and bus terminals, ICT infrastructure, environmental protection projects. These included wetland restoration and storm-water management projects, sports and recreational facilities, as well as economic and investment projects that generate employment.

Housing-related activities included visits to housing estates, planned settlements, and villages, while land-use projects were assessed against the provisions of district and sector master plans.

ALSO READ: 10 ways Rwanda wants to build greener, more inclusive cities, rural settlements

Overall, MPs commended the development and urban expansion observed across districts and in Kigali, particularly in satellite and secondary cities. However, they noted that further efforts are required to accelerate and sustain development.

Urban planning issues

Despite progress, MPs reported several challenges were identified in urban planning. For example, water supply networks in some areas were found to be outdated and insufficient, with storage tanks from treatment plants needing expansion.

They indicated that some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the water rationing system, citing the absence of a clear, reliable, and transparent mechanism for distribution.

Sanitation infrastructure was also inadequate in public places. Public toilets, washing stations, and waste disposal points were either lacking, insufficient, or poorly maintained.

For instance, the MPs’ report indicated that in Nyamata Sector, Kanazi Cell, Bugesera District, a poorly managed waste site handling 12 tonnes per day was reported to pose a health risk to nearby residents.

Housing-related issues

Housing-related challenges included insufficient resources for landowners to construct houses meeting required standards, particularly in semi-urban sectors. This has affected young people seeking to establish new homes.

Some designated housing sites remain undeveloped due to limited capacity at both the district and community level, with preparatory work such as detailed housing plans, plot allocation, and provision of basic infrastructure including water, roads, and electricity not yet completed.

In many districts, residents were found to be living in areas not designated for housing, often in locations posing safety risks. Delays in issuing land and construction permits were also highlighted as creating loopholes for corruption and unauthorised construction.

The shortage of staff at One-Stop Centres in urban districts, particularly in satellite and secondary cities, further hinders service delivery.

Some residents were settled in villages later designated for agriculture or included in land-use plans and are now required to relocate to designated housing sites.

The report showed that Kigarama and Rukeri villages in Maraba Sector, Huye District, settled with vulnerable survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, were later designated for agricultural use. In Rwinkwavu Sector, Kayonza District, Gihinga Cell, home to 8,000 residents, was also designated for agricultural purposes.

MP Marie Thérèse Uwizeye said that in some villages, residents hold documents classifying their land as residential, but according to master plans, it is designated for agriculture.

"This has prevented them from accessing basic infrastructure such as water and electricity and barred them from carrying out renovations on their houses,” Uwizeye said.

She noted the need to clarify these issues to ensure residents can access the services and rights to which they are entitled.

In Gasabo District, Kacyiru Sector, residents of Inyange, Kabagari, Urukundo, and Umudugudu w’Ubumwe villages were notified about relocation for the construction of a "Diplomatic Village,” according to the report. Three years after this notification, no property valuations have been conducted, yet residents continue to pay land taxes and are prohibited from making changes to their properties.

Some residents with land converted from agriculture to residential use have also not updated land transfers, delaying tax registration. Under current legislation, agricultural land up to two hectares is not taxed.

ALSO READ: Diplomatic Village: Five key things to know about new land acquisition guidelines

Land use challenges

Visits to land-related projects revealed state and institutional land that has remained unused for long periods, often in residential areas. Some old public buildings remain unused, negatively affecting nearby residents and hindering the implementation of local land-use plans.

Examples include the Rwanda Social Security Board-owned land plots (19 hectares in Kigabiro Sector in Rwamagana and 12 hectares in Nyagatare Sector in Nyagatare District).

There is also land owned by the University of Rwanda in Huye, Nyagatare, and other districts. In Ruhango District, land previously owned by the district and later reverted to the state remained underutilised, limiting the town’s urbanisation potential.

Land boundary errors were also cited as a major challenge, causing disputes among residents and high demand for boundary correction services.

ALSO READ: Boundary errors, land disputes targeted in Rwf 2.2bn plan

MP Diogene Bitunguramye said that even residents seeking boundary rectification services often struggle to identify all relevant parties, as the land may belong to the state, unidentified individuals, institutions, or companies, "creating complications that prevent resolution”. He suggested establishing a framework to guide decision-makers in resolving such cases.

The report also pointed out that in Kinigi Sector, Musanze District, 510 households living in areas designated for Volcanoes National Park expansion have been registered since 2017 but they still have yet to be compensated nor relocated. The residents are also prohibited from making any changes to their properties.

ALSO READ: Inside $255m volcanoes park expansion project

Similar challenges affect residents in the park’s buffer zone, where construction is not allowed and no compensation or alternative arrangements have been provided.

In Kadobogo Village, Nyabugogo Cell, Kigali Sector, Nyarugenge District, residents have been informed since 2015 that a developer will construct buildings on their land. For the past ten years, they have been unable to undertake any activities on their property.