The government has reduced land service fees across the country following growing complaints from citizens over high costs, the Minister of Local Government, Dominique Habimana, has said. ALSO READ: Three more land services now accessible online in Rwanda Speaking before Parliament on Tuesday, October 14, where he presented updates on efforts to improve public service delivery, Habimana said fees for land surveying have been reviewed downward. “In rural areas, the cost has been reduced from Rwf30,000 to between Rwf15,000 and Rwf20,000, while in the City of Kigali, fees range between Rwf25,000 and Rwf30,000,” he said. ALSO READ: How City of Kigali is responding to surge in land service applications He added that the National Land Authority (NLA), in collaboration with local authorities, is monitoring the implementation of the new prices. Over the past year, 41 land surveyors were found to have violated the approved rates and were sanctioned. “The penalties include withdrawal of service provision rights and payment of fines, among other measures,” the Minister explained. Members of Parliament, however, called for fixed pricing in rural areas, arguing that the existing Rwf5,000 variation could expose citizens to unfair charges. Responding to the concern, Habimana said the variation was introduced to account for differences in land size and distance to be surveyed, which often vary between locations. “We will assess the matter further to determine whether the current price range remains appropriate,” he said.
